When Mr. Davenport said they were going to meet the rest of their new team, Chase never expected that to consist of three super freaks and a former jedi. He thinks it's a disaster in the making, and pragmatically, he's nearly right.

Socially, it's no different than high school or the Bionic Academy was, at least for him. Tolerated, but generally avoided. To Bree and Kaz, he's a fun-killer, and Skylar simply doesn't care to interact. Though, he has to admit he made a rather terrible first impression with her. She and Ahsoka automatically click with Bree, the togruta nicknaming him "Genius" in mockery.

He has so many things in common with Oliver, so he tries harder there to befriend him. But at the end of the day, Oliver already has two best friends. Chase only comes third.

It's nothing to mourn. Training the two guys to perfect their abilities just confirms what he already knows. That one doesn't have to be friends outside of their jobs. Being close team members is enough, it's good, and it doesn't need to be overthought.

...

He's used to working alone.

He's completely absorbed in his own mind, focused entirely on the project at hand, doesn't even raise his head when the hyper lift doors open.

He hears her smooth elegant voice ask, "Hey, what are you working on?"

He looks up then, the togruta standing closer than he expected, one hand resting on the cyber desk and the other on her hip. There's a glimmer of curiosity in her gaze as it sweeps over the tangle of machinery on the table.

"Modifying some of Davenport's old security drones to patrol the tunnels. That will ensure Roman and Riker won't be able to breach through those entrances, even when they're in use."

"Smart." She nods approvingly. "Could you use some help? I've had some considerable experience with droid programming, repairs, and dismantling…with and without a lightsaber."

He stares at her, surprised by the offer. The only other kids his age that ever wanted to do things like this with him were Leo, his best friend, and Sebastian, who turned out to be anything but.

He says, "Sure," and clenches his jaw, waiting for her to laugh and get to the punchline where she can't believe he took her seriously and who'd actually want to hang out with him?

But she smiles instead, oblivious to his expectations, and starts picking through the drone parts with a trained eye, quickly asking questions and making suggestions, and the hours seem to fly by.

As they appraise their final work, he has to admit, though it really isn't difficult, that together they created something tactically better than what he could have done on his own.

It's a humbling thought, and should probably bruise his pride, but he finds himself excited and intrigued instead, as if a door to a new world of potential has been opened, and he's barely stepped over the threshold.

...

They get used to working together. It's almost assumed that if he's creating something for the team, whether it's managing security, sketching the first mission suit prototypes, or testing his reinforced polymer compound, she wants to be involved.

He supposes it shouldn't be surprising that they work together so well, even though their personalities are nearly polar opposites. She used to be a military commander, was good at it too, and she values strategy, order, and discipline much the same way he does.

She's the one who suggests sparring. It makes sense; he has the laser bo and she wields her lightsabers. They need each other to practice that particular kind of combat.

It's a partnership that's pragmatic, simple, clear cut. It's what he looks most forward to in the day, and at the end, what he remembers best.

And he asks her one day if she considers him a friend. She responds "Of course," so quickly, and looks as though she wants to say something else as well, and chooses not to.

He's not thinking about what she didn't say, too caught up in the bliss of having a friend, something so rare for him.

...

He thinks he has a chance of a friend in Oliver as well. Otherwise he wouldn't have so easily offered to hand over credit that would be rightfully his.

But friends know how to bury their pride, and though he's uncertain giving Skylar back her powers will have the affect Oliver wants, helping him out is what's important.

Ahsoka is certain getting Skylar's powers back will never change her feelings towards Oliver, but the whole scheme amuses her, so she hangs over Chase's shoulder while he works, watching the two superheroes across the room with an entertained smile.

She's not smiling when an overjoyed Skylar throws her arms around Chase in a hug, but stands behind Oliver with a similar scowl on her face.

He mentions later that he didn't expect her to be upset for Oliver, considering she never expected the plan to work in the first place. She's startled by the comment, but ends up shrugging it off. Saying that wasn't it, but that it was nothing really anyways.

It's a strange answer, but there's no point in trying to decipher it.

...

He's in trouble.

The realization dawns at a moment that should be as inconsequential as the next. He's standing off to the side, leaning against the wall. Oliver and Kaz are to his left, having a clearer view of the sparring room. This lesson is primarily for their benefit.

Skylar and Ahsoka are doing a hand-to-hand combat demonstration, though the teaching aspect has devolved into more of a competition between the two girls. It's clear from the Chalderan's face that she did not expect this to be as unevenly matched as it is.

Ahsoka easily outpaces the other alien, practically dancing out of her reach. It's fascinating to watch her quickly gain the upper hand, her movements fluid, graceful, and eventually pin her opponent to the ground.

Only it's not just her form that he's watching, noticing the subtle expressions flickering across her face, the curve of her lekku as they bend and drape with her movements, and how under these lights her skin takes on a pinkish hue.

He compliments her victory, of course, and doesn't realize that he's been staring a bit too long at her clear blue eyes until she comments on it.

He feels the heat flush his cheeks, and realizes then that he's majorly screwed this up. He's allowed himself develop a crush on his only close friend on this damn team, thereby risking ruining the friendship entirely.

And he prays fervently that she hasn't noticed.

...

Sometimes being with her is easy, just like it was before his feelings for her became complicated. Other times, he becomes a flustered, almost panicky mess. At least she doesn't seem annoyed by it, amused definitely, but not irritated.

Regardless, he's desperate to gain better control over his emotions, to bury his romantic attractions somewhere they can't resurrect. He distracts himself with anything and everything he can.

That becomes infinitely harder once he gives up the role of Mission Leader. And his desperation only escalates. A part of him whispers that trying to completely reinvent his entire personality because he's terrified of a crush, is not only illogical, it's borderline insane.

In any case, it doesn't help. He doesn't know why he was stupid enough to suggest he and Kaz should enter the drone race. Every minute working conjures a direct comparison to the drones he and Ahsoka had been modifying that day months ago, and he can barely bury his increased irritation behind the smile he's continually forced.

Not only is he stupid, he's also cursed. Because, at the moment, he doesn't have a scientific explanation for the poetic turn of Kaz trying to claim a little petty revenge using one of those very security drones.

He tries not to think, not a single, damn thought, the whole time he's carrying that crashed drone back to Mission Command. He's so focused on not thinking that he almost collides into Oliver, another friendship he's managed to completely wreck.

But it's strange how healing an honest apology can really be.

He thinks Oliver believes him finally when he says that there is no 'him and Skylar', that he doesn't think of her that way. And he almost adds 'that it's always been Ahsoka', but a one-sided crush is not something.

...

"You've been avoiding me."

It's a statement as well as a question, one that he's been avoiding more than he's been avoiding her. And he can't tell her the truth.

"I haven't…"

"You ditched me to build a drone with Kaz," she cuts off, and the hurt in her voice catches him off guard.

His stomach sinks. "I'm sorry. I just…got so caught up with someone actually wanting to spend time with me…"

"We already spend a lot of time together. At least we did."

"I know, I know. We work amazing together. I just never had someone think I was fun before."

Ahsoka tilts her head, confused by his statement. "What do you mean? I've always enjoyed being with you. It's not just work."

That surprises him. "You do?"

"Obviously," she replies, as though it should be. And it probably would've been to anyone but him.

...

He offers to make it up to her with frozen yogurt. She considers that more than fair compensation, and as they're standing in line he realizes that this is the first time the two of them, just the two of them, have actually gone out and done something together.

So instead of following that line of wishful thinking, he starts rambling about sugar-free desserts, the benefits and downsides, listing the differences between sugar alcohols and other sugar substitutes…

She smirks and rolls her eyes in response to his lecture, and ends up filling her cup with chocolate and strawberry swirl, drenching it in syrup, sprinkles, and crushed-up Oreos.

He barely fills his halfway with sugar-free vanilla and tops with a few chunks of pineapple.

They sit down at a table together, and he's surprised at how freeing the conversation is, as though he had been drowning in her absence and he's finally breathing fresh air again.

He never thought being around someone could feel so natural, easy. To not have to be on his guard for comments on his appearance, likability.

Ahsoka still calls him 'Genius', but it sounds more like an endearment than the jab it used to be.

...

In truth, he had no expectations for this frozen yogurt outing. It's frozen yogurt. But he certainly didn't expect to see two familiar faces seat themselves a few tables over from them.

He's about to get up and greet them when Ahsoka lays a hand on his arm. He stares at where her fingers are touching his skin, as though the contact burns. "Wait," she says, and it takes a moment for him to shift his gaze back to his friends to see what she does.

It's a strange thing to be so hyperaware about her hand on his arm, while he watches Skylar intertwine hers with Kaz's.

"And Oliver was worried about me and Skylar," he remarks under his breath.

...

He and Ahsoka both agree not to mention what they've seen. It's none of their business, and when the truth does eventually come out, there'll be a maelstrom to deal with.

It comes sooner than either of them expected.

Chase finds himself in Mission Command, fighting the urge to clamp his hands over his ears as he listens to Oliver's ranting.

Eventually, he has enough.

"Kaz did not steal from you. She was never yours to begin with."

The silence that descends over his friends makes him doubt if he should have said it a different way.

Oliver swallows. "That's not the point."

"That's exactly the point."

Oliver shakes his head. "You don't understand."

"An unrequited crush? I think everyone gets that."

"Yeah, but the girl you're in love with actually loves you back. I've never had that."

Chase stares, trying to make sense of what Oliver just said. "What do you mean?"

His friend raises an eyebrow. "I was talking about you and Ahsoka."

You and Ahsoka. And those words are like an echo, like a ringing in his ears.

No, no. "We're not in love."

Oliver huffs a laugh. "Really? Because the two of you certainly don't act like you're just friends."

...

He's well aware his social awareness and skills are severely lacking, and sometimes it takes him far too long to come to terms with his own feelings. And he also knows that right now he needs to stop acting like a complete idiot.

Not acting like a complete idiot is a lot harder than it looks.

His heart is pounding so hard in his chest that it drowns out the sound of his own footsteps.

He finds her in the kitchenette, getting a glass of water. She looks up, smiles when she sees him. "Hey."

"Hey." He swallows, sticking his hands in his pockets. "I was wondering if you'd like to go see a movie this weekend…"

"Sounds fun."

"…as a date."

The moment it takes for her to acknowledge that last part feels like an eternity. A smirk slides up the togruta's face.

"I was wondering how long it was gonna take for you to finally ask."

...

The moment they return to the penthouse, they're greeted with Bree's long, annoyed groan.

His sister is laying on the couch with an air of absolute defeatism. Oliver is sulking behind her.

"What's wrong with you two?" he asks.

Bree makes a dramatic gesture towards the dining table where Kaz and Skylar are giggling, flirting, and peppering each other's faces with kisses. "Them," she pronounces. "I may enjoy watching two lovebirds as much as the next romantic, but they have been at it, for hours."

"Sounds frustrating," Ahsoka remarks, an amused smile glimmering.

"You have no idea." Oliver bemoans.

Chase laughs. "Well, as much as I can sympathize. It's only gonna get worse."

Bree frowns. "What do you mean?" she asks while Oliver simultaneously goes, "Oh no."

But Chase isn't listening anymore, too busy slipping a hand around Ahsoka's waist and pressing his lips to hers.