#even though his hair was already short before he even met ahsoka and stays short for the rest of the war

[stairset]

Something something Jesse’s first appearance in terms of release order was The Deserter and in that episode he takes command in Rex’s place cause Rex is injured and he’s trying to protect Rex in contrast to his final appearance, Victory and Death, where he once again takes command but this time it’s because Rex has been branded a traitor and he’s trying to kill him.

Furthermore, something something Jesse has armor markings in The Deserter but when he briefly cameos in Practice Makes Perfect his armor is completely white meaning he hasn’t painted it yet meaning the first chunk of that episode takes place before The Deserter and thus would be his first appearance in terms of timeline order. So his chronological first appearance has him shooting at Ahsoka for training purposes, again, in contrast to Victory and Death where he’s shooting at her for real.

So basically no matter which way you look at it his first appearance is a really fucked up parallel to his final appearance.

[tennessoui]

Ummmmmm can i please request 5

This was written all on my phone waiting for my train and I’m trying to post it through my phone which tumblr is being a lil bitch about but here is

5. Falling Pregnant After A One Night Stand (3.6k)

(squick: a/b/o dynamics, mpreg)(two tags I never thought I’d write lmao)

Anakin’s working on the couch when he hears the key in the lock of the apartment door, signaling that finally—finally—Obi-Wan’s home from his week-long hastily planned stay at Bail’s place.

Bail and Breha’s place, Anakin reminds himself. Obi-Wan’s mated friends pose no competition to Anakin’s inner alpha, which definitely thinks of Obi-Wan as his omega.

Obi-Wan comes into the main room quietly, putting his bag on one of the barstools and leaning against the counter for a second, head bowed.

When he lets out a sigh and a heavy curse, Anakin can’t stop himself from speaking up, alarmed. “Are you alright? Did something happen?”

Obi-Wan jolts and turns around to face the couch, clearly startled. “Anakin!” he yelps, one hand flying to his stomach and the other to grip the counter behind him, as if Anakin is an intruder, and not the man he’s been living with for six years. “I thought you’d be at work!”

Anakin fights the urge to flush. The truth is, he’s tried to go into work for the past three days, but Obi-Wan’s absense has kicked his alpha hindbrain into a special kind of panic mode, where he can’t stand to leave the den until the omega returns to it safely.

It’s not like Anakin’s going to say that though, not after five years of pining for the older omega from afar. He’s a pro at this by now.

“Working from home today,” Anakin says. And then so Obi-Wan doesn’t think he’s spent his entire week alone on the couch waiting to be not alone anymore (he has), he lies, “Woke up hungover.”

“On a Thursday?” Obi-Wan says, sounding a bit concerned.

Anakin purses his lips and tries not to pout. He rakes his eyes over the omega, taking in his messed up hair and untrimmed beard and the dark circles that have popped up beneath his eyes. “You didn’t answer, Obi-Wan,” he accuses. “What’s wrong?”

The omega’s scent tinges with distress, which only proves Anakin’s point further. Obi-Wan never lets his scent leak through his blockers, not if he can help it. Anakin’s always made sure to luxuriate in his unbridled scent when he can, one that smells like maple and rain and cinnamon. But to smell it now just makes him feel more worried.

“Are you going into—“ Anakin stutters over the word heat. Obi-Wan’s at least feeling well enough to roll his eyes fondly. The older omega thinks Anakin’s one of those alphas that get wildly uncomfortable talking about an omega’s heat. It’s not true. Anakin’s helped friends through heats both platonically and sexually. Look, he’s run to the corner bodega at two in the morning to get Padmé heating pads to be left outside her door. He’s no stranger to heats.

But the idea of his prim and proper roommate writhing around in his nest, begging for something to fill him up the way he needs—that makes Anakin stutter and blush and trip over his words.

“No,” Obi-Wan says, but there’s something off in his tone, something sour in his scent. Anakin puts his laptop aside—the screen’s gone dark already anyway—and makes to stand, his inner alpha baying with the need to run his hands over the omega, to make sure he’s not bleeding or hurt or injured—

“I—I’m going to unpack and take a shower,” Obi-Wan decides, pushing away from the counter and closer to the couch. Not close enough. But closer. “And then I need to talk to you about something.”

“Are you…” Anakin casts around for the right word to say. Ill. Leaving me. Sick. Sick of me. Done with all of this. Dying.

Obi-Wan pauses and gives him his own sort of once-over. Whatever he finds in either his body language or his scent brings a soft smile to the omega’s face. “I’m fine, dear one. I—I need a shower. I don’t—smell right.”

Anakin blinks after him, hands balling into fists and relaxing as he processes those words. Usually it’s Anakin who wants Obi-Wan to shower off the stench of other alphas after his business trips or stays at his friends’ places. Obi-Wan’s always insisted he smells fine, but he’ll cave if Anakin’s mood gets bad enough.

It’s not something he’s especially proud of, but it’s worth it when Obi-Wan curls up onto the couch beside Anakin and he smells only like the shampoo and soap they share.

Sometimes if he’s tired enough, he’ll even let Anakin scent mark him so that next time he goes out, everyone will automatically assume he’s already in possession of an alpha and not looking for anything.

Sometimes, he even asks for it. Those times are the best.

Anakin tries to sit still while he waits for Obi-Wan to come back, but it’s impossible. He moves to the table, then to the kitchen counter, then back to the couch. Where should he sit, where would be a place he feels safe enough to receive whatever news Obi-Wan’s putting off telling him?

In the omega’s arms in his own bed, is the answer that comes to mind. But can he really ask that of Obi-Wan? They’ve done it before, when Anakin’s mother had died, when Ahsoka had left the city to get a degree abroad, when Anakin feels as though he’s going to shake apart if he doesn’t hold onto his omega and make sure that he at least can’t leave him too.

When Obi-Wan comes out of his room, all flushed from the shower with his hair still damp and messy, wearing a blue sweater Anakin’s pretty sure used to be his and a pair of sweatpants that are definitely currently his, there’s hardly a choice to make. If Obi-Wan wants to wear his scent, Anakin will give it to him.

Silently he takes his hand and leads him to his bedroom, toeing out of his shoes and tugging him into his bed and into his arms.

Obi-Wan goes so easily that it only makes Anakin more worried. His heart cannot take this level of stress and he has to hide his face in the crook of Obi-Wan’s neck and inhales greedily at the pure scent of omega—Obi-Wan omega—his omega.

“Obi-Wan,” he says nonsensically, just to feel the way the omega in his arms shudders at the sensation of his lips brushing against the sensitive skin of his neck.

But then Obi-Wan doesn’t stop shaking and Anakin can feel a growing wetness against his shirt. He can’t stop the distressed rumble that comes out of his throat, but he bites his tongue just in time to stop the alpha command to tell him. Obi-Wan wouldn’t like that and Anakin wouldn’t like doing it.

His hands stroke soothingly over the omega’s back as he starts purring from within his chest. An alpha’s purr is supposed to reassure an omega, make them feel safe and protected, but Obi-Wan doesn’t seem to realize this because he doesn’t stop crying.

“Talk to me,” Anakin murmurs nosing at the short hairs behind Obi-Wan’s ears. “Baby. Obi. Omega. What is wrong? What can I do?”

Obi-Wan wipes his eyes dry on Anakin’s shirt and looks up at him with a heartbroken but strangely resigned expression. Like he already knows what Anakin’s going to do, and he thinks nothing he says will change anything.

As if.

When Obi-Wan went on a two month long business trip three years ago, Anakin grew out a beard and it only took one look from the omega upon his return before Anakin was shaving it off. The point is, Obi-Wan doesn’t even need to speak half the time for Anakin to agree. He’s just that in love. It’s pathetic. He can’t remember who he was before it.

“I’m a mess, I’m sorry,” Obi-Wan finally gets out, retracting one of his hands from the tight grip he has on Anakin’s shirt to rub at his eye. “I told myself I wasn’t going to be like this, but. I don’t—it’s—“

“Hey, hey,” Anakin soothes, leaning back a bit so he can knock their foreheads together. Packmates do that all the time. “It’s okay.”

Obi-Wan nods slowly, and his scent expands with the pleasant notes of a comforted, protected omega.

“Do you remember…when I went to Seattle at the end of August for that conference?” he starts slowly.

Anakin hums in acknowledgement. He’d wanted to go with Obi-Wan, instincts demanding that the other side of the country was too far for the omega to travel alone, but he’d not been able to get time off of work.

His heart drops into his stomach at the idea that somehow maybe Obi-Wan met someone there during his four-day trip, and he’s in love with them and is trying to find a way to tell Anakin he’s moving.

Would it be pathetic if Anakin followed him? Would Obi-Wan’s new alpha allow Anakin to live with Obi-Wan still? Would Obi-Wan’s alpha be amenable to telling Anakin how he made Obi-Wan fall in love with him in a matter of days when Anakin’s been trying to get the man to love him romantically for six years?

Anakin’s heart rate is up, but it’s nothing compared to the staccato beat of Obi-Wan’s. He tries to send out more calming pheromones, but he can’t even find them for himself.

This is it. He’s about to lose Obi-Wan. The alpha inside of him whimpers, and it takes all of his willpower not to crush his omega tighter to his chest.

No. Not his.

“I met a man there, just at the hotel,” Obi-Wan says. It would have been kinder if he’d just stabbed Anakin with the kitchen knife. There’s no relief to be found in this slow death. Because—because surely, Anakin will die without Obi-Wan. Not physically, of course. He’s not one of those alphas who doesn’t know how to take care of himself.

Actually, it’s Anakin that cooks most of the time for both of them. And Anakin will do the shopping, will keep an eye on the amount of cleaning supplies they have, how much toilet paper, how many garbage bags.

But what would be the point of cooking anything if Obi-Wan isn’t there to taste it and shower him with praise? What’s the point of cleaning the apartment if Obi-Wan isn’t there to tuck himself into his arms on the couch and thank him for the work? What’s the point of anything if he’s doing it without Obi-Wan?

“Anakin, I—“ Obi-Wan stutters and falls silent. Anakin braces himself for the end he should have seen coming. “I’m pregnant.”

White noise. Anakin doesn't even think he’s breathing. Obi-Wan is pregnant. Obi-Wan…had a one-night stand in a city 2,400 miles away from Anakin, and he’s pregnant. Someone touched Obi-Wan, someone made Obi-Wan come, someone got Obi-Wan pregnant, and maybe…maybe there’s a chance they’ll get to keep Obi-Wan too.

The alpha in his chest howls at the thought. The idea that—that someone else will have a better claim on Obi-Wan’s heart. What’s six years of living together compared to a child?

Except Obi-Wan presses further into his chest, with a shaky whine. The omega is here now, not with any other alpha, not in any other city. He’s in Anakin’s bed, in Anakin’s arms.

Anakin opens and closes his mouth, trying to figure out what to say, how to say it, how to speak. He needs to know so much more. He needs to know what Obi-Wan is going to do, if he’s in contact with the father, if he’s planning to move, if he’s planning to raise the—

As if he can hear his thoughts, Obi-Wan starts talking again, very fast as if he’s afraid Anakin’s going to kick him out in a few minutes and he needs to get the whole story out before he does.

“I’m keeping it. Them. I—I’m so old now—“ he’s barely 38– “I’m afraid this could be my only chance at…at a family.”

Anakin closes his eyes and hides his face in the still-damp strands of Obi-Wan’s hair. He doesn’t want Obi-Wan to see how devastated he is at this response. Anakin’s family is Obi-Wan. He’d thought…he’d wanted….

“I understand if you want to move out before the lease ends,” Obi-Wan mumbles, but his hands clench tightly around Anakin’s back. “I know…a baby…another alpha’s baby…you shouldn’t have to take care of them. I know it’s not what you signed up for, I wouldn’t…I wouldn’t hold it against you.” His voice gets smaller and smaller until Anakin has to strain to hear him. “I can do this alone.”

He sounds as if he’s telling himself as much as he’s telling Anakin. But Anakin can’t even focus on that because his entire attention is caught by everything else Obi-Wan’s just said. Because it sounds…it sounds as if Obi-Wan is planning to stay in the city. In the apartment. Without the sire.

Alone.

As if Anakin would ever let Obi-Wan be alone, given the choice. As if Anakin would ever leave Obi-Wan to struggle through any difficulty without him.

Obi-Wan presses impossibly closer to him. “Say something,” he demands, running his nose up and down Anakin’s neck, over his scent glands, as if he expects Anakin to be able to form whole, coherent sentences when he’s doing that with his mouth.

The pregnancy must be messing with Obi-Wan’s instincts and emotions, Anakin realizes distantly. His body must know he’s not mated, that he’s about to be a visibly pregnant, unmated Omega in a dangerous city. No wonder he’s trying to cover himself so completely in Anakin’s scent. He has to wonder if Obi-Wan even understands what he’s doing. He’s never been one to try and he in touch with his Omegan side.

“Alpha,” Obi-Wan pleads, and Anakin has a second realization that it’s been ages since he’s said something. The room fills with the scent of distressed, in pain omega.

Anakin lets out an involuntary purr and tightens his hold on Obi-Wan’s body. It would be nice to look him in the eyes, but he thinks they both need as little distance between themselves as possible. “You’re going to make a great parent,” he soothes, nuzzling along Obi-Wan’s hairline. “And I’m not going to leave you unless you want me to.”

Obi-Wan stills completely as if shocked to his bones, and then he relaxes bonelessly into Anakin’s arms. This time, Anakin feels the tears as soon as they start and he goes about stroking up and down Obi-Wan’s spine again.

“I was so afraid,” Obi-Wan admits between sobs. Anakin thinks to himself privately that he definitely knows how that feels, but one of them shouldn’t be crying. “I didn’t know how to tell you—I didn’t want you to hate me for making such a stupid mistake—“

There’s nothing Obi-Wan could do to make him hate him. Sure, Anakin’s absolutely filled with hatred for whoever caught Obi-Wan’s eye on that business trip, but none of those emotions bleed over into what he feels for Obi-Wan. Not when his love is too strong and entrenched.

“Bail said you’d understand but I’m just—a mess, I don’t know what I’m doing half the time and these goddamn hormones are making me feel out of control—“ Obi-Wan continues. The fact that Bail fucking Organa found out about Obi-Wan’s pregnancy before Anakin did will drive him crazy if he lets it, so he puts that aside for now and focuses on comforting his omega.

“We’ll figure it out,” Anakin says, scenting Obi-Wan back. “It’ll be alright.”

————

A few hours later, Obi-Wan awakens from the nap he’s fallen into with a start. Anakin’s gotten no sleep, too busy drawing nonsense lines on Obi-Wan’s back and staring at the ceiling, thinking about the future. About what’s going to happen to them, around them.

No matter how much he hates the sire of the child in Obi-Wan, he already feels attached to the baby. It’s part of Obi-Wan. Maybe they’ll have his hair color or his eyes. Maybe they’ll have his compassion, his wit. Maybe they’ll let Anakin teach them how to play soccer or swim or cook.

The possibilities are endless and all of them involve Obi-Wan falling in love with him because of how amazing of a father he is to his child.

It’s not the most pressing thought in his mind, but he has to admit at least to himself that it’s there. That he’s just as in love with Obi-Wan as he was when he woke up in the morning. Now he just has another part of Obi-Wan to love: his child.

Maybe their child.

“I need to tell him,” Obi-Wan mumbles from his spot laying across Anakin’s chest. “I don’t—I don’t particularly want his involvement or, or money, but he should know. He should have the option to be in his child’s life.”

The part of Anakin who has just spent the past three hours getting used to the idea of raising Obi-Wan’s child as if he’s his own bristles at the idea of the sire being involved at all.

“Do you have his number?” Anakin asks reluctantly. He can’t imagine getting to sleep with someone as gorgeous as Obi-Wan and not trying to give him a means of keeping in contact.

But Obi-Wan shakes his head.

“His address?”

Another negative. “I…know his name and where he works.”

Anakin bares his teeth at the ceiling. “And?”

Obi-wan sounds more than a bit embarrassed. “Ah. He was the bartender at the hotel. And his name tag said Set.”

“You went to a medical conference full of alpha surgeons and researchers and you…slept with the bartender,” Anakin says blankly, before he can stop himself.

Obi-Wan huffs. It’s the most Obi-Wan response he’s given since he got home from Bail’s. “Sorry my one-night stands don’t meet your standards.”

Anakin hums. The truth is the only person who will ever meet his standards as a romantic partner for Obi-Wan is Anakin. “So what do you want to do? Call the hotel and ask for Set?”

Which, by the way, is the most pretentiously Seattle name he’s ever heard of. Set’s given name is probably, like, David and he just wanted to sound cool and grunge.

“I can’t just—this isn’t something I can say over the phone, Anakin,” Obi-Wan says. He falls silent.

“It’s mid-November,” Anakin points out. “Neither of us are hurting for money, but plane tickets are going to be astronomical until January at least. If they’re available at all.”

There’d be shitty seats available, of course, but Anakin’s not going to let his pregnant omega cram himself into an uncomfortable, smelly seat for eight hours.

“You don’t—I don’t expect you to come with me,” Obi-Wan mumbles into Anakin’s collarbone.

Anakin just manages to bite back a scoff and the urge to point out that last time Obi-Wan went off to Seattle without him, he got pregnant. Who knows what would happen if he does it again?

“Well, I’m gonna,” he says firmly. “But I think we should drive. It’ll take longer, but I’d feel much better about what you’re exposed to, not to mention how much more comfortable my car is than a coach seat. We can share a motel bed to cut costs, and—what? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Obi-Wan picks himself up off his chest to stare at him quizzically. “What if your job won’t let you take the days off? They didn’t even let you leave for the original Seattle trip and that was only a few days. We’re talking weeks here, Ani.”

Anakin sets his face into a scowl. He’s worked at the same finance firm since moving to New York, but if they won’t let him take time off for this, for Obi-Wan, he’ll quit. Simple as that. “Then I’ll go anyway and they can fire me.”

Predictably, Obi-Wan has several protests. Anakin will hear none of them. If he is fired, if he can’t find another finance job in the city that makes the same amount of money, then they’ll move out to somewhere else. He’s heard good things about Denver. And if Obi-Wan doesn’t want to move that far, maybe they can move upstate. It’ll be easier to raise a kid outside of the city anyway.

He’s not dumb enough to tell Obi-Wan this, knowing it makes him sound literally insane, but he is just stupid enough to cut Obi-Wan off and say, “you’re the most important person in my life, Obi-Wan. You….you both are.”

Hesitantly he moves his hand down to rest it gently over the slightest swell of Obi-Wan’s tummy. The omega’s breath catches in his throat, but he lets him touch.

“I’m going to be there with you, every step of the way if you’ll have me,” Anakin adds, stroking his thumb over the impossibly soft skin. Pregnant. Obi-Wan is pregnant.

It’ll take a few days more to get completely used to that idea, that’s for sure.

Obi-Wan studies his face with eyes still red-rimmed and puffy from all that crying a few hours ago. Slowly he raises his own hand to Anakin’s neck and rubs up and down his scent gland with something almost like longing in his expression. They’re so close together. Anakin would let him have anything—everything.

Everything.

“Alright,” Obi-Wan agrees with an air of strained incredulity in his voice , placing his other hand over Anakin’s on top of his abdomen. “Yes. Let’s drive to Seattle so I can tell my one-night stand that I’m carrying his child.”

Anakin nods and adds privately in his head, And so I can tell him that that kid’s gonna be mine in everything but blood and he better stay on his side of the goddamn country.

He’s not losing his family to some stupid Seattle alpha.

[spectral-musette]

She touched his face, fingertips light along his temple, nails delicately scraping through the short beard on his cheeks, lingering on the cleft in his chin before resting on his mouth.

“I thought…” she began, but then choked on a soft sob as the tears began to run down her cheeks.

“I thought you would be angry,” he said instead, nuzzling his cheek against her hand and then kissing the palm.

“I am furious,” she assured him, tenderly. “I am incandescent with rage.” Her lips were against his, her breath uneven in his mouth.

Directly following the Deception arc (Clone Wars Season 4 episodes 15-18), Obi-Wan asks for Satine's forgiveness for letting her believe he was dead.

Just over 2000 words, M in AO3-style rating, probably part of a longer work if I can ever finish it and think of a title.

. . . . . . . . . .

Obi-Wan had not protested very much when Padme offered him the use of her family’s lakeside retreat in the aftermath of the attempted abduction of the Chancellor on Naboo. He had, however, expected a slightly more modest structure than the sprawling villa he’d found upon his arrival. Despite the droids on staff, the place seemed empty, hollow, as though it still echoed with the voices and laughter of a happy family. So fresh from his undercover work, he wasn’t sure isolation was the best remedy for his rumpled spirits after the ordeal, but arrangements had been made, and he supposed he could make the best of it for a few days.

In some ways, he was eager to leave Naboo. The memory of Qui-Gon’s death still cut like a keen-edged blade here. But perhaps that meant he should stay, to meditate on his old grief.

Painful as that prospect was, at least it sounded more surmountable than returning to a Temple that had been mourning him.

He’d have to, eventually. Anakin’s (justified) expression of betrayal and Ahsoka’s wounded demeanor still stung, and he didn’t look forward to repeating these painful scenes with other dear friends, with Luminara, or with Quinlan. But until the GAR red tape was untangled (at least a few days), he was still officially dead, and granted all the freedom of a wandering ghost.

He felt a little like the ghost of his old self after a quick swim as he climbed out of the lake onto the patio by the house. He sat heavily on the flagstones, still warm from the sun even as the stars were coming out. The constellations of Naboo seemed startlingly familiar considering the few times he’d seen them. The span of nearly 15 years felt short tonight. Perhaps it was the mere stubble of hair on his skull, shorter even than a padawan’s. Perhaps it was the ache of his old Master’s absence. He tried to ground himself in the present; as he toweled off his wet limbs, the ugly burn scars from his duel with Count Dooku shone pale in the moonlight, and his face still hurt from the dreadful biotech that had transformed him into the Mandalorian marksman.

It was always Mandalorians, wasn’t it? Proof that the Force possessed a sense of dramatic irony that the brethren of the woman to whom he’d lost his heart seemed to continually haunt him.

The guilt of it weighed like a stone on his chest. The mission had dragged on far too long for Satine not to have heard news of his apparent death. He had hoped it might all be resolved before… Well, it had been an unlikely hope, anyway. Padme almost certainly told her immediately.

There hadn’t been anything for it. To ask for permission to tell Satine the truth before the charade would’ve been tantamount to confessing his feelings for her. Had there only been the censure of the Council involved it might’ve been one thing, but any careless word to the Chancellor’s staff could’ve proven disastrous for Satine and the gossamer-fine line she walked to keep peace and authority on Mandalore. He’d been keeping her safe even as he wounded her.

Just like the old days, pulling her out of harm's way, or shielding her with his body.

Only this wasn’t an accidentally scraped knee or bruised arm. Perhaps it was vain of him to assume, but he knew how deeply she cared for him, how intense her feelings ran…

He’d tried composing a message to her so many times. Even still in the guise of Rako Hardeen, when he caught a moment’s rest, he’d gone over it in his mind, lulling himself into an uneasy sleep as he tried to find the words to ask her forgiveness.

In the end, a forthright Forgive me, was the best he could muster, hastily sent to her private channel as soon as he’d gotten access to a comm unit at the conclusion of the charade. If you’ll listen, I’ll try to explain, but nothing will excuse what I’ve put you through. Know that I am so very sorry.

She hadn’t replied. He checked the comm unit again as he pulled his undertunic over his head, the rough linen soaking up the last of the lake water on his back, seeing only his own message, stark and insufficient.

He didn’t blame her, truly.

He’d slept since sending it, through the afternoon, reveling a little in the luxury of resting when he felt tired, regardless of the local daytime cycles. And he dreamed in disjointed flashes, mostly of her… her grief, her melancholy, her ire… of the glint of tears on her dark gold eyelashes, the quaver of anger in her beloved voice.

He wasn’t sure if he ought to just sleep again, now that night was here. Weary as he was, he felt he could sleep for days.

He heard the door from the house to the patio open. He didn’t look immediately, as it seemed likely to be one of Padme’s droid caretakers, there to ask if he required food or clean linens. But there was no whirring of servos, and the footsteps on the flagstones sounded too soft. He caught a whiff of an achingly familiar floral scent just as he turned.

She must’ve been too much in his thoughts already, his mind too clouded with guilt and regret and weariness to clearly sense her presence.

But Satine stood, silhouetted by the dim illumination of the house, resplendent in the scarlet gown she’d worn the night they’d met in secret on Coruscant, though her hair was loose about her shoulders, pale and shimmering in the moonlight. For a moment she was utterly still, then she merely raised a hand to her mouth, stifling a soft gasp.

He scrambled to his feet, keenly aware that this was not the state in which he wished to appear before his lady. His trousers were still sopping, his undertunic open to the navel, and his hair had barely grown in longer than the stubble on his jaw. But her eyes were only on his, and shining with tears. She took a few steps towards him, then swayed a little. He lunged to catch her around the waist; the last thing she needed on top of all the rest of the suffering he’d caused her was bruised knees. She twined her arms around his neck, and his knees gave a slow surrender too, such that the pair of them sank to the flagstones, wrapped in each other’s arms.

She touched his face, fingertips light along his temple, nails delicately scraping through the short beard on his cheeks, lingering on the cleft in his chin before resting on his mouth.

“I thought…” she began, but then choked on a soft sob as the tears began to run down her cheeks.

“I thought you would be angry,” he said instead, nuzzling his cheek against her hand and then kissing the palm.

“I am furious,” she assured him, tenderly. “I am incandescent with rage.” Her lips were against his, her breath uneven in his mouth.

He tasted it in her kiss, a fleeting note of bitterness and sorrow amid the heady sweetness of her relief and joy, the fire of her desire.

“I am so very sorry,” he repeated, abject.

“Oh, I hope so,” she replied, breathless.

As usual, Satine had the last word, as neither of them could speak for some time after that.

. . . . . . . . . .

She lay on her side, half propped up on her elbow, her head against the pillow and her hair spread across it in a tangle of pale spun gold. The bedclothes were pooled around her waist, and he deeply felt the intimacy and vulnerability they shared in that moment. He thought this image of her would be vivid in his mind for the rest of his days, however long that might be: the pale morning light on her bare skin, her flushed cheeks, the glint of unshed tears in her eyes, the soft swell of her breasts with her sharp, uneven breaths as she tried not to cry again.

Finished with his abridged account of the awful ordeal, he reached out to run the backs of his fingers along her arm.

“Say something,” he begged.

She sat up a little more, her hair falling across her face as she wrapped her arms around herself and turned away from him.

“It might be… easier to accept, if you’d done it for the sake of someone … worthy of all this pain. To protect Anakin or Ahsoka or Padme or…”

“Satine, I can’t decline a mission to protect the Chancellor simply because I dislike the man.”

“It isn’t a matter of dislike. There’s something… so… wicked about him. Manipulative and scheming. Don’t say it’s because he tried to put troops on Mandalore, and don’t you dare say it’s because he’s a politician.” She turned back to him, her gaze challenging.

“No,” he agreed prudently. “I won’t say that. I don’t disagree with you. He’s been a mentor to Anakin and to Padme for as long as I’ve known him, but I can’t help thinking it’s always been somehow for his own benefit. He steered Padme to get himself elected in the first place, and his grip on the office has been white-knuckled since. I can’t very well blame him for the war, but despite his lipservice towards peaceful resolution, the GAR keeps swelling its ranks.”

“I’ll blame him. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence to confirm it aside from my gut feeling.”

He placed a hand on her waist, his thumb tracing around her navel. “I’ve learned to trust your gut feelings. But dislike him, distrust him or not, my duty is to the Republic.”

He started to pull his arm back, but she gripped it by the elbow. He slid his hand to the small of her back, pulling her closer.

“What of your duty to me?” Her voice was quiet, but not without a note of beskar.

“Is it duty?” he asked. “I thought it was love.”

“Perhaps it’s very Mandalorian of me,” she said, “that we hold our most sacred duties to be to those we love.”

“Satine, I cannot put my devotion to you above the will of the Council or the good of the Republic. Not while I serve the Jedi Order.”

He almost expected her to pull away in anger or distress, but she shifted closer, pressing her face against his shoulder. “I know that. I’ve always known that. But it hasn’t hurt like this before.”

“Not since I left?” he suggested, burying his face in her hair and holding her tightly.

“No. Not even then. It wasn’t losing you, it was letting you go. This was… like I had died too.”

The guilt of it made his stomach turn. “I am so sorry, Satine. If there had been time to find another way… to spare you this…”

“The worst of it is that you knew how it would hurt me,” she accused. “And you still did it.”

“I knew,” he confirmed, regretful. “The Chancellor insisted on knowing everyone who was privy to the plan, and I had no time to even find the opportunity to disobey. I thought… the risk of revealing that you should be told…”

She let out a breath, hot against his skin.

“I think I’d have much rather run that risk than think you were dead.”

“If I’d had time to think it through, perhaps I’d have decided differently. But everything was snap decisions, and my instinct was to protect you.”

“And I can’t even be angry at you for that.”

“Of course you can be angry,” he soothed.

“Oh, what good does it do?” she demanded, lifting her head, fair brow furrowed. “Just wasting time quarreling when we have so little time together anyway.”

“Then you forgive me?” he asked humbly, kissing her forehead.

“I don’t know,” she answered honestly, stroking his cheek. “I know that I still want you, though.”

“Then I am yours,” he promised, kissing her fingertips.

“At least it’s not an offense that’s very likely to be repeated,” she reflected, shaking her head a little.

“Not very,” he agreed.

“I feel like I ought to extract some promise… some penance. But I expect you’ve punished yourself enough.”

He closed his eyes, leaning his head back. “The thing itself was terrible too. Not that I’m suggesting that what I went through can compare to-”

“Hush, darling,” she scolded. “It can be terrible on its own.”

“Sometimes I thought my death might end up not being a lie after all,” he said softly.

“Do you want to tell me?” she asked, her fingertips light across his brow.

He shook his head. No, he didn’t want to see how it would pain her, to think of him in danger, forced to behave as an utter villain. “Not now. Not more than I already have.”

She kissed him then, deep and ardent. “Then forget, for a while,” she said, breathless, her lips still brushing his. “Let me forget again. Make me forget.”

She hitched her leg around him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as he shifted onto her, into the blissful oblivion where she was the center of the universe and the Force sang in resonance with their love.

[jasontoddiefor]

Summary: In a world where the different Jedi sects co-exist, Ahsoka Tano and her Master Obi-Wan Kenobi are waiting for a stranger in the desert.

AN: I have started a new WIP.

Ahsoka had learned quite a lot since she had become her Master’s Padawan. Mostly she had been taught how to fight, take down opponents twice her size, how to defend and protect others by building walls higher than anyone could climb, and not get lost in the screaming, tear-stained horror of war. Perhaps it was not the padawanhood that Ahsoka had imagined, but she wouldn’t trade Obi-Wan for any other Master. He was patient, kind, and never lost his temper with her, even when Ahsoka made a foolish mistake, and the day had been longer than a week.

Her Master always kept busy, running around organizing one thing or another. The evidence of his exhaustion was visible in the bags under his eyes he didn’t quite manage to hide behind meditations anymore. He was relentlessly trying to find a way to end this war earlier, to save more people, to lessen the burden on each and every person he loved. Ahsoka would be glad if they could cease fighting within just a few short months, but even she knew that the chance of peace was dwindling with every life lost on either side.

And they certainly weren’t on Tatooine to talk about peace. At most, they were hoping to negotiate non-involvement from the Hutts – at least superficially, of course the Hutts would continue with their underground dealings, even the GAR relied on it – and use of their hyperspace lanes.

“General, if you don’t mind me asking, who are we waiting for?”

Ahsoka was glad that Cody had spoken up. She wasn’t sure if she would have been able to keep her silence much longer. She hadn’t wanted to pester Obi-Wan with questions, but she was curious why they had landed in the middle of the Force-forsaken desert in the middle of the night and not anywhere near Jabba’s palace.

“We are waiting for an informant,” Obi-Wan said. “An old friend, if you will.”

Ahsoka opened her mouth to ask what kind of friend Obi-Wan had on Tatooine of all places when she saw a figure approaching on a speeder. Immediately, everyone looked up. When a few of the more blaster-inclined clones of their small squadron reached for their weapons, Obi-Wan gave them the hand sign to lay low. They exchanged curious looks but dropped the guns, trusting him completely. Ahsoka hoped that she could inspire such trust in her someday.

The person parked their speeder just outside of their camp. From what Ahsoka could see, they were dressed entirely in dark robes, cut not dissimilar to those of a Coruscanti Jedi, while their face was covered by a dark scarf. Various trinkets hung from their belts and arms, as well as twin blasters, making the barest of noises when they approached the camp. Golden jewelry glinted in the light of their fire, feathers, pouches, bells, and something that could be bones chimed sweetly with the wind. The figure stretched, then they took notice of Obi-Wan. Quicker than Ahsoka could have stopped them, they had crossed the remaining distance and thrown themselves at Obi-Wan.

“Obi-Wan!”

Her Master just barely managed to keep his balance as he accepted the hug of the other person. They embraced tightly, an eternity passing in which dark leather-gloved fingers dug into her Master’s back, then let go of each other. The figure removed the dark scarf from around their head, let it fall around their neck, revealing tanned skin, a human face, and dark blonde hair that was framed by little golden feathers tugged behind his ears.

The person smiled openly, rolled forward on their toes and only then spoke. “It’s been a while.”

Their voice was surprisingly soft, melodic almost.

“That it has,” Obi-Wan agreed, smiling just as welcoming, the Force lighting up in reciprocal. “It has been too long since we last saw each other, Anakin. Thank you for meeting us here, even if the circumstances are not ideal.”

The newly named Anakin just shrugged. “I was in the area and really, making an extra stop at Tatooine for you is no trouble.”

The two looked ready to forget about just everyone else still standing around the campfire, watching them, and so Ahsoka decided to do her duty and coughed. “Master, would you be so kind as to introduce us?”

“Ah, yes, of course. Apologies, Ahsoka.”

“Ahsoka,” Anakin mumbled, then snapped their fingers, alight with recognition as they faced Obi-Wan. “Your Padawan, correct?”

Obi-Wan nodded and Anakin grinned, pointing at Cody next. “And then that must be Cody. It’s nice to meet you, I’m Anakin Skywalker, he/him.”

He bowed formally with both his feet firm on the ground, one hand clasped over his heart, the other on his back. Delighted, Ahsoka copied the gesture. It had been ages since she’d been at the temple and someone had greeted her with all the respect Jedi usually gave each other.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Ahsoka returned his greeting, still trying to figure out who this Anakin was that her Master had decided to talk to him about her.

“Anakin here is a Teepo Paladin—”

“Sort of,” Anakin interrupted Obi-Wan, tilting his hand and shaking it in a so-and-so matter. “I haven’t been back to our temple in years, so I’m still not technically a Paladin, but still a Knight on their Search…”

He stopped talking when he realized that nobody had any idea of what he was talking about. Ahsoka didn’t know much about the Teepo Paladins. They were a relatively small group, and unlike the Altisian or Corellian Jedi, they hadn’t joined the Republic Army and stayed mostly on their own, following the Force. Ahsoka had learned about them, and all the other groups the ordinary sentient threw under the header Jedi, in her classes, but she’d never actually met a Teepo Jedi.

“Doesn’t matter,” Anakin said, shaking his head. “How can I help you?”

“We need to negotiate with Jabba,” Obi-Wan said, not wasting a single minute. “Do you think you can tell us something that would be useful?”

“Uh,” Anakin put his head in his hands. “Yeah, he’s a bastard and gates my guts. If he sees me around you guys, it’s definitely not going to be pleasant.”

“What did you do to him?” Ahsoka asked, curiosity taking ahold of her tongue before she could stop herself.

Anakin didn’t seem to mind the interruption; he only eagerly continued his narration. “Decided to steal his latest shipment of slaves and then some. With Coruscant, Corellia, and the Altisian bores—”

“Anakin.” Her Master’s voice rang out sharp, reminding Ahsoka of the times he scolded her.

Anakin rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine, the Altisian Jedi all running the Republic army, the rest, who hasn’t sworn allegiance to a planet or a system, is just doing damage control all around. I’ve wrecked a couple dozen pirate ships already, or so it feels, at least. But yeah, long story short, I won’t be able to help with Jabba, but I can provide backup if it goes sideways?”

Obi-Wan sighed, but even so, he still felt happy and comfortable to Ahsoka’s senses as he hadn’t in weeks. “We’ll take what we can get. I’ll call the Council. Do you want to stay with us for the night?”

Anakin gave him a thumbs up. “Already told my mother I was staying. And I brought my own food, so you don’t have to spare your rations. I think I might even have some sweets.” He glanced at Ahsoka and winked conspiringly, making her giggle.

Obi-Wan’s expression softened. “Alright, alright, I see, you’re set for life. Get comfortable then.”

He turned around to walk a little away from the camp, but from the way his shoulders twitched, Ahsoka assumed that he definitely heard Anakin’s shouted: “Not without you!”

As her Master had ordered, everyone who wasn’t on watch gathered around the campfire and broke out the rations. Anakin did, indeed, share his candy with her and handed out more of the local food to the clones.

“My mother packed it,” he said when he shared more of the salt-covered blackberries. “It would be a waste not to share it.”

Sitting around the fire with them, he fit right in despite not looking much like a warrior. If anything, his attire, decorated with trinkets that had to stem from various planets, reminded Ahsoka of a traveler. But if she were to believe his stories, he must be quite the fighter. Ahsoka knew that more and more pirates were growing powerful and influential without Coruscant’s oversight, but she hadn’t known that the other sects had stepped up to deal with it. She wondered if the Council knew. Though, Obi-Wan hadn’t seemed surprised by it, so they were probably aware.

“So, do you not carry a lightsaber?” Ticker, one of the younger clones, asked. “I only see your blasters. I didn’t know Jedi carried those.”

“The Coruscant sect doesn’t,” Anakin agreed and then turned to Ahsoka. “Though, I think you’re still all taught how to? I know Obi-Wan’s wickedly good with a sniper rifle.”

“Of course,” Ahsoka replied quickly. She got her blaster sessions with the best marksmen of the 212th, who all ensured she should be fine if she ever lost her lightsaber.

Not that Ahsoka was planning on it.

“Right, my Order carries blasters additionally to our lightsabers.” He moved his robes and revealed his lightsaber. “I just keep it a little more hidden away. It makes it easier to work sometimes if people don’t see from a mile away that you’re a Jedi.”

Ahsoka found herself agreeing with him. It made sense and she knew that there had been at least five missions that would have been easier if their target hadn’t immediately spotted that she was a lightsaber. She knew that her Order carried the blades openly purposefully so that they could be easily identified, they had to be as they were an officially recognized member of the Republic, but Quinlan and Aayla didn’t. Most Covenant Jedi actually didn’t, ensuring they could do their work in the shadows. Occasionally, Ahsoka wondered whether she was supposed to know so much about how they operated, or if that was just a benefit of Obi-Wan being close friends with Quinlan.

“And where’s the difference between your… everything and the General’s?”

“Don’t ask me for details,” Anakin said. “Haven’t had one of those discussions in a while, but our differences aren’t that huge. Most of the differences stem from the Republic backing of the Coruscant sect, I think. The members of my Order just also carry blasters and fight entirely submerged in the Force. We also don’t really do missions, which sucks for budgeting because we still have to get funding, and just go wherever the Force takes us. We don’t really have the numbers to provoke the big changes, that’s more up Coruscant’s or Corellia’s alley. We try to help the small people on the ground and hope the big guys make sure we can leave one planet in safe hands and travel to the next.”

That sounded familiar to Ahsoka. The Coruscant sect was the largest, so they had the most influence, even if too many Senators only played pretend at listening to their suggestions. At least the Chancellor trusted them.

“What do you mean, fight submerged in the Force?” A different clone, Storytime, ever the curious, spoke up. “Is that different from the General and the Commander?”

“Oh! Right.” Anakin laughed. “So basically, we cover our eyes and ears during a fight?”

“You do what?” Cody’s alarmed tone made Ahsoka only snort. She still remembered his attempt at getting Obi-Wan to wear a little more armor by pointing at the Revanchist folks that had accompanied them on one mission.

It had been an absolute train-wreck, but they had managed to succeed. Somehow.

Anakin only grinned in reply and reached for the golden feathers behind his ears. He took them off, revealing that they were not, in fact, feathers, but electronic devices with small buttons. 

“I tap these, and they block out any and all noise and cover my eyes. Then I trust the Force to keep me safe and tell me where I need to pay attention.”

“That sounds… risky.” If Ahsoka didn’t know better, she’d say that Cody was having a heart attack. His assessment of that fighting style had been exceedingly polite given that he looked as if he wanted to cuss it out.

Anakin shrugged as if it were no big deal to him and, having grown up in such a way, it probably wasn’t. “It wasn’t that difficult to get used to. I grew up here on Tatooine. The sand and the heat steal away plenty of your senses already.”

“You weren’t raised in your temple then?”

Anakin shook his head. “No, not really. We do have a temple, a rather small one, not even a tenth of Coruscant’s size. We raise children there, but most of the time, everyone is just on their Search.”

He emphasized the last word so that Ahsoka concluded it must be a special ritual that wasn’t like their Search for younglings.

“My Master was on his Search when he found me and since the Force didn’t call him home, he continued to travel with me.”

That sounded like a strange childhood to have. Ahsoka hadn’t known anything of the galaxy but the temple walls and Ilum until Obi-Wan had accepted her as his Padawan. Since then, she had seen plenty of other planets, even if she hadn’t had too much time to appreciate their beauty. She wondered how Anakin had gotten his education. Ahsoka had attended many classes of dozens of teachers in the temple. His childhood didn’t appear to resemble hers a lot, but she could easily picture a small human boy trailing after another masked Jedi, chatting with just the same cheer he was talking now.

“Sounds fascinating,” Storytime breathed. 

“Once the war is over, feel free to come to visit us. I know of at least one other Paladin who has attached himself to a Clone squadron and is planning to take them home for a visit at least once.”

“That would be very kind,” Storytime replied.

“No problem.”

Anakin then suddenly turned his head, his motion so rash that the clones instinctually reached for their blasters. Thankfully, they recognized Obi-Wan quickly enough that nobody got hurt accidentally.

Obi-Wan only blinked at them and then sat down next to Anakin. “What a lovely greeting.”

Some of the clones sheepishly packed their blasters away while others just shot back a look that was as dry as Obi-Wan’s words. They were on Tatooine; it made sense to be even more on guard than usual.

“And? What did your Council say?” Anakin asked, handing Obi-Wan a plate with food.

“Coruscant is not taking any responsibility for any outside agents who might get involved in this mission,” Obi-Wan replied, the flow of his words so steady that he had to be reciting the words of another.

“That’s council speak for ‘let him do whatever he wants’, right?”

Obi-Wan paused with his meal to confirm his question. “Yes, Anakin, that means you can do whatever you want. But if you get invited by the Republic for a hearing, we’re not backing you up either.”

“Yes, yes, I had expected nothing else from you sticker-to-the-rules Coruscanti.”

“Says the head-in-the-clouds Teepo,” Obi-Wan retorted in the same manner, matching Anakin’s intonation, quoting old stereotypes that used to be hurled as insults but have since only become something almost akin to terms of endearments.

“So, when are we going to leave?” Ahsoka asked. She wanted to know if she should go to bed early or prepare herself for a long night.

“Tomorrow before the sun rises,” Obi-Wan said, glancing at Anakin for confirmation.

“Yes, best to leave early on Tatooine. I’d also suggest trying to get some sleep. Negotiations will be exhausting.”

Obi-Wan hummed in agreement. “You know what that means, Ahsoka.”

“Yes, yes.” Ahsoka stood up. “Bedtime for me. I’m not a little youngling anymore, Master. I know when to get my sleep.”

She bid them goodnight and headed back towards the ship, ready to sleep curled up in the small med-station of their transport that was as close to a proper bed as she could get. She didn’t know how much longer her Master and his friend stayed up, but both looked well-rested when she got up the next day. Her Master, perhaps, even a little less exhausted than usual.

[madmiriam]

My Mando (Din Djarin) /oc's backstory idea (includes alot of rexsoka shipping)

Warning!! : I can't spell for toffee and Tumblr deleted all of my proofreaders edits. Obviously she doesn't want to do it all over again so I've had to make do.

(a clan of three by madmiriam (Me)

We all love the mandalorian, Din Djarin is so sexy as single dad and we all love him for it. But this makes it hard to write and engageing original character to go with this perfect specimen of a man, one that we can really connect with. Well I have a salutation, to connect with a character it helps if that character is also connected to a character/characters that you already know and love. So I give you my original character Jaig.

Look:

Like the picture above, originally I wasn't going to have Din and Grogu in it at first but I have a habit of making life difficult for myself, so your welcome.

Personality:

As an adult, she's calm and patient and has a sarcastic sense of humour.

As a child, she has a bubbly personality, a contagious smile, and an insatiable curiosity.

Strengths:

she finds it difficult to truly hate anyone, no matter what they've done, she proffers to look at the reasons behind the actions of others before jumping in for revenge, that's not to say she doesn't get angry at people, but her anger is not fuelled by hate. She has been fully trained in the use of weaponry, such as guns, granaids and other such, and has had a small amount of training with a lightsaber when she was younger. But afters a experiencing a tragedy at the age of 9 she hasn't touched one since, she proffers the us of DC hand guns. She is also a fairly good pilot and mechanic.

Weaknesses:

back when she was a child she had a hard time using the force when when overwhelmed. If the thoughts and feelings of others got to much, she would become force blind. When she grows older, (for certain reasons you will find out later on in. This story) she completely cuts herself off from the force. Unless her emotions get to much go handle, then the force would almost explodes out of her. She also doesn't do well when she's alown. Having grown up in various large family atmospheres. If she is not around people she cares about and loves, she will become closed off a dipressed.

Back story: (now bear with me, this storyline is set before she meets Din, its just an introduction to this character)

Jaig (due to her small Jaig eye like markings, and her father's personal connection to the simble) is the daughter of ex jedi padawan Ahsoka Tano and her mate/husband Captain Rex. She looks mostly human like her father, with the same amber eyes and his family's dark hair. But with the same facial structure of her mother, and a slightly darker and olive tinged skin tone. She also has distinct white making that were almost identical to her mother's. Except instead of diamond shapes on her forehead, she has jaig eye like markings. She was born 6 years after the clone wars ended, while her parents were on the run from the empire. Rex and Ahsoka had found it impossible to part from one another after the events of order 66, and after travelled from place to place avoiding the empire for a long time. Their feelings for one another grow, and they eventually married through the use of mandalorian marriage vows.

They built a home in the stars, and after a few years, to their great surprise and happiness they conserved and had Jaig. Things were finally looking up with the birth of their new found hope for the future.

(Their new found hope for the future/baby Jaig by madmiriam (me)

But it was not to last. It was hard enough to hide themselves, a clone and a ex jedi from the empire. But now adding a force sensative baby to the mix as well, it made it damn near impossible for them all to stay together. Which; after a terrifying encounter with one of the Empires Inquisitors, forced them to make the difficult decision to part ways. Rex would head off insearch for a new home and hopefully find and de-chip as many brothers as he could. While ahsoka would keep traveling around the stars with Jaig. Avoiding the empire and its ruthless inquisitors, whilst trying to help Jaig build up her Shields. They both agreed to keep in touch and once Jaig's Shields were up and safely secure,(which for the average youngling would take 5 years or so) they would rejoin each other and dicided what to do next. But a year after their separation Rex's comms and messeges had stopped all together, and by the time Jaig had reached the age of five and had built up some suitable shields around her mind, neither she or her mother had herd from her father in over 4 years. Her mother was adament he was still alive, but as she grew older Jaig had a hard time believing her. For if he was alive why hadn't he come to find them? Why was he not answering her mothers messages that she still sent on a regular basis?

By the time she was 6 her mother was approached by Bail Organa, in regards to starting a rebellion, and that is what they spent the next 4 years working towards, staying in the shadows gradually building up a resistance to eventually overthrow the empire.

She and her mother met the ghost crew when she was 9 (the same age Anakin had been when he was found by qui gon) and after an uncomfortably close encounter with a mysterious Sith lord called Darth Vader, Jaig's mother disided it was time to bring her father into the fold, and sent Jaig of with the ghost crew to find Rex.

When meeting her father she had opted to wear a scarf to cover her face markings and, chose to withhold her name, and who she was until she found out more about the man who was her father. She was apprehensive about him. As she had no memorie of her dad, for she was only a baby when he left. The only thing she did have, was this warm comforting feeling that she felt whenever her mother spoke of him. A feeling of being held to a large ferm chest in two equally large and ferm muscular arms. Wrapped in a soft wool blanket. Her mother told her that this was the force making an imprint on one of the more emotional moments of her like. But all the same, she proffered to be cautious.

After spending some time with Rex and his bothers. She found her self really enjoying there company. Aspecially her father's. Who dispite having no idea who she was, had already shown that he had a clear paternal instinct. Particularly when teaching her and Ezra how to fish for "Big Bongo". However Kanan who clearly didn't trust Rex or his brothers had spent most of his time hovering around ether her or Ezra protectively, eventually telling them about his exspirence with order 66, an event her mother never talked about.

After seeing the heartbreak on her father's eyes at the memories he and Kanan spoke of. She desided it was time to tell him who she was. But that decision was cut short however when she overheard Rex telling Ezra that he wasn't going to come back with them. Even though he now knew her mother was alive (1 year after separating when the message's stopped he thought both his wife and child to be dead) Jaig ran of in tears when hearing this. She climbing down the ladder of the the AT-TE and walked ferther in front of the walking monstrosity. Away from everyone else. She had finally gotten used to the idea of her father coming back with them. Had become exited by it even. But now, the fact that he was refusing to come with them. Back to his home, his wife, to her. It hurt and overwhelmed her, more than she could say.

She didn't however see what happened after. When Sebine came out and acused Rex of selling them out, of contacting the empire and never answering Ahsoka's messages; at which point he finds out about how Wolfe had withheld all the messages from Ahsoka for 8 years. Thinking he was protecting his brothers from a potentially vengeful jedi. Rex was furious at Wolfe for hiding his own wife's messages to him, and coursing him to miss so much of his only child's life.

Rex: "we have a daughter Wolfe!!! My Jaig, my baby girl doesn't even know who I am because of you!!!"

Wolfe:(was shocked and full of regret when hearing this) "I.. I.. Didn't know... Rex I'm sorry, I didnt know"

Ezra:(recordnises the name) "wait Jaig? you meen our Jaig, Jaigs your daughter?"

Rex: "wait what?"

At this point they hear a shrill scream coming from down in front of the AT-TE. It was Jaig, she was being attact by the prob droid that had been sent by the empire.

The clones immediately go into action. Rex is handed a rifle and gets ready to shoot the prob as it backs his daughter into the ground. His ames and shoots true, killing the droid with one foul shot and then quickly dashes down to retrieve his daughter from under the sparking remains of the droid.

Jaig is in hysterics at this point. Having been taken by surprise by the droid along with the emotional turmoil of potentially losing her father all over again. She then resigned herself to just sit there and cry over how foolish she was for even seeing the attack coming. But now she was being held in the familiar strong arms of her father as he held his only child for the first time in over 8 years.

Rex: "I'm here sh shh, I'm here Ik'aad senaar (baby bird, a nickname he gave her as an infant) daddy's here, daddy's got you"

He says carefully stocking her familiar dark brown hair (that was now flowing free as her scarf had fallen loosely around her shoulders, revealing her beautiful face to her father who's eyes were now brimming with unshed tears) to calm her down as he picking her up and takes her back to the AT-TE. Where the others are waiting with bated breaths. Wolfe was holding a blanket out to wrap his shacking niece into and Gregor quickly dashing off to get her a hot chocolate hoping to make her feel better.

Jaig: "I was angry. Upset. You said you weren't coming home and, then everyone felt so angry and scared all at once. It was to much. (sighs) I have a hard time controling the force when I get overwhelmed like that. I couldn't even sence the prob. I'm. I'm sorry"

She exsplans after she sits down and has a few sips of the hot chocolate that had been placed in her hands. Accompanied a number of comforting back rubs from both her father and her uncles.

Wolfe apologies to her. Explains that he's the reason her father had been out of her life for so long. That he was just trying to protect his brothers but ended up hurting his other family because of it. And tells her he understands if she hates him.

Jaig: "your Wolfe aren't you? Uncle Wolfe? Mum (she has a slight clone like accent that they haven't noticed before) told me about you, said you worked with Grandpa Plo"

Wolfe: 😳"Grandpa Plo? 😂 Boy he would have loved to have herd you say that"

He said, both of them smile at each other, Jaig having forgiven her uncle for his laps in judgment.

All seemed well again until the empire calls them back to get the clones to hand over the rebels. The clones now fueled by the new found need to keep their new family out of harms way, tells the empire where they can stick it, and quickly try to usher the ghost crew along with Jaig into the phantom so they can escape While they all get ready to fight.

Jaig: "but I just found you, mum told me to bring you home, I can't leave you behind, da.. Please don't go"

She says clutching at his shirt as he huged her tight before holding her out to face him,

Rex:"no one's abandoning anyone. Jaig look at me (tilting her head to look. Into her eyes, eyes that matched her father's) we're soldiers Ik'aad senaar, this is what we were born to do, but this time we have something to fight for.. Its going to be OK, (presses his forehead against hers) I love you my Jaig eyes, I've loved you from the I first held you. Ha you were so tiny. I didn't want to let you go back then and I don't want to do it again now, but like last time it's something I have to do, to keep you safe, my Ik'aad senaar, (kissed her forhead lovingly) tell your mother I'm sorry I couldn't make it home, and... And I love her ok."

He says before sending her back into the phantom, closing the door behind her before she can stop him.

Things then pan out like it does in the show, the phantom goes back to help the clones take down the walkers and Rex then decides he's not gonna spend any more of time away from Ahsoka and Jaig and choses to return with them and join the rebellion.

The reauion between Rex and Ahsoka continues the same, but insted of just a hug Ahsoka goes in for the kiss (how it should have always been in my opinion).

(this art work was done by @nottonyharrison (please note: this image was used with the permission of the artist,) please go check them out, as you can see their art work is stunning)

They spend most of there time with the ghost crew, Ahsoka makes the Ghost her base to return to after missions, and Rex teaching combat and war strategies to both Ezra and Jaig, but mostly to Ezra, Jaig was; in his opinion still to young to get to deep into the oncoming war.

Rex:"let her be a kid for a little longer at least".

Jaig and Ezra had eventually become good friends, Jaig looking up to him as something of an older brother, following him every where he went like a little shadow. At first Ezra was annoyed, and try to get away from her at every turn. But after a while he found he quite like having someone look up to him for a change. As before her, he had been dubed the baby of the group with the most to learn. But now he had Jaig hanging on his evey word like it was gold. He found he enjoyed the new found responsibility.

Unfortunately with her shadowing Ezra so much. This meant she got into all kinds of trouble with him. Trouble that mostly involved them running down the corridor with an angry Zeb chasing after them. Zeb really didn't seem to like Jaig very much. Said it was like having two Ezras, and one was quite enough. However other trouble also included a short but terrible trip to malachor, where after being told she can't come along she choses to stow herself away on the phantom in the small rashon hold built into the floor, shielding her mind from her mother as they flow through space.

Ahsoka: (on a call to Rex) "well I definitely out rank you😉... 😟How Jaig doing?"

Rex: "welp she's not happy, she gone and hidden herself in one of thoughs little critter caves again, I'm making her favorite tonight so I know she'll show up by dinner time, but all the same😔..."

Ahsoka: "hay don't take it to heart Rex, you and I both know this is how she deals with being left behind for anything, she finds a small place to hide and sulk it out, just be ready with a plate of nuna and a hug and she bounces right back😄🙁 when she comes out tell her I love her, and I'll be home soon"

Rex: "I will🙂😟... May the force be with you" they hang up.

It's Ezra who ends up finding her, just after they land. Pointing her out to a stressed out Kanan and a very cross Ahsoka,

Ezra: "ummm guys, I think we have a stowaway",

Jaig: "before you get mad..... consider being proud of me, I stayed still for hours in there AND I shielded my mind the whole time, so you non of you even knew I was there"

Ahsoka: "DON'T push it young lady😠what were you thinking!! Your fathers gonna be worried sick!!!! 😤😔 welp since there's no turning back now, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get you back home and thoroughly grounded for a year"

The rest again plays out the same, they find Maul, Maul blinds Kanan, they get the sith holocromb but lose Ahsoka in the fight with Vader, though after seeing Jaig who looks so much like the little snippy girl from his old life, the Anakin in Vader hasitates to kill ahsoka and her child, and insted trys to convince the unwavering togruta to join him with her daughter.

Vader:"the galaxy shall never be safe for her Ahsoka, join me and I can protect her from the emperor. Join me and we can over throw him... Together"

Ahsoka: "how can I trust anything you say. If you were truly Anakin then how can you protect my daughter when you can't even protect yourself"

Jaig: "MUM!!!! MUUUMMMM!!!"

Ahsoka looks at her daughter running to her as the walls of the sith temple come down,

Ahsoka :"I'm sorry Jaig"

She say quietly as she force pushes he child into Ezra outside the temple as it fall around her and Vader out of the site of her family.

When all is quiet and Vader emerges from the rubble, after failing to find his former apprentice, the Anakin in him vows that he will not fail her child, he will do everything in his power to insure his master never find her, even if he has to hide her away himself to do it.

When Kanan, Ezra and Jaig return to base, Rex is in hysterics asking around.

Rex:"have you seen Jaig? Has anyone seen my baby?, its been over two days.. I can't find her..!!."

Jaig:"DADDY!!! 😭"

Rex turns to see her running out of a newly landed phantom in tears. Now knowing exactly where she'd been he quickly runs to her and scoops her up in his arm clucking her close to his chest in relief that she was home.

Rex:"you.. Are going to be the death of me, hey sh shshsh hey, hey what's the tears? what happen? where's your..? ."

(a father's comfort, ruff drawing by madmiriam (me)

He couldn't finish the sentence as he looked around and sure two other people emerging from a now empty ship, neither one of them was his wife. Ezra looked him in the eyes and with out saying a word, he knew. He knew Ahsoka, his Ahsoka was gone. He closed his eyes, sheding one silent tear as he held his girl tighter, and slowly carried her away, away from the crowd, but not away from the heartache.

After the loss of her mother, Jaig's once bubblie personality had diminishes somewhat. She refuses to leave the side of eather her father or the members of the ghost crew. She goes on a few missions with them and liston to every word her father says about ways of fighting, fighting to protect herself and the people she loves. Before heading to a mission on geonosis he gives he one of his old DCs. (its twin had been lost in battle during the clone wars and he had gotten a replacement pear, but he had always kept his first well maintained in case he ever needed it)

Rex: "I know it's no lightsaber, but if will keep you and the others safe when used properly"

Jaig: "I don't want a lightsaber any more, 😔sabers get you killed"

Rex: " not all of them Ik'aad senaar" he sighs kissing her forehead "not all of them".

But even this would not last. When it came time for the empire to attack chopper base. Vader sends his own secret troops of undercover purge troopers to find and retrieve Jaig, and to also fake her death so both the empire and the rebels would not come looking for her. This of corse left Rex in his lowest point yet. After watching the ship he had put his daughter on to be evacuated blow up before it even left the ground. He found it hard to not simply drop all his defences and just calming walk into the flames after her. If it hadn't been for Zeb he probably would have. These kind of thoughts invaded his mind so frequently after that day, it was hard to remember when they didn't. He had lost both his wife and now his child. His hope and his reason for fighting were gone, and he wanted to go after them. But he couldn't. Not while there were still people to fight out there, the people who took everything for him and was still grabbing for more. People who his wife started this whole rebellion to fight against. No, he would keep fighting, as long as there is still even one imperial still left alive he would live and fight, until every last one of then were wiped out of existence. (that's gonna take a while)

Meanwhile Vader and Jaig finally meet properly face to mask. Jaig is having a hard time counselling her fear. But Vader was also having difficulty concealing his pain. Pain that had lingered since the moment he had emerged from that crumbled down sith temple, with no sign in the force or otherwise of his once padawan,. The last family he thought he had, that had not betrayed him, who had(once she had seen his face underneath his freshly cracked mask) said she wouldn't leave him, not again. But she had left him, not by her own design he knew, but she had left him all the same. And she had also left a child behind, a child like the one Padme would have given him if it weren't for both the sith and the jedi.

The jedi, who had forced his hand in turning to the dark side, by telling him he should just let Padme die for the good of the galaxy. The jedi who had abandoned his padawan, his little sister, his first child (if he could go so far as to say) in her time of need, and then exsept her to come back all smiles, acting as though her whole ordel was just a trial to prove herself to them. When it was them who should be providing themselves to her.

And the sith,. The sith who had manipulated him from day one to become what he is now, the sith who had taken every thing he had, his wife, his child, his brother/father figer, his little sister/daughter and his friends. The clones. His home all gone for the sake of his masters new empire😡. Yes he new this had been his master's plan all along, the war the clones, the inhibitor chips. All to gane more and more power for himself and to distroy the jedi in his wake. Dragging Anakin down into the darkness with him, and he would do the same thing to Jaig given the chance. Vader could feel the raw power of the force rolling of her, the energy mix with her fear would be a prime canderdate for Sidious's manipulation, should he ever discover her existence.

No!!! That would not happen, neither the sith or the jedi would have her, he would not alow it.

Jaig:"I know who you are.. I know what you did... You tryed to turn my mother before killing her, but you wouldn't turn me, you hear me, I.. Will.. Not... Turn"

She says her voice shacking with her body in fear.

Vader:"no... You will not..."

Jaig: "then why am I here? I haven't done anything to make you hate me.... At least... I don't think I have"

Vader:"I do not hate you Jaig, like your mother, much to my masters great..... disappointment... I could never hate you"

It was true. He couldn't hate her. Couldn't bring himself to hate her. But he couldn't love her either. He had no more love left in him to give. But he could protector for the sake of someone he had loved.

Jaig: confused "then.. Then please let me go, I won't tell anyone if that's what your worried about, I just want to go home, I want my dad, please I just want my daddy😰"

Vader: "you father's fate is.... Regrettable. However it is a necessary evil, it is emperative that he believes you to be dead"

Jaig: "why what did he do to you? what did any of my parents ever do to you?!"

Vader: "as shocking as it may sound, these actions are not done out of hate. You will know this soon enough but for now, I must focus on getting you as far away and as hidden as possible" he then calls in a trouper with red and black armor.

Vader: "CC-2224 I trust your men are ready"

Cody: "ready and awaiting orders.. Sir"

Cody says through gritted teeth not bearing to even look at his once general's masked face.

Vader:"good, I trust the surgery was a success for all of them?"

Cody: "yes.. Sir.. Though we are all having adjustment issues due to recent ... and.... less recent events"

Vader: "thoughs... issues.... had better not interfere with the performance of your mission commander, you and your men have been chosen for one reason and one reason only, and it is for your loyalty to her safety. I can feel your hatred for me commander Cody (Cody inhails sharply at the sound of his name) but I also know enough about you and your brother's to know that they will not let this anger get in the way. I trust you all know the consequences that await you should you fail"

He ignites his blood red saber to put more emphasis on his point.

Cody:"yes sir"

Vader:"very well, now take her and go, and protect her with your life, I shall make my own way back to base as some as I can, her training with began immediately after my return, so be sure to proper her, but until then you already know what to do".

Cody noded before walking over to Jaig, then bent down and gently but fermly lifts her out of her seat, and quickly carry her out of the cell, down the hall and, through the, docking Station towards a unmarked referbished gunship.

Jaig: "where are we going? "

She said with a soft whimper. She was relieved to be away from Vader but still felt apprehensive with the idea of being taken away yet again in the arms of this.. Purge trooper, at lest she thinks it's a purge trooper, she had never seen one before so she could only guess.

Cody: "sh sh it's gonna be OK little one, I'm taking you some were safe, but we have to hurry now"

Jaig:"why?"

Cody: "no one on this ship other than Vader knows we're here and we have to keep it that way kid"

Jaig:"why would you need to hide from your own men"

Cody:"cuz you never know whos watching, I'll explain more when we get off this ship and into hyperspace"

Once they were on board the gun ship, that had been modified to acomidate long period space travel. The modifications included everything from comfortable seating to a working hyperdrive. Cody set her down in one of the seats and strapped her fermly in before heading to the cockpit, leaving her now surrounded by four more purge troopers (hardcase, fives, dogma and waxer, who I'm gonna say lived, cuz I have attachment issues, boil is in the cockpit piloting the ship) who are all looking at her intensely through their helmets. (hardcase and fives are in borrowed discises, after Fives finds out about the chips he and hardcase desert the army and decide to strike out on their own to try and find out more about the chips and their perpose, unfortunately they were too late to do anything about it before oder 66 happened. They have been on the run ever since, until Vader aproches them, informing them that he has been keeping tabs on them, and had been insuring the empire believes them both to be dead, and tells them of the mission, they agree to help because it's Rex and ahsoka's daughter they'll be protecting, but only under the condition the they only report to a de-chipped Cody and all other clones included in the mission must also be de-chipped as well. Vader had agreed to this as he was going to have their chips all removed anyway, to prevent any itchy trigger fingers being near his new force sensative)

Once they're in hyperspace Cody returns to the main area of the gun ship, where the other clones are crowed around a frightened looking Jaig

Waxer: "is this her? Wow she looks so much like her mum"

Fives: "she has our eyes though, our wonderfully handsome eyes"

hardcase: "and out hair, Ha!! I knew Rex's hair wasn't naturally blonde😂"

Dogma:" technically Hardcase, her hair being brown isn't proof that his is to, she could have just gotten the hereditary Jango gen of dark hair"

Fives:"aww suck the fun out of it why don't you"

Cody: "guys back up, give her some space, your freaking her out, and take off your buckets, I don't think they're helping"

When their buckets were removed Jaig was shocked to see five versions of her father's face looking down at her, all old and a little worse for where's, but all very much clone. She recordnises three of them from her father's holopad.

Jaig: "Fives?"

Fives:😃 "yeah! Yeah kid, that's me your☝️ Uncle Fives (he kneals down taking her hand in his, giving it a quick squeeze, before turning to Cody) she recordnised me first that must kill you😁"

Cody: 😠 "only cus you have a, dirty great 5 on your forehead You Di'kut"

He said before knealing down in front of her

Cody:"hey kid, sorry I couldn't introduce myself earlier, I'm your.."

Jaig:"Uncle Cody"

Cody:😁 "yeah kid (to Fives) SEE!! over there are your uncles Dogma, Waxer, Hardcase and back there in the cockpit is your uncle Boil, I know your probably not used to this many of us, but there's more we're we came from where we're going, though they live un a different fasilaty to ours, but every single one of them would be whiling to keep you safe if they knew. So you don't have to worry, we're not gonna let anything happen to you"

Jaig "but Vader.."

Cody: (places both hand at the side of her head and looks her dead in the eyes) "isn't going to TUCH you, not if we have anything to say about its, he may be our sponser, and he will be coming round every so often to check on you and train you. But you'll have several hundred or so uncles on the planet ready and waiting with fully loaded blasters should he ever try to hurt you, us 6 especially as we're the only clones there that know about you yet and we're gonna be living under the same roof, as you and one of us will always be close by to help you. OK kid, it's all gonna be ok (he says hugging her) your safe now"

Jaig: "but I don't want to be trained by Vader, I said I wouldn't turn and I meant it"

Cody: "it's alright, its alright. The one thing Vader has assured us of, is it he will not be training you in the dark side. And judging by the amount of effort he's putting into keeping you hidden, I'm inclined to believe him. He told us that you must block your self off from the force, what ever that means. Which is what he's going to show you how to do. Apparently it's the only way to keep the emperor off your scent. But like I said, one of us is always gonna be there should he try anything"

Fives:"yeah we'll look out for you kid, I know you miss your dad, and we're pretty poor substitutes, but we're here for you all the same"

Hardcase:"and we're not leaving anytime soon"

Dogma: "well not if we can help it"

Jaig "but where are we going?"

Cody: smile "to the closest thing we clones have to a home... Kamino"

Kamino had changed over the years, once the emperor had ordered to stop to any more clones creation. The cloning fasilaties had been abandoned by the kaminoans, along with all the rest of the untrained cadets who were all shipped of to the mustafa system to be trained and bred as the empires elite force of purge troopers.

The cloning facilities were left to the old now retired clones, to live out their days away from civilisation, many now wolowing in sadness and regret for their actions under the influence of their now un activated inhibitor chips.

The place Jaig and her other uncles were heading, was just a few hundred miles of from the main cloning compound. It had been kitted out with everything they might need, weaponry, shields, a food station, bedrooms, a bunkhouse, a training ground, and a shooting range. The only beings abord were now the clones, Jaig, the cook and the maintenance crew, well I say crew, it consisted of one male Ugnaught named Kuiil and three droid assistants whom he had reprogrammed to help with any and all clean up and maintenance duties.

Jaig would continue to live out there with her uncles for the next 5 years. They would go on to train her with any and all things clone, weaponry, though she had learnt a lot of that from her father's teachings, and the language and teachings of the mandalorian. The boys were insistent that she learn all of what little they knew of their heritage, as they were all descended from Jango, who was of mandolor. Any clone would tell you how proud the clones were of this heritage, and now they had someone to pass it all down to. They even taught Jaig the mandalorian wars songs that they had all learnt as cadets, and the Clone Haka, that had been performed by many clone troops over the years, before battle,. Much to the confusion and quite frankly terror of the B1 battle droids who witnessed them.

Fives: "ha your mum was pritty good at this to"

Jaig: now 12" my mum knew the Haka? "

She said, trying to picture her calm and serene togrutan mother, chanting, stomping and banging her chest along side millions of clones Warriors, all while making different faces and throatle sounds at the droids on the other side of the battlefield.

Hardcase: "oh yeah!! She was a natural, always shouting the chant in her loudest voice and making her scariest war face, like this 🤪😜🤪"

Fives: "and that my dear Jaig, was when your father fell in love🥰"

Vader came over as often as he could spare, when he was sure he couldn't be directed be his master or that anyone following him. Teaching Jaig how to disconnect herself from the force, telling her that if she continues to use it, the consequences would be severe.

Vader:"if the employer was ever to discover you exsisens, he would hunt you down in an instant, and kill anyone who trys to hide you from him. This is why you must never use the force again, and you must never leave. If anyone outside this fasilaty were to learn of your existence, you would be in mortal danger, as would everyone you care about"

Jaig: "but why couldn't my dad come? You could have had both our deaths faked and brought him here with me"

Vader: sighed "he is to mixed up with the rebel alliance, and besides, it was his reaction that sold your death to the universe. A trick I learned from my old master...the hard way"

He said bitterly.

Jaig knew she should hate him, he had taken her from her home, her friends and family. He had taken her mother, and it was because of his foolish decision to trust, a maniac, power hungy, sith Lord, that her family were forced to live in the shadows, and her mother, and father were force into separation when she was just an infant. She didn't like him by any means, she frequently tryed to avoid his at any turn. But she still couldn't feel hatred for him.

Cody: "na that your mother in you, she was never one to hold much of a grudge ether. She got angry at people don't get me wrong but she never hated them. She cryed over the potential execution of a woman who had Framed her for Murder once. And had taken the time to give all her deceased troops, who had tryed to gun her down a funeral. Even though she and your father where now on the run from the empire"

Over the years living there, she became closer with her uncles, or at least most of them. She argued with Boil on an almost daily basis, but they had their moments, she told him and Waxer how she met Numa, who was still fighting for the freedom of her home. She had a difficult time connecting with Dogma. He was very distance from her and didn't talk much. However she did like listening to him read. Dogma who had been a stiff by the book solder his entire life, and had been through so much, found he secretly quite enjoyed the company of his niece. But she spent most of her training with Fives and Hardcase. Both clones always new how to make her smile and told her many stories of her parents during the war, stories not even her parents had told her, (though they never much liked talking about the war), and she had given them a new lease of life, and new perpose. She was probably closest with Cody, he had know her father since they were both cadets, and was determined to teach her everything he knew, but he also showed his softer side with her. There were many a time he would be seen walking down the corridor carrying the young girl who was really getting a bit to big to be held, in his arms fast asleep from a long day.

She had also become quite good friends with Kuiil the maintenance manger, she learnt that he was paying off his debt to the empire through prolonged servitude, he had been in many battles he didn't believe in, until Vader; after seeing his reprogramming skills had, offered him a place on this secret compound. Kuiil had also taken quite a shine to Jaig, she was kind, and eager to learn the inner workings of the machines he fixed.

But yet again, even this would not last. After the destruction of the First Death Star, Lord Sidious had been furious with Vader, he tortured and demoted him. But through his touture he discovered the existence of the child Vader had taken such lengths to keep hidden from him. And through this new information, he devised a plan.

To brake his apprentices even ferther, he would force him to chose, chose between the life of his padawans child, who he had swarn to protect, and the life of his son, that he did not yet know about. But unfortunately for the emperor, he did not bargain for the tactical brilliance of the Clones.

When the empire, came to take the now 15 year old girl, they had already divested their own escape plan. They sent Jaig along with Kuill over to the kaminoan cloning facilities, turned clone retirement home, before the empire even entered the atmosphere. There she was frozen in to carbonite and fastened to the inside of the newly alcoved underbelly of a small one-seater Y wing (to insure the if the empire should come across them she would be well hidden and undetected, Kuiils cover story being that he was delivering supplies to the clones) there Kuiil would then fly far away from any siverlized planet. While, the clones continued to fight and defend the compound as though she was still there, and then proceed to escape themselves, using an old subship left over from the battle of Kamino. But not before bowing the place sky high, making it seem like the empires had fired at the fewl tanks corsing the whole building to be destroyed along with anyone who was inside.

This was not the out come Sidious had wished for, however with the now almost certain death of his ward, Vader plunged ever ferther into the void of darkness and hate. So the desired effect Sideous was planning for was reached anyway.

After being unfrozen from carbonite, Jaig and Kuiil parted ways. She chose to for her father, but it became fruitless. Chopper base had long since been evacuated and the rebel alliance was always one step ahead of her in their attempts to avoid the empire. For 2 years she searched for them, and fought the Empire where she could, until she finally stopped, delving into the belief that what ever family she knew was now gone, she rejoined Kuiil on a deserted planet called Arvala-7, while the galaxy celebrated the fall of the empire. Where for the next 5 years they would both try to live out their lives in peace, working the land and carrying for blurgs, until a mandolorian arrives on their planet, looking for a little green bounty, which starts of a whole new adventure for our now Adult Jaig.

OK guys let me know how I did, and if you would like to see Jaig's adventures with Din Djarin and little green bean Grogu. Let me know. I'm not much of a writer,. But I always got so irratated when reading Din Djarin/oc fics where to make her interesting, they give the oc force powers, with either no build up to it, or she's a run away jedi, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of season 2 were they're trying to find the jedi, so I thought I'd write my own. I wanted to have a character that has both a clear connection to both the mandalorian culture and the force, without making her a mary su. She has a connection to the force. But she can't use it, or control it. Therefore she can't train Grogu to use it. Which would mean they'd have to find the jedi, to help him learn to control his powers. Plus I don't want to just giving her everything with no preplanned reason. So here is my preplanned reason. I know these short scenes and conversations don't really delve much into her personality but that's were you come in. Tell me what you think of her, and what you think she's like as an adult. I wrote a few things like her kind nature and her sarcastic humour. But I could do with some ideas on what you would like to see. Let me know, and...

May the 4th be with you,😉

[obwjam]

ok but old man Rex finding a tiny on the Ghost/Rebel ships and taking them in and caring for them not only because they're vulnerable, but because he used to have a tiny kid during the Clone Wars and last time he wasn't there for them they disappeared, so he's not letting that happen again.

PLEEEEEASE ugh i’ve been sent asks like this before but i love and cherish every single one of them because i just adore old man rex...... so here have some writing :)

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He wouldn’t stop staring at you. You thought you were going insane.  Every time you nudged someone to say, ‘Hey, look, I’m not crazy,’ he would immediately look away. The worst part is that when you tried to talk to him, he would stare at the floor and clench his jaw and fail to find his words.

“Ezra? Ezra!”

You reached up to tug a lock of your friend’s hair to get his attention. They called their ship the Ghost, so you referred to them as The Ghost Crew. They had found you on Lothal just a few short weeks ago, smack in the middle of an empty field that you were laboring to trek across -- fleeing the city had been difficult enough as it was. Ezra, understanding the struggle of not having any family, offered you a place on the Ghost until you could find other borrowers to stay with.

But these people didn’t know how to stay out of trouble. You happily supported the rebel cause, but kept your distance from the action. The Clone War had taken too much out of you already. Hera was happy to have some company on the ship, anyway.

“Ow! Hey! What, what is it?” Ezra groaned, rubbing his head gingerly.

“Shh! Look. He’s doing it. Watch, watch!”

Everyone seemed to trust this clone. Fulcrum -- ahem, Ahsoka -- spoke highly of him. He was willing to help and knew a lot about everything. Even Kanan had some respect for him, though he would never admit it.

So why did he act weird only around you?

Ezra tried to discreetly glance at Rex, but Ezra was about as discreet as a Star Destroyer. Rex locked eyes with Ezra, confused, before his gaze wandered down to you. Less confused.

“Eum... this is awkward,” Ezra said, joining in on the staring contest. “I see what you mean now, (Y/n).”

At that, Rex flushed red. He didn’t think he was being obvious, but apparently it was worse than he thought. He swore the more he stared at you, the more you looked like...

“Everything okay in here?”

Kanan was standing in the threshold, wondering what exactly the stand-off was for. He immediately sensed something was off, and when he turned to Rex, the alarm bells were ringing loud.

“We were just leaving,” you spoke up, hoping Ezra would respond quickly.

“Hm? Oh, oh yeah. We’re, uh. We’re leaving now.”

You rolled your eyes but grabbed on tight as Ezra spun on his heels and headed back up to his bunk. He still wasn’t very in tune with the Force, but even he could feel your apprehension.

Rex sighed. He couldn’t keep flubbing like this. He was a grown man. A very grown man. He made a mistake; one among many. He didn’t need to keep beating himself up about it. There was nothing he could do to change it. Maybe that was the worst part.

“He’s really been doing that the whole time?” Ezra asked, scooping you up off his shoulder and placing you on the bedside table as he flopped down on his bed.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” you sighed, exasperated. “I don’t get it. It’s like he has it out for me.”

“Do you think he’s gonna do something? Like, kidnap you and turn you in to the Empire?”

“Ezra... I don’t think he’s secretly Empire.”

“Well, maybe borrowers are highly valuable to some Imperial general! Maybe Rex just wants some extra credits.”

“You’re really not helping right now.”

“Okay, sorry, sorry.” Ezra looked over at you slumped over with your head in your hands. He frowned. “Why don’t you ask him?”

“Ask him? Are you crazy?”

Ezra shrugged. “I mean, it couldn’t hurt, right? If you don’t think he’s bad.”

You opened your mouth to say something, but found you didn’t actually have a counterargument. Sometimes Ezra stumbled his way into a half-decent idea.

Rex wasn’t in the mood to deal with Kanan scolding him for no good reason, so he quickly retreated back to the guest quarters that he called home on the Ghost. Maybe he should just go back to Seelos. Maybe getting involved in this rebellion was a bad idea. Maybe--

“Um. Rex?”

Rex froze. He looked up toward the door, wondering if maybe he was just hearing things, before realizing who exactly was speaking to him. Almost afraid, his eyes flickered to the ground.

“Oh. H-hi, (Y/n),” Rex stuttered. His face had gone cold.

“Can I...?” you asked, jerking your head forward and trying to keep your cool. Rex was sitting, but you rarely liked to walk around by yourself on the Ghost. Looking up at everyone and everything made you sweat.

“Oh, yeah, yeah,” Rex nodded, weakly gesturing for you to come in. “Why are -- what’re you doing here?”

“I, uh. I wanted to -- just ask you something. If that’s okay.”

“Of course, kiddo,” Rex said, suddenly grimacing when he let that nickname slip. “Do you, uh, do you need me to...” He glanced to his hand resting on his knee. You nodded awkwardly and took a small step backward as Rex took a knee and placed his hand in front of you. The silence was deafening in the several seconds it took for him to bring you from the floor up to the table.

Once back on solid ground, you shuffled your feet, barely able look at the very person you were supposed to be speaking to. You didn’t think this would be easy, but you couldn’t even find a word to grab onto and vocalize.

“Is... everything alright?” Rex knew why you were here, but someone needed to say something.

You pursed your lips. Here goes nothing. “I... I’m sorry,” you started. Rex raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry if I did something wrong, or -- or if I said something stupid to make you mad. Ezra and I, we like to joke around, I swear, we didn’t mean anything by it--”

“Stop.”

You froze. Great, now he’s really mad.

Rex was wringing his hands, having just as much trouble finding the right thing to say as you were. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’ve been acting strange, and you deserve an explanation why.” He stole a glance at you. You were just waiting.

Rex sighed, his breath quivering slightly. Here goes nothing. “Believe it or not, you’re not the first borrower I’ve met. Back during the war, I knew... well, let’s just call them a friend. Found them rummaging through camp on some backwater planet. They were scared, and -- and had nowhere to go. So we took ‘em in -- me and the boys in the 501st. It took ‘em a while. They were really frightened to be around us and it took forever to get their trust. But we were inseparable.” He laughed faintly at some old memory. “The kid was always getting into some kind of trouble. Drove Dogma crazy. I think Echo and Fives encouraged ‘em to mess around, just to make him mad. Huh, annoyed me too. But I couldn’t get mad at them.” Rex shivered and closed his eyes. Why was it so cold in here now? “I... I don’t remember exactly where we were. Some ice planet, it was horrible. Cody wanted to see me, and they didn’t want to be left alone. I shouldn’t have let them come... but they insisted. I thought I had them... no, I know I had them with me. But it was windy, and the snow was blinding. We looked everywhere for them. I swear we scanned the entire planet. But the blizzard was so bad I couldn’t even retrace my steps. Felt like I was walking in damn circles, calling their name until I lost my voice...”

Rex trailed off. He was completely out of words. He had used up all his energy, and all he could focus on right now was breathing.

You could barely process what you just heard. It was all eerily familiar. “Rex...” you started. You needed to take a breath of your own. “I’m--”

Rex cut you off. “You don’t need to say anything. It’s okay. You just... well, you just remind me so much of them.”

Your heart skipped a beat. You weren’t expecting that.

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have -- I’m sorry.”

“Rex. You don’t need to apologize. It’s okay.” You didn’t entirely mean that, but it’s what he needed to hear. It took a lot to admit what he did, and you knew it.

Rex sniffed a laugh. “It’s really not okay, but, thanks.”

You sighed. Rex’s hand, which was now resting on the table, was shaking ever so slightly. Once you took the first step, it was easy. You shuffled over to Rex’s hand and placed your own on his finger. Rex flinched and looked down in surprise. Slowly, his hand stopped shaking.

“You’re not the first clone I’ve ever met, either. I’ve lost a lot of people, and’ve had a lot of people lose me. It’s... normal. I’ve never really had a place to call home. Can’t even remember how I got to Lothal.” You took a breath. “I guess what I’m trying to say is... your friend was really, really lucky to have you. It’s rare for borrowers to find people to care about us. That kind of friendship, no matter how short, is worth a lifetime of happiness.”

You felt a spray of water hit your arm, and you looked up. Rex had let a tear fall.

“Thanks, kid. That... really means a lot.”

Rex forced a smile down to you, but there was a hint of relief to it. You beamed back up. He kept staring. You laughed nervously.

“What?”

Rex shook his head. “Nothing. I-it’s nothing.”

“Hey, if you just told me that, you can tell me anything,” you joked, trying to lighten the mood. Rex just grimaced. “Just say it. It’s okay. I promise.”

“Well...” Rex wiped his eyes. “Hera was telling me they were trying to find a home for you.”

You nodded curiously. “Yeah. The Ghost crew has been really nice to me, but I can’t be in the middle of all this action. Not again. We’re just trying to find a nice, quiet planet.”

“I... don’t want to impose. And you can say no. But me and a couple of old friends have retrofitted an old AT-TE on Seelos, way out in the Outer Rim. That’s where I was before Ahsoka asked me to help out the crew here. But I’m too old for all this action... I’ll help where I can, but--”

“--are you asking me to go back with you?”

Rex’s face flushed red. “Y-yeah. That’s exactly what I’m asking. It’s real remote. You’d be safe.”

Still leaning against Rex’s hand, you looked down at your shoes as you thought over his proposal. You really liked the Ghost crew. They were nothing but kind to you, barely ever making you feel like you were small. But even though it had only been a couple weeks, it felt like there was no safe world in the galaxy, and definitely no world the Ghost could travel to without being followed.

And as weird as it was, there was something endearing about Rex. He was different than any clone you had ever met. They weren’t exactly known for their emotional vulnerability, but Rex had shared with you a story you suspect he hadn’t told to anyone in decades. That counted for something. A lot of somethings, actually.

“Yeah.”

Rex paused for a moment and blinked. “What?”

“I’m taking you up on your offer,” you smiled. “I’ll go to Seelos with you.”

“You... you’re serious?”

You nodded with a small smirk. “I’m done running and hiding. I just... want to relax.”

“I’m serious, you don’t have to say yes--”

“--I am serious! I said yes! So don’t make me change my mind.”

For the first time in a while, Rex let out a genuine laugh. “Okay, okay.” 

You only got a moment to bask in this newfound feeling of content when Sabine came running into the room.

“Rex, we’re leaving! Kanan and Ezra are waiting in the Phantom!”

“Be right there,” he called out. Sabine left without even noticing you were there.

Rex gently shook you off his hand and flipped it over, allowing you to situate yourself in his palm. “You want me to bring you back to Hera?”

You thought for a moment. “Why don’t I tag along with you this time? Someone needs to keep the Phantom warm while you’re away.”

Rex didn’t say anything, but found himself grinning as he stood up, grabbed his helmet and made his way to the shuttle. This was a good start.

[shouldntcryoverit]

the art of discordance

captain rex x jedi fic during clones wars era...

CHAPTER TWO

Pure chaos resonated as the small team fought to overcome the controls. The panic bubbling over from the separatist attack didn’t diminish as the smaller ship shot through lightspeed, leaving three half crazed jedi, a few clones, and one injured general.

“Turn the power back on! Turn it on!” Jaida yelled into the cockpit. The victory of avoiding the burning sun they were previously on course to crash straight into was short lived as they swerved dangerously close to another planet.

“I’m... trying!” Aayla groaned, hand outstretched to the lever. It clunked downwards and Jaida, Rex and Aayla fell to the floor with a heavy thud.

The ship plummeted towards the ground, having lost all control over the engines. Smoke encased them through a straight course at least an inch into the growth, leaving a scorched dent in their path. The clones and jedi scrambled to get out the burning wreckage of the ship, though when they all collapsed in relief, they found their situation to be no better.

Anakin was in a bad condition, one that looked to be deteriorating quickly. Ahsoka and Jaida carried him to rest under a makeshift tent, but the young padawan didn’t move as he lay unconscious. Jaida watched with concerned eyes, for her friend yes, but also for the young togruta that shuffled anxiously. The pair hadn’t spoken much; Ahsoka had spent her time training or at the temple whereas Jaida remained very much rooted in battle rooms, but the times they did spend with each other Jaida found the kid’s attitude refreshing. She knew why Anakin spoke so highly of her.

“he’ll be okay kid” Rex reassured. Ahsoka nodded solemnly and sighed, walking forward to talk over her master.

“Jaida and Rex will watch over you, be strong master” the togruta uttered, before resuming her position beside the knights.

The two watched as the rest of the group ran off into the tall grass, leaving them to stand in silence.

Jaida let out a shaky breath as she folded onto the ground, Anakins feet in front of her.

Rex spoke first “he will be okay, sir” it was an attempt to reassure her, though she had not admitted she was worried.

Her response was another huff of breath, followed by a hand running through her hair.

“Anakin has always had the ability to bounce back from injuries, it seems even his body is too stubborn to stop fighting” her words fell heavy as she watched her friend’s chest rise and fall slowly.

Rex’s smile settled “you care more than you let on, don’t you?”

Her eyes lifted from Anakin’s form and met his in a rigid glare. Rex regretted his boldness instantly, but her eyes softened in admission.

“i saw your order” he continued bravely “the men wondered were it all came from” he was referring to the extra order of cotten blankets she had placed a week previously. Rex assumed it was out of compassion as she realised the coldness of the Resolute.

“good, men work better if they actually manage a decent night sleep” She got up and brushed herself down, peaking her head around the corner to check for any signs. Rex felt a twinge in his stomach of her disregard; her kind act now seemed tainted as nothing more than a battle strategy, and it left a bad taste on his tongue.

Rex took a moment actually size up the new general. Her robes were similar to Skywalker’s, but they fitted her form more. She wore black boots and gloves up to her elbow, her collarbone hidden with the same material. Her hair was lighter in the sun, but Rex could still see the way it framed her face and fell loosely from its plaited hold. Her face was still set in that expression of neutrality, though it broke slightly as the hint of serenity curved her alluring lips. Her eyes were young and bright, full of a mixture of gold and blue.

Before she could say anything else, a roar broke the silence, followed by the pounding footsteps of two animals.

Rex shot up, blasters ready, and Jaida ignited her duel blade. They shared a look of panic, before they each dove away to block or attack whatever strike came at them.

After quite some struggle, the pair had overcome their attackers, and the two animals lay dead on the ground. Before the interruption, Jaida had felt a new sense of gratitude towards the captain. That maybe she had misjudged his professionalisms and could enjoy his company further than what protocol dictated. It was when Rex propped himself up that Anakin groaned awake. At the noise, Jaida hurried to his aid.

“Anakin! You okay?” she helped him sit up. He groaned once more and faultered against his injuries.

“this mission- sucks” he managed. As he came to, the surroundings became clearer. “you look like hell”

“always a charmer” she grinned as he helped him up.

“what happened to the others?” Skywalker quizzed

“the went to look for help, actually they should be back soon.”

“so we don’t have a ship, communication or supplies, great” Anakin grumbled

“negativity doesn’t suit you”

“you got a better outlook?” before Jaida could reply to his question, the rest of their team stumbled out of the grass, along with a new companion.

By the time it took to take Anakin back to the village, his condition had deteriorated. Jaida couldn’t budge the irrational feeling in her stomach, but held face as Ahsoka trudged next to her.

“I understand staying neutral, but really? i mean you gotta have an opinion at least!” she ranted

“some people just don’t care about what doesn’t involve them” Jaida countered absentmindedly

“selfish”

“perhaps”

They made it to the village, and despite the old chief’s disgruntled disagreement they were allowed to seek refuge. It was no retreat, that was for certain, but Ahsoka for one felt entirely more secure knowing that her master was getting the medical attention he so desperately needed.

He was whisked away by the village medic almost as soon as they arrived, and the three Jedi left remained cautious of theyre situation.

Time passed, with Ahsoka helping a few villagers carry out daily tasks, and Jaida scouting the near area; it actually felt like time had stopped. There was a peacefulness that none of the visitors had experience in such a long time, for clones maybe never. Rex had never been able to sit and watch as children laughed and played, without thinking about how he should escape if need be. It was tranquil and calm, and it made Rex think.

When Jaida returned, she returned quickly.

“Ahsoka! Tell Aayla we’re gonna have company!” her shouted alerted the relaxed captain into a far more rigid standing.

“who is it?” Bly questioned with furrowed brows

“seppies”

—————————————————-

Everytime she looked his way there was something that sparked, or snapped maybe - he wasn’t sure. It wasn’t anything good, but he doubted that it was hate. Rex just couldn’t stand the feeling he gave her. So he figured he couldn’t stand her.

It was no different now as the pair waited behind the stacks of nut pods for the enemy to near. A plan had been formulated after they left the village so quickly, and by seeing the extent ifthe seperatist forces it was no wonder they had scrambled to do so. Jaida had already irked him today, by seeming so unbothered by the idea of a new ion canon, one that was able to wipe out all organic matter.

His distractions dissipated when the first shot flew past his head. That was certainly enough to wipe his mind. He ducked behind a pod and began shooting, knocking droids down like a pin ball game at 79s.

The disctractions, those that humanised into the form of a woman standing of few metres to his left, seemed to have a mind of their own. Jaida slunked away from her position, and walked straight out into the battlefield. Rex grinded his teeth as she put away her lightsaber. He had to remind himself that yes she was putting herself in unecessary danger, and that no, that wasn’t what he was angry about.

“im sure your a smart man” Jaida called out, hands calmly behind her back “there’s certainly a more pleasant way to deal with situations” the words fell fruitlessly off her tongue.

“what’s she doing?” Bly muttered with spite, though Aayla dismissed his question with a wave of her hand.

“don’t try to trick me, jedi”

“there is no trick. You are the one with canon of course” she smiled coldly at the separatist, patronism seeping through her tone “although, if we do manage to reach an agreement, your day might just turn out swell”

“was that a threat?!” the hast in his voice caused a loud clunk to be heard as the droids aimed they’re guns once more.

“nope” Jaida said, popping the ‘p’, just before a clankers took a shot, and she dodged it. Perfectly.

It looked like some sort of game on the holonet, Jaida avoiding each bullet carelessly and without struggle, as if they bent around her path instead. She reached a safe distance, and smiled pleasantly, reaching into a pocket behind her back and drawing a small explosive. She threw it into the canon opening, and the problem was solved with a rattling boom.

Her solution did work, but Rex still kept a stern look. Even when the support ships finally rescued them.

He kept it until she rested beside him, both standing against a wall bored and tired.

“you look tired” he commented

“hm” Jaida’s eyes never left the datapad she was staring at. “you should get some rest too, it’s been a long few days” she deliberated carelessly. When the captain didn’t reply she turned her head to face him.

“what is it?”

The captain tittered antagonisingly “why is it that you always have to go off script?”

Jaida looked at him with a more confused look than anger.

“i saved those villagers, you know that was my only intention?” her tone was clear, informative.

“you do never fail to keep battles interesting” Rex quipped

“i think i’ll take that as a compliment” she grimaced

“perhaps you should”

She spoke after a moment of pregnant silence. “captain if there’s something you have to say i suggest you say it”

“with all due respect, you ought to realise that you have a responsibility to your men, to yourself even” he began after a beat.

“it isn’t something i’ve failed to notice”

“you brash, careless- you act like you have nothing to loose”

“we’re fighting a war” Jaida countered

“and we don’t need anymore casualties than we already have” Rex’s voice was no longer as angry as it began, now growing colder as exasperation clawed at his tired mind.

Rex paused, taking a deep breath of his own and trying to rid himself of his own irrational and unprofessional nags.

“i am not a liability, you need to trust me” she was stern now. It wasn’t that the captain had irked her, his anger came from a very real place, but she was just annoyed that she couldn’t find the words to calm it.

“and you need to trust that we know what we’re doing, even without your last minute strategies”

Silence. Jaida clicked her tongue, acceptance though Rex didn’t know to recognise it.

“goodnight general”

She locked eyes with him once more. A second passed, before he left her in silence.

He didn’t hate her. That he knew for sure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

hope you liked this let me know if you want to be tagged in next chapters! :))

Taglist -

@pinkiemme

[fanficsforheartandsoul]

In Her Arms | Ahsoka Tano x Fem!Reader | Star Wars

Notes: Lol I said only 1k per request but well... I got too invested xD I hope this is somewhat what you wanted :) Their relationship is rather platonic here, although it is implied both Ahsoka and the Reader are in love with each other, I hope that’s fine too.

Fandoms: Star Wars, The Clone Wars

Warnings: Slight Self-Consciousness, Angst, Mention of Death, Slight OOC, Fluff

Summary: Y/N has a hard time dealing with the war and the problems that come with it, but Ahsoka, with whom she had a fall-out, approaches her and helps. 

Word Count: 2′334

Taglist: @jessigurl-design

If you want to be tagged in my stories send me a pm with the fandom/character name! Or comment on the fic :)

Masterlist

Being a Jedi was hard. Being 17 was hard too. 

Especially in times of war, where one saw more death and blood than a person should ever see. 

But she knew nothing else. 

Her padawan training began with the war, although that wasn't something she had liked. And she struggled because of it. 

Y/N couldn't handle the cries of her injured friends, the blood-curling screams when someone got shot, the stern and lifeless look in the eyes of the clones when they knew they had lost that one fight. 

Y/N struggled. 

And the worst part of it all was that her friends, who also went through the same horrible things, seemingly did not as much as she did. Of course, she wouldn't want anyone to go through the recurring nightmares, insomnia, and the exhausting days she had to experience in the last few weeks. 

But the fact that she seemed to be the only one who had such troubles adapting to life in war made her feel somewhat broken. 

She needed to be fixed. 

But her insecurities did not let her seek out the help she needed. 

Master is busy with the clones and battle strategies. The council... She doubted that the council would bother with her little anxiety attack. And her friends, especially a certain Togruta... She couldn't tell them either. After all, they were not that close anymore. 

The times of giggles, pranks, and late-night ghost stories were over. 

They would also not understand, because they were able to function well on the battlefield, unlike her. 

How many times did she drop her lightsaber in the middle of a battle already?! 

A loud groan escaped her lips, and she closed the datapad and leaned back in her seat. She ran her hands over her face and sighed. 

Once again, could she not find a better method to meditate. The archives were as vast as the sea on Kamino, but in her desperate times, there seemed to be no book that could help her. 

Y/N removed her card from the computer and then stood up. White dots swirled over her vision for a moment, her head felt dizzy, and she froze. What was that? She clenched her jaw. 

No, I'm fine. She told herself. 

But it was a lie. And she wasn't the only one who knew it.

-

"Why do I always have to do the things you don't want to do?"

"Because you are my padawan."

Anakin's laughing face made her scowl, but she wasn't that bothered with him sending her to the Archives of the temple. Mainly because she was able to see a dear friend of hers that she hadn't seen in a long time. 

In the last few days of research, Ahsoka had caught glimpses of Y/N, with whom she had shared a room and sometimes even a bed when she was part of the Clawmouse Clan. 

The girl was only slightly older than her, and they had been best friends when they had learned everything a youngling needed to know. 

Them becoming padawans changed their relationship, though, and they saw each other less and less. 

Ahsoka didn't really know why because they never addressed it, but she was sure it had something to do with her being Anakin's, The Chosen One's padawan. And the war obviously. 

Y/N's Master was also a Jedi Guardian, like Anakin himself, and they both fought at the frontlines of the war. 

When Ahsoka first heard about it, she was concerned about her friend's safety. 

Y/N L/N was never a person who she saw fighting against droids. 

Y/N was heartwarming, a little shy and quirky, but kind and more selfless than anyone she had ever met. Her place was not between dying clones and short-circuiting droids. 

Ahsoka had always believed that her dear friend would choose the route of becoming a Jedi Consular, a Healer, to be exact. Her gentleness and sunny attitude had seemed perfect for that path. But the war probably thwarted her plans. 

She wasn't sure, but she could imagine that the pressure of her peers accepting the guidance of a Jedi Guardian made her do the same, not that she thought Y/N's Master had been a bad choice. He was just a little too stern, a little too demanding, in her opinion. 

But what right did she have to say something? 

They were not that close anymore, and that fact hurt Ahsoka more than all the pain she had gone through during her time as a soldier.

"Hey, hey, if you really don't want to go, I'll take care of it. No need to make such a face, Snips." 

She snapped out of her thoughts, and Anakin observed her with a slightly guilty expression. 

"No, it's fine. Gonna go now, bye." 

Before her Master could say anything else, she already left the room. 

-

She arrived a few minutes later in the Archives, greeted Jocasta Nu, and then let her eyes roam across the giant halls. 

A familiar force presence flickered in the back, and Ahsoka determinedly walked over there. But with every step she took, her confidence faltered a little. 

We haven't talked in a while, what am I even going to tell her? "Hey Y/N, I miss you greatly and would love to talk about our time as younglings and maybe sleep in the same bed again and caress your hair", yeah of course. 

She abruptly stopped when another thought crossed her mind, and a blush swept across her face. 

Stop it! 

She shook her head to concentrate when she suddenly felt a wave of dread coming from the corner where her friend stayed. 

It hit Ahsoka like a brick, and her embarrassing thoughts stopped immediately. 

What...? 

Worry bubbled in her chest, the Togruta slowly walked closer to Y/N's location, and when she glanced around a shelf, she saw the girl hunched over a datapad. 

Ahsoka was momentarily distracted by the unkempt hair when Y/N groaned. 

It wasn't a "shit-I-don't-want-to-do-this"-groan, it was more like "I'm-exhausted-to-death"-one. 

She contemplated whether to step out of her hiding place and address the girl when she sighed again and then stood up. 

Ahsoka only watched as Y/N suddenly tensed and froze. Her breath shook, and the Togruta could see her shake hands before they clenched to fists and her friend hurried out of the library. 

Ahsoka stood unmoving behind the shelf, her eyes blinking slowly, her breath taken from the alarming anxiety in Y/N's force presence. 

She needed to research for their next planetary mission in the Outer Rim but when she caught a glimpse of the storm brooding in her beloved friend's mind, she could not disregard it. 

She followed the girl, her feet driven by her worries.

-

"Y/N?"

A soft knock on her door made the girl jump. What..? 

"Ahsoka?" 

Her voice clearly showed her surprise. 

The Togruta's response sounded a little awkward, but she ignored it, too busy calming her pounding heart. 

"Y-Yeah... Do you - uhh, have a moment to talk?" 

Talk? Talk about what? Does she... Has she realized..?! 

Panic emerged and clawed at her mind, it momentarily distracted her, and before she could even answer, her hand had already pressed the button to open the door to her room. 

She came face to face with Ahsoka, her former best friend now slightly taller than her in height. 

Y/N rubbed her eyes tiredly. Maybe, the Togruta before her was just her imagination? 

But the force presence of her friend was wrapping itself around her. 

Ahsoka looked formidable with her new robes. They complimented her skin tone and the blue of her montrals. 

Y/N forced herself to look Ahsoka in the eyes and smile, although it felt fake and probably also looked unnatural. 

"Hi", she greeted her weakly. 

"Can I come in?" 

They acted very awkwardly as if they hadn't bathed together before and talked about the cutest younglings in their classes. But how could they not? Their friendship had changed. 

Instead of answering, Y/N backed out off the door frame, and Ahsoka entered her room. 

She closed the door and then watched anxiously as the Togruta's eyes scanned everything as if to take a holographic photo. 

She realized that she once again hadn't made the bed, because she had been too tired to do it, and it had seemed like a bother. Then there were the various books about meditating. They stacked next to her cot and towered over her nightstand. 

Her spare clothes laid scattered across the floor, and the robe from last week still hadn't been washed. The brown bloodstains looked unsightly on the beige robe. 

She sighed inwardly. That's not how she wanted to present herself especially not to Ahso - a hand suddenly grabbed hers. When Y/N looked up, her eyes meet blue. 

"Were you hurt? Did you get injured?!" 

She blinked. 

"Wha-What?" 

Ahsoka's face was suddenly way too close to hers, and she breathed in shakily. The Togruta's eyes were unwavering.

"There's blood on your robes." 

Oh. She saw them. 

Her mouth was too dry for her to speak, so she only shook her head. 

No, she wasn't injured, that blood belonged to a clone. She was fine.

"But you are hurting." 

These words resounded way louder in her head than they were actually said. 

Ahsoka's tone was soft. It was neither a question nor an accusation. Only a statement. 

It was true. 

The fact that her friend, whom she had not seen in a long time, could guess her emotional state with just a glance shook her to her core. 

Silence reigned over them, her friend waited for her to speak, but she couldn't. 

Y/N breathed out slowly, and she freed herself from the Togrutas grip, her hands now holding herself as if she would break if she didn't. 

She gasped for air before she squeezed out from her lips: 

"I'm- I'm just so tired." 

Her eyes avoided Ahsoka's, and she faltered. 

Her knees suddenly felt too weak, she stumbled, but before she could fall, two warm hands grabbed her and brought her into Ahsoka's arms. 

Her whole weight was supported by the other girl, and they sank to the floor. 

Y/N was tense at first. When was the last time she had such close contact with anyone, especially Ahsoka? It must have been years. 

That thought, the warmth from the embrace of the Togruta, and her desperation caused her eyes to water. In a matter of seconds, tears rushed across her cheeks, and she soaked Ahsoka's shirt. 

A sob escaped her lips, and the other padawan pressed her closer to herself. 

"I got you, Y/N. You hear me? You're not alone." 

-

That her heart wasn't pounding loudly would be a lie. 

Such close physical contact with the person she liked caused butterflies to explode in her chest, but the Togruta ignored them, her concern for her friend too deep to abuse that moment of intimacy. 

She had a general idea of what Y/N meant with being tired. 

She knew how exhausting the war was, and also wanted it to finally come to an end. 

But for her it was different. She had Anakin and Obi-Wan as pillars. They were her emotional support, and she could always talk with them about her worries. 

It hurt Ahsoka to admit it, but it seemed like Y/N did not see her as that kind of support for her. 

She knew the girl was always kind to others, sometimes too kind, and too selfless. Maybe she believed that she would inconvenience others if she told them about her worries. 

Her grip tightened around the waist of her friend, and she bit her lips. 

Please no. 

Was she really that kind of a bad friend? How could she not notice? 

Guilt panged in her chest, and she ran her fingers through Y/N's hair. Her shirt got wetter and wetter, and with every teardrop, her determination grew. 

"Y/N?", she asked carefully. 

The girl in her arms shifted, and Y/N looked up at her, her eyes and cheeks red, clearly embarrassed. 

"I'm sorry", she croaked, Ahsoka wanted to hold her against her chest again, but she stopped herself and whispered: 

"You can tell me everything you know? I'm always here for you. You can take your time, but please don't shut me out. I want to know how you feel. I want you to be happy, okay?" 

Her voice slightly trembled when she said the last part and her eyes began to sting. 

The girl's eyes turned round and then, Ahsoka could watch it like slow-motion, the corner of her lips lifted, and she presented one of her signature smiles. Slightly weaker, slightly less happy, but still giving hope as always. 

"Okay. I'll... I'll tell you... But not right now. I'm... I feel like I’m able to sleep now. I had trouble doing it for a few weeks now, and I- I just get these nightmares and..." 

A worried expression swept across Y/N's face again and Ahsoka grabbed her cheeks. She stared at her with wide eyes. “You said tomorrow, right? It’ll be fine if we talk about it tomorrow. No need to stress now.” She smiled to reassure her. Ahsoka breathed out slowly and then muttered:

"If you want some emotional support...", her face burned when she said that, "should I stay with you?"

The padawan bit her lips and then nodded shyly. 

Ahsoka blessed the force, and they stood up together and moved to Y/N's bed. 

Her friend slipped under the covers, ignoring the fact that she still wore her outer robes and lifted the covers welcomingly for her. Ahsoka took her boots off and joined her. 

Two arms slung around her, and her heart sped up again when Y/N snuggled closer to her. 

She laid still for a while, tense, with a fast heartbeat, but with a small grin on her lips. 

"Y/N?" 

Maybe she could tell her friend one day. How much she liked her. So much that it would break her if the other was unhappy and suffering. Y/N’s happiness meant the world for her.

Instead of a response, she heard a soft snore coming from her chest, and Ahsoka smiled. 

If she could ease her friend's worries, she would gladly be a body pillow for the rest of her life. 

She pressed a light kiss on Y/N's hair. 

"May tomorrow be a better day for you, because I’ll help you." 

[lilrexsoka]

Hi Hi Hi... Ready for more angst? :)

Rexsoka Week 2020 Day 5 Prompt- Shadows

Tagging- @officialrexsoka

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26698138/chapters/65313565

Read it on AO3 or below!

Rating: G

Warnings tags- Angsty/depressive thoughts, anger.

He’d thought that seeing his best friend on a wanted post, chasing after her with intent to capture or having to give that order was difficult. It had been just as difficult as the battle of Umbara, or knowing that she was locked up on Zygerria with half a dozen slavers willing to bid her away. It was hard to remember that all of this had happened in a matter of months, and each time he had been as helpless as last.

Rex had almost jumped after her into the depths of the lower levels of Coruscant. His heart had practically slammed against his rib cage as if it too was tempted to fling itself after her. What had stopped him was her own word. She had planned to get herself out of that mess on her own, without her Master’s help, and without him.

Anakin had brought his Captain back to the barracks and suggested he get some rest. “Trust in Ahsoka,” he had told the clone. Rex did. That didn’t stop him from worrying for her the rest of the evening. He would have torn out his hair if it had been long enough; the entire Republic thought that Ahsoka Tano was a criminal. Even if he himself should have believed it with all of the evidence stacked against her, he couldn’t stop himself from insisting to every sympathetic brother who approached him that she would never have bombed the temple, never would have killed innocent clones.

He didn’t sleep.

It was early, perhaps just before sunrise, when his comm rang incessantly. “Rex,” Anakin’s voice gasped, piercing through the clone’s drowsy haze. “They found her. They’re taking her in.”

The clone came with the General to retrieve her; the Wolf Pack boys had found her in a warehouse filled with the same explosives that had killed the Jedi in the Temple. Rex still told himself that it had been a coincidence. He knew that girl. He knew her tells for when she lied. She had not lied. She would never do such a thing.

She had been stunned and set up against the back wall of the ship. Rex had held her up gently by her shoulder and studied her lifeless face. She was covered in swaths of dust, her clothing ruffled and skin scuffed. She wore the expression of someone tormented while they slept; clearly, the stun bolt had not eased her torture. Rex had only seen her like this a select few times before, and always when she had a brush with death. He had to concentrate and feel the pulse in her neck to remind himself that she was still alive. Though wherever she was going, he wasn’t sure it would be any better.

The Padawan stirred as they landed at the prison; as the Coruscant guards dragged her away, she cast the Captain a sad glance before they shoved her forward and out of his vision.

Rex felt like crying out of frustration. But they wouldn’t listen to anything he had to say about her innocence.

“You should go back to the barracks again. It looks like you haven’t slept a wink,” Skywalker told his Captain again with a sympathetic pat on the shoulder plate. He hadn’t, and though he would have stood outside until he could see her next, he knew that would be pointless. It was up to the court to decide her fate.

He did end up sleeping, but it was only out of pure exhaustion. It was only for an hour or two, and just at the time the sun would begin to rise, Rex received a private message from Anakin. She left, It simply read. It took a lot of begging, but eventually, the clone was able to squeeze her location out of the General. He couldn’t let her walk out… not before he could talk to her.

He caught up to her at the very bottom of the grand steps that lead up to the Jedi temple. Anakin had returned to whatever business he had next to attend a while ago, but somehow she had yet to leave the Temple behind. She stood still, her face tilted up to the sunrise. She looked impossibly resigned despite the tears in her eyes as if she had already accepted her fate. He was almost hesitant to call out her name; she was clearly deep in thought, perhaps enjoying the last few moments where she could see the same view as the Temple she had once trained in. “Ahsoka.”

The Togruta slowly turned at her name. Her expression did not change, but the corners of her lips rose. “Rex,” she breathed.

The clone stopped on one of the steps instead of meeting her; he tore off his bucket and tucked it into his side. “I had to come see you,” he explained softly. “I… I heard what happened.” With a sigh, he decided he had to ask. “How can you leave, Ahsoka? Right in the middle of the war?” How can you leave me, after all we have been through?

Now she really looked like she was on the verge of tears. “I had to. I couldn’t stay,” she insisted miserably. “There is something wrong with the Council. It’s not the Order I knew. They didn’t believe me, Rex. They thought I had killed people.” She sniffed angrily and wiped her nose. “They’re corrupt. I couldn’t stay in an Order that is so obviously wrong.” Her chest heaved as she sighed a heavy, calming breath.

“Then you need to correct it,” Rex protested desperately. “If they really are wrong, then they won’t realize it. You can’t abandon them now, Ahsoka. Please. Don’t abandon your troops. Your Master. Me.” Maybe it was selfish to plead, but it was very rarely that Rex had ever wanted circumstances to change so badly.

“There is nothing I can do. I’m only one Padawan.” Ahsoka shook her head and hugged herself even tighter. She was shivering. “And I’m sorry. I really am. I never wanted this to happen!” Now she was outright sobbing. “Please understand, Rex. I don’t think I could live If I knew you hated me.”

Finally, the clone finished the descent to the bottom step where Ahsoka stood. He was still taller than her, though it seemed that she grew every day. Her face; still scuffed, streaked with tears and utterly stretched with despair, seemed to imprint itself in his head. He wished he could make her smile again and chase away everything that had pained her. All he could do, however, was try and assure her. “I believed in your innocence. I really did.” With everyone against her, it had to be a nice thing to hear.

“I know you did,” the Padawan answered quietly. Hesitantly, with a feather-light touch, she reached out and slipped her fingers through Rex’s. “You’re a good person,” she complimented as she brought his hands to her chest. “Better than I. I have to go, Rex. There are things I need to sort out, and I have to do it alone.”

He felt reality itself was slipping like a boulder down a hill. He had never imagined what it might be like to not have the likeable Togruta by his side. “I… don’t know how I will fare without you.” The pain he felt was unlike any that he had experienced before; no tumble, strike or explosion had ever caused an ache like when Ahsoka had told him she was leaving. It was as if a giant hole had replaced the organs in his chest, which was then filled with the weight of his emotions.

Ahsoka just shook her head. “This has been the hardest choice I have ever made.” It was whispered through tears and a trembling lip. “Be strong, Rex. And I promise we will meet again.” With an entirely sad expression, eyes wide and glistening with a hand that curved around the plates of his arm for just a moment, it was clear she was in as much despair as he.

Rex had wanted to tell her something at that moment, though what he had wanted to say slipped off of his tongue. He merely remained silent as the Togruta leaned forward and he met her gesture. Pressing their foreheads together, hands still clutched desperately, the clone decided this was how he wanted to remember her. Not as the framed innocent who had fought for the truth despite all odds. Not the mature, brave warrior that had made a difficult choice, but instead a caring, emotional friend who was always ready to show her love.

He watched her go and tried very hard to collect his thoughts. They jumbled and stirred in his mind, flinging emotions throughout his already aching body. Nobody contacted him to ask where he had disappeared to. Maybe, somehow, they knew, because when the captain returned to the barracks and announced the newest change, his brothers merely dipped their heads in reverie. They didn’t offer condolences, but Kix did ask if he cared for a sleeping aid. Rex denied it. He didn’t need sleep. He had only needed her.

There was still a flurry of emotions clouding his judgment when the Captain awoke in the medbay after sleeping off the anesthetic his troops had stuck in him. Rest had not helped. He still was completely aware that his Commander was unfairly ripped away from everything she had loved. He was getting tired of feeling so much pain and sorrow, all in a short span of time. Pushing them down only worsened the emotion that he had always struggled the most with hiding; anger. The shadows closed in, and he felt as hopeless then as he did under Krell’s command.

He might have punched in a wall if he hadn’t thought about what Ahsoka might have said. She might suggest he talk about his frustration, or have a drink of tea over a mediation session. She would have told him not to be upset at something he couldn’t change. She would have made him forget out the circumstances with a joke and a fanged grin.

But now she was gone. The light was gone. There would be nothing to chase away the darkness, and nothing would ever be the same without her.

[melancholicumsomnia]

The Redeemers (A Mandalorian Fanfic) Chapter 1

All warnings/pairings and other info to follow per chapter. For now, this is safe reading for everyone.

To @pedrocentric, here’s the first chapter of the fic I told you about as promised. Hope you like it!

THE REDEEMERS

 By Rory

Chapter One: The Missing

Wild Space… Despite its reputation for lawlessness and chaos, this unmapped region of the Outer Rims was, in truth, quite peaceful, quite settled to remain a mystery, to continue to be relatively untouched by the seemingly never-ending conflict within the Galaxy. Even those rare incursions by both Jedi and Sith did not shatter the veil that surrounded the region.

So, it was within this great expanse that an Imperial Gozanti-class freighter materialized as though from out of thin air, a muffled bang announcing its arrival from hyperspace. The sight of any Imperial starship would’ve been cause for panic, but it seemed that the untamed Force that deeply permeated the region recognized the ship as a friendly one. For those who are sensitive to its workings, it seemed that the Force itself was eagerly, perhaps even desperately, awaiting these visitors.

Indeed, there were no Imps inside the freighter which, despite its size, was presently manned by a crew of three and a single passenger.

At the freighter’s bridge, the two Mandalorian pilots glided the ship to a slow stop, letting it settle among the stars, waiting. The Jedi standing behind them was certainly waiting with growing impatience, her dark slender gloved arms folded over her chest.

“We’re here,” the pilot quietly announced, setting the freighter on a hover.

“Wherever here is,” the Jedi muttered under her breath. She gazed outside the window. “Somehow though, this place, these stars, they seem familiar to me…” The Jedi shook off her unease. “Are you going to tell me now what this is all about? Why you have dragged me away from my quest?”

At these insistent questions, the Mandalorian sighed. “Take the controls, Reeves,” she told her co-pilot as she swiveled her chair around to face the Jedi. Bo-Katan took off her helmet and leaned forward, elbows on knees. “I did not…drag…you away from your quest, and you know it. I have spoken with Sabine and she told me that the two of you were on layover, that the last lead you had on Ezra Bridger has turned cold.”

Ashoka’s full lips twitched in a sulky pout. “I didn’t want to give up.”

“I know you didn’t. Sabine did too. But the two of you needed a fresh start, more so some time to rest and recoup after years of searching.” Bo shrugged. “I thought a brief distraction…” She spread her arms wide to the star-lit expanse behind her. “That…this…was in order.”

“But you still haven’t told me what ‘this’ is. I never figured you to be the cryptic type, Bo.”

“Do you remember that Mandalorian I sent to find you in Corvus?”

Ahsoka’s brows lifted. “He helped me defeat Morgan Elsbeth and free Calodan. Is this about the Child he was with?”

“The Child is in the safe hands of a Jedi. No, this matter is about him specifically. The Mandalorian Din Djarin has been missing for the past eight years.”

The Jedi’s mouth gaped open at that shocking revelation. Before Ahsoka could further question her friend and comrade, Axe Woves entered the bridge. “It’s acting up again.”

Bo nodded towards the Jedi. “Take General Tano with you, Woves. I’m sure she would like to see what we have in the cargo hold.”

Ahsoka’s eyes widened at that remark but didn’t say anything more, choosing to follow Woves outside the bridge instead.

With the Jedi gone, Bo turned her seat around and pounded her fists on the console. “Damn you, Din Djarin! How could you do this to me?”

“Maybe now is the time that we should give up on him,” Koska Reeves put in beside her. “Even back then, he made it very clear to us what his priority was.”

Between gritted teeth, Bo retorted, “No, we can’t. Not until the matter of that…thing…in the cargo hold is resolved.”

“But…what if…” Koska began, but then shook her head, unable to finish. “Never mind.”

Bo didn’t ask. She knew what was going through the Nite Owl’s mind. What if you were never meant to wield it?

In just a few minutes, a shaken Ahsoka returned to the bridge. She was rubbing her gloved hands together. From where she was sitting, Bo could see the scorch marks on the Jedi’s fingers. But what Ahsoka said next, surprised her.

“You must turn back now, Bo.”

“We can’t.”

“The pulsating lights on the blade…” the Jedi began nervously. “…They are cycling a set of coordinates in this area. A place which should not exist, at least not anymore!”

“Why—”

“WHAT IS THAT?” Koska gasped beside her.

The two women gazed outside and they could not contain similar gasps. Floating before them was a gigantic octahedron monolith that appeared out of nowhere.

“Something’s wrong,” Ahsoka stared at the ominous figure ahead. “The last time I saw that thing, it was a dull red color. But now, it’s flashing green and red, as if…”

“As if what?!”

The Jedi’s next words came out as a breathless whisper. “As if the Light and Dark Sides of the Force are waging war inside it.” She gripped Bo’s shoulder and squeezed it hard. “Take us away from it…NOW!”

Bo-Katan and Koska didn’t hesitate as they began pushing buttons and flicking switches. “Reversing thrusters…”

But before they could retreat even a single inch, they were shot by a beam of light, blinding them and numbing their minds into blank oblivion.

                                              * * * * * * * * * *

When Ashoka returned to consciousness – shaking off the cobwebs in her head with a groan – it was to find Bo-Katan and Koska already marching out of the bridge.

Trust a Mandalorian to bounce back so quickly, she thought wryly as she hurried off after the two warriors.

Emerging from the freighter, the Jedi did a quick survey of the planet she had visited – albeit unwillingly – many years back. Much of the Mortis landscape remained the same but with a few distinctive differences. The rapid shifting of the seasons marked by the growth and death of vegetation, the dark, craggy landscape but with more of those glowing crystalline trees as if something – or someone – was feeding greater amounts of energy to them. Ahsoka’s jaw dropped though at the sight of the monastery still standing intact on its solitary mountaintop a short distance away. At the base of the mountain were the ruined, rusty remains of a Gauntlet starship.

“That’s impossible!” she exclaimed, going to Bo’s side. “The last time I saw that monastery, a giant crystal crashed into its tower!”

“Well, it’s still there,” Bo remarked nonchalantly. “The coordinates point to that exact spot,” she pointed at the monastery. She turned to Koska. “You stay here with Woves and keep an eye on…”

Koska gave her commander a simple nod before striding back inside the freighter.

To Ahsoka, Bo said, “Let’s go.”

Using a pair of speeder bikes, Bo-Katan and Ahsoka arrived at their destination. As they climbed the high steps, they both pulled out their weapons – Bo, a pair of blasters, and Ahsoka, her lightsabers. But as they entered the monastery, neither of them was prepared for the sight that greeted them.

In the great throne room, lying curled up in a fetal position on the dais, was the still figure of the Mandalorian they had been searching for. Although his beskar armor gleamed like new, his clothes underneath and his cape were in tatters. His gloved hands were clenched tightly into fists. The hollows on the floor beneath his hands were deep from the punches that he had driven into the tiles. Ahsoka was stunned to see Din Djarin surrounded by battling tendrils of green and red energy. She saw how the red tendrils would caress that curled form, sometimes piercing through his gleaming beskar armor. The green tendrils would swat those questing arms away and shield the Mandalorian in what could only be described as tenderness.

“How are we going to get him?” Bo eyed those waving arms warily.

Hearing that intent, an angry hiss filled the air and dark red tentacles suddenly reached out from beneath the bridge they were standing on. Stepping before Bo-Katan, Ahsoka sliced through those grabbing, piercing arms with her lightsabers.

“Stay back!” Ahsoka warned as Bo took a single step towards that still form. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but let me handle this!”

Great was her surprise when a red tendril that was coming up behind her was blocked by a long, slender green arm. Whirling, she saw that the green tendril emanated from a glowing emerald force shield which covered Din Djarin.

Closing her eyes, Ahsoka raised her hand and reached out to that sentient green shield. “You summoned us here, didn’t you? We have come for the Mandalorian. Let us take him.”

Understanding her command, the green tendrils burst from the shield and spread outwards, pushing the red tendrils back. Bo and Ahsoka hurried over to the Mandalorian.

Ahsoka touched the pulse at his neck and breathed a sigh of relief. “He’s alive, at least.” To confirm this, she saw the Mandalorian’s right fist clench weakly. She was about to remove his helmet, but Bo stopped him.

“Let me do it,” Bo said at the Jedi’s inquiring look. “Djarin would probably want a fellow Mandalorian to remove his helmet.” As Ahsoka moved to the side, Bo-Katan gently lifted the helmet, revealing Din Djarin’s face.

In the years that the Mandalorian went missing, Bo was expecting Din Djarin to have aged somewhat, considering all the trials he had gone through. However, the Din Djarin lying before them looked the same age as he did the first time that they met him. The only signs of aging on him were the locks of silver gray hair that formed an arch above his forehead and the scraggly, patchy beard that grew on his face. That brow was presently etched with deep lines of pain, his eyes squeezed shut.

Ahsoka touched his forehead and flinched, drawing her hand back as though burned. “We must get him out of here now! This place is killing him!”

“Wha— I don’t understand?”

The Jedi let out a frustrated groan. “Why hadn’t I seen it back then? Din Djarin, the Child, the bond he had with Grogu…and now…the Darksaber….”

“Dank farrik, Ahsoka! Explain yourself! What’s wrong with him?”

Ahsoka bit down on her lip to clear her mind of these troubling thoughts. “I’ll explain everything later. Perhaps we need to do some tests on him. I don’t know! But what I’m certain of is that both the Light and Dark Sides of Force are battling for control over him. If he stays here on Mortis any longer, he will die!”

Bo’s face hardened. Her questions would have to wait. Together, they carried the Mandalorian out of the throne room, heading towards the main doors. As they crossed the twilit bridge, the green tendrils formed a protective tunnel around them, keeping the flailing red tendrils at bay. As soon as they descended the steps, there was a low, ominous rumbling.

As she secured the Mandalorian to the seat behind Bo, Ahsoka trained her gaze upward. She let out a gasp at the sight of the monastery’s crumbling tower. Not only that, the entire planet of Mortis was collapsing all around them. Ahsoka realized then that it was Din Djarin who had been keeping the planet intact.

Before the Jedi could get on her speeder, a large piece of masonry dropped down, crushing it.

“Come on!” Bo shouted. “This bike can handle all three of us!” She then barked into her commlink, “Take off now, Reeves! We’re heading your way!”

Kickstarting the speeder bike, Bo sped off with Ahsoka jumping on behind her, the Mandalorian sandwiched between them. As the planet crumbled around them, they made their way through the craggy landscape, dodging rocks and swerving through rock formations that seemed to block their path at every turn. As larger rocks and floating crystals started falling down on them, Ahsoka leaped to her feet on the speeder’s seat and sliced through the debris with her lightsabers.

Seeing the freighter rushing towards them, Bo revved up the bike. She could not help the approving grin that formed on her face when Koska turned the freighter 360 degrees so that the open hatch of the cargo hold gaped before them. With effortless ease, Bo rode the speeder into the hold at full speed, coming to a halt a mere few inches from the wall at the far end. As soon as they were safe inside the freighter and the hatch closed, Koska engaged full thrusters and blasted off into orbit. Again, they were enveloped in a bright white light.

They emerged, fully conscious this time, into open space, only to jerk forward as explosive waves washed over them. Looking out of the cargo hold’s little window, Ahsoka saw only the red debris of the now destroyed Mortis portal, zipping past them from where it once was.

“Ahsoka…”

Turning, the Jedi saw Bo-Katan standing beside the speeder bike, supporting the limp form of Din Djarin.

Nodding grimly, Ahsoka said, “Let’s take him to the med center.”

 TO BE CONTINUED

[ayo-cowbelly]

The Things We Do For Love ~ Part Four

Previous part ~ next part ~ masterlist 

IM BACK! haha sorry this took so long, life got in the way 

But anyways: here is part four! Only one more part left to go, I hope everyone reading enjoyed this! I LOVE getting comments with thoughts, they honestly make my day :) 

Thank you Wookieepedia, for supplying me with obscure planets to use in my writing.

P.S. i know ‘vode’ isn’t technically an official word in Mando’a. but it’s in a warrior chant and there’s no plural for ‘vod’ (at least on mando’a.org) so guess what i’m using vode as plural.

Taglist (if you want to be added, let me know):

@likeshootingstarsinthenightsky @cacodaemonia @halfblood-demigods @ct7567329

***

Finally, after about two weeks since Order 66, they all rendezvoused over Aeos Prime. Their ‘group’ had grown in size- the 212th had been contacted by the 327th, the 104th, along with the 501st. The Senators’ ship and the Negotiator were the first to arrive, however. 

The first thing Padmé did when she saw Obi-Wan again was pull him close and hug him, tight. It was rushed, clumsy, and hard to do considering how pregnant she was, but they both needed it. 

“How are you holding up, Padmé?” Her friend asked as they walked to the bridge of the Negotiator.

“As well as I can be, in the grand scheme of things. My old mentor is a Sith and now Emperor, the Republic has fallen, everyone thinks I’ve been kidnapped and maybe murdered, the Jedi have been- well, you know…” 

Obi-Wan placed a gentle hand on her arm. “I meant, how are you holding up concerning Anakin.” 

Oh. Apparently, Vader was a hero to the Empire, having recognized the threat the Jedi posed and “taking care of it”. They weren’t officially releasing his true identity, though some already knew, according to what she’d heard from her contacts. Anakin had been featured prominently on the holonet during the years he was at war, he was bound to be recognized. 

Though he seemed almost like a different person now, even by just looking at the holonet. No, even before this, something changed. Something had been off the last few weeks, she’d noticed that much. Ever since he started having those horrible visions of her dying. 

Padmé glanced over at Obi-Wan, who’d know if she lied, so she didn’t bother trying. “It’s been hard. But I’ll manage.” 

“Padmé, I know you two were… involved, for lack of a better word.” 

The Senator faced him, excuses coming to mind -a reflex, after three years of marriage- but she couldn’t keep the tell-tale redness off her cheeks. 

“You knew?” 

“Of course I knew,” Obi-Wan replied simply, as if it wasn’t a big deal at all. And the way he said it, so nonchalantly, relaxed Padmé ever so slightly. “Anakin is anything but subtle. He always did look at you like you hung the stars- it was hard not to notice it, honestly.” 

Well. That was that, apparently. Padmé watched as Obi-Wan looked out the windows, and she studied his face; the slight downturn of his lips, the shadows of worry lines etched into his brow, the dark circles under his eyes. 

He looked tired. 

Maybe he always had, and Padmé had never noticed. Anakin would’ve noticed, she was certain. He always admonished her for working too much- surely he did the same for one of his oldest friends? 

Or maybe he didn’t, Padmé wondered, as she stepped up beside her friend and faced the expanse outside. She thought of Anakin’s irritation in regards to Obi-Wan, getting more and more frequent in the last few weeks- months, even. 

“Obi-Wan, what are we going to do?” Padmé asked quietly, keeping her eyes forward. 

Obi-Wan, who was always so calm, never a hair out of place -Obi-Wan, a Jedi Master, High General, never without a plan or a comeback- reached one hand up to rub his chin as he sighed. 

“To be perfectly honest, my friend, I’m not sure I know.” 

*** 

Four Senators, four Commanders, two Jedi, and one former Jedi,. 

They were a motley crew, but they’d take what they could get, Cody figured. 

After all, they were going up against something entirely different from what they were used to. The eleven of them had been tossing around ideas for hours, crowded in the briefing room as they were. Nobody had come up with a solid plan yet. 

Commander Tano (no, not Commander, she insisted on it- but what else was he to call her?) was the next to pipe up. “What if we just… lay siege?” She suggested, sounding exhausted. As she leaned on the console, Cody noticed Rex placing a hand on her shoulder. All that time away, and she’s still his vod’ika, Cody remarked to himself. In a way, it was a comforting thought; it was nice to know know that at least one thing hadn’t changed. 

“We can’t lay siege to Coruscant,” Obi-Wan said, equally as worn out, and Cody wanted to take his jetii into his arms and shield him from the galaxy, the galaxy that asked so much of him. Cody pushed the wanting away, shoved it down until it was nothing more than a silent hum in his bones. He concentrated on his General’s words. “There are too many things that could go wrong. For one, we are terribly outnumbered here. Two, they’d see us coming immediately, and the civilians-” 

Commander Tano cut him off. “I know we can’t do it, I just- well, we can’t sit here and do nothing. Something needs to be done about Palpatine.” “I know that, Ahsoka, believe me.” 

The two of them had been slightly at odds with each other for most of the two days Tano and the 501st had been on board. Cody didn’t ask, and neither of them brought it up. But it was there.

Senator Organa, ever the voice of reason, chimed in. “Before we do anything concerning Palpatine, we should handle Lord Vader,” the atmosphere of the room darkened considerably at the name. Senator Amidala’s face fell, Commander Tano wrapped her arms around herself, Rex glared at the floor, and Obi-Wan looked ashen. Nobody needed to mention who Vader had once been, for they already knew. And the answer was nothing short of horrifying. 

Senator Organa went on. “My contacts say Vader barely leaves the Emperor’s side. That will prove to be a problem for us. Sky- Vader is very powerful, and a great threat.” 

“You think we should try to get him away from the Emperor, then?” Senator Mothma asked. “Only something of considerable importance would do that. And we can’t be sure the Emperor wouldn’t come along, to keep an eye on things.” 

“It’d be illogical for him to go, Senator.” Bly said, speaking for only the third time. Cody was extremely worried about his batchmate. The first time they’d seen each other after the Order went out, Bly looked pale and haunted. Cody recognized the look, one he’d seen on many other soldiers- survivor’s guilt. But this was so much worse. Cody knew, to a certain degree, about Bly and General Secura; he also knew what must have happened on Felucia, but he didn’t say anything. Him, along with Rex and Wolffe, just took Bly to Cody’s quarters and got out the alcohol. 

Bly’s voice was quiet but strong. “The Emperor wouldn’t accompany him- he needs to stay on Coruscant, keep the Senate in line. Plus, if Vader was going somewhere dangerous, Palpatine wouldn’t want to endanger himself.” 

“Agree with the Commander, I do,” General Yoda said. “Unnecessary danger, he would not put himself in.” 

“What if Vader brings along any troopers?” Cody bristled at Senator Chuchi’s words. Empire or no, Cody would not hurt brothers, and he knew the other Commanders would agree. And he was sure that if any of the vode were fighting for the Empire, they weren’t doing it willingly.

“With all due respect, Senator, I won’t order the men to fight brothers.” Cody met her eyes, which softened. 

“And I’m not asking you to, Commander. But if we are to do something about Vader, we need to get him by himself.” 

“I’ll message him to meet me.” Senator Amidala looked around at them all. “He’ll come alone if I tell him to.” 

“Absolutely not-”

“Padmé, you can’t-” 

“Senator, please don’t-”

She quieted the objections with a raised hand. “It’s the only way,” she declared. Many of the others opened their mouth to disagree, but she plowed on. “He’ll listen to me. And I can get through to him, I know it.” The last part was said with the smallest twinge of uncertainty, but Senator Amidala remained stoic. “And I’m not changing my mind.” 

“Then I’m coming with you.” Cody whipped his head to where Obi-Wan was next to him. “You’ll need protection.” 

“He won’t hurt me-” “Then consider me paranoid. I won’t interfere, but I won’t let you go alone,” Obi-Wan assured her. 

“And neither will I.” Commander Tano looked up at her old Grandmaster’s widened eyes. “If it is... if it’s him, I need to make sure.” A flicker of pain in her eyes, though she remained steady.

Obi-Wan didn’t disagree with the now-forming plan. But Cody did. 

“Sirs,” Cody started, ignoring Tano’s obvious objection to the phrase, “I have to ask you to reconsider. This could potentially go very, very wrong, and we need you here-” 

“Nothing will happen to us, Cody, I assure you,” Obi-Wan said to him. 

“Every time you say that, General, something happens that proves otherwise.” 

Obi-Wan crossed his arms. “Not every time-” 

“Almost every time, General, and this time if something were to go wrong- there is a chance you won’t come back.” Cody’s helmet was off, like the other three clones, so Obi-Wan could definitely read the myriad of emotions in the Commander’s eyes. His General reached out and placed a hand on Cody’s shoulder, and for a moment, Cody forgot the others were there. 

Obi-Wan, softer now, held Cody’s gaze. “Cody,” he said softly. “I’ll be fine, I promise.” Obi-Wan seemed to read Cody’s mind. “But you can’t come with. I need you here, to watch over things while I’m gone.” The last time you told me that, you faked your death, Cody wanted to say. Instead, he nodded and turned away. They hadn’t spoken about that night a week ago, in Obi-Wan’s quarters. They both acted like it never happened- the opposite of what Cody wanted, but he knew it was what had to be done. But when Obi-Wan spoke like that, soft and gentle and caring, Cody couldn’t help but want something more-

Rex spoke up, interrupting Cody’s internal plight. “General, I have an idea.” 

*** 

Padmé landed the shuttle on Abafar’s desert terrain, nerves getting the best of her. She didn’t know who would meet her there- Anakin, or Vader. She preferred to think of them as two different people. Ani would never do what they said Vader did. 

Padmé tried to repress the memory that sprang to mind- one of Tatooine, and a body wrapped in gray, and Anakin with tears in his eyes, yelling about what he’d done to the Tusken Raiders for what they did to his mother.

Or more recently, when he had walked in Clovis almost kissing her. She remembered what he’d done, what he came close to doing.

He’d gone too far that night. “It’s just, something inside me snapped,” He had said.

She knew that happened often, more often than he told her. “I don’t know who’s in there sometimes,” She whispered back.  

That was truer than she’d like to admit. A small, small part of Padmé wondered-

No. He couldn’t. 

Right? 

She stood up and looked to both Obi-Wan and Ahoska, both as much her family as anyone, and made to exit the ship. 

Ahsoka grabbed her elbow, stopping her. “Padmé, please, be safe.” Padmé smiled kindly, and hugged the Togruta close. 

“I’ll be okay, Ahoska, I promise.”

Obi-Wan didn’t say anything, just met her eyes and nodded, gesturing half-heartedly to the ship’s door. Padmé steeled herself and went outside.  The air was very hot, and she silently thanked herself for the decision to wear light clothing. 

She only had to wait a few minutes before another shuttle, one that looked to be Imperial, landed not too far away. A lone figure approached, and she knew without a doubt who it was. 

But when they got closer, she wasn’t so sure. She could see their face, and she did not recognize it. They looked cold and detached, almost fearsome, and the uncertainty she tried to get rid of flared inside her. She would never be nervous around her husband. This person, whoever he was, was a stranger to her.

Padmé could now see his eyes, which were not the usual bright blue. They were golden. This was not her husband. It couldn’t be.

But she had to try. 

“Ani?”

[in-love-with-darth-vader]

Aggressive Negotiations Episode 2: Old Friends

Hello!!! It’s been a little bit and due to some personal issues I haven’t been able to write, so I’m not sure how good this part is, but I still wanted to post something!

“Padme! It’s been so long, how have you been?”

“Satine!”

*the two friends hug briefly*

“This is a lovely gathering. I’m having a wonderful time.”

“Oh, good, I’m very glad.”

*padme realizes Anakin is still standing awkwardly next to her*

“Oh! I’m sorry. Satine, I’m sure you remember Jedi Knight Skywalker.”

“Indeed. Hello Anakin.”

“Nice to see you. If I would’ve known the Duchess of Mandalore was coming, I would’ve made sure my Master was here too. It’s very unprofessional of us, I apologize.”

*he said this with a smirk and you just KNOW he’s stirring the pot*

“Hmmm, yes, I would’ve enjoyed seeing him as well.”

*int. With Anakin*

“I know you want to ask me so yes, I have a plan!”

You have a plan?

“Have you ever seen the parent trap?

Yeah…

“Well, Obi-Wan and Satine are the two parents and I am both the children. Or, maybe Ahsoka can be the other one. That’s not relevant. Anyway, now that I know Satine is here, I need to get her and Obi-Wan back together. Operation Parent Trap is a go!”

Is there a reason for this plan?

“Look, I love Obi-Wan. He’s like an older brother. Perhaps a father figure. In another lifetime, we may have even been lovers. In short, I want him to be happy. I know he loves the Jedi Order, but I also know he still loves Satine. I’m gonna have to get Padme and Ahsoka in on this.”

*back to the scene*

“Yeah, maybe you can leave with us later and we can all hang out.”

“Perhaps. Well, Padme, I’ll certainly be back around to speak more with you, but I must go speak to some more people to sway their vote.”

“Of course. See you soon!”

*she turns back to Anakin in a yell-whisper*

“What do you mean his girlfriend?!?!?”

“I would love to tell you now, but I don’t exactly think it would be appropriate to tell all the senators and the Chancellor about Obi-Wan’s past, maybe current secret relationship.”

“Okay. Good point. But you’re spilling it all the second we get home!”

“Definitely.”

*int. With Padme*

“I cannot believe this! Look, I’ve known Obi-Wan for a long time, and since Anakin is his Padawan I know him very well. So Anakin telling me that Obi-Wan, The Jedi Master Golden Boy, the most perfect Jedi there ever was, BROKE THE RULES for love and attachment is utterly unbelievable. I mean, this whole time Anakin and I have been hiding and sneaking around when Obi-Wan has been doing this for years?!?! I’m speechless.”

*intro and title card*

“You know, you should try to set Satine up with someone next time she’s over here.”

“What good would that do? I thought you wanted her and Obi-Wan to get back together.”

“I do. But everyone thinks she’s single, so we have to keep up that ruse. If you offer to set her up with someone, she’ll have to make up insane excuses and that will prove she’s not over Obi-Wan!”

“I don’t know, Ani. Seems a bit manipulative of our friends. It feels wrong.”

“Nonsense. The manipulation of our friends is for their benefit, so it’s fine.”

“Okay, fine. But I’m only doing this because I still don’t fully believe you that Obi-Wan was ever secretly in love with someone!”

“That’s fine, cause by the end of the night you’ll believe it.”

*they split off. Padme seeks out satine and Anakin stays by the snack table to watch this all unfold. Also, the cocktail weenies. Luckily for Padme, satine is leaning against a wall near a window looking outside and she’s alone.*

“Enjoying the view?”

“Ah, yes. I’ve always loved looking over Coruscant at night. It’s beautiful. Every time I’m here I end up looking out at the night sky longingly.”

*int with Padme*

“Okay, so she’s clearly been here many times. I only know of a few official times that she’s been here for political business, so she’s definitely been here for personal reasons.”

*back to the scene*

“I agree. It’s a pleasure to get to live here. Although Mandalore is gorgeous as well.”

“Indeed.”

“So, you know Anakin already?”

“Oh, yes. Last time I was here, Obi,…….Wan Kenobi introduced us. He’s a very interesting man. He and his master seem to care about each other greatly though.”

“Yes they do indeed. They get in each other’s hair from time to time but they are very close.”

“It seems like you’re very close to him too, no?”

“Yeah, I met Anakin when we were children, and we’ve been friends ever since. In fact,

*she pulls out her necklace revealing it to be the one we all know from the phantom menace*

“he made me this when he was nine.”

“Hmm, friends? It seems as if it’s more than that. How long have you been together?”

“Oh! No! Uh, no we’re not-it’s not….I’m single actually. Not interested in anyone. And he’s a Jedi, so….”

“So they can’t love. No attachments. Trust me, I know. Although, that’s never stopped anyone from breaking those rules, hmm?”

“I suppose so, but no, I’m not currently seeing anyone. How about you? Any secret Jedi lovers?”

*satine coughs and chokes on her drink at that making Padme smirk evilly*

“Oh, no! No, definitely not. In fact, I’m not seeing anyone either. Not interested. Completely content by myself. In fact, I haven’t been with someone since I was nineteen.”

“That many years by yourself! What do you say I set you up with someone? I know some great people.”

“Oh, no, I think I’ll pass, Padme.”

“Aw, come on! It’ll be fun.”

“Perhaps we could go on a double date then?”

“What?”

*int with satine*

“I know Padme and Anakin are together. There’s no way she’ll agree to going on a double first date with me because she’s already seeing Anakin. Therefore I won’t have to go either.”

Is there a reason that you don’t want to go?

“.......that’s unimportant.”

*back to the scene*

“Oh, you know, if you’re going to set me up with someone, I might as well do the same for you! So what do you say? We’re both single, we could both go on a date, yes?”

*panic is clear on Padme’s face. We switch to an int. with Padme*

“What the hell is she doing?!?!? If I don’t accept, then it looks like I’m hiding something! If I do accept, then I’ll have to go on a date! And not with my husband! But we need to get to the bottom of this!”

*back to the scene*

“Of course! Sounds like a fun time!”

*int. with satine*

“....Haar'chak.”

*back to scene*

“Great! Luckily I’m here on Coruscant for the rest of the week! Just let me know when!”

“Will do! See you later, Satine!”

*padme walks back over to Anakin*

“So?”

“So I have good news and bad news.”

“What’s the good news?”

“Good news is that you’re totally right. She’s hiding something. Bad news is that she agreed to go on the date, so now I do have to set her up with someone.”

“Alright, that’s not so bad-“

“There’s worse news.”

“...what happened?”

“She definitely knows we’re together and in order to prove it she suggested setting me up with someone too on a double first date! She was trying to get me to say no to spill the details of our relationship!”

“Okay, but you did say no, right?”

*padme looks down at the floor away from Anakin*

“Right???”

“I had to say yes! I’m sorry! I wasn’t going to expose us and get you expelled!”

*anakin sighs*

“Okay. Okay fine. But tomorrow, you, Ahsoka, and I are getting to the bottom of this and making a plan.”

*we switch now to obi-wan Kenobi. He is exiting a Jedi council meeting when suddenly he stops and closes his eyes. He senses something.*

“Master Kenobi, are you alright?”

“Oh, uh, yes, Master Windu, I’m quite alright.”

“An imbalance in the force, did you feel?”

“Something like that. I just need some rest. I’m off to my quarters now.”

*int. with obi wan*

“I swear I felt her through the force. I haven’t felt it since the Coronet. I must be going crazy. I really do need some rest.”

*he leaves the interview before anyone can inform him that satine is indeed here. we are now back at Anakin and padme’s apartment, the day after the senator gathering. On the couch is Padme and ahsoka. Anakin is standing a few feet away next to a whiteboard with his back turned to them both as he’s writing something down.*

“Padme, what in the galaxy is he up to?”

*before Padme can answer Anakin turns around and interrupts*

“I’m so glad you asked, Snips!”

“What is that????”

*she points to anakin’s torso, more specifically at his shirt. He somehow had time to customize a black t shirt in less than a day’s time.*

“Ah! So you like my shirt!”

“Like isn’t the word I was going to-“

“I’m glad you do! Because you get one too! And so do you, Senator.”

*he smirks and tosses them both the same black t shirt that he’s wearing*

“What the heck is an Obitine? And why are we on its team?”

*anakin steps to the side to reveal the whiteboard. At the top in capital letters it says OPERATION PARENT TRAP: OBITINE EDITION. On his shirt in big white letters is TEAM OBITINE*

“That, my Padawan, is a mashup of Obi-Wan and Satine’s names.”

“But why?”

“Cause they’re in love, Snips. Must I spell this all out for you!”

“Anakin, are you on death sticks? Cause it certainly seems like it. There’s no way Master Obi-Wan has attachments, let alone a lover.”

“I’m gonna prove it to you today. Look, even Padme is in on it.”

“That’s true. I didn’t believe him either until I talked to Satine last night. I attempted to set her up with someone since she claimed she was single, but now we’re stuck because she also called me out on being single. Now there’s going to be a double first date that we need to plan for.”

“Wait a minute, you’re not single??”

*anakin and Padme give each other the ‘oh shit look’*

*int with Anakin and Padme*

“I really shouldn’t have let that slip.”

“Great. Now we have to not only get you a fake date for a day but now we have to get you a fake date for forever!”

Or you could just, tell ahsoka you guys are together, right?

*in sync* “NO!”

“Who knows who she’ll tell! Too many people already know!”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean too many people know? Who knows other than us?”

“Well other than me and you, I’m 90% sure Obi-Wan does, Satine definitely does, I guarantee that Rex knows by now and maybe more of the 501st and probably Cody too. And Ahsoka might too! Plus Artoo and Threepio if you count them.”

“Oh, for Force sake, Anakin.”

“I’m not the one who told Ahsoka I was seeing someone!”

“I’m sorry! We’ll just keep it super secret and not tell her much. It’ll be fiiiine.”

*back to the scene*

“Well, yes, Ahsoka, I am, but it’s very secret and not super official, so I don’t really tell anyone. I do trust you though, so I’m sure you won’t tell anyone, yes?”

“Oh, of course Padme! No problem. So, we have to find you a fake date since you can’t take your real one and we have to find a fake date for Satine?”

“Well, my date is up to Satine, but otherwise yes.”

“Great. Let’s do this!”

“Glad you’re on board, Snips. But first, we really have to figure out whatever the hell is going on between Obi-Wan and Satine.”

*he writes and draws on the board*

“Ta da!”

“Is that supposed to be Obi-Wan and Satine?”

“Yes. It’s obvious. These are great drawings. Anyway. What do we know about their relationship is the question. Anyone wanna contribute first?”

“Well, last night, she definitely slipped up and called him ‘Obi.’ She casually said Obi, realized it, and then slipped in ‘Wan Kenobi.’”

“Calls him Obi! Great!”

*he writes that down on the board*

“Oh! And she’s definitely been to Coruscant on her own personal business before. Like, many times.”

“Thank you for your contribution, Padme. Now, since I’m his former Padawan and best friend, I know a lot more about their past. Sadly not a lot but at least more than you guys do.”

“Yeah, which is why I’m confused as to why I’m here.”

“Because you have to understand everything so that you can be in on this plan, my impatient Padawan. Here’s what I know. I know that when they were both nineteen, they were on the run together on a mission that the Jedi Council assigned Obi-Wan and his master Qui Gon. I also know that something happened between them during that year, I just know it. Obi-Wan hinted at it and assured me it was ‘all in the past,’ but that’s definitely a lie. I mean, they were nineteen, on the run, and had to keep everything a secret. Nothing’s more romantic than that.”

*he writes this down as he speaks*

*ahsoka gives the camera a look like ??? as Anakin winks at Padme who rolls her eyes*

*int with ahsoka*

“Did he just….?? Did Anakin?? Did he just wink at the Senator???? Is he really flirting with Padme while talking about Obi-Wan’s relationship??? He really needs to get over this crush.”

*back to the scene*

“Aaannnyway. Yeah. Something happened during that year.”

“Wait, Ani, did you say they were both 19 during that time?”

“Uh, yeah, why?”

“Satine told me last night that she hadn’t been in a relationship since she was 19 years old!”

“See Snips!!! See!!! I told you!!”

“Okay, you have a point there.”

“I have the best proof, though. Something I haven’t told anyone. Obi-Wan doesn’t know that I overheard him and Satine on the Coronet. Satine thought she was going to die. She told him that she’s always loved him. Obi-Wan was hesitant, but he told her that he would’ve left the Jedi Order if she would have asked him. He would’ve left the Jedi Order!!”

“Why didn’t you START wIth that?? That’s kriffing insane! Obi-Wan said that??? Our Obi-Wan.”

“That Obi-Wan, yes. You should’ve seen him before that. He was a nervous wreck. And he was flirting with her!”

“Alright, master. I’m on board. Operation Obitine is a go. Let’s do this!”

*switch to obi wan. he’s walking down a hallway in the senate building at night. No one else is there due to how late it is. He can’t sleep. He decides to go out onto a balcony that he’s particularly fond of to watch the chaos of Coruscant at night.*

“I should’ve known you’d be here. This is where we’d watch the sunrise whenever I was visiting.”

*he turns around*

“Satine??”

“I’ve missed you, Obi.”

END OF PART 2

Oh! Bonus:

Anakin’s Whiteboard

[zoryany]

The Sun

send me a card and / or character(s) or a ship, and I’ll write a ficlet based around one or more words associated with a tarot cardThe Sun – crimson, children, success, festivity

Anakin Skywalker was late.

Dashing through the crowds, weaving his way through the bustling ecumenopolis that made up their home, he cursed silently to himself. In his lifetime, he’d faced down Sith Lords, defeated entire legions of droid armies, piloted against squadrons that had him outnumbered and outgunned, and it just so happened to be now that he was, completely and utterly doomed.

His movements had never been more frantic. A genuine apology accompanied each shove or less-than-ideal dismissal of a being who stood in his way, and he vowed to make it up to every single sentient he’d pushed aside. For the time being, however, he had much more pressing matters to attend to.

“You’re late, Skyguy.” The Togruta who ushered him in wore a wry expression, a single brow-marking raised as she did so. 

He met her amusement with a half-hearted glare. “Am I? Thanks, Snips, I had no idea. Where would I be without you?”

“In a lot more hot water than you already are,” she said gravely. “You’re lucky you have me to cover for you, and you’re extra lucky that I do it so well. Now get in there, before you end up making things worse.”

Chuckling, Anakin gave Ahsoka a gentle nudge as thanks, brushing past her to step beyond the threshold and into the apartment that lay beyond. 

It was incredible, the way both Padmé and Obi-wan could look at him with entirely different expressions and convey the exact same level of disappointment in him. He shifted, slightly, under their scrutiny, and worked to push down the pang of guilt that rippled through him at their expressions. His own look of contrition was well-practiced at this point, and he offered it to them all in the hopes of maintaining peace. 

Ultimately, though, it was the chorused cry of “Papa!” and the warmth that resonated through the Force made everything alright. As much as he loved both his wife and his brother, everything he did was – particularly on this day, of all days – for his children, both of whom were gazing up at him adoringly. Luke was clinging to his leg, matching those baby blues to his own and beaming with that bright grin of his; Leia was gripping his hand, a smile lurking behind her eyes, but a far more obvious suspicion, verging on hurt, living at its forefront. 

Scooping the twins into a tight embrace, Anakin offered them both his brightest grin. “Happy birthday, my Sun and Moon,” he muttered in between them as he held them close and planted a series of kisses in their hair. They both squealed in response, snuggling in closer to him. If he had his way, he’d stay here forever, with Padmé right by their side.

After a moment that felt like, simultaneously, an eternity and not nearly long enough, Anakin pulled back and examined his children. The twins met his gaze with matching levels of adoration, though he could not quite deny the trace levels of betrayal still lurking within Leia’s deep browns. 

It was unbelievable, even after five years, how his children had grown to, somehow, look nothing alike yet be unmistakably twins. Leia inherited her mother’s features, though they bore a sharpness she’d gotten from Anakin that led an edge to her every expression. Luke, meanwhile, resembled his father, but brighter, radiating warmth in his every feature. Both twins possessed a brilliant, shining light, though, one that wove its way through the very fabric of their beings and echoed through the Force. They were connected, undeniably, and despite their differences, could not be anything but twins.

Anakin’s eyes flicked downwards, and he smiled to himself at their outfits. Leia’s simple white dress and Luke’s black finery both peeked out from beneath matching deep red garments that were something between a cape and a robe. They were elegant and flowing, making the young children appear regal despite their tender age. No child of Padmé‘s was going to spend their birthday looking anything short of stunning. It was likely no coincidence that they were vaguely reminiscent of the garments once worn by Amidala as she presided over her homeworld of Naboo. The planet was a part of the children, and though they could not their personal celebrations there, it was heartening to know that they could at least carry some aspect of the planet with them.

“Papa,” said Leia, a challenging edge to her voice as she folded her arms across her chest. “Why are you late?” Force, no child should have the power to make a grown man, let alone her own father, feel scolded like Leia could.

“I had some very important business I needed to attend to, and it ended up taking more time than I’d expected.”

“Council business?” asked Luke. His son was enraptured by anything and everything remotely Jedi-related.

Obi-wan caught his eye and raised a brow. Anakin just laughed and shook his head. “No, dear one, something far more important than that.” Luke’s eyes grew even wider. “I was getting my present for the two of you – but we’ll have to go together to pick it up.” And pick it out. He’d managed to get all the paperwork in order ahead of time – which had proven to be quite the ordeal – but he was not about to choose the twins’ first pet for them. 

That’s not to say he didn’t have a few suggestions, however…

The announcement earned him another joyous squeal from the twins. Anakin didn’t notice the look Obi-wan and Padmé exchanged or the smirk that twisted Ahsoka’s features; he was far too focused on the joy radiating off his children.

“That’ll be after we finish dinner and cake though, right Ani?” Padmé said, raising a skeptical brow at him. 

“Yes, my love, of course.”

“Oh, but Mama,” Luke pouted, “I wanna know what it is now!” 

Chuckling lightly, Obi-wan cut in. “Remember, young Luke, that one of a Jedi’s greatest virtues is patience. Enjoy your birthday celebrations and the time spent with your family, for now, and it will make whatever your father’s cooked up seem all the more exciting.”

“Yes, Uncle Ben.”

Picking himself up from his crouched position, Anakin fell into step with Padmé and Obi-wan as Ahsoka led the twins towards the dining room. He was certain that one of them would try and talk him out of bringing an animal into their lives when the twins were so young and they were all so busy, or at the very least talk him down from one of the more exotic creatures he’d been eyeing, but he didn’t care. The twins had been asking for a pet for weeks now, even going so far as to use Artoo as ‘practice,’ much to the astromech’s chagrin. His children were his sun and moon, his family his entire universe, and he would do whatever it took to make them happy.

It was the least he could do to convince himself he was worthy of just how happy they made him.

[swfanficbyjz]

Photographs - Modern SW AU

Ahsoka design inspired by @litheian's human version of Ahsoka. Much of the idea came from her headcannon too. Check out her artwork here: litheiandoodles@tumblr.com

Pairing: Anakin (23)/Ahsoka (18)

Part 1:

Anakin strolled into the old warehouse. On the other side of the wall he could hear his agent, Ben, arguing with the studio owner, Plo. He rolled his eyes and sat down. It was the same old thing. “Are you kidding me, Plo? You can’t do this to me! We’re old friends, that’s got to count for something!” Ben was saying in his whiny, overdramatic voice. He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. 

“I’m sorry, Ben. But this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me and my business. I just can’t pass it up!” Plo replied, begging him to understand.

“Well then, what are we supposed to do? I’m telling you, he has what it takes! He’s the next big thing in the model world. But he’ll never get his face out there, without a good portfolio. And a good portfolio requires a good photographer! You’re the best around, we need you!” His agent exclaimed.

“Look, I’ll tell you what. I recently hired an intern from the high school down the street, she’s got a good eye. I’ll have her take the pictures and I’ll photoshop them later. They’ll have the Plo Koon seal of approval before they leave.”

“A no-name? That’s suicide in this business, you know that!” It wouldn’t be long now before Ben was yelling. Anakin opened his eyes and looked around. Whatever his agent was negotiating, wasn’t going well. He hated politics, so he stayed out of it. Movement caught his eye and he stood up and headed in that direction. 

He watched as a young girl with reddish-brown, almost copper colored, skin, came out of the back room carrying a tripod in one hand and a light in the other. She was wearing a red crop top and cutoff jean shorts. She had bangles up and down her arms and around her ankles, and bare feet. There were white markings on her face that came down in a diamond shape, wove around her eyes in both directions and then a separate wing shape on her cheeks. She was too far away to tell if they were a tattoo or something she drew on with makeup. She had a nose ring and multiple piercings up and down her ears. The way they sparkled in the studio lights reminded him of constellations. But her most dramatic feature was her brightly colored blue and silvery-white hair, dyed in stripes that were not your common highlights. She was cute, in an eccentric kind of way, he smiled to himself. Ben may not think she’s worth much, but he wouldn’t mind working with her.

“Ahsoka!” Plo called from his office, coming out into the open area with Ben on his heels. The girl that Anakin had been watching looked up from her task almost bored. His smile deepened. Her name was unusual, but it fit her. He liked it. “I have to go across town and take pictures of Miss Amidala’s new fashion line. I need you to do model portfolio shots for this young man.” Plo said, acknowledging Anakin for the first time. Her eyes followed where he pointed, widened just slightly when she saw he’d been watching her, but then returned to the owner and nodded. “Ben here, will tell you what he wants. Good luck!” He said a little strained and grabbed a bag of equipment before disappearing out the double doors. “Oh and lock up when you’re done!” He shouted from outside. Anakin imagined he was now muttering to himself angrily. He resisted the urge to laugh. Ben had that effect on people.

“Now listen here, girl…” his agent said to her. “I don’t know who you are, but I’m not happy about this arrangement. You’re going to take lots of pictures of my client in all different places and styles and hopefully in the next few days, there will be a handful that are worth keeping!”

If Ahsoka was offended or bothered by what Ben was saying, she hid it well. Anakin had seen stronger people melt under his gaze. She was probably used to demanding people. That’s the kind of people you had to deal with in this business. He admired her backbone. Ben called him over to stand in the middle of the set and then began his extensive list of demands. She nodded thoughtfully then had the gall to shoo him out. He liked her already. 

“I’ll be back in a couple hours, Anakin.” Ben said to him. “We’ll go to the gym for your daily workout. Then you’ll need to go to bed early because we have a seven am appointment with the governor. He wants you to be the poster boy for his ‘fit for life’ program!” His agent gave one last glare at the girl and was gone.

He sucked in a breath when she turned to look him up and down now that they were alone, then to his surprise, she picked up an old DustBuster and vacuumed the air around the space and him. “You’re messing up my hair!” He exclaimed trying to hold his carefully styled locks in place while she went around his head sucking up who knows what.

“It looks better that way.” She spoke at last. She stopped in front of him.

“What are you doing anyways?” He asked curiously.

“Getting rid of the negative energy around you.” She said matter of factly, as if that was the most obvious answer. Then she glanced at the door, made a face and went back to setting up the light she’d been working on. He hiked an eyebrow at her and then blew air out his mouth. So she was a little crazy… 

“Sick contacts.” He said trying to break the ice. Then cringed inwardly. There were plenty of things about her he could have complimented, why’d he start with that?

She turned and looked up at him, meeting his eyes for the first time, “I don’t wear contacts, this is my natural color.”

“Oh, well…” he was a little flustered. “They’re a very beautiful shade of blue.”

“Thank you.” She replied politely, but unimpressed. She studied his face, he squirmed internally. He couldn’t help but notice the bronze color of her lips. She was appealing, but a little over-confident for his taste.

When she finished with the light, she turned her attention to him at last. He swallowed without thinking as she looked at him. She did circles around him and he shuffled his feet. As a model, he’d gotten used to being objectified, even sexualized, but the way her eyes scanned him, he felt as though she had X-ray vision. Like she could see right through him. Her intensity made him uncomfortable, but more than that, she didn’t speak. 

Behind her cool, calm and zero-fucks-given attitude, he could see pain in her, but she was still one of the most unreadable people he’d ever met. “How’d you get the scar?” She asked stopping in front of him finally. 

“You can see it?” He asked startled. “I thought my makeup artist did an incredible job covering it.”

“They did, but wipe it off.” She handed him a wet washcloth. 

“Are you sure?” He asked. “Models are supposed to be clean. No tats, no marks, nothing.”

She peered at him. “Do you want to be just another model, or do you want to stand out?”

“Well whatever gets my career going. I confess that’s more Ben’s department.”

“He was the one that wanted you to cover it?” She asked.

“Yes.” He said. She clicked her tongue in response. 

“What do you want?”

“I want to be an actor.” He confessed with a nervous laugh, certain she’d find his dream silly. But she didn’t laugh or even make a face. 

“Then you have to move people.” She replied, pointing to the washcloth in his hands. This might be crazy, but… he wiped the makeup off without any more questions.

While he worked on his face, she went about moving lights and designing the scene. Then she took the washcloth from him and threw it to the side. “So? You never told me how you got it.” She said studying how well he cleaned it off. 

“A cat.” He replied. “Another modeling company was going to hire me, but the boss’s cat apparently didn’t like me. I had no idea that was a deal breaker.” She traced her finger down it softly. Her touch was surprisingly gentle. He watched her while she did so. Her white markings were a tattoo after all, he couldn’t see any makeup lines. She smelled sweet, like oranges. He liked it a lot. It wasn’t overpowering, but as distinctive as the rest of her. She definitely made a strong impression. 

“Ventress?” She asked with the first show of emotion since he arrived. She brushed his hair to the side just a fraction of an inch.

“You’ve heard of her?”

“She has quite the reputation. We get a lot of their cast offs. Bad for them, good for us.” She shrugged. Then to his surprise, she moved behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, then moved up to his chest. She then took a pen out of one of the two buns she had in her hair and marked two places on her arms. Was she measuring him? He’d never had a photographer do anything like this before. “When was the last time you had a decent meal?” She asked. 

“I had a good breakfast!” He said defensively.

“The only one in a month?” She asked.

“Of course not!” Why was she prying? She was supposed to just take pictures, why did she need to know all this personal stuff?

As if knowing exactly what he was thinking, she commented, “to photograph someone and do them justice, you have to know them.”

“Well maybe I don’t want you to know me, I just want you to take a damn picture!” He said harshly. He was getting tired of these games. Here he was feeling naked while he knew nothing at all about her.

She stopped and looked at him. It felt almost like she was daring him to say it again. He wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t dare. “Take your shirt off.” She said and patted the backwards chair she’d put in the middle of a black back drop. She went around adjusting the lights. Until it was relatively dark in the studio. 

He sat on the chair, one leg on each side, with just his jeans on, facing the camera. She moved around using her fingers as a frame and then stopped suddenly in one spot and moved the camera tripod there. He clearly didn’t understand artists, because he had no idea what she was doing. Once she was in position with the camera ready, he waited for her to take it, but she didn’t. “Put your left hand on your right shoulder, your right hand on your left shoulder and rest your elbows on the back of the chair.” He did what she said, wondering why she made him take his shirt off just to cover up exactly what removing it would show. “What’s the saddest thing that’s ever happened to you?" 

He looked up at her as though she punched him in the gut and heard the camera click. He stood up suddenly annoyed. "What are you playing at?” He demanded. “Are you enjoying this?” She looked at him blankly as though she had no idea what he was talking about. Which only served to increase his anger. 

He was just about to grab his shirt and storm out when she said quietly, “I’m sorry about your mother.” He stopped in his tracks. 

“How?” He was so shocked he couldn’t move. 

“Eyes talk, I listen.” She said. Then turned around and sat down in the chair he’d just vacated. He looked at her trying to decide if she was being serious. “I was taken from my parents as a child. Enrolled in a school for gifted children. Which as you probably know, is the politically correct term for mentally ill.” She sighed and dropped her head in her hands. “People don’t like me, people don’t understand me. And I don’t really care. But… I was tired of feeling like I was the only one that carried pain no one could see. I started going to the park and watching them, trying to draw out their pain. Seeing their pain, healed my own. I didn’t feel so alone.”

He wasn’t sure why he suddenly felt sorry for her. Except that in a way, she was right; seeing someone else’s pain makes your own hurt less. And though he was still angry for how she’d gone about drawing his out, he did feel lighter sharing it with someone else. At least knowing someone else saw it.

Part of him wanted to reach out and take her hand, but before he made up his mind to do it, she stood up. “Come look,” she said and took the memory card out of the camera and popped it in the laptop. Then opened the picture to show him. His jaw dropped. He’d never paid much attention to what made a good photograph but he’d never been so rocked by one before. She’d taken a single black and white picture that showed only his bare skin. Everything else blended into the background. Your eyes snapped right to his elbows and then followed his arms up to the most intense eyes. The emotion showing was so raw that you’re instantly captivated by the depth of the person sitting there. And even though she’d invoked such deep pain in him, he almost didn’t recognize himself. “What do you think?” She asked, looking up at him expectantly. 

His mouth worked for a few moments before words came to him. “You moved me.” He said at last. She grinned at him and he sighed. She was weird, there was no question. But she was onto something. This portfolio was going to be unique. He shouldn’t have been surprised that in this picture, his scar being visible, didn’t bother him at all. Here he’d been going around ashamed of it, feeling as though it would always be a disability in his career, but in one shot, she had made it a statement of who he was as a person. Dramatically emphasizing it as part of what made him. And no matter how strange she’d gone about doing it, he knew he could trust her completely.

He dropped his shirt again and gave her permission to keep going. She didn’t talk much, but worked much the same process throughout the session. She’d position him, find the right angle and snap a single picture after invoking a certain emotion. He didn’t really notice the passage of time, because he enjoyed watching her work. She often had a pen or lens cap, or sometimes her tongue, sticking out the side of her mouth as she concentrated on finding those perfect shots. The more he watched, the more fascinating she became. He found an odd comfort in the soft jingling sound her bangles made. He admired the lightness of her steps, the deliberate positioning, even the way she studied him. He was falling in love with that moment she found the perfect shot, because her blue eyes would light up and sparkle. But his favorite part was when her hands would brush his bare skin as she positioned him, leaving a trail of citrus teasing his senses. He was realizing it wasn’t just his sense of smell that was reacting. It was like he could feel her in the air around him. She radiated warmth, a kind of energy that left his skin buzzing long after the touch faded. It was like she was electric. He’d never met anyone quite like her before. He wasn’t here to fall in love… but… he just might be falling.

“Time for a break!” She exclaimed out of the blue. He hadn’t realized how tired he was just modeling. It was probably the emotional rollercoaster she’d put him on since they started. He glanced at the clock, Ben would be back in half an hour. He wished he didn’t have to leave. “There’s food in the kitchen that way,” she pointed past his nose. “And bathrooms are out the door and around the building to your right.” He felt a little like he’d been dismissed.

He pulled his shirt back on and headed towards the kitchen, but then decided he wanted a smoke before his agent returned and lectured him. He also thought it might calm the rush of feelings she’d ignited this afternoon. By far, this was the weirdest modeling session ever, but one he’d definitely never forget. He stopped a few feet away from the door and lit his cigarette. Then he wandered back behind the old warehouse and stared at the water. Across the river was Manhattan, a constant buzz of activity. This was a more run-down part of town, but from what he’d heard, Plo was a renowned photographer, so maybe he just liked the space. Space was hard to come by in New York, that was for sure. 

He absentmindedly puffed his cigarette while watching the boats go by and then he started heading back to the door. He wished he knew why Ahsoka was so appealing to him. She wasn’t his type at all. He’d always gone for girls with fairer skin and brown hair. Ones that were classy and rich. But there was something about this one, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

He looked up and saw her walking towards him. He forgot about his smoke for a moment as he watched her. She was graceful. Every movement had a purpose. She seemed to have a gait as distinctive as the rest of her. She reminded him of a cat… and as he thought about it… like one stalking prey. 

In one movement, she reached up and plucked the cigarette out of his mouth, took a puff of it, blew it back in his face and then dropped it on the ground and stamped it out with her bare foot. “Hey!” He said, recovering from the initial shock of what she’d just done. “I was going to finish that!” He pulled out another and stuck it in his mouth. She made a face at him, scrunching up the white markings. 

“Smoking is bad for you.” She said simply and turned to walk inside. He stared after her, eyes lingering in that direction long after she disappeared, unlit cigarette, still in his mouth. He brought his lighter up and ignited it, but then clicked it off and threw the cigarette away. What was wrong with him? For a girl of so few words, she had him wrapped around her finger already. 

He went inside not feeling much calmer. But he’d pretty much decided that would be the state of affairs when she was around. She was sitting in front of the laptop studying the pictures she’d taken. He walked over to her and put his hands on the back of the chair; looking over her at the screen. Before he could stop himself, he rested his chin on the top of her head and inhaled. Were they close enough to do that already? She seemed to know every in and out of him, but she was a mystery. If she didn’t like him that close, she didn’t say anything. He was surprised by the softness of her hair. He’d expected it to be rougher and more wiry since she had darker skin. He ran his fingers through the back of it, loving the silky feel and the way it would spring back up in curls when he let go. 

“What are you?” He asked, feeling like an idiot. There was nothing normal about her, but that was a dumb way to ask for more information.

“I don’t know.” She said, and at first, he felt as though she was trying to end that line of questioning. But then he remembered what she’d said earlier about being taken from her parents. So how would she know? He had endless questions, but he stood up straight and let go of her when he heard the door to the studio open. He spun around to see his agent walk inside. 

“I guess we’re done today,” he whispered.

“Yep,” was all she said. She hadn’t even looked up. 

“Please tell me there might be a shot or two we can use?” Ben said joining them at the computer. Ahsoka snapped the laptop shut so he couldn’t see the pictures. 

“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” Anakin replied stepping between them. 

“I hope so.” Ben said turning away, mumbling something to himself about how stressful all of this was for him. Anakin just rolled his eyes and glanced at Ahsoka. She’d resumed her deadpan attitude as she stared at his agent’s back. He wasn’t sure why he had the strong impression that if Ben got too close to her, she’d bite. But he decided not to test his theory and went about pushing him out the door. He glanced over his shoulder at her and saw that she was standing with one hand up in a wave. She suddenly looked so sad though; as though she’d actually miss him. The truth was, he’d miss her too, even if he knew he’d see her again tomorrow.

[i-aim-to-overanalyze]

In Loco Parentis

tfw you cant come up with a fancy title so you just use that latin phrase you learned from a Series of Unfortunate Events

Hello! This is basically my take on a SW AU where Anakin accidentally time-travels twenty years into the future and runs into Luke. It takes place between ANH and ESB. Featuring an angsty Anakin lol what else is new? and the smol-angry cinnamon roll Luke who is ready to f i g h t for his father’s honor. You know, fun stuff :D

He didn’t know how much he missed the light of another force-sensitive until it hit him. For weeks, he’d been wandering in this hellish nightmare. In an universe with no stars. Only the oppressive darkness that towered over him. There was the Force, but the Force felt…dimmed to him. Perhaps it was because he could no longer sense the lights of the Jedi. Empty dead space occupied where the untarnished, ten-thousand strong Jedi once stood.

The light was almost…blinding. It was rippling with power—power that rivaled the lights of the Jedi masters of the old Republic. Was this what his presence felt to others? Because he could easily see how some believed he was the Chosen One.

As the presence drew near, he could sense the anger that crackled against their force-shields. This presence, though powerful, was a novice. Their shielding was that of a young padawan. Even Ahsoka could shield better than that.

The ground vibrated as angry footsteps headed his way. The sound awaked him from his thoughts—his hand resting on his hilt. The presence wasn’t angry at the storm troopers swarming around the place. Its’ anger was directed at him.

“YOU!” A voice roared as an ignited lightsaber was directed towards his face, “Why are you using the name Anakin Skywalker?!”

Anakin’s mouth ran dry as he stared down into hardened blue eyes of the young man.

He regretted using his real name. He regretted it as soon as he figured out that this nightmare—this force vision not a vision at all. He’d learned after the Republic’s fall, he had become something of a legend in the galaxy. Oh, the Empire tried to keep things hush-hushed. The Jedi had been evil. The Jedi had tried to take over the Senate. Facts that Anakin desperately believed had to be wrong.

But the Empire couldn’t control every mind of the galaxy. There were whispers when the Imperials weren’t around. Whispers of the old days. The days where Jedi upheld peace. It was then people spoke of the heroes of the old Republic. Most notably, The Great Negotiator and the Hero With No Fear.

Anakin wasn’t supposed to be alive. He should be dead. He had failed them. He had failed the Republic, he had failed Obiwan, he had failed Padme. His sweet, sweet Padme. He had let darkness take control of the whole galaxy. He had trusted Palpatine far too easily—let that kriffing charlatan ruin the whole galaxy. If he had been wiser—had seen the warning signs—he could’ve saved the whole galaxy. He supposed, he deserved this. He deserved to see how his ignorance destroyed millions of lives. It was his punishment—to wander without rest.

“Answer me!” The young man yelled.

He force-pushed Anakin into the wall. Anakin had let him—didn’t try to resist him. His backside screamed in pain. But Anakin ignored it. He was used to pain. He instead looked up at the heaving figure.

Anakin couldn’t explain it. There was an uncanny familiarity about the young man. His hair was blond—almost had a sandy quality about it. As his short stature loomed over Anakin’s collapsed figure, he realized something. He reminded him of Padme. There was barely a physical resemblance and yet—

Anakin took a deep breath.

“I use that name because—“ He winced as he pulled himself up, “I am Anakin Skywalker.”

“Lies,” The man trembled, “Anakin Skywalker was killed by Darth Vader’s blade years ago—there’s no way—!”

This was obviously a touchy subject for him—it was personal. Anakin poked around on the edges of his shields. The young man was angry, angry that he had dared to use the name. Anakin’s name held meaning to his life. The fact that a stranger was using it was disrespectful in his eyes.

He dove a little deeper, past the shield’s walls. He was angry, but it was deeper than that. It was…grief. The all-to-familiar emotion enveloped Anakin, choking him. It wouldn’t let go until Anakin retreated to his own mind.

A glowing blue light was swiftly brought at his neck.

“What did you just do?” He hissed.

Anakin found it hard to look the man in the face. He had invaded his mind and the young man had realized it. Anakin felt almost guilty about it. His eyes drifting slowly down to the man’s lightsaber. It was hard to tell when both of his hands were covering the hilt but well…

The kyber-crystal sang to him through the Force. It was his lightsaber, he realized. The only he painstakingly crafted until it was perfection. An exact replica as the one that was attached to his belt. He wanted to feel angered at seeing it in this novice’s hands. But he could sense that this lightsaber had bonded with the young man.

A lightsaber was an extension of the Force—it was tool that helped conduct a Jedi’s power through it. As such, Jedi often crafted their own to suit their own unique strengths and weaknesses. It was uncommon for a Jedi to become attuned with a lightsaber that was not their own.

“Your shielding is weak,” He commented as he leapt into a backflip and ignited his light saber.

“Shielding…?” The young man furrowed his eyebrows, genuinely confused.

“You don’t know what shielding is?” Anakin asked, confounded himself. He had figured he was untrained—but not this untrained.

“Wh—It doesn’t matter!” The young man shook his head, “You still haven’t answered the question!”

“Why does it matter to you?” Anakin asked, “Why does it matter if I use the name of a legend to fight against the Empire? To inspire hope for millions? If my name isn’t truly Anakin Skywalker, that is.”

He could tell that the question threw him off-guard. He was itching for a fight. For a chance to prove himself. The young man knew that he was inexperienced. Knew he was the furthest thing from a Jedi. It reminded Anakin of the day he first arrived at the Jedi Temple. How crushed he was when the Council turned their noses up at him.

“Because,” The young man raised his lightsaber, “I will not let you use the name of my father like that!”

Although he was the master in the room, Anakin barely blocked his first attack. The sudden shock threw him off-balanced. The young man paid no heed, continuing to relentlessly attack with his sloppy jabs.

Padme had died. She had died amid the Republic collapsing—the cause of her death was unclear. Perhaps mudded by the Empire’s intervention.  His angel was so focused on upholding liberty—he wouldn’t doubt if she had been assassinated. He knew her well to know she wouldn’t have kept her voice silent.

He’d found the holo-recording of her funeral. He knew he should’ve not watched it. He tried hard not to. But he couldn’t ignore the temptation. What hurt him the most other than seeing her lifeless body was her obvious rounded belly. His lady had been pregnant when she died. With his child.

But his son was here—fighting in honor of his name. This child had never even met Anakin and yet—he was willing to risk his life defending a dead man’s name. He didn’t know how this was possible. But the Force rang true with his son’s words. He had a son.

However, he had no idea how to convince him of this fact. Time travel, by the Force or other means, had not been proven. There had been many attempts over the years but never any successful ones. He doubted there was any in this time either. He hardly believed it himself.

“You leave too many holes in your defense,” Anakin remarked as his lightsaber glazed his son’s shoulder.

His son flinched from the pain and he grimaced as well. He didn’t want to cause him pain. He had already caused him pain enough. But his son was insistent on fighting him and there was no accessible escape in sight.

His son didn’t respond to his comment, charging him once more. He was not used to lightsaber combat. It was understandable as there wasn’t many force-wielders left in the galaxy. His son was probably self-taught no doubt. But this meant that he was very clumsy and sloppy with a saber. He had an immense power, but was too untrained to harness it.

Anakin blocked his lightsaber and reached a hand outwards. He effectively launched him away with a force-push. His son’s lightsaber clattered to the ground, dis-igniting on impact.

“What,” Anakin heaved, “is your name?”

“My name,” He stared defiantly at him, “Is Luke Skywalker.”

“Luke,” He mused, “That’s a good name.”

Anakin sighed, shaking his head as he shut off his lightsaber.

“I don’t want to fight you—“

A screeching noise interrupted Anakin, echoing through the hallway.

“R2?!” They both called out at the same time, before looking at each other in mutual surprise.

The blue and white droid came urgently sliding down the hallway. He was babbling in binary about some danger at Luke’s ship. Anakin felt relieved to see that the droid had survived the old Republic’s collapse. That at least one of his friends was still present.

“R2, what are you doing here? I asked you to stay behind and watch the ship.” Luke frowned, as he laid a hand on the droid.

“It appears something happened to your ship and he came to alert you about it.” Anakin spoke up, staring at the droid.

At the sound of Anakin’s voice, the astromerch turned to face his former friend. He was silent, quietly analyzing Anakin no doubt. He abruptly slid directly at Anakin, running his foot over with his front leg.

“Ouch!” Anakin clutched his leg, “What was that for?”

R2 let out a low whistle. For leaving me.

There was a lot of people in the galaxy that believed droids had no feelings. But Anakin Skywalker was not one of those people. He had worked with enough droids to know they developed individual thoughts and feelings if you let them. That’s why he never wiped R2D2’s memory on anything. It seemed that the droid had remained that way, too.

“I’m sorry, pal.” Anakin hugged the droid tightly, “I’m sorry for leaving you.”

“How do you know R2?” Luke asked.

His son’s anger had lessened, but he still remained highly suspicious of him. He had realized there something more going on here.  Still, he wasn’t about to trust a twenty-something claiming to be his father just yet.

“He was—he was my wife’s wedding present to me.” His voice cracked.

It felt odd speaking openly about Padme in such a way. For so long he was used keeping it a secret, that it felt wrong to admit it. It was something he imagined that he would freely speak about.

Though he never imagined that anything that happened these past few weeks to be a possibility. Things like holding a conversation with his future son was quickly becoming the new norm.

“Wedding present?” Luke’s eyes widened.

The kid probably never knew the Jedi code—he doubted Luke would defend him if he’d known. However he still flinched when he heard his reaction. It reminded him of how he feared the others would react. How Obiwan—who had been like a father to him—would react. The Jedi knew love. They knew how to be compassionate. It was how he rationalized that his love was justifiable. Still, he knew deep down that the Jedi wouldn’t hold much love for him if they knew the truth.

He opened his mouth. He wanted to explain everything. How he’d fallen in love with Padme. How beautiful their wedding had been—just the two of them and their droids.

R2D2 let out an urgent whistle, shaking from side-to-side. Anakin didn’t need the Force to understand that trouble was heading their way.

“It seems like those Imperials who discovered your ship are heading our way,” Anakin mused as he fingered his blaster.

He didn’t like the bulky thing. It was nothing compared to his trusty lightsaber. However he had learned that a lightsaber attracted a lot more unwanted attention these days. The Storm-Troopers may be a joke compared to the clones, but they still greatly outnumbered him.

“What are you going to do?” Luke asked, as he pulled out a blaster of his own.

He was still guarded around Anakin; unconsciously wrapping what little of his shields tighter around himself.

“Look. I realize you have no reason to trust me. But it’s a bit of a long story and there isn’t enough time right now to explain. I’ll explain as soon as we knock these imps off our tail.”

Luke slowly nodded, “Sounds like a good plan to me.”

He relaxed a little, perhaps sensing the honesty in Anakin’s words. He wasn’t going to try to kill Anakin—for right now at least. Anakin didn’t know the first step in parenting but he believed that a good step towards the right direction.

“Good,” Anakin smirked, “Now, let’s go teach those imps a lesson.”