Clone Trooper Hardcase - Blog Posts

A little late to the party. Was hoping to get this out for May the Fourth, but eh, such is life...

Just a continuation of a ridiculous little comic that I made last year and was recently reminded about. Don't mind my scuffed sense of humor, feel free to just keep scrolling. XD

Part #1 - May the Fourth Be With You 2023

Part #2 - Revenge of the Sixth 2023

Part #3 - May the Fourth Be With You 2024:

Do you think this matches their dynamic?

My favorite Star Wars characters in no particular order, categorized clone to non-clone; lemme know yours!

Kix

Hound

Fox

Dogma

Echo

Tech

Crosshair

Rex

Howzer

Gregor

Hardcase

Grey

99

Waxer

Boil

Odd Ball

Gearshift

The clone with Gearshift

Numa

Din Djarin/The Mandalorian

Finn/FN-2187

Kanan/Caleb

Ezra

Cal

Plo Koon

Quinlan Vos

Kallus

When rewatching this arc this scene is my favorite before disaster hits

I realize I’ve been a fool in not turning more Supernatural quotes into incorrect TCW quotes. A fool, I tell you.

Echo: Fives. You’re my brother, and I love you. But you are a great big bag of dicks.

——

Dooku: But I forget, you two are, at best, functional morons.

Anakin: Hey, you’re functioning... morons... moron...

Obi-Wan: -_-

——

Rex, after getting his chip out: What’s happening?

Ahsoka: Oh nothing. Just the end of the world!

——

Fives: Plan C tanked.

Echo: Maybe you should try Plan D for Dumbass

Fives: D:<

——

Boil: ‘Kids are the best’? You don’t even like kids!

Waxer: I love kids!

Boil: Oh yeah? Name three children that you even know.

Waxer: ...

Boil:

Waxer: I’m thinking!

——

Hardcase: I can’t do this, man, I can’t live on rabbit food! I’m a warrior!

Dogma: Hardcase. You’ll be fine.

Hardcase: You don’t know that!

Late-nite clone musings…

You ever notice how when someone teases Hardcase, he just kind of looks at the floor and goes quiet? Like, he seems like the kind of guy who can give a good ribbing and take it right back. But it’s very obvious he doesn’t like it. When Jesse razzes him about looking sick after coming out of the Umbaran fighter, he gives Jesse an annoyed look (which could be read as amused annoyed, I’ll concede, but…), and when Tup points out that Hardcase wasn’t flying so much as “avoiding crashing”, he grimaces and turns away (very obviously upset). He gets defensive and apologetic when Fives tells him to take it easy.

Actually, Hardcase gets teasingly cut down a lot in the Umbara arc. Jesse does it for sure, Fives a little (even though they’ve only just met!), Tup does it because he’s trying to fit in, and even Captain Rex gets a jab in there. Hardcase puts on a show of bravado––”We can do this.” “It wasn’t so tough.”––and there’s evidence that he really does enjoy the adrenaline rush, but I think many of his reactions are just that: a show. I think he’s afraid of not being good enough, capable enough, and tries to cover that by being overly enthusiastic and daring. He grumbles when Fives tells him to figure out how to use the tree to get over the sensor wall, like it’s something he doesn’t want to do, but is he really just covering his anxiety that he might not be able to adequately do what Fives is asking?

This is just a thought, but it makes me wonder: Would Hardcase have pulled the stunt that he did in the supply ship if he’d gotten a little more support from his battalion? That was, really, the biggest way to prove he was in fact good enough.

SOOO I was rewatching the Clone Wars like you do when your depressed and I saw this :D

Note to anyone who needs it: don’t let your lesbian friend who’s never watched Star Wars rate clones

(they will be brutal)

Posting this here because people on tiktok got really mad

For example:

Story behind the contact name: in high school they forgot how to spell diesel and wrote ‘desil’ instead

Hey, I didn't have the motivation to make a full illustration or do anything the may the 4th, but wanted to doodle. So I thought it would be fun to make some Chibis. I've never really done this style before but had fun with it, and have a bunch of sketches of other clones. These were super inspired by @lychgate and I would recommend checking them out! Anyways enjoy mah 501st doodles.

I really banged this one out in one sitting. I sat down and began this illustration  in the morning, and now its night time. The results are worth the wrist pain. 

I've never drawn a 79s scene before and I honestly think I've gotta draw more battalions chilling bc this was so much fun, and gave an excuse to play with different filters and layer tricks. I'm just happy to draw happy clones, circle of happiness. 

edit: I now realize that the boys look a little paler than intended so ill probably come back and fix that next time I get some free time. consider this a WIP now :)

Clone Wars characters as things I’ve heard people say

Pt.10

“Talking about peoples future working in a bowling alley” - Thire

“Holy you actually filled them in and payed attention,must have been a good day” - Fox

“You passing this course your commanders will be very impressed” - Alpha 17

“Holy crap balls” - Padme

“Mummy and daddy giraffes” - Hardcase

“I having a bad day and I’m going to murderer my” - Wolffe

“I disappreciate you” - Sinker

“Wowo we don’t call people turdnuggets” - Plo Koon

“I want to learn how to make crystal meth” - Jesse

“Rex do you want to know the three times I almost died today?” - Echo

“My knuckles are on crack” - Bly

“My lines are straighter than a gay person” - Ponds

“If I had 9 lives I would utilize one of them to kill myself in front of all of you” - Rex

“When a law bills a sign” - Fives

“It’s not mail man anymore it’s Amazon delivery man” - Anakin

“Don’t question the woman’s choices just help her find the daddy” - Ahsoka

“Honest to god” - Obi-Wan

“I keep thinking their jerseys say cocaine” - Quinlin Vos

“Back in my day we made posters out of cool aid man” - Yoda

“That’s kind of fruity in a straight way” - Cody

“I have it in the back of my head but I can’t get it to the tip of my tongue” - Tup

Clone Wars characters as stuff I’ve heard people say

Pt 2

“How did I get spaghetti on my hand?” - Kix

“You can’t stay mad at Tup.” -Fives

“See I can’t speak… I no English” - Hardcase

“Captain, Jesse is verbally abusing water” - Echo

“… I have a cougar at my house” - Jesse

“This looks like my 7th grade badminton tournament” - Ahsoka

“Don’t mess with an emo” - Anakin

“Fuck…ow” - Obi wan

“I have pizza coming and I’m high” - Fox

“I hate Americans so much” - Cody

“Where do babies come from?” - Tup

“Bad parenting.” - Rex

I don't need to explain this masterpiece

Remember how adorable Hardcase was? Ahhh good times.

fives: *excited* hardcase, jesse & I have a joke for you

hardcase: i’m ready

fives: the council finally found out who’s been committing crimes, but it was a tough case to crack

jesse: *face palms*

hardcase: i don’t get it

jesse: HARDcase to crack, fives, we went over this A HUNDRED TIMES

“Fives, I need you to go to sleep early tonight” Rex said lowly as he had pulled the bearded man aside. “As you wish, Captain. May I ask why?” “We’re taking the boys on a surprise vacation and I need to count on you to drive us tomorrow” the blonde clone grinned. 

AKA Rex decides to take his boys on a break and plans the whole night for their leave

SONG and GIF Version under the cut

[Song: I Hate Me - Mosimann] GIF Version: 

trouble in the medical bay

Kix walked back into the medic bay after waking for from his force mandatory nap only to see a group of people, vod and Jedi alike all covered in smoke and clothes or armor was tattered.

Kix: "what in the maker did YOU ALL do."

Fives: Well... you se-

echo: it was fives's fault!

fives: ECHO! your the one who suggested the idea to hard case

Jesse: kix I'm innocent in this I swear!

Kix: Jesse that's banthrashit and you know it

hardcase: fives you and Jesse and echo helped! if I go down you come down with me!

anikin: in my defense I didn't know that's why they asked me for all that before they pulled the stunt I swear!

Rex: I simply got caught In the blast when I went to confront them.

WHILE this is going on ashoka just escapes through the vents as she is namely why echo got the ideas as well as the reason her master was to distracted to truly use his one and a half braincell to think it through and why it took rex so long to get there. KIx meanwhile just deals with the other idiots in his medbay and refuses to let any of them our not even for paper work or a Jedi council meeting only later would he realize ashoka is not there...oh well togurta hunt later.

501st Shenanigans -Incorrect Quotes Rex: A mouse!

Jesse, pulling out a knife: Go back to where you came from or I'll stab you.

Hardcase, pulling out a frying pan: It'll make a nice meal!

Kix, giving the mouse cheese: You deserve a treat, little guy.

Echo, gasping: It's Ratatouille!

Fives: His name is Remi, dummy.

Rex: ...I was going to say to just trap it and throw it out the window... what is wrong with you people.

Rex: So, did everyone learn their lesson?

Fives: No.

Echo: I did not.

Hardcase: I may have actually forgotten one.

Kix: Also no.

Jesse: Oh good, neither did I.

Rex: *Exhausted sigh*

Echo: Fives and I have the kind of easy chemistry where we finish each other's-

Fives: Sentences.

Echo: Don't interrupt me.

Fives: If there's going to be a big dramatic scene, wait until I get back.

Echo: Of course. I can't flip this table by myself.

Hardcase: I've already sent good vibes your way… they’re coming. There’s nothing you can do to stop them.

Dogma: This is the most threatening way I’ve ever been cheered up.

Fives: Don’t worry, I know exactly what I’m doing. Everything is going to be fine!

Tup: How can you still say that?

Fives: Because sometimes, when things get tough, denial is all we have.

Kix: Sorry it took me so long to bail you out of jail

Jesse: No it’s my fault, I shouldn’t’ve used my one phone call to prank call the police

Echo: Remember! Curiosity killed the cat!

Fives: Yes, but you forget that satisfaction brought it back. So yes, Hardcase, go find out if that thing can catch fire!

Echo: You're a bad influence.

Fives: And you don't know your sayings.

number one chaos trio, all dressed up

(thanks @writer-reader-skater for this idea)

Self care Sunday

Pairing: TupxGN!reader

Warnings: none

A/N hello everyone!! This is my first time posting my stories on tumblr and I hope you enjoy!!! I had so much fun writing this and I can’t wait to write more!! Enjoy!!

Divider from @vodika-vibes

The 501st was on shore leave on Coruscant for the next two weeks. You were overjoyed because your boyfriend, Tup, was Planet-side. You received an invitation to join Tup and his brothers for game night at their barracks. And of course you said yes, you got to spend time with your beloved and his brothers. So that’s how you found yourself curled up next to Tup with sabacc cards in your hand in the 501st barracks. You were all pretty drunk but you were in for a night of games and brotherly fun.

A collected group of groans sounded from the group of boys as Captain Rex placed down his winning cards.

“You have to be cheating!” Fives exclaims frustratedly.

“You’re just upset you lost all your credits two rounds in” Kix points out, with a roll of his eyes.

“It’s not my fault you’re a sore loser Fives” the captain says, a shit-eating grin adorned his face as he reached out to collect his credits. And that’s when the group erupted into bickering.

You let out a sigh of content as you snuggled closer into Tup’s side as the brothers broke into yelling and accusations. You felt Tup chuckle next to you and you looked up to see auburn brown eyes staring back. Tup had let his hair out so his curls framed his face angelically. You stared at him for what seemed like forever until you tore your gaze back to watch the chaos unfold. 

A small tap on your shoulder distracted you though as you looked back at your lover. Tup jerked his head lightly towards the refresher and you immediately knew what he meant. You nodded back and sat up. 

The two of you waited until it was a full on brawl so they were all distracted before you snuck towards the back. Within seconds, you were inside the refresher with the door sliding shut behind you.

“I’ll get the products, you get the robes” you instruct, movie to a cupboard on the wall. Tup gives a nod before moving to do his own thing. After a minute, you have robes, face masks, cucumbers, skincare and hair masks laid out with a diffuser sitting to the side.  

You both slip into the fluffy robe and she let out a small sigh at feeling the soft fabric against your skin. Tup walks over and holds up the hair mask, turning you around so he could be ever the gentleman and put it in your hair. 

You heard the squirt of the product and then felt Tup run his soft hands in your hair, being so careful, like he thought you were glass. You make a noise of content and he massages it into your skull and your knees feel weak at the feeling. 

Ever too quickly, he detangles his hands from your hair and settles it into a bun stop your head. You smile and turn to your adorable boyfriend before taking the hair mask in your hand and getting to work on his hair. 

His hair was soft as ever and you felt a bit of jealously at how gorgeous his locks were. You worked the mask into his hair and hear Tup let out a small sigh of content. You stifle a laugh at the cute noise and continue to massage his head before finishing up. 

You pull your hands away and before he can stop himself, Tup lets out a small whine from the loss of contact. This makes you giggle as you bend down to pick up the fancy packaging of the face masks. 

Handing one to Tup, you tear open the packet and take the gooey face mask into your hands. You quickly unfold it and settle the cold paper against your skin. Immediately, relaxation and refreshment wash over you and you crack another smile. You loved have self care days with the love of your life; as rare as they are. 

Settling yourself on the ground, leaning against the metal wall, you pick up two slices cucumbers and settle them on your eyes before leaning your head against the cool barrier. A hand crawls into your lap, lacing its fingers with yours and you grin, squeezing Tup’s hand.

With a deep inhale, you breathe in the flowery scent from the diffuser, trying to figure out what exactly is the scent. Maybe meiloorons mixed with an alderaanian flam rose? Or perhaps some barelia flowers combined with spine barrel. You couldn’t tell but whatever it was, you loved it. 

A mix of voices broke you out of your trance as they approached the door.

“What do you think they’re doing in there?”

“Maybe they’re-“

“Shut it, Hardcase!”

“Tup’s too innocent for that” 

“Just shush!”

The voices come to a stop as you feel a few presence outside the door. With a small click, the door swishes open and move your head, causing the cucumbers to tumble down your face. You feel Tup do the same and you both come to look at Tup’s brothers’ staring at you with wide eyes.

“What are you doing?” 

“What’s that on your face?”

“What the kriff is going on?”

“It smells nice”

The voices overlap eachother and before you can stop yourself, you let out a small giggle at the shock on the boys’ faces, having never experienced a self care day.

“It’s self care” you explain, “it helps your hair and skin. It’s also meant to relax you.”

Fives lets out a little ‘ohhh’ as the others nod along, still a little confused. 

Tup sighs and shakes his head before resting his head back against the wall.

“Can I have some!” 

“I wanna try” 

“Is there a robe for me?”

“Shove over”

And yeah, the fighting continued. But if you were honest, you wouldn’t change it for anything. 

Giving Tup’s hand a quick squeeze, you lean your head on his shoulder and watch the brotherly banter.

Yeah, you can’t wait for the next self care day.

*Hardcase was knocked out on a mission and wakes up in the medbay*

Hardcase *blinded by an over head light and can only see a vague figure over him*: Maker? Is that you?

Kix *running on -4 hours sleep, 6 cups of caff and spite. Completely deadpan*: Yes

Fives is on the floor wheezing

Echo is trying to hold Fives up (it did not work)

Jesse is wondering why he was worried, Hardcase sounds fine to him

Rex is too tired to correct Kix

Okay, so I've been thinking a lot about this and I need some reassurance from the needs out there who can help me decide on this.

I've wanted a tattoo that has special meaning to me and I've been critical with myself to only get it if I've wanted the same tattoo (same design, same colour, same placement) for over two years. That way I know i really want it and it's not a spur of the moment situation.

And the thing is I've recently fallen back into the pit of despair and joy that is Star Wars - the Clone wars (🥰🥰) and need help deciding;

Do I want "Live to fight another day" in English or Aurebesh 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Plz help meeee!🙏🙏

Rex, walking into their house: Hello, people who do not live here.

Fives: Hey.

Echo: Hi.

Tup: Hello.

Jesse: Hey!

Rex: I gave you the key to my place for emergencies only!

Hardcase: We were out of Doritos.

Echo had a nightmare about a world where Fives and Rex are the type of clones NOT to check the fallen for signs of life, and he was left behind at the citadel to be captured and turned into a droid.

Good thing that isn’t this world. In this world we listen to music and express our thoughts with those we trust and love.

The practice to draw clones continues! Not pictured: the couple hours of crying as I had to rewatch things like Rex being shot and the Umbara arc in order to figure out what clone under-blacks look like (interestingly there are three versions and I decided I’d combine them). ALSO I promise I have other happy comic ideas 😂 but for now it’s hurt/comfort clone hours. Please enjoy! And stay tuned for more!

Also please note: for the most accurate listening experience on what Fives would sound similar to while singing this, listen to the version of ‘Over the Rainbow’ by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

Hello!!! Hopefully I won’t bother you but i loved the 501 x reader where they all are crushing on her!!! Do you think there’s the possibility that we could get a part two? I just want them all to be happy together -but a little angsty moments are great too! Thank you and i love your writing! Best clone scenario page on tumblrrr 🥰🥰🥰

Of course! A part 2 for this fic has been requested nearly 10 times.

I may need to turn this into a series. There will definitely be a part 3 at least 🫶

⸻

“Hearts of the 501st” pt.2

501st x Reader

You were still reeling from the contact.

Rex’s hand, steady at your waist, had felt like it burned through your tunic. Not with heat, but with something more dangerous—something forbidden. And it had lingered just a second too long. Enough for you to realize he wanted to hold you there. Enough for him to realize that he couldn’t.

Now he wouldn’t meet your eyes. Not during the rest of the rotation. Not at the debrief. Not even in the mess later that night.

Hardcase had gone back to his usual boisterous self, none the wiser, but Kix glanced between you and Rex with the subtle awareness of someone too observant for his own good. You tried to brush it off. Smile. Pretend. But it was like breathing around broken glass.

Later that night, you found yourself staring up at the ceiling of your quarters, eyes wide open, body still.

And then the door chimed.

You sat up fast, heart racing. “Come in,” you called, voice steady despite the storm inside.

It was Rex.

He stepped in and the door hissed shut behind him. No armor—just blacks. He looked exhausted. And maybe something else. Haunted, almost.

“You shouldn’t be here,” you said quietly, more to yourself than to him.

“I know.”

Silence stretched between you. And then he finally looked at you.

“I didn’t mean to cross a line,” he said, voice low, gravelly. “Back in the training room.”

“You didn’t,” you lied.

Because the truth was worse. He didn’t cross it—you wanted him to. You still did.

He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “It’s not supposed to happen like this. You’re a Jedi. I’m… I’m a soldier.”

“You’re Rex.”

That made him pause.

You stood up, crossing the small space between you, pulse thundering.

He didn’t touch you. He didn’t move. But the way he looked at you—like you were the last light in the galaxy—that was enough to break you.

“We’re not allowed this,” he said, finally.

“I know.”

But you also both knew something else, something unspoken: if the war didn’t kill you, this would.

⸻

You thought things might settle after that night with Rex. But they didn’t. If anything, the tension only thickened. Because it wasn’t just Rex watching you a little too long anymore.

It was Kix, catching your arm after a mission with fingers that lingered too long on your wrist as he checked for injuries.

“You push yourself too hard,” he murmured, voice low as his eyes searched yours. “Someday, you won’t come back. And I…” He trailed off before finishing, but the weight of what he didn’t say clung to the air between you.

It was Fives, who cracked jokes louder than usual when Rex entered the room, his laugh a little too sharp. When he caught you alone, he dropped the act.

“You know he’s not the only one who cares, right?” he said, eyes dark with something more serious than you were used to seeing in him. “He’s not the only one who notices.”

It was Jesse, who always sat beside you at the mess, quietly pushing your favorite ration pack your way without saying anything. You caught him watching you once, and when you met his gaze, he didn’t look away.

“You deserve better than this,” he said, voice tight. “Better than silence. Better than having to hide.”

Hardcase didn’t hide a damn thing. He wore his affection on his sleeve—laughing too loud, standing too close, finding excuses to spar. “You know I’d follow you anywhere, right?” he asked one evening, sweaty and bruised, grinning. “No questions asked.”

Tup was quieter, but it was there. In the way he always made sure you were covered. In the way he sat across from you during ship travel, stealing glances when he thought you weren’t looking. You caught him once, and he blushed so hard he looked like he might combust.

Then there was Dogma, who clung to rules like they were life rafts—but his devotion to you bent those rules every damn day. He flinched when others got too close. Spoke up when he thought someone pushed you too hard. And when you called him out on it, he just said, “You matter. More than they think.”

They were a unit. Brothers. But when it came to you, that unity was starting to fray.

You could feel it in the silences.

In the way they hesitated to speak freely when Rex was in the room. In the way Jesse squared off subtly when Fives stood too close. In the tension crackling in every quiet corridor.

You were the Jedi they shouldn’t have fallen for. The light they wanted to protect. But you were also one person—and they all knew that.

And maybe the worst part?

You didn’t know who you were falling for.

⸻

The op on Vanqor should’ve been simple: recon the outpost, confirm Separatist movement, exfil. No drama. No losses.

But nothing was simple anymore.

You split the squad in two. Rex led one team, you led the other. Standard formation. Except the tension was anything but standard.

From the start, Fives was running his mouth.

“Oh, so Rex gets to babysit the high ground,” he said as he checked his rifle. “How convenient.”

“Because I’m the Captain,” Rex snapped without looking up. “And because someone needs to stay focused on the mission.”

“Focused?” Jesse muttered under his breath. “That’s rich coming from you.”

You glanced at them all sharply. “Cut the chatter.”

They did—sort of. Kix shot Jesse a look. Jesse shot Fives one back. Even Tup, usually calm, was twitchier than usual. And Dogma was walking like he was seconds away from snapping someone’s neck.

Still, the op moved forward.

You took Hardcase, Tup, and Jesse with you. Rex had the others. Two klicks into the canyon, comms lit up.

Rex: “General, got movement near the ridge. Confirmed clankers. Looks like a patrol.”

You: “Copy. Proceeding to secondary overlook.”

Then static. Followed by—

Fives: “We’ve got this, General. Don’t worry, I’ll keep him from throwing himself in front of a blaster for you.”

There was a sharp click before Rex cut him off: “Fives, stay off the channel unless it’s tactical.”

Back with your team, things weren’t much better.

Hardcase was bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Can’t believe I missed the team with the romantic tension. You should’ve seen Rex’s face, Tup—guy’s wound tighter than a wire.”

Jesse barked a laugh. “At least he’s not pretending he’s subtle. Unlike some.”

Tup sighed. “Please don’t start again.”

You stopped in your tracks, glaring at them. “You think this is a game? You want to bicker while droids are swarming a ridge less than a klick away?”

They fell silent, shame flickering in their eyes.

Then came the ambush.

Blasterfire erupted from the cliffs. Shouts, heat, chaos.

Rex’s voice came through the comm again—sharp, controlled. “Engaging hostiles. Kix is hit but stable.”

You snapped orders, leading your squad into flanking position, instincts taking over. You caught sight of Rex across the ridge, laying down cover, Fives behind him—but they were arguing even mid-fire.

“Cover me!” Rex shouted, moving up.

“Could’ve said please,” Fives muttered, though he did as told.

Jesse nearly got clipped trying to keep you shielded. “I said I’ve got you!” he snapped when you tried to redirect him.

After the skirmish, when the smoke cleared and the ridge was secure, the tension boiled over.

“Is this how it’s going to be now?” Rex growled, throwing his helmet down. “We can’t run a clean op because every one of you is too busy acting like kriffing teenagers.”

“Don’t pin this on us,” Jesse snapped. “You’re the one sneaking around with her after lights out.”

“Nothing happened,” Rex shot back.

Kix scoffed. “No, but something wants to.”

Tup looked between them, torn. “This isn’t what we’re supposed to be.”

And Dogma, silent until now, spoke with cold finality: “Feelings don’t belong on the battlefield. You’re all risking her life.”

The silence that followed was heavier than the blasterfire.

You stood there, heart pounding, breath caught somewhere between fury and grief.

This war was pulling you apart from the inside. Not from wounds or droids—but from love, jealousy, and every unspoken word between them.

The silence stretched long after Dogma’s words hit the ground like a blaster bolt.

You could see it—every line in their faces taut, wounded. The guilt. The fear. The ache.

And still, you stood tall.

Composed. Cold, maybe. But you had to be.

“I need every one of you to listen to me,” you said, voice even, sharp like a vibroblade. “And I need you to understand this the first time, because I will not say it again.”

No one spoke. Even Fives went still.

“I am a Jedi,” you continued. “And whether or not that means something to you anymore—it still means something to me. The Code forbids attachment. That isn’t a guideline. It isn’t a suggestion. It is a foundational truth of who I am and what I chose to be.”

Rex looked away. His jaw tightened.

“This war has blurred the lines between soldier and brother, between ally and… more. But that does not change the Code. It does not change the expectations I hold for myself.”

You took a breath, feeling the heat rise behind your ribs—but not letting it show.

“I am not your hope. I am not your escape. I am not something you can cling to in the middle of this chaos. I am your general. I will fight beside you. I will protect you. I care about you. But I will not—I cannot return these… feelings.”

Hardcase looked like you’d slapped him. Kix’s mouth parted, then closed again. Fives had nothing to say.

And then you said the thing none of them wanted to hear:

“If any of you truly respect me—if you truly believe in the Jedi you claim to admire—then let me go. Detach. Redirect whatever it is you feel into something that will not get one of us killed.”

Tup stepped forward, hesitant. “But you do care. We know you do.”

You didn’t deny it. You couldn’t. But you answered with the quiet, unmoving weight of Jedi truth.

“Yes,” you said. “But caring is not the same as holding on.”

Another pause.

“I’m not your way out,” you finished. “I’m the one leading you into the fire. Don’t follow me with your heart. Follow me with your discipline. Or don’t follow me at all.”

And with that, you turned—cloak sweeping, boots hitting durasteel with finality.

You didn’t look back.

Because if you did… you weren’t sure the Jedi in you would win.

⸻

The moment she disappeared into the shadows of the canyon pass, the squad felt gutted. Not wounded—hollowed out.

The silence wasn’t peace. It was pressure. It built between them like a thermal detonator waiting for a trigger.

“She didn’t have to say it like that,” Hardcase muttered first, breaking the quiet. “She made it sound like we’re a liability.”

“She’s not wrong,” Dogma snapped, arms crossed tight over his chest. “We lost focus. We compromised the mission.”

Fives scoffed. “Oh, come off it, Dogma. You’re not exactly guilt-free just because you pout from a distance instead of making a move.”

“Don’t start,” Jesse growled. “We wouldn’t even be in this mess if you hadn’t made a scene during the damn firefight.”

“I wasn’t the one staring at her like a lovesick cadet while blaster bolts were flying!”

“You want to go?” Jesse stepped forward.

Kix shoved himself between them. “Enough. You’re all making this worse.”

“No,” Rex said sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. “I’ll take it from here.”

Everyone turned. Rex’s helmet was still tucked under his arm, his face unreadable—controlled, cold, and deadly calm.

“She’s right,” he said, no hesitation. “Every word. We let our feelings get in the way. We made it personal. That’s not what we were bred for. That’s not what she needs.”

Fives shifted, jaw clenched. “So what—just pretend it doesn’t exist?”

Rex stepped closer, tone steely. “We have to. Because if we don’t, she dies. Or we do. Maybe all of us.”

Tup looked away. Jesse stared at the ground. Even Hardcase, for once, didn’t have a joke.

“You think I don’t feel it?” Rex said, quieter now. “You think I haven’t thought about what it would be like to give in? To tell her how I feel?”

He shook his head. “That’s not what love looks like. Love is discipline. Restraint. We follow her lead. We put her safety above what we want. That’s our job. That’s who we are.”

Nobody argued.

Because they all knew he was right.

⸻

They all handled it differently.

Dogma pulled back first.

He barely spoke during prep. Stood at parade rest with surgical stillness. Didn’t sit with the squad, didn’t meet your eyes. He obeyed, to the letter—but colder now, like retreating behind a regulation shield.

Fives, on the other hand, spiraled.

He picked fights. With Kix, with Jesse, even with Rex. His banter turned sour, jokes laced with venom.

“She doesn’t mean it,” he muttered to Jesse in the hangar. “You don’t just fight beside someone for years and feel nothing. She’s trying to protect us. But that doesn’t mean we stop caring.”

Jesse didn’t answer.

Because Jesse was the one pushing harder.

He wasn’t loud about it—but you noticed. He stayed closer during patrols. Walked you to your quarters even when you didn’t ask. Spoke softer. Asked if you’d eaten. You knew the intent behind it. And it terrified you.

You needed clarity. Solitude.

But the moment you stepped outside the command tent to breathe—Tup was already waiting.

He didn’t say anything at first. Just offered you a ration bar with a small, tentative smile. Like he didn’t expect you to take it, but needed you to know he’d tried.

You sat beside him anyway.

“It’s a lot,” he said after a beat, voice low. “Too much, sometimes.”

You didn’t speak.

He didn’t push.

“I’m not gonna say they’re wrong to feel it,” he added, eyes on the dirt. “But I get why you had to say what you did. It hurts. But I get it.”

You turned your head slowly. “Do you?”

He met your eyes. Soft. Steady. “Yeah. Because when you love someone… really love them… you don’t ask them to break themselves just to make you feel better.”

That quiet truth stuck in your chest like a blade.

Tup didn’t reach for your hand. He didn’t move closer. He just stayed there, beside you, letting you breathe.

And for the first time in days… you felt like maybe someone saw you—not as something to win. But as someone to understand.

You didn’t want to fall apart.

But with Tup sitting next to you, not expecting anything—not even an answer—it was hard to keep everything held together.

The ration bar stayed in your hand, unopened. You stared at it like it held answers you didn’t have the strength to look for.

“You know,” Tup said gently, “you don’t have to be the strong one all the time.”

You gave him a dry look. “That’s rich, coming from a soldier bred to never break.”

He smiled faintly. “Yeah, well. We all crack different. Some of us just do it quieter.”

You laughed—soft and broken. “Is this you trying to cheer me up, Tup?”

“Maybe,” he said with a small shrug. “Maybe I just wanted to sit beside someone who makes the war feel a little less like war.”

You looked away. His words landed somewhere deep, somewhere dangerously tender.

There was a moment—just a moment—when you let your shoulders drop. When you leaned just barely toward him, not enough to cross a line, but enough to feel how close the edge really was.

And Tup’s voice, softer still: “You don’t have to be alone.”

Your breath caught. Eyes burning. Just a blink from letting it slip—just a few more seconds and you might have said something you couldn’t unsay.

But then—

“General?”

You turned sharply, straightening.

Kix.

He looked between the two of you. His gaze landed on Tup’s proximity, on your expression—cracked, vulnerable.

Too late.

“I—” He cleared his throat, eyes guarded now. “I was coming to check on you. Thought maybe you’d want to talk.”

Tup shifted, quietly rising to his feet. “She’s alright. Just needed some quiet.”

You could feel the tension coil between them—one of them arriving first, the other arriving just late enough to lose something that hadn’t even happened.

You stood too. “Thank you, Kix. I’m okay. Just tired.”

He gave a short nod, but the disappointment was unmistakable. He wasn’t angry. But he felt it.

And you knew that by tomorrow, the silence between some of them would stretch even deeper.

Because kindness had turned competitive. And comfort was starting to feel like a battlefield too.

⸻

Previous part

501st Material List 💙🦋🛋️🥶

|❤️ = Romantic | 🌶️= smut or smut implied |🏡= platonic |

Overall

- “The Warmth Between Wars”🏡

- “Your What?!"🏡

- “Armour for the Skin” 🏡

- “Hearts of the 501st” ❤️

Arc Trooper Fives

- x bounty hunter reader pt.1❤️

- x bounty hunter reader pt.2 ❤️

- x reader “This Life”❤️

- x reader “Name First, Then Trouble”🌶️

- x Sith!Reader “The Worst Luck”❤️

Captain Rex

- x Jedi Reader❤️

- x Villager Reader ❤️

- x reader “what remains”❤️

- x Sith Assassin Reader “only one target”❤️

- x Reader “Ghosts of the Game”

- x Bounty Hunter Reader “Crossfire” multiple characters ❤️

- x Jedi Reader “War On Two Fronts” multiple parts

- “Smile”❤️

- “501st Confidential (Except it’s Not)” ❤️

Arc Trooper Echo

- x Old Republic Jedi Reader❤️

- x Old Republic Jedi Reader pt.2❤️

- “A Ghost in the Circuit” 🏡❤️

Hardcase

- x medic reader ❤️

Kix

- x Jedi reader “stitches & secrets”❤️

- “First Name Basis” ❤️

Overall Material List

Salve! I was wondering if you could do a 501st x Fem!Reader where she can comfort the boys after they have nightmares. Cuddly and fluffy fic? Love your work! 💙🇳🇴

“The Warmth Between Wars”

501st x Fem!Reader

⸻

The war was quiet tonight, at least on this side of the stars.

Your bunk was tucked into the corner of the 501st’s temporary barracks, a little pocket of calm in a galaxy always set to burn. The lights were dim, the hum of the base a low lull, and most of the troopers were supposed to be asleep.

But you’d learned that sleep didn’t come easy to men who’d seen too much.

That’s why you stayed awake—your blankets soft and open, arms ready, heart steady.

The first to appear was Hardcase—because of course it was. Loud in everything he did except when he was hurting. You heard his footsteps even before you saw him.

“Hey,” he said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. “Couldn’t shut my brain off. Kept hearing the gunfire… y’know. Just noise. Dumb.”

You patted the spot beside you. “It’s not dumb.”

Hardcase flopped down like a kicked puppy, curling into your side with his head pressed against your chest. “You smell better than blaster fire,” he mumbled.

You chuckled, brushing a hand through his wild hair. “High praise.”

A few minutes later, Echo slipped in like a ghost, eyes hollow.

“Wasn’t even my nightmare,” he whispered. “It was Fives’. I heard him in his sleep.”

“Then bring him too.”

Echo looked back over his shoulder. Sure enough, Fives emerged from the shadows, rubbing his eyes.

“You’re like a kriffing magnet,” Fives grumbled, but he smiled when he saw you and Hardcase.

“Only for broken things,” you teased softly.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Fives replied, nestling in beside Echo, his back brushing yours. You reached back and grabbed his hand, grounding him.

The bunk was growing crowded—but there was always room.

Kix came next, grumbling about how it wasn’t “medically advisable” for this many people to share a bunk, but you knew better.

“You’re not here for medical advice, are you?” you asked.

“…No,” he muttered, surrendering as he slid under the blanket at your feet, resting his head near your knees.

Then Appo arrived, quiet and unsure, his helmet still on.

“You can take it off,” you said gently. “You don’t have to wear the war in here.”

He hesitated… then removed it.

The look in his eyes told you everything: too many losses. Too much weight.

You pulled him down beside you. “Just for tonight, let it go.”

Jesse and Dogma came together—one cracked jokes, the other said nothing. But both of them settled close, drawn by the comfort you offered without needing to ask.

Eventually, even Rex came.

He stood at the edge of the pile like a soldier standing watch. Not ready to be vulnerable. Not yet.

“Captain?” you said softly.

His eyes flicked to yours.

You didn’t pressure him. Just opened your arm, just a little, just enough.

Rex hesitated… then stepped forward and sank to the floor beside your bunk, resting his head against your thigh. You ran your fingers through his hair, slow and steady.

No one spoke for a while. The room was warm with breath and body heat, filled with the soft sound of steady inhales.

For just a few hours, there was no war. No armor. No titles. Just tired men wrapped around someone who loved them.

You pressed your lips to the crown of Fives’ head, gave Jesse’s hand a squeeze, and reached down to cup Rex’s cheek.

“You’re safe,” you whispered. “All of you. Tonight, you’re safe.”

And the nightmares stayed away.

Hardcase x Medic Reader

⸻

The soft beep of monitors and the sterile scent of antiseptic filled the dimly lit medbay. Most of the beds were empty tonight—except for one, where Hardcase was half-sitting, half-lurking like a bored animal ready to bolt.

You entered with a tablet in hand, already sighing. “If I find you trying to ‘stretch your legs’ one more time, I swear I’ll sedate you.”

Hardcase gave you an innocent grin, all teeth and mischief. “Come on, doc, I was just doing a lap. For circulation. You wouldn’t want my muscles to atrophy, would you?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Hardcase, you have three broken ribs and a hairline fracture in your leg. Sit. Down.”

He threw his hands up in mock surrender and flopped back dramatically onto the cot, letting out an exaggerated groan. “You wound me more than the blaster bolt did.”

“You’re lucky I was there to drag your sorry shebs off the field,” you muttered, scrolling through his vitals. “Next time, maybe don’t charge a tank on foot.”

“I had a plan.”

“You yelled ‘I’ve got this!’ and ran straight at it.”

“…Exactly.”

You looked up, lips twitching. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, here you are. Checking on me. Again.” He tilted his head, gaze softening. “You always come back, don’t you?”

That gave you pause. The playful tone slipped, just for a second. “That’s the job.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “But not everyone does it like you.”

Silence settled between you, not heavy—but charged. Tense in a different way.

You set the tablet down and approached the side of his bed. “You’re a good soldier, Hardcase. But you don’t have to be the loudest in the room to matter. You don’t have to hide behind all that energy.”

He looked at you, blinking. “You see that?”

“I patch up your bones. I hear what your heart’s doing, too.”

He let out a slow breath, the grin slipping into something smaller, more genuine. “You’re kind of amazing, you know that?”

You leaned in, crossing your arms. “And you’re kind of an idiot.”

Suddenly, his arm shot out—gently—and pulled you forward by your wrist, just enough that you stumbled and caught yourself on the edge of his bed.

“If you wanted me in your bed, cyare,” he murmured, voice low and teasing, “you could’ve just asked.”

You glared down at him, breath caught somewhere between a laugh and a curse. “You’re lucky you’re injured, clone.”

He smirked. “What happens when I’m not?”

Your hand lingered on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm beneath it. “Guess we’ll find out.”

His grin faded into something warmer. “I hope we do.”

⸻