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Jedi were weird. Fox already knew that from hearing the stories his batchmates told over their group chat, but he hadn’t realized the extent of it. He was absolutely, completely, and in all other ways totally unprepared when Quinlan Vos showed up.
The Jedi was impossible to get rid of. He was always bringing in some criminal, causing disruption, or otherwise needing access to the prison. Sometimes he was drunk. Sometimes, he had the audacity to pretend he was drunk. Fox had no idea why he was doing it. Did he want to get picked up by the Guard? Was he planning to hurt one of Fox’s men? Fox had rejected that idea quickly—Vos behaved quite well to the Guard, even when he was drunk and a bit clingy. Was he just bored? This idea too was rejected—for the simple fact that the jail cells were incredibly boring themselves. The only other options he could think of were, a. the Jedi was insane—which was disrespectful and unlikely, as the Jedi displayed no other symptoms, b. this was all a coincidence, except it had gone on for months, or c. the Jedi wanted something from Fox. Fox didn’t want to believe the last option, but it was looking like the most likely. And that was bad, because anytime someone paid attention to Fox was bad and what if the Jedi wanted something important and Fox couldn't give it to him? Or what if the Jedi didn’t just give up and order Fox to obey but actually made him? It would be bad.
“I have another delivery!” Quinlan Vos, Jedi Master, sang as he entered Fox’s office. “The leader of that slaver gang that’s been terrorizing your men.” He added. “I thought you should know. I dropped him off in the prison with CC-4477.” This Jedi—Vos—always used their numbers, unlike the other Jedi who made them give up their names. And. And it wasn’t bad being called by his name, but Fox liked his name and it was his name and he didn’t want everyone to know it or they’d use it like Palpatine did. To make him do awful things. But Vos never used their names, except Thorn's because Thorn actually liked the Jedi and had offered his name freely.
“Understood, sir. I will make sure it is taken care of.” Fox said. Something flashed across the Jedi’s face. It almost looked like disappointment—and Fox was used to disappointing people, it was fine—but it was gone in an instant and Fox wasn’t sure that it had been.
“Are you busy, CC-1010?” Vos asked. The designation almost sounded like a name when he said it.
“Not if you need something, sir.” Fox said, as protocol demanded. Vos sighed.
“No. I won’t bother you.” He paused. “Would you tell me if I was bothering you?” His tone was strangely earnest. Fox tensed.
“It is my duty to serve the Jedi, sir.”
“You’re saying that I do bother you.” Vos remarked.
“We do appreciate your efforts in apprehending criminals.” Fox said carefully, feeling strangely guilty.
“Yeah.” Vos said, shrugging. “I try. Hope this helps some.” He gestured in the direction of the prison. “If you ever need help, let me know. Just have the Council contact me. If I’m not on a mission, I can come. If you need it. Or want it.” The Jedi made a face. “What I’m trying to say is, if there’s something you can’t handle or need help on, I’ll try to make it.” He grimaced again. “Don’t know if you get a lot of Dark-siders here.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Fox said. Vos gave him a weird look. Fox straightened. “We were not informed on differences in Jedi and non-Jedi. Sir.”
“Well, that’s just ridiculous.” Vos huffed. “I’ll send you something on it so that you know.”
“Thank you, sir.” Fox said, knowing it would probably be helpful to know the difference. Vos grinned and left. Fox opened up the group chat he hadn’t engaged with in months and typed in a message.
Fox: How do you tell normal Jedi behavior?
Cody: Ah, you’ve finally found one?
Fox: No. Definitely not. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but he seems to be fascinated with the Coruscant Guard.
Wolffe: Ha, Fox has a Jedi
Cody: What do you mean, ‘fascinated’?
Fox: He keeps acting drunk and causing disruptions. We take him in, he spends the night, he leaves. This has been going on almost weekly for three months. He also brings up criminals. He just brought me the leader of a ring of slavers that’s been preying on the Guard.
Cody: Ah.
Cody: Yes.
Wolffe: This is almost as adorable as when Cody found Rex.
Cody: My general says it means he likes you. For lack of a better term, he’s courting you. He wants to be your friend. It’s a Jedi thing.
Rex: Aww
Wolffe: Aww
Fox: WHAT
Cody: Here, I’ll send you an excerpt from the book:
Cody: Jedi have a ritual where they will platonically court those whom they desire as a friend. This is also done in Master/Padawan relationships, as well as established relationships after an argument. If your Jedi starts leaving you things, bringing you items, do not worry. It is completely normal. These items can be something the Jedi finds valuable or something he has noticed that you enjoy or desire. Rejecting the items will reject the Jedi, accepting them will let him know that you are considering his offer.
Fox: CODY
Fox: !!!!
Fox: I CAN’T JUST NOT ACCEPT THEM
Fox: THEY’RE WANTED CRIMINALS
Cody: Seems like you’ve got a smart one.
Wolffe: Who is he?
Fox: Master Quinlan Vos.
Rex: …Ah
Cody: Well, my condolences.
Fox: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘MY CONDOLENCES’????
Cody: …
Rex: Vos is, uh…a character
Fox: Cody, answer me.
Fox: I need to know.
Fox: CODY, IF ONE OF MY MEN IS HURT BECAUSE YOU WOULDN’T TELL ME ABOUT VOS, I SWEAR
Cody: He’s not bad. Just annoying. Calm down.
Fox: Okay. I can deal with that. I was just worried for a moment. You know how some people are around clones.
Cody: Right. Nah, you’ll be good. Let us know if you have any more questions
Fox didn’t respond to that, shoving the datapad away so that he could think. The Jedi was apparently trying to befriend them. Which was weird. And wrong. No one wanted the Coruscant Guard. Coruscant didn’t. The riots proved that, the vode attacked on patrol proved that. The Senators didn’t—and when they did it was worse, it was fire and blood and pain and death. The Jedi didn’t, obviously, they didn’t have a Jedi. Not even their batchmates wanted them. Why would Quinlan Vos want them? Fox swallowed hard. He’d have to reach out and ask. Thankfully, the Jedi had left his com number at one point, so Fox didn’t have to do it in person.
CC-1010: I apologize, for my disrespect in contacting you, sir, but might I ask you about something?
Vos responded quickly, and didn’t seem upset.
Vos: Hey, don’t worry about it. Ask whatever you like.
CC-1010: Might I inquire as to why you have repeatedly brought criminals into our prison? I am grateful, of course, but it seems below your notice.
Vos: You’re not below my notice. I just want to be helpful.
Hm. It looked like Fox was going to have to explicitly ask. Hopefully Vos didn’t murder him.
CC-1010: I was informed that giving gifts is a custom among Jedi expressing a desire for friendship.
It took Vos a while to respond after that. Fox nearly panicked.
Vos: Are you mad? If you want, I’ll leave you alone.
CC-1010: I apologize, general. I did not mean to imply that it was undesirable. I was only inquiring if it was true.
Vos: Oh. Yeah, uh, it is. Do you want me gone?
CC-1010: I did not intend to imply that, sir.
Honestly, a Jedi couldn’t be any worse than what Fox had already. And this Jedi…well. He had never hurt them before. Cody had said he wasn’t bad. Fox could handle annoying. Fox dealt with sick, infuriating, hopeless Senators. He could deal with a Jedi.
Vos: So…do you want me, or…?
CC-1010: It isn’t my place to refuse a Jedi
Vos: CC-1010, I am giving you the choice. Do you want me? Because I will leave if you’d rather.
CC-1010: You do not need to leave, sir.
Vos: I’m gonna take that as permission, okay?
CC-1010: Yes sir.
Fox held his breath, closing his eyes tightly. Hopefully this wouldn’t make things worse. Hopefully he hadn’t just condemned his brothers to more pain.
The Jedi didn’t stop bringing criminals in, but he slowed down. He didn’t show up pretending to be drunk. He still came in, but it was much less distracting than before. And Vos was helpful. He found them leads, he stepped between them and whatever trouble was threatened on them, and he even helped them get extra food and bacta. Vos became someone they trusted. A brother. Their Jedi.