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"Hey, vod'ika, it's Kote. I'm on Coruscant for leave and Rex and I were going to get drinks at 79s, but his company got recalled, so I thought I'd try hitting you up? Comm me back and let me know when to meet you if you're interested."
Fox sets the comm on his desk and leans back in his chair.
Just once.
Just once, Fox wants to be the first choice.
Fox weaves a gentle hand through Thire's hair, holding him close in their bunkroom as his brother cries. One of his sweetest shinnies was murdered this morning. No one is processing well.
Thire runs an arm across his snotty nose, sniffling. "I- I just wish Thorn could be here," he cries. "Wh-why does he have to be on- on shift?"
"I know, vod'ika," Fox soothes.
He keeps his steady rhythm through Thire's hair as they wait.
Fox knows he won't sleep until it's Thorn's arms around him.
Fox sighs.
Just once.
Just once, Fox wants to be the first choice.
Fox opens the dumpster to see a familiar face grinning back.
Fox closes the dumpster.
A muffled exclamation erupts from the heap of trash as he begins to walk away, and the lid pops open of its own accord.
"Hey! Wait! I need to talk to you!"
Fox sighs.
"Listen, I need a favor," Vos hedges, as he climbs out of the dumpster. Fox flings a hand out as Vos trips and nearly face plants in the dirt. He would have, if Fox hadn't grabbed him.
"Thanks, anyway, I know you're busy doing commander stuff, and I know you hate when I ask you to help with cover-ups, but-"
Fox sighs again and tunes out the Jedi until he gets to the point.
He tunes back in very suddenly.
"You said we're hiding how many bodies?!?" Fox blinks harshly, hoping he heard incorrectly.
Vos winces, "Kark, I know how it sounds, but they really were necessary this time, and I swear I would have asked Obes first, but he's not on planet so I couldn't -"
And yet, as much as it baffles him, as twisted and kriffed up as it is Fox still...
Just once.
Just once, Fox wants to be the first choice.
Fox is having a good day.
He may have had to skip a good chunk of his sleep shift, but it's not like he would have actually used it for sleeping anyway. In exchange, he actually had time to eat breakfast and he managed to get shift with his favorite senator. Both of which usually never happen, let alone on the same day.
Granted, the reason he's got the shift isn't the greatest. The trooper who was supposed to have it is laid up in a bone knitter after a run in with a crowbar during a riot. The trooper will be perfectly fine though, he just needs to stay off the leg for a day or so and he seems to be in good spirits, so Fox gives himself permission to enjoy this shift.
He walks into the senator's office feeling lighter than he has in a long time.
Senator Chuchi frowns.
"Where's Speck?" she asks, moving forward to look past him into the hallway.
"He wasn't feeling well, so he took leave for the day," Fox lies. "I'll be accompanying you today in his stead, if that's alright?"
"I suppose," she says, still frowning. "When you see him next, please tell him that I've missed him and look forward to his return?"
"Of course, Sir."
Just once.
Just once, Fox wants to be the first choice.
Fox's comm rings.
"Report to my office immediately," Palpatine's voice rings out into dead silence. "And don't bring any of your little droid friends with you. I find myself in need of some... entertainment."
Fox can feel the man's leer through the holo comm.
He rescinds his statement. Maybe just this once, he'd like to be the second choice.
But no, he reprimands himself, that's not fair.
Better him than someone's first choice.