Chapter Text
When Ahsoka first met Fives, she never would have expected to be on the receiving end of a marriage proposal, let alone multiple.
As a Jedi, she had never expected that anyone would ever propose to her at all. Her Code forbade attachments and she had logically assumed that, if she never began a romantic relationship, she would never have to worry about turning down a proposal. It was only the beginning of the Clone Wars when she discovered how false her assumption had been.
The first time he asked, they were in the mess hall aboard the Resolute.
No more than a standard week prior, Rex had returned from the Rishi Outpost with two weary, but determined rookies. The story quickly spread throughout the 501st about how the Separatists had attacked the base on Rishi, in an attempt to target Kamino. The outpost itself perished, along with every trooper stationed there, aside from the two that Rex had brought back.
Fives and Echo melded easily into Torrent Company. Fives was more animated and outspoken, while Echo was more contemplative with a sense of humor that would reveal itself only when the time was right. Both were intelligent and capable; Anakin had mentioned to Ahsoka how impressed he was by just how skilled these supposed rookies were. As a Jedi, he could sense the grief that the two young troopers carried with them after having lost their entire squad, though perhaps it was that loss that propelled Fives and Echo to work as hard as they did for the 501st.
Ahsoka always made an effort to get to know her men. Despite the Republic’s insistence that the clones shouldn’t be viewed as individuals, she had always found it difficult to look at her troops and not see the people that they were. They were no older than ten standard years, biologically, but their accelerated aging left them at around the same age as Ahsoka herself and she couldn’t help but see them as the young men they were. In another life, they might have gone to school together or worked together in a civilian career.
Ahsoka heard plenty about the new rookies from Anakin but, due to an extended training course at the Jedi Temple, she didn’t get to interact much with Fives and Echo until a standard week after Rex brought them to Torrent.
Ahsoka had returned to the Resolute that evening and gone straight to the mess. She tried to rotate who she ate with, so she could keep up with as many of her men as possible, but she always found herself drawn to the members of Torrent Company. When she arrived at the mess, she was pleased to spot Fives and Echo sitting with Kix, Jesse, and Hardcase, who she regularly spent time with anyway. She procured her dinner, made her way over to their table, and slid onto the bench beside Jesse.
Almost immediately, Fives and Echo, who were seated across from her, shot to their feet to stand at attention. Ahsoka was more than used to rookies responding this way, so she quickly raised a hand.
“No need for that, boys,” she told them, making sure to minimize the authority in her voice. When the two troopers exchanged a concerned glance, she added, “Just relax. We’re off duty, so I’m not your commander right now.”
“Seriously, guys,” Kix said, when the twins still hesitated. “Commander Tano hangs out with us a lot when we’re off duty.”
At the medic’s reassuring words, the rookies finally loosened their stance and sat back down to resume their meals.
“Actually,” Echo began, “the GAR regulations state that-”
“Kriff the regs,” Hardcase interrupted with a sharp laugh. “You’re in Torrent now. We do our duty on the battlefield and then chill in our free time. This ain’t Kamino.”
Echo looked taken aback, but nodded. He and Fives both relaxed after that though, having been given thorough permission to treat Ahsoka as a peer for the time being. Before long, the table was alive with conversation. Kix and Echo kept more serious demeanors, even when they were at ease, while Jesse, Hardcase, and Fives fell into a rhythm of jokes and jabs at each other. Ahsoka did her best to engage each of the clones, while matching their energy accordingly.
Multiple subjects floated across the table, from battle strategies to Jedi training to the food they were eating. Generally, GAR food was on the blander side, though every trooper valued the opportunity to eat something other than ration bars. Every once in a while though, the legion would receive the pleasant surprise of a dessert or otherwise more delectable food option. Today, jogan fruit tarts were the highlight of the menu; disappearing so quickly that no one had a chance at seconds, not that they usually did anyway.
“This is cruel and unusual punishment,” Fives declared, after finishing his dessert. “How can they give us such delicious food and expect us to survive without seconds?”
“How dare they!” Hardcase exclaimed, at the same time Kix muttered, “It’s actually healthier not to eat more sugar.”
“Shut up, Kix, no one cares.” Jesse lightly smacked his brother, who rolled his eyes. “We could all die tomorrow, so we should at least enjoy ourselves.”
“Exactly!” Fives said. “Now I’m going to go to bed and all I’ll be dreaming about is this tart.”
“Is that really a bad thing?” Echo asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes!” his twin insisted. “What greater nightmare is there than dreaming about something you can’t have?”
“You can have my tart, Fives,” Ahsoka chimed in. She had been observing the exchange with amusement when it occurred to her that she had yet to eat her own dessert.
She held the purple pastry out to Fives, who had suddenly gone quiet. His brown eyes were round as he accepted the tart from her but, instead of eating the dessert, he placed it on his tray and stood.
Ahsoka’s mouth almost dropped open as Fives paced around the table, took her hand from where it was still partially lifted from offering the tart, and dropped down onto one knee. She was too stunned to do anything other than stare in shock as he began speaking.
“Thank you, Commander,” he began, a dramatic flare coating his voice. “You’ve won my heart with this dessert. Will you marry me, O Great Giver of Tarts?”
The entire table fell silent as they awaited Ahsoka’s reaction. She was so caught off guard that it took her a moment to form a response. When she did, her voice was a ripple of confusion mixed with laughter.
“Uh, thanks, Fives, but no?”
As soon as her words were out, the rest of the table erupted. Kix sighed as his head fell into his hands, there was audible smack as Echo’s palm hit his forehead, and Jesse and Hardcase burst into a synchronized fit of cackling.
“You di’kut,” Echo groaned, once everyone’s reactions had subsided enough for him to be heard. “Jedi can’t form attachments and she’s your commander.”
Fives just shrugged and released Ahsoka’s hand. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
But he kept his brown eyes locked on Ahsoka’s blue ones as he sat back down on the bench across from her. Ignoring the rest of the troopers who were still vocalizing their thoughts, he kept her gaze as he raised the tart she’d given him to his lips and took a bite. Then, just before he glanced away, he shot her a wink that elicited an unexpected flutter in her stomach.
It was just a joke, obviously. Over the next few months, Fives’ jests and animated reactions would become routine when off duty and sometimes even in the field, when the men needed uplifting.
The incident never fully vacated Ahsoka’s mind, but it did fade to the back, where it was joined by more of Fives’ antics. It was a unique introduction, for sure, but she didn’t see any reason to think more of the event. Not at the time, at least.