#rex reader insert

Rex ran a hand over his chin, checking for bristles for the millionth time as he left the base.  After returning from an extended campaign, he took his time shaving and freshening up.  He wanted to get himself together before seeing you.

He took a transport outside of the city.  It was a quiet ride with only a few civilians occupying the nearby seats. He was glad to not see any of his brothers.  Many of them had their own lives outside the GAR, their own secrets, so it wasn’t uncommon for soldiers to pass by each other awkwardly with a quick greeting.  Even so, Rex would rather just avoid the brief exchanges altogether.

Rex exited the transport when he reached the stop and continued the rest of the way on foot, as usual.  His chest swelled as he laid eyes on the place where you dwelled.  It was a familiar sight that had come to be a home to him too.  He picked up his pace as he neared the building, buzzing himself in with the code he had sealed into his mind like his birth number.

Suddenly, he wondered if he should’ve commed first.  Rex was a practical man.  He wasn’t usually one for out-of-the-blue visits such as this one, but he’d once heard Fives tell the story of surprising his civvie girlfriend with a visit and how happy she’d been.  Since then, he kept picturing the look on your face when you opened the door to see him.

Upon nearing the apartment, he heard muffled sounds coming from inside.  Curious, Rex approached the door and leaned forward to listen.  It was your voice, rising and falling very loudly.  His hand instinctively rested on the grip of one of his blasters, mind focusing and senses becoming alert.  His other hand reached over to punch in the code, but then something dawned on him as he listened carefully.

It was a song.  You were singing your heart out in there.  He exhaled in relief, so very glad that you were happy and not hurt or in any danger.  Rex removed his hand from the blaster and chuckled to himself, shaking his head.  He knocked, but there was no answer.  You were too absorbed to hear.  So, he took another breath, bracing for the moment that was coming, and punched in the code to unlock your apartment door.

Your voice rang out clearer from the next room over.  The door slid shut behind him, and Rex walked forward, waiting for you to discover him.  You finally came into view, dancing backwards from the hall with a broom in your hand.  You were still adorably oblivious to his presence, busting a move and singing into the end of the broom as if it were a microphone.

Rex fought a smile, keeping his lips sealed to prevent a chuckle from escaping.

The next thing he knew, you turned around to reveal a plethora of emotions playing across your face.  Initial alarm at there being someone in your apartment unexpectedly gave way to surprise at who it was, which became unbridled delight as you dropped the broom and hurried into his arms.

“Rex! I can’t believe it’s you!”

“Hey, darling,” he greeted, pulling you close and pressing his cheek against you.

“Why didn’t you comm me?”  You sniffled as the happy tears started to flow.  “I could’ve had lunch ready for you.”

“I wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Well.”  You laughed, though it sounded like a half-sob.  “Consider me surprised!”

“You have no idea how glad I am to see you.  I missed you.”  His tired eyes shone with a sincerity that made you melt.

“I missed you too, Rex.”  You pulled away to wipe the tears from your face before leaning up to press a kiss to his lips.  He cupped your cheek, slowly and tenderly deepening the kiss.  You sighed into it, sinking even further into his embrace as he made up for lost time.

“By the way,” he whispered against your lips, his nose brushing yours.  “Loved the concert.”

You lowered your gazet, playfully nudging him.  “Hey now.”

   There were a million and one things that reminded you of him.  Sometimes, it was a scent in the air.  Other times, it was some Republic propaganda posted on the front of buildings.  Maybe it was a romantic holomovie, or even just the sight of a happy couple passing by you on the street.

   Soldiers of the GAR that stopped by brought a mix of emotions.  It was very hard to think about other tasks when you saw his face on each of them all day every day.  And yet, greeting them when they entered the shop lifted your spirits.  They were his beloved brothers, and taking care of them was your way of giving back to him.  It was all you had left when he was gone, and you were sure to do your best.

   As if these reminders weren’t enough, it wasn’t uncommon for your brain to throw a random memory into the forefront of your thoughts- just to send that familiar pang through your chest once again.  You’d remember a time you made that stern face of his crack a smile.  You’d remember a heart-racing kiss shared in private.  Or a warm embrace before he departed for the latest assignment.

   This time, it was a flower that caught your attention while you walked through the market on your lunch break.   The white lily had a distinct blue stripe down the middle of each of its delicate petals.  It was so reminiscent of a certain captain’s painted armor that you halted in your tracks.

   You stared at it, shoulders slumped and head lowered, and already doing the math in your head to see if you had the funds to purchase the lily, but all you could see was the image of Rex standing tall and sure in his full armor.

   “Excuse me,” you spoke up, glancing over with teary eyes toward the vendor.  “I’d like this one, please.”

   “That’ll be fifteen credits.”

   You made the exchange and accepted the potted plant into your arms carefully like it was an infant.  The trot home was a little cheerier than the schlep downtown first thing in the morning.  The sun was shining, at least, and you carried another piece of him back with you.  Of course, the plant would brighten the room, but it wouldn’t take the ache away like you needed.  You still sat on your couch that evening, staring at it, wondering what Rex was doing at that very moment.  Was it day there?  Was it night?  Was he in the heat of battle, or laying down on his bunk for some much-needed rest?  Was he safe?  Or did Skywalker have him in the midst of danger yet again with one of his wild plans that Rex was always telling you about?

   Ugh.  You wished you knew.  It wasn’t uncommon for Rex to fall out of contact for days or even weeks, but the wondering still got to you sometimes.

   Seven o’clock. 

   You’d been mulling over different scenarios for two hours.

   Something had to change.

   A thought came to you.  It was so crazy that you almost laughed aloud at the prospect.  But part of you grasped onto the idea and turned it over and over until it gradually sounded less insane.  There were several obstacles you’d have to overcome to put the idea to action.

   First, there was the matter of finding out where in the galaxy Rex was.  He could be anywhere from a war-ravaged planet in the outer rim to a senator’s ship escorting them for official Republic business.  The possibilities were endless.  But there was a way to narrow down your search if you truly wanted.  Without getting your hopes too high, you pulled out your comm device and started typing a specific frequency. 

   “Fives,” you greeted with a smile.  “How goes it?”

   “Oh you know, _______, just the usual ARC trooper stuff.  Ya know, because I’m an ARC trooper now.”

You chuckled.  “Congratulations, again, on your promotion.”

“So, what do I owe for the pleasure of this call?”

“Well, I’ve got a teensy favor to ask.”

“Anything you need.”

“I realize that this is highly confidential information, but…can you tell me where the 501st is?”

- - - - - - -

   Your heart was beating a million beats per minute.  Your skin glistened with sweat, and though you tried to put an end to the tapping of your foot, you still found yourself doing it repetitively the moment you stopped paying attention.  Your carry-on bag was getting heavier by the second, but you were too worked-up to set it down.

   If only the line would move faster.

   You’d been waiting for fifteen minutes already while the traveler a few spaces ahead of you organized their paperwork.  Surely, it wasn’t too much to ask that they had handled this stuff before boarding time?  You took a deep breath, knowing full well the true reason for your impatience.

   You couldn’t wait to see him.  To see the look on his face when you showed up unannounced to where he was stationed.  Things seemed to fall into place the moment Fives told you that the 501st was currently occupying a planet that had just been relieved of Separatist control.  They were seeing to the planet’s recovery and maintaining order for a short time before another battalion arrived.  Civilian travel to and from the planet had been opened up, which was perfect for what you had planned.

   After ending the comm with Fives, you threw together toiletries and some clothes in an overnight bag before busting out the credits you’d been setting aside for some time now.  Booking an off-world transport on such a short notice would be expensive, so you took the entire stash to be safe.

   The arrangements had been made in a hurry, and after that, it was just a matter of waiting.  Waiting to board the transport.  Waiting to arrive at the station to get on another transport.  Waiting to finally get to your destination and book yet another transport to wherever Rex was.

   It was exciting, but also terrifying.  There were a few negative “what ifs'' along with the positives.  What if you don’t find him and get lost instead?  What if something happens on the way?  What if you get there and he isn’t happy to see you?

   Your nerves were all over the place by the time it was finally your turn to board.  You handed over your paperwork with shaky hands, but released a deep breath when you were granted clearance to go on.  This was it.  It was actually happening.

   A few hours into the trip, you calmed down.  The jitters subsided, and you were able to preoccupy yourself with some activities.  Reading through an entire holobook was first on the list.  People of all shapes and sizes surrounded you.  Part of the journey was spent wondering what their stories were.  Who were they on their way to see?  Friends?  Family?  Or perhaps they were starting a new life elsewhere?

- - - - - - - -

   “What a day,” you muttered to yourself as you studied the map on the board in front of you.  You’d just arrived.  The trip felt so long, but you’d do it all over again.  You were that much closer to seeing Rex… There was just one more obstacle before you: figuring out where the heck he was on this planet.

   It was plain to see that the place had been a warzone.  The port itself was in bad shape with walls chipping and areas sectioned off with caution tape.  There were cracks in the floors and even piles of rubble that hadn’t been cleaned up yet.

   An unmistakable shade of blue caught your eye, and you tore your tired gaze from the map to follow it.  It was a soldier from the 501st!  You were ready to waltz right up to him to ask for directions when you saw another, but he was someone you recognized instantly.

   “Jesse?”

   He saw you and smiled, waving you over.  You laughed in relief at the familiar face as you hurried over.  “Jesse!  Aren’t you a sight for sore-?”  But your sentence was cut off when another trooper came into view.  You saw the cropped, blonde hair first.  He locked eyes with you and halted, mid-step.

   “________?”

   “Rex.”  The stress of the trip melted away as he hurried over to meet you.  Normally he was very careful about any sort of public display (he had a reputation to uphold as Captain), but he already had a gloved hand on your arm as if to pull you closer into his space while the other went to your shoulder.

   “What are you doing here?” he asked, eyes wide.  You’d never seen him look so surprised, and you had to admit, it added to your joy.  You grasped the armor on his forearm and relished in the fact that the Rex in front of you was real and not just a memory.

   “I wanted to see you,” you answered, blinking away tears.

   “This is still technically a warzone,” he said seriously, as if you hadn’t realized that before showing up.  You shook your head affectionately at him.

   “Don’t tell me you’re not happy to see me.”

   “Of course I’m happy to see you.”  His eyes sparked as he drew in closer, and his voice lowered.  “I mean, how could I not be?  I’m just…I can’t believe you’re here.”  He pulled back and turned to Jesse.  The incredulous expression on his face was enough to make you chuckle.  “So this is why you insisted I come down here?”

   You followed Rex’s gaze toward his comrade, confused.  “But how did you know?  I didn’t tell anyone I was here.”

   “Fives gave me a heads-up,” Jesse replied with a smirk.  “He was worried about you coming out here by yourself, but didn’t want to spoil the surprise for Rex.”

   You grinned back.  “Thank you.”

   He gave a shrug, and the mischievous smirk softened as he nodded his head in the other direction.  “Now, why don’t you two get on out of here before you make a big scene?  I’ll finish things up here.”

   “Jesse,” Rex shook his head.  He had that look on his face, like he was trying to be stern but could barely contain the slightest hint of a smile.  That was the look he saved especially for his brothers at times like this.

   “I know, I know.  I’m awesome.”

   Rex glanced around to make sure that there weren’t any bystanders paying close attention to your rendezvous.  Just to be safe, he straightened himself up and spoke to you using his Captain voice.

   “This way, Ma’am.  I’ll help you find a place to stay.”

   “Thank you, trooper.”

   With his hand ever-so-lightly resting on the small of your back, he guided you through the port until you both reached the exit.  Citizens were going back and forth, none paying you any mind.  The rest of the city was in the same condition as the port, with collapsed buildings and ruptured roads.  There were construction droids all over the place cleaning up the mess.

   “What made you decide to come here?”

   You glanced at his profile.  His face was scrunched up in thought as if he couldn’t grasp what brought you here.  “I missed you.”

   “You missed me,” he repeated.

   “Yes, I missed you.  And besides, you’re always visiting me.”

   He steered you down another street.  This one, you noted, was empty.  It was still abandoned for the most part since the disaster hit.  You looked once more at Rex, wondering if he’d taken you this way on purpose.  He slowed his pace until the two of you stopped at the street corner.  Rex’s gloved hand reached up to tilt your face towards his.  “________…” he whispered.  “When I woke up this morning, I had no idea I’d be seeing you today.  It’s wonderful.”

   Your eyes fell closed as he leaned in, his breath fanning your face. “Oh, Rex.  It doesn’t matter if there’s a galaxy between us.  I love you.”

   He closed the small space between you, locking his lips with yours.  You would’ve thought that he couldn’t go another moment without kissing you by how fervently he deepened the kiss.  His arms wove around your form, crushing you against his cuirass.  You melted into his touch and poured your affection into the kiss.  A million and one daydreams you’d had of this moment were quickly put to shame.  Rex pulled away to gaze into your eyes.  The sun was setting behind the buildings, casting an orange glow on the sky.  Dust and other particles floated through the air.  It was all so dreamlike that you nearly pinched yourself.

   “Let’s get you settled,” Rex launched into protective captain mode.  “I’d feel better if you stayed somewhere near the base.  We may have the Seppies on the run, but there are still troublemakers out and about.”

   You gently caught his hand before he walked away, giving it a squeeze to get his attention.  With heart racing, you smiled.

   As another lovely female left the spotlight with her date, the announcer bounced back to the center of the stage.  The room erupted with “aw”s and applause.  You leaned back in your seat, eyes sweeping over the crowd of well-dressed attendees.  Nothing seemed out of place.  Even your senses were giving you the “all clear.”  It made you wonder if there was some other reason you were dragged to this event.  Anakin, Ahsoka, and the soldiers from the 501st were more than capable of handling security, so why were you summoned by the General to be the only one attending undercover?  It was overkill.

   Still, you weren’t exactly complaining about having an opportunity to see Captain Rex.  You’d been on an assignment directly given to you by the Jedi Council and had only just returned a few days before.  You were anxious for an opportunity to work with the 501st again soon.

   A gentle nudge against your right shoulder drew your attention.  Senator Amidala had been the one to help you through the event.  from picking out the right outfit to how to blend in, she was your guide. You turned to see her blue eyes shining as she spoke, but her voice was drowned out in another round of applause.  You only caught the movement of her lips.

   “What was that?” you leaned in.

   “You’re up,” Padme said with another nudge to your shoulder, and you gave a humorless chuckle, reaching for your glass.

   “Ha, that’s a good one,” you said as you raised the water to your lips.

   “The announcer just called your name.”

   You swallowed the water.  Hard.  You stared back at her, hoping that it was some sort of morbid joke that she was playing.  That’s when you heard it, the man at the microphone repeating your name as a question.  He was looking at you expectantly.  Actually, several pairs of eyes from the tables surrounding yours were watching and waiting.

   “Padme, I am a jedi,” you said under your breath.  “I think this sort of thing falls under the ‘forbidden’ category.”

“You’re undercover,” she replied, eyes shining mischievously.  “You’re an eligible female.  You’ll stand out if you don’t participate.  Besides, it’s for a good cause.”

   “And what about you?”  

   She cleared her throat, smoothing out the skirt of her dress.  Her gaze suddenly wouldn’t meet yours as she replied.  “You know I would, _________, but...I have other engagements to attend to.”

   Suuuure.  More like she’d be on a date with her secret jedi husband.  You knew the drill.  If it weren’t for the room of people staring at you, you would’ve given her a hard time about it.  Fortunately for her, you were forced to rise from the comfort of your chair and walk up to the stage.

   Money was tight in the GAR.  There were several policies being worked through in the Senate, such as a bill that would mean the production of more clones.  The Republic seemed to be stretched thin as it was, so a few events were held to raise more credits to contribute to the war effort.  One of the activities of this particular gala was the bidding on dates.  It wasn’t anything to be taken too seriously, but the thought of standing on a stage while people put down credits for your time was rather embarrassing.  You didn’t want to know how much credits the audience thought your time was worth, whether it be many or not.

   You stole a look of indignance at Padme while she merely offered an apologetic smile, though there was no mistaking the mischief that still lingered.

   “Alright,” the announcer said, taking your hand.  “This here is __________.  Now, now, don’t be shy.  Let’s give this young lady a warm welcome, shall we?”

   The audience responded with a warm applause, and you tried your best to smile.  You caught Anakin’s amused glance to the side of the stage, and Ahsoka was standing there with arms folded, shaking her head.

   You’d get them back for this.  You knew you would.

   The announcer released your hand and stepped aside to leave you at the center of the stage.  “Would anyone like to start the bid?”

   “Three-hundred credits!” Anakin called, cupping his hand over his mouth to amplify the words.

   The announcer’s brows rose.  “My my, what a bid!  Do I hear three-fifty?”

   Multiple voices rose up at once, and you could barely pick out what voice belonged to which individual in the audience.  Your eyes darted throughout the crowd, brain registering the amount as it continued to rise

   “Seven-hundred-and-fifty credits!”  The announcer boomed.  “Would anyone like to top that?”  Suddenly, a young woman ran out from somewhere backstage and leaned in to whisper in the announcer’s ear.  His eyes were large pie plates as he gasped into the microphone.  “This is just in!  A very generous donor has just made a bid of one-thousand credits!”

   You jaw nearly dropped, and you stood frozen as the announcer pronounced you “sold.”  The young woman ushered you off the stage, and your alarm grew.  Who was this bidder?  Why had he spent so many credits?  And why did he choose to remain anonymous?

   You passed by Anakin and Ahsoka on your way backstage.  “What is going on?” you asked.  

   “Nice going, ________.  You raked in a lot of credits for the war effort.”  Though he was seemingly praising you, his tone carried an amusement that you weren’t sure how to read.  “Better get back there to the bidder.”

   “Why do I feel like you’ve had a hand in this whole thing?”

   “It was a group effort,” he admitted.

   “But it was his idea originally,” Ahsoka chimed in.  “So all blame goes to him accordingly.”

   “Thanks, Snips.”  Anakin rested a hand on each of your shoulders, turning you so he could effectively usher you the rest of the way backstage.

   “Blame for what?” You protested.  “Wait, Anakin, blame for what?”

   Suddenly, your eyes landed on familiar blue-and-white armor, and your mouth clamped shut in surprise.  A pair of kindly brown eyes met yours, though the man they belonged to stood there rigidly, as if he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the situation at hand either.

   “She’s all yours, Rex.” Anakin said.  “Now, both of you have some time, but I’ll need you back at the barracks for the inspection later on.”

   “Yes, Sir.”

   He paused, winking.  “Oh, and have fun.”  Once he and Ahsoka were gone, you turned to the captain.  Rex looked at you, the corners of his lips turning up in a hesitant smile.

   “Captain Rex,” you greeted.  “I didn’t take you for the type to do this sort of thing.”

   “Well, I-I…”  He stuttered, eyes dropping to the helmet tucked under his arm.  “It was Skywalker’s  idea.  He and a few of the men cooked up the plan so you wouldn’t end up with some stranger.  You don’t have to, um, stay if you don’t…”

   “It’s okay,” you smiled.  “I’d like to stick around for this date.  I just hope you know that you don’t need something like this to get a lady’s attention.”

   That seemed to put him at ease. His shoulders relaxed as he chuckled.  The sound of his laugh was so pleasant, it made your smile grow even more.  “That’s good to know.”

   The barracks inspection that Anakin spoke about wouldn’t be for a few hours.  A few hours without strategizing, preparing for battle, or participating in battle… And it was time you would get to spend with Rex.

   He extended an arm, and you looped your arm around it.  “Thank you for allowing me a few hours of your time, __________.  I’ve got a few places in mind I’d like to take you, if you are up for it.”