"Nah there was a leak in your growth chamber!" Jesse exclaimed, "you really think so?"

Hardcase pretended to laugh off the joke, "Once we get a break, I'm telling you, I know I can get a cute girl to talk to me!"

The boys of the 501st were being sent out to survey a planet for survivors that was recently ransacked by separatist troops. They usually pass the time in transit down to the planet joking with each other and romance was always a hot topic. What else would you expect from a group of single men?

Hardcase was frequently targeted. He always played around with the joke, but sometimes, it really did get to him. There was a leak in hose growth chamber in early development, so he tended to be a little more hyperactive than most clones, which set him apart from the group. Regardless of the joking, they were brothers and cared for each other endlessly. 

Not too long after they left the Jedi cruiser, they were on the surface and sent in groups of two to the small villages. Hardcase and Kix were paired up. 

Instead of the usual joking around, they decided to have a serious talk about the war. 

"I just want it to be over," Hardcase sighed, distracted by his thoughts but still focused on this mission.

Kix shrugged his shoulders, "I see what you're saying but, in the end, the only reason we are here is this war." 

The two entered a pretty run down building before Hardcase could comment, "but, have you ever thoug-" he was cut off by a sound. 

Without any hesitation, Hardcase and Kix drew their weapons, proceeding with caution. 

"There's definitely someone down there," Kix murmured, stopping in his tracks and peering though a small hole in the floor. Below, he saw you, talking to someone on a hologram. 

"It's a girl," Kix whispered to Hardcase, standing back from the small hole.

"Well? Should we go help her?" Hardcase replied, taking his turn to look through the hole. "She is on a hologram, what side is she on?"

Kix scratched the back of head, "I've heard there are some freedom fighters on this planet, maybe she's one?"

"There's only one way to find out," Hardcase remarked, finding a way to get to the floor below.

"I've gotta go, I hear something," you told your friend, ending the call rapidly, and finding a hiding place behind some old supply boxes. There was a crack in one of the boxes that allowed you to see the entrance to the room. Not too long later, two armed men entered the room, their weapons drawn. "Clones?" you though to yourself. You knew the Republic Army was trying to scout the planet after the Separatists took over, but you never thought they would find their way to some old abandoned town with a population of one you called home. 

One of the clones groaned, "Come on, you saw her down here too, right?" one of them said to the other. You figured you couldn't keep hiding much longer. 

Slowly, you stood up from behind the boxes, "Please don't shoot!" you begged, noticeably shaking. The clones didn't lower their weapons. "Please, I'm just a freedom fighter. I live here," you continued, "take off your helmets, show me you're not one of those nasty droids."

Hearing the fear in your voice, one of them took off their helmet, "I am so sorry ma'am. I'm Kix and my partner here is Hardcase," he looked over at Hardcase, "Hardcase!" he repeated, noticing he still had his helmet on.

He quickly shook his head and took his helmet off, "I- I'm sorry. I'm Hardcase." You noticed his cheeks were slightly flushed with pink. 

Kix looked confused at him at first, then looked back to you, "We are with the Grand Army of the Republic. We will be more than willing to take you to our Jedi Generals, they can help you with whatever you need."

"Uh-" you began to say. You looked at Hardcase who has had his eyes glued on you since he took his helmet off. "is he smiling at me?" You smiled back at him, "that would be lovely, let me go gather my things," you reluctantly responded, walking backwards to the room with your things. 

Once you were in the room, Kix went over and playfully punched Hardcase on the shoulder. "Really?" he asked with attitude. 

"Dude," he finally let out, his jaw dropping, "tell me she isn't stunning!"

Kix laughed, "Yeah, the chances are higher that General Skywalker will make a plan that isn't reckless! Good luck!!" Kix was trying his hardest to contain his laughter, but he just couldn't.

"A man can dream, right?" Hardcase tried to laugh it off, but deep down, his heart was about to explode out of his chest. He was just that mesmerized by you.

"You're right! Dogma would so happy to see her pick him before you!" Kix begin full on exploding with laughter. 

Hardcase put his helmet on to hid his hurt by this comment, "I mean, I am clone after all," he sighed. "Do you think we should knock on the door?"

"I'm ready. Sorry I took so long," you apologized, bursting out of your room, "I had to send a quick transmission to a good friend of mine, telling her I was leaving."

Kix raised an eyebrow, "Did you say you were leaving with the Republic?"

"Oh no!" You gasped, "I figured you guys were all secret and all!"

"Smart girl uh-" Kix began to say, "I believe we've never gotten your name."

"(Y/N)," you replied, upset by the fact that Hardcase put his helmet back on. 

"Well, (Y/N), we better get going," Hardcase said, following Kix out of the room. 

The walk to meet the Jedi generals wasn't too long, only a few miles. You enjoyed the small talk you were making with Hardcase and Kix along the way. But, you just could not keep your eyes off Hardcase. Something about him made you heart skip a beat, even though he and Kix were clones. You felt bad about lying to them earlier since they seemed so kind, but there was no way you would tell the truth.  Truth was, you rushed into your room and looked at your self in the mirror, gawking over the attractive man that just took his helmet off in front of you. His face tattoos were just so intriguing and his smile was so, so perfect.

"You okay with that?" Hardcase asked, smiling at you.

His husky voice distracted you from what he was talking about, "Can you repeat that? I'm so sorry. I completely missed that!"

Hardcase let out a little laugh, "Are you okay with going to one of our bases for the night? Our generals have left to track down a Sith on the planet. We have a place for you to stay!"

You nodded, "That would be lovely."

Soon you got to the base and the two men showed you to your room for the night. You chatted with them for a few minutes before they left you to be on your own. 

"Just wait till Jesse hears about this!!" Kix roared, almost falling over in laughter.

Hardcase had no comment as he walked into the 501st barracks with Kix.

"Oh brother have I got news for you!" Kix laughed, rushing up to Jesse, "Hardcase ol'boy here has got a crush!"

Jesse spit out his water, "Hardcase no!"

"What?" Hardcase questioned, thinking Jesse's response was unnecessary. 

"If she's blind, deaf, and maybe even half dead, you might have a shot brother!" Jesse cried, making Kix erupt with laughter. 

Hardcase tried his hardest to hid the hurt. "Ah it's not a crush. She'd make a good friend, right Kix."

Meanwhile, while Hardcase was trying to dodge the verbal bullets of his friend he was clueless to what was going on in your room. 

"Girl I'm telling you! I've never met a more handsome man in my life!" you smiled to your friend on your hologram. 

You friend started squealing "Tell me ALL about him!"

"Well, he is a clone trooper, but hear me out! His personality is just so adorable and he has the cutest laugh and his smile was just lighting up my day and his tattoos are so unique and-"

"Girl slow down!! He sounds great!" she laughed, "but I need to go! Catch you some other time!" You hung up and sat down on the bed. "I wonder when I see him next?" It was getting late so you decided to get your self settled for sleep. Just as you laid your head on the pillow, there was a knock on the door. You quickly got up to see who it was. You opened the door to Hardcase.

"Hi Hardcase, what's up?" you asked, smiling from ear to ear. You could tell something was bothering him since his eyes were a little bloodshot.

As his cheeks began to get red he spoke, "Uh-, I forgot to ask you if you wanted anything to eat, the mess hall is close. I'm going to grab something now if you would like to come with."

Then, the butterflies in the stomach hit you like a ton of bricks, "Yeah," you barely were able to get out. You followed Hardcase to the mess hall and he got food for the both of you.

"I hope you liked it," he smiled, "it's not much, but you deserve it."

"What?" you laughed, "I deserve it?"

"Uh-" Hardcase stuttered, "You're a freedom fighter. So you're strong, brave and you're beautiful, so yeah, uh, you deserve some food"

You dropped your fork and your jaw,  "Did you jus-"

Hardcase bit his lip, "I didn't mean to offend you I just wanted to-"

"You didn't!" you perked up, "I just. You're a soldier, so you're the strong, brave and handsome one."

His eyes widened. "Oh it looks like you finished your food, let me clean this up!" he quickly let out, grabbing the dishes and putting them into the return. As he was doing that, you sighed with discouragement. You though you were maybe getting close to something romantic. 

"It's getting late (Y/N),  you should get some rest," he bit his lip, leading you out of the empty mess hall. Once you got to your room, you stopped, turned and faced him. 

"I'm sorry," you sighed, looking down at your feet. 

"For?" he questioned, placing his finger under your chin to lift your face. 

You stared into his perfect golden brown eyes, "I'm sorry if I made a comment that disappointed you."

Hardcase sighed, "No no, you didn't. It's just, I mean, I meant my comment I made to you."

Your eyes lit up, "Really?"

He let out a small laugh, "yes! I just haven't experienced a gorgeous girl before and I'm sorry, Kamino doesn't teach us this."

You smiled and shook your head slightly, "well me neither, except, Kamino hasn't taught me anything."

Hardcase's cheeks completely mimicked the color of shirt, red, "Goodnight (Y/N)," he smiled, grabbing a hold of your hands. 

"Goodnight Hardcase," you smiled back. 

He kept looking at you then finally let out, "Am I supposed to do something here or-"

You shut him up with a small kiss. Slowly, you both pulling back looking into each others eyes, "Sweet dreams," you blushed before walking into your room. 

Hardcase turned around, shocked with what happened, but he became even more shocked when he saw Jesse and Kix peeking around the corner. 

"There is NO WAY that just happened," Jesse said, his jaw dropped. 

Hardcase smiled humbly and walked past his brothers, knowing damn well they envied him. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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