The Bad Batch - One shots

Embers - Part 2

Ahsoka woke up on a bed.

That, in itself, was new.

It was ironic that everything she'd learnt during the war about survival had only come into usefulness once the clone wars ended. Ahsoka usually slept in hangers with minimal security, huddling under engines for warmth before sneaking into the cargo hold for a flight off-planet the next day.

A few nights, she slept with Rafa and Trace, but they were too stationary for her liking, preferring to settle down in one place for sometimes weeks at a time. Ahsoka needed to keep going, to throw anyone off her trace and simply keep her mind and body active.

She feared that everything would come crashing down on her if she stayed still for too long. She would finally give up, and the weight on her shoulders would suddenly become too much to bear.

Every lesson the Jedi taught her about perseverance couldn't prepare her for this.

She opened her eyes, knowing that despite the comfort she woke up in, it would be foolish to assume she was safe, especially as she couldn't remember falling asleep. She was met with a dark room, several bunks lining the wall opposite her. The small lights along the aisle made it clear she was on a ship- did she stowaway again?

For all the Order encouraged minimalism, she wasn't used to austere living conditions until she left everything behind. It had become a luxury to sleep atop cardboard, and not fear waking up with pneumonia the next morning, or worse, not wake up at all.

The mattress wasn't particular thick, but it supported her sore limbs, and she'd never been more grateful for having a pillow under her heavy montrals again. They'd hit another growth spurt, and without the unlimited supply of painkillers that she was used to, it was hellish.

It wasn't quite the extravagant hotel room that she'd once stayed in with Padmé, and the blanket was scratchy against her skin, the edges becoming frayed from frequent use, but Ahsoka felt more rested than she had in a long time. Her aching muscles had finally eased, the weight of her eyelids seemed to have lifted.

"You're finally awake."

Not expecting company, her head snapped to the door which let artificial light creep into the room. Beyond the door was silence, which immediately put her on edge. Her eyes focused on the man in the doorway. Echo closed the door behind him, flicking a switch on the wall with his elbow to illuminate the space whilst he balanced a tray on his other hand.

Ahsoka subtly rubbed her eyes as she leaned against the wall, not fully believing what she saw. She knew there was a risk of seeing the men who used to serve alongside her during the war, but meeting one who was supposed to be dead? And he didn't try to kill her?

It was confusing, almost disorientating.

"How long have I been out?" She asked the trooper, swinging her legs over the edge of the bunk and promptly being reminded of her injured leg. Her clothes hadn't been changed, but her leggings were gone- white bandages stretching up the wounded limb with precision that Kix would've nodded with approval at.

"About thirteen hours," Echo said, making her eyes widen. He smiled a little, "It's okay; you were worn out. Tech gave you a sleeping aid, to help you recover faster." He walked over, stopping beside the bunk she was perched on. "Can I sit down?"

She nodded, wearily moving towards the head of the bunk. Respectfully, Echo kept his distance, sitting further down so there was a gap between them, although Ahsoka almost missed the warmth of his embrace that she had a distant memory of. It was better to play it safe, just in case.

"Here," he offered the tray which held a glass of water and a small plastic cup of tablets alongside a selection of ration bars. "Painkillers and recovery aids."