#falling fast

You didn’t know it, but Cody was.

Every time he was in your presence, his shoulders dropped, his breathing relaxing and eyes lightening with every met gaze and fond looked you both shared. His brothers would often tease him. Of course they noticed how he flustered, how he would let his scent flare a little whenever he was around you. His usual tight control slipping just a little.

With every visit to the medbay, he would fall even faster for the pretty Omega Jedi healer that sent even Helix running when you had been barking orders. General Kenobi bemoaned that you had learnt that from the very best – Master Che. The Chief Healer of the Jedi Temple had been your mentor, and had taught you everything you knew. Which is why Obi-Wan knew of you after his many run ins with the Chief Healer during his time at the Jedi Temple.

“Please don’t tell me you’re bringing in that General of yours” you grumbled, spraying some bacta on a trooper’s leg to treat the cut down his shin.

Cody chuckled, shaking his head as he came to step beside you. Your scent flooded his nose, even through the smell of bacta, disinfectant and something that was so uniquely medical that he had trouble naming it. You always smelled so sweet, like the ones that Alpha-17 had used to sneak to them in ARC training. He couldn’t get enough of you.

“Not this time. I haven’t been able to catch him just yet. But I’ve got my best men on it” he teased, looking over his younger vod and making sure he was okay. “Thought he was your General too” Cody reminded, knocking his shoulder into yours. It sent your hand sideways, spraying the rest of his younger brother’s knee, “sorry vod.”

Shaking your head, you gave the young clone a reassuring nod before heading to complete the paperwork for him so he could be discharged. Cody naturally fell into step beside you. It sent warmth into your chest at how easily the Alpha followed after you, the natural rhythm that you both could fall into.

“Obi-wan is not my General, Cody. He’s my crèche mate if anything. I still remember him and Vos putting glitter in Master Sinube’s robes. He used to teach Obi-Wan’s Grandmaster, Lord Dooku” you told him, as you typed in the code for your office. It was a little bit quieter here than the main medbay.

“I didn’t know that. Seems the General has always gotten into mischief then” Cody smiled, indicating for you to head into the office first.

As he stepped into your office, he had to bite his lip hard to stop himself from taking a deep lungful of your scent. It was particularly strong here, where you spent your time going over paperwork and acclimation forms, as well as report for the Jedi Council and the Halls of Healing. You had almost as much paperwork as he did.

“Skywalker has to get it from somewhere” you grinned back, taking a seat at your desk. “Not that I don’t enjoy seeing you Cody, but is there a reason that you’re here?” you wondered, leaning back in your chair to look him over.

Cody winced, rubbing the back of his neck with his good hand. “If I tell you, promise you won’t get mad, mesh’la?” he requested, knowing just how this would go. He’d tell you he’d punched a droid, knuckles split and bleeding – potentially broken – and you would cuss him, chiding him for such a stupid move as you wrapped and treated his hand.

Narrowing your eyes at the Marshal Commander, you had a fairly good guess what could be the problem. “Please Commander,” you stressed, “tell me you didn’t do what I think you did.”

“I punched a droid in the face.”

Jumping up, you rounded the table quicker than most of his brothers would, he’s sure. He could tell how angry you were, but you didn’t let it show as you took his injured hand in your own, pulling the glove off gently to examine the inflamed and bleeding wounds. Always so gentle, even when you were frustrated at his brothers and himself.

“Unbelievable! I cannot believe it! How many times do I have to tell you, Cody! You have a blaster, use it for Force sake!” you hissed, shaking your head as you felt furious at the Commander. Already you could tell that he would have to have some bacta on it at the least, have the knuckles reset possibly. Stupid, stupid man! “Come on! Lets treat your hand, unfortunately I can’t do anything for your idiocy!” you snapped at him, scent flaring as you tugged him behind you out of your office and towards one of the empty beds.

He knew it. He knew you’d react exactly like this.

If Cody could, he’d drop to his knees in forgiveness at just how angry you were. “I’m sorry, mesh’la” Cody almost whined as the scent of displeased Omega attacked his nose. It was all he could do to stop his nose wrinkling up. He let out his own scent, hoping that it would show you just how apologetic he was and soothe some of the frustration that was bubbling away inside of you.

Pursing your lips, you clung onto your irritation as the calming scent of the beach and warmth flooded your nose. Cody’s scent always reminded you of a lovely, relaxing day at the beach. The heat from the sun flooding your body, the smell of the salty water stinging your nose and the feel of sand beneath your feet. It was all of it and more rolled into one scent. It was almost impossible to name. It matched just how bright he was in the force. Cody shone like the sun, his force signature so bright it matched the sun motif on his armour.

Getting out everything you would need, you ran a scanner over his hand, relieved to see that Cody’s hand wasn’t seriously broken. There was a hairline fracture along one of his metacarpal bones, but it should heal pretty quickly with some bacta soaked bandages. Letting the bandages soak for a while, you focused on cleaning away the blood from his knuckles.

“I’m starting to think you enjoy having these conversations” you grumbled, thumb stroking over his hand while you dabbed the blood away from the wounds.

Cody winced at the sharp sting of disinfectant worked it’s way into the cuts. But the way you were gliding your thumb comfortingly across his hand more than made up for it. You stood in between his legs, head bowed to focus on your work. You were beautiful. Even if you were annoyed with him at the moment, and were chiding his behaviour on the battlefield.

“I enjoy every conversation we have, mesh’la” he admitted quietly, reaching up to brush a strand of hair away from your face.

Heat flooded your face, cheeks feeling like small suns at his gesture. “As do I, Cody. I just wish that our conversations didn’t involve me patching you up” you sighed, examining his hand now that it was cleaned.

He chuckled wryly, shrugging his shoulders. “Not all of them do. We spoke just yesterday in the mess hall about Wooley’s new hair cut” Cody reminded, smiling at the memory.

Wooley had been keen to show off his new look. He had been teased by his older brothers mercilessly, and you had been helpless to stop yourself laughing at them all. You had leant into Cody, head buried into his neck, nose pressed against his scent gland. He was grateful for his codpiece at that, and the walk back to his quarters had been torturous with every step. But you had relaxed, his Alpha scent washing over you and causing you to soften into his side.

“Hmm, so we did” you hummed, fighting to keep the smile off your face at the way the clones reminded you of growing up in the temple with your fellow Jedi. Grabbing the bacta soaked bandages, you began to wrap his hand up. “Either way, I don’t like seeing you hurt, Cody” you admitted softly, biting your lip to try and keep your words at bay.

There was no point in denying your feelings for the brave, Marshal Commander. It wouldn’t do to be untrue to yourself. It would build resentment and anger, and that was not the Jedi way. So while you couldn’t deny your feelings, you couldn’t tell him of them. Not without consequences for you both.

Not liking the way your face fell, the hurt behind your eyes, he let out his scent again, heavier now and just for you. Sighing, you stepped closer to him, inhaling deeply, and he let out a small smile at how you seemed to calm just from the way he smelled. “Getting hurt it what I was made for, mesh’la” he stated simply. It was a fact. The clones had been bred to die in battle. It was a miracle he had lasted this long. He was no stranger to pain.

Huffing at his words, you glanced up to his big, beautiful, brown eyes, seeing them staring into yours with a gentle look. Unable to look away, you cupped his cheek, fingers brushing against his scar. “Honestly Commander, you may have been taught by those Kaminoans that you are expendable, but you are not. You are important, and worthy of love and care and many others think the same. Especially me” you murmured, unaware that your words gave him such hope.

“Thank you” he breathed, lips twitching into a smitten smile. He closed his eyes, letting his nose run along the scent gland on your wrist, sugary sweetness burst across his senses and he sighed, content to just be with you and enjoy this closeness.

“Now, will you finally stop punching droids, Cody?” you asked, a teasing smile playing on your lips and in your tone.

“Only if you go out on a date with me” Cody bargained, heart pounding in his chest as he took a leap of faith.

“I would love to Commander” you beamed, leaning forward to press your foreheads together in a Kedable kiss.