Can I please get 20 from your Enemies to Loves list with Fives?
Foes to Friends 🌊
🫧 Pairings: Fives X Female Reader
word count: 1k
prompt:
"I think we're friends now," / "Dank Farrik, don't say that,"
You thought war was stressful but it appeared to be nothing compared to your rivalry with the Arc Trooper that is Fives. But, how do you feel when he saves your life without thinking of the consequences?
warnings: Mentions of War, Near Death Experience, Platonic Relationship, Enemies to Friends, Female Reader but could be read as GN, Fives gets injured, Separatist’s Enemies.
sorry for the wait! Hope you enjoy @sleepycreativewriter 🩵
The blaster fire illuminated the darkened corridor of the starship, casting flickering shadows on the cold, metallic walls. Fives and yourself, both hunched behind a crate, exchanging a quick, tense glance.
For as long as you had known him, the two of you had always butted heads. Supposedly it was down to both of your stubbornness and fierce determination that caused endless clashes during missions and today was no different.
After getting separated from Rex and the rest of the squadron, it was just you and Fives stranded together and things were getting hairy.
"Stick to the plan," Fives muttered, his eyes scanning the hallway for movement.
"I am sticking to the plan," You retorted , peering over the edge of the crate. "If you have a better idea, I'm all ears."
Fives shot you a look that said he doubted your abilities, but he said nothing more. Both of you knew that now was not the time for arguments. The Separatists had taken control of the ship, and it was detrimental that you both needed to get to the control room to shut down their systems.
Moving swiftly, your blasters cut through the droids that stood in the way. As you reached a narrow passage, the floor began to shake violently. Your heart began to race as the shaking was then followed by an explosion which echoed through the ship, and suddenly, the ceiling began to collapse.
It happened quickly but without thinking, Fives grabbed at your arm and pulled you out of harm's way, saving you from being crushed into a pancake.
You pant, shaking your hands as nerves and exhilaration flow through you at your close call. "Thanks," you mumble begrudgingly, not exactly used to showing gratitude towards him.
"Just doing my job," Fives replied, though there was a hint of something softer in his tone. It made you pause and think for a moment, watching him but focused back on the task ahead.
Continuing your advance, the tension between you both felt to be easing. Even if it’s only slightly. He had your back covered and you had his
But things went from bad to worse as you both approached the control room where you fell into an ambush of separatist droids. “We’re out numbered, Fives!” You cry out, shooting and dodging at every chance you get, exhaustion getting the better of you. Just when you thought one wave was down, you were drowned by another and another and another.
"Get to the control room!" Fives shouted over the blaster fire. "I'll hold them off!"
"Are you insane? You'll get killed!" You yelled back, heart pounding. No way you were going to let him do this.
"Just go!" he insisted, physically pushing you towards the door. You meet his gaze, wide and horrified whilst his eyes, usually so full of defiance, now held a desperate determination.
You hesitated for a moment, not wanting him to face the droids alone but then remembered you had to consider everyone else on the ship too. “Fives…”
“What are you waiting for? Go! Leave me!”
A wave of emotions hit you and knowing you had to do this, you turned and sprinted towards the control room. Entering, you curse to yourself as all you could hear and somehow focus on was Fives' blaster firing rapidly behind you. But you had to focus.
Quickly, you began shutting down the systems, fingers flying over the controls like you had done hundreds of times in training. Your mind is running wild and just as you finished, a blaster bolt whizzed past your head. You spin around, ready to meet your fate as you hadn’t even had time to react quick enough to grab your blaster. Heart stopping and your eyes closing waiting for the inevitable and you can only wish you had done all you could for the others but before you could even process anything, Fives was there.
His blaster takes out the droid in a single shot before he leans on the doorframe in agony. He was bleeding and looked exhausted, but he had made it.
You had never been so happy to see him. You rush to his side, looking over his injuries. “Crap, you’re pretty beaten up there.” You sigh and he can only mumble a response which sounded a lot like ‘no shit’ which you couldn’t help but chuckle at.
"You didn't have to come back for me," you say softly, voice barely above a whisper. You didn’t understand it but your throat tightened with emotion.
He meets your gaze, "Couldn't let you have all the glory," he replied with a weak smile. "Besides, someone has to keep you out of trouble."
You rolled your eyes, how very typical of Fives.
Letting him drape an arm over your shoulder, you helped him up and together made your way back to the escape pods after getting the all clear from Rex.
Fives however was clearly struggling, every step he took made him wince. The sight of his pain made your chest ache with a new, unsettling feeling. You came to the realisation with a pang that you cared for him. He had saved your life twice and in all the times you had bickered, you had not recognised how much you valued him until you almost lost him.
As you sat in the cramped pod, waiting for the ship to be out of range, you looked at Fives, seeing him in a new light. The lines of tension around his eyes, the stubborn set of his jaw, all seemed painfully familiar now… it was like looking into a mirror. How could you not see that you both argued because you were both so similar?
"I think we're friends now," you say quietly, trying to lighten the silence.
"Dank Farrik, don't say that," Fives groaned, though there was no malice in his words, only exhaustion and you even saw the flicker of a smile on his lips.
You giggled softly, leaning back and closing your eyes. "Admit it, you care about me."
"Maybe," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "Just because we're similar doesn't mean we can't be allies."
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Masterists: OC x Canon, 210th Assault Legion, Canon x Reader, OC Misc
Day 1
“That's the last of the repairs done to the ship.” Rex hooked his datapad to his utility belt and swapped it within his hand for his helmet.
“And the last of the delivery have been checked through; all sound. Reports from the astroid belt are also saying the slavers have been pushed back - all into hyperspace.” Nia barely looked up from her own pad, skimming over the last of the reports and forwarding them to her Aunt and Uncle. “The tracker's still picking up readings; my uncle will be able to do the next steps and our plan was a success. Means we get to meet the others on Coruscant for Shore Leave.”
“Negative to it,” His right arm, free of any equipment, wove around her waist. The Plastoid was warm from the early summer sun, his gloved palm the same, and she could only melt into his side when he tugged her close and brought his chin to rest atop her scalp. “is it's not here with you. Could explore your home country for years.”
“We still have” she looked at her watch “five hours to pass the time.” She wished she could have tilted her head up, yet being held just so, in the first summer rays since they had chosen to take the chance together, brought more comfort to her than anything she had experienced the past month. “I can take you on a walk?”
“Too warm for a walk, isn't it?”
“In your arnour, yes, but… I intend for it to not be in armour. “
He fekt the rumble of his chuckle within his chest, ricocheting within his plastoid shell. “If you wanted to get me alone, mesh'la,” Rex purred only for her to hear, “you only have to ask.”
“Tempting,” the captain loosened his hold around her enough for them both to turn to face each other - her fingers walked up the centre of his chest plate, showing far more wear and tear than the rest of his torso (the solder marks he had painted the centre of alluded to it being from his phase one gear), until they came to the collar of his blacks, “but not when I inend to take you on a walk.”
“Rain check for after?”
“Sounds like a wonderful plan, Captain Rex.” She felt his shudder in his neck and the palms on her waist - it took everything in her power to not turn smug. “But I'm being serious here. We get to wear something more suitable for the weather - I think i may have spotted a linen shirt that'll stop you getting too warm.”
“And you?”
“I have a dress I think you'd like.”
“Don't dress on my account, Nia. You're always beautiful to me.”
Her cheeks flushed with colour at the ease he spoke, unused to be called such by anyone that wasn't her father or aunt or sister, and the Ylandra hid her face against his chest with the guise of merely getting comfortable.
Captain Flatterer, more like.
“I like all my clothes, dear, but I also like wearing things that make us both happy, not just me.”
He hummed, tilting his head for a moment to kiss her crown, and then putting his chin back to rest on the area. “Describe it. Three words.”
“Hm… billowy… whimsical and… fantasy-esque.”
“Fantasy-esque?”
“Yes - like the dresses in those fantasy films I like watching, but the fabric's lighter because it's summer. It's not white, but is close to it I think. And it has those sleeves I know you like on me - the ones that split away from the arm before or at the elbow and down.”
For Rex's own benefit, she decided not to draw his attention to the way his hands tightened on her hips. She knew not why her arms were something he liked, they were simply limbs to her - though she supposed it was no different to her appreciation of his own and his legs. She didn't even know why she felt that way herself, and she doubted he knew.
Maybe he hadn't even noticed. Or, if he had, he had accepted it as bizzare and part of the parcel.
Didn't stop her from being curious about it.
“Wouldn't it get dirty?”
“The ground should be dusty, but if it ends up being too long I can just pin it or something.”
“Can I help?”
“Yes?” She moved her head back enough to look up at him with a confused tilt of her head. “You know you can just… help, right?”
“I know.” He looked down at her with a smile, and a look in his eyes that made her feel like she was the only person there. She wished that he could be so free in the rest of the galaxy as he was here, where there were no consequences for being a living thing. “But I wanted to.”
“Very pre-emptive of you.”
“Like being ahead.”
“Can't say I didn't notice.” She gave him the same grin he gave her. “Let's go. Before I spend the nwxt five hours staring at your face.”
“Why? What's wrong with it?”
She held his chin, her thumb finding its home on the scar on his chin. “Absolutely nothing.”
Nia stepped back from the soaked canine, shaking the water of the woodland river from her coat - even the hreða tooka of pure black (an older kitten that had been weaned from her mother for a month) hid beneath her dress - white and elegant, the skirt of which didn't touch the floor but grazed the tops of her feet - to escape the onslaught. Rex groaned at getting soaked, realising much to late what was happening, yet his grin was wide as if it was the first time he had experienced something sp normal, with the bi-coloured white and black, young Wolfdog descendant getting face rubs from him.
She figured it must have been. He knew the animals of her home well, but he had never taken anything but the shinies on walks - and for the shinies, it was so he got to know them.
The pure love and awe on his features never ceased to amaze her; she hoped the area never stopped amazing him.
“There's a good place to eat our vittles.” Nia pointed at an ancient tree, with branches that spread far and wide, limbs that saw the high republic come and go, the sith collapse, the mandalorian failure to claim Old Soirham as theirs, and was just an acorn half a century before that. Still it's leaves were healthy, and its acorns produced trees that traveled the country in conservation.
It created good shade, a good rest, and the animals out of the warm sun.
Rex moved beside her, favouring pecking her cheek (simply because she was there) and taking her hand than really paying attention to where she pointed. His hum of agreement grazed her skin, and he took the shoulder bag of their picnic to reside on his. The kitten - a short haired Hreða with a cream coat and a darker brown centre of the face, tail, paws and ear tips, and blue eyes - sensed the movement and came out of her hiding spot. She was harnessed and on a lead for her safety; she led the way happily with joyous bounding and trotting. For such a young creature, she understood that Nia was not her a fully healed self, and chose to exude her glee lf the weather without forcing her to run.
A point Nia was silently grateful for and made not to thank the young fur baby later. Rex didn't need the extra worry on his shoulder; he had mother henned her enough since her return to duty five months ago.
Not that she blamed Rex for his worry - she was close to death when the managed to get off Iðunn; she was lucky to survive at all. Then Umbara not long after that… Nia would have been concerned if he wasn't overly protective of her recovery. But considering the day before his leave ended and her return to active duty, they had laid together beyond just sleeping… It was ironic. He didn't hurt her at all, and, granted, it was hardly marching for miles with the weight of five unarmoured men on your back in just armour alone, with the addition of running to save one's skin, but for limbs that could only stand her up for so long and only walk so far before needing to sit down, she was pretty impressed they were almost back to normal the next day.
Surely it was proof he needn't fret so much over her every day?
“Mesh'la.” Rex tugged her hand softly, pulling her still walking form into him. “Where you goin’?”
Slowly, he took the tooka's lead from her hand. His arms snaked around her middle, the heat of the sun long gone from her skin in favour of semi-dappled shade, the light speckling through leaves it cast in it's yellow glow to paint them with the joy of colour where just a month ago the leaves would have been in their buds. Hands were secure, his fingers holding his palms in a simple embrace that kept her in against his person. His forehead rested against hers, noses brushing as he settled into a comfortable place.
It was so quiet, turning up just after the dog walkers had partook in their activity, that all she ciuld hear above the playing of the feline and canine, above the faint echo of her heartbeat and the ghosting kf Rex's breaths, was the wind through trees, the sheep and cattle in the fields, nearby equines having a bicker with ine another, the song birds and a distant woodpecker, and the soft movement of the canal that had become as much a home to wildlife as the river had claimed it.
“Sorry. Lost in thought.”
“About?”
“You.”
“Me?” After nearly half a year, the surprise that laced his voice to such a statement endeared her further to the usually confident, but mostly modest, Torrent Captain.
“Yes, you.” Nia pecked his lips, simply because they were there, she could, and the one he gave her in chase was a cycle that filled her to the brim with a joy no other had given her. “Is it truly so bad to be in your love's thoughts so often?”
“You didn't not think of me when we were friends.”
“We still are friends, my dear. Just because we're lovers, it doesn't mean we're not friends anymore.”
His chuckle rumbled from his chest and into hers. “True.” Rex moved one of his hands to her cheeks, his index weaving the loose strand of her at her temple (which she left out of her loosely curled half-up-half-down ponytail, which was just two sections of hair from the side of her head plaited and brought together at the back). “If we had never been friends… we wouldn't have what we do now.”
“Everything else would he the same, but we'd not have each other. That makes me sad.”
“Sad?”
“Yes. Sad.”
“Don't get me wrong, iId be sad, too. But i'm used to… something a little more… poetic from you.”
“Sad's more accurate. You could have ended up with, i don't know, a receptionist called Linda who never loved you for you but just wanted points. And that deeply upsets me. Because I hate it when anybody dimples it to anyone, but you're the only people in the republic with no rights in the galaxy at large… and I loathe to think someone would -”
“And I know,” he interrupted, lightly guiding her to the trunk of the tree with his thumbs caressing where her cheek and the small of her back, “that you would still think yourself unlovable, unworthy and broken. And that, my beautiful cyar'ika, breaks me apart.”
Should have just stabbed me twenty seven times with that truth.
She was quiet, following him to the ground. She crossed her legs, her dress easily hiding her knees and shins, and stared at her hands. Her fingers found themselves busy with opening the back and taking out lunch, their movement slow and steady - calculated. Pre planned. Even with two obligate carnivores watching expectantly, she remained unyeilding.
For if she didn't, the parts of her that still felt all of those things would claim her victory. She wasn't going to crumble - throughout her entire recovery so far, she had not so much as lost a speck to wavering mental wellbeing in front of anyone. She wasn't going to start now because of a sob story.
She never wanted Rex to feel he was failing. It wasn't his fault ahe had spent twenty years with no ine but family wanting her company, and it wasn't his fault her only relationships where manipulative pricks that turned her from self-worth into nothing. It wasn't his job to fix her.
The smallest animal tugged at her wrist - the frline's pupils were so wide they nearly hid her irises - and made the cutest noise.
“Hello, Delphi. I'll get your food in a sec.”
But the kitten now showed no interest. She stood herself up on her back legs and her fronts only managed to weave around Nia's neck because she slouched. But it was enough.
And who was Nia to refuse such an act? The problem was, there was only one downside to tge purest love any animal held for her:
She cried as an automatic response.
One she could not switch off.
She neededca plan to not draw attention. And that just had to be to get the dog's food open single handedly, the other keeping Delphi comfortable, and revisiting decade old anti-voice-breaking techniques.
“Nia?” She hummed, tipping the cooked meat, raw egg, and the small amount of pumpkin into her food bowl. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing.” She offered him a grin, hoping to all of the old pantheon and the force he had left his alert state enough to jot notice it didn't feel as wide as usual, and moved more to show him the kitten that decided to hug her. “C'mere, Bilb'ry. Your dinner is ready for noms.”
The canine was more than happy to eat, though she settled and half leaned against her knees.
“It's not, mesh'la.” His fingers wiped at her eyes. “I know your tells.”
Dammit.
“It's nothing worth breaking this peace over.”
“If your upset enough for the tooka to choose you over food, it's broken your peace.”
“It doesn't mean it's worth breaking yours over.”
“Cyare,” he pulled her gently into his chest - now bare with his shirt drying from a low hanging branch - until she was cradled beneath his chin, “whe your peace is broken, so is mine. ‘Your sorrow is my sorrow.’"
How rude - using my philosophy against me.
Delphi seemed to agree, though she now chose to slip to Nia's lap and receive her pets and cuddle that way.
“But - “
“No buts.” She opened her mouth to speak, and he gave her his Captain look.
She officially had no choice.
And so she sighed in defeat, her hands fussing with the tooka in her lap that purred, and her wars inent on listening to Rex's heart hammering in his chest.
“It's just… you think so highly of me, to think I don't still struggle just as much as I did before. I still think I'm unlovable. And it's not because I don't feel loved by you, because I do - and it's the most loved I've felt in a long time - but it's me. I spent a decade trying to make friends before I gave up. I spent years trying to be loved until I realised the only people thst wanted me never cared about me. I spent time after school struggling to know where I stood in the galaxy.
“Now I belong somewhere - I hate that it meant war had to occur for me to find it. And now there are at least a handful of people that care about who I am instead of what I am, and there's you - but I still felt like I didn't… fit for most of my life. On bad days, it's to think everyone's just being nice, and being nice is just asking for a cuppa - anyone can do that. Even arsehats and abusers can be nice. I'm always going to be one comment away from feeling all those things again.”
Rex was quiet; Nia half thought she had relented too easily, too freely, and didn't know if she should bury herself into him deeper or pull away from him with a string of apologies. Yet, in spite of it, his hold on her grew more secure when she began to move. More encompassing. More intent on drowning those thoughts and replacing them with him in full.
“Anythin’... I can do?”
“It's not your job to fix me…”
“Maybe not. But as a man who loves you, it's my duty to help you heal.”
Delphi - the kitten whose name was short for Delphinium to work with her mother's name of Ammi - meowed at the gentle squish as Nia shifted her to a better position for both of them. She purred and stretched before deciding to put al her attention to her rumbling tummy.
“Go eay, sweety. I know you want to cuddle me, you fwuffy baby, but you won't be able to snuggle if you starve.” The food was already waiting for her on a saucer, not too disimilar to the canine's dinner but mixed with water and salmon.
The moment the kitten perched in front of her plate in a half loaf, Bilberry's nose slotted into the space. Nia's hands were quick to fuss her, as was Rex.
“Nia, cyare,” his lips were against her scalp, his breath grazing the whispy frays. “I love you. You're not alone anymore.”
“I know.”
“So… what can I do to help?”
Nia moved back enough that when she tilted her head, which came to rest on his shoulder, should see his face; eyes like freshly smelted bronze with flecks of gold gazed upon her with a delicate touch, yet so firm in sincerity there was no room to believe he didn't love her at all. “Continue loving me the way you already do.”
“That,” he hooked his index under her chin, brushing his nose with hers affectionately, “I can do.”
There was a hiss followed by the canine swiftly leaving her place with a growl. No kiss came where she expected it, and the all too familiar rush that had begun to feel like comfort in a bottle became that of fear.
She snapped her head so fast a muscle twanged in dislike of such a movement, but she could not respond, for any sudden movement could have been it.
“Delphi, c'mere, girly. Slowly.” The feline heard, her backlegs slowly moving, and Bilberry was ready to pick up the cat if needed.
Nia could sense Rex was moving, and she clicked jer tongue to keep the young fox's eyes on her.
“That's it Delphi. Bilb'ry's not far behind you -”
A stun blast went off at the predator. Delpji sprinted to Nia and buried herself into her neck with front paws around her neck. Bilberry groomed and nudged the kitten as if trying to soothez and all Nia could do whilst holding the scared feline was stare at Rex in confusion as he leaned against the branch and put his pistol in his holster.
“Wha-”
“I'm going to move the fox somewhere closer to food. Must be desperate to be hunting in the day.”
“If you weren't - “
“Hey,” he crouches, his knees clicking, and kissed her chastely before rubbing Delphi's cheek, “everything's okay. Delphi's okay. Fox's okay. But I've really got to move it before it wakes up.”
“There's a proper woodland a couple minutes run away. If you follow this path, you'll find it. Should be food there."
“Thanks, Mesh'la.” He gave the wolfdog cross a similar pet as Delphi. “Keep watch, trooper. No napping til i get back.”
The canine was all too happy to oblige.
“- and so, in the stormy night, Hreða was buried and where she lay to rest, and a month later, a young kitten with the markings and mismatched eyes of the goddess of glory was found beside the first shoot of what is now known as The Heáhgnung Actreow…”
Soft breaths fanned her thigh. Rex, head on her thigh, looked most at peace than he had all week. Delphi slept on his chest, head beneath his chin, looked as if she had jot nearly been attacked by a fox. Even Bilberry had chosen it was okay to sleep now, her head on Nia's shin. She could not reach the canjne,but the dog seemed not to kind as deeply asleep as she was lost in dreams.
For now, her somewhat free hand was trapped within the hold of Delphi, dark brown paws holding it place whilst she was in mid meow. Her freer hand barely moved from its spot on Rex's head, still working across his scalp, afraid that he would wake if she stopped. Since Umbara, he had slept illly and only his training kept him from collapsing from so few hours. He had started to join her in her room at first, away from her to not accidentally hit her of her thrashed, but he always woke up beside her, slotted neatly with his head beneath her chin, and no recollection moving - either only partially in the waking realm, or sleep walking.
Nia wanted him to rest.
And so she looked to the fields and the hedges. She listened to the birds talking. She watched the blackbirds dig into the ground with their beaks and pulling out worms to feed their first brood of the year. She watched the squabbling sparrows over the first berries, and stayed still at the sight of a wild rabbit family moving from one field to another. Even a fawn with wonderfully white spots frolicked in the long grasses of meadowland, forever watched by his mother and the herd they traveled in.
“Why'd you stop?” A groggy voice caught her attention, and a weary hand cradled her cheek to look at him. Rex squinted, one eye closed entirely and the other barely open, and he had his head at an agle to keep the worst of the sun out his eyes.
“You were asleep, my love.”
“Restin’. Not sleepin’.” He sighed happily at her hand blocking the golden rays and kissed her wrist. “Like your stories t'much to sleep.”
“I'm a rather boring storyteller.”
“I disagree, cyare. Jus’... lack confidence to be one.”
“You just like my voice.”
“Not denyin’. You tell more stories and talk about your wildlife when you're relaxed. Means, I know you're okay.”
“Rex…”
His index followed the lighting shaped lines across her forearm, half in the process of bacta treatments, some lines barely there and others refusing. Iðunn wasn't kind - nor were the Separatists - but Rex treated them with the same oove he gave her. They were now part of her. He jad seen them qhen they were fresh. He saw them wrapped in film like any severe burns would be. He saw her nearly died. It was not a touched that loved them.
It was of reverent gratitude they did not take her.
“I love you.”
That was all he had to say to make her smile like it was just them, a group of four beneath a four hundred year old oak, and the wildlife around them.
“And I love you.”
Rex, for what it was worth, wasn't used to anyone but kids (be it Commander Tano or the cadets back home) falling asleep on him. It was his fault, he knew, for he had sat in Nia's favoured seat on the sofa, and he angled himself into its corner with a welcoming presence that simply hungered for her. But he didn't think she actually would take up the unspoken offer.
And now he was laid upon with her head residing upon his chest, bare to feel the air upon his skin after five hours of returning bac to Courscant, legs entangled like a hunt in a snare, and her front pressed into his right side.
It both terrified him and filled him with peace - to be more than a soldier, to have a small taste of what other soldiers had. A much younger him would have considered turning him in or taken much convincing to turn a blind eye.
Being turned in still filled the inner cadet in him with terror; now he had this - a taste for what he was told he would never be allowed to have - he had the confidence to shut out the thought and fight for it. He felt it made him a stronger defender.
And now he was understanding why some of the clones he knew had risked their duty. It wasn't losing their purpose, not at all. To him, he had… more purpose. He had something to fight for that he understood and knew. Something beside a republic he didn't know and the jedi he served. He had Nia.
He hoped, beyond all the hope he could have, that she knew she had him, too.
Nia stretched out her legs, and her hold around his waist tightened. She made small sounds that reminded him of an awoken tooka; it took him every ounce of will he had to not further wake her despite his fingers still finding the mere act of running through her roots soothing as he read the most recent report he had written.
“Rex?”
The captain picked his vambrace up from the table in front of him, unbothered by the sun in his eyes. “Kix?”
“Have you seen our resident Tooka? She's not responding to my calls.”
He thought for a brief second. “That might be something to do with me.”
“Sir,” the chief medic fell into no-nonsense swiftly, “if you've taken her halfway across the planet on chores -”
“No, not this time.” Nia made another, quiet noise as she settled further into him. The sleeve of her summer dress fell off her shoulder and he gently fixed it. “She's getting forty winks.”
“If you tired her out -”
“Remember we were given the go ahead for that short mission on her homeworld?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“We got back an hour ago.”
“But, Rex, she's due her next annual city world vaccine. If she doesn't get it today, this time next week she could be severely unwell.”
“I know, Kix. She's been dreading it all month. I'll bring her to you in” he took a quick glance at the time “three hours tops.”
“Roger that, Rex. Kix out.”
Without another word, Rex put his vambrace back on the table and settled himself further down the sofa. With ease, though plenty of gentleness, he shifted Nia atop of his body and lowered the thin blanket over her legs. The words had began to blend together on his datapad and each blink became heavier - he wasn't even sure he had typed what his brain was trying to say. He put it down and settled further, pulling the blanket further up her body.
With on final kiss to her crown, Rex decided that just this once, a nap sounded like a good plan.
Vena’s journey from the end of the clone wars to the beginnings of the clone rebellion will be featured in a chaptered story featuring captain sexy hair himself: Howzer.
[I also LOVE answering questions about my OC(s), so don’t be afraid to ask!]
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~Crosshair~
A Friend Indeed 🌼💢❤️🩹⚡️(feat. big bro Wrecker)
Two years after settling on Pabu, Crosshair still grapples with recurring nightmares and sleep paralysis. Despite his reluctance to open up, Wrecker's efforts help Crosshair discover unexpected comfort in familiar places.
-
A Little Kindness 🌼💢❤️🩹📚 (ongoing)
| Part 1 | Part 2 |
It’s been a few months since Crosshair and his family returned from Tantiss for the last time. Settling into civilian life hasn’t been easy, but one Pabu resident shows Crosshair some kindness that makes him want to try.
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~Tech~
Back To Sleep 🌼❤️🩹⚡️
(inspo by the gorgeous artwork done by @/ghostymarni here!)
After some bad dreams interrupt your sleep, you find some unexpected comfort in your beloved partner, Tech.
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~Fox~
Give Me the Twilight 🌼❤️🩹🔥⚡️
inspo by this feral Fox piece by @/ghostymarni
Overworked and overtired, Commander Fox is just trying to make it through the rest of his shift, but with a budding migraine it’s been easier said than done. Lucky for him, you’ve got some ideas in mind about how to soothe him.
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~Gregor~
For Granted 🌼❤️🩹🔥⚡️
Your beloved Gregor returns from a weeks-long mission for the clone underground, and after a long night filled with debriefings, he can’t wait to show you just how much he missed you while he was gone.
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~Rex~
More Than That 🌼💢❤️🩹⚡️
Something has been on your mind, but you should have known your lover in secret, Rex, would see right through you.
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~Wolffe~
Keeping You Around 🌼❤️🩹⚡️
Commander Wolffe's assignment to embark on a reconnaissance mission takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself stranded with you—a development he was far from prepared to deal with.
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~Cody~
Signal Lost (part I) 🌼❤️🩹📚🔥
What you planned on being a steamy first time after a long deployment turns into an evening hurt feelings and revealed miscommunications. As you both navigate physical boundaries and emotional intimacy, you find yourself more connected to Cody than ever before.
warnings: one curse word i think, reader and rex shower together but there’s nothing sexual, ahsoka is sad, there’s literally no plot this is just self-indulgent fluff
word count: 0.86k
a/n: i just want it to stop being 104° every day and have a clone trooper to call my own. modern au, i guess, but nothing is specified. i wrote this in, like, an hour, so pls forgive any mistakes
The sleeves of your sweater were pushed up over your elbows as you washed the growing pile of dishes in the sink, watching the rain fall from your kitchen window. Since the window faced your backyard, you didn’t see whoever it was that knocked on your front door. One quick glance through the peephole, though, had you throwing it open.
Ahsoka stood on your front step, completely soaked through. You pulled her into your home, and with the sounds of the storm shut out with the closed door, you could properly hear her choked back sobs.
“‘Soka?”
“Barriss, she—she broke up with me.”
“Oh, baby.” Water be damned, you pulled her into a hug, softly stroking her cold montrals. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”
She pulled back and wiped at her eyes, still sniffling. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
“I’m glad you came here. Do you want to talk about it?” She shook her head, water falling off of her. “Raid the closet for something dry, I’ll get you some food.”
She pulled you into another hug and mumbled, “Thank you,” into your chest.
You turned back into the kitchen and set the oven to preheat, then sent a quick message.
She’s with me.
After you put the frozen pizza into the oven and started on some cookie dough, your front door opened again. Heavy footsteps turned into soft ones as boots were taken off by the door to dry, then Rex stepped into your kitchen and wrapped his arms around you, tucking his chin on your shoulder.
You leaned back into him as he pressed a gentle kiss to your neck, giggling when sweater fluff got into his mouth and made him sputter. “Hey.”
“Hey. Cookies?”
“And pizza.“ You looked over your shoulder and kissed his jaw before saying quietly, “Barriss broke up with her. She walked here in the rain.”
“Ah, shit. Poor kid.”
“I’d wait for her to come downstairs before you get changed.”
“Probably a good call.” He moved around you and pulled out the brown sugar and flour and passed both of them to you. “And how was your day?”
“Camrac still hasn’t been fired, so, you know, it wasn’t great.” You grin at his muffled chuckle. “It was fine, nothing unexpected. I’m sure I’ll think of something worthwhile to tell you later.”
He smiled. “Looking forward to it.” He took the mixing bowl from your hands and covered the top with a towel, then put it in the fridge to chill. Then he pulled on the oven mitts and carefully removed the pizza from the oven.
Ahsoka appeared at the entrance to the kitchen, wearing one of your softest sweaters and some of Rex’s shorts, rubbing at her eye.
“Hey, kid.”
“Hi Rex.” She walked toward him and tucked herself into his side, his arm tightly wrapped around her shoulders. “Is that pizza?”
“And there’s cookie dough in the fridge.” You sliced the pizza and grabbed some plates. “Movie?”
She nodded. “Movie.”
The three of you arranged yourselves on the couch and got lost in the film. When the pizza and cookie dough were gone, Ahsoka’s head ended up in Rex’s lap, and his head ended up on your shoulder.
His eyes fluttered open as the credits started to roll. “I missed it?”
You snickered and kissed his cheek. “That’s why we picked one we’d all seen before.” You glanced down at the Togruta and smiled softly. “Will you carry her upstairs?”
“Yeah, I’ve got her, you go turn down the bed.”
You crouch down to her level and place a warm hand on her shoulder. “‘Soka?”
“Hmm?”
“We’re gonna take you upstairs.” She started to sit up and open her eyes, but you increased the pressure on her shoulder just barely. “Rex will carry you, baby, just lift your head.”
She did as you instructed and Rex lifted her easily, then they followed you up the stairs. You pulled the covers back on the spare bed, then tucked her in when Rex set her down, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then you plugged in a soft night light before closing the door.
Rex already had the shower running when you entered the en suite bathroom of your room, and you groaned as the eucalyptus scented steam filled the space. “You spoil me.”
“I treat you exactly the way you deserve.”
You both stripped down and stepped into the shower, grateful once again you installed the overhead shower head when you first moved in.
Rex’s hair was easy to wash, and you had him purring for you as you scratched product into his scalp.
He happily returned the favor.
The rain finally stopped as the two of you dried off, changed into pajamas, and slipped into bed. Rex, the living furnace, opened his arms and let you curl into him, your head on his chest. He hummed in contentment as he stroked his fingers up and down your back. Your eyes slowly started to close, and you hummed back.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Your family, all under one roof, safe and dry and warm.
a/n: pics not mine! this was genuinely relaxing to write! i’m so sorry this is late- i had such bad writers block and i didn’t want to post anything that i'm not proud of. nonnie, i hope this meets what you wanted and of course, thank you for requesting 🫶🏼🥰
crosshair
the shock! the surprise! he didn't expect you, of all people, to come up and suddenly hug him. it's all very welcome though since he absolutely adores you, but you don't know that. his crush on you is just amplified when you make moves on him.
"get off me. do you have glue on your arms or something?"
“no. you’re stuck with me,” you defiantly replied, “whether you like it or not.”
“well…uh. you’re welcome to stay in my arms,” he softy mumbles.
later in the day, he ends up spilling to you that he’s liked you since you first insulted him. he’s just glad you’re as crazy about him as he is about you.
tech
he doesn’t know how to respond when you come behind him and hug him. he definitely knows that his heart beats faster with you around but he’d rather keep that to himself. he's so in love with you and he's such a softie.
“may i ask why you are hugging me?”
“i like you, tech.”
oh. OH. his brain stops functioning a little after hearing before asking, “did i hear that right?”
he smiles softly to himself as he whispers back, "i like you too, darling." you don't know yet, but he's already daydreaming about the moments you'll share together as a couple.
echo
echo thinks you're so cute when you ran in front of him to give him a massive hug. but somehow, your hugs always last a little longer each time. he knows you have a crush on him, and he knows his feelings toward you.
"you're comfy."
"oh? does that make me your new pillow then?" he teased.
"perhaps..." you muse.
his eyes soften upon realizing that you'd be his forever, quietly whispering, "i think i love you."
"did you say something, echo?"
he smiles at you in response, no words are needed for his feelings anymore.
wrecker
as someone who likes both you and physical affection, wrecker is so happy about the hug. he's not shocked either about you coming to his side and hugging him. in fact, he appreciated your hug as he had just finished a mission that involved high-stress levels and heights.
“just what i needed.”
“what?” you inquire, “a hug? or you mean- my hug?”
"well- i mean, your hugs do feel nice but i prefer your hugs."
you glance up at him, smiling softly as you admire how pretty his eyes are. he knows you're staring, and he knows that you're definitely his future. you make him feel at home, truly loved and that's a bonus in his eyes.
hunter
he’s always admired you from afar. due to his heightened senses, he wasn’t too shocked about you sneaking up behind him, wrapping your arms around his chest. he relished the moments with you, as life seemed to slow down when he was with you.
“oh? what’s this?”
“just a hug for my favorite person,” you giggle, “you’re warm.”
"my waist is free real estate..uh if you'd like another hug?" he states slowly, scratching the back of his neck, not knowing what to do with his hands now that they aren't around you.
you end up confessing your crushes to each other at the same time.
a/n: hi! this is later than i would've preferred to post this, but late is better than never :) i really loved writing the dialogue for this and i was inspired by the kdramas i'm currently invested in! i hope you enjoy and thanks for reading 🫶🏼
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Prompts: Character - Fil | Word - Plush
Link to OP Post HERE | OP Blog Link HERE
@/threetinyshinies
——————–
Commander Fil x Gender Neutral Reader
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You greet Fil as he gets back from a mission, walking with him through the halls of the base, "Is there anything you're doing or need to do today, or are you free?" You ask, smiling at him, your hands crossed behind your back.
He looks at you with slight confusion, wondering why you were asking him, "I'm free the rest of the day, why do you ask?" he replied raising a brow as one corner of his mouth ticked up into a barely noticeable smile. But you noticed.
"Just wondering if maybe you want to...hang out..." you said turning your face away as you felt shy.
"I'd like that," he says, bumping you with his elbow playfully.
As a smile covers your face again you look over at him making him smile in response. The two of you went to the messhall to grab some grub and chat.
Talking about anything and everything as you ate, intermittently laughing at the jokes he made. - Before you even finish your food, a call comes through your com, something was broken again and they needed you to come fix it.
"I'm sorry, hopefully, I'll see you later or maybe tomorrow, again I'm really sorry," you said putting your tray away as he walked with you to the exit.
"Don't apologize, you have no control over things others break," he joked to lift your mood some.
He takes your hand in his and lifts it up to chest level, rubbing your fingers with his thumb. Finally, you look up at him, his eyes meeting yours.
"Good luck," he whispered, lifting your hand up and kissing the back of it.
"Thank you," you smiled at his sign of affection, something he was becoming more comfortable showing recently. He releases your hand and walks out with you into the hall. As you run off, you wave goodbye to him.
----
You don't know how many hours had passed, but you were exhausted and just focused your mind on getting back to your quarters before you crashed.
Almost stumbling through the hall, you drag your hand across the wall as you approach your quarters, turning the corner you continue to walk forward sleepily before running into something.
"Uff...sorry I — Fil," you mumbled, resting your hands against his chest as you leaned into him, feeling too exhausted to stand on your own.
"Hey," he said quietly, helping you over to your quarters. It surprised you that he remembered where it was, since he'd only been there once.
"You were waiting for me?" You say with a tired smile as you unlocked the door.
“Just for a little while, wanted to make sure you were alright.”
He stands in the doorway as you begin to walk in. Looking back over your shoulder, you reached out your hand, motioning him to come in.
He's hesitant at first, but then follows you inside. You dip into the refresher for a few moments, cleaning the dirt off your hands and arms.
Changing your clothes you're finally ready to crash into bed, as you walk out you notice him just standing in the middle of the room, "Come, join me," you say as you fall onto the bed tired eyes staring at the ceiling before focusing back on him.
"Uh...are you sure?" He asked, feeling slightly less brave than usual.
"Yes."
Before he joins you he removes his armor, now only in his blacks, he comes over to you sitting on the bed. Grabbing his arm you pull him closer to have him lay down with you, his head falling to rest on the plush pillows as he lets you snuggle up close to him. Running your hand over his chest as you rested your head on him, letting your eyes shut as you listened to his heartbeat, his one hand holds yours and the other pulls a cover over your body before stroking your back. It didn't take long for you to fall asleep, feeling him kiss your head before you fell asleep.
I'm choosing to pretend Fives doesn't die and everything's okay, that way I don't have to think about Rex telling Echo because I'll cry (again).
Pairing: Fives x F!Reader
Genre: Fluff, fluff and more fluff. So much dorkiness. So much silly. So much laughter. So much pure comfort for my still grieving self over this silly man that's my second fave.
Words: 1,658
Warnings: Minor Injury, mention of blood (undetailed)
Notes: Mentioned a few fluffy ideas yesterday on a Friday night fun post yesterday (mostly Rex, I admit) and @freesia-writes mentioned I should write some. Fives is (somewhat) lucky he doesn't have an OC I've paired him with (but unlucky he has unrequited feelings for one by his own demand) out of the three I had ideas for, he was the lucky bloke to get my first x reader piece since 2017 :'D
Sort of my first time writing Fives! Rebogs and comments are appreciated, but not obligatory.
Masterlists: x reader, oc x canon & oc x oc, 210th Squad (in the works)
AO3
Summary: Sometimes, injuries are serious. Other times, they lead to the carer having to reach for a plaster, which, with Fives, always leads to so much silliness (such as messing with his most glorious goatee until he laughs, simply because one can).
Fives was going to be the death of you.
Not that he was a whole bunch of trouble in any particularly negative fashion (although it was part of the parcel - having not just any trooper as a lover, but an Arc Trooper at that; after all, they were entrusted to go on some of the most dangerous missions the Republic would face), but the way he smiled at you from his spot on the edge of the dining table was hardly fair.
Amber eyes gleamed with mischief, lips quirked up in the most endearing manner that it was almost impossible to stay mad at him (if you ever were).
"Tilt your head a little this way would you?" You gestured your hands to your left and he did as he was told. At the sight of the (thankfully small) cut, you sighed in dismay. "Did you truly have to get into trouble the first day of shore leave?"
"I didn't want to, I swear." His smile never faltered, even as you reached for the now warm salted water and a cotton ball. You submerged the cotton into the water and squeezed out the excess. Not even the gentle sound of the water finding its way back into the small container made him flinch, which made you wonder what sort of agony Kix put the soldiers through to clean their wounds. "I wasn't the one looking for it."
"I don't think the Goatee God was either." With the same tease, you held his prominent chin in your free hand and your thumb followed the fuzz that named it home. "Now, this will sting."
"Nothing could sting more than a blaster bullet." His brows furrowed into a wince, the muscles around his eyes flinching, and his jaw tensed as he drew in a hiss at the salty ball on the cut. You rose a brow with a question of you sure? remaining unspoken, and the right side of your lips turned into a smirk you could barely hide. "Still not worse."
"There's not much I can do about it, I'm afraid." Even so, you pressed an apologetic kiss to the side of his nose as you continued cleaning the blood away. "So, who was looking for trouble this time?"
"There was a brawl that broke out in front of 79s. I broke it up, or tried to." He pointed to his cheek. "You know how it is."
"Not personally, but I get the picture." You pulled back, happy with the job, and used the edge of a clean towel to dry the skin around the wound. Your brows furrowed now at the start of colour blooming in a tinge of reddish purple. "Must have been a whopper. You're already getting a bruise."
"It felt like one." Fives drew his hand to the back of his neck for a moment before taking a plaster from the first aid kit. "I didn't quite plan on that."
"It's a good thing you're an Arc Trooper then: you're better at thinking on your feet." A pause whilst a grin that matched his own mischievous ones plastered your face. "Until you're drunk. Then you can't even stand on them."
A gasp of feigned insult left his lips. As you reached for the plaster, he retreated his hand as far back as possible. "If you want it, you'll have to get it from me."
"Fives, your handsome face has been through enough today as is. Do you want to risk symmetry?" He wiggled his brows in challenge and his grin was best described as boyish in confidence and dorky in his ever-mischievous ways. You lowered your shoulders with a sigh, your face adorned with a smile of gentle, affectionate dismay, and you shook your head. "It seems I have no choice..."
He went to speak, but you already leaned forward and grabbed his bicep with sheer determination. You were leaned forward and arched almost uncomfortably, arms reaching as far as you dared and straining as he shifted further back in escape, but it mattered not. The longer such a game went on, the louder and more common your shared laughter became in awkward entanglements with him trying to escape and you trying to get the plaster from him.
Knees had clonked into each other a multitude of times, and if you weren't bowing hair from your face every few seconds he was blowing it from his own before tucking it behind your ear.
Yet it seemed the only way to victory was to clamber. He, being solid, was impossible to move.
Almost.
You had to put in more force than you would have liked and nearly fell into him to succeed, but he was finally flat on the table, arms kept in place, and your body was upon him in such a way that he was unable to take the plaster with his free hand.
He was strong enough to free himself, that was always obvious, but he allowed you victory with a beaming grin at the look of endearing triumph upon your face. You thought you must have looked like a child that had just won so many sweet treats or fluffy toys as a prize, but you were also adamant you could look as silly as you wanted and he'd look just as lovestruck as he did whenever you decided to dress up for little reason except to see the expression.
You sorted yourself into a straighter and a much comfier position whilst you opened the paper wrapping the plaster was in, then took off one of its protective flaps with hands that lightly shook in nerves.
"Alright, my dearest, stay still."
There was nothing to be nervous about except for placing the plaster in the wrong spot, which was hardly difficult to fix with only half of it prepared. Yet, somehow, and for some reason, you wanted it to be just so on him when, on yourself, it mattered not. But it wasn't a negative, anxious set of nerves. In truth, your heart was so full from simply five minutes of silly fun with him, laughter's warmth still taking residence in your being.
It was quickly resurfaced. The grazing of his fingers tucking a stray section of hair behind your ear tickled the light dusting of hair in front of it. You barely managed to press the first half of the plaster down before you swat his hand away and rubbed at the area furiously with a look of stifled laughter and embarrassment.
Fives only laughed wonderfully loud, hands on his chest with his head tilted back whilst you playfully made some form of noise to feign upset laughing in your sheepishness.
"It felt weird." Your free hand managed to finish your job as you breathed himself into a settled state, pulling off the second cover and smoothing the plaster against his skin.
He looked at you with such warmth in the depths of his eyes, fondness in his amusement, and pure adoration in his smile it caused a blush to creep onto your already embarrassed expression.
Your eyes scanned his face once more to memorise the expression for all eternity; your fingers traced the structure of the man you adored, slow and tender from the tattooed Five on his temple, over his cheekbones and down to the wondrous curve of his jaw, and you followed the bone until your thumb grazed his lower lip. You took no notice of how his eyes darkened despite the gleam, too focused on watching where your fingers were going.
But you did, however, take notice of the confusion that began to etch upon his face as you lightly tugged the hair below his lip, you saying some joke he'd said at some point (that you found hilarious at the time) with a voice that came more like a terrible GunGun impression without the idiolect whilst your eyes brimmed with innocent mischief.
More amusing than that, was feeling his lips curl into yet another laughing grin once you could no longer contain your own giggles at how silly everything felt. He freed his goatee from your fingers (not that you were hurting him at all) by grasping your wrist, and he kissed the heel of your palm with grinning lips as he straightened onto his other elbow.
"Mysh'la," the way he spoke with sincere tenderness halted your giggling, his injured cheek nuzzling into your hand as he did so, "have I ever told you how beautiful you are when you laugh?"
You titled your head against your shoulder, grinning from ear to ear with similar warmth. "Once or twice." Your fingers slowly stretched out until your hand cradled the side of his face, his skin beautifully warm. "Have I ever mentioned how intoxicating your laugh is? Or how bright you look when you're being a complete and utter dork?"
"Hm..." His hum was in feigned thought. "Once or twice." Fives' eyes narrowed in affection and his free hand snuck innocently beneath your shirt to rest on your hip, his thumbs smoothing soft circles upon your skin. "So... still think I got in trouble?"
"Nah. You're innocent this time." With your free hand, you grasped his chin again and softly ran your thumb across the fuzz you had such a soft spot for with subconscious movements. "And the most glorious goatee lives to fight another day."
With a feigned pout, Fives released your hand to bring his own to your cheek, guiding you closer until he could trail his palm to the back of your neck to finish pulling you to him. "Those words from you sting more than salt to the wound."
"Don't worry, my love," once more, your thumb grazed his lips and you couldn't help the smirk at the sight of his eyes darkening again at your tease. His grasp on your waist tightened and his touches halted to keep you still. "I'm all yours."
Pairing: Rex x Nia (Rexonia), Genre: hurt & comfort(i don't think it inherently fits the hurt, but angst was too strong),
Warnings: the briefest mention of torture (not detailed) plus brief imjury description
Notes: Apologies for any formatting and typos missed! It's 2am for day 4 when I'm posting this (i have semi napped periodocally tonight when trying to get this done), so it's half the length I would have liked! I'm affectionately dubbing this a short version because one day I'll probably revisit this to make it longer. I knew i only bad today to fet it written (i had nothing for it yet), so I made the decision to have the key moments. It's not a BIG conflict, and it's not Rex to Nia or the other way around, but it is IS about Rex
Thank you, @clonexocweek foe hosting?
Words: 2, 045 (this is short for my oc works! Apologies again! I'll work not to be lonfer when infet the brain wants to do so to fet the full picture <3),
Masterlists: Canon x OC, 210th Assault Legion, Canon x Reader, OC Misc
Nia's hands were wrapped tightly, bandages protecting bruised and bloodied knuckles where Zyggerian armour had torn into the fabric of her gloves. And if she saw Skywalker's face in the next few hours, she could not promise she wouldn't swing at him. Rex wouldn't have been abused if it wasn't for him. It didn't take a jedi to know his judgement was clouded. It wasn't for her to know - she didn't care why, for no reason made it a valid excuse.
“Ylandra.” She didn't look up from the lift door, glared at since she entered it. Not even the gruffness of Commander Wolffe would make her glare at anything else. “What was that about?”
“I've done a lot of things today, including the past hour, Commander. You'll have to be more specific.”
His cool did not change, nor did his usual narrowed eyes that made him look like his scowl was as permanent to his face as clouds were to the skies and stars to space. “You know what I'm on about.”
“I'm afraid I don't, Sir. I can only guess it was me rushing to Kadavo because I didn't trust Skywalker to do his job efficiently, but what specifically? How I took out twenty Zyggerians without second thought because I was tunnel visioned to only save Rex and Kenobi? The fact I stormed off alone to my ship because it was faster and we had no time? The fact I came bloody close to giving Skywalker a broken nose? How I'm still seething?” Only then did she meet the eyes of the Commander, and she showed no fear of his cybernetic one when, perhaps otherwise, she would have hid from its coldness. “Or was it how I refused treatment so I can spend as much time with Rex? To be his support? His strength so his can return in time.”
“How about all of it, Lieutenant.”
Her nostrils flared with a quiet huff. It was the only part of her expression that changed, the rest of it was unchanging as marble statues. Years of being taught how to keep everything in check - stoicism that showed very little made for a good bluff across Amarantian politics and to Senators on Coruscant when her brother asked for her. It made her unreadable.
It was hard to be so now.
“It was an improtu rescue. It was time critical.” She looked away. “Rex, Kenobi, or both could have died, and if the Togrutas weren't there, I'd have given you the information to get them.”
“It was reckless of you. They knew the risks.”
Her blood boiled - a volcano threatening to spit, barely contained by anything but its own cap after millenia of sleep.
“Just because the know the risks doesn't mean they should -” the lift stopped, her destinstion reached, and her eyes widened at Master Plo Koon's presence with Ahsoka beside him. “Master Koon. Commander.” She stepped out of the lift, and Wolffe followed as authoritative as ever.
“We were just about to look for you.” The Togruta looked at her with concern.
“General?”
“Ahsoka mentioned she was worried about you. As was I - you were not yourself today.”
“Forgive me for saying this, but I think the concern should be more over General Skywalker. He shouldn't have been on this mission.”
Ahsoka looked at her with a raised brow. Plo Koon…. She had not yet learned the minute movements in his expression to make up for what was hidden behind his masks, but he was as steadily calm as always.
“Do you not trust him?”
“It's not that, Sir. I do trust him - but I have enough force sensitivity to feel he was too heavily connected to the mission. I believe it may have put everyone on it, including himself, at risk.”
“But, Nia, your mind was clouded, too.”
“Commandrr Tano, it is as I have mentioned to Commander Wolffe - if your people were not there, I would have found out where and sent to information to Master Koon.”
“And not Anakin?”
“Holding him to account for not putting the mission first is important.”
“We still found them!”
“By coincidence! Jedi command is not above this!” Nia kept her back straight, her entire demeanour unyielding. “I'm not only a lieutenant in the GAR, I am also representing my people, and that includes their values. When one of our leaders have a personal connection in whichever way, they're taken off the mission to prevent the preventable. I will not be reporting him - this is rare - but I will ask Senator Amidala to discuss it with him. Being a leader means taking care of everyone under your command. That matters. Sometimes, that means recognising you are too close to a subject and baking out. And that goes for the council and Kenobi not doing their due diligence to protect him from that, too.”
Ahsoka looked down at the floor. She rubbed her arms, as if the lingering tension in the air was cold and made her feel small.it was easy to forget she was a teen.
“I'm sorry, Ahsoka.” As gently as a parent, she held the Padawan's shoulders. “I know it… probably feels like I have distanced myself - I have to seperate myself from the job sometimes, and it's hard - but holding people to account isn't bad. It doesn't mean being fjred or a command change, or even an investigation. Obi Wan hold Anakin to account from time to time. Rex holds him to account. Does Anakin always sulk? No.”
“Good leaders want to be held to account when they do something wrong. I know.” Ahsoka lowered her shoulders. “It's just… “
“Remember when The Manevolence was destroyed? Remember when his plan was abijt what he could do, forgetting he was a Jedi and the most skilled pilot in The Republic? Remember the losses? He was held to account and now his space battle plans account for their skills, too. And remember, when you had a similarly reckless plan and lost all those troops? Remember being held to account for that? That's all that needs to happen with this.”
“He really wanted to be on this mission…”
“I know, Ahsoka. As did you. You kept your cool throughout, just as you did on the citadel. It's okay for you to call him out. He knows it's because you care, because he does it out of care.” Nia forced a smile. “Wolffe's already holding me to account. I have no doubt Rex will do the same - you know what he's like.”
“Yeah.” For the first time, Ahsoka showed a smile. “When he said he wanted to see you, I thought he looked about ready to chew you up.”
Nia fought every muscle in her face to not out herself to anyone. But Ahsoka knew. Her eyes gleamed.
“I'll continue this discussion with you later.” Plo Koon appeared to be be smiling under his mask. “It would do him ill to wait much longer for you.”
“Thank you, Master Plo Koon.”
She only broke into a run once she had rounded the corner
For a moment - a short one when hope seemed lost - Rex didn't think he'd see Nia again. He wasn't even entirely sure, at first, if it was her that came to his rescue and only had to look at Skywalker from behind her helmet for the General to know she wasn't happy with him. He didn't recall her saying anything; he didn't know if he'd hear her voice.
Yet there she was, stood with labored breaths and sweat on her temple. She was there, her armour off, hands wrapped in bandages, and auburn hair in a bun that had been beneath her helmet for a while. She was real, her knees against his, head hands reaching for his cheeks and tilting up his head. She mapped him like it was the first time. She followed the scar on his chin, new lines on his face - some new scars, and some not much older than hours. She followed the paths of his freckles with fingers that threatened to shake.
Rex held her hips, eyes never leaving her gaze.
She was really here.
He couldn't stand it anymore, and pulled her between his legs. Her knees hit the side of the bed, his arms wove around her torso firmly, and he buried his force into her trunk. He could hear her heartbeat. He could hear the faint echo of her stomach rumbling. He could hear her breathing.
He held her firmly. He let her hold him. Cradle him. Wrap her arms around his neck and hold his scalp. He let her, for the kiss she pressed to his scalp reminded him he was no longer in a hell that would be scored into his skin for the rest of his life.
“I've got you, Rex. I've got you.”
Never before had those words felt comforting to him.
He pulled her closer still until she had no choice but to sit on his lap. Beneath the scent of soap, there was the faintest scent of her perfume - floral and woody - that he had come to identify as hers. Now with his nose in her neck, he could feel the pulse in her neck, thundering against his skin the way his hammered against his ribs, desperate to be closer to her.
But he couldn't be closer than he already was.
“Have you been seen to?”
“Wanted to see you first.” He kissed her shoulder through her clothes as if it would make him even closer to her.
“Rex. You know the longer it takes to get -”
“Please, Mesh'la… Just this once?”
Even the sigh that ghosted over his head filled him with comfort and soothed his shaken soul. “It's a good thing Kix is my sort of boss.”
“You have kinder hands than everyone else.”
“How did you survive that year without me, hm?”
“Don't know myself.” slowly, Rex shifted and laid back onto the bed, uncomfortable yet all he knew away from her residences. “Had bacta treatment on the worst injuries.”
“Pain relief?” He kept quiet. “Rex.”
“I know. I know. Jus’... wanted you here.”
One of her hands cradled his cheek, thumb moving over the line where his stubble began. “I'm here now.”
“You are.” Rex kept her palm in place, fingers wrapping around it and he caressed her bandaged knuckles. “How'd you do it? After Iðunn.”
“Honestly?” Nia sat on the bed's edge. “I think my physical injuries and the surgery distracted me from the mental aspect. I've still not processed it properly yet. Maybe I'll never be able to. I don't know yet. My best advice would be… on the rough days, let yourself be miserable. This isn't something bacta can fix. It's going to be with you the rest of your life, and this part is simply processing the events. And it's tough.”
“How you doin’?”
“Would be doing better when Inknow you're hydrated and fed, but listen… I'm here for you. Every step. Always.”
He looked at her, his gaze watching her hands move to his wrists, examining the marks from the cuffs and the burns from the whips. Bacta had already sealed the wounds, yet she looked for any little missed piece before she kissed he skin near them, gentle and meant to linger.
Rex knew how he survived without her: he was a clone. He was made to fight. He was genetically altered to have only half the life of the average human. He was just a soldier born to die. He was more than that now. He doubted he'd have done anything but get straight back into work if he never had her in Torrent Company.
Even if she was never meant to be in his life - let alone his love - and everything else were to be the same, he would miss her.
Having her there, checking everything, giving him pain relief (she was less painful about it than others), kissing his hands every so often and always remaining gentle, was healing.
She was really there. With him. And he was really out of a place that killed the core of a person.
