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Wolffe entered the room for the briefing and happily approached his General who had already arrived. The Kel Dor had his back to him but generally knew when he was approaching so he approached silently, moving through the crowd of the numerous Jedi and Commanders who would be attending the meeting and stopped next to him, confused. Something was wrong here, he could feet it, and he just could not look away from his General, his General strangely a few inches shorter than usual – did he have heels in his other shoe when he was not at the Temple? – and with a bust.
...wait what?
The Kel Dor did not react at first but then slowly and deliberately turned her head in silence, and Wolffe blushed as he turned his head away when he realized where he was looking.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
It was a woman's voice, she really was not his General... but this body...
"Uh, no, no everything is fine, General."
Then his General arrived. Their resemblance was still so striking, Wolffe had not imagined it.
"Oh good, I see you found the room, I have been informed that our signage is sometimes considered insufficient for those who are not Jedi."
"It was terribly insufficient, I asked this one."
"Master Tachi? I see, I hope one day this problem will be resolved, in the meantime... maybe you would like to take a step back?"
Wolffe had already been closer to many people without it being a problem but he nevertheless took a big step back so as not to frighten the curious but silent Jedi.
"This can't be the first time you've seen another Kel Dor," his General then said with a fatherly amusement that made him look so much like a buir that Wolffe was happy to hear it even when he realized he was considered much more naive and much less attentive than he was.
"It's not, however she has exactly the same details of outgrowths here, here and here, the same colouring pattern in these places and... anyway, the resemblance is really strong."
Fortunately, the two laughed heartily and General Koon approached the other Jedi to put an arm around her.
"That would be because this young woman is my niece, my brother's daughter, her name is Sha Koon. Sha, this is Commander Wolffe, about whom I've told you so much."
"Nice to meet you, Commander. My uncle indeed speaks very highly of you."
"Of course, those who are worthy of compliments should receive the recognition they deserve," the Kel Dor said with a confidence and quiet certainty that made him blush. "Did you know that-"
"Uncle, isn't that Master Drallig? You told me you wanted to talk to him before this meeting started."
"Oh my, you're right, I'll be back soon."
"Thanks for the efficient rescue," Wolffe murmured once they were alone again, relieved.
He never knew how to react to praise given in front of an audience. Even the ones where there was no one else were strange actually.
"I understand that he wants to boost your ego to give you self-confidence but the visual signs of discomfort are sometimes a little difficult for us to spot in humans."
"It doesn't matter, he doesn't bother me."
"Oh, I know, he knows it too, it's always like this in family, some almost unbearable behaviour in an otherwise cloudless relationship."
"Was he always like that? "
"According to my great-uncle, he was worse with his Master when he was a Padawan, having fun twisting the meaning of words to annoy him. Words are generally considered a Jedi's greatest weapon."
"I don't think I'm the enemy though."
"But your low self-esteem might be," she pointed out with amusement. That said, we all doubt ourselves at one time or another, there is no reason to panic."
Wolffe shrugged slightly before smiling, trying not to be too smug.
"I don't think many clones doubt themselves, we are quite determined and resolute."
"I understand, I haven't participated in many battles, mostly escorts so far, but you all seem very brave and dedicated to your goals."
"It would be-"
"If everyone is ready, we will begin."
They turned to High General Windu and listened, Wolffe noticing his General across the room at one point.
"The plan looks solid," she commented at the end, once some started to come out in small groups.
"It is, everything that can be anticipated has been anticipated."
"My uncle says you are particularly good at this."
"That's because he's not particularly good at it."
She leaned over abruptly and Wolffe worried that she felt ill before hearing muffled laughter as he leaned over her and placed a hand on her back.
"I can't disagree, he is much more of a mystical and mysterious sage than a strategist."
"He's doing his best," Wolffe made up for it by defending him.
"But our best is not great, we know that."
"Who is doubting now?"
Her expression changed drastically, she tilted her head to the side, looking at him strangely before her expression changed from surprise to something more serene.
"Rarely have I heard such good repartee. I appreciate."
"I appreciate your appreciation," he replied with sincere delight, "... and not just that."
He had rarely had such an easy, free-flowing conversation with anyone, and... she was cute. To Wolffe, the Kel Dor aspect was as familiar to him as that of his brothers, he could almost forget that she was not human when looking at her, if that even made sense.
Anyone who cared about Skywalker knew he was in a secret relationship, if he could, why not other Jedi?
There was nothing wrong with trying and asking.
"How about we go out to eat tonight?"
"Eat?"
"If you have time of course," Wolffe said, trying to dig yourself out of the hole you have made.
"I have time," she whispered, turning to go out. "Let's meet back here in four hours."
"That works for me," he replied in the same tone, confused, but maybe it was so as not to be heard by others?
She nodded enthusiastically but quickly walked away...strange.
"Did you really just flirt with my niece and ask her out on a date?"
Wolffe jumped suddenly and took a step away, a hand on his heart in the hope that it would return to a normal rhythm despite the sudden rush of adrenaline and this idiot who had freaked him out so much!
"Apologies, I didn't think you were so deep in thought."
"I'm fine," he said slowly, struggling to straighten up and relax his shoulders by rolling them subtly. "And of course I wouldn't dare try to seduce your niece, General."
"What a shame, I was convinced that you could get along well."
The Kel Dor clearly did not realize what he was saying and finally stopped when he saw that he had left a confused Wolffe behind.
"Wolfe? "
"Hmm...nothing," the clone muttered as he followed again.
"Fine... but are you sure you don't like her? "
"General!" He blurted out, shocked beyond words.
What, was he...trying to bring them together? Wolffe could not have understood it any other way, and it made no sense on his part! He was a Jedi! Was not a Jedi Master of the High Council supposed to be more... completely resistant to these notions?
On the other hand, if he also knew about Skywalker and said nothing, perhaps his personal views were more relaxed than Wolffe initially thought.
"I wouldn't be against officially welcoming you into my family with a wedding, that's all I'm saying."
"You... did you arrive late on purpose?"
"Three minutes can hardly be considered be late-"
"You absolutely did it."
The Kel Dor put on such a falsely confused expression that Wolffe did not know what to say, especially when nobody around him seemed to realise how much the Kel Dor was making fun of him precisely because he was Kel Dor.
Sometimes not being human had its advantages in continuing to look respectable even while being an idiot in ways that were obnoxiously obvious to anyone who could read your body.
"You are... impossible."
"I might be, who knows? Now, do you want to know the ins and outs of the Kel Dor court, yes or no?"
"... yes, go ahead."