Hevy, Echo, and Fives are very amused at how awed Cutup and Droidbait are towards the officers. They keep casting knowing looks at Cutup, who wants to punch them all (especially Hevy, who’d only known the officers for two kriffing hours before he’d died, so why the kriff is he acting so smug?), but Droidbait is all wide-eyed amazement, and makes no effort to hide it. At least Cutup is being subtle. Cody seems amused by it, too, very much aware of Droidbait’s impressed gaze.
<...>
Cutup grins. Force forbid Echo ever take a few minutes to truly rest. Naturally he would come up with a plan.
“Let’s hear it, Echo,” Cody replies. Cutup nearly grins again. Cody remembering their names is just making Cutup admire him more.
Fives elbows him and leans closer to whisper in his ear.
“Careful now, Cutup. We’re 501st, not 212th. Don’t get too attached. You haven’t even met Rex yet.”
Cutup scowls and swats him away. If Rex is anything like Cody, Cutup thinks he’ll happily settle for either one.
<...>
Five’s expression is resigned. Echo sits up straighter.
“I know I can help, sir. This isn’t going to easy, and I’ll die before I abandon my brothers to face something like this alone.”
“Well said, trooper. That’s the kind of attitude I look for in a man,” a hoarse voice contributes. Every head snaps around to watch as Captain Rex gets to his feet.
“Sir!” Fives snaps, and straightens to attention. Echo’s eyes go wide, and he stares at the Captain as if Rex has just told him that the war is over. Cutup exchanges a smirk with Droidbait. Now who’s fawning over the officers?