#do not be like ahsoka avoiding medical attention when needed is bad

[somestorythoughts]

Protective Rage Obi-Wan Fic

So. @fanfic-obsessed has this cool Protective Rage Obi-Wan story idea that yall should check out because it's really good and they've got a ton of cool AU ideas. And I had an idea about an apology scene for it and then the plot bunny that makes you do things like overcomplicate worldbuilding said "you know you could do a whole fic" and now I have 4000 words. I was thinking of splitting it up into parts cause that's a long post but frankly I'm tired and should've been in bed like 90min ago cause I have work tomorrow and mornings suck so it's staying a one shot with the paragraphs spaces cause I am NOT reformatting that now. Enjoy.

            Usually, when Quinlan’s pushing himself to finish a mission through this much pain, he’s running on determination, maybe some spite. This time it’s desperation.

            He’s not sure if the shouting starts before or after he hits the door panel – or maybe it’s been going on the whole time – but he can see Obi-Wan through the spots in his eyes and that’s good, that’s good, he can’t finish this and maybe his friend can –

            “Quin!���

            It’s like leaning on stone, Obi-Wan’s mind wonderfully shielded under the worry in his voice and Quinlan holds up a datachip for the hands around his arms. “Coded. Please.”

            “I’ll take care of it. I promise.”

            He’s staring up at the ceiling now but that’s alright. Obi-Wan has the data. Quinlan can break now.*

Ahsoka isn’t panicking, but only because she’s had a lot of practice keeping her head and she’s not friends with Master Vos. She’s met him though, and knows Obi-Wan and he are close, and she’s scared for him.

            “That’s an order Marrow!” Obi-Wan snaps and the medic someone called hisses in frustration from where Ahsoka’s holding him back. She isn’t sure why Obi-Wan’s so adamant that no one get closer to them, but she knows it’s serious. For all Obi-Wan hates the medbay he’ll work with the medics, let them see him elsewhere, and he knows better than to keep serious injuries from them.

            “General his leg is gangrenous if he doesn’t get immediate treatment he could lose it! As the head medic-”

            “Quin has to be seen by a Temple healer anyone else will make it worse. I don’t like it anymore than you do Marrow.” He’s resting a hand on Master Vos’ head and is holding his hand with the other, trying to sooth his mumbling friend.

            “Can you explain why while we wait for Healer Eerin?” She asked.

            Obi-Wan frowns, the look he gets when he’s trying to figure out how to explain something Force-related in English. “Marrow. The troopers who have trouble with excessive sound. If they were injured would you treat them in a noisy medbay?”

            Marrow scowls, but he stops splitting his attention between Master Vos’ leg and how best to get around Ahsoka and says, “Of course not. Not if there was any way to avoid it.”

            “Quin’s psychometric. It’s a useful skill, but sometimes it’s like Force hypersensitivity.”

            Cody interrupts as Anakin enters. “Healer Eerin just arrived. She’s being escorted here.”

            “Any idea what happened?” Anakin says. He’s waiting by Ahsoka, whether because he already knows approaching is a bad idea or because he got the gist from the way the medics haven’t gotten closer is anyone’s guess.

            “Have to keep them safe.” Master Vos mutters and Obi-Wan’s face tightens, though his shields are still rock-solid.

            “Who Quin? Who do you need to keep safe?”

            But Master Vos never stopped talking, only just loud enough to be heard. He’s shivering too, voice breaking with groans. Whatever he was doing to walk on that leg – Ahsoka is very determinedly not looking at the swelling or the white that might be bone – he clearly can’t keep it up anymore. “Gotta keep them safe from the people and the senators and the Chancellor gotta do something useful with my unnatural powers what good are we if we can’t keep them safe apparently nothing I hoped I hoped I wasn’t gonna get my heart broken again I Obi they deserve better than this-”

            His words are cut off by the sound of the door opening as Healer Eerin and a Padawan healer sweep into the room in unfamiliar robes and go instantly to the downed Jedi. Marrow scowls heavy as thunder at not being able to treat a patient on his ship as they do, Healer Eerin passing something to Obi-Wan as she takes his place by Master Vos’ head. Obi-Wan squeezes his hand and stands, moving in line with the troopers around them so that he can slide the chip into the device and examine whatever Master Vos was so desperate to bring him.

            “Pop quiz Padawan Lele. Why do we use special gear for Master Vos?”

            Padawan Lele didn’t stop what they were doing as they replied: “Because his psychometry is super strong and the pain has seriously damaged his shields. Without the robes or equally strong shields he’ll feel too much of our minds and memories as well. This could delay his healing or damage his mind.”

            Marrow goes stiff and Ahsoka thinks that’s the first time she’s seen him look sheepish.

            For a few minutes, the room is a quiet tension, little sound aside from the Healers working or Master Vos’ delirious mumbling, fading in and out of hearing. Cody’s giving him the same worried look Ahsoka is, Master Vos sounds like his heart is as broken as his leg and she knows enough about how people work to think that the amount of self-deprecation she can hear isn’t a new thing.

            The rage, when it comes, is sudden as a lightning bolt and just as sharp. It’s gone just as quickly too – almost before Ahsoka and the other Padawan finish whipping around to stare at Obi-Wan who looks perfectly calm. Cody’s looking at him too, narrow-eyed in suspicion.

“Excuse me.” He says, still perfectly calm, and Ahsoka thinks of the weight of a sky prepared to burst and wonders if she should follow him, but the door is closed before she can decide.

“Been a while since I saw Obi-Wan get that angry.” Healer Eerin remarks.

“Huh?” Several of the troopers say. Anakin does too and the day has not been nearly overwhelming enough for Ahsoka not to role her eyes at how her oblivious master can lift a tank but not read anger when it’s shoved in his face.

“A little after Anakin first came to the Temple one of the teachers decided he was a poor fit for the Order and was trying to sabotage his work along with bullying him in class. Obi-Wan found out, asked Quin to watch Anakin for an evening, and went after the teacher. The man landed in the Halls of Healing with several broken bones and left as soon as he was cleared to move left for the furthest jedi outpost he could find. If he ever taught again I will be very surprised. Commander he’s safe to move but it would help if we had a clear path to the door.”

“You’re gonna catch flies Skyguy.” Ahsoka says faintly as Cody taps his comm to pass on the message. When he’s finished they all hear the trooper on the other end say, “By the way sir General Kenobi just left for Coruscant’s surface, said he had some business to attend to at the Senate.”

Cody nods, wearing the expression of concern and exasperation he gets whenever anyone he feels remotely responsible for does something dangerous without explaining why. “Check and see if there’s a way to find out what they’re doing.” He orders Crys as the Healers begin to maneuver Master Vos through the door.

“It’s one of the sessions journalists are reporting live sir.” Crys answers, pulling up the feed without needing to be asked, and they all group together to watch it.

*

Obi-Wan is, to put it bluntly, really fucking pissed. The anger in him pools like water, building and building, and he wills himself to keep calm control as he strides through the Senate building. If he gets too angry to think, things will go wrong.

Quinlan came to him because the things that had already gone wrong were even worse than any of them had been allowed to see, and he couldn’t fix it himself. He came to Obi-Wan for help putting things right.

Obi-Wan will be damned thrice over if he fails that mission.

He’s already sent the information on the datachip to the Council (though he doesn’t know when they’ll be able to see it), to all of the Commanders he has the contact information for (he’s not sure which of them made those particular lines of contact so secure but he trusts Cody’s view of them), and Madame Nu. They can’t afford to let this stay between the two of them, they need the backup. He knows the Council cares, is struggling as much as he is under the weight of the war, and the Commanders deserve to know and can keep their secrets. He includes Madame Nu because he doubts anyone would expect it, and the few interactions he’d seen between her and her single squad of troopers made him certain she adores them.

Plus, she studies Sith Temples. She’s gotta be more dangerous than she looks.

He walks into the rotunda where the Senate are debating the (very reasonable he’s read this one) Clone Rights bill, sees Palpatine, and allows his rage to fuel his leap for the podium.

“Tell me,” He says, cool as can be, as he smashes Palpatine’s face into the stand and kicks Amedda away when the asshole tries to interfere, “what the fuck the jedi did to you that you want our children murdered in their cribs?”

Order 66. Kill all the jedi. All of them.

“Who the fuck gave you the right to have an army bred and implant them all with control chips so that they couldn’t disobey, couldn’t be allowed to even think?”

Control chips that would wipe out the troopers’ minds, take away every thought and feeling and every piece of self that they’d fought to keep, chips that would turn the troopers his friends into the flesh droids senators liked to claim they were.

Palpatine snarled and shot off lightning. Obi-Wan deflected it and continued to ignore the screaming as he mused that perhaps Palpatine had decided there was no point in hiding when Obi-Wan was broadcasting these secrets to the Senate. Then he punched Palpatine below his sternum and then his ribs.

Ah, red lightsaber. There it is. He ducked and broke Palpatine’s arm.

“And while we’re at it, who the fuck allowed you to use those chips to control the Coruscant Guard and make them do your dirty work? Or withhold rations and bacta?”

It’s entirely possible he shouldn’t have included the information about the blackout missions and the extent of Palpatine’s control over the clones. That might have been the kind of thing they’d want to share themselves. Unless they couldn’t say anything?

“Even for the Sith you’re an exceptionally twisted shitstain.” He ducks the other lightsaber and wonders why this asshole had to learn to fight with two.

“You forced my family at blaster point to lead a war you orchestrate from both sides, forced our friends into slavery and now you want to take away everything our friends are when you use them to kill us and frankly Palpatine, I think the fuck not!”

The red lightsaber screams in his hand as he slices Palpatine’s head clean off.

*

Obi-Wan frowns as he takes in the scene. Huh, Amedda’s still here and oh that’s Master Windu and Master Yoda in the audience. He supposes some Jedi witnesses are a good idea. He grabs Amedda by the front of his robes and uses the Force to help him hold the heavy asshole over the edge of the podium with one hand, just to make sure he gets the point.

“Now you may have gathered that I’m very concerned about the clone troopers’ lack of rights. What about you?”

It turns out that Amedda is also very concerned about the clone troopers’ lack of rights. Good. “Full Republic citizenship and Senate representation that they elect instead of someone who make money off their bodies would be good too.” Obi-Wan adds, looking the Senator from Kamino dead in the eye. He’s pretty sure she’s calculating the distance between him and her pod when she nods.

If Obi-Wan had known all it would take to get his friends their rights was the public murder of one of his least favorite people, he’d have done that at the beginning of this thrice-damned war. The bill is passed very quickly and unanimously, and a couple Senators add a bit about backpay they’d had in the works as well and make some noise about allowing the clones to settle a moon or planet once they have the time to look the uninhabited ones over. That gets less enthusiasm but it’s not being shouted down and they can work with that, so Obi-Wan grins with all his teeth on display and says “I’m glad I only had to kill one politician today.”

The fear that ripples through the Force is unmistakable.

He puts Amedda down and heads to the Senate floor where the Coruscant Guard are waiting. Their shields aren’t bad but there’s awe shinning through them like sunshine in the dessert, bright and warm and painful with the twisting of old griefs and pains and shocked relief, and Obi-Wan says “I assume I’m going to be arrested?”

One of the men, who wears the rank of a Commander, takes of his helmet and asks, “Permission to speak freely sir?”

“Granted, forever and always.”

The man beams, and answers; “Then with all due respect sir, there is no way we’re going to arrest you.”

“Are you sure? I did just beat the Chancellor of the Republic to death.”

“Abso-fucking-lutely. Everyone on the Guard wants him dead within their first week here.”

“Thorn put your helmet back on, we’re not safe unless that law’s enforced.” Someone snaps and a different Commander approaches, leading Master Windu and Master Yoda. His shields are beskar-strong, but judging by his voice Obi-Wan would bet he’s glaring at Thorn.

“I’m feeling a bit spiteful.” Thorn grins and Fox gives that familiar huff that usually means the trooper in question is rolling their eyes underneath their helmet.

“Don’t look at us like that we’re not locking you up either.” Mace says dryly when Obi-Wan looks at him. “I will however, make sure your Padawan gets mindhealing sessions if I have to drag him there kicking and screaming myself. He’s overdue anyway.”

Obi-Wan winces but agrees. Quin hadn’t found solid proof of Palpatine grooming Anakin to be his Sith apprentice, but the information he had found made him suspicious. And once he read that, Obi-Wan can see a lot of things that support it.

Windu pulls him into a hug, startling Obi-Wan. The other Master doesn’t often want a lot of physical contact, and for him to initiate hugs is unusual. He sinks into it.

“Do you know how Quinlan is? Bant had to take him to the Halls.”

Windu shook his head. “I’ll ask.”

“To the Temple we will go after, inform everyone, and let you see your friend.” Yoda adds.

“Vos?”

Obi-Wan blinks at the stern commander. His shields are still thick but every single one of the other Guards are radiating concern and Obi-Wan wonders if Quinlan started this investigation because it was the Guard he wanted to protect.

“He found the information on Palpatine and brought it to me. He was seriously injured and delirious when I left him with the Healers.” The Commander twitches, just barely visible, and Obi-Wan asks, “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name?”

“Commander Fox.”

“Vos looked out for us.” Commander Thorn adds when it’s clear Fox isn’t going to continue. “He did his best to keep civilians off our backs, brought us bacta, snacks, and sweets when he could, tried to make us laugh. He’s our jedi even if it wasn’t official. But we haven’t seen him in weeks.”

Obi-Wan nods in understanding, then turns as Mace looks up.

“He’s in a coma. I can tell you more on the way, I trust the Guard but I don’t want to say this in the open.”

“I’m coming.” Commander Fox states and Commander Thorn nods.

“And perhaps a couple of the men. So we know how he’s doing?”

“I was going to ask one of you if you wanted to come. One would probably be best for now, I don’t know if the Healers are allowing visitors.”

“Just Fox then. I’ll watch out for our vode.” Thorn knocks his forehead gently against Fox’s, murmurs something none of them can hear, and leads the rest of the Guards away. The Jedi and single Commander push through the crowds and pile into a transport.

“Details Mace.”

It’s a sign of how serious it is that Mace doesn’t respond to the tone with a raised brow or eyeroll. “The gangrene is too serious; they have to amputate his leg at the knee. They aren’t sure how far he fell to break it that badly, but they know it’s been untreated for days. Best guess is he was running from someone and couldn’t find a place or the time to take care of it. He’s got some bruising and infected cuts on top of that which makes things worse, but they’re pretty sure they can deal with those. However. He’s not responding well to the healing. It’s not physical, it’s something mental. They aren’t sure what happened.”

Obi-Wan takes a deep breath and exhales shakily. Mace grips his shoulder till he stops quivering and asks slowly, “Do you have any idea what exactly happened the past few days?”

“He was almost completely out of it when he got to me.” Obi-Wan murmurs. “He, he said a lot of bad things about himself and a few things that reminded me about how some people talk about the Force. You know, when people call us or our skills unnatural. He wanted to protect someone, I’m not sure if it was the Jedi or the Coruscant Guard or someone else.”

The rest of the ride is quiet and tense.

*

Cody meets his general and general Windu at the hanger and finds himself, once again, relieved he’s wearing his armor. He’s not sure he’d survive his general finding out about the highly inappropriate reaction he had to the sight of his General beating up the Chancellor of the Republic on behalf of the troopers. His only consolation is the fact that he’s absolutely sure all the vode that aren’t asexual had the same reaction.

He is surprised to see Fox there, he hasn’t spoken to him in too long, and when he had Fox had been exhausted and tense. He’s been getting worried. He falls into step beside Fox as Obi-Wan updates him on the situation and waits till there’s no one near their group and murmurs, “You can take off the helmet if you want Fox. I promise they’re safe.”

Fox pauses, then yanks off his helmet almost violently. There’s more grey in his hair than there was last time, and a pair of scabbed-over cuts on his cheekbone. He looks like he was tired to the bone last week and hadn’t gotten any sleep this week.

“Fox-”

“Shut up.” Fox snaps, almost quiet enough to be missed by the generals, and Cody hesitates but thinks of Fox coming here to check on a severely injured jedi and decides to wait.

The Healer tells them that they can see Vos, but that they must be quiet and keep calm. The handful of Cody’s men that followed him wait so it’s Cody, Fox, Obi-Wan, and Windu that follow the healer into the room, Cody to offer moral support to his general as needed.

“Commander!” The healer yelps in alarm as Fox pushes past her, stripping off his glove and reach for the General’s limp hand, and Cody thinks of Obi-Wan using a rare order to keep Marrow at a distance and wonders what the hell Fox is thinking before Vos twitches, bare fingers curving towards where Fox has his fingers laid gently on his palm.

The healer scowled and examined the machines Vos was hooked up to. “The rest of you, no touching. Keep calm. You,” she pointed at Fox, who ignores her, heartbreak plain as day on his face “don’t move.”

Cody stays near the door, watching. Obi-Wan’s eyes have flicked towards Fox a couple times, but mostly he’s focused on General Vos. Windu is the opposite. The healer finishes examining the machines and holds her hand above Vos’ forehead, before making quiet excuses and leaving.

She comes back with Healer Eerin who preforms the same examination. “Anything wrong?” Obi-Wan asks.

“I don’t think so but I’m staying for the next 20 minutes to watch.”

It’s twenty minutes later that Healer Eerin kicks all of them out to eat except for Fox, who she brings a chair for. “I don’t know why, but your presence if helping him heal. I’m sure you have things to do but if it’s possible for you to stay a little-”

“I’m not leaving him.” Fow states, and Cody thinks of General Vos’s words on the bridge and heartbreak that hasn’t left his face and thinks oh.

They leave the door open when they go just for a bit, and Cody can tell Obi-Wan had the same idea as him because there’s concern and something that could become anger on his face. General Windu’s as inscrutable as always but Cody’s heard enough from Ponds to know the man takes threats to the jedi seriously. He shushes his troopers outside and waits.

“I’m sorry.”

It’s enough time that Cody had wondered if Fox was gonna stay silent and the shaking in his voice alarms him almost as much as the words. “I didn’t mean it I promise Quinlan. It was just a bad day and I snapped I’m sorry. You force-damned idiot it must have been days to find that and get so injured you know the Guard would’ve done anything they could for you even if I was being an asshole, you think Thorn didn’t smack me around the head when I told him? You’re our jedi Quinlan and we need you to wake up, I need you to wake up I can’t apologize properly if you’re sleeping, please, the Guard’s lost too many people please don’t let us loose our crazy jedi too.”

Fox is crying by the end of that, shaky sobs that scratch his throat, and Cody hits the panel to shut the door and turns to the two jedi.

“Well that answers that question.” Windo states. “I think the Commander will be there a while.”

“If it helps Quinlan heal I can’t speak against it.” Obi-Wan muttered. He slumps into a chair, exhausted. “It’s been a day. Who wants to eat?”

“I do.” Cody says. “And then I want to head to the barracks and make Thorn tell me what’s been going on with Fox, because I feel like I’m missing something important.”

*

Things get better after that, some slowly, some quickly. The Separatists decide it’s in their best interests to surrender to General Kenobi, and the war wraps up quickly with some planets staying separate and many arrests in the leadership (interestingly, a lot of crime groups that deal with jedi more than they would like to also decide to go clean after that footage. Who’d’ve thought?). The troopers learn about their new home with glee and throw themselves into learning how to be things other than soldiers with a mix of joy and apprehension. It takes time for the Coruscant Guard to be fully comfortable with their other brothers, but it’s something that the rest of the troopers work on furiously when they learn how hellish Coruscant had been for them. Anakin gets so much therapy (as do many other people) and the Jedi use time they have now that the war’s over to start distancing themselves a bit from the Senate, trying to ensure that they can’t be forced to lead an army again.

Fox is there when Quinlan wakes up, asleep and holding Quinlan’s hand and there are tears and apologies and promises. The Guard cheers when they get their general back because they love their crazy jedi as much as the other battalions. And the clones and jedi start to heal together.

[imagineyourworld]

Hi! Would you do e. “Please don’t tell me that’s what I think it is.” With the pronouns she/her for obi wan? Thank you so much (sorry for having to resend, I misread it the first time) 💓

Hi,

No problem at all! Thanks for the request, it seems perfect for Obi-Wan (the poor man just needs a break, doesn't he?)

Hope you'll enjoy.

Love, Charlie

-------

Obi-Wan Kenobi x Fem!Reader

Warnings:

e. "Please don't tell me that's what I think it is."

-------

The thought that this might be a bad idea never even crossed your mind. All you could think of were three pairs of eyes staring up at you, asking you not to tell anyone and to keep the secret. But the logical part of your brain somewhat won over. "Guys, you can't keep a tooka in a supply closet." Those were the first words that left your mouth, and the ones that lead you down this road. Waxer and Boil let out a sigh of relief. They then hurried to make you promise not to tell anyone and reassured you that they would tell Cody when the timing was right. "You know what, I don't really think the timing will be right any time soon. Cody's busy and stressed at the moment, if we make him take care of one more living thing I'm quite sure he'll explode or faint and the med bay is quite full as it is. I'll take it to my room instead and keep it safe." The two clones looked at each other, then down at the tooka in Boil's lap before turning back to you. "You're not gonna tell the General?" Now that was a tough question. You and Obi-Wan were... close. He often came by your quarters in the evening to talk, had done so ever since you joined the 212nd as a civilian medic, though recently you had done a bit more kissing and a bit less talking. Maybe you could manage to keep the talking to a minimum and the kissing to a maximum. You nodded while asking a follow up question at the same time. "What are you gonna do with it once we land on Coruscant?" Waxer shrugged, the expression on his face telling you that they hadn't thought that far ahead yet. "We might give her to Senator Organa. When we escorted him a couple of weeks ago he mentioned wanting a daughter and-" You interrupted him before he could even finish his sentence. "I don't think he was referring to tooka, but rather a human." The tooka in Boil’s lap made a sound that almost sounded offended. You sighed as you bent down to pet the small animal, while the two clones glanced at each other with matching grins on their faces. Maybe you were right about Senator Organa, but the way you treated the tooka with such affection and the feline in return jumped from Boil’s lap to sit down on top of your feet gave them a new idea.  “You know, a supply closet might really not be the best place for a tooka”, Waxer started, referring back to your earlier statement. “Maybe she’d be more comfortable in your room, it’s bigger at least.”  He didn’t even need to ask directly, the thought of taking her back to your room, at least until you could find a permanent home, had crossed your mind as well.  “Alright”, you sighed, trying to keep up a reluctant act. 

-------

At first having the little tooka in your room wasn’t so bad. She slept in the little nest of pillows and blankets you had made for her while you finished your reports, but after she woke up the chaos began.  “No, no, no. Get away from there, that’s”, you started, trying to chase her away from her spot on your nightstand where her paw was just centimeters away from the glass of water you kept there. “- breakable...”  In tone with your last word she pushed the full glass down, making it break upon contact with the floor and water flooding the room.  “You really are a lot of trouble, aren’t you? And you never listen, kinda reminds me of someone...”, you mumbled more to yourself than to the tooka as you began mopping the floor with the nearest available item, which happened to be a sock from your laundry basket.  “Don’t we have cleaning droids for that?”, a voice interrupted you.  You sat up immediately, barely avoiding your forehead hitting the night stand.  Obi-Wan had shown up in your room, as he did most nights. His robes were casually thrown across his arm while he looked at you with amusement in his eyes.  The instant you heard his voice you remembered your promise to Waxer and Boil, but that had been before you had agreed to take the tooka back to your room, and way before you had found out how much of a trouble maker she actually was. Just a second later it turned out that you didn’t have to say anything, about why you were drying water off your floor and how it had gotten there, because the feline jumped out of her nest and headed straight for Obi-Wan.  “Please don’t tell me that’s what I think it is”, the Jedi sighed. He tried his best to put on a stern expression, but as soon as he looked at the small tooka you could see affection in his eyes.  “You weren’t supposed to see her”, you mumbled in reply, because even though you knew Obi-Wan didn’t have the heart to throw the tooka out you also knew that he would insist that a spaceship was no place to keep a pet.  As he picked up the small animal and she got settled in his arms he raised an eyebrow at you.  “I wasn’t supposed to see her? How long did you think you could keep this a secret?”  You shrugged. Realistically you should have known it would come out sooner rather than later, but if Waxer and Boil had managed to keep her in a small supply closet anyone could walk into at any given moment for who knew how long, you should have been able to hide the tooka in your room until you reached Coruscant.  “A couple more days, maybe a week.”  Obi-Wan sighed as he sat down on your bed, the tooka still in his arms, He looked at her with the same expression he often had when looking at Anakin or Ahsoka, something you knew was love and the desire to protect those he loved.  “Or maybe she could stay here”, you said, more to yourself than to Obi-Wan.  His attention shifted from the tooka to you as you sat down next to him and began to pet the feline that was beginning to fall asleep again.  “You’ve mentioned that you might want to take on another Padawan, how different could a tooka really be?”  Obi-Wan looked from the tooka to you and back again. He had began to talk about getting another Padawan recently and he had to admit that he longer he held the feline in his arms the fonder he grew of her.  “But a tooka is nothing like a Padawan”, he argued.  You raised your eyebrow at him, a gesture Obi-Wan loved when it was directed at someone else, because it usually meant you would destroy them in an argument, but hated in that moment.  “A tooka, especially this tooka, is no different than your former Padawan, or his Padawan for that matter. She probably listens to you as good as Anakin, gets into as much trouble as him as well, and she’s just as understanding and snippy as Ahsoka. We could even name her Padawan!”  It was the last sentence that caught Obi-Wan’s attention. We. You had never used that word before, at least not when referring to the two of you. Did that mean you wanted there to be a we?  “We could take shifts in caring for her, and I’m sure most of the clones would help as well. She’d have a good life with us.”  You could see that Obi-Wan was still a bit unsure, so you decided to use your charm to your advantage.  “Please, think about it”, you whispered as you leaned closer. So close that your lips were touching his, just a soft and gentle touch, but it made Obi-Wan want more.  “Visiting Padawan would even give you a reason to continue to come to my room late at night”, you said, now pressing a soft kiss against his lips before you continued down to his jaw and then his neck, peppering kisses on every inch of skin you could reach.  “Fine”, he sighed just as your lips met the sweet spot beneath his ear. He could feel your bright smile against his skin, which instantly made him realize that he had made the right decision.  “But we’re not naming her Padawan”, he tried to reason with you. But you just shrugged, that was an argument for another day. 

-------

“We’re keeping the tooka”, Boil, a few rooms over, told Waxer.  His brother looked at him, confusion written clearly on his face.  “What makes you say that?”  Boil, with a shit eating grin, sat down next to him on his bed before confessing that he had been listening to the conversation between you and Obi-Wan.  “How did you even know the General would visit her room tonight?”, Waxer asked.  Boil just shrugged. “He’s in there every night. But what’s more important, we’re keeping the tooka. (Y/N) even gave her a name, she’s called Padawan.”  Before Waxer could voice his excitement another voice interrupted their conversation.  “What tooka?”, Cody asked, arms crossed across his chest.  Waxer and Boil looked at each other. Now that General Kenobi knew, surely they could tell Cody as well, right?  “What tooka?”, he repeated, suddenly less sure he even wanted to know the answer to his question.  But before he got an answer Padawan ran into the room and stopped right in front of Cody with a small “meow”.  Apparently you and Obi-Wan had been a bit too busy with each other to notice her escaping your room.

-------

I don’t know why, but this request just screams for a small animal to be included. And can you imagine Obi-Wan with a cat??

[lilhawkeye3]

Find Your Way Back Home, Ch 5

Riyo Chuchi x Commander Wolffe, Riyo Chuchi x Commander Fox

Rating: T |||| Word Count: 2.1k |||| Set Post Order 66

AO3 Link

previous • next

Riyo’s heart was in her throat as she slipped out of Wolffe’s room that morning, hair slightly disheveled from her pillow’s thickly woven fabric. She hadn’t meant to sleep in so late, but tried to crush her lingering guilt by reminding herself that she hadn’t slept that well in months now.

She came to an abrupt stop when she spotted Rex standing in the kitchen, staring out the window at the fields of javun with a steaming cup of tea in his hands. He looked back over his shoulder at her with a soft smile.

“How is he?” Nothing could get by the captain, especially in such small quarters with two of the people he held dear to him.

Riyo offered a tired smile. “Healing. Able to hold a conversation, and be sarcastic,” she added as an afterthought, feeling pleased when Rex chuckled. “I think he’ll be alright.”

The blond’s smile turned bittersweet. “As alright as the rest of us,” he sighed.

Her shoulders drooped. “I suppose so.”

He grimaced apologetically and turned away, back to the window and the world outside. “Sorry, that was rude of me.”

“But not untrue.” Riyo made her way around the kitchen, snatching her favorite mug from the drying rack and a reusable tea bag from her cabinet before preparing a drink with the hot water pot and tea leaves Rex had left out on the counter.

He spoke up as she poured water into the ceramic mug. “I’m glad it was you.”

She nearly spilled the pot all over herself with how much she jolted in surprise. “Pardon?”

Rex was looking at her again, eyes a deep gold in the morning light. “I’m glad it was you here.” He lifted his drink to his mouth, but not in time to hide his sly smile. “I don’t think there’s anyone else that could really help him now. And I know Ahsoka’s been glad to see a friendly face.”

Riyo blinked at him vacantly for several long seconds. “And you?” She asked, choosing to side-step dealing with the confused swirl of emotions that now filled her.

Rex smirked, clearly knowing she was avoiding it. “I found it nice to see that someone held true to their oaths.”

Her mind flashed back to when she’d first met Rex and his men, the renowned 501st Battalion. Orto Plutonia had been an unhappy experience, but one that she had grown much from. Seeing the lives of so many men cut short over miscommunication and greed, learning that her people were in the wrong, treating with a proud nation despite being uncertain of her place.

“‘To die for one’s people is a great sacrifice. To live for them, a greater sacrifice. I choose to live,’” she recited, those words seared into her soul until the day she died. She met his gaze with a steady look and a raised eyebrow. “What do you choose, Rex?”

He met her stare with an equally quirked brow, as if to say I’m here, aren’t I? “I live for my brothers that haven’t been freed. I live for the ones that already breathed their last.” He paused. “I live for her.”

Ahsoka.

“She chose you,” Riyo said slowly, parsing out his hidden message. “She saved you.”

“Yes.”

“She saved you… but at the cost of your brothers.”

He sucked in a breath. “Yes.”

Riyo closed her eyes, feeling the pain that rolled off him in waves. “And you blame her for it, yet you owe her everything.” She opened her eyes, and the devastated look on Rex’s face showed she’d guessed correctly.

“Sometimes, I wish she’d let me die with them,” he whispered into his mug, watching several stray tea leaves swirl in a gentle pattern. “To see them living, but not really alive– ” He trailed off, searching for something, anything to keep him afloat. Riyo rushed forward, gently taking the mug from his hands and setting it aside before wrapping her arms around his waist. She hoped he wouldn’t take offense– they’d never been close– but he readily clung to her, breaths coming in ragged pants as everything finally overwhelmed him.

She wondered if he hadn’t allowed himself to feel until now, in this safe haven on a forgotten planet.

“It’s a fate worse than death,” he finished, fingers clutching at her knitted sweater.

Riyo stroked his back, trying to help soothe him. “It is for you and them,” she murmured. “You can grieve for what you lost. You’re safe here.” She felt him tremble against her and tried to hold him tighter. “Would… would you like to come help me in the fields today? Ahsoka can stay here; she’ll be able to monitor Wolffe and come get us if needed.”

Rex exhaled shakily, but she could feel some of the tension leave him at the temporary escape she was giving him. “Yeah. Yeah, I’d like that.”

It seemed that Wolffe wasn’t the only trooper under her roof that she’d be helping to heal.

————————

Riyo woke Ahsoka after she’d gone to get dressed for the day. She wasn’t about to leave the house without alerting her friend, seeing that her and Rex disappearing with no notice could trigger a traumatic response. As it was, Ahsoka opened one eye to listen to Riyo’s explanation of where they’d be before mumbling her thanks and burrowing back under her blankets.

And so Riyo and Rex went out into the juvan fields.

They talked while they worked. Rex spoke of the brothers he’d lost, Riyo of the friends among the Corries. Color returned to his face and light to his eyes as the day went on and the memories piled up. By the time the afternoon light began to fade, he was able to laugh over some of the shenanigans his Torrent squad had got up to.

Ahsoka watched them both with curious eyes when they returned, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she told them that while Wolffe had been muttering on and off in his sleep, he hadn’t yet woken up again. Riyo made sure to set aside some of their soup that evening for him, thinking that he might finally be stable enough to eat. When dinner was finished, Riyo left Ahsoka and Rex to their low conversation as they spoke over washing dishes in the kitchen to check on Wolffe. To her surprise, he seemed to just then be waking.

The savory smell of the soup in her hands caught his attention first, and by the way his stomach rumbles, food was definitely what he needed. After a quick check to his bandages, Riyo held the bowl and helped him sip directly from it, finding that to be easier than trying to use a spoon. It was a slow and steady process, but she wanted to make sure Wolffe didn’t eat too fast and consequently vomit it up because his body couldn’t handle so much after so long asleep.

He seemed to be keeping it down well, to her relief, but then Wolffe mentioned needing to use the fresher, and a whole new set of obstacles arose. The first they barely managed to overcome as Riyo helped Wolffe stand by letting him lean heavily on her, and together they shuffled out of the room and to the fresher.

The second wasn’t as difficult physically, but still proved to be problematic on its own.

Riyo glares at him, unimpressed. “Can you even get your pants off by yourself?”

Wolffe’s indignant expression makes her fight back laughter. “Of course I can–” he starts, curling downwards slightly to try and pull them down far enough, but the crunch flares up his chest wound and he hisses. “Fine.”

Riyo sighed. “Wolffe, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I had to change you into these when you got here. Besides, I often walked through the Corrie barracks on my own, and one time I made a wrong turn and ended up in the Flash squadron locker room, and–”

“Alright, alright. Your point has been made,” he groaned with a roll of his eyes, and she finally caved in and laughed.

“Come on, then.” He held still as she carefully pulled down the sweatpants and underclothes, being sure not to aggravate his thigh injury. She’d been honest about seeing him bare not bothering her; anatomy was anatomy, and it was nothing to be ashamed of or shy away from, especially when acting as an impromptu medic. “There, is that good?”

“Yeah, I can–” Wolffe shifted slightly and accidentally put weight on his bad leg, nearly falling if he hadn’t tightened his hold around Riyo’s shoulders. Her hands shot out to brace his waist and keep him from toppling over.

“You’ll be able to do this alone soon, but not yet,” she reaffirmed. Closing her eyes, she jerked her chin towards the toilet. “Get busy, soldier.”

“Hilarious,” Wolffe deadpanned, but Riyo could feel him relax under her fingertips. She’d hoped her nonchalant manner would be similar enough to any medical care he’d had before, and it looks like her bet had paid off. She was a statue, solid and silent next to Wolffe as he relieved himself for the first time since waking. He was trembling from standing for so long by the time he finished, and didn’t say a word as Riyo helped him redress, wash off, and return to the bedroom. She knew how hard it was to accept help after spending so long being someone others relied on, and to be in a situation where he had no other option than to accept her generosity was bound to be even more difficult.

The unwitting sigh of relief that slipped through his lips as she guided him to lay back down on the bed was evidence of how taxing the short trip was. It worried Riyo. If he was to try and go anywhere further than the fresher, he’d need someone much stronger than her to steady him, and she didn’t know how long Rex or Ahsoka were planning to stay. She was already surprised they’d remained for this long, but she figured Rex wanted to make sure his brother was definitely alright before leaving him again.

“Thank you.”

She looked up from maneuvering the blankets back over his legs at Wolffe’s raspy voice. He was watching her again, appearing just as defeated as he had in the low light the night before. His eyes were flat, his face shadowed and paler than it normally was, which only served to heighten his haunted form.

“You’re welcome,” she finally replied after several moments of silence. “How do you feel now?”

He closed his eyes and let his head sink back into the pillows. “Tired.”

Riyo smiled lightly. “You need to rest. Can you drink some water before you go back to sleep?”

Wolffe hummed, which she took to be affirmative. When she returned with a mug of cool water, it was to find Wolffe had already propped himself up and was looking somewhat expectantly towards her. She held the mug to his lips again so he could drink and distracted herself by watching the way his eyes fluttered shut as he emptied the mug. With that done, she set it aside on the bedside table and hovered in case Wolffe couldn’t arrange himself comfortably on his back. To her delight, he was able to do it himself, albeit with shaking arms. Some progress was better than none at all.

Dusk was truly settling in and the room was beginning to grow darker with each passing second, so Riyo murmured a polite excuse and moved to leave. She was stopped by Wolffe’s hesitant call of her name.

“Yes?” Hopefully he wasn’t in too much pain…

“Can you…” His words died off as he gestured weakly towards the floor next to his bed.

Oh. “Of course I’ll stay,” Riyo agreed. “Let me wash up and change, and then I’ll be back.”

��———————

His eyes were closed and his chest rose and fell in a steady, slow rhythm by the time she slipped back into the room. His arm dangled awkwardly off the side of the bed so his knuckles brushed the chilled floor. This time Riyo was the one to take his hand in hers and rest them on her pillow, next to her head. He was warm and solid, something real that grounded her as she drifted off to sleep.

It was too dark for her to see the weary smile on Wolffe’s face as his thumb rubbed gentle circles against her palm before he too was out like a light.

[incorrectclonewars]

at odds part.1

another maulsoka fanfic! this one is a modern au where everyone is human. sidious is a big crime lord and maul is his right-hand man to make all the bad things happen and was in a relationship with ahsoka, until she found out the things he was doing and broke up with him and moved away.

maul as a human is pale and heavily inked with tattoos, red spiky hair and dressed in all black and of course a leather jacket. ahsoka is dark skinned with vitiligo, her hair is white with blue dye, and she wears a mix between feminine and tomboy. 

warning: mentions of blood & bruises, getting beaten up and some medical help (not serious, just some normal things like when you get a scratch) . lots of angst, swearing, mentions of sex (not including the word sex) and a make-out. did i mention angst?

The dark night sky was filled with rain and thunder, exactly how she remembered it. The shabby homes and apartments, lined up and creaked with every footstep, people dressed in dark clothing - hoodies their favourite, and walked around as if they were up to no good.

Ah yes, that’s exactly how Ahsoka remembered this place which she used to call home, now coming back she wondered how she could ever imagine seeing this shit hole as somewhere to live.

The brightness on her phone had to be decreased to not strain her eyes, the messages from just an hour ago reminded her why she had such thoughts.

Oh Maul...what have you done now?

Feral had called her an hour ago in a frantic, saying Maul wasn’t himself, especially after she left and was only getting worse. He needed help, and she was the only option despite leaving him two years ago.

She could never forget the sight of those unconscious bodies and Maul standing over them, blood on his hands. But the look on his face when he saw her - it broke her heart, but after knowing that he was doing this for years she just couldn’t stay with him, and left as soon as she could.

But after hearing Feral, she knew that she needed to come back.

Her hands shook as they turned the key in the lock and hearing the click, taking a deep breath, Ahsoka walked through the door and shut it behind her. Unlike the other accommodations, the floors here didn’t creak under her feet, but that didn’t stop her from taking slow and cautious steps. 

He isn’t here, ok, that was good. She had time to prepare then. 

She went through many scenarios in her head for what she would say to Maul but none of them felt good enough, what could she say? That she was sorry for leaving, but she had to because of what he did? It was true, but it felt too blunt, too harsh.

Her feet kept moving, taking in the place she once called home. It looked...bad. Clothes on the ground, dishes in the sink, paper peeling off the walls - 

“Oh…” The chairs were broken, laid on the floor that Ahsoka can only think that they had been thrown against the wall, and knows who did it.

She doesn’t dare go any further, and fate seems to agree as the door is burst open, clanking loudly at the force and as it shuts. Ahsoka freezes only for a second before pulling herself back together, and turns.

It’s Maul, dressed in black as always, but his clothing is ripped, there’s also blood. Her eyes widen at his state, and when he see’s her, he freezes.

“Ahsoka…”

Force, she had missed her name from his lips - she had missed his voice.

“Maul…”

Shit. She can’t speak, she can’t say why she’s here and wants to help him before he stares her down with a glare.

“What are you doing here?” He asks with a harsh voice. Ahsoka expected this, yet it still hurts. “Come to gloat at how better your life is without me? How Coruscant is much better than this piece of trash?” He turns away and sits on the couch, the only furniture that hasn’t been trashed.

She sighs. “Maul -”

“Or, have you found someone else and come to rub it in my face? Tell me how much better he is than me in every single way? Oh, and the sex must be great -”

“Would you shut up and let me talk!”

He whips his head back and he stands. “Why should I? You left me!” 

“I know I did, and I’m sorry -”

“Oh your sorry? Well that makes everything better doesn’t it!” He throws his hands in the air. “Why don’t we have a little tea party and celebrate -!” A wince cuts off his rant, his attention now at his side where his hands hold. 

Ahsoka looks at him worriedly and takes a step forward. “Maul, let me help.” He opens his mouth but she’s quick. “Please. Just...Just let me help you with those wounds, I’ll answer any question you give me. Please.”

She’s begging - pleading for him, she wants to talk, to set everything right no matter how long it’ll take, but not while he’s in pain and bleeding. He stares at her with anger in his eyes, but it’s faded as he sighs and sits back down, a wave of his hand as he says. “Do what you want.”

Ok, this is good - well, the yelling may have ended, but it was far from over. 

It’s a good thing she keeps a kit in her bag, being with Anakin too long made it happen.

But first, a wet cloth.

She finds a clean one and fills up a tub with cold water, and gently sits down next to him with the bowl on the table. He doesn’t look at her, it’s hurtful but expected. She touches his arm and he tenses, and recoils back. 

“Maul,” Ahsoka begs softly. He sneers and basically slams his arm on her lap, turning his head away more and leaning his chin on the palm of his head. Ok, that was kinda childish, but she’ll leave it for now. Unlike Maul, she’s gentle as she positions his arm so that she can gently wipe and rib the blood off, new and old. 

It’s silent for a few minutes, but Ahsoka can’t hold it in any longer.

“What happened?” Her voice as soft and gentle as it could be knowing his reactions, but with a lingering tone suggesting that she wasn’t going to back down.

Maul waits longer then a minute to answer. “Just some assholes who didn’t know when to stop.”

Vague, she remembers how sometimes she would ask him something; What did he want to eat or drink? Where should they go out for the day? What does this mean? Most of the times he could give a straight answer, other times he liked to play and would be so very vague about it that it ended up in a playfully wrestling match. 

She misses those times.

Once the blood is gone she pulls out the kit of her beg and disinfects the wound before wrapping it up, then moves onto the other. There isn’t much on his arm so she finishes quickly, and moves onto his chest.

She mentions to his shirt. “You need to take this off.”

“Already trying to get into my pants?”

Ahsoka ignores the blush and heat of her body, memories of them being playful as they stripped their clothing and had fun. 

Maul threw the shirt on the table and Ahsoka didn’t really care to tell him off, her thoughts on the semi-battered chest before her.

There are small cuts and bruises that won’t do any damage so they get done fast, some others take longer, but they are treated nevertheless. The one that made him wince was big, more bruised then the rest but had no blood - he was kicked there, perhaps. 

She taps it gentle. “Someone got a hit.”

“He paid for it greatly.”

She almost doesn’t want to know. “Please tell me you -”

“I didn’t kill him.” Maul cuts her off. “Rest assured, his body as well as his friends are just having a hard time getting to the hospital. They’ll make it.”

Swallowing the sigh of relief, a part of her cheers that they’re still alive, but she can’t avoid Maul’s actions in the matter. He still did what he did, it was wrong and she can’t push that away. 

She finishes cleaning and disinfecting it, now it’s time to wrap it up. 

Ahsoka pulls him to sit forward, there’s a grumble on his lips that dies as soon as she begins to wrap the first roll around his torso. Her job right now is to help his wounds, but her eyes can’t help but avert to his hardened chest that was almost covered by black ink. 

She remembers laying with him in bed in the afterglow of their first night and tracing the lines of his tattoos, each one having a story that she listened to as he told her. He was warm and held her tightly as he kissed her forehead and smiled at her so lovingly.

If only she didn’t see that night, that would still be happening, but she would have found out eventually and done the same thing. 

Better now that later they always say.

The bandage now done, Ahsoka ties it up tight to keep it from falling. “You need to change these everyday, wash your cuts, wounds and bruises before you put a new one back on. Also change them if they get dirty or wet. I’ll leave this here -”

“Why did you leave?”

The question fills the air with tension and freezes the young woman. Ahsoka knew he would ask that, she’s surprised it wasn’t the first thing that came out of his mouth when he saw her, but he must have been too shocked to see her here. 

Letting the roll of bandage fall to the table, Ahsoka sits back but doesn’t look at him. “When I saw you that night, everything started to make sense. The times you were out, the plans having to be cancelled because you had more work to do and the strange hours you worked. At first I thought that you were seeing someone else, but I knew you weren’t that kind of person.” Hands together, her fingers brush and twiddle against each other. “I saw the name Sidious on your contacts and overheard you say his name a few times, along with some other things that didn’t sound good, but I trusted you. That night you said that you were going to be late again so I thought I would cook a nice dinner, and then I saw you, and everything just clicked together.”

She had done some research on the name after she saw that scene and found tie-ins to violent attacks, gangs and criminal organisations. He had people all around the city doing his bidding, and looking at one hooded figure, she was filled with a feeling of familiarity, and was horrified for it to be Maul.

“You could have stayed here, and wait for me to come back and explain.”

“I could have, but I was scared. I needed to get away from it all and sort everything out.”

“And did you?” His tone was still angry, but curious. 

Ahsoka shook her head. She didn’t really figure anything out when she left, all her thoughts were on Maul. “No, all I could think about….was you.” Finally she turns to him to see the widen of his eyes, clearly not expecting an answer like that. She’s waiting for him to glare, yell and scream like before, even threatening her to get out - 

She gasps when he touches her cheek, his fingers gently brushing over the skin. He’s staring at her and she can’t help but fall to those eyes, she didn’t realise they had moved closer until his nose was just inches away from her own.

“I missed you.” 

“...I missed you too.” He says in a whisper with a look of brokenness, her heart clenches, and when he cups her cheek, she leans into the touch.

Maul shifts closer, a knee between her legs. 

It’s like watching in slow motion, knowing what’s about to come, but she gives no resistance as his lips cover her own

Ahsoka’s hands find their way to his body, one on his arm and the other over his hand on her cheek as she pulls him closer.

Force - it feels so good, so natural, so much like home.

Maul growls and presses further, his hands moving to her coat and pushing it down, she allows him to throw it off her, His hands on her waist and rubbing against her clothing, and she can’t help but moan and melt under it all. 

Before Ahsoka knows it, she’s pushed on her back and Maul’s hands are all over her, drinking her in until they get underneath her shirt. She breaks the kiss to moan and lavishes at his lips on her neck as his hands rise and reach her bra to squeeze her breasts.

No. This is wrong. They shouldn’t be doing this.

“Maul -”

“Shhh.” He purrs at her ear, the hit of his breath causing goosebumps. “Don’t talk, just feel, and moan.” 

He nibbles along her shoulder and for a few seconds she gives in, then gently pushes at his shoulder. 

“No...Maul, stop.”

Thankfully he does, and he leans up to look down at her with a cocked eyebrow. 

Ahsoka lets out a breath. “We can’t do this.”

“Why not?” He frowns at her, and for a moment she thinks of just giving in, to let herself sink into this pleasure and deal with all of this in the morning. But that would only make things worse. 

“Because, we’re not…we’re not together anymore.”

He stares at her a bit long for her liking, then sneers and pulls away, she sits up as fast as she can and looks at the heavily tattooed and bruised man.

A part of her regrets her choice to stop it, but it was the right thing to do.

“I’m sorry.” She whispers. What more could she say to him? 

His fists clench and teeth gritted, but he looks away from her, and says in the most broken and angry voice she has ever heard. “Just go.”

Her heart breaks, she’s so tempted to get closer and touch him again, to stay, but both were bad options right now. 

It would be best if she left.

“Ok.” She says a bit louder then a whisper, and packs her things away before picking up her coat and putting it back on. She grabs her bag and heads to the door, pausing on handle. “My number hasn’t changed,” Her voice now louder, enough for him to hear from the distance. “Please, contact me if you need anything.”

She’s met with silence, and takes that as her que to leave.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------

She holds it all in on the way home, as she puts her shoes at the doorway and walks to her room, putting the bag down at her desk and changing into pyjamas. When she hits the bed does she let all her feelings out, all the crying and whispered sorry’s in her head.

I fucked up.

And she doesn’t know how the hell to fix it.  

[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

[sirloozelite]

Just read your newest kaesoka prompts on ao3 and loved them!!! Potential prompt.... idk if you like doing angst so feel free to reject lol. Ahsoka gets seriously injured and Kaeden is the one who treats her? I guess this could also be a fluffy prompt too or be angst with a fluffy/happy ending so if you want to do this take this whichever path you want to haha.

Hey @ahsokamyqueen, sorry for the delay, but I finally got this prompt you requested finished. I hope you enjoy it and it lives up to what you wanted.

If you want to leave another one at any point please feel free. They make my day! XD

I’ll leave links below, as well as copy the whole thing into this message for you as well.

Fanfic link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12833125/45/The-One-Shot-Saga

Archive link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13648131/chapters/55389577

Doctor Kaeden Larte and the case of the Critically Wounded Girlfriend    

"Careful! You never know what taking that could do!"

Maul sighed. Every time he and Lady Tano ventured together into an ancient tomb or temple, the Togurta was always overly cautious of every move they would take.

He didn't blame her of course. He knew these tombs and temples had devious traps lying in wait for unwitting adventurers.

But he was no ordinary adventurer, and neither was Lady Tano. If anything they were the foremost experts on 'Tomb Raiding' these days. Surely they could afford to be a bit reckless?

"You grow paranoid in your old age, Lady Tano. It is a simple jar upon a pedestal. Nothing bad will happen if I remove it."

"Hey! I'm not old!"

"Then you have grown too cautious. Not everything is out to get you." Maul replied, his tone sarcastic, knowing Lady Tano would see his joke.

From the roll of the Togruta's eyes, as well as the small smirk that came to her lips, he could see if understood.

Yet still she protested.

"We didn't come here for trinkets Maul. There is a holocron here after all. This is the tomb of a Sith Lord after all."

"Yes yes, I know. But I like this jar, so I am taking it."

"Maul don't…."

Maul didn't listen. Reaching a hand forward, he grasped hold of the ornate looking jar, one that was heavier than he expected it to be, before placing it in the small bag he was carrying. It would look nice in his 'house' on Dathomir.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lady Tano freeze up, as if expecting something bad to happen.

But, just as Maul had predicted, nothing bad happened.

"See? Paranoid in your old age Tano. I'd of thought that now you were no longer sexually frustrated that you'd be…"

The tomb shuddered suddenly, interrupting Maul before he could complete his teasing remark.

Perhaps he had spoken too soon?

A loud crash suddenly echoed through the room, causing both occupants to spin and look for the source of the noise.

Maul spotted it quickly. A part of the roof had fallen down, crushing whatever lay below it.

It was then that another section collapsed, followed by another, and another.

"You were saying Maul?!"

Maul had no time to respond vocally. Instead he span back towards Lady Tano and nodded once, a gesture she understood the meaning of instantly.

Without any more delay, both broke into a sprint, retracing their route in as the tomb caved in around them.

"You just had to go and take the jar didn't you?!" Lady Tano yelled as they ran, her voice full of mock rage. He could tell she was secretly enjoying it.

Turning a corner, Maul pushed off the wall behind him to regain the speed he had lost in the process. Behind him Ahsoka fell back slightly, not having had the same momentum to regain as much speed as he had. Maul wasn't worried though. Lady Tano was more than capable of catching him up. She had her real legs after all, and wasn't weighed down by the cybernetics.

"Our exit is ahead!" Maul called over his shoulder as he spotted the light of outdoors ahead, ducking his head as he ran in the process to avoid some falling debris.

It was then that he heard a sound that terrified him.

A yell of pain echoed from behind, drawing his attention immediately, and just in time to watch Lady Tano be crushed by falling rocks.

"NO!" Maul screamed in rage as he turned and ran back for her without hesitation, using the Force to lift the rocks that he crushed her off, whilst also keeping any more debris from the collapsing tomb from squashing them both.

Once the rocks were off, Maul wasted no time and bent down to pick Lady Tano up. He didn't have time to check her injuries right now, but he knew she was unconscious from the way her head rolled to one side without control.

Ignoring the strain his use of the Force was placing on him, Maul pushed ahead, shielding Lady Tano from any more falling debris to the best of his ability.

Once clear of the tomb's interior, and outside in the plains surrounding the tomb, Maul allowed himself to breathe, slowly placing the Togruta on the grass before checking her over.

The injuries were not good.

The rocks that had fallen on her had collided directly with her head, severely damaging one of her montrals, leaving a large dent in one of them, as well as several gashes on both montral and face. Maul knew that Togruta relied upon their montrals, and that any damage to them could be life threatening if not treated as soon as possible.

But Maul was no medic, and aside from heading to Dathomir and trying to get the spirits of the nightsisters to help, Maul knew he had only one other alternative, even if it meant he would get shouted at… a lot!

Still, if that was the case, he would bare it. He had to save Lady Tano, just like she had saved him.

Steeling himself, Maul gently picked Ahsoka's unconscious form up, and headed for his ship.

He needed to speak to a certain doctor who knew Ahsoka better than most.

********************************************************

"Hey Kaeden, there is a Zabrak here with a patient. Says he wants to speak to you specifically."

Kaeden Larte honestly wasn't surprised. In the time she had been working at the Alderaan General Hospital, she seemed to have built up a bit of a reputation as one of the most effective, and sometimes scary, doctors on the ward. Apparently she just had a way with medical skills that led to her being recommended to everyone.

Of course the flip side of that was that nine times out of ten her days were exhausting. Rewarding yes… but exhausting.

At least she had someone to go home to though. Seeing Ahsoka after a long day on the ward always made it worth it.

"What's wrong with him Kas?" Kaeden asked her colleague, standing from her desk and gathering her tools. Hopefully this was nothing too serious.

However, judging by the look on Kas' face, it clearly was serious.

"Well, it's not him Kaeden, but his friend he brought in with him. Togruta female. Heavy damage to the montrals. She's unconscious, and this 'Maul' guy is insistent that you come immediately."

Every bone in Kaeden's body suddenly ceased, a thick pool of dread building up in the pit of her stomach at the mention of the Zabrak's name.

If it really was Maul, and he was in the company of a badly hurt Togruta, that meant that his friend was…

"No! No no no no no! Kriff!"

Kaeden didn't wait around to see Kas' reaction to her sudden cursing, nor did she wait around for more information. If Ahsoka was hurt as badly as Kas said so Kaeden was needed now!

Moving as fast as she could without resorting to running, Kaeden exited her office and moved through the ward, heading towards a set of rooms that she knew new arrivals were placed in.

It didn't take her long to locate Maul. His booming voice gave away his position immediately.

"I do not care if you are a more qualified doctor! I want Doctor Larte NOW!"

"Maul, I'm here!" Kaeden called out as she entered the room, startling the other doctor who had attempted to intervene.

Maul's face was a myriad of emotion. Part anger, part impatience.

And part full of worry too.

And then Kaeden saw why.

A single bed was in the room, and there, bruised and beaten, a large crack in one of her montrals, was Ahsoka. Her usually bright orange skin had dulled considerably, her perfect facial markings that Kaeden loved to trace scarred by various cuts.

Kaeden felt her heart plummet instantly. How had this happened?

The only saving grace, and ray of hope that Kaeden had was the heart rate monitor currently attached to Ahsoka. Her heart was beating at a steady rate, despite her external injuries.

"We were in a tomb, and it collapsed around us. Lady Tano was crushed by falling debris. I tried to help her, but this level of damage is beyond my abilities Doctor." Maul spoke, his voice oddly soothing, despite his darker persona.

A rush of emotions overcame Kaeden. She knew that realistically, she shouldn't be the one to treat Ahsoka. Her emotional attachment to the Togruta could compromise the situation, leading to the worst possible outcome Kaeden could imagine.

But Kaeden didn't care for rules, not when Ahsoka's life was at stake. Kriff what the 'Board of Directors' would think. They could fire her for all she cared! Right now all her attention was on helping Ahsoka to the best of her ability.

"Kas! Cancel all of my meetings for the day. I've got a critical patient that needs my attention." Kaeden called out behind her, knowing her colleague had followed her out of concern.

"Of course Doctor Larte. Consider it done." Kas' voice replied before she left the room, leaving Kaeden with Ahsoka and Maul.

And the other doctor.

"You seem determined to handle this situation Doctor Larte." The doctor spoke, his voice bordering on condescending. From the way Maul snarled beside her, Kaeden could tell the Zabrak thought much the same.

"She's my girlfriend! She's my responsibility." Kaeden spat back, ignoring the look of shock on the doctor's face.

"Doctor Larte, you should know that it would be inappropriate of you to treat this…."

The doctor didn't get to finish his sentence, not with Maul in the room. The Zabrak moved away from Kaeden, his hand instantly falling to and presenting his lightsaber hilt to the doctor.

"I suggest you leave now before my anger takes control. Lady Tano is in good hands with Doctor Larte. The best in fact."

The doctor didn't argue, and whilst normally Kaeden would be concerned by the threats Maul was making, right now she didn't care. She needed to focus on her patient.

Temporarily moving away from Ahsoka and towards the door to the room, Kaeden called out to another of her colleagues.

"Zi! I need you to get the internal scanner immediately. I've got a patient with possible internal damage."

"Right away Doctor!" Came the reply of Zi. The man was usually an overly flirtatious individual, but when he was in 'Doctor' mode, he was one of the most effective.

Kaeden was glad to see he recognized the severity in Kaeden's tone.

Moving back from the threshold of the door, Kaeden scooped up the datapad that was resting at the foot of Ahsoka's bed and began to enter the Togruta's details.

Her mind on autopilot, Kaeden entered each and every detail she knew, from name to age, blood type to allergies.

When it came to 'Next of Kin' details though, Kaeden hesitated, but only briefly.

Continuing on, she entered her own name as the first emergency contact, followed by Rex's as the second, and Kanan as the backup third.

"Her montrals..." Maul's voice interrupted Kaeden's work, the Zabrak now standing at the top of the bed, his golden eyes surveying the damage done to Ahsoka's face, "They are much worse than I thought!"

Glancing up from the datapad, Kaeden's eyes fell upon the montrals atop Ahsoka's head. A large crack ran down one side of one of them, various dents present along the length of it as well. Kaeden had studied Togruta biology during her training to become a Doctor, and knew just from seeing the damage that it was bad.

Togruta relied on their montrals for echolocation and hearing. There was a very high chance that the damage could be permanent, It could lead to a loss of hearing, or worse, tumors in the brain.

There were even reports of such damage to montrals killing who they belonged to.

Kaeden would not let that happen!

"I know Maul. I know. We will do everything we can to help her." Kaeden spoke, struggling to keep her voice level. Part of her wanted to break down in tears at the sight of Ahsoka hurt so bad, but she had a level of professionalism to maintain.

Just then Zi came into the room, the portable scanning device Kaeden had requested in his hand.

"The patient is Ahsoka Tano. Togruta, female, 43 years of age. Born on Shili, but raised by the Jedi Order on Coruscant before the purge. She has a strong affinity to the Force as a result. Her montrals have been severely damaged by falling debris, and there is a possibility that she may have broken bones or internal bleeding as a result. These sorts of injuries can go one of two ways for Togruta, so we must proceed quickly but cautiously." Kaeden spoke, her 'Doctor' persona taking over instantly, pushing aside her emotional investment.

"Wait! She's a Jedi!" Zi's interruption, while expected, was not welcome right now.

"Not anymore. Now do your job human!" Maul's interruption was welcome even less, even if he was voicing Kaeden's thoughts aloud.

"Right, yeah, sorry. Beginning scan." Zi hastily replied bringing the portal scanner up to Ahsoka's prone form, running it over every inch of her body.

The process took several minutes before Zi finally stopped, his eyes running over the readouts on the scanner.

"Well the good news is that there is no internal bleeding, and her bones are mostly intact. One or two fractures, but nothing broken."

"And the bad news?" Kaeden asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

"The bad news is that the damage to the montrals is severe and needs operating on immediately. Togruta montrals are hollow, and from the looks of the scanner several pieces have been fractured and broken. We need to graft the damage with skin cells to ensure they heal correctly, as well as remove any shards of broken montral from within the hollow section."

"That does not sound like an easy task Doctor." Maul commented, his tone grim, expression dull. Kaeden felt much the same.

"I won't lie, Togruta very rarely survive such an operation, but without her her chances are zero percent. The problems lie with trying to repair the damage done to the montral without harming them any more. What we really need is something to heal them as we work." Zi replied, handing the scanner over to Kaeden to look at. Glancing at the results on screen, Kaeden could see exactly what Zi meant.

The damage to Ahsoka's montrals had left several cracks along one central fissure. In order to stabilize them they would need to seal the cracks in without disrupting the hollow interior, whilst simultaneously removing any damaged skin. The hope was that but grafting skin cells onto the surface of the montral that Ahsoka's body would react and attempt to self heal. Over time the skin cells would dissolve as the skin montral beneath them reshaped and repaired.

As simple as it sounded on paper though, Kaeden knew this was a risky gambit, but it was also the only one she had available to her, and she knew she would need help.

Turning to Maul, Kaeden spoke.

"Get in contact with Kanan. Get him to send Barriss Offee here as soon as possible. I will need her abilities in Force healing to stabilize Ahsoka whilst I remove the damaged tissue and graft the new cells on. It's likely Ahsoka's only hope."

Maul hesitated briefly, knowing of Ahsoka's past with Barriss. Kaeden too was skeptical, but only Barriss was a true expert at Force healing. With the current dilemma Kaeden was facing, she needed all the help she could get.

Luckily, Maul seemed to agree.

*********************************************************************

Barriss had wasted no time heading to the hospital, arriving only hours after Maul made the call. Apparently the Mirialan had been on Alderaan for a medical conference, one that she had hastily abandoned upon hearing of Ahsoka's predicament.

Now she was standing opposite Kaeden in the operating theatre, her eyes closed as she used the Force to stabilise her patient.

Between them lay Ahsoka, an oxygen mask attached to her face, which was oddly serene despite the situation she was in. Chances are she didn't even know where she was.

Leaning down, Kaeden began to inspect the damage to Ahsoka's montral once more.

The large fissure that ran along one side was jagged, several pieces of it sticking up like a razor's edge. Those would have to be removed before they could go any further.

Reaching onto the table behind her, Kaeden picked up two medical instruments. One was a precision laser scalpel, the other a pair of tweezers. She didn't like the idea of cutting the cracked skin off of her girlfriends head, but it was the only choice.

"Ok Barriss, keep her steady please. Kas, keep an eye on her vitals. Let me know if anything goes into the red. Zi, get ready with the first skin graft." Kaeden spoke, issuing her order to her gathered team. Perhaps she should have chosen a more experienced group to perform the surgery, but this was a personal matter for her. If she couldn't save Ahsoka, then she didn't deserve to have her in the first place.

When she was content that her team understood their orders, Kaeden began her work.

Moving the scalpel slow and steady, Kaeden gently began to make an incision along the cracked edge, removing the sharper elements that were protruding from the fissure. Her goal was to remove the already dead tissue of the montral before pacing the skin graft between the healthy tissue to encourage healing.

It took several minutes for her to be happy with her work before she signaled to Zi to bring the first graft over.

Said graft was little more than specialized bacta patch, one that was neatly laid across the surface of the crack in the montral. Content with it;s placement, Kaeden reached for a new tool.

"Sorry about this bit Ahsoka. It's gonna leave a mark." Kaeden whispered to her comatose girlfriend, knowing what she was about to do would leave a scar that might possibly never heal, even with a skin graft.

The tool in question was a simple precision laser, one used to seal up injuries, or in this case surgically attach the graft to the montral. It would, in theory, burn the patch on, at least until it dissolved at a later date.

Taking a deep breath, Kaeden activated the laser and began to work.

"Stress on the body is increasing Doctor Larte! I'm reading all sorts of head trauma occurring!" Kas spoke from behind, alarm in her voice. Kaeden had predicted this however, and knew what her next move was.

"Barriss, stabilize her mind. Cut off the pain receptors to her brain if you can."

"Easy enough." Came the reply on the Mirialan, her voice steady despite the strain she was likely under.

"Vitals stabilising. Whatever she's doing is working." Kas spoke again, the alarm in her voice replaced with surprise and awe.

Happy with how things were proceeding, Kaeden continued her work, carefully using the laser to attach the graft to the damaged area of Ahsoka's montrals.

Despite the risk it posed however, it all seemed to work, and a few moments later the first graft was successfully attached to the damaged montral.

Stepping back to admire her work, Kaeden allowed herself to release the breath she didn't know she had been holding.

"Good work Doctor. One down, five to go." Zi's comment both inspired her, and reminded her of the gravity of the situation. There was still time for it to all go wrong after all.

"Get the next patch ready Zi." Kaeden said, returning the laser to the table and picking the scalpel and tweezers up once again.

She had a long way to go yet before they were finished.

**************************************************************************

Despite the difficulty of the operation, and despite every single risk she was taking, in the end the operation had been a complete success. It may have taken two hours, but it was done, and Ahsoka was stable.

Attacking the skin grafts to the cracks had been the easy part. The challenging part had been dealing with the fissure that ran the length of the montral. Removing the dead tissue on the exterior had been easy, it was the shards that had fallen within the hollow montral that had proven tricky.

Luckily for them all, Barriss had been prepared. Her use of the Force to extract the shards had been a marvel, and one that had saved Ahsoka's life. When she woke up, Kaeden knew she had a lot of talking to do with Barriss.

As of right now though, all she could do was sit and wait.

Her shift had long since ended, but Kaeden had no reason to go home. Her home was sitting before her, asleep, for the time being. Hopefully soon she would awaken.

Sighing to herself, and taking a small sip of the cup of caf she had in her hands, Kaeden began to inspect her work for the fifteenth time.

Ahsoka's complexion had returned to normal, and her vitals had been strong throughout. Her montrals were now coated with various skin grafts, disrupting the patterns that Kaeden had grown so fond of. It was only temporary however. Once the grafts dissolved and the montrals repaired themselves, the patterns that Kaeden loved to trace would be back.

The only long lasting effect would be the scarring where the fissure had been. Kaeden knew that Ahsoka wouldn't care less about any visual damage though. If anything the Togruta would treat it like a trophy!

"Urgghhh, man my head hurts."

Kaeden very nearly dropped her caf at the soft sound of the voice she held so dear. Ahsoka's eyes had opened, one of her hands moving slowly towards her forehead, grasping it in pain.

Wasting no time, Kaeden placed her cup on the side and moved towards Ahsoka, stopping her hand from reaching any higher atop her head. Disturbing the montrals and the skin grafts as they healed would not help whatsoever. They needed to be left alone.

"Hey, hey, it's ok Ahsoka. You're safe now. You're in the hospital."

Ahsoka's eyes widened at Kaeden's words, the blue in them dulling for a moment as she tried to recollect what had led to this situation.

It took a few moments before clarity came to her blue eyes, her expression tightening suddenly.

"That damn Zabrak! I told him not to take the jar!"

Kaeden couldn't help but laugh at the tone Ahsoka had used. In that moment, despite the danger she had been in, Kaeden was confident that Ahsoka would make a full recovery and be back on her feet in no time.

And for that, Kaeden wouldn't have been happier.

[pomrania]

Colour and Meaning

((part of the Little by Little AU))

Sabine watched the setting sun, and contemplated the future. It wasn't something she did often. Oh, she planned, that was unavoidable, but if she could get away with it, she tried to not think about what life would have in store for them all. She couldn't get away with not thinking about it.

  Any oath required careful consideration of what it meant and why it was being sworn. And given that she was creating her own rituals, she couldn't rely on previously-established forms and symbols. Everything had to come from her alone.

  Colour gave her direction, and a place to start.

  Red was for family, and blood, and the sun setting in front of her.

  Family. Not the one that had rejected her, but the one that had taken her in. The family she would die for, the family she would kill for, the family she would live for. The family that had already suffered so much and was suffering even more. They were what was most important, and everything was for them.

  Blood. Her blood, in the vial, ready for whenever she was ready to make her oath. The blood of her enemies, as they sprawled before her in defeat. The blood shed by her family and allies as they fought against a foe that outnumbered them and could seem overwhelming. Determination and sacrifice and knowing when to swallow your pride and back down for a more important fight later.

  Sunset. Everything came to an end, eventually. It couldn't be stopped any more than you could stop the planet's rotation. Inevitability. But it was also the rising sun. New beginnings, and change. Everything would have to change. It was as natural as the cycle of day and night and day and night. All of her ancestors, everyone's ancestors, had gone through that, struggled with it, and coped to varying degrees. Loss was unavoidable, but giving up was a decision.

  Red was the most common colour painted on the dokma for those silly races, if only because it was almost always available. Red was the colour of bloodshot eyes when someone had been crying. Red was the colour of the blade that had stolen Kanan's sight and permanently cut him off from her colours.

  Orange was for living life to the fullest, and fire, and the painted clouds that streaked across the sky.

  Life. Living fearlessly and joyfully, embracing each new day as it came. Looking forward without worry or regret. What Ezra didn't have at the moment. The future held the hope of adjusting and making progress, but the certainty of further vision loss. Fear. They all needed more orange. Joy came if you fought for it; fought your oppressors, your environment, the parts of your own mind that were holding you down.

  Fire. Destruction. Both the trigger and the result of an explosion. The ruins of a home, or the ruins of an enemy base. The need to rebuild but also the way to rebuild. If properly directed and controlled, it could remove everything that was in the way and that shouldn't be there.

  Clouds. Beauty. A beauty that no one seemed to appreciate as much as she did. A beauty that could only be seen. She still had no idea how she could express it otherwise in her art. Even if everyone learned how to read the tactile alphabet, that would only be a description, a pale and faint representation of what she wanted to get across with the shapes and colours.

  Orange was the colour of Chopper's preferred paint job. Orange was the colour of Ezra's clothing, for as long as she had known him, with the only exception being when he was in disguise. Orange was the colour of the most recent painting on her door, unfinished because she had a hard time concentrating on it.

  Yellow was vengeance, and the lights turning on in the distance to keep the base well-lit.

  Vengeance. Satisfying, but in some cases not worth the time spent pursuing it. Three lives lost: the person originally harmed, your enemy's, and your own. The drive to hurt the cause, more than help what was left. Pointless, for the problem at hand. Nobody's fault. Nobody whose death or suffering would bring closure and vindication. Anger and rage that she had to somehow let go of, because there was no appropriate target.

  Light. Ezra needed it more than anyone else did, at least at the moment. Needing assistance when everything still seemed normal. Kanan couldn't see light, and didn't know when he had left a light on. He checked, now. He didn't know if it was dark, or what anybody else could see. He didn't need light at all.

  Yellow was the colour of Zeb's eyes, never crying no matter how he felt. Yellow was the colour of his ridiculous waffles; he liked them so that was good, but she didn't understand what was so special about them. Yellow was the colour of uniforms and helmets on the base.

  Green was Hera, and duty, and how Hera balanced duty and everything else that was important to her.

  The first impression Sabine ever had of Hera was as a green blur, asking where she was injured; then a slightly more distinct green blur, sitting by her bed as she began to heal; then a green alien. Hera didn't seem alien any more. Hera was family, a pilot, the captain of the Ghost, member of the Rebellion, and maybe ten or fifteen items down the list would be "twi'lek and not human".

  Duty. Hera refusing to put more at risk to rescue Kanan. Balance. Hera going along with them once they had a plan that could work. Duty was Hera going on missions after Malachor, even though she wanted to stay and be with everyone, because there was nothing more she could do to help them at the moment. Duty was not letting the pain slip over into cruelty or recklessness. Duty was being there for others, even when it hurt so bad it felt overwhelming. Sabine could only hope that Hera still remembered to keep the balance.

  Green was the colour of plants she had never really paid attention to. Green was the colour of Kanan's eyes, back when they were still clear. Green was the colour of laser fire from TIE fighters.

  Blue was reliability, and lightsabers, and the sky darkening above her.

  Reliability. Being there. Something you could trust to stay constant. What could be trusted, when your senses might fail at any moment? Kanan spoke of the Force. Maybe there was comfort in that. Something that would always exist, no matter what happened to you. Did they believe that it guided you? She could use some guidance. It felt wrong to turn to anyone there for help, when they were dealing with their own problems.

  Lightsabers. The mark of a Jedi. Even if they came in other colours, Kanan's was blue and Ezra's first one had been blue. Did Kanan know that Ezra's blade was green now? The Force didn't tell him colours. They were all too human. Even Ahsoka, who wasn't human. Hadn't been. Figures of myth that suffered like anybody else. A weapon, no matter how powerful, was only as good as its wielder.

  Sky. The overhead expanse that seemed limitless, and promising infinite possibilities. An illusion, albeit a nice-looking one. Impossible to reach unaided. Easily achieved, and more, in a ship. Distance was relative, depending on what you had available. Difficulty, as well. If a problem seemed insurmountable, you were approaching it the wrong way. Limits were there to be broken. Maybe not in the way you expected, but still. Freedom came first from within, then it could be expressed on the outside world.

  Blue was the colour of Ezra's eyes, and they would stay that colour even when he had lost all sight from them. Blue was the colour of hyperspace, travelling and escaping. Blue was the colour of Rex's jaig eyes, and maybe he could help and understand, once he was back.

  Black was for justice, and nightfall.

  Justice. Justice had nothing to do with it. Kanan's only crime was dropping his guard for the wrong second. Ezra's only crime was being born to parents with a background of genetic disorders. The others, too. Their only crime was caring, so that it hurt when someone else hurt. If there was no justice in the past, it would have to be in the future. Going blind, no matter the cause, was nothing worthy of punishment. Treating it otherwise would be itself worthy of punishment. Justice was doing what was right, and fixing what was wrong. If only she knew how to do that.

  Night. Dark. Making it so that you couldn't see. She didn't want to think about it. With your eyes closed, asleep, the dark was no problem. Avoiding the issue, to make it not hurt. Or maybe not needing to see, when you felt safe enough to rest, and everything you interacted with could be easily felt. Those same principles could be expanded, to make it easier. It would never be easy. But so that there was no fear of not knowing, or running into something. Only the fear of loss and change and everything you'd never get to experience ever again.

  Grey was mourning and shadows. Everything the same colour. No colour. They shouldn't mourn. Ezra was still there. He wasn't dying. It was a loss, but not the end. They needed to support him. Shadows would come soon enough, no matter what they did. Grief was unavoidable, but once you got through it you could get back to the colours. She didn't want to give it a place of honour.

  Nothing white was ever a good sign. White was the snow on a planet she would never return to. Stormtrooper armour. Walls that had to be scrubbed perfectly clean, as a punishment for stepping out of line. Bleached bones. Dead branches. A bandage covering ruined eyes. The medical droid who, although helpful, symbolized so much that had hurt her family. White was the flash of teeth exposed in a fake smile, either as a prelude to betrayal or pretending that everything was fine when it was obvious that the person was in pain, and she didn't know which felt worse.

  She was out of colours, and out of daylight. Not out of thoughts. There was so much she had brought up, that she had to go over. But first, she needed to go back to the Ghost. She wasn't planning on sleeping out there, and she had other responsibilities still.

  The short walk was enough to give her the outlines of what she would want or need (they were really the same thing, here) for her oath.

  Absolutely nothing grey. Even if something was originally grey, she would paint it beforehand. Something white, to destroy. Ideally with fire. Removing everything that stood in the way, to make way for a life lived without fear or worry. The red of her blood, and maybe paint if that wasn't enough, in the image of a circle. Sunset and sunrise, and the connection of family. Orange anywhere she could conceivably fit it. Her vows in black. Those were the most important elements.

  A sudden thought intruded on her mind. She was only swearing not to make fun of Ezra in any art he couldn't see. Under those terms -- and she wasn't even stretching them -- it would be entirely acceptable to have an audio recording making fun of him, or something written and textured that could be understood without needing sight. What if she added an example of that to the ritual?

  Her first instinct was to reject the very idea... then she considered it some more. He wanted people to treat him normally. Well, "normal" for her included not letting him live it down, if he did something ridiculous. He wasn't going to suddenly become all dignified and graceful when he lost his sight, so she wasn't going to suddenly stop getting on his case when he deserved it.

  He might feel like she was mocking him -- well, she would be, but specifically in a cruel way which was not her intention -- so she'd have to be careful with it. But if she managed to get it just right, it could add some much-needed levity to the whole thing, and help set up the balance she meant to still have with him in the future.

  She now had a few well-defined problems she could attack. Which put her in a better position than she'd been in before, at least. Fire safety regulations on the base should be easy enough to find out. She needed to word everything perfectly, or as close to perfect as she could get, for the oath. Figuring out how to prevent everything from making Ezra feel worse would be complicated, to say the least, so she would have to start thinking about it as soon as possible. Once those were dealt with, she was confident in her ability to figure out the rest of it.

  Sabine had contemplated the future, but the present was still calling her. And soon it would be literally, Hera asking what was taking her so long. The world didn't stop for you, no matter what you thought about or felt.

  Besides, she still had an unfinished painting on her door. She felt that now, maybe she would be able to concentrate on it. It just needed some more red, and blue, and green, and black.

((thanks to @izzyovercoffee for their post about Mando colour symbolism; I used that only as a basis, so don’t blame them for any problems in here))