SWR One Shots

Nightmares

At the request of rexsoka_is_forever, here ya go! Takes place after the Relics of the Old Republic

               Once the initial relief of seeing her again passed, Rex felt that awful ball of dread build in his stomach. Everything about her, reminded him of his brothers. I mean sure, she looked different, but overall the same.  Her lekku was longer, but that same stripped pearl and blue. Rex had grown a beard, which overall didn't make him look any different than what he used to. It was the smallest hints of age, both of them still looked generally the same. 

                The clones had loved having her around during the war, she was smart, but also a counter balance for the General. Yes, everything they did was still insane and risky, but less so with her there. And when that awful moment came, order 66, she refused to kill any of them. Even when Rex himself drew his pistols on her.

"No, I'll do it." He had said, she watched him with a confused look. When he fired, she still didn't kill him. At the moment it had been what he wanted. How could he fire at her of all people and live with it?

                  Ashoka told Rex that she was needed for a meeting, and he was welcome to come along. Rex refused, she looked a little disappointed as she walked off. Rex watched her lekku sway behind her as she walked. The Ghost crew followed her, the Jedi going ice cold as he passed Rex. Rex just stood there, a little uncertain of where to go. He wished he had gone with her, now that she was gone a familiar cold surrounded him. 

                   Ashoka leaned forward on her hands, examining the holo board. She finished her assessment of it, and let Hera take over. The base locations were incredibly important, but she couldn't think about it at all. What had she done wrong? Ashoka had missed Rex beyond what she thought was possible. Ashoka passed Kanan, who was near the edge of the room.

"Where are you going?" He asked, she stopped to lay a quick hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not feeling well, fill me in later I need some air" She said. Swiftly, Ashoka strides down  the hall. 

                   Fives once said something absurd back in the day, they were fighting through a canyon with Ashoka. She made sure to keep every blast as far from the two clones as possible. Soon the area was cleared of clankers, Ashoka  sat on a rock, exhausted. Fives had elbowed him and jokingly stated, "You know I bet for you she'd break the code". Rex had shrunk inside his armor with embarrassment until he realized he wasn't sure what it was for.

"Wait what do you mean Fives?" Rex said, the words echoed in his head.

                   Now in current time and space, Ashoka was sitting on a crate in the landing bay. No one was around, so she watched the stars alone. She fingered in her hand her lightsabers, they were warm from her touch. She practiced often, something told her she was going to need it. Ashoka stood up, and pictured the laboratory on Naboo. She twisted and leapt, just like she had when she was there fighting the droids.

                    It was familiar, just like having Rex around again. Except he was somewhere else in the ship, probably wishing he hadn't come back.

                   Rex sat up, he had fallen asleep in the cafeteria slumped over a table. It wasn't the usual nightmare where he had to try to save his brothers and fail. It was new. He could hear Ashoka calling for help somewhere, but he couldn't find her. He tried and tried, but then she started to scream, and then nothing at all. 

                    Rex sped out, he didn't know exactly where he was going, but he was going. It wasn't until he remembered what he did after Umbrara that he figured out where.

"Rex just tell me what happened!" Ashoka reached out for his shoulder, he flinched away.

"Ashoka one of your own just tried to kill me and you want me to talk?" He spit angerly.

"Well I'm not leaving you alone until you talk to me." She crossed her arms and stood feet planted in the landing bay. Rex groaned, and then argued with her. Wait, make that argued at her.

                     Ashoka took it, and then just led him to some crates and they sat down. Despite everything he had said, she still looked happy to be with him there. They watch the stars for the whole ride back to camp.

                      Ashoka heard someone enter the room, she let her sabers fade and turned around. It was Rex. "Rex I-"

"Come on Commander." He said, sitting down on a crate. She laughed, and pulled up one next to it. He brought up Umbrara, and then things changed.

"I still think about them all the time, Jessie, Fives, all of them." She said, her head drooping forwards.

"I do too, nights are the worst. I can't save them." He sighed, and before Ashoka knew it his hand was entwined with hers.

"Do you remember that moment, right before Anakin set Fives to come get us?" Ashoka says, she turned to face Rex. Ashoka was close enough that Rex could feel the heat radiating off her.

"I remember, we almost-" Rex paused, the meaning sunk in, "Oh".

"Yeah, oh." Ashoka smiled. She still had those bright blue eyes, the ones that held the mystery. Rex really wanted to explore them more, but he had to get this out.

"Just like back then this could be dangerous." He stated.

"I know." 

"We could cause complications in missions."

"I know."

"We could potentially get people killed."

"I know Rex."

"I still remember how many people we lost without us complicating things. It haunts me."

"I know."

                Rex, looked up at her, the emotions that had been there before were back, they always would be there.

"And I don't think I care." He said bluntly, with a new confidence. Ashoka maintained her small shy grin.

"I know."

               Ashoka leaned in and kissed him, it was slow and sweet. Rex slid his hands around her chin. The memories of death faded, and the ones of boldness and excitement replaced them. The feeling of dread disappeared, and neither broken souls had to face their demons alone. For now, after all that time apart, they finally had each other.

             Ezra had gone back to look for his comn link in the landing bay but stopped at the doorway. His jaw dropped to the floor. Kanan's footsteps drew nearer. Ezra quickly wiped the expression of his face and stopped Kanan in his tracks. 

"Got it," He lied, "Lets go". Ezra pushed Kanan back through the hall. Ezra smiled to himself, he had done Ashoka and Rex a huge favor. It was after all a perfect match, a hardworking clone, and a caring force wielder. Despite this, when Kanan found out, he was going to have a stroke.