It's Commander Tano, Not Padawan

Chapter 27

Note: Thanks to my amazing beta WildHoneyProse! 

One hour and seven standard minutes left.

That's how much time they had till they were expected in the medbay.

That's how much time she and Rex had to finally figure out what in the galaxy they were doing. As much as Ahsoka enjoyed his newfound confidence in physical affection, she knew there were things they had to lay out first – not exactly exciting or sexy, but too important to ignore.

Ahsoka couldn't help but grow distracted as she scrolled through a sluggishly loading inventory form on her datapad with one hand and gently dragged her nails across Rex's scalp with the other.

"That doesn't look too comfortable," she noted, taking in the way his torso bent so his armored boots were on the floor as his head lay in her lap.

Cracking an indolent eye to stare up at her, he shrugged, the movement pressing his blacksuited shoulders against the side of her thigh. "I don't think it's too bad."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes, a smile playing across her lips. "I'm not sure that campaigns or between-battle kips count as any comparison."

She could feel his chuckle as he replied. "I don't know, you looked pretty comfortable sprawled across Fives and Echo that one time during the first battle of Felucia."

Despite the visceral ache at the fate of her friends – thank the Force that at least Fives is alive – Ahsoka playfully punched Rex's bicep.

"That happened once. Compared to every other sticky, humid part of that planet, your guy's armor felt great. And it meant that nothing would come and eat my fingers off while I slept."

Rex snorted, a smile tugging at his lips.

Felucia, as beautiful as it was, was decidedly deadly.

"I did feel bad though – poor Echo, he didn't look like he slept at all, and I knew Fives had to have had a crick from the way his head was angled when I woke up."

Ahsoka almost wished she hadn't continued, watching as Rex's face morphed into a contemplative frown, dark amber eyes opening wide to stare up at her.

"Where do you think Fives is by now?" he asked.

Ahsoka paused in her ministrations, resting her palm upon the crown of his head as she thought. "Probably still in hyperspace, if I had to guess. The jump is about forty-eight hours, so he should be reaching Bogden soon if he hasn't already."

He hummed in acknowledgement.

A pensive silence fell over them. Not exactly uncomfortable, but a bit too heavy to be peaceful.

"So..." Rex began, with a nearly invisible nervous clenching of his fists on his stomach. "You had said earlier that you wanted to talk."

Ahsoka barely kept her smile at bay. Rex made it seem like he was about to face the firing squad.

She was certain – could feel – that he didn't regret their kiss, satisfaction rolling off him, but Ahsoka wanted to understand where they were going and the boundaries that came with their positions.

"I did, yes. There are just a couple things I need to know. And you don't have to be nervous, you know? This isn't an inspection or anything," she teased.

Rex tried to smile, but it edged on the side of a grimace. "I know."

Ahsoka went back to running her fingers across his head, hoping it would help. "What do you want from that kiss?"