Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Welcome to the Coruscant Guard, Mer Trooper Wooley!

They were an elite group of clone troopers, a very special sect even as part of the GAR.

The Coruscant Guard, better known as the Corries among the clones.

That of the vampiric sect. The ones Cody also too originated from before having risen in ranks to become a Marshal Commander watching over them all. But Cody still being very much part of the Guard despite his fast rise. As the saying went, nobody really ever left the Corries. Ever.

Wooley, coming from another sect, the mer-clones. Those of the 212th, working out there in the high seas. But them all also able to walk on land thanks to their mutations. And so, taking part of a rotation, an exchange of clones, Wooley about to begin his rotation in the Coruscant Guard as part of said exchange. It was something which Cody among a few Generals had implanted to unify the clone troopers sects. For all of them to be able to put aside all struggles these various clone groups housed and work better together in their common efforts.

“Trooper Wooley!”

“Yes, Sir! Here! I mean… Present!!!”

Wooley stood there, saluting the two Commanders, Cody and Fox. The two leaders of the Corries. Wooley’s new home for the time being. His new land legs still a tad shaky despite having tried them on for a few weeks before joining the Corries, soon after having found out he had been selected to join with the program.

Cody looked up from his datapad. A smile emerging soon enough, showing off those thick and sharp fangs the vampires of the Corries were oh so famous for. Not that they used them for sucking blood. Not much anyway. But it was still very impressive to see them. Wooley never having been so up close and personal with the vampire clones, so it was all new. The trooper having spent most of his life below the surface, under water. Until now.

But, Wooley had an inkling. Having heard the stories from other clones having dealt with the vampiric sect. And having had a few… fantasies of how they would feel on his skin when… Well, it wasn’t like Wooley really thought any of these elite troopers of sorts would mix and match with the mer-clones anyway, but one could fantasise at least. That was free and in his own mind only.

Some of the other clones, the wolves Wooley had talked with too, had had some interactions with the vampires. Alas, never a mer-clone as far was Wooley knew. 

“I see you have some experience in infiltration and undercover ops.” Cody then went on, the Commander already having memorised the resume of the new arrival by heart even if he was reading from the pad. 

“I have Sir. Several, as a matter of fact in the recent year.”

Thanks to the mer-DNA Wooley and his kin housed in them, they were all able to shape-shift to an extent. Mostly though, it was the skill to becoming invisible. A sort of built-in cloaking device having developed during their creation and so, they could turn into, things, disappear to the background.

“Interesting….” Cody dug deeper into the details of Wooley’s, while Fox simply sipped on his caf. The other Commander not as easily impressed as Cody was, not that Fox let on anyway even if he was clearly listening in.

Wooley simply waited for the Commander to complete his research, which would determine his assignment in the new team.

“I, am quite interested in this, camouflage you are able to pull.” Cody then looked up and right at Wooley, those piercing blue, almost so light in colour they were white,  eyes honed into his own.

“It’s… a reflex, Sir, more so than anything. But yeah, I can do that at will as well.”

Wooley, having half expected to be giving a demonstration of the same, concentrated hard. And then, out of the blue, he disappeared from sight.

“Wow.” It was Fox saying it. The Commander having only heard the tales of the mer-clones being able to do this. But seeing it in person, guess the cool and calm and nothing affects me Commander had finally met his match?

“Wow indeed, Foxy. It’s perfect!” Cody was exhilarated for sure.

Wooley dwelled in his state for a spell longer before reverting back to his regular humanoid form again. Something still odd to him, having spent most of his life in water, but Wooley was nothing if not adaptable. 

“It takes some effort true, but I can hold it up for a while there, Sirs.” Wooley explained to the two of his new superiors.

“It would be perfect for the gig we planned though, Codes.” Fox noted.

“Indeed it would.” Cody appeared to be thinking, or planning more likely. This, was an advantage for them for sure.

“Ya thinking what I’m thinking there Codes?” Fox suddenly very alert and interested, smirking even. Guess Wooley really had raised Fox's curiosity as well, the Commander visibly more tentative towards Wooley now that he had been shown what the mer-clone could really do.

“Well, if you are thinking of giving Trooper Wooley here the lead assignment on the planned ops, then yes.”

Fox and Cody exchanged knowing glances, nodding, a grin on both their faces now. The fangs certainly out and… where they shining now?

“Wooley, we may have a great opportunity for you, here, in the Corries!”

Wooley only stood there. Not really sure if it was a good or bad thing, alas, trusting Cody in this. Having only heard good things about the Commander. Then, he nodded in agreement.

After all, Wooley had the skills and he was only too  eager to please!

Chapter Text

A crush is surely present, at least, for one of them it is? Both maybe?

They had been training for a longer while now.

All being apart of the daily grind as it were for the new arrivals. As it wasn’t just the work of the guard duty each trooper was doing, but also prepping and training, planning and taking part in secretive missions as Wooley had found out.

But, this time it was more rigours than the regular training as it involved the long planned mission Cody had designated Wooley to be a part of with three other troopers specially selected to this op taking part as well.

Today, it was Wooley and Stock sparring together. The two troopers running the obstacle course and then some hand to hand fighting among the tasks. Just to keep up their strength and become, better.

Cody would be joining the two later on. The Commander checking in on the progress and letting the duo know what the status was of the plan and when possibly they were heading out.

It had taken some time, but the mission was still on. Minimal resources, as it was a heist after all.

“Troopers!”

Cody waved at the duo, Wooley’s expression immediately changing into a small smile with a slight blush on his cheeks. After all, the Commander was rather, impressionable with his toothy grin and all.

Stock was nudging Wooley, knowing full well the cause of it all. The blush, naturally.

“Commander. How’s our mission progressing?” Stock then asked nonchalantly. 

“We hit a slight SNAFU. The location still not what we expected it to be. So there is that.” Cody told the eager duo.

“Another fake one, Sir?” Wooley then asked, the recon troopers having been searching for the mother-load of enemy data-base for a while now, coming up empty so far.

“Indeed. But I am confident we’ll find it soon enough.” Cody looked at his troopers, seeing they were ready already, but unfortunately, things being as they were, the team was still kept on hold for now. “And then, it’s your turn to go and get the intel.”

Wooley and Stock eager to get on with the op, alas, right now, they were training, sparring and Cody was there, so…

“So, you wanna join us then, Commander?”

 Stock just had to, getting a stare from Wooley, but he wasn’t objecting either. It was always good to spar with the Commander after all, especially the hand to hand close combat kind of sparring Wooley totally enjoyed with Cody.

As sometimes, especially within closed quarters, skin on skin action as it were. True, it was in full clothing. And still, Wooley found it really difficult to hide his crush and not to enjoy the… training. 

“Sure!” Cody smiled, already in training gear as well. “You two, attack me!”

“Both of us, Sir?”

“Yes!”

They did.

In the end it was Wooley being pinned down by Cody, while Stock was taken down first. Stock, having teased Wooley often enough about the whole crush thing. That Wooley totally let Cody pin him down on purpose. 

Wooley never admitting to it. But yeah, Wooley was totally enjoying the contact made with the Commander. And guess, Cody was too? At least judging from his toothy, rather fangy grin he always flashed upon winning the match.

Chapter Text

The undercover op is happening!

It had taken a while to get there they were..

The unsanctioned and totally secretive mission, with the purpose to gain intel of the enemy forces. The very undercover operation in which Wooley was taking part of with Commander Cody.

“You are sure you can pull this off.” Zipper, one of the troopers taking part of the mission asked Wooley, both of them part of the exchange program and this mission.

“I am sure, Zip, why else would two Commanders put their trust in me?” Wooley, sounding totally self-assured of his abilities. Then again, this wasn’t his first nor fifth rodeo pulling a heist like this one was while using his, special powers as Zipper had dubbed them as.

“Heh, he’s going to be all invisible and get in there, Zip. Wools is.” Lager, the other recruit snickered, having seen Wooley in action before and knowing what he could do.

“That, I’ll do.” Wooley smirked at the comment.

Just then, the comms beeped, Wooley picking it up.

“Are you in position?” Cody’s voice came over the comms. The Commander along two other troopers about to put on a diversion for the other three to get to their target.

“We are Commander. Just waiting on your word, Sir.”

“The word… is now!” 

The comms still on, Wooley, Zipper and Lager could hear the noise on the other end caused by the diversion. The game, was officially, a foot.

“You heard the Commander, let’s move people!” Wooley ordered then, the three forwarding quickly to get to the small data-centre as their target to get their precious intel.

*

Wooley, Zipper and Lager managed to do their part just fine.

With Zipper and Lager as his backup, Wooley, in his camouflage managed to slip in and out of the small facility without anyone being the wiser there.

But, Cody and his two men, weren’t as lucky as all that.

As it was, just as the trio was out from their little heist, heading to their pickup point as per planned, there was ping on the comms.

“Wools, Zip, we’re pinned down with enemy closing in.” Trekker one of the troopers could be heard over the comms.

“Where is Commander Cody?” Wooley immediately worried of their leader, as of course he was. Wooley having kind of formed a major crush on the pale-eyed man after joining the Corries all those months ago. Not a secret it was either!

“He is down, but alive. And we’re fine too, thanks for asking!” Trekker joked then. Being a friend of Wooley and Zipper’s, the three of them having become fast friends during their time in the exchange program and knowing full well Wooley’s little fanboying over the Commander. Call it a crush!

“We’re on our way.” Wooley cut the comms and turned to the other two. “You heard him, let’s go.”

“But, the plan was to…”

“No! Commander Cody and the other two are in trouble. We don’t leave our people behind!” Wooley was adamant, and him being a true leader as well.

Zip and Lager simply nodding in agreement to the order as the three then changed direction, heading to where the other three were pinned down.

*

“Over there! Zipper had spotted them. Seeing the trio lying in a trench, the enemy looking for them all around.

“I will go.” Wooley told the other two. “Here, take this.” Giving the data-rod to Zipper. “Keep this safe!”

“But… you can’t go alone.” Lager pleaded Wooley.

“I can and I will. I am still our best bet to get there undetected.” Wooley made the effort again, disappearing from sight, becoming a disembodied voice only. “You two, create some distraction while I will go and get to the others.”

“Sure no problem!” Zipper always ready to blast enemies, got in position.

“Comm them, I am on my way.” Wooley ordered Lager.

“Sure boss!” Lager smirked and opened the channel, informing Trekker, that Wooley was on his way.

Wooley, making quick time in the undergrowth, reaching the trio soon enough. But, just as he was there, several enemy clankers had spotted the three in hiding.

Wooley seeing this, shot at one. And then, as per cue, Trekker and Stock started shooting the rest of the enemy clankers. Wooley could see one was approaching Cody as well. The Commander lying on the ground with a gaping wound in his leg.

Without any concern for his own life, Wooley jumped on top of Cody while simultaneously shooting at the enemy clankers trying to get the Commander.

It did not take long though, the enemy troops being dealt with as soon as all that with the joint skills of the troopers. All the while Wooley, who was still on top of Cody as Trekker and Stock looked at the two.

“Nice save there, Wools!” Trekker chuckled at his friend.

“Indeed.” Cody managed, “Wooley, you… saved my life!”

“Guess it means it’s all mine now then, doesn’t it!” Wooley laughed too, the lot of them getting up and moving about, helping Cody too just when Zipper and Lager reached them as well. Glancing around, nothing but enemy clankers lying about and smoking on the ground.

“I called a pickup. It’s headed to our location now that the path is clear.” Lager told them then.

“Thank you! All of you.” Cody was grateful for the save. The Commander not able to stand without help, but it was fine as Wooley and Trekker were both at his side, holding him up.

“Mission accomplished, Commander!”

“Indeed it was!” Cody forced a smile despite the injury, but they were all alive so all good.

Just then the familiar sound of their ship on an approach reached them. No one being left behind on this mission, thanks to Wooley’s quick thinking and abilities as well.

Chapter Text

Saving your life and so, you’re mine now - Guess it was written in the stars?

“So, what does it mean exactly, when you said to me, that you own my life now?”

Cody, having heard the phrase for sure. The one more likely spoken out of jest  than anything else after Wooley had saved his shebs on the mission. Only perhaps wanting it to be true? Wanting there to be something more behind the claim of, well, whatever code it was the mer troopers held for saving someone’s life?

The younger trooper certainly having made an impression on the Commander. And guess, there was more there too that Cody felt than pride and awe for Wooley. Something of an easy infatuation, which certainly went both ways if the suggestion was any indication of the same. And beside, Cody wasn’t oblivious to the blushes and the easily won training sessions between the two either. He was sure there was something there more than simple camaraderie.

Cody, never the one to having fallen fast or easily. Alas, that had all changed when his life having flashed before his eyes during the mission. Rethinking his, feeling and such, letting them surface and not hiding them as he usually had done in the past, whenever someone interesting had entered his life. Cody having come to a conclusion, it was time for a change.

“Well, in my culture, well, the mer troopers at least, as we clones all are one culture no matter which sect we belong to.” Wooley certainly knowing his clone history well. “If one saves the other’s life, that life is forfeit for the saviour of said life. Of course, that is an ancient myth, not something we practice any more. Certainly not after going to war.”

Cody, still recuperating in bed, his leg feeling better but not fully healed, smiled at Wooley.

As it was, Wooley had become a daily visitor for the Commander. The trooper by his bedside during the two weeks he had been bedridden daily. First in the medical bay and now in his private quarters. Wooley was there, either reading to him, telling Cody of the daily goings on and then, the two sometimes playing games too to pass the time. Fox, thankfully, having given Wooley special permission to take several hours off during any given rotation to visit Cody. 

Oh Foxy, the romantic he totally was!

“I like it, our culture.” Cody smiled at the idea.

“Yes, as despite our differences, we are more alike than not.”

“That, Wooley, is something I too can agree to. Having served with plenty of troopers from various sects, we really are more alike than not…” Cody seemed to be pondering for a spell. “And I would say, we two, you and me, are pretty similar when it comes to, well, the job, but also, our values.”

Yes, the never leaving a trooper behind certainly something Cody could appreciate.

Wooley looked at Cody, having been reading to him for a moment before Cody asked the question.

“I would agree to that too, Commander.”

“Cody. When we’re in private, trooper. It’s Cody.”

“Cody.”

“So, if you were to claim, to these, ancient beliefs and traditions…” Cody sounded solemn suddenly.

“Well…”

“I mean… would you want my life, to be yours, Wooley?”

It was a loaded question, but Cody wasn’t blind either and he had heard most of the jokes, especially those of Trekker’s. He knew Wooley had a major crush on him. Anyone with eyes knew it.

And right now, where he was in life, his near death or whatever else it was, Cody, having done some thinking too. And the feelings were… mutual.

“I… mean… I…” Wooley, suddenly stuttering, not having been prepared to hear this, question at all. Was Cody just pulling his leg? Trekker putting him up to it? The crush, really not a secret and Wooley did not want it to be either. But… but… so many thoughts running rampant suddenly!

“You don’t have to answer me anything right now.” Cody simply told Wooley then. “But, when I get out from here, this, state I’m in…” Cody pointed at his leg. “I would like to take you out on a proper date. Just the two of us.”

Wooley’s eyes grew the size of saucers. But, seeing the toothy grin, the fang filled smirk of Cody’s rather, well, it sent all those good shivers down Wooley’s spine and he found it very hard to resist to just get up and give Cody a kiss.

Alas, he was a trooper and Cody a Commander. So naturally, there was protocol to follow still, even in personal relationships.

“I, I would like that very much, Cody.”

Cody only smiled, motioning for Wooley to continue reading.

But both their minds were on the suggested date, that much was for sure. And perhaps, the looming kiss was there too, in both their thoughts?