It's Officially Christmas
Merry Christmas @toomanybandstocare!!!! I'm your secret santa for @ghostofskywalker's Life Day Exchange for the @cloneficgiftexchange! Ironically, it also works out for the @clonexreaderbingo because Cody was on my card as well as one you requested :D I really hope you like it. It wasn't quite how I wanted it, because I love love love expanding stories so they go one forever but I ran out of time. This is just a bit of fluff and happiness for the Christmas season!!! Hope you're having a good one!
Cody sighed with an exhale, rubbing circles on his forehead, just tracing the scar around his eye he had gotten during his active military duty. Highly decorated, Colonel “Commander” Cody of the Armed Forces was currently struggling to complete his college semester still holding onto his sanity intact. Christmas was close, which meant fun and freedom were just in sight.
And to be honest, he could use some. It had been quite some time since he’d felt either of those things.
Just the previous year, he’d been discharged early from the military due to family hardships. His adoptive father, Ninety-Nine, had fallen seriously ill which resulted in much limited mobility and flagging health, though he was stubbornly holding on. Ninety-Nine was tough in his own way and not easily knocked down and never let his disabilities limit him. He honestly was one of Cody’s biggest heroes for just that fact alone. No one was more inspiring than Ninety-Nine.
To top off the struggle, his half-brother, Fives, was killed in action, while his other half-brother, Echo, was seriously wounded. This had dampened (but not destroyed) Ninety-nine’s spirits which slowed his healing. Cody had come back to take care of the family broken by loss.
The family.
And what a family it was: a mix-matched group of boys and a sickly older man but they belonged together.
Ninety-nine had taken care of all the Fett boys in some way or another after they’d been abandoned by their father Jango. He’d been the one to find Plo Koon who fostered and eventually adopted Wolffe, Sinker and Boost—but he’d raised under his own roof a rowdy bunch which included himself, Rex, Fives, Echo, and the Quadruplets (Cody didn’t know if technically Se or Fett was more accurate for them) soon nicknamed ‘the bad batch’.
And it was these that Cody called family. Home. It wouldn’t be complete totally again, but they could heal — and he’d do whatever he could, nay, he wouldn’t rest, until they did.
More than anything Cody wanted to take care of Ninety-nine, especially in the beginning. And that he did, but because Cody was an overachiever—he’d signed up for college classes as well. Then he added a job on the side to match; a small part of him regretted it. It was getting to be a lot, but joining the military right out of high school wasn’t easy either, so if he could make it then, he could do this now, he reasoned.
That was a year ago now, and Ninety-Nine was finally on the mend.
This year would be special, since everyone—well almost everyone—was going to be home. The first year since they’d all left, that they’d be back.
They’d be back. Home, and together again.
Like they should be.
Echo was finally released from the hospital, healing from his extensive injuries and adjusting to his prothstetics, and the quadruplets’ tour was finally over. Though none of them were injured, it wasn’t without repercussions either.
“Hurry up, Cody, or we’ll be late!” a shout broke him from his musings. “And don’t forget the basket!”
The Fetts were on their way to a dance—a Christmas dance—hosted by their longtime family friends the Jetti’s, and there was going to be an auction for charity, sleigh rides, and everything, as they did every year. Ninety-Nine insisted on bringing something to join the auction every year and this was no exception. Even when they couldn’t make it to the dances, Ninety-Nine was giving something.
Cody wasn’t much of a dancer. He never cared to go to them much. But for some reason he was really looking forward to it this year. Perhaps because it was Christmas, and magic had a way of creeping into people’s ordinary lives, transforming into something beautiful and new.
And it was this Christmas hope that kindled something warm inside his heart, and excitement.
— — — — —
The room was alive with flashes of color and the sound of music, laughing and cheering. The pitter pattering of feet was just as loud as the happiness of those in the room excitedly making known to each other through various conversations and well wishes. Quick steps made their own rhythm and stories which echoed off the dance floor.
It was at this moment you felt beautiful, standing under the Christmas lights and bathing in the general glee and spirit of the room. Your throat squeezed as if holding in a laugh and a smile pulled at your lips so much your mouth hurt, but in a good way. The Christmas magic worked its way through your veins. The tingling of invincible tinsel tickled your fingertips, an energy flowing through you which was contagious. Smiles you sent to others were easily returned and frowns turned upside down.
It was at this particular moment, the Fett family walked in.
The name wouldn’t have meant much to you in normal circumstances. Why would that name stick out among so many others who were there?
But you had a reason for knowing it, and his name was Cody.
You saw him leading his train of brothers in through the door, guiding the old man by the arm. He flashed his charming smile to the host and exchanged hands.
The music started up again and your sister grabbed your hand, dragging you into the ring or people forming a group dance with interchanging partners. You had to focus, otherwise you’d lose your step.
It was only two seconds, but in those two, the entire Fett family was dispersed throughout the room and you lost all track of where Cody had gone.
— — —
Moving lithley, you kept up with the music and the people twirling and leaping around you. The dance went in a circular motion and patterns were interchanged. You clapped and danced and laughed along with everyone else, pushing yourself to go faster and faster as the song was ending.
Twirling and twirling you finished with a bang.
You looked up and saw you were in Cody’s arms, who looked just as shocked as you did to see you there.
Then he froze there, mouth slightly agape. His eyes danced across your face and his slight panting may have been more than just catching his breath from the dance. He swallowed nervously.
“Um, hello.” He stuttered nervously.
“Hello yourself,” you smiled back reassuringly, “nice to run into you.”
Cody chuckled a little at that, then a silence fell between the two of you.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare! It’s just...you look so beautiful underneath the holiday lights.”
You chuckled at his embarrassed realization. Cody turned pink and looked like he wanted to cave in on himself, which you had to say was really adorable and made you laugh harder. The thought of the brave warrior being startled into a stuttering school boy because of you.
The sound of your laughter filled the air with a contagious glint of mirth. Soon, Cody found himself laughing too.
The music started up again and people took their places all around the two of you.
“Would you, um, care to go again?” he asked, holding out his hand.
“Gladly!”
Not just one song but two that soon turned into three. When you were tired, you headed off to the corner to drink hot cocoa and watch the others. You were so caught up in talking to each other that you hadn’t realized that the time ran late into the night. It was near midnight when you sighed and looked at your watch.
“Well, I’ll see you around.” You finally said a little sadly. Just because Christmas was around the corner didn’t mean all the work was done. You had one more paper to write before you were free.
“I hope so!” He responded genuinely which just made you laugh again.
“Oh you definitely will. I sit two rows behind you and three seats to your left in class.”
Cody gawked.
You couldn’t have?! He’d surely have noticed you?!
“I even asked you for notes once. And, you also asked me for notes once too.”
His mind was racing, trying to think back to those times to verify the claims with his memory.
You chuckled lightly.
“I don’t expect you to remember though. You were always very preoccupied, with good reason. Your cousin, Waxer, told me the whole story.”
Big mouth Waxer. Could have counted on him to blab the whole story to everyone (though in this case Cody was grateful he did, not that he would admit that.)
“I have to say, I would have done anything for you. You had to just give me a chance.”
“Oh, you don’t have to be so drastic, darling,” he smirked, “I’m here now, and I’m all yours. After class tomorrow, would you want to go skating?”
"It's a date!"
Now, it was officially Christmas.
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"Clone Wars AU" Giftfic for @chiis-art !
When Palpatine takes Padawan Skywalker on a “field trip” through Coruscant, with the intent to persuade Anakin into seeing his way of thinking and nudge him instead toward the Dark Side, the opposite happens. Upon seeing a woman being tormented and hurt by her captors in the street causes him to see a vision from the future.
In his panic, Anakin runs back to Tatooine in order to be reunited with Shmi and prevent her inevitable death as well as the would have been slaughter of the Tusken Raider Tribe. Due to this, it’s all prevented…though, now Master Kenobi is without a Padawan.
Years later, during the Clone Wars, Jabba the Hutt wishes to meet with Master Kenobi on Tatooine about his missing huttlet. With his new Padawan, Ahsoka Tano by his side, the search is on, though, the Huttlet is not as far from home as previously anticipated.
…and it turns out, neither is an old friend.
Rated T for Language, Canon Typical Themes, and feels.
(So, this is late as all hell and I’m really sad that the Obikin Exchange got cancelled…but I still wanted to gift this fic anyway.
Merry Christmas in July @chiis-art !)
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