Cyare (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

62

Rex stood at attention as they covered the mission briefing for their next campaign. He hadn't thought that they would be zooming off somewhere else so quick after having spent so long planet side, but apparently there was to be a massive separatist attack on Duro. And Grievous had some nasty trick up his sleeve and they didn't know what.

"Cody, you will lead a strike force of the 212th remnant to try to stop Grievous from the air. I will lead the 501st from the ground." Anakin was saying. Cody frowned.

"With all due respect sir, if you're planning a ground assault wouldn't it be better to take the larger group to meet it? The four hundred men you have will be hard pressed to defeat four thousand battle droids on the ground." Cody frowned at the map. "And as big a difference two jedi make, I don't think you and the commander would make that big a difference."

"Actually, commander Tano will not be joining us on Duro."

"I'm not?" She blurted out instinctively inching closer to Rex. Rex brushed his hand against hers and caught her pinky with his. She relaxed slightly with the contact. Anakin gave her a sharp look for her out burst.

"No. Ahsoka will be leading a jedi tradition on Illum and will be away for nearly a month. If we are not done then, perhaps. Oh, and Captain Rex will be joining her for security. Illum is located too deep in CIS space and has too large a bounty on her head for capture by them that I wouldn't feel comfortable otherwise. The jedi council agrees with this."

Anakin informed them. Rex shifted uneasily. "Sir, I've already been away from the men for some time." He pointed out. Anakin nodded and pinched his brow.

"I know. Believe me, I know. Don't worry, Captain. We can manage, I assure you." His words did nothing to help. Rex glanced at Cody for reassurance.

"I'll watch him. Nothing's been set on fire yet snd the cruiser is in one piece." He pointed out. Rex sighed.

"Alright. And the jedi tradition I will be going along with is...?" He asked. Anakin gave a small smile.

"The Gathering." He supplied. Rex paled slightly. The Gathering? Wasn't that one of the most dangerous trails of a jedi? Where they built their- oh.

"Understood, Sir." He managed, his voice shaking slightly. Cody glanced oddly at him and made a few lightning fast hand movements by his side. ARC signs. It was strange, because he and Cody rarely used them to communicate.

[The Gathering?] Cody signed. Rex just shook his head.

[Jedi stuff. Heard some pretty scary stories about it from my Riduur.] He signed back. It wasn't a complete lie. Not really. Just not the whole truth. Didn't mean that Rex felt any less guilty.

"You'll leave in a few hours, taking the Twilight to Corascant." Anakin was talking to him, and he turned his attention back to his general. Rex nodded.

"Yes sir."

"You and Ahsoka are dismissed." Rex nodded and turned on his heel, marching stiffly out of the room. Ahsoka was right behind him, probing gently at his mind. For the first time that Rex could remember, he shut her out. Not that she couldn't probably feel his terror anyways. A lightsaber. Not a practice one or a wooden one. One that could cut through the durasteel hull of this ship like butter.

Ahsoka sighed. "Verbal it is then." She said to nobody in particular. "Rex?"

Rex ignored her, hunching in slightly on his self. Ahsoka sighed and sped up a little, stopping to stand directly in front of him. She reached up to cup the side of his face gently.

"You know I won't look in your head without permission. Can you tell me what's wrong?" She asked softly. Rex scoffed.

"What's wrong? I think you can guess that pretty easily." He was shaking slightly.

"I could, but it would be just that. A guess. But, I'm guessing that going with me on the Gathering has you on edge." She ran her thumb over the curve of his cheekbone. Rex closed his eyes and leaned into her hand with a low sigh.

"I'm going to build a lightsaber, aren't I." He whispered. Ahsoka's face softened slightly.

"That's what's got you so worked up? Yes. You will build your own saber. But that doesn't mean you have to use it. Many jedi don't." She said gently. Rex nodded, and she started to pull her hand away from his face. He caught it and turned his head to kiss the inside of her palm.

"I love you." He whispered gently against her skin. Ahsoka smiled and wrapped her arms around him. He returned her hug, resting his chin in the valley of her montrals.

Ahsoka pulled away and looked him in the eye.

"Don't be afraid. You already have your crystal. And I'll be right there by your side. Ok?"

Rex nodded. "Ok. We... we should probably pack."

Ahsoka nodded. "Ok. Bring your armor and full kit. You are technically on security after all." She winked at him. Rex gave a small smile.

"You just like seeing me in my blacks." He commented as they made their way to their rooms. Ahsoka huffed.

"No, I also want us to be safe.... and I like seeing you in your blacks." She mumbled the last part. Rex rolled his eyes in mock exasperation.

"What an I going to do with you?" He sighed dramatically. Ahsoka giggled.

"Exactly what you have been." She laughed. Rex snorted.

"Ok. Well then." He scooped her up without warning and threw her over his shoulder and sprinted the last forty meters to the rooms they shared. Ahsoka yelped and clung to him, laughing and screaming at the same time. He barely paused to open the door as he spun her around and dropped her on the bed. She was gasping for air and her padawan chain was askew.

"A little warning might've been nice." She wheezed, still chuckling. Rex just kissed her forehead and straightened her headdress.

"Now where's the fun in that." He smirked.