[Hiatus] Poorly Written Fanfic Emporium

It was not part of his plans, but with him reporting late to Skywalker everytime  they were back on Coruscant, it was bound to come up.

Yet when Rex confessed about the lover he had and how he always made sure to kiss them goodnight before they were sent back to the front, Anakin merely gave him the smile of an older brother hearing about his younger brothers engagement and told him to take the day off to spend time with them. 

He doesn’t regret telling Anakin Skywalker, the man who trusted him enough to make Rex one of the uncles of his unborn child, about them

So here he was, without his plastoid plating in your apartment, waiting for them to get back home from work.

The captain had spent the day making their favourite meal to preoccupy himself, and when he heard the door click and slide open, he couldn’t help but launch himself at them in glee.

“Who- Rex?” They gasped out from his tight embrace, the crack in their voice betraying their surprise.

“I’m back, cyar’ika,” Rex affirms before setting them down and caressing their face. “I got tomorrow off to spend with you.”

“How?” Y/n’s voice is filled with a softness reserved for Rex as they let their face melt into his calloused hands.

“I told my superior officer-”

“You did what?!”

“-And he gave me tomorrow off before we head out to Umbara to assist General Kenobi.” 

Rex felt their body tense at the mention of Umbara and his chest constricts at the memory of your job.

“Please Rex. I don’t want to think about you going there.” Their voice was filled with worried and it shattered Rex’s heart to know that he was the cause.

“I’m sorry, Y/N. I won’t mention the war while I’m here, you have my word.”

“Thank you, now,” Y/N takes a deep sniff, “Is that what I think it is?”

“I tried,” Rex admits sheepishly, letting the smaller one go to investigate what he made. “But I’m not much of a cook.”

“And I appreciate the amount of love and effort you put into this Rex,” Y/N compliments, taking a heaping bowl of food and setting it aside before motioning Rex over.

“Is it alright?” He asks softly, embracing them as if they were glass. He was so gentle around Y/N, probably his only chance to be gentle due to the requirements of war.

“It could use some improving,” Y/N giggles, “But it’s still good since you tried your best.”

“I’ll have to ask your dad to show me how to make it again,” He notes, take a bite and scrunching up his face in shock.

“I’m sure Dad and Pop would love to have you over again to do so.” Their cheeks were pink as they stole bites here and there from the plate of food, mainly focused on enjoying Rex’s company as they sway slightly in the kitchen.

“Y’know, they never stop asking about you,” Y/N says after a moment of silence. “They keep wondering when you’ll be able to spend the day again so they can learn Mando’a from you.”

The laugh from Rex was deep and hearty, something Y/N hasn’t heard in quite a long time.

“I should be on leave for a few days once I’m back from the front. I would be honoured to teach them then,” The soldiers eyes were mirthful as he smiled brightly at the love in his arms.

“Finish eating before it gets too late. A late dinner is not healthy-”

“Says the soldier who willingly goes days without it.” Unsure of what to say, Rex follows Y/N to the table like a puppy, trying to come up with a good response before giving up entirely.

---

Rex didn’t realise he dozed off on the couch until his commlink started pinging, his signal that it was time to go. He didn’t have the heart to tell Y/N that he may be shipped out earlier due to strained communications to the 212st, but he figured they were smart enough to put two and two together.

As carefully as he could, Rex tries to untangled himself from the mess of limbs keeping him in place, a faint smile gracing his lips at the sleeping human next to him.

“What,” Y/N mumbles after Rex adjusts their arm slightly too fast.

“I’m sorry cyare,” Rex murmurs, pressing a kiss to their forehead, “But General Skywalker needs me.”

“Don’t go.” Y/N’s voice was husky from sleep and they could barely keep their eyes open, but their hand was tight around his wrist.

“I have to,” He kisses their forehead again before brushing his thumb against their cheek. “Goodnight cyare, I’ll be back in a rotation.”

“Rex?” Their voice was crystal clear as Rex started to head out the door.

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

He got butterflies. His favourite kind of butterflies.

He met the ashen brunette while playing with the petilil’s and cottonee’s under Zoroark’s keen eye in the forest. 

She was lost, clearly trying to be confident while searching for a way out. Her clothes were that of the outside world, maybe a private school, and her skin was the darkest he’s ever seen compared to the ghostly tones of those that raise him.

“Excuse me,” She calls out with a twinge of fear squeaking her voice, “Can you show me the way out?” 

The girl walks closer, making his guardian tense, but the Pokémon doesn’t do anything.

“No, I’m sorry,” Harmonia tells her quietly while meeting her eye with as much confidence he could muster. He was curious, who could blame him? He was not allowed to meet the children from the outer world out of fear they would taint him, so to him, the girl was exotic.

“Oh, it’s okay.” Her eyes suddenly swell with tears, but with a big sniff and blink, she grins and holds out her hand.

“I’m Valentine, Valentine Adira, but my mom and friends call me Val.” She was trying her best to happy in a bad situation, and Harmonia could see it in her lavender eyes that she was a thread away from breaking down.

“Natural Harmonia Gropius,” Harmonia replies quietly without taking her hand, “But Harmonia is okay.”

“Hmm, that’s a mouth full. What about N? It’s almost as mysterious as you are,” Her question was innocent and despite Harmonia flinching slightly when she sits across from him, Zoroark mysteriously doesn’t force her away. 

The Pokémon suddenly crowd her, smiles bright as they vy for her attention. Harmonia looks to Zoroark for his approval on the name and is surprised to see him nod.

“N is okay-”

“Cool! Glad to meet you N!” The sky turns warm and orange from the sunset and Valentine’s face falls.

“I wanna talk more, but I have to find my way back before nighttime.”

“Okay, I wish you luck.”

“Thank you.” She sighs before getting up and dusting off her skirt. Valentine begins to walk away before waving at Harmonia with a new smile.

“I’ll find you again so we can hang out!” Harmonia doesn’t feel the smile creep onto his face until Valentine laughs and turns around, preparing to make her way back home.

Zoroark doesn’t say anything until she’s out of earshot.

“If you would like to spend time with her, I can escort her to and from the outside.” His voice was slightly perturbed, but supportive nonetheless.

“I thought you would want me to stay away from her.” N’s voice betrayed the mixed emotions he felt, but the Pokémon just gives him a caring smile.

“That one is innocent. Her character may do you more good that complete isolation, but we cannot allow Ghetsis to find out, lest he harm her.”

Reality came crashing down on Harmonia yet he still smiles.

“I promise! Our little secret!”

---

The next time Harmonia sees her was a week later, shortly after his birthday, and she came with a cupcake. It had buttercream coloured to match his hair and a singular candle.

“N! Your friend told me it was your birthday so I brought you something!” Her voice was cheery as she ran carefully towards him.

“But I don’t have mutual friends with you,” N tells her quizzically, confused at her words.

“Yes you do silly! Zororark told me when they met me at the forest edge.” Glancing at the Pokémon, N is stunned to see a caring and soft smile on his face.

“Well, thank you,” N smiled softly as she sets the cupcake in his hands.

“I didn’t know what flavour you liked so I got vanilla just in case.” He could hear the worry in her voice about the flavour, so as soon as he blew out the candle, to took a big bite out of the treat to ease his new friends mind.

“I like vanilla,” He tells her after swallowing the mouthful, “And I really like this vanilla too.”

The smile on her face was worth so many moon stones.

“I’m glad! Now, what do you want to do? Your birthday, your choice.” 

N hums in thought before getting up and grabbing her hand.

“Let’s go play with the lillipups,” He tells her with a strong voice. It was the first time Valentine heard his voice in something other than a whisper. It made her beam and she nodded vigorously.

“Let’s go!”

For the next three years, every day after his birthday, Valentine made it a tradition to bring N a vanilla cupcake and play with the lillipups until Zoroark had to get Valentine back home. It was the highlight of N’s year and the only thing during that week that made him smile

And it goes smoothly until N’s 11th birthday, when for the first time, Zoroark doesn’t bring Valentine to N. All she’s given is a small note in N’s spidery handwriting with two words.

“Maybe this party isn’t so bad,” Hunter mumbles to himself as he takes a sip of the expensive liquor in his hands. His eyes had caught a form moving in his direction and he couldn’t help the slight heat rushing to his cheeks as she sauntered closer.

She was gorgeous in a natural way, with h/c hair loose and spilling over her shoulders, her skin covered head to toe in a body conforming navy dress, and glitter dusting her cheeks. She catches his eyes and gives him a small smile before grabbing a flute of alcohol from a passing butler, passing a clutch from her dominant hand to her non dominant one.

“Are you Hunter? The merchant?” She asks when she was close enough to avoid too many ears. Their cover was poor, but it was all they could think of last minute.

“Yes, and you must be Miss Cid’s daughter, Y/n?” Her eyebrow raises at his stiffness and he feels his face heat slightly.

“Yes I am. Come, let’s go finalise the details of my aunts purchase.”

“Lead the way.” She links arms with him, startling him, but also helping ease him. If Cid trusted her, he’d have to do the same.

She was easily guiding him through the crowds and saying the right things to keep people from being suspicious. Her voice was light and airy, giving off the impression she was another ditzy rich woman, but there was such a calculated way to her movements that made Hunter respect her more and more.

Once they reach one of the empty balconies, she detaches from his arm and the air voice is gone. Her e/c eyes were strong and intelligent as she opened the clutched, pulling out a drive.

“These are the schematics of the manor,” She tells him concisely, “You and your team will need to memorise them if we’re going to pull off the heist.”

“Alright. We’ll handle the security system if you find us the best path in and out.” He matched her professionality as he stows the drive away in his suit pocket.

“I hope you’re not as clumsy in your blacks as you are in that suit,” She quips, moving closer to him as the sound of a door fills the quiet night.

“You don’t have to worry about us,” He says quietly, taking a sip as he eyes the security guard walking by them. “Parties aren’t really our forte, but we can get supplies quickly and easily.”

“I sure hope so. My aunt didn’t put that large of a payment for you to loose the shipment.” 

They watch the guard as they turn around and head back down the balcony.

“Uh, shall we meet later?” Hunter asks, but both their heads turn as two drunken men stumble onto the balcony as the security detail leaves.

“Kriff, not those two,” Y/n breaths before moving impossibly closer to her colleague. 

“Who are they?”

“The entitle sons of our target. I’ve already had a few unpleasant run ins with them before you arrived.”

“What do we do about them?

“Nothing, they’re worth too much to put them six feet under and have a security detail so complicated that we can’t silence them in any other way.” Hunter listens to their conversation as Y/n sips her drink uncomfortably.

“I can’t believe she’s having another party.”

“Yeah, supposedly that old fart Tarkin was supposed to be here.”

“You really think anyone would want to go a party mom throws? Unless it’s a party between her legs, no one cares.”

Hunter wants to step in but he notices a change in her heart beat and sees them eye Y/n.

“Six o’clock, drunk guys coming up,” He murmurs and feels all three of their heart beats increase.

“Put a hand on my waist,” Y/n snips, throwing Hunter for a loop.

“What-” He couldn’t finish his sentence as Y/n had taken his free hand and put it on her waist and then leaned more into him, giving one looking the impression that they were either a toxic couple arguing or a couple still in their honeymoon phase.

Both put Hunter on edge and flushed his checks. 

“Are they still coming toward us?” She asks him quietly. He glances up and sees them still eyeing her, but not moving closer.

“No, but they’re still looking.” Hunter sighs, “Kriff, do they ever go away? We need to start getting ready for the heist.”

“I got an idea, but I hope you’re not too out of it when we reorganise.”

“Depends on the idea.” Her sly smile and the slight increase in heart rate tells Hunter he’s in for a treat, but falters when she leans to match his height and kisses his cheek

“Damn, I thought they were just dealing.”

“C’mon man, lets go.”

The door opens and closes and the drunk boys were gone, but Hunter could feel lipstick on his cheek from Y/n’s lips. He almost thought he was about to have a heart attack from how hard it was beating in his chest, but the feeling of her hand still on the side of his face reassured him that he was still alive and still kicking.

“Thank’s for humouring me,” Her tone was apologetic after seeing the crimson on Hunter’s cheeks and feeling his pulse threaten to rip from his neck. “I’ll meet you at the drop point later tonight. Make sure you and your team review the documents.”

“Y-Y-Yeah, got it.” She flutters her fingers in goodbye before sauntering out, the only give away about her internal emotions was the flutter of her heartbeat and the flush on her shoulders.

Hunter was ready to leave and head back to the Marauder when he catches his reflect in the glass beside him.