Blackie slowly opened his eyes, he blinked against the harsh light he appeared to be in a hospital room. His friends and family were there with him, even his brother Fever. his heart swelled at how many people cared about him. Suddenly he was jumped on by Scoria and the breath was driven from his body and he winced in pain.
"Thank the force your ok I came running when I heard you were hurt and when I saw you on the ground I thought you were dead" she cried.
"Scoria be careful he's hurt" Essami scolded her.
"Oh right sorry" she got off him.
"How long was I out for?" Blackie asked.
"All night" Scoria responded.
"I'm so sorry it's all my fault I shouldn't have let you go alone I should have walked with you" Reena was racked with guilt.
"Oh no it's not your fault there's nothing you could have done please don't blame yourself" Blackie held her hand.
"Are you absolutely sure you don't know anyone who would want you dead?" Corr asked.
"Actually there is something when me and Reena went out for the first time Miria showed up and was being really mean to Reena so I stood up to her and she said I would be sorry I messed with her" he said.
"Oh yea I remember that you knocked her on her butt that was so funny" Reena laughed.
"WHAT!, You think Miria is responsible for the murder attempts!? I WILL RIP HER BLEACHED BLONDE HAIR OUT!" Scoria was furious.
"Now I can't say for certain it's her and we don't want to just throw out accusations," Blackie said.
"Well I can snoop around her room and look for evidence" Reena offered.
"I don't want you to get in trouble" Blackie was worried.
"Your worth getting in trouble for, besides if she really is responsible for this then she needs to face punishment" Reena said.
"Thanks that will be great, another thing I think you should move back in the apartment because I could sense him coming long before anyone else so it would be safer that way. Also we don't know how far she'll be willing to go to make you sorry. The last thing we want is for her to hurt Corr and Essami to get at you, at least if she tries that crap with me I can defend myself they can't" Scoria said.
"Ok that will probably be best, I would never be able to forgive myself if they got hurt because of me I've already had to shoulder that guilt before I don't ever want to do it again" Blackie looked sad.
"Well I better get back to the restaurant, it is lunch time after all. Hey Blackie come by the restaurant later at about six thirty, I have something that will cheer you up" Fever said before leaving.
"Yea I suppose we better get back to the salon right Scoria" Essami said.
"What! there is no way I'm leaving his side" Scoria said.
"It's ok Scoria I won't be alone" Blackie said.
"No way! That's what was said last time and look what happened only I have the means to protect you so from now on I will not be leaving your side" Scoria crossed her arms.
"Scoria there's no way you can protect me from everything even if you were there with me what could you have done" Blackie said.
"I would have sensed him and dealt with him swiftly before he even got the chance to shoot you" Scoria puffed her chest out.
"You should help Corr and Essami at the salon, honestly I'll be fine" Blackie said.
"Fine! if you're sure I'll see you later then" Scoria stomped off after Corr and Essami.
Blackie sighed and laid back in the hospital bed since he had to wait for them to release him; he may as well get as comfortable as was possible given the situation. He saw Reena fidgeting.
"What's bothering you?" he asked.
"There's…...there's something I've been wondering" she glanced at her feet.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Yesterday at the restaurant you said that you left the Republic, that you deserted, but you told me on our first date that you were still in just on a special assignment. Did you lie?" she drooped her tail.
"Yes I did, I thought… I was afraid that you would think I was a coward if I told you the truth. I'm so sorry I lied to you" his heart broke at how hurt she looked.
"Of course not, I know you had your reasons I just don't want you to ever feel like you can't tell me something" Reena sat on the edge of his bed.
"I'm sorry it wasn't you it was me I panic and I make stupid decisions like lying force knows I've done it enough I even lied to my only surviving sqaudmate" he was ashamed of himself.
"How so?" she asked.
"Well after the incident on Umbara I faked having a mental breakdown my brother was so supportive of me little did he know that I was lying to him" Blackie sighed.
"I was I could see him one last time you know, explain everything and tell him how sorry I am that I lied to him" tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Do you think he knows?" Reena asked.
"I'm not sure, heck I don't know if he's even still alive at this point" Blackie said.
"What is his name?" she asked.
"You're going to find this funny, his name is Greenie and my dead squadmates' names were Brownie, Pinky and Bluey" Blackie said.
"Aww those are cute names, did you guys name eachother?" Reena asked.
"When we first came out of our growth tanks and were assigned to the Canvas squad we stayed up all night trying to come up with color themed names for each other the next morning we were too tired to do our training exercise our trainer was so mad" Blackie smiled fondly.
"Force I miss those guys" his expression turned sad.
"Are you sure you're happy you left?" Reena asked.
"Oh absolutely I'm happy I left I'm just not happy how I left after all if I hadn't left I would have never met you " Blackie grabbed her hand.
"So true I'm so glad I listened to my instincts and went to the salon that day" Reena purred.
"What do you mean?" Blackie asked.
"I actually never planned on going to the salon that day. It's just as I was walking past I caught a whiff of something amazing. The smell was irresistible and it wasn't shampoo so I decided to check it out and it was you" Reena purred.
"Wait, really?" Blackie's eyes widened.
"Yep cats can smell their mates from miles away so that proves were meant to be" Reena purred.
"You know it's going to be summer soon, the weather will be nicer so we can go for walks more, maybe have picnics" he smiled.
"Wait it's almost summer!? Oh no…...OH NO I didn't realize it was that time already what am I going to do" Reena was pacing and muttering to herself.
"Reena? What's the matter?" he was worried.
"Oh nothing it's just summer wreaks havoc on my fur, sorry about that" she laughed nervously.
He knew she wasn't telling the truth but before he could question her further they came with the release papers he signed them and he and Reena headed back to the apartment he decided to worry about getting his things from Corr and Essami's house later, even though he was out all night he was still tired and just wanted to take a nap before he had to go to Fever's later.
He was about to ask her why she was really worried about summer but her ears were pricked alertly and her nose twitched occasionally, the tip of her tail was twitching meaning she was concentrating on their surroundings, so he chose not to distract her. When they arrived at the apartment he said hugged Reena goodbye and went inside, Sunshine came running over meowing excitedly her tail quivered in a greeting.
"Hi Sunshine I missed you too" he picked her up and scratched her head.
The good thing about cats is they're always ready to curl up and nap with you he carried her back to his room with him he got in bed she curled up next to him he pulled the covers over him and fell asleep.
He awoke to Scoria coming home. He panicked for a brief moment because he thought he was late going to Fever's restaurant but he was relieved to see it was only five he figured he took a good enough nap he got up and went up front. Scoria was in the kitchen grumbling to herself whilst trying to open a bag of Kormino chips. He stood in the doorway and leaned against the wall.
"Hey I know you're mad at me but all I'm trying to say is I don't want you to spend your days worried about me" Blackie said.
"But that's what family does you gotta understand that you Corr and Essami are the only family I have" Scoria sighed.
"I know but I just don't want you to worry yourself sick I'll be ok I promise and even if I'm not you've got to learn to be ok with that too because I will die someday most likely before you since I age faster" Blackie said.
"How can you say that!" she gasped.
"I know it seems harsh but that's just the way it is I mean after my squadmates died I was just expected to move on with the mission like it never happened" Blackie said.
"Well I'm not the Republic! I'm not just going to be ok with your death it doesn't matter what you say of course I'm going to be worried about you" Scoria growled in frustration.
"At least promise me you'll worry less," Blackie said.
"No promises but I'll try" she softened her expression.
"Good enough. Hugs?" he opened his arms. Scoria could be hard headed but he knew she meant well.
"Hugs" she hugged him.
"So do you know anything about cats?" Blackie asked.
"Sure a little I studied animals when I was still in the Order, why do you ask?" Scoria tilted her head.
"Well earlier I told Reena it was nearly summer and I wanted to hang out with her more and she totally freaked out" Blackie said.
"Now that you own a cat you're going to find that they are freaks, they run around the house randomly for no reason, they stare at things that aren't there, I'm telling you strange creatures they are" Scoria said.
"But that can't be why she's worried about summer," he said.
"I know why but I'll let her tell you that" Scoria winked.
"Aw come on she won't tell me" Blackie threw his hands in the air.
"Well then you'll find out the hard way" Scoria laughed.
"You're enjoying this too much" he glared.
"Yes I am" she smirked.
"Well I better get going" Blackie said.
"Ok be careful" Scoria said.
"I will," he promised.
He was wondering what Fever had in mind it didn't matter though he was just happy to spend time with another clone. Don't get him wrong he loved Scoria, Corr, Essami, and Reena but nobody understood him like a fellow clone. He entered the restaurant he stopped in his tracks. Fever was standing there talking to some other clones he waved him over.
"Hey over here, there's some people I want you to meet" Fever said. He walked over there fighting back tears.
"Blackie I want you to meet Chili, Shadow, Tender, and Friendly" Fever introduced them.
"It's always nice to see a brother" Tender smiled warmly.
He couldn't believe that there were more clone deserters than just him and Fever. He was particularly interested in Chili. He looked…..different, his hair was red like Fever's. But instead of the standard buzz cut it was almost shoulder length, he had a diamond stud earring in his left ear and a gold chain necklace he wore a white tank top and camo shorts. But it wasn't so much his clothes that surprised him but his body, Chili was physically fit, sure clones were naturally on the fit side but he was really fit he could tell in the way his tank top clung to his abs.
How can someone look so similar and so different at the same time. He realized he had been staring at him and dropped his gaze.
"I know it's a lot to take in" Chili smirked.
"Ignore him he thinks he's the hottest thing in the galaxy" Fever rolled his eyes.
"I don't think, I know" he winked at a group of women they swooned.
"Oh please the hussies down here would swoon over anyone" Shadow said.
"Well I don't see them swooning over you guys" Chili said.
"You know Chili was actually my squadmate" Fever shot him a glare.
"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry, he's mad because I left without him to be fair I didn't know he wanted to leave the army" Chili said.
"I told you I wanted to leave like a thousand times!" Fever gave an exasperated sigh.
"Well sorry I never really listen when you talk" Chili said.
"You're such a jerk" Fever muttered.
Blackie's heart ached. He remembered how him and his squadmates picked on eachother like that.
"Anyways why don't we sit down and you can formally introduce yourselves to Blackie" Fever said. So they sat.
"Well my name is Shadow and I own the tattoo parlor Shadow's Ink" Shadow said.
"I'm Tender and I own a small practice here in town" he introduced himself.
"I'm Chili not only am I the hottest clone in existence but I put my beautiful voice to good use as a performer but when I'm not doing that you can find me in the gym" Chili flexed.
"You literally look and sound just like the rest of us" Fever pointed out.
"Yea but I do it better" he smirked.
"I really just want to bash his head in sometimes" Fever shook his head.
"I'm Friendly and I own a bakery. My desserts are far better than Fever's. Here I brought you guys some Corellian donuts" he said.
"Well my name is Blackie and I currently work at a hair salon" he felt like a total loser his brothers were all successful and he was not.
"That's cool I bet you'll own the place someday" Friendly said.
"So what made you guys leave the Republic?" Blackie asked.
"Well I was a prisoner of war and I knew no one was coming for me, I refused to just sit there and wait to die so I escaped on my own while in that prison I realized just how little the Republic cared for us clones, I wasn't going to end up right back in the same situation someday so I left, got this half moon tattoo to cover up a scar I received that's what I specialize in tattoos that cover scars" Shadow said.
"I left the Republic simply because they don't own me and can't tell me what to do" Chili said.
"I was a medic in the forty first elite corps I lost all respect for the Jedi when my general refused to let me care for an injured civilian she was a child at that, he said it was a waste of our time so I left and worked at the general hospital for a while before opening my own practice" Tender explained.
"I left the Republic because desk work was boooooring and I wanted something more exciting like making desserts that are far better than Fever's" Friendly said.
"Why did you leave?" Shadow asked.
"Well most of my squadmates died on my first mission and it was all a jedi's fault" Blackie said.
"I wish my squadmate would die" Fever muttered under his breath.
"I heard that" Chili glared.
"You should definitely appreciate your squadmates because now that mine are gone I wish I had appreciated them more" Blackie said.
"But what if they're annoying and jerkish" Fever said.
"He's just mad because I'm better looking than him" Chili said.
The others laughed, Blackie lost track of time as he enjoyed hanging out with his brothers. They joked and shared stories late into the night.
"Well guys I gotta get my beauty rest I'll see you guys next week" Chili said.
"Good riddance, I mean goodnight" Fever said.
"Thank you Fever you were right this did cheer me up" Blackie said.
"I figured it would, we meet every week and you're always welcome to join us" Fever said.
"Will do goodnight" Blackie said as he left.
Blackie let out a loud yawn as he walked into the apartment, Scoria got up from the couch.
"Blackie do you have any idea what time it is you should have been back hours ago I was starting to worry" she scolded.
"Am I not an adult? I can stay out as late as I want last time I checked my growth tank was my mom not you" he crossed his arms.
"How dare you back sass me young man you're hardly an adult and when you live in my house you're under my rules" Scoria glared.
"Sorry mom next time I'll make sure I'm in before curfew" Blackie rolled his eyes.
"Go to your room," Scoria teased.
"I was going there anyway," Blackie said.
He went to his room and got in some pajamas. He laid down, he was too tired to read tonight so he turned his lamp off and went to sleep. He wasn't asleep long maybe an hour before he was startled awake by Scoria screaming, she came running into his room and dove onto him.
"Scoria whaaa" he was surprised.
"I had a nightmare that you died" she was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Calm down it's alright I'm ok, see that's why I said you have to stop worrying so much because your fear will manifest itself in other ways like having nightmares" he gently rocked her.
"You know when I was on my way to Coruscant I had a nightmare that my brothers, the dead ones, were angry at me for leaving it was a fear I had but now that I let go of that I don't have those nightmares anymore" Blackie said.
He just talked to her and reassured her until her steady breaths told him she was asleep. He tried to carefully move her off of him but she clung to him tighter.
"Oh fine" he sighed and after a few moments he fell asleep too.
"