#jeskixter

“Stupid…” Jesse was muttering as he paced as much as he could in the small space, “stupid, stupid, stupid!”

“Jesse, that’s not helping,” Kix said sternly, although he heard his voice shake, “just sit down and try to breathe… please.”

The last part was said much quieter, somewhat desperately, somewhat pathetically.

Kix wanted to wrap his arms around Jesse right now, and for Jesse to do the same to him, but he wasn’t sure if physical contact would make things better or worse for the lieutenant right now.

“I can’t!” Jesse exclaimed furiously, “this is all my fault! It was my stupid idea to come down here and my even stupider decision to let you come with me! I should’ve told you to stay at camp, then you wouldn’t be stuck here! Now we’re both gonna die!”

“Please don’t say that.” Kix begged softly, partially because he had to encourage Jesse not to give up hope but also partially because the thought of slowly dying down here absolutely horrified him.

Jesse seemed to register the fear in Kix’s voice at this point, as he stopped pacing to finally look at him.

“Oh Kix,” he sighed, his voice breaking with emotion, “I’m so sorry.”

And he was apologizing for more than just saying that they were going to die.

“Jesse, this wasn’t your fault,” Kix said, standing up from the slightly unstable pile of rocks he’d been sitting on, “I wanted to come with you, and we couldn’t have predicted this. General Skywalker and Commander Tano will realize we’ve been gone too long and send someone to rescue us, I know they will.”

“And if they don’t?” Jesse asked, gazing directly into Kix’s eyes.

Kix blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears.

“Then there’s no one I’d rather die with than you.” He whispered.

Jesse’s eyes were clouding with emotion too.

“Kix…” he said, “I… I lo-”

Suddenly, there was a clattering of stones from the blocked tunnel behind Kix.

He and Jesse both turned to look, backing up and expecting the tunnel to cave in further. But then, a voice came from the other side of the rubble.

“HEY! IF ANYONE’S OVER THERE, STAND BACK!”

It sounded like a Clone’s voice, but slightly… different. Higher. More… feminine.

Kix and Jesse looked at each other before backing as far away from the rocks as they could, huddling against the opposite side of the collapsed tunnel and covering each other’s heads.

The sound of heavy blaster fire began, muffled at first by the rocks in the way, but gradually getting louder as the blockage fell away. Charred soil flew up into the air, making them both cough, and more rocks showered them both.

Then, finally, the firing stopped, leaving behind a soft hissing sound as loose soil continued to fall from the ceiling and some of the stones that had been hit sizzled and burned.

Jesse and Kix both looked up, and through the swirling smoke Kix spotted their rescuer.

He’d been right in assuming they were another Clone, but despite wearing what looked like a very freshly done coat of paint in the 501st’s trademark blue (alongside more vibrant stripes of magenta) on their armour, Kix didn’t recognize them at all.

They hefted the Z-6 rotary blaster cannon they’d presumably used to shoot through the rubble over their shoulder, removing their helmet with one hand.

Long, thick, jet black braids cascaded down to their shoulders as they gave their head a quick shake, then turned their attention to Jesse and Kix with a smile.

“Need a hand, boys?” They asked brightly, “General Skywalker’s been awfully worried about you two. Wait - you’re Jesse and Kix, right?”

Jesse and Kix looked at each other.

“Yes.” Kix murmured, looking back at the stranger.

“And who are you?” Jesse added, sounding somewhat suspicious.

“Can we save the introductions for when the ceiling isn’t about to collapse on you two?” The stranger said, “c’mon, get outta there before I have to report back to General Skywalker that you’ve been buried a second time! He’s not gonna keep me around if I get two of his men killed!”

Keep you around? Kix thought with a frown as he and Jesse slowly pushed their way out from under the fallen rubble.

“Are you hurt?” Jesse asked gently as Kix finally managed to stand.

“Hey, I’m supposed to be the one asking that.” Kix teased, then suppressed a wince. “I think my ankle’s twisted, though.”

“Lean on me.” Jesse murmured, and Kix gladly did so, allowing Jesse to lead him over to where their rescuer was waiting.

“This is silly,” Kix muttered after a moment, “how does the medic end up being the injured one?”

“Here,” their rescuer said, standing on Kix’s other side and allowing him to wrap his other arm around their shoulders, “there’s no shame in getting hurt.”

“He wouldn’t be hurt if you hadn’t half-buried us in rocks.” Jesse grumbled in annoyance as the three of them limped along the passageway.

“Jesse,” Kix said pointedly, “he saved our lives. Or…?”

He glanced at the strange Clone.

“She,” she corrected, “thanks for asking.”

Her tone was genuinely grateful, her eyes glimmering as she looked at Kix.

“Right,” Kix said, “sorry. She saved our lives.”

“Never met a Clone who was a ‘she’ before.” Jesse muttered.

“I’m the first, as far as I know.” Their rescuer said, with the slightest defensive edge in her tone. Then she softened. “The name’s Sister. I used to be part of the 212th, Commander Cody is my batchmate. I met General Skywalker when he was still General Kenobi’s Padawan, and I guess he took a liking to me because he asked for me to be transferred to the 501st after I finished ARC training.”

“You’re an ARC?” Jesse asked, now looking at their rescuer - Sister - with intrigue.

“A fresh one,” Sister chuckled, “don’t even have my pauldrons yet.”

“So why weren’t you with us when we arrived here yesterday?” Jesse demanded, his suspicion returning.

“I literally just got here.” Sister replied dryly.

“And General Skywalker sent you to look for us?” Kix pressed.

“No,” Sister answered, “I heard him talking to Rex and Commander Tano about you being missing, so I went to look for you myself.”

Jesse and Kix looked at each other in surprise.

“So how’d you figure we were down here?” Jesse asked.

Sister shrugged.

“I wandered around a bit, and I thought ‘now where would a somewhat impulsive and ruggedly handsome lieutenant and his cute, loyal medic buddy go if they were gathering intel?’ And then I found these tunnels.”

“Ruggedly handsome”? “Cute”?? Was she flirting with them? Both of them? After she’d just met them???

Well, it was working. Kix was blushing, and even in the dim lighting he could tell that Jesse was mildly flustered too.

Kix let out a shy laugh.

“Well… thank you, Sister,” he murmured, “for- for rescuing us, I mean.”

Sister smirked at him.

Fives:

* EXTREMELY ticklish in most places on his body

* His worst spots are his underarms/ribs and hips tho

* WILL SCREAM, and I mean fucking SCREAM, like he’s being MURDERED, when you tickle him

* Despite begging HYSTERICALLY for his attacker to stop, he actually likes being tickled. It’s fun for him and a good way to relieve stress

* Not opposed to burying his face in people’s necks to use his beard as a weapon - and a weapon it is.

* The 501st’s resident tickle monster - if shit starts, he’s the instigator 99% of the time

* Echo and later Tup are his most frequent victims

* Part of the reason he likes long hair is because soft, light things tickle like CRAZY for him, so soft hair draped over his neck/chest/stomach/etc will have him SCREECHING

* None of the Domino Squad had long hair when they were cadets but they did have a very soft, fluffy blanket that they used to get Fives in this way.

* Squeals when someone tickles his neck

* VERY squirmy - also kicks his feet all over the place (which is a good thing to be aware of, Jesse ended up with a nosebleed once because of this)

* Teases A LOT when he’s tickling someone despite the fact that he can’t stand being teased when he’s on the receiving end

* SO DRAMATIC too, he’ll scream out things like “PLEASE I’M GONNA DIE!!” while being tickled

* All in all, the very definition of “can dish it out but can’t take it”

Echo:

* Where Fives’ laugh is loud and screechy, Echo’s is quiet and squeaky

* Most of the time he doesn’t get very loud at all, but if he’s laughing really hard his laugh gets all hiccupy, like little wheezes

* His neck and hips are his worst spots

* His feet and the backs of his knees used to be pretty bad spots too before the Citadel - sometimes, oddly enough, he misses being able to be tickled there, and wonders if that makes him weird

* Being tickled is something that helps with body dissociation for him, the sensation reminds him that he’s real and he’s still alive

* Doesn’t retaliate often (because why start a fight you know you won’t win), but when he does he’s absolutely RUTHLESS

* Often gets ganged up on, poor thing 🤣

* Tries to cover his mouth to muffle his laughter/hide his smile a lot of the time

* Wants to be cuddled afterwards

* Curses a lot through laughter

* Also has a tendency to kick his feet, but not as violently as Fives does

* Usually gets tickled because he’s being annoying (or talking too much)

Rex:

* Straight-up has the sweetest, most endearing laugh of any Clone

* (At least that’s what Cody thinks 😉)

* Worst spot is his feet, he’ll literally snort-laugh if you tickle him there

* Then again, he’ll snort-laugh no matter where he’s being tickled if he’s laughing hard enough

* Also; will absolutely stream tears from laughter, his whole face will be wet once his attacker finally lets up

* Most frequently the victim of Cody because only Cody knows where he’s the most ticklish

* Used to think tickling was immature and unprofessional, but in later years realized it might be a good way to let loose and boost morale with the shinies (and older troopers as well)

* Occasionally uses it as a playful threat to keep certain troopers (*cough* Fives) in line

Cody:

* Not overly ticklish anywhere except for the backs of his knees

* Only two people know this: Rex and Sister - in fact, Sister was the one who mentioned it to Rex

* When they were cadets, Sister used to pin Cody’s legs and mercilessly tickle the backs of his knees because he was being “too grouchy”. Cody does not appreciate her reminding him of this

* He’s never been fond of touch and tickling really isn’t an exception, unless he’s particularly in the mood to be a little shit, in which case his usual touch-aversion goes out the window

* That being said, most of the time his only victim is Rex, but if Fives and/or Echo are being particularly annoying and nothing else is going to make them leave him alone, he’s not opposed to going after them either

* Specifically LOVES tickling Rex, especially after they’ve been through a difficult time, because 1) he knows it helps cheer Rex up at least a little, and 2) he gets to hear Rex laugh, yay!!

* Rex is the only person who’s allowed to tickle him back. Honestly, Cody would let Rex do just about anything to him, lol

* Echo and Fives managed to get him ONE TIME (at Rex’s encouragement), and he was PISSED afterwards 🤣

* Cody’s not much of a laugher most of the time either, and Rex takes a little too much delight in getting him laughing way harder than he usually would

* Has a pretty hearty and baritone laugh - really not much of a giggler, but Rex likes that, he thinks Cody’s laugh is very handsome 🤭

* Can stand being tickled for a fairly long time (longer than most), but after a while even he has to give in and plead for mercy - his laugh usually gets a little higher pitched right before this 🤗

Tup:

* His worst spots are his neck and his feet, but he’s fairly ticklish everywhere else too

* Very wiggly - he has to be held down or he’ll manage to squirm away

* Fives would describe his laugh as adorably childlike (while blushing bc his boyfriend is SO CUTE-)

* Raspberries make him SHRIEK

* Uses those wonderful long locks of his as a weapon (especially against Fives when he figures out how effective that is against him 😉)

* Self conscious about how giggly he gets, often buries his face in a pillow or a blanket or whatever he can find to muffle his laughter

* Gets kinda grumpy after being tickled (mostly because he doesn’t want to admit he had fun) but it’s way too cute for anybody to take him seriously

* Surprisingly ruthless - LOVES getting revenge, especially on Fives 😏

* The type of person to squeal “THAT TICKLES!” even if that’s, well, obvious 🤣

* Being teased makes him blush

* Just about PANICS if he gets asked “are you ticklish?”

Dogma:

* Sees tickling as incredibly immature and unprofessional, stop fooling around

* It’d be much easier for him to maintain that stuffiness if he wasn’t so susceptible to being tickled 🤭

* His neck, stomach, hips, and thighs are all pretty bad spots, with his thighs being the absolute worst

* Gets tickled for being “too grouchy”

* Has a surprisingly loud laugh for someone who’s typically very quiet and not overly talkative

* Also gets ganged up on quite a bit, especially after the Umbara arc

* Never even attempts to get revenge - like I said, he thinks tickling is immature and childish, there’s no way he’s stooping that low just to get back at somebody (plus he knows he’d still end up getting tickled himself, but he won’t admit that)

* Secretly likes being reduced to a puddle from being tickled for so long, it makes him feel like he’s cared for (again, would never admit this)

* Also cries from laughter very easily, like Rex

* Initially tries his hardest not to break - he’ll scrunch up his nose, bite the inside of his mouth, clench his jaw, anything to keep himself from laughing or even smiling, but it never works in the long run

* Definitely complains about how ticklishness wasn’t programmed out of Clones

Hardcase:

* Definitely Fives’ partner in crime about 50% of the time

* Really likes being the one to restrain/hold down a victim while somebody else tickles them - he and Fives are absolute menaces when they work together like this

* Not overly ticklish himself - his ears are a sweet spot, though, as are his feet and underarms

* Also, post-Umbara, the skin around the edges of his burn scars became slightly more sensitive to light, feathery touches

* His laugh is so fucking loud it’s ridiculous, you could probably hear him laughing from the other side of a star destroyer (it’s very endearing though, absolutely no one finds it annoying)

* Thrashes around so much it takes multiple people to hold him down to tickle him - and even then, he will not stop squirming

* You will get punched or kicked completely by accident if his arms and legs aren’t being held in place (this resulted in yet another nosebleed for Jesse). He’s super apologetic if he accidentally hurts somebody, but he really can’t help it unfortunately

* Loves giving tickle-hugs!!

Jesse:

* The amount of times this man has gotten kicked/punched/kneed/etc in the face because he was tickling someone is not even funny

* Like actually, it’s a miracle his nose has never been broken

* Once got a black eye from attempting to tickle Kix

* Only about one step down from Fives when it comes to his reputation as a tickle monster - only difference is that he can hold his own a lot better when the tables get turned on him

* His ears, neck, ribs, stomach, and thighs are all very ticklish places

* Also laughs very loudly - not as loud as Fives or Hardcase, but pretty damn close

* Most often the victim of Sister - she loves getting him to drop the stern, stoic face and making him laugh

* Specifically grows stubble to give tickle-kisses

Kix:

* Rarely ever struggles or fights back, especially after that one incident where he punched Jesse purely on instinct (he still feels bad about it). Unfortunately this leads to him being an easy target

* Fairly ticklish in most places, but his neck, stomach, and hips are his worst spots

* Also, lightly tickling or drawing circles on his palms makes him fidget adorably

* Jesse and Sister will frequently gang up on him and tickle him until he’s crying

* Usually gets tickled because he’s being mopey or worrying too much

* Just like his voice, his laugh is very sweet and soft and quiet, he rarely ever laughs loudly unless he’s been taken by surprise and even then he usually quiets down

* Threatens to get his attackers back - never does because he already knows that won’t end well for him

* Tickle-kisses on his neck make him squeal

* Doesn’t snort when he laughs as much as Rex, but if he’s been tickled for long enough, eventually he starts snort-laughing and it’s really fucking cute

Sister:

* a FUCKING. MENACE.

* It’s fairly rare that she’ll tickle somebody (especially someone who isn’t Kix or Jesse) but when she does they are DONE FOR, she is RELENTLESS.

* Fives won’t stand too close to her when he’s not wearing armor for this exact reason (she is proud of this 🤣)

* Just like Tup, uses her long hair to her advantage when its not tied up in braids

* Not very ticklish herself in most places, but her hips are a bad spot. The only person who knew this for a long time was Cody, but he’s more than happy to tell anybody who asks him (and here I will reiterate: Cody is a little shit 🤣🤣)

* Likes to cuddle her victims afterwards - she’s not completely evil, after all 🤭

* Same as Cody, she has a fairly deep, hearty laugh and rarely ever giggles

* However she does have an evil chuckle that tells whoever she’s about to tickle they’re absolutely fucked 😈

* CHASES HER VICTIMS

* Loves to tease, too

* Has gotten pretty much everyone on the 501st laughing to the point of tears at least once - and here I will say again, MENACE, RELENTLESS

“It’s been an honour to take your place, Captain,” Jesse put in, “I… just hope I’m an adequate substitute.”

He laughed awkwardly, somewhat forcedly, and Rex smiled - it was faint, but it was genuine.

“You’re more than adequate,” he said, “I meant what I said before. You’re doing great, Captain.”

That finally broke Jesse’s resolve, and his eyes welled with tears that he tried frantically to blink away, with little success. Rex rolled his eyes affectionately.

“Oh, c’mere Jesse.” He laughed weakly, grabbing Jesse by the arm and pulling him into a fierce hug, which Sister and Kix quickly joined.

The four of them stayed like that for what felt like a very long time, their arms wrapped tightly around each other.

“I’ve missed you all so much.” Rex whispered finally.

“We’ve missed you too, Captain.” Kix replied raspily.

“You don’t need to call me that anymore.” Rex said with a shaky chuckle.

“We know,” Sister murmured, “but we’re gonna do it anyway. You’re still our Captain.”

“Always will be.” Jesse mumbled tearfully into Rex’s shoulder.

“Alright,” Rex cleared his throat with another laugh that was bordering on a sob, “before we get too sappy here-”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Sister cut him off playfully before he could wiggle out of the group hug, and Kix felt her arms squeeze a little tighter. Then, in a softer, slightly more hollow - perhaps even desperate - tone, she added, “not yet.”

Rex sniffed.

“Okay,” he said, “just… promise me you’ll take extra good care of Echo now that he’s back. I know you will anyway-”

“We wouldn’t do anything otherwise,” Kix interrupted him fiercely, “he’ll get the best care possible, Rex, I swear.”

Rex seemed mildly taken aback by the intense dedication in his voice.

“Thank you,” he breathed, and Kix could feel a lot of the tension he’d been holding rolling out of his body, “I can’t think of any Clones better than the three of you to lead the 501st.”

“Besides you.” Sister pointed out with a snicker.

“Stop.” Rex choked, almost pleadingly.

It was time for the hug to end. It probably should’ve ended a while ago.

It was still a long time before any of them let go.

“I have something to give Echo.” Sister murmured.

Rex and Ahsoka had left Coruscant about an hour ago, and she, Jesse, and Kix had retreated to her commander’s quarters to process that - and the entirety of this mission, really - in private.

“I didn’t tell Rex,” she went on, uncharacteristically nervous as Kix and Jesse glanced at each other and then back at her, “I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about it, but… I’m sure you both will understand.”

Without waiting for either of them to speak, she stood and crossed the small room to her desk - which Jesse was currently sitting on - and pulled a small metal crate from beneath it.

Kix had seen that crate every time he’d been in Sister’s quarters - even before she’d become a commander, she’d kept it under her bed in the bunks as an ARC trooper. She’d had it for so long that Kix couldn’t even remember when he’d first noticed it, and he and Jesse had never asked about it, silently agreeing that she’d talk about it if she wanted to.

Sister had brought the crate over to her bed now, and Kix and Jesse both came closer as she opened it and pulled a round, white, dented object from inside.

Kix had to stifle a gasp.

“That’s-” Jesse began in shock.

“Echo’s old helmet.” Sister filled in, turning the polished helmet over in her hands and looking at it with a mournful expression.

She must have cleaned it up after she’d found it and not touched it since for it to be in such good condition. It even looked like she’d touched up the paint a little bit.

“And I don’t wanna hear it,” she said quickly as Kix opened his mouth, “yes, I know going back for it was dangerous and stupid. The Citadel was crawling with droids and I barely got outta there without getting caught. I was going to leave it on neutral ground just outside where we camped out in those caves, but…”

She trailed off, and a brief memory came to Kix then. The horrible shock of that battle, the unbelievable denial he’d felt - Echo couldn’t be gone, he couldn’t be, not Echo. He remembered how cold those caves had been, and damp. He remembered hearing Fives sobbing from somewhere around a bend in the tunnel as Rex and Cody tried to soothe him, despite how utterly futile that seemed.

But he also suddenly remembered something he hadn’t fully registered at the time; with his head rested on Jesse’s shoulder, wondering where Sister had gone to, and suddenly spotting her sneaking in with something charred and black under her arm, too far away for Kix to make out what it was.

He hadn’t thought much of it then, too full of numbing grief to question anything, but now it all made sense what Sister had been doing that day.

“But you couldn’t.” He finished for her, and Sister nodded wearily, still not taking her eyes off Echo’s helmet and holding it so delicately in her hands, like she was afraid it would shatter.

“I know we’re meant to leave our brother’s helmets where they fall,” she said quietly, “if we can, of course. I felt Echo deserved more than just having his helmet left on the battlefield. He deserved proper remembrance. But by the time I got back to camp I found myself running to hide it in a crate instead, I just couldn’t leave it behind, it felt like I was abandoning our baby brother.”

Kix’s eyes stung with tears. She was exactly right, that was how he’d felt too.

“We’re not mad at you, Sister.” Jesse said gently, resting a hand on Sister’s cheek as she turned to look at him.

“I know you aren’t,” she sighed, though relief had flooded her gaze and she had finally allowed the faintest hint of her radiant smile to shine through her sorrow, “and I’m sure Rex wouldn’t be either, none of us wanted to accept that Echo was gone.”

“It’s a good thing we never did.” Kix murmured, and Sister and Jesse both turned to grin at him.

“C’mon,” Sister gave a slight laugh, “let’s go give this back to him, welcome him back into the 501st.”

Echo and Fives were curled up asleep together in the bunks, under the blanket Lionel and General Skywalker had brought them.

Kix could tell Sister hated to wake them, but she did so gently so neither of them would be startled.

However, Echo’s eyes still snapped open at the sound of his name, and he struggled to rise to his feet, seeming to have forgotten about his missing legs.

“Commander,” he began urgently as Fives blearily opened his eyes mid-snore.

“No need to get up, Echo,” Sister murmured quickly, “both of you, stay put. We’re just here to give you something.”

“Give me…?” Echo repeated, confused, as Sister moved aside.

His eyes fell on his old helmet, held by Kix and Jesse together, their fingers intertwined in the back. Echo squinted in the lowlight, before a small smile began to spread across his face.

“You kept my-?” He started.

“Why didn’t you tell ME you had that?!” Fives interrupted loudly.

“Shush,” Echo huffed, nudging him, “let me see it!”

He extended his one hand to Jesse and Kix, and they both knelt down to his level, holding the helmet and allowing Echo to touch it as his eyes filled with awe.

“I did my best to restore it to its former glory,” Sister murmured awkwardly as she watched him with tender fondness, “I couldn’t get all the dents and marks out, but I-”

“The paint’s a little off.” Echo commented, seemingly without thinking, and Sister blinked.

“It’s… huh?”

“I typically used to water mine down to get a lighter shade,” Echo explained. Then he glanced up at her somewhat sheepishly. “Shit, did that sound ungrateful? Cuz I’m not, this is the best thing ever, I promise.”

But Sister had already given in to a bout of chuckles, tilting her head back.

Kix could never resist that beautiful, hearty laugh of hers, it was too damn contagious, and it didn’t take long for him and Jesse to start laughing too.

That was the thing with Kix - he tended to get so hyperfocused on a task that it was nearly impossible to snap him out of it. Jesse and Sister had tried so many things to get him to stop fussing over the tiniest details, but nothing worked. It was just who Kix was.

“If you’re sure…” Jesse mused quietly.

Kix didn’t even respond, his full attention now given to the datapad in his hands, cutely chewing his lip and brown eyes flicking back and forth as he scanned the patient notes on the screen.

Feeling mischievous, Jesse decided to test out something he’d never tried before.

He casually sidled up behind Kix, trying to walk as quietly as possible so he could take him by surprise, glancing around the room as he did so to see if anyone else was watching.

Across the medbay, he made eye contact with Rex, who was standing beside an injured shiny - probably giving them a little pep talk as they recovered from what was likely their first ever severe injury.

Jesse couldn’t help but grin when Rex looked at him, and the captain’s expression became stern when he recognized the fact that Jesse was up to something.

“Lieutenant,” he began warningly - he always addressed troopers by rank rather than name when he was scolding them.

It was already too late, however, as Jesse had already latched onto Kix’s sides and given his ribs an experimental squeeze.

The next second, he was on the floor with a big black splotch over half of his vision, which he realized was his hand covering his left eye. The second after that was when the pain hit, radiating in waves through the whole left half of his face, and he let out a groan, scrunching up his nose as he slowly sat up.

“Kix…” he mumbled, bewildered and still putting together what the hell had just happened in his head.

“Jesse!” Kix snapped back, sounding equally perplexed, “what the hell are you doing?! I could’ve just knocked you out!”

“You punched me?” Jesse practically squeaked, not sure if he was just surprised that Kix had done it or if his brain was still catching up and hadn’t realized that fact yet.

“It was a reflex!” Kix exclaimed, immediately kneeling beside Jesse and gently pulling his hand away from his face, “that’s gonna swell, you’ve already got bruising-”

“You punched me?” Jesse repeated, less confused and more incredulous this time.

“You might’ve given him brain damage too, Kix.” Rex muttered from across the room, and the shiny in the cot next to him snickered.

“I’m sorry,” Kix sighed in irritation, though the way he couldn’t quite meet Jesse’s eyes made it clear that he genuinely felt guilty, “don’t sneak up on me like that again, you scared me!”

“I scared you?” Jesse echoed, this time with a bit of a laugh in his voice as Kix stood up and quickly returned to his side with a cold compress, which he immediately pressed over Jesse’s eye, “all I did was tickle you.”

Kix’s mouth set itself in a firm, uncomfortable line, though his face also turned a little red.

“Well I wasn’t expecting it,” he mumbled, “you caught me off guard.”

Jesse was chuckling now.

“You’re ticklish.” He teased, reaching to try and poke Kix’s side again. Kix swatted him away.

“Stop moving,” he said, “and that’s really not that shocking - any medic in the GAR who’s ever done an examination will tell you that all Clones are at least a little ticklish somewhere. You should know that too, considering the amount of times I’ve treated your nosebleeds after someone accidentally kicked you in the face.”

“I’ve never been punched in the eye before, though.” Jesse laughed, still a little blown away by the fact that Kix had actually just done that to him.

“I said I was sorry.” Kix half-hissed, half-whimpered. Oh, this was really eating him up, Jesse could already tell.

“Hey, I’m not mad at you,” he chuckled, though he softened his tone to let Kix know he meant it, “this is hilarious!”

“You won’t think that if it turns out I gave you a concussion.”

“You didn’t give me a concussion, I didn’t hit my head on anything!”

“The fact that you think that’s the only way you can get a concussion is what worries me, Jesse. How do you feel?”

“Like I got punched in the face.”

“Jesse. I’m serious, do you feel dizzy? Nauseous? Is your vision blurry or doubled?”

“I’m fine, Kix.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“No! To all three! I’m alright, you don’t need to panic.”

“I’m not panicking, I’m doing my job.”

“Well your hands are shaking.”

Kix finally paused then as he seemed to realize Jesse was right, squeezing his free hand into a fist and releasing while his other hand still held the cold pack over Jesse’s eye.

“Jesse, I’m so sorry.” He sighed, rubbing his face with a mixture of embarrassment and shame.

“And I told you I’m not mad,” Jesse reassured him again, reaching to take his hand so he could look into his face with at least one eye, “seriously, this is funny to me! It might be the funniest thing that’s happened to me all week!”

“Normally if a patient said that after a blow to the head I’d be worried,” Kix murmured, rolling his eyes, “but the fact that it’s you saying it makes me less worried. For some reason.”

“Cuz you know me so well?” Jesse drawled, attempting to lean in for a kiss, but Kix’s hand pressing the cold pack into his face - which, for the record, still hurt like a bitch - forced him to stop, and he winced.

“Idiot.” Kix scoffed quietly, though there was plenty of affection in his voice.

“I wouldn’t be name-calling if I were you,” Jesse taunted, “I know your little secret now.”

“Not much of a secret.” Kix mumbled.

“Then you won’t mind me telling anyone else? Like Sister, maybe?”

For a fraction of a second, Kix’s eyes flashed with anxiety - it was quick, but Jesse saw it, and he couldn’t help but grin.

“I don’t care.” Kix replied evenly, staring a little too directly into Jesse’s eyes.

“You sure?” Jesse pressed mischievously.

“Quite.” Kix said curtly.

Jesse raised his eyebrows (or one eyebrow, the other didn’t seem to want to cooperate between the swelling, the pain, and the cold pack still pressed against it) and shrugged.

“Okay then.” He murmured nonchalantly.

Telling Sister was the first thing he was going to do once Kix let him leave, and he couldn’t wait to see her reaction.

A little bit later, Jesse found Sister in the mess hall with Fives and Echo, and wordlessly slid onto the bench beside her, pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek.

“Whoa…” Sister murmured, gently pushing him back with one hand on his chest so she could look at his face and the prominent black eye that was already starting to form there.

“What happened to you?” Fives asked.

“Kix punched me.” Jesse answered, almost proudly.

“What?!” Sister demanded.

“What did you do to make him angry enough to punch you?” Echo added.

“I didn’t make him angry!” Jesse protested indignantly, “what would make you think I made him angry?”

“Why else would he punch you?” Echo shot back dryly.

Jesse glowered at him for a second before grinning again.

“He did it because I tickled him.” He snickered.

Echo rolled his eyes, but Fives’ face lit up with intrigue.

“Oh…” Sister mused, a sly smirk curling her lips, “so our pretty little medic is ticklish, eh, Jess?”

Jesse nodded eagerly.

“Really ticklish, if he punched you over it.” Fives snickered.

“He said it was purely a reflex,” Jesse laughed, “this’ll be so much fun to use against him, Sister!”

“And get punched again?” Echo cut in.

“Oh, Echo, it was well worth it.” Jesse said seriously.

“You’re an idiot.” Echo muttered.

“An idiot in love.” Jesse argued lightly, casting Sister an adoring smile before getting up to grab some food for himself.

“No… just an idiot, I think.” Echo said as he walked away from the table, loudly enough for him to be able to hear.

Jesse didn’t care, Echo could call him an idiot all he wanted. The fact that he and Sister had something new to endlessly tease Kix about was all that mattered to him right now.

“I wish Kamino would teach the shinies caution as thoroughly as they taught combat skills.” Kix sighed.

It was later in the evening, Jesse and Sister having opted to spend the night in the medic’s quarters with Kix - it was one of the only parts of the barracks where individual Clones had the luxury of separate rooms.

Kix was slouched at his desk in the corner, his head cradled in one of his hands as he scrolled through yet more patient notes from the past month.

It seemed that whenever things slowed down with injuries to treat, Kix focused his attention on what other work he could do rather than just relaxing.

“The amount of sprained ankles and broken ribs and blunt force head traumas I’ve had to treat in the past month alone is astounding,” Kix went on, “most of them younger Clones - it’s clear that they’re just getting more and more reckless, and that worries me.”

“Kix,” Sister murmured from where she sat at the edge of Kix’s bed, “just lie down and rest, you’re exhausted.”

Kix frowned at the floor at his feet for a moment, pouting, then closed his eyes tiredly.

“Alright…” he muttered, standing and allowing Jesse to lead him over to the bed and scooting into the middle so Jesse could squeeze in beside him, his stomach pressed against Kix’s back - these damn beds were hardly big enough for one person, but somehow the three of them all managed to fit into it together. It was just a good thing none of them minded cuddling.

Jesse draped his arm over Kix’s side, lacing their fingers together, and Kix sighed contentedly as Sister lay down on the opposite side of the bed, reaching her arm over him as well, and making eye contact with Jesse over his shoulder.

She winked, and Jesse grinned - this was perfect.

Neither of them made any moves yet, however.

Drawing this out would be way more fun.

“So, Kix…” Sister said finally, after they’d felt Kix’s body start to relax between them, “mind telling me what happened with Jesse’s eye?”

Kix instantly went rigid, like he was expecting to be attacked.

He narrowed his eyes at Sister as she smirked back at him.

“I’m sure he’s already told you.” He answered after a long pause.

“But I wanna hear your side of the story,” Sister protested - she was clearly enjoying this just as much as Jesse was, “why’d you do it again? Something about him surprising you?”

“I’m not playing this game.” Kix said sternly.

Sister laughed evilly.

“Oho, you don’t have a choice, Darling,” she taunted, “and I’m pretty sure you know that.”

Jesse had slowly let go of Kix’s hand as the two of them spoke, inching his hand back until it was resting on Kix’s side just below his ribs - that spot had worked before, might as well start there.

As soon as Sister finished speaking, Jesse took that as his cue and gave the lightest twitch of his fingers.

Kix spluttered out a surprised laugh, his whole body jolting and his hand immediately grasping onto Jesse’s to stop him.

He giggled quietly, nervously, with the back of his opposite hand pressed to his mouth for a moment before it finally seemed to click in his head that he was currently trapped between two people who were very much aware that he was ticklish.

“Wait,” he said, alarmed, his eyes widening as he looked at Sister, twisted his neck to look at Jesse, then looked back at Sister again, “wait, no- don’t you dare!”

“Are you begging?” Sister asked snidely, propping herself up on one arm so she could lean over Kix, reaching down to pinch his thigh at the same time.

Kix twitched, his legs bunching up between Sister and Jesse as he started laughing again.

“Sister!” He pleaded, trying to grab her wrist with the hand he wasn’t already holding onto Jesse’s with, “Jesse, stop her, please!”

“You think I’m gonna help you?” Jesse taunted, suddenly snapping his wrist back to break free of Kix’s hold.

Kix let out a squeal of alarm before Jesse’s hand dove up and under his shirt to mercilessly tickle his stomach. Only then did Kix really start to laugh, wriggling helplessly between Jesse and Sister even though he knew that was pointless.

At the same time, Sister slipped both hands just below the waistline of Kix’s pants to target his hips instead.

Kix’s head snapped back with a small shriek.

“NO! No!” He exclaimed through frantic laughter, “Sister, please, not there!!”

“Why?” Sister teased, absolutely not letting up, “and you still haven’t told me why you punched Jesse this morning.”

“Sister!!” Kix almost whined, trying to protect his hips from her relentless tickling with his hands.

“And why aren’t you throwing punches now?” Jesse added, spidering his fingers up the centre of Kix’s stomach, “I barely had to touch you before for you to take a swing at me.”

Kix was laughing so hard that for a second he couldn’t answer.

“I don’t- I don’t wanna hurt you!” He spluttered out finally, “Jesse, please! This is mean!!”

“Aw, are we being mean to you?” Sister cooed, “I can give you a kiss to make it better.”

She shuffled a little closer to Kix - if that was possible - and instead of pressing a kiss to his lips or his cheek, she buried her face in his neck, her long, curly hair trailing across his skin.

Kix squealed, curling in on himself, his hands seemingly torn between protecting his neck and his hips.

“Oh, I think we found another ‘please not there’ spot, Jess.” Sister mumbled into Kix’s collar bone, which only made him laugh even more.

Surprisingly, he’d left the other side of his neck open, and Jesse took advantage of that immediately, knowing last month’s stubble that he hadn’t gotten a chance to shave off yet was going to work to his advantage.

Kix let out another squeal, more shrill this time, desperately twisting his body back and forth as much as he could between Jesse and Sister (which wasn’t much) as they continued to kiss his neck and tickle him all over. Sister stuck to his hips, ruthlessly focused on the spot that was making Kix shriek and squirm the most, while Jesse let his fingers dance across his torso. Kix didn’t have enough hands to defend against both of them, eventually giving in and just lightly holding onto one of Jesse’s forearms with one hand and Sister’s wrist with the other, still begging them to quit it but laughing too hard to get a full sentence out. Jesse was even shocked when Kix’s frantic laughter turned into a snort.

Sister paused for a second with a grin.

“Did you just snort?!” She demanded.

Kix still couldn’t answer, but at this point he was snorting more and wasn’t able to deny it.

Jesse never wanted to let up, he could keep listening to that soft, adorable laugh forever, but by the time he noticed there were tears in Kix’s eyes he knew it was probably best to give him a break.

He finally relented, and after a few moments, Sister did the same, the two of them staring lovingly at Kix as he panted, mouth still stretched open in a grin and eyes still tightly closed while a few residual giggles tumbled out of him.

“You cutie.” Sister murmured after a long silence, sitting up to kiss Kix’s nose. Kix let out a tiny squeak, clearly expecting to be tickled again as he pressed his head further back into the pillow.

“Relax, Kix,” Jesse chuckled, wrapping his hand around Kix’s waist again, “we’re done.”

“For now, at least.” Sister teased, resting her hand on Jesse’s arm.

“Oh no,” Kix laughed firmly, “you are never doing that to me again.”

“Or what?” Jesse pressed, leaning closer so his breath was on Kix’s ear, making him flinch slightly.

“I’ll get you back,” Kix answered, though his voice wavered in a way that made it clear he wasn’t brave enough to try that, “like I said, as a medic I know that all Clones are ticklish somewhere.”

“Good luck finding out where, though.” Sister mused tauntingly.

“That’s not fair.” Kix complained, covering his face with one hand.

“At least now we know how to get you to stop fussing over paperwork.” Jesse laughed.

“So not fair.” Kix repeated.

“Too bad it’s a team effort.” Sister chuckled.

“I think one of us could accomplish it just fine.” Jesse murmured, smirking.

“Wouldn’t be as efficient, though,” Sister pointed out with a wink, “and less fun.”

“Are you two finished scheming?” Kix cut in, unamused.

“I wouldn’t call it scheming,” Sister protested lightly, twirling her hair around one finger, “just letting you know how much we love you.”

“You’ve got a funny way of showing it.” Kix huffed.

“You know you like it.” Jesse snickered, pressing a kiss to the nape of Kix’s neck, causing him to stiffen slightly and let out a little “eep!” noise.

“You said you were done!” He snapped as Jesse burst out laughing, “if you’re gonna kiss my neck, you have to shave first!”

“I dunno,” Jesse mused, scratching the stubble on his chin, “I kinda like this look, I might keep it.”

“You’re insufferable,” Kix muttered, “both of you are.”

“But you love us.” Sister cooed, kissing his cheekbone, and Kix let out a sigh.

Jesse stopped in his frantic dash through the corridors of the Resolute at General Skywalker’s commanding voice. He went completely rigid, almost out of habit, like being addressed by a Jedi general meant he was going to be punished now.

He shook himself. This wasn’t Krell, it was Anakin Skywalker, his friend.

“General.” He murmured breathlessly as he turned to face the Jedi.

General Skywalker looked just as exhausted and stressed as Jesse felt, and his eyes were somewhat red and puffy, like he’d been crying.

That was certainly a surprise - Jesse knew General Skywalker was a deeply emotional man, but it was unlike him to show his face to his troopers when he was in such a state.

He had to be just as rattled by this experience as the rest of them, but strangely, that gave Jesse comfort. To know that Anakin was outraged at what Krell had done meant that he cared.

“I heard what Krell wanted to do to you and Fives,” General Skywalker said, his voice dark yet frayed around the edges, like he was moments away from bursting into tears again, “are you alright?”

Jesse opened his mouth, then decided against speaking and simply nodded.

“Are you sure?”

“Y-yes, General. Just… glad I’m still alive.”

He didn’t say anything about Kix or Sister. About the look in Kix’s eyes as they’d stared down opposite ends of the barrel at each other, or the spike of anxiety that had lodged in his chest when he’d mouthed “where is Sister?”, and Kix had simply shaken his head in return.

If he knew anything about Jedi, Jesse was pretty sure General Skywalker could already tell what emotions were really swirling around in his head.

Anakin stared at him for a long moment.

“I’m sorry, Jesse,” he murmured quietly, his voice breaking again, “and I will never, ever let this happen again. I promise.”

Jesse gave another nod.

“I believe you, Sir.” He said softly. “Thank you.”

General Skywalker’s eyes flicked past Jesse’s face then, and he turned to follow his gaze. A surge of relief so powerful it nearly knocked him off his feet washed over him as he saw who was standing there.

“SISTER!” He gasped, rushing to her and pulling her into his arms, kissing her like he needed her to breathe - because he did - and not even caring that General Skywalker was watching.

“What happened to you, where WERE you?” Jesse demanded, cupping Sister’s face in his hands, “I was so worried-”

“Jess,” Sister murmured, reaching up to hold his wrists in her hands, “I’m okay, I’m here.”

“But where did you go?”

“I snuck away after Krell detained you and Fives to contact General Skywalker for help. I didn’t mean to scare you, Jess, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t stand by and let this happen.”

So that was why the general had gotten back here so quickly.

“Oh, Sister,” Jesse sighed, pressing his forehead to hers, “I thought we’d lost you.”

Sister let out a chuckle, but it sounded forced.

“It’d take a lot more than somebody like Krell to take me away from you and Kix, Love.” She whispered, pressing a kiss to the bridge of his nose. “Speaking of, where-?”

“I don’t know,” Jesse answered tiredly, “I haven’t seen him since Krell ordered mine and Fives’ execution. That bastard put him and Tup on the firing squad that was supposed to kill us.”

Sister’s grip on his wrists tightened.

“Go,” she urged quietly, “find him. He needs to know you aren’t angry with him.”

“That’s what I was trying to do,” Jesse murmured, “are you coming with me?”

Sister looked past him at General Skywalker.

“I need to speak with the general first,” she said, “but I’ll join you once I’m done.”

She pressed another quick kiss to his cheek before brushing past him, and Jesse looked over his shoulder at her and the general before continuing on down the corridor.

Now that he knew Sister was safe, the fog of anxiety in his mind was starting to clear. Kix was in the medbay, Jesse knew without a shadow of a doubt. Even if all the injured troopers had been seen to, Kix would remain with them, his mind wouldn’t let him do anything else.

There were an alarming number of wounded Clones covered under white sheets to hide the extent of their brutal injuries when Jesse arrived, and he tried not to think about the fact that Hardcase was likely among them. Possibly Waxer too, some of the Clones in here were certainly from the 212th.

Jesse scanned the room frantically, and his eyes finally fell on the back of Kix’s head. He was standing by one of the sinks near the back, washing his hands.

Jesse crossed the medbay to his side without a second thought.

“Kix.” He said, somewhat more harshly than he’d intended to. He winced, and softened his tone. “Kix.” He tried again, gently placing his hand on Kix’s shoulder.

Kix didn’t move, staring at his hands as the water continued to pour over them, and when Jesse looked down he had to stifle a gasp.

Kix’s hands were red and sticky with blood, and it wasn’t coming off easily. He seemed to have given up on scrubbing them clean, his fingers trembling, his face blank.

“You shouldn’t be in here.” He murmured numbly, not even turning to look at Jesse.

“Kix,” Jesse repeated, “look at me, Kix. Look at my eyes.”

“I can’t breathe.” Kix rasped, and now Jesse noticed that his breath was coming in rapid, shallow gasps.

“Yes you can,” Jesse said sternly, placing his hand under Kix’s chin and forcing him to look away from his bloodied hands, “Kix, just look at me. I’m right here. It’s okay.”

“How can you say that?!” Kix demanded through gasps, “how can this be okay, Jesse?!”

Without looking away from Kix’s wild, panic-stricken eyes, Jesse reached for the sink’s taps and switched the water to as cold as he could possibly make it, wordlessly rubbing his thumbs over Kix’s palms and letting the shock of the temperature change snap him out of it, rinsing off the rest of the blood as he did so.

Kix’s breathing finally slowed, at least a little, and as soon as his hands were clean he pressed them to his face, letting out a few choking, strangled sobs.

Jesse silently grabbed a towel, leading Kix over to the wall and pulling him down to sit on the floor as he dried his hands for him, one a time.

“I’m sorry-” Kix whimpered finally.

“Don’t,” Jesse cut him off, “don’t say you’re sorry.”

“But I am!” Kix protested, “Jesse, I-”

“Don’t think about that right now,” Jesse said firmly, still looking directly into his eyes, “just focus on your breathing. I’m not going anywhere.”

Kix sullenly leaned his weight on Jesse’s shoulder, and Jesse rested his cheek on his head, slipping his arm around Kix’s torso and feeling him shivering violently.

“These hands are supposed to heal, Jesse…” Kix murmured softly after a moment, staring at his open palms in his lap, “to heal my fellow Clones, my brothers, sisters… and instead, they took their lives today, and left them behind to die.”

“This wasn’t your fault, Kix.” Jesse insisted firmly, squeezing Kix a little tighter to his side. “We were tricked.”

“I almost killed you…” Kix went on anyway, starting to shake harder.

“But you didn’t.”

“But I could have-”

“But you didn’t.”

Kix just stared blankly, deep brown eyes beginning to well with tears that he stubbornly blinked away.

That was when the door to the medbay slid open, and Kix made a half-hearted attempt to stand up, clearly expecting Coric, but then slouched back down into Jesse’s arms when he recognized Sister.

She’d taken her hair out of its usual bun now, and her braids were a mess, half of them completely undone and the other half barely hanging on.

She looked down at them both with a sorrowful expression, before wordlessly moving to Kix’s opposite side and sitting down next to him, sliding defeatedly down the wall and resting her head on Kix’s shoulder.

Now Kix began to cry, his soft weeping making him shudder between Jesse and Sister. The two of them pressed their bodies closer to his, if that was physically possible, squishing him between them as he wept.

“Just let it out, Kix,” Sister rasped tiredly, reaching to caress Jesse’s cheek as she said it, “we’re here.”

And Kix did, great, heaving sobs wracking his body. Kix didn’t cry loudly - he typically didn’t - but he did cry hard.

Jesse and Sister remained silent.

It wasn’t like there was anything else to say.

“You two should go,” Kix sniffed finally, wiping tears and snot from his face with the back of his sleeve, “you’re probably needed somewhere else and I need to-”

“You don’t need to do anything right now, Kix,” Sister said firmly, yet gently, “you’ve done all you possibly can, now you need to rest.”

“And there’s nothing we need to be doing either,” Jesse added, and Kix turned to face him, “nor is there anything we’d rather be doing. We’re going to sit here with you until we know you’re okay, and we’re not leaving until we see a smile on your face.”

Kix buried his face in Jesse’s shoulder as his eyes welled with tears again.

“Oh,” he whimpered, “I don’t deserve you two.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Sister said fiercely, “don’t you dare, Kix. You are one of the most wonderful, beautiful people I know, I won’t hear that kind of nonsense.”

“Stop.” Kix practically whined, still hiding his face. A pause, then in a shuddering voice he added, “thank you.”

Jesse pressed a kiss to his ear, and Sister leaned closer to do the same to his tear-stained cheek.

The three of them didn’t speak after that, Jesse finally feeling his frantically beating heart start to calm itself as Kix’s breathing slowed to a more relaxed speed.

There was still a lot of work ahead to fix what had been done, but for right now, none of that mattered.