#unfortunately for the state of Rex's face.
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thebonesinmy-closet · 29 days ago
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Mark and Rex should make out, and Mark should totally wreck Rex's face doing so, and Rex should let him. a tender kiss to Mark, when filled with passion and pent up energy, feelings like a vicious bite to Rex, but he's not quick to point that out. Mark should kiss Rex till it hurts and Rex should dig his nails into Mark's back, barely managing to break skin, even Mark says it's ok. Rex should try and match the speed and strength at which Mark is capable of defiling him, but ultimately fail — he could never dream of catching up to a Viltrumite. Rex should tell Mark he doesn't have to be gentle.
both have always had to be careful, but they can rip each other apart and welcome it. they've endured so much pain, why not find a way to enjoy it?
Mark should hold Rex tenderly with arms that could crush him, and Rex should relish in feeling secure. they should tangle their legs together and mingle their breaths and push each other against walls and mattresses and pillows. friction and heat building between them. moments where they stare at each other as Rex pants for breath and Mark waits for him to catch his breath with a look so patient it hurts they pant for breath, and there's the pull to be tender that feels slightly foreign but also so very good and right. their foreheads come to rest against each other at some point.
they talk about their insecurities. about the shit no one else wants to hear or knows what to do with. Rex covers Mark's hands with his own so he can't see the blood that isn't there. Mark takes hold of Rex's when they shake with a tremor that will never fully go away.
they aren't perfect. but they're something good. just for now.
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huntershoe · 10 months ago
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Back to you
Hunter x Jedi!reader
Spoilers for the bad batch season 3 :)
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Summary: After a long time, you're finally reunited with your family and your lover.
Warning: Canon violence, Mention of mental and physical torture, slight depressing state, hurt/comfort. Fluff!
A/N: Let me know if anyone would like part two. I was planning on making it spicy ;}
Word count: 2.4k
Part two
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It's been months since you got a distress signal from one of your fellow surviving Jedi. Months since you managed to rescue your Jedi friend but sacrifice your own freedom. Months since you've seen your family and your lover.
The last thing you remember from when you were still with the batch was when you were all on Pabu, helping the people restore the beautiful ocean city while you were waiting to get any word from Echo as he helped Rex.
When the only thing missing was Crosshair.
You got the distress signal the same day Echo said he would visit. You knew you couldn't wait for your friend to visit, so with a tight hug, a long and loving kiss and a promise to return safely and quickly, you set the course for your Jedi friend.
Unfortunately, your plan wasn't Vader proof and you ended up captured, switching your place with your friend who managed to escape. You waited for your end, silently apologizing to Hunter and your family, but it never came. Instead, Darth Vader decided you would make a great addition to the imperial inquisitors, so they tried to break you, in every possible way.
For months, they tortured you mentally and physically, leaving you crying and barely alive at the end of every day. But you never broke, no matter what they did to you, you didn't break. There were times when it came close, but thinking of your batch and Hunter gave you strength to fight on.
So when the first opportunity to escape came, you took it. Doing everything in you capacity, even if it meant you'd have to tap into the dark side of the force. Your body had been weakened in the past months, your skin now covered in scars but that didn't stop you and you managed to escape, hijacking an imperial ship and running.
It seemed that even the force was on your side once you coincidentally run into Echo, Rex and the newly forming Clone resistance. But all your happiness disappeared once Echo informed you of the loss they suffered almost immediately you were gone. All those months, just the idea of coming back to your family and how everything would be perfect once again. Everything fell apart and you felt like you were once again in that cold prison cell, waiting for the inquisitors to torture you again. You were falling into the dark abyss, ashamed to even show yourself to Hunter and Wrecker.
It wasn't until Echo came looking for you, four days later. His body radiating happy energy as he practically jumped on you, hugging you and telling you that both Omega and Crosshair managed to escape and were now safely with Hunter and Wrecker on Pabu.
That made you hyperactive, filling you with energy and will to live and both you and Echo were in the ship only few hours later, crossing the galaxy to get back to your family once again.
Three days later you finally made it to Pabu, docking the ship at the top of the city. But while waiting for the ship to touch the ground in a matter of those seconds, your mind betrayed you. Suddenly all you wanted to do was to hide in the corner and dissappear, all those happy thoughts dissappeard, instead being replaced with dark and hateful thoughts. You imagined how Hunter must hate you now that you only returned once everything was alright again. How you dissappeard when they needed you the most. Maybe he's even blaming you for everything bad that happened to his family. Or maybe Omega's the one who hates you now, maybe she thinks that you betrayed them, leaving your family to help someone else.
Your whole body was shaking and you felt like you would faint and when the ramp finally began to descend and the sun shined on your face, Echo had to gently grab you because you swayed like a fragile flower in the wind.
Both you and Echo managed to take a few steps down the ramp before you heard a loud yell. Omega screamed yours and Echo's name, sprinting full speed at you, making you react the same. You yelled her name and she jumped in your arms as you quickly prepared to catch her, hugging her close to you as you began crying, peppering her face with kisses and petting her hair. You managed to crouch with Omega in front of you as you grabbed her cheeks and looked at her more closely, checking for any injuries as she cried telling you how much she missed you.
But as soon as Omegas eyes fell on your face her expression fell as well.
"What happened to your face!" Big tears began rolling down her cheeks as she looked at you. Similar to your body, your face was now littered with both small and big scars, some more visible than the others.
It's been months since you've seen Omega, the young female clone that had unexpectedly entered your life and become like a daughter to you. And after so long, you didn't want your scars to be the first thing you talk about, it was too dark subject to address in the first moments of reunion. So you moved your hands up to her hair, trying to change the subject to something happier.
"Look at your hair! It's grown so much!" You laughed through your tears as you played with the little girl's hair.
"I know, now you can finally braid my hair!" The young girl knew what your were trying to do and played along giggling as she mirrored your hands movements and played with your hair.
You were just about to respond when you both got interrupted by someone whispering your name. Your head snapped behind Omega, falling on a frozen figure, Hunter.
Your body went rigid, completely frozen in time when your eyes meet with his golden ones. Omegas eyes followed yours and once she saw Hunter standing there silently watching, she hugged you one last time before slowly removing herself from you and running towards waiting Echo.
Now that Omega was no longer in front of you, you stood up slowly, your eyes never leaving his as he watched your every move like he couldn't believe you were really there.
Your hands began shaking again and you grabbed your sleeves to try and stop them but to no avail.
"Hunter?"
You whispered back to him, taking a small step towards him. He said nothing, but his body moved and he was by you in the next second, his hands enveloping your body as his own crashed against yours. He squeezed you almost as hard as he could, fearing that if he wouldn't, you would've disappeared again. Hunter buried his face in your neck, inhaling your scent as your hands slowly stopped shaking and you moved them up into his hair. Your forehead fell on his shoulder as you finally closed your eyes, taking in his warm presence. You both stood there for a long minute, not moving as you both tried to soak in each other's warmth.
You felt Hunter deeply inhale once again, his breath tickling your neck, before his lips pressed against the same spot and he kissed you. Repeating the movement kissing up your neck, slowly coming to your face as his hands moved up to your neck, and his thumbs landed on your cheeks as his eyes found yours again. Hunter breathed out your name again, his face so close to yours.
"I thought I lost you..." His normally smoky voice sounded broken, quiet, like he was worried he would scare you away if he'd talk any louder. His own hands began to shake slightly as he gently turned your face around, his eyes jumping from scar to scar.
"Hunter, I'm so sorry. I tried to get back to you, I really did but they-" You tried explaining yourself as his eyes found yours again.
"When your ship returned I thought to myself at least I got one of my girls back...but then only General Prima came out and she could barely look me in the eyes to tell me what happened..." Hunter let out a sigh as his thumb traced the scar across your lips.
"...I thought I lost you and I couldn't bare to even think of what they're doing to you...I tried get you back every day, you and Omega..." He went on slowly and quietly, his other thumb tracing the scar across your eye.
"I'm so sorry Hunter-" You tried to apologise again but he interrupted you again with his thumb on your lips.
"Just...just promise me to never leave me again...I...I can't live without you." Hunter whispered as one tear left his eye and you moved your hand to his cheek, brushing it away as he leaned into your touch.
"I promise Hunter, never again." You nodded your head as you promised him, your own tears escaping you again and you moved your head, leaning your forehead against his.
Hunter let out a gentle puff of air, making your lips tingle as the air hit them. His own lips ghosting over yours as he whispered. "Ni kar'tayli gar darasuum ner ka'ra."
A small smile appeared on your lips and you gently nodded. "Ni kar'tayli gar darasuum ner ashi dul."
You responded and finally moved, pressing your lips against his into a long and loving kiss.
Hunter's hands moved back down to your waist and he pulled you closer again as his kiss turned more desperate.
Your own hands moved around his neck as you pulled yourself impossibly closer, a small sound escaping you as Hunters hand squeezed your hip and he took the chance to deepen the kiss. His tongue prodded against your lips as he entered your mouth in almost like urgent matter.
You let him take the reins and followed his tempo, enjoying the feeling of his arms around you again.
"Okay, you can continue doing that later! Now it's my turn!" You heard Wrecker before another set of arms snaked around you and Hunter, squeezing you even further and lifting you in the air. Both you and Hunter gasped, breaking the kiss to look at the gentle giant as he hugged you, leaning his head on your shoulders. You chuckled, grinning and squeezing one arm out and moving it to gently pat Wreckers head. "I missed you too Wrecker." Even Hunter managed a chuckle as he heard his brother sniffle quietly.
"We're never splitting ever again." Wrecker decided as he slowly put them down and brushed the tears from his eyes away. "Agreed." You nod, grabbing the giant clone's hand and squeezing it.
"What, no hug for me?" Crosshair's sly snake like voice asked as he came closer and crossed his arms in front of his chest an amused frown on his face. Your head turned in his direction and a wide smile grew on your lips and you gently let go of Wrecker and moved around Hunter, letting your hands to drag across his chest as you stepped closer to his youngest brother. "Crosshair!" You grinned and quickly moved closer to him, enveloping him into a big hug. Your movement surprised him greatly as he was expecting a glare and a witty remark instead you hugged him.
His arms were awkwardly waiting at his sides, debating if he should hug you back or push you away. Alas, you were the only one that hugged him so far and he'd be lying to himself if he'd say he didn't need a hug. So he let his arms slowly sneak around your body and he hugged you back, silently laying his head on top of yours.
"I'm glad you're back with us again." You whispered just loud enough for him to hear and you felt his breath hitch.
He slowly let go of you and stepped back a little, watching the scars across your face.
"Come on, you have to meet Batcher!" Omega gasped, grabbing your hand out of nowhere and pulling you towards what looked to be a  excited Lurca hound, running around and chasing Moon-yos. You chuckled at the enthusiasm of the little girl and looked back behind you to your lover and the rest of your family, only to see Hunter slightly glaring at Crosshair and Echo rolling his eyes and pushing the former Sergeant, encouraging him to move, while Wrecker only laughed and followed closely.
Omega managed to introduce you to the lively hound, telling you how she helped her and how they bonded over the time as they managed to survive the empire. Batcher seemed to be the perfect energetic pet for Omega as they began playing together, almost forgetting everyone else that was watching them.
You felt a warm hand on the small of your back and a moment later a warm body pressed against your side as Hunter lowered his head to whisper in your ear. "Come on, you must be starving." He pressed a delicate kiss to your forehead as you turned your head to look at him. "A little, yeah." You confirmed and Hunter motioned with his head to his brothers, before gently pushing you towards the house reserved for the batch.
Hunter whistled, making Omegas and Batchers heads turn, motioning them to follow too.
The shining sun had slowly began to descend as they sat down around the table after they put on some food. They snacked on the delicious fruits, talking about everything, just like they did in the old days, while they watched Omega and Batcher play.
The moment felt perfect, besides the one empty chair, remaining everyone that they will never be complete again. Everything else felt normal, Crosshair's witty remarks, Wrecker's compliments to the food, Echo trying to talk about another one of his missions and Hunter silently trying to listen to everyone as his hand slowly fell on your thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze to reassure you and himself that this moment is in fact real.
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Translation:
Ni kar'tayli gar darasuum - Mandalorian way of saying "I love you"
Ner ka'ra - My star
Ner ashi dul - My other half
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yorutsuki · 1 year ago
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「 ✦ Isekaied Reversed Pt. 2✦ 」
↳ Started with pulling some single pulls on Xiao's banner, however things hadn't gone as expected as he really did come home...literally. First impressions? Long gone.
Tags: @itztaki @wolfishartist13
{Hopefully I did that right}
──────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──────
“Move, and I’ll purge you where you sit, Demon.”
You froze, feeling like you recognized that voice somewhere...Of coarse!
With your chest a little lighter, you obliged instructions. Either way you wished to not be cut into a bloody spray paint bottle. But also realizing the situation, beads of sweat rolled down your face as you tried leveling your breathing.
“H-hey now, w-we can talk about this-“ You eyes drew back to the deathly weapon, the one centimeters away from your carotid artery. “-right?..haha…ha…”
You felt the blade finally press to your skin firmly, instantly shutting you up, seeing as the yaksha bare no mood for jokes.
I guess that’s what happens when you see your whole family lose their sanity before slaughtering each other-
“How did you manage to conjure me here." He demanded, his hold on his spear never faltering as he glared towards you, waiting for an answer. You, on the other hand, your words couldn't even be conjured up. Why? Because you were thinking the same thing; How did he even get here?
Mere moments passed by as the adeptus was getting impatient by the second. With a sigh, you finally spoke, "Look..I—OH MY GOSH IS THAT REX LAPIS!" You shouted, pointing towards your room's window.
With his spear faltering slightly, you took this opportunity and ran—ran like the wind, like your life depended on it and truly, it did. At least after that stunt. But hey! On the bright side, in your afterlife you could proudly gloat about how you managed to not only summon the mighty vigilante yaksha, Xiao, but as well as juke him!
You were almost free as your fingers brushed against the doorknob—you could practically feel freedom in its wake..but unfortunately, it was cut short as you felt a hand grab your wrist before quickly slamming you against the door.
You honestly would've thought that it wasn't so bad. But only If the same threatening jade spear wasn't jabbed into the wood of the door only a few centimeters from your head.
"How idiotic must one be to pull a stunt such as that!" You heard the man snap. You chuckled with nervousness, "gotcha good eh?-" "I'll give you to the count of five. How did you manage to conjure me here."
"one."
"two."
"three."
"four-"
"I don't know! I don't know how you ended up here. When I heard a loud thud from behind me, you were suddenly there!"
The yaksha did not express anything, his motions still.
Is this the end of me? All I wanted to do was for Xiao to come home..BUT NOT LITERALLY!
The man sighed, "If you can conjure me here, you can send me back." Huh- "I have important matters back in my universe."
The pressure behind you disappeared as you felt a heavy weight lifting off your chest. You huffed out a sigh of relief..."Wait. Did you just say different universe?" You recapped. Surely your ears were playing tricks on you.
The yaksha stared blankly at you before nodding. You could feel a annoyed aura radiating from him. "But how did yo-" "I cannot disclose that to you, but if you'd look around the place, it looks nothing like what you've just witness, thus, you can figure it out on your own." He interrupted.
You mentally rolled your eyes. How could you forget; This guy was ruthless, blunt-depression itself; next to wanderer of coarse.
"Alright. Well then-" Xiao proceeded to ignore you as he opened your bedroom window, about to jump. "Uh, where are you going?" You questioned. The yaksha huffed, "I'm going to see if I can send myself back as it seems you haven't a clue whats happening. That will only slow me down on returning." He stated bluntly. Ouch..
Although you couldn't argue with the man about parts of his statement, you couldn't help but feel a bit sad—even a tad jealous but most importantly, irritated. He had threatened you multiple occasions, man handled you and even broke your door and now he has the audacity to make you pay for the damages? Scoff
"Xiao."
The adeptus turned his head with a shocked expression, his brows furrowed. "How do you kno-"
"I cannot disclose that to you." You smirked, but quickly cleared your throat. "The important thing here is for you to realize that going outside in a different universe in those clothings and a large-jade—which, in this world, is a hella rare mineral, is off putting. Yea, to add on, you don't have currency-" Xiao then rolled his eyes before going to take mora from his inventory. "-and no—mora doesn't work here. So technically you'd be homeless because honestly, nobody here is willing to give crap for free." You sighed, "Trust me, this world is a lot more diabolical than what it shows from the exterior." You mumbled mockingly.
The adeptus looked down in thought for a moment before sighing and ascending down from the window sill. You mentally high fived yourself at your bad-ass arguementive speaking skills.
A moment of silenced washed over the two of you as you awkwardly stared at eachother. With each second passing, it somehow kept getting quieter.
You cleared your throat, "uhm, sir."
Xiao looked towards you with a questioning look. You only pointed to your new splintered and broken door. "You. You caused that."
The adeptus only closed his eyes as he crossed his arms. What for? Maybe in thought? You didn't know. Your main focuses were to get the door fixed and to figure out what happens next as it seemed like the adeptus had Isekaied but reversed.
How long this day was becoming...
...
{This isn't proof-read, so in advanced i apologize if everything is all over the place as this is my first reversed isekaied story. If theres any suggestions for the next part please write them down! I love reading the comments ^^}
> Part 1
..........
[ Masterlist ]
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hugmekenobi · 8 months ago
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S3: The Bad Batch (7)
Chapter Seven: Extraction
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Gif by @barissoffee
Hunter x femaleJedi!reader
Series Summary: Ever since Eriadu, Clone Force 99 had been a fractured squad. Months have passed but you're finally back with the Batch but Omega is still out there and you won't stop until you find her again.
Chapter Summary: As the Empire closes in, you need all the help you can get to escape
Masterlist for S1 and S2
<Previous Chapter
Genre: Friends (idiots) to Lovers (we're in the lovers stage now)
Chapter Warnings: Canon-typical violence, protective Crosshair, brief injury description (mentions of blood), descriptions of near-drowning, limited (y/n) use, Plo Koon mention, light hurt/comfort (wound tending), Gregor being an instigator and flirt (but in a funny way), Hunter getting jealous (not toxic), light PDA (kissing, hugging and one small instance of innuendo), nicknames (sweetheart and beautiful)
Word Count: 4.3K
Author's notes: Managed to incorporate a bit of creative license but mostly just following the episode! Enjoy!
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Rex came to with a mildly pained grunt. “Thanks.” He said as Crosshair and Omega helped him to his feet. “We need to get moving before their reinforcements get here.”
“I can move the rubble, but I have a feeling we’d be worse off.” You said to Rex who nodded in agreement. “Is there another way off this spire?”
“There’s always another way.” Rex replied with a dry chuckle. He kicked a crate away to reveal a hole in the floor with a ladder built into it.
The group of you descended.
--
The tunnel led out into a level of the spiral staircase.
“Our leech vessel is docked ten levels down.” Rex said.
“Doesn’t have a hyperdrive though. We won’t get far.” Howzer reminded him.
“No, but we can use it to contact Echo.”
You all started to make your way down the levels.
--
The explosion and the resulting collapsed ceiling had been an unfortunate set back and CX-2 realised that clearing away the blockage to the room where the others had retreated in his injured state was a futile act.
He paused as he heard the sound of a ship approaching outside and he went to go greet the new arrivals.
--
Commander Wolffe and his teams ran out the ship to analyse the destruction and bodies that lay ahead.
“These are clones. They’re not insurgents.” Wolffe stated but a low, crackling voice disputed his point.
“They are both.”
Wolffe faced the black-armoured solider that limped towards them.
“I neutralised most of their rogue cell, but the rest are trapped inside with the targets.”
“What squadron are you with?”
“That’s classified.”
“Want to tell me why this spire is burning when our primary objective is to retrieve the targets unharmed?” Wolffe questioned, his aggravation at the situation was obvious.
“They are alive.” Came the simple reply.
“I’m now in charge of this operation. You answer to me. Is that clear?” Wolffe said definitively but the soldier did not reply, he had to rely on the fact that his tone had been firm enough. He spoke to the clone behind him, “Hilo, set blasters to stun and move in.”
--
Wolffe’s men had finally managed to expose the entrance and the escape tunnel had been brought to his attention. “They’re escaping through the middle of the spire. We’ll take team one and infiltrate this rock from the platform below. Set charges and seal this passage. We’ll pin them inside.” He instructed as he exited the room.
CX-2 jumped down the tunnel just as the stormtrooper left behind was setting the charges.
“Sir, the operative has gone after the target. Should I pursue?” The stormtrooper asked into his comm as he saw the figure travel down the ladder.
“Negative. Proceed with the plan. Seal off that access point.” Wolffe replied as he re-boarded the shuttle that would take them down to the next entrance to the spire.
--
“The ship’s docked just down this corridor.”
You felt that familiar sensation in your veins and you weren’t alone is slowing down- Crosshair did the same.
“Stop.” You said suddenly.
The rest of them halted.
“What is it?” Nemec asked.
You and Crosshair peered through one of the carved-out spaces to see more flashlights and you could now hear the ascending steps of another squad heading in your direction.
You closed your eyes and focused in on the Force around you as you felt for the source of the disturbance. It wasn’t just the danger of the Imperial troops; the intensity of the feeling told you that the threat was closer than that.
“They’re coming.” Crosshair alerted the rest of the group.
He’d only just finished saying that when you speedily ignited your lightsaber as the shot came at him, but you weren’t properly set and the redirected shot went wide.
You both pressed yourselves against either side of the wall.
“I’ll handle it.” Crosshair said firmly.
The rest of you started off at a run again.
--
With his hand the way it was, Crosshair knew he wouldn’t be able to best the operative in a shoot-out. So, instead, he attached an explosive to the end of his rifle and aimed it at the wall that the operative was rappelling down.
The explosion caused the operative to freefall down the spire, but he was able to take a hold of a window ledge.
Crosshair’s next round of shots missed, and the clone was able to retreat into the spire, but Crosshair couldn’t do anything about that now, he just had to catch up to the rest of you.
--
 You’d all successfully made into the vessel and Rex piloted it away from the cliffside.
However, it didn’t get very far before it shook violently, and an alarm blared around the vessel as it plummeted towards the ground.
“Remora-one, we’ve been compromised. Heading to marker 025 for an extraction.” Rex said hurriedly into the comm channel. “Repeat. Marker 025.” There was nothing he could do to stop what was about to happen and the jungle encroached ever closer. “We’re going down. Strap in!”
--
“Pinpoint the crash site.” Wolffe ordered Hilo before he stalked over to reprimand the clone that had been giving him a headache since he’d arrived here. “I said to use stun blasts only. You’ve jeopardised this mission.”
“I prevented the target’s escape.”
“By shooting down their ship? Our orders are to retrieve them alive and unharmed.”
“Their vessel crashed in the upper jungle region.” Hilo reported back.
“Get the shuttles in the air.” Wolffe directed before he addressed the clone again. “This isn’t over.”
CX-2 just slowly followed him into the shuttle.
--
“Still can’t convince you on the benefits of a helmet?” Hunter uttered quietly as he helped you out the downed ship and saw the gash above your eyebrow. He tilted your chin up as he wiped some blood away from your eyelid.
“It’s not deep. Plus, minor head wounds always bleed heavily anyways.” You said cheerily enough but the helmeted stare you received reeked of exasperation.  
“Great.” Hunter replied dryly as you both joined the rest of the group.
Whilst that had been happening, Crosshair had come to stand beside Omega whilst she stroked Batcher. “You good?” He asked her, a slight hesitance to his voice.
“Uh huh.” Omega replied, still slightly breathless from the stress of the crash landing.
“Got your crossbow?”
“Yep.”
He saw the bag on her back, “Sure you can carry those supplies?”
“Yes.” Omega said irritably as she turned to face him.
“Stay close. It’s easy to get lost in this terrain.”
“You’re as bad as Hunter.” She remarked with an annoyed stare.
“Oh, I’m much worse.”
Howzer and Nemec shared a look. Between that interaction and the one between you and Hunter, it was clear this squad was far from typical, but whatever it was that bonded you all worked. The trust was there, and that trust extended to Crosshair.
“Echo should meet us at the extraction point. We’ll have to continue on foot.” Rex said, drawing his blaster.
“How far?” Hunter asked.
“Five klicks north.” Nemec informed you all.
Hunter didn’t immediately move out, he glanced behind him as he heard the tell-tale sound of a shuttle engine, “We’ve got attack shuttles inbound.”
“This way.” Rex ordered as he led the way into the jungle.
--
Crosshair felt Howzer approaching his side and he huffed out a sigh, this wasn’t the ideal time for him to here yet again how the clone felt about him. “What?”
“I’ve seen how you are with the kid.”
“Hmm? Your point?”
“Well…” Howzer sighed, “You’re different than you were on Ryloth.” He admitted. “So, what changed?”
They both paused and Crosshair turned to face him. “Loyalty meant something to me. But with the Empire, it didn’t go both ways. I realised how disposable I was.”
“You’re not the only one.”
--
The team inspected the wrecked vessel.
“There’s no sign of the insurgents.” A stormtrooper said.
“Get back to the shuttle and monitor comm channels.” Wolffe ordered. “They couldn’t have gone far.”
“We have a problem.”
Wolffe turned to face Hilo.
“The operative’s gone rogue.”
The news didn’t really come as a surprise. “I’ll deal with him later.”
--
Batcher let out a series of barks.
“I hear it too.” Hunter murmured just as a shuttle came to block their way through.
You all took cover behind an outcrop of rocks as the shuttle’s squad came down to the area.
“We have to know through their line to reach the extraction point.” Rex stated urgently.
“We’ve got these.” Omega opened the bag to reveal some of the smoke bombs she’d grabbed from the ship before it got shot down.
Hunter took some out and passed them over to Wrecker who immediately threw them ahead and behind you all to provide more cover.
“Stick by my side and stay down.” Crosshair ordered Omega as you all stealthily made your way through the fog.
“How much further to the landing zone?” You asked Rex as you Force pushed a stormtrooper that was reaching for his blaster into a rock. You wiped away more of the warm blood that had continued to dribble from the cut and encroach on your vision during this time.
“Just ahead. Almost there.”
--
Crosshair, Nemec, and Howzer had fallen behind the rest of you.
“What is it?” Howzer asked as he saw Crosshair abruptly stop and train his rifle behind them.
Right as Crosshair’s scope picked up the heat signature, a shot fired and Nemec took a fatal shot to the back.
“Nemec!” Howzer cried as he reached for the clone.
“Get down!” Crosshair shoved him away from the dead clone behind another rock.
--
At the sound of blaster fire, the rest of you turned and sprinted back in the direction of the commotion.
The onslaught of fire continued as the six of you came upon the scene. You deflected them with ease whilst the others dove to cover.
“Omega, smoke grenade.” Hunter hissed.
“We’re out.”
“I’ll draw his fire. Get to the rendezvous.” Crosshair said into comms.
“I don’t like that idea.” Omega replied uneasily.
“Yeah, that is a terrible plan.” You concurred.
“Too bad.” He quipped breezily before he signed off and headed towards the operative.
“Go now!” Rex shouted as he saw the opening you all needed.
Hunter grabbed Omega’s hand and tapped you on the shoulder to get you to move.
You deactivated your weapon with an aggrieved sigh and followed the rest of the group.
--
The fight between Crosshair and the operative had not gone entirely to plan.
Sure, Crosshair had managed to successfully disarm him but when he’d tracked his movements to the edge of the cliff that came out over the first waterfall, he hadn’t fully thought through the second phase of charging over the edge and into the rapids below... with the operative.
--
You all anxiously tracked their path through the river and watched in alarm as they tumbled over the waterfall and into the pool below.
--
Crosshair had barely any time to catch his breath before the operative starting swiping at him with a vibroblade.
“You had your chance to be one of us.”
Crosshair braced his forearm against the operative’s, and he managed to land a kick to his stomach to create some distance between them.
The distance didn’t last long. The operative was on him again and all Crosshair could do was retreat backwards through the water until he found himself backed up against a rock just as the operative aimed the blade for his neck.
“You chose the wrong side.”
Crosshair managed to elbow the blade out of his grasp but all that allowed the operative to do was smack his helmet into Crosshair’s unguarded face.
Dazed, Crosshair fell into the water, and he could do nothing but scratch at the armoured shoulders of the clone above him as he was held under the water. Each passing second, he felt his lungs burn in protest and water flooded his nose and mouth.
--
Howzer ran through the water and stunned the operative clone and watched his limp body float away and over the edge of the second waterfall.
Crosshair broke to the surface with a deep gasp, but he couldn’t get to his feet in time. The current started to take him away too and he scrambled for a hold of a boulder that just overlooked the top of the waterfall.
Howzer grabbed his forearm and pulled him to stand on the top of the rock.
--
Crosshair released a round of hoarse coughs before he took his rifle and helmet from Wrecker. “Thanks.” He said to Howzer with a final strained breath before he put his helmet back on.
Now reunited, you all ran to make it to the extraction point.
--
“This is the extraction marker.” Rex announced as you all came to a stop and waited for the sign of Echo’s ship but the one that approached wasn’t the one any of you were wanting to see.
Bright lights temporality blinded your vision but as you adjusted, you saw a squadron of troops exit the shuttle and advance towards you all.
Your hand hovered your lightsaber as the others took up position with their blasters.
“Drop your weapons. Now!” Wolffe commanded.
Rex took a couple paces forward. “Wolffe?”
As you stood between Omega and Hunter you were taken back in time- the name struck a chord of familiarity in you, but you couldn’t quite think of why.
“Rex?” Wolffe took half a step back in surprise.
Rex signalled to you all to relax your stances and he took off his helmet.
“I-” Wolffe exhaled sharply. “I thought you were dead.” Wolffe holstered his blasters and removed his own helmet. “Reports said you were killed in action. That you went down aboard an attack cruiser.”
“Oh, I did. I lost a lot of good men that day. And today.” Rex said with regret.
“What are you doing here, Rex? Don’t tell me you’re fighting against us.”
“No, not against you. Against the Empire. They’re imprisoning and experimenting on our brothers, killed others.”
Wolffe advanced closer to the clone captain. “The Empire wouldn’t do that to us.”
“She has seen it.” Rex gestured to Omega behind him.
“It’s true.” Omega said bravely. “That’s what’s happening on Tantiss.”
“We have to stop them.” Rex moved further away from the rest of you and closer to Wolffe. “You can help us. You can stand with us.”
But Wolffe couldn’t believe that. “I am a soldier of the Empire. I have my orders. Hand the girl and the Jedi traitor over, and I’ll make sure you’re given a fair trial.”
Wrecker and Hunter immediately formed ranks in front of you and Omega.
“Like Plo Koon got a fair trial?” You ignored Hunter’s look of warning as you stepped out from behind them. You tugged your hood and mask down, attached your lightsaber back on your belt and walked forward. You didn’t think getting into the technicalities of your past and situation would help much here but you had a different angle you could take now that you remembered why the name felt important.
Wolffe couldn’t stop the way his eyes widened in surprise. “You- you knew General Plo?”
“Not very well.” You admitted. “Our paths didn’t cross an awful lot but when they did, you were always mentioned. He had a lot of respect for you and your squad, Commander.” You said with sincerity. “ ‘Wolfpack’ was what you all went by, wasn’t it?”
Wolffe found himself being brought back to that time. A time where his general fought side by with him. It didn’t matter the battle or situation; he’d always been offered kindness and respect by the Jedi- something that he couldn’t say always happened now.
The team noticed the change on his face, even though he acted quickly to try and mask it.
Wolffe swallowed harshly. “I- no- he betrayed-” He inhaled and exhaled a quick breath and straightened his back. “He betrayed the Republic. You all did.” He went for conviction but still fell a little flat.
You released a solemn sigh and bowed your head in acknowledgment of his words, but you could also sense his regret. “I urge you to think about it, Commander.” You looked straight at him and kept your demeanour open and honest. “Do you honestly think the General you served with, the Jedi you went through battle after battle with and who backed you and your squad at every turn was really capable of the betrayal you were told?” You paused, “If you truly believe that, then you’re right to call me a traitor too and I’ll go with you now.”
Hunter ground his feet into the ground and forced himself to relax his grip on his blaster as he felt the metal dig in his skin through his gloves. It was taking every fibre of self-control to not pull you back, but he had to trust your plan in this process.
“But I’m also warning you, Commander, that you could take me, but you won’t get anywhere near the kid.” You finished with an unwavering look at the clone commander.
“Think about what you’re doing, Wolffe.” Rex implored as he saw the doubt that was starting to creep in. “I know you’ve been trained not to question orders but open your eyes. You’re hunting a child and someone who was part of something we fought loyally alongside for years. I know that’s not who you are.” Rex waited to let Wolffe consider his words before he carried on, “As your brother, I’m asking you to do the right thing.” Rex’s comm started to beep and he heard the sound of Echo’s ship drawing nearer.
--
Echo put the ship down to land but the scene that he and Gregor saw upon arriving did not fill them with comfort.
--
You all didn’t turn in the direction of the ship. All your eyes were on Wolffe and the squad ahead of you.
--
“Commander?” Hilo asked as he got ready to move in.
Wolffe held an arm out to stop him. “Stand down.”
Rex gave Wolffe a small nod of thanks and you all boarded the ship.
--
Wolffe watched the ship depart before he turned to Hilo. “Recover their fallen, and then we move out.”
“But… sir… they’re traitors.” Hilo reminded him, unsure as to how he could just let them get away.
“Perhaps.” Wolffe considered before adding, “But traveling with a Jedi already puts them at risk and they’re clones. We owe them that.”
--
CX-2 broke to the surface and dragged himself onto the rock with a pained and unforgiving set of coughs as he cleared the water from his system.
This wouldn’t be his last chance.
--
Hunter walked back down the hall of the ship to where Rex was standing. “I’m sorry about your men.” He rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Thanks. You know, I thought that the end of the war would mean an end to losing more of our brothers. But I was wrong.” Rex said with a dejected sigh.
“Rex, you can’t win this fight. The Empire is too strong.”
“I can’t just walk away. Not now.” Rex said, his voice rising before he took a second to control himself, “And neither can you. Not with the Empire being after those two.”
Hunter followed his stare to where you were talking to Gregor and to where Omega was sleeping up against Batcher. “We’ll protect them.”
“I heard what Omega said about her escape. I think she’s vital to whatever they’re doing on Tantiss. And if you want to keep her safe, you need to find out why she’s so important to them. (Y/N), it’s obvious why the Empire are after her, but you need to know more about Omega and this M-count.” Rex advised before he walked back to the cockpit.
--
Whilst that conversation with Rex was taking place, you were tending to the still oozing wound above your eyebrow.
You pulled a mirror out the medkit you were borrowing, grabbed a disinfectant wipe and cleaned up the mix of wet and dry blood on your skin. You analysed the wound to see a shallow cut amidst the congealed blood and it was nothing a bit of bacta couldn’t fix. You began rummaging through the box for said item.
“Still as beautiful as ever.”
You paused and angled your head up with a grin at the distinct but familiar playful and kind voice. “Hello, Gregor. It’s been a while.”
“Too long, beautiful. Gotta tell you, there aren’t many like you in this mess of a galaxy. Certainly, looking at my brothers every day isn’t much fun. You’re a breath of fresh air.”
“I’m sure.” You said with a humorous roll of your eyes.
“I’d never lie to you, beautiful.” He dropped the act for a moment as he crouched down to your height. “But seriously, are you alright? I’ve seen some pretty intense things about you out there. You stopped hiding?”
“I made some rather… impulsive decisions but I’m fine, thank you, Gregor.” You responded gratefully. “How about you?”
“Doing alright. Thrown myself into this work and gotten pretty good at cooking, have you had the pleasure of tasting one of my infamous recipes?”
���Haven’t had the opportunity unfortunately.” You said with an apologetic smile.
“Ah, well that just won’t do! You’ll have to stick around me this time and try some! You’ll never want to leave!”
“Sure, can he come too?” You nodded to the shape of a certain clone sergeant that was standing behind him.
Gregor got to his feet and jutted this thumb between the two of you. “This is still going on?” He asked with good-natured mockery.
“Yes.” Hunter said tightly.
“Mmhmm.” You replied, fighting back a smile as you saw the expression on Hunter’s face.
“Huh, guess I owe Echo some credits. Was sure this would be my chance.” He saw the way Hunter was reacting and he always enjoyed the chance to kid around with any of his brothers, it kept him sane during this rather stressful time and Hunter just happened to be an easy target in this particular instance. “Do you need some help with that wound, beautiful?”
“We’ve got it covered.” Hunter replied frostily, brushing past Gregor’s shoulder.
Gregor gave a nod of surrender, “Until I have the pleasure of seeing you again, beautiful.” He walked back to the cockpit to rejoin the others.
“Hunter…” You pretended to scold.
“Yes, it doesn’t make sense. Yes, I know it’s in good fun. And yes, I trust both of you but him flirting with you riles me up and he knows it. He does it deliberately.” Hunter said defensively as he knelt in front of you.
“Oh, so what he says isn’t true?” You teased.
Hunter huffed a short breath, “No- I- he- of course you are but-” He played the rest of the conversation out in his head and there was no winning outcome. He broke off with a defeated sigh. “Stop smiling at me like that.”
“It’s funny.” You said as you worked on holding back a laugh whilst you stroked the loose strand of his fringe back behind his bandana.
“Glad I still have ways to amuse you.” Hunter grumbled as he pressed a kiss into your gloved palm.
“I can do this myself; you know.” You pointed out as he then moved to grab the relevant supplies for your injury.
“Please just me do this before I act more inappropriately.” He muttered as he held the side of your face before he started to apply the bacta.
Hmm but that always winds up being fun for me. You chuckled softy as you saw the way he fumbled putting the bacta back in the box.
You put the kit back where you’d found and returned to your spot on the floor to see that Hunter had already removed part of his armour for you. You sat back down and rested your head on his shoulder and relaxed into him with a content sigh.
Hunter wrapped his arm around you and laid his head atop yours.
“You offered yourself up.” He whispered after a few minutes.
I had a plan.
“Doesn’t change the fact that that was the key part of it.”
It worked out. I’m still here.
He bent his head and tipped your chin up.
You complied with his actions and met his gaze.
Hunter didn’t say anything else; he just brought his lips to yours in a slow, soft kiss but one that had plenty of feeling behind it. It wasn’t just because of what Gregor had been doing- though there was definitely a degree of that- but he needed you to know that just because it worked out, it didn’t mean that he didn’t care about the other potential outcome.
You hummed happily into the kiss and twisted your hand in the front of his shirt.
“Point well made, Sergeant. You’re a lucky guy.” Gregor said as he passed the two of you to grab something for Rex. “Though I’m sure there’s still a better option out there.”
Hunter knew how lucky he was, but he couldn’t ignore the rest of comment. He parted from you, “It’s on purpose, I’m telling you.” He murmured into your hair as you let out a quiet laugh and laid your hand on his chest.
Breathe, Seargent. I’m all yours. You snuggled closer into his side and closed your eyes for the rest of the return journey.
Next Chapter>
Tagging: @noeasyisnoisy, @arctrooper69, @dominoeffectsworld, @andreaaxy, @notgonnaedit, @nightmonkeysstuff
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suzukiblu · 1 year ago
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Ko-fi thank-you sentences for K; kidnapping your soulmate for fun and profit.
Superboy doesn't actually tell Tim where they're going, but Tim assumes "his place" is a safe bet. Which is . . . a whole thing, actually, since it includes a marked risk of running into Rex Leech, who Tim absolutely cannot threaten this time. Which is really unfortunate, frankly.
Then again, maybe if he can get the slime alone while Superboy is digging out that swimsuit for him, he can say something with plausible deniability to it and Smiling Gotham Civilian Face, Nighttime Edition, which Tim has on good authority terrifies just about every other possible flavor of Normal Civilian. At least in the States, anyway.
He'll have enough mercy not to use the Crime Alley version on the guy.
Maybe.
The flight isn't long, but the view is still nice, so Tim wouldn't have minded either way. Superboy sneaks a few glances at him from behind his sunglasses and Tim politely pretends not to notice so he doesn't have to deal with the weird fluttery feeling it puts in his stomach every time he does. It's not like Superboy can't feel him perfectly well with his tactile telekinesis right now, and also just his normal sense of touch; there's no real reason to keep sneaking peeks at him unless–
. . . wait. How well can Superboy feel him with his tactile telekinesis right now? Like . . . exactly how well?
Oh god, Tim thinks, and desperately pretends that his only concern in regards to the answer to that question is if Superboy might notice he has more muscle and scars than a normal civilian should, whether they're from Gotham or not.
Actually, if he can potentially feel something as subtle as scars–
Oh god, Tim thinks, and then very quickly stops thinking in self-defense.
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phantom-of-the-501st · 2 months ago
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Citadel Arc Strikes Again
Sooooo... I got to the bit of my Clone Wars rewatch that I've been procrastinating for weeks. And obviously, because the Domino Twins are involved, I have thoughts
Of course you all get dragged along as well 😙
Including you @saturn-sends-hugs @inkstainedhandswithrings and @the-bi-space-ace
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Straight off the bat, look at our boys!!! I get so proud of them when I see them in their ARC armour. And I wanna know how much of a say Cody and Rex got in who came along on the mission because I like the idea of them just being like "our sons are coming and we will accept no objections"
Also, why does Echo look like he's ready to deck someone? Chill, dude. It's literally still the briefing.
But something I wanna talk about is how nervous Fives seems about this entire thing. While Echo seemed to be on board with the whole reprogrammed battle droid plan, Fives was less than enthused. And he was clearly unsure about the carbon freezing thing as well. It makes me wonder if he's been on edge about the mission from when they first found out about it and whether Echo had been comforting him and telling him that it was all going to be fine.
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Because nothing makes this episode more gut-wrenching than the idea of a stressed out Fives feeling like something is going to go wrong and Echo telling him that everything is going to be okay. 😃
I don't know what happened to these guys during ARC training but Fives has become the one that's all "are we sure this is a good idea?" and Echo's in the briefing room like
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And then we have "They're not about to let one of their own be tortured in the handing over of information that will help The Separatists win the war"
Oh the irony
OH THE FUCKING IRONY
How does this show get more depressing with every rewatch? You think you're prepared but haha NOPE
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Of course I have to mention Fives handling carbon sickness like an absolute champ 🤜
This pic is also an accurate representation of my mental state after watching this arc
And I'm not sure why this following pic makes my heart melt so much but it just does.
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I think it's because we never got much of these three in action together and just seeing them all in a shot like this just makes me think about how far the Domino Twins have come. Rex found these two when they were shinies and now they're all working together with Echo and fives as ARC troopers. They grow up so fast (literally). 🥲
Edit: Looking back at that pic for a second... are there two Echos? That's not Fives in the back. That's Echo's helmet design. And I'm not convinced that the pouches on the chest plates are on the opposite sides like they should be. Rex is talking to two Echos???
Next episode! Oh boy...
Every other clone death aside for a moment, this show really just glossed over the whole "a clone getting cut in half by a door" thing.
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The idea of these three being stuck between two sealed doors with half of their brother is horrifying. And the show just moves on like this didn't happen. THEY JUST WATCHED ONE OF THEIR OWN BROTHERS BE CUT IN HALF BY A DOOR WTF
What a happy kids show 😀
And unfortunately it doesn't get much happier.
But I do want to talk about design for a moment because I feel like we don't talk about the clone helmets enough, especially when it comes to things like this shot.
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Animating emotion well is hard. Animating emotion well when you can't see your character's face is harder. But what I love is that because of the fact that the top of the visor is just a straight line, you can change the emotion being shown by simply having the character tilt their head.
The first shot clearly shows Echo realising what he needs to do and the next is this very strong look of determination. Just a split second apart, with no change but the tilt of the head, and the emotion changes. It's so cool and I feel like it doesn't get praised enough.
A three-part tragedy:
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I think what makes this so heartbreaking is not just the fact that Fives has now lost his closest brother, and the last remaining member of his squad besides himself, but also the fact that it's so sudden. It so quickly went from Echo and Fives to just Fives.
And this is going to be gutting for Rex and Cody as well. They found the Domino Twins as shinies, they would have watched them settle into the 501st, they watched them grow up, were the ones to promote them ARC troopers and were just so freaking proud of these two.
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And they not only lost one of them, but they watched this pair of clones, who have been stuck together like glue from the beginning, be torn apart. They didn't just see Echo go, they saw Fives lose Echo as well and that's heartbreaking.
None of them have time to process it either. They have to get out of there and leave Echo behind.
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This scene where Fives warns them about the hounds approaching hurt as well because he just sounds so... hollow. He sounds like a man whose lost all hope, and I don't blame him. There's an emptiness now.
Rant Incoming
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THESE POOR CLONES. THESE POOR FUCKING CLONES WHO HAVE JUST WATCHED THEIR BROTHERS DIE AND COULD DO NOTHING BUT LEAVE THEM BEHIND ARE NOW HAVING TO PARTICIPATE IN A JEDI FUNERAL DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO HONOUR THEIR FALLEN BROTHERS!!!
I'm not saying that Piell doesn't deserve to be honoured and have his body burned (side note: it's really convenient that there was lava everywhere for the whole burning the body thing) but this feels like such a kick in the teeth for the clones.
Also I just want Five's internal monologue here because he literally just watched his closest brother die trying to protect a Jedi who is now also dead. The important info still got back to the Jedi council but Echo gave his life to protect a man who didn't even make it off the planet.
ALSO THEY WATCHED ONE OF THEIR BROTHERS BE CUT IN HALF EARLIER WHY ARE WE IGNORING THE FACT THAT THAT WAS A THING???
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Ngl I think I would rather just die than crawl across a wire like this
Despite being depressing as all hell, I do really like these episodes. I love something with actual tangible stakes and having points where they feel comfortable killing off important or well-loved characters is something I appreciate and respect (even if it just leads to endless despair about the Domino Twins).
It's a shame that Echo never gets mentioned between here and the final season because I would love to have explored Fives' response to his loss more. I do like how they handle it in these episodes though. It feels like there is at least some recognition of how Fives would be struggling with all this and it doesn't just have him trotting around like nothing happened.
Fives seemed so nervous for this mission and it's devastating to know how tragic it would be for him and Echo. They didn't go into this knowing that it would be the last time they ever saw each other, but it all got ripped away in an instant and there was nothing they could do about it.
And I think I'm just going to end it on this screenshot because I feel like it just sums it all up.
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eepyuii · 1 year ago
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frostbite — pt. 2
pairing ; childe x gender neutral!reader
content ; childhood friends to “rivals” to lovers, slowburn-ish
cw ; swearing, a LOT of canon archon quest yappery (sorry)
note ; part two baybee!! in comparison to the ao3 version of this, i’ve decided to merge the chapters two by two to make them seem longer and since so far, i’ve only written five- next one might take a little longer to come out. or maybe i’ll just post chapter 5 stand-alone, who knows
also i’ve got a taglist now!
previous | next | masterlist
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your arrival in liyue harbor goes less than stellar.
the port is packed full of people who are either confused or outraged at the line of millelith soldiers who refuse to let anyone through. you end up waiting in a line for an annoying amount of time, up until you’re finally attended to by a soldier.
“i’m sorry but liyue harbor is not accepting in any tourists, we are trying to keep our… current situation under control as best we can while investigations are still in order, i hope you can understand.” the millelith states formally.
“oh, well err- i’m no tourist, i was born in liyue harbor! my parents migrated from overseas many years ago and i was just on a leisurely trip to snezhnaya, haha…” you lie through your teeth.
the mere mention of snezhnaya sets off the most minute reaction in the millelith solider, hence why you’re under a fake identity to begin with. you politely hand him a folder with forged documents so gracefully provided to you by your employers and pray to your lucky stars- and, well, tsaritsa, that it’s good enough for him to let you pass.
the soldier remains neutral for a few seconds as he eyes through the paper.
“very well. but please behave in an orderly fashion inside the city, as i said the trail on the ahem- incident is still fresh. welcome home.”
it takes a lot out of you not to snort at the welcome.
the poor naïve man truly wasn’t lying- the inside of the harbor was just as tumultuous as the outside. people in the streets gather in small groups and anxiously whisper their worries to each other. but most of all, they eye you suspiciously like you were the one to stab a sword through rex lapis with the entire harbor watching. you’d say they’re within reason to do so, losing their protector god and all.
you wouldn’t call yourself the most devoted of subjects but you’d also hate to imagine a snezhnaya without the tsaritsa so… benevolently
watching over it. challenging the heavenly principles like she has would certainly cause a catastrophic bite in the ass for the nation if she were to perish. maybe you could be a devoted subject enough to prevent that from happening.
drowning in a whirlpool of your own thoughts, you don’t even realize you’re already standing in front of the northland bank branch of liyue harbor. you try to walk inside as discreetly as possible, so as to not raise any suspicion toward you from the millelith or civilians and to not disturb the workers inside the bank.
unfortunately your efforts are in vain, because you’re recognized immediately.
“ah, sergeant y/n! we were expecting that you would arrive soon. please, allow me to take care of your luggage.” calls out the receptionist, ekaterina.
not only does she practically announce your arrival, she does it while the very bane of your existence is present in the main hall of the bank, formerly distracted as he spoke to a blonde woman in the strangest garments you’ve ever seen and a uh… floating baby?
childe’s ears, no- his entire body, almost instinctively perk up at the mention of your name and he abruptly stops his sentence midway through to look over to the entrance, to you.
“y/n? what in the name of the tsaritsa are you doing here?” he inquires, eyebrows furrowed with the purest of confusions. that is until he remembers the traveler and paimon are still present and most definitely more perpexled than he is.
so he decides to save face before anything else.
“missed me too much?” childe adds cockily.
your eyes almost roll on their own accord. “whatever you’d like to tell yourself. unfortunately, they decided to station me here to help… stabilize the situation, surely that has nothing to do with you screwing up?”
he scoffs. “there’s been nothing to screw up. in fact, the situation is plentiful under control and we’ve already devised a plan to solve it. your intrusion is unneede-”
“wh- you big liar! we literally met after you kicked a bunch of millelith butt in broad daylight! we’ve been stumbling up and down these past few days just to clear our names.” the floating baby speaks up.
you cock your head to the side at the revelation with curiosity and just a smidgen of smugness.
“and you! don’t think just because paimon likes making fun of childe doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. we heard what the lady called you, you’re fatui just like mr. pants-on-fire over here. just who are you anyway?!” the floating baby glides over to you with an accusatory finger pointed and a suspicious squint to her eyes.
the blonde woman, who’s been radio silent this entire time, merely puts a hand on the floating one’s shoulder to pull her back, though she also looks wary of you.
childe laughs at the display and holds out a formal hand as to introduce you. “traveler, paimon, this is y/n, my.. coworker as you can obviously tell. don’t worry though, they’re not a bad guy or kind of a bad guy like me, you have nothing to worry about. they’re actually an amazingly talented battle medic and head nurse of the fatui, that’s why they carry the sergeant title.”
you’re taken aback for a brief moment at the unexpected praise. you were waiting for just a formal introduction of your position in the fatui, or even one that contained a little snarky comment about your attitude towards him. but no, he only complimented your talents. it’s almost a little too courtly too.
“y/n, this is the traveler and paimon. these two not from around here but they unfortunately managed to land right in the bullseye of the incident and are being considered murder suspects. i’m merely helping them clear their names.”
ah, there’s the kicker. he’s “helping” those two.
you know childe well enough to comprehend that he wouldn’t just help some strangely dressed bystanders if he didn’t think he could snake his way into benefit, in this case most likely the geo gnosis. that’s why he’s trying to make somewhat of a good image for himself and those associated. conniving bastard.
then again, takes one to know one.
“so it’s true then, rex lapis is dead.” you hum. “but why has the millelith jumped to the conclusion that it was a murder so quickly? what exactly happened in the rite of descension?”
“weeell, the ceremony was starting just fine and dandy when suddenly the sky got unusually dark and then- bam! thunder strikes and this huge amber dragon drops dead from the sky.” paimon explains dramatically before shivering.
“eugh… really gave paimon the heebie-jeebies… then, the tianquan went over to examine the body and immediately announced it was a murder.”
“interesting.. did the dragon seem to have any visible injuries? any slashes or punctures? weapons sticking out of his body?”
“it’s tricky to say, as i was just relaying onto the traveler before you arrived, the qixing have long since confiscated the exuvia and are refusing to let anyone see it.” childe joins in, looking down pensively with a hand on his chin.
“it feels too early to draw any conclusions but paimon can confidently say it was not us and our names are squeaky clean! either way, we should get going- we’ve done so much walking up mountains since we got here and it’s making paimon famished.”
“see, you keep saying that but you still float, paimon-“ you hear the traveler say as the pair turns to leave.
“oh shush, you!!”
the air between the remaining two of you is thick with awkwardness. you decide to be one to break it once the traveler and paimon are well away from earshot.
“so, how will your charitable little side quest tie into getting the gnosis?”
“hah, you’ve barely arrived and you’re looking so far ahead?”
“aren’t you? in fact, didn’t you say you’d already ‘devised plan to solve it’ and that my presence was ‘unneeded’?” you question, accentuating the quotings in your sentence with a less than half-assed impression of childe’s own pesky tone at the time.
“jeez, i do not sound like that-“
“not the point-“
“yes yes, whatever… for the record i do already have a plan.” he admits. “unfortunately for you, doc, it is a bit airtight and therefore- your interference is unneeded.”
“y’know what, you’re right. if someone like you is describing their plans as airtight then maybe it’s best if i stay out of its splash zone.” you bite back and childe scoffs.
“who even ordered you be sent here?”
the malicious grin grows on your face with haste.
“the jester.”
“wha-?! argh, that old man…”
“ekaterina?”
“yes- how may i help you, sergeant?”
“what would be your recommendations for restaurants ‘round here?”
evening was nearing and you could feel the emptiness eating at your stomach from the inside. the few days that had passed of your stay in liyue were remarkably unremarkable. half of your time was spent cooped up in northland bank with diplomatic or medical paperwork while the other half was you doing whatever discreet investigation inside the city that you could, up to little avail.
childe was moving forward with his scheming while effectively keeping you completely in the dark from it- well not completely, as he wasn’t the only stubborn one out of the two of you. some intel about his flawless, artful plan had “slipped out” (meaning you pried it out of ekaterina) and come to your knowledge- for example, today he’d be going out to meet with the traveler and paimon for another meeting with one of his… contacts, he called it. you just didn’t know where.
luckily your source of discovering that had just walked through the door.
“welcome, friend of childe! and congratulations on the first day of your illustrious career with the fatui.” ekaterina greets formally and you’re too late to stop yourself from visibly cringing.
“i have no intention of joining the fatui.” the traveler says curtly.
“you sound remarkably sure of yourself… remember, we are mere mortals- our ideas are fluid like water. only the tsaritsa truly has a will as solid as permafrost.”
you huff at the receptionist’s straightforwardness.
“i’m sure we can maintain.. beneficial connections without anyone signing away their names. why don’t we keep to the matter of this visit?” with a slightly forced business smile, you try to ease the traveler’s stone-like expression. thought, if you were in her shoes you believe you’d react much the same.
and you would sure as hell never recommend for someone to join the fatui.
“hm, yes, back to the matter at hand- childe tells me that he has upheld his end of your agreement.”
“what agreement? ..oh, the thing about him helping us find a guy?” paimon inquires.
“correct. childe promised he would find someone to break the stalemate. and harbingers do not break their promises lightly.”
this time you succeed in internalizing your reaction to the comment- from your personal experience, childe did not exactly fit that concept. but there was no time for dwelling on that now.
“ah, where is that guy anyway?”
“childe is currently at liuli pavilion.”
bingo.
“liuli pavilion?” you ask.
“oh, oh! paimon knows this one!” paimon exclaims, proceeding to give an insight of the rival cooking styles of liyue and you almost admire how dedicated she is to liking food so… academically. you’re half zoning out at their conversation when your stomach traitorously growls for all ears to hear.
“hey, y/n, why don’t you join us? you’re a friend of childe’s too afterall!” the floating guide propositions naively.
“ah err… i-i wouldn’t describe it like that, plus, i wasn’t invited to this meeting. i’d hate to intrude.” you try to wave it off. while this could be your current best chance at receiving more context on their investigation, you’d rather not do it where childe would catch onto you.
“well it won’t hurt to ask him! c’mon, at least walk with us, you’ll have to find a place to eat anyway.” paimon drags you by the sleeve out of northland bank, along with the traveler, with unexpected strength in her grasp.
the streets are bustling with people, walking back and forth as they also step out to guarantee themselves some dinner. the crowd covers the sight of liuli pavilion’s entrance and it’s not until you’ve actually arrived that childe sees you.
he looks no less than befuddled.
“aha, y-you’ve made it…” he laughs awkwardly, clearly not expecting the current situation to ever occur. “care to explain the plus one?”
“they’re just that! they were also looking for a place to eat so we invited them to join us.” paimon contextualizes, oblivious to the silent glare battle taking place between the two of you.
“w-well anyhow-“ childe effectively retreats from the as promised, i’ve found someone who can help you. someone who can solve the mystery of why the liyue qixing would hide the geo archon’s vessel.”
“so.. where is he? in liuli pavilion?”
“he certainly is. come, i’ll… introduce you.” he intends to sound cheerful but the last part of his sentence comes out the smidgen most strained as his eyes flicker to you momentarily.
“i took the liberty of setting up a business dinner, as per liyue custom.”
the traveler and paimon walk ahead and get distracted with the warm welcome of the restaurant’s staff while you and childe try not to jump to an argument then and there.
“trust me, i resisted this impromptu invite as much as i could.” you mutter, preferring to look at the surroundings rather than the harbinger beside you.
“good, because you won’t be joining anyway.” he replies coldly as he starts walking inside ahead of you.
“at least let me see the damn restaurant first, maybe i won’t join your table but that doesn’t mean i won’t eat there.”
“how will i know you’re not listening in on our busine-“
“childe? y/n? c’mon, let’s get to our table!” paimon calls out from further into the pavilion.
as you round to the reserved table, you see a brown-haired man in refined amber clothing seated at the far end of it, tea in hand. somehow you think you’ve seen him before but only out in the streets, perhaps at third-round knockout listening to the storyteller at the front tables.
“yes yes, i’m here.” childe steps up, half-sheepish at his late arrival. “unfortunately, y/n won’t be joining us as they have other matters to attend to.” he says like you’re not standing right beside him.
“really? but y/n didn’t say anything, plus, they seemed like they were awfully hungry-“
“forgive the intrusion but, childe, might this be the same y/n you’ve mentioned before?”
the man at the table joins in and childe looks like he’s promptly died on the spot. you, however, look elated at the revelation.
so elated that you don’t see the flush of red that plagues childe’s face and ears.
“why yes, i might just be.” the grin on your face seems only friendly to the other three and only the harbinger feels it’s real sting of triumph.
“then, please, let us all eat together.”
you all waste no more time to do so, childe sits on the man’s right, you sit beside him while the traveler and paimon mirror you on the other side- well, paimon at least floats on top of the chair.
“allow me to introduce mr. zhongli, consultant to an organization known as wansheng… and a trusted associate of the fatui.”
“wansheng?” the traveler asks.
“indeed.” the redhead answers. “wansheng’s line of work can be… sensitive at times. let’s just say they understand when discretion is needed. and we, the fatui, have always been glad to do business with friends who walk in the shadows.”
“w-walk in the shadows..?” paimon shivers.
“it is an honor to meet you. i have heard tell of you from mondstat.” zhongli turns to you. “you as well, doctor, i have been meaning to arrange for us to meet ever since hearing word of you from childe.”
you’re pleasantly surprised by him calling you doctor for a moment, as no one has ever really referred to you in such a respectful manner. sure, childe and others have called you “doc” playfully but never fully doctor.
and then you remember who the title is usually reserved for.
“discretion… shadows… ah! is wansheng some kind of business involving… ‘dealing’ with people?” paimon panics.
“indeed. it is as you have guessed.”
“ahh!!” she screams.
“don’t worry, wansheng is a funeral parlor.” you assure her amusedly and paimon’s fear shifts to confusion.
zhongli cluelessly nods in affirmation. “the wansheng funeral parlor organizes burials. we ensure that those who pass on do so in peace.”
“e-eh?”
you hear childe laugh warmly from beside you, the warmest you’ve heard from him in years. “did you think he was some sort of hired killer? the fatui calls many such people friends, but the wansheng funeral parlor does not dabble in such business… well, ostensibly.”
“ostensibly?” you question.
“well, they are still- ah, i shouldn’t say too much. in any case, i brought you to meet mr. zhongli because…”
“because i can bring you to see rex lapis’ vessel.” the consultant follows up plainly.
“what?!” exclaims paimon.
“ha, don’t be so surprised. sure, the geo archon’s body has been squirreled away by order of the tianquan ningguang… but first, let’s hear what mr. zhongli has to say, shall we?”
how childe managed to hide such a supposed fatui associate, an insanely useful one at that, from you with all the snooping around you’d been doing is beyond your mortal comprehension. what baffles you even more is his unwavering determination to keep you as far away from the entire operation as possible, going against the order of your involvement that came directly from not only dottore, the very second fatui harbinger, but also the director of all of the fatui himself.
unfortunately you’ll still need to wait until zhongli preaches his tale before you get to strangle childe where he stands.
“rex lapis may be the prime of adepti, but he is ultimately an adeptus. many adepti have left us over the millennia- this is the inexorable trend.”
zhongli turns to the traveler. “the times have changed- you must have felt it too when you were at jueyun karst.” with the travelers confirmation, he continues. “as you have seen, the time of adepti is ending, and the time of mankind is slowly dawning.”
the dinner proceeds with talks of the rite of passing and as the traveler and zhongli become more well acquainted, they all agree to leave liuli pavilion and further discuss their arrangements.
“you can go if you want to, don’t worry about me. i might just have a few more drinks…” childe dismisses the two travelers.
“and me also. somebody needs to teach a certain other someone how to use chopsticks if we’re to stay in liyue for a good while.” you imply half-jokingly, grateful that the two get on their way quick so you can give the redhead beside you an exclusive earful.
as you feel your cheeks start to warm with the burn of the alcohol, you down decisively the last one of your drinks for the night and slam the cup on the table with vigor.
“am i some sort of joke to you?”
childe almost chokes on his own beverage at the suddenness. “e-excuse me?”
“actually no, let me rephrase that- do you think it’s funny to play around with the job i’ve been assigned here and purposefully leave me to wander around streets i don’t know like a bumbling idiot while you keep contacts like mr.fucking-rex-lapis-historian under your belt?” you practically bark.
“y/n, please, i think you might’ve drank too mu-“
“answer the question or so help me celestia, i will leave this restaurant with my hands as red as that stupid scarf of yours.”
the harbinger huffs. “alright alright! no i don’t think it’s funny to do… all of what you said. but i don’t think that’s fair- this is my mission and it’s been running smoothly since before you even got here. at least i thought it was until they decided to send more manpower with zero forewarning, do you know how insulting that is?”
“how is it insulting to have backup in case something goes wrong? that’s all i’m here for- to help, and ideally help with the investigation. but i can’t do that if i don’t know where the hell jueyun karst is, much less where else to go to look for clues.”
childe only sighs again, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingertips. “you’re right… i shouldn’t alienate you from what’s your assignment too. but let me keep up with my plan for now and if something goes awry, i’ll call you. i’ll fill you in on it tomorrow morning.”
you nod firmly- easier than you thought it’d be.
“now will you please teach me how to use these damned sticks?”
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taglist ; @kentply
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ahsokathegray · 9 months ago
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A Remedy for Memory || Part Three
Pairing: Rexsoka
Prompt: Rexsoka Monthly Jan. ‘24 - Accidental First Kiss
Summary: One simple fall causes a certain commander to fall in love with his co-commander all over again. Rex expresses his gratitude to his lover rather affectionately — unaware that he's never done so before, unaware that he and Ahsoka aren't together.
Tags: order 66 didn't happen, temporary amnesia, whump kinda, fake dating kinda, protective brotherly Anakin
Word Count: 5,528
A/N: if you saw the rom com this was inspired by, no you didn't. but fr go watch it, it's called the other zoey! (@rexsoka-monthly)
read on ao3! / masterlist
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Three Months Ago
When the soft knock at Ahsoka’s door came, it was Jesse’s face rather than Rex’s smiling in her doorway. 
The ARC’s presence was always a welcome one but this occasion might’ve been the first exception. She’d been waiting for Rex for the better part of an hour and her disappointment was difficult to disguise. Ahsoka’s hopeful heart sank, returning to its regular rate and the fire that had been ignited in it for days, now extinguished in a swift death. 
If she exhaled deeply enough, she could feel the shattered fragments of it pierce her chest. 
Jesse, typically one to pick up on microexpressions and words left unsaid, was held back by the copious amounts of Tihaar in his system. She caught its distinct notes of smokey caramelization when he laughed. “Hey Commanderer, was jus’ wondering if you wanted t’join us in the barracks for drinks,” he offered, slurring over his words. His speech might’ve been compromised, but his eyes were anything but — scanning the empty room behind her.
The flush in her cheeks ran hot, knowing just who he was searching for. Jesse hadn’t been promoted to ARC status without reason. A few times during the siege, she’d met his knowing gaze, helmeted but clearly taking stock of the newfound dynamic between his two Commanders. 
“You have—” he hiccuped, “Haven’t seen Rex anywhere, have you?”
Ahsoka readied herself to catch the drunken Lieutenant who was now relying heavily on her door frame for stability. As down in the garbage chute as she was, she couldn’t suppress her amusement. Jesse’s state of being was inadvertently lifting her mood whether she wanted it to or not. It had been in nothing but a drunken haze that he had forgotten Ahsoka wasn’t there as a General — stumbling to the correct door by complete accident. 
Damn him. 
To him, to all the clones, she was their Commander, their General, and more. The title of Advisor was irrelevant. It had been as though she’d never left, continuing on as a Jedi and leading them into the mission as she was always meant to. 
Lying to the men was something Ahsoka never did, but she had no other choice in this instance. 
“No,” she answered finally, allowing herself to laugh at her goofy friend. “Unfortunately, I haven’t, not since we turned in for the evening. He, um, isn’t in his room then?” Her tongue was slotted into her cheek, hoping Jesse hadn’t picked up on the tone of suspicious interest in her voice.
His face contorted in curiosity for a spell before he pursed his lips. A flask was produced from his utility belt and he took a swig of its contents, deep in thought. “Wanna help me look for’em?” The flask was wiggled back and forth in his grip as a way of enticing her.
Again, Ahsoka laughed but turned him down, in no mood to prolong her sadness or risk the possibility of worsening it. “Thanks, but warm Tihaar doesn’t exactly agree with me. Good luck finding Rex. And please, be careful.”
He only shrugged his shoulders and pushed himself away from her door. “You’re missin’ out, but if I find’em, you’ll be the fi— first to know,” he hiccuped again and disappeared down the echoing hallway of the men’s drunken laughter. 
She waited and worried and paced for what felt like another hour, but not once did she regret what had been done. Had anyone seen Rex follow her? They hadn’t exactly tried to be subtle with their flirting throughout the entirety of the mission, were they somehow sloppy with this too? She could accept it if nothing further happened between them, but it still stung something fierce.
Ahsoka both tried to recount the events of the evening and to forget them. Her neck tingled in the sensitive spot Rex’s mouth had been just earlier — his velvet lips… so soft in a galaxy where every edge of a soldier was expected to be rough. Rex had many regrets and she hoped her name hadn’t been added to the extensive list. The thought alone made her feel physically ill. Her hand was pressed over her neck, clutching where his kisses had been placed, as though she were attempting to keep them from flying away.
The next noise that came to her door was much harsher and not a knock at all. 
Jesse barged in before she had time to react, cursing under his breath and carrying the missing man over his shoulder. Ahsoka gasped and retrieved Rex’s fallen helmet, placing it quickly on her night table and adjusting the rangefinder. 
“Tell me that wasn’t his head, Jesse,” she whispered through her teeth, helping him place an unconscious Rex onto her bed before folding her arms. 
He picked up the man’s feet and shoved him to the middle of her mattress. “Hey, he was already knocked out when I found him. Two shinies spilled some of the not-so-cheap stuff in a corridor near the barracks and Cap— Commander Clumsy here slipped and fell,” Jesse laughed, slightly less inebriated than before. 
Ahsoka smacked his arm. 
“He needs a medic then, not me,” she said, turning to Rex and cupping his face, checking him for head injuries and desperately attempting to ignore the feel of his five o’clock shadow on her palms — as if she hadn’t felt the gentle scratch there under entirely different circumstances just earlier. 
Jesse snickered again, “Well, I would’ve taken him there, but…”
“The medic’s drunk?”
“Medic’s drunk.”
She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. 
“This looks incriminating,” Jesse said minutes later, removing Rex’s shoes and placing them at the foot of Ahsoka’s bed. They’d agreed rather quickly that Rex needed to stay here tonight under Ahsoka’s careful watch. She was likely the only person outside of the bridge that wasn’t intoxicated.
“I think we are well past incriminating, Jesse,” she corrected, glancing at the growing pile of Rex’s armor strewn about her room. It was supposed to have ended up there tonight just… not like this. She tugged Rex’s cuirass off as his brother held him up. “Where’s the unlocking mechanism for his belt? Can you hold him still?”
“Trying. I’m trying,” he’d said, giggling at Rex’s limp form and losing grip. His mouth twitched and he pointed above Rex’s codpiece, “It’s, well, behind the uh...” 
The blush that had settled into Ahsoka’s face could almost rival the one she wore in the hangar when Rex tried to further their kissing beyond that of something so reserved and so clothed. 
“Of course it is,” she sighed, earning a matching sigh from Jesse in confirmation. 
She’d fully been prepared for undressing an armored Rex in her room, learning where each of the pieces disconnected and feeling the warm man beneath the shell — but, again, not like this. No, the initial image didn’t exactly have Jesse in the room instructing her on how to do so. 
That was supposed to be Rex’s job. 
The act was quick, eliciting no response from Rex. Force, how she’d give anything for his reaction to it; for his labored breathing and ready hands — to tug her hands down where he wanted them. Instead, his utility belt and kama fell limply to the bed and Ahsoka piled them neatly on the floor, neatly stacking the rest of his upper armor. 
“We’ll leave the rest,” Jesse said, noticing the air in the room had shifted when all that remained was Rex’s lower kit.
“Agreed.”
“We got off the armor that matters for a comfortable night's sleep.”
“Yeah?” she asked. 
“Well…”
“Jesse.”
He threw his hands up in defense and silently made his way to the door, lingering a moment longer, “It’s true. All I’m saying is that anyone with vision and hearing can tell how he feels about you, Ahsoka.”
Pressing her lips together Ahsoka crossed her arms tight around her middle and looked away. 
“Just not everyone pays attention. Be careful. That goes for both of you,” he added, tapping his fingers against her door frame and bidding her a good night.
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Present Day
His lips were as soft as she remembered — unexpectedly so in contrast to the rest of him. Hard armor, sharp features, buzzed hair, calloused hands. Soft lips. 
Ahsoka couldn’t think straight, kissing Rex, being kissed by Rex. 
He was confident with his affections, trailing his loving mouth along the length of her jaw as if he’d really been doing it for all these months. As both her lashes and insides fluttered, she wondered how many times he’d thought about this exact moment — how many times he thought he might’ve already done it. 
For her, the imaginary instances had been countless — constant since her return. Rex had evidently imagined it so frequently that he’d perfected the art. 
He sucked on that tender spot below her jaw where her neck met her lekku and elicited a small gasp from her dry throat. They’d discovered together months ago that this spot was sensitive, as it was the very spot his lips had latched onto that night in the Tribunal’s hangar. 
Hot breath fanned over her wet skin as Rex continued recounting the story. “I followed you back to your room, knowing no one would think to look in the General’s quarters for us,” he spoke lowly against her neck, the vibrations of his voice causing her own breaths to become shallow. 
She didn’t have the heart to tell him. She couldn’t tell him. The truth would jeopardize how he healed and Rex… Rex would have to remember on his own that none of what he remembered after the shuttle had actually ever happened. 
He did make it to her room that night, only he’d done so via unconsciously slung over the shoulder of his brother. And, well, he’d ended up in her bed with his armor on the floor, but not in the way he thought.
But kissing him — kissing Rex — she momentarily believed as much as he did that his version of that night was true. 
His hands were anything but shy either. Two fingers were quick to hook behind her knee, urging Ahsoka to swing her leg over him. Her chest rose and fell impossibly fast, panicking over how to proceed.
“Rex, we’re not alone,” she whispered against his temple, placing a trembling hand to his chest. 
Nothing deterred him. “Skywalker left minutes ago,” he revealed, smiling wickedly and out of breath. “Guess he decided he’d seen enough.”
Through her heavy lashes, Ahsoka could see the sultry lopsided grin on his swollen lips, causing the knot behind her navel to coil tighter. The hand that cupped her jaw was gentle as his thumb skirted against her bottom lip and caused her to whimper. In one expert motion, Rex had Ahsoka in his lap, straddling him in the middle of the medbay.
A small squeak died in her throat as his lips enveloped hers once more, large hands covering her thighs and squeezing. She sighed into the kiss and he groaned so sweetly as their cores brushed. “I can’t wait to get you back to our place and have you all to myself,” Rex breathed into her mouth, swiping his tongue along hers. 
“Ou-our place?” Ahsoka managed, gripping the material of the blacks covering his shoulders. 
He hummed in response, hands journeying up to her hips and tracing them delicately, looking up at her adoringly as she shivered. A chaste kiss was placed to the inside of her left lek, “Yes, ma’am.” His mouth trailed upward, fully aware of what result it would get him. Ahsoka shifted in his lap and he grinned, continuing and reaching the convex curve of her montral. “Where every evening you get to watch the sunset over the Temple and I get to watch you. I want to watch you tonight, unraveling with nothing but my mouth and the golden light on your skin,” he whispered, teeth grazing her chevron.
Ahsoka’s hips bucked and she nearly choked, trying to remember to remind herself that she had a part to play. Yes, she was quite glad that she wasn’t the one hooked up with her vitals displayed. It was a very real possibility that she’d break the heart monitor. 
“I’m looking forward to it,” she rasped, her mouth dry. “I’ll go get everything ready.’
Rex made a noise of protest, the hands on her hips tightening and being used as leverage to press their centers closer. His voice was gravelly, “I think I remember Kix prescribing me a few doses of y—”
She pressed a finger to his lips and he smiled wickedly, kissing the digit as though he were nothing but innocent.
“Kix said no such thing,” she laughed before biting her lip. “But the sooner you let me slip away, the sooner you can self-prescribe yourself whatever you want.”
“And if I said you look rather tempting?” he drawled, shifting beneath the sheets as Ahsoka got off the bed.
She threw him a wink as she left the room, “Medic’s orders, then.”
The chair that the nurse droid brought for her to sit down in earlier looked enticing, an invitation for relief, but Ahsoka thankfully made it around the corner before breaking character. She pressed herself into the wall, heart pounding in her throat and trying to absorb what had just happened. Her legs squeezed together. He didn’t remember that they never… that what happened in the shuttle on the Tribunal never continued. 
It never amounted to anything. 
It— All it did was find them in small moments alone in the mess hall, the Resolute’s corridors, its war room, the hangar. All it did was make them forget that nothing happened, before inevitably bringing tight smiles to their lips and brief vulnerable looks in their eyes until one of them looked away or said something to reluctantly end it. All it did was insert itself into their banter during battle, the dances they did on the field, how they knew the other’s instincts. Even when Anakin was there, he wasn’t, nor were the men. They were the only people in the galaxy until the cruel spell was broken again.
Their light hearted banter continued, thank the Force. She didn’t know how she’d be coping otherwise. 
Discussion about it just wasn’t had. They’d silently agreed upon it. Only when her Master started asking questions had they been forced to approach the topic. 
Ahsoka swallowed, lighting her comm up and watching her hand tremble. “Jesse?”
“Yes, sir, Commander?” he responded immediately.
“I found out what Rex thinks he knows.”
There was no response for a moment and Ahsoka knew he’d heard the waver in her voice. “Commander, you don’t—”
“I know that. But I have to now. I can’t— Anakin is going to be impossible to convince otherwise,” she said, knowing she wasn’t making any sense. 
“What happened, Ahsoka?”
She rushed the words out so that she wouldn’t have to suffer them for long, “Rex thinks we are involved because we almost were. Well, we were a bit. Then… then you brought him to my room that night after Mandalore—”
Jesse put together the pieces Ahsoka had scattered. She’d only confirmed what he already knew to be true. “He was supposed to already be in there, wasn’t he?”
Inhaling and exhaling deeply, Ahsoka waited, knowing her silence was already speaking for her. “Yes,” she confirmed. “He thinks we’re together, that we live together. And the only viable way we could do that is if each of us were no longer involved in the Republic.”
“I guess that explains why he thinks he’s retired,” Jesse said. “Have you told Kix?”
“I can’t tell him everything. Not how much I told you.”
“You don’t have to. Just tell him what you found out. I’m sure you know this already, but Kix would never repeat a word you confide in him — he has the utmost respect for you as much as anyone. I’ll talk to him too. If it’s the three of us speaking with the General, he may be easier to persuade.”
Ahsoka nodded to herself. “Okay. Alright, I’ll comm him and find both of you after. Thank you, Jesse.”
“Sounds like a plan, sir. Anytime.”
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Flames licked at the irises of her Master’s eyes. She could practically see the red rings encircling them, but their color remained blue, deceitfully so. Ahsoka wasn’t easily fooled. She’d known him long enough to see the tsunami that roared behind them; it was too late to take back her wish that he’d be angry. So, too, was it far too late to wish he’d been present to witness her and Rex in the medbay. 
His jaw flexed before he responded to his medic. “And you expect me to just host his delusions willingly?”
Jesse shifted uncomfortably and Kix reached for the datapad clipped to his belt. “I can show you his results again, sir. They were conclusive almost immediately. There was no time to falsify a report.”
Rex’s office was still, not even the gentle hum of the air conditioning could grant them its presence, almost as if it too were holding its breath to hear what Anakin’s reaction would be to such a request. 
It was the only place she could think of for pulling Jesse and Kix aside to shed the weight that had been placed on her shoulders, telling them each what Rex had divulged to her and what truly had happened after Mandalore. Conveniently, Kix was observant enough to share Jesse’s suspicions — Rex’s intimate gratitude earlier in the shipyard enough to confirm them. The safe little office they’d used to express their feelings and opinions felt decidedly less so now that Anakin had been called to join them. 
“So I’m supposed to just find the apartment he described, furnish it, and pay for him and my Padawan to live in it until he heals?” Anakin asked incredulously, arms crossed and hands balled into shaking fists. 
Ahsoka, Jesse, and Kix all remained resolute, unnerving the volatile man before them. Depending on how much he’d seen in the medbay, this could go one of two ways.
“Yes, sir,” Kix answered flatly. “To ensure Rex’s health, I’m afraid that’s exactly what I’m asking— what I’m telling you must be done. I hate to pull rank, sir, but taking these measures of precaution is absolutely necessary.”
Jesse tilted his head towards Kix, chiming in, “It could potentially speed along his recovery process, General. Vaughn agreed to split Rex’s tasks with me but we’re still a man short and the workload is already moving at a slower rate without him.”
Anakin pinched the bridge of his nose, letting his arms fall at his sides before placing them on his hips. His distaste with anything revolving around his pair of Commanders was clear even before Rex had fallen and hit his head. Something he already suspected between them that wasn’t true, was still untrue but now fully happening and out of his hands. 
He was being forced to be complicit in this. 
Ahsoka’s jaw flexed when he turned to her, prepared at a moment’s notice to come to Rex’s defenses.
“Your Knighthood ceremony is next week, Ahsoka. That’s in three days,” he reminded her, his voice distraught and cold. 
“And according to Kix’s report, Rex’s memory will be back in two. This is just another mission. I'll be ready.”
“And if it’s not? If he’s not better? What do you think the Council will have to say about that?” he argued, pacing in Rex’s small office. 
She tilted her chin up, “What the Council doesn’t know won’t hurt them. Isn’t that what you taught me?”
“That’s hardly fair, Ahsoka.”
“You know how I feel about fair,” she retorted.
Her Master scoffed, yet again humiliated in front of his troops by his student due to a fragile ego. It might do him some good — a few healthy doses close together like that to balance him out. 
Jesse spoke up yet again, “There’s no one more capable than Commander Ahsoka to look after Rex. You can ask anyone in the 332nd. It was her who looked after us on Mandalore, more so than the other way around. If anyone should be at Rex’s side, it’s her. He’d do the same if the roles were reversed, and has. I’ve seen it.” His focus shifted to Ahsoka, eyes kind and gave her a nod.
Anakin’s features hardened and he turned his back to them, activating his comm and not looking back as he spoke, “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
When the door closed behind him, Ahsoka took a seat behind Rex’s desk and put her head in her hand, looking up at the boys. Her frustration was evident, words unnecessary.
As if on cue, the air in the office finally kicked on and Jesse took a seat across from her. “Reckon’ it’s time for his scheduled comm with the Naboo Senator? Thought I had those timed,” he laughed dryly. Ahsoka cracked a slight smile, relaxing a bit. “He’s really going to give you this much hell when he’s calling in a favor with his wife?”
“How do you know it’s her that he’s contacting? And how do you know she’s…” Ahsoka asked, trailing off due to the look he was giving her. 
Jesse scoffed playfully. “You mean who doesn’t? And he always presses the first button on his comm when he goes off to talk to her,” he explained, as if it were common knowledge. “And her apartment has the exact view Rex described does it not?”
Ahsoka swiveled in the comfortable chair. “You’re right,” she said, what her Master had stepped outside to do now snapping into place. 
“Anyway, I think you missed my whole point, Ahsoka. Skywalker wants to bust your shebs for having to pretend to be in a relationship with Rex when he’s the one that’s married, that’s broken the code. And you’re not even a Jedi yet, not really — no offense,” he added. 
“None taken. Where are you going with this?”
He resumed, “Your ceremony is in three days. You’re not breaking any rules. Technically, are you even still officially a Padawan? Did they ever rectify that anywhere after you came back?”
“No. No, they didn’t,” she responded, eyes widening a fraction. 
Jesse tilted his head, a mischievous grin spreading over his face, “Then I’d say you’re clear to do whatever the fuck you want, Commander.” He leaned back in his chair, satisfied with himself. 
Ahsoka attempted to combat the blushing of her lekku by just wanting it to go away. Jesse snickered and she looked to Kix for his input. He merely shrugged, silently agreeing with his brother before adding, “All I’m gonna say is that this might need to go live somewhere else before the General sees it.”
Her brow markings dipped and her gaze followed down to where his hand was resting on Rex’s desk. Kix was touching the frame of a photo tucked between stacks of datapads and mission reports. 
It was one of two pictures total that Rex had framed on his cramped desk. One was of him, Cody, Fives, and Echo and the other… The one Kix had discovered was of him and her. 
The frame was dainty and heart-shaped and she immediately reached for it, turning it face down and turning, herself, a shade of rosy orange. 
Jesse lunged out of his chair towards the desk, “Hey, not so fast, I wanna see what he’s got framed in th—”
At that moment, the door whooshed open and Anakin reappeared. “Ahsoka, Padmé has agreed to help. Everything will be ready this afternoon for you and Rex to,” he paused, the words rebelling in his throat. “Live together,” he said finally. “Focus on the mission. You’re being tasked with helping his memory return. The moment it’s back, you’ll be inducted into the Order.”
She rose so quickly that Rex’s chair was spinning behind her. “Yes, Master. Thank you. Thank you, I won’t let you down.”
His jaw visibly tightened and he muttered as he turned away, “Yeah well, you can start by not being so enthusiastic about it.”
Not even three hours later, Anakin was handing Ahsoka a passkey for the apartment — the apartment that his commanders would be living in for the two days and where Rex was convinced they’d already been living in for the past three months. 
His Force signature was indiscernible. It was clear that his earlier rage had fizzled, but Ahsoka didn’t favor what it left behind in its wake. She was unnerved at how emotionless he seemed. 
“Padmé had Artoo and Threepio stock the place with food. She and her handmaiden furnished it and gathered Rex’s personal effects from the barracks and yours from the Temple. Our apartment is two floors above yours if either of you need anything for the duration of the weekend,” Anakin said. His words were icy, speaking to her as if they were just acquaintances and nothing more. 
Ahsoka thanked him but he was already ten feet away from her, the distance between them not growing fast enough for her Master. He’d not even tried to dance around the details of his and Padmé’s arrangement. Already aware that she and Rex had swapped stories, he felt no need to maintain the secrecy now, just laying it out in the open. Ahsoka’s jaw hung loose, the passkey limp in her hand. 
Anakin was at a loss, hair a mess from the back. She rarely saw him in this state. His commanders would be sharing a bed just two floors below him, they both knew the intimate details of his biggest secret, and there was nothing he could do about either one of those facts. 
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No expense was spared on the apartment, if apartment was even the correct term to use for such a lavish place to live. Ahsoka had been to Padmé’s place — well, as Anakin had corrected, their shared place — but had never really paid the view any mind. Day was setting on the Coruscant skyline and bouncing off the Jedi Temple in a way that made it seem unreal. Even GAR Headquarters shone in the distance.
Rex was beaming as he stepped through the door, the hand he had on Ahsoka’s hip pulling her closer. A sweet kiss was pressed to her lips and he kicked his shoes off, feeling right at home. 
It was amazing how he could feel so much comfort in a place he’d never been before, slotting into this life that wasn’t theirs like he’d always been dealt other cards. She wished they had been dealt other cards — been dealt these cards. 
He opened several cabinets in the kitchen. “Where do we keep the pans? I want to make you something for dinner,” he said, giving her that signature lopsided smile. 
Yes, she was very envious of this dealing of cards. She wanted desperately to be able to tell them where they kept their pans, but even she didn’t have the answer. Ahsoka told herself to go to him instead and wrap her arms around his middle, pecking his cheek like it was something so natural that didn’t cause her stomach to flip. “Do you remember ever cooking for me?”
“I don’t. Do I know how to cook?” he asked, arching an eyebrow and looking a tad sheepish.
She shook her head and laughed, “I don’t think so.” The news of his inability in the kitchen was easy to deliver, as he didn’t already think it was a skill that he had. 
Rex laughed at himself and ran his hands along her arms, “You know what they say. At least feed a lady before you kriff the living daylights out of her.” His head motioned towards the sunset through the window and added, “Literally.”
Oh, Rex was cooking alright. He lit a flame across her whole body and had been letting it simmer since he took that fall earlier. He was quite the chef indeed. Ahsoka buried her head in his chest and squeezed him tighter, remembering something Kix had told her. “Kix didn’t tell you, did he?”
“Tell me what?” he hummed, kissing the tip of one of her montrals.
“No pushing your limits physically until you’re better,” she said, looking up at him and offering a sympathetic smile. Her sympathy was truly genuine. There was little she’d rather do than take him up on his many advances and offers from today and finally finish what they started three months ago. Ahsoka never stopped wanting Rex, never stopped needing him — in every way. 
They’d been given an opportunity they could do nothing with. They’d been provided with privacy, with a bed, with a mere glimpse into the life they could’ve had, but only because Rex’s memory was deceiving him. Two days of something she’d been quite excited for now felt almost cruel. It was painful to see what they could’ve had — what almost was — and just three days before she officially became a Jedi Knight.
Rex groaned and gave her a pleading look, bending at the knees and picking her up, placing her on the counter top. Ahsoka shrieked and pressed her lips together. 
“I thought we agreed on medic’s orders,” he said, stepping between her legs and covering her thighs with his hands. 
“We did,” she replied, air difficult to inhale as Rex started peppering kissing along her exposed neck, using his index finger to push her left lek aside. “That was un— until he gave actual orders.” Her own body vibrated as Rex hummed against her throat, a fair amount of electricity conducting between them. 
“We could go slow,” he breathed against her skin suggestively. “I could make such sweet, slow, love to you.”
Ahsoka gasped at his words, brow markings twitching and thighs widening as he stepped closer to her. “W— We can’t,” she managed, her words not lining up with her actions as she craned her neck to the side, giving Rex further access.
A string of peppered kisses were planted along her collarbone. “Or,” he started again. “I could lie down and let you do all the work. But we both know I eventually wouldn’t be able to help myself.”
“Rex,” she whispered, voice small and swallowing over the lump in her throat. Ahsoka thought that before all this was over, she too would be admitted to a medical facility. Every inch of her skin was aflame. Everything she’d wanted for months was now being hand delivered to her on a silver platter and she didn’t know what to do with that. 
“I know,” he caved. “Kix is the boss. The sooner I listen to him, the sooner I recover and get to kriff you with all my memories intact. I wouldn’t want to seize the opportunity with my cyare and find I’ve forgotten how to please her.”
She blushed furiously, his usage of the Mandalorian tongue causing her to shiver. She didn’t even know what it meant. “Somehow I doubt that.”
Rex shot her a wink and made a comment about how much of a shame it was, as the sunset was complimenting her flawless skin so well. But the waning sunset had also caught something in their home, causing it to reflect into her eyes. Ahsoka moved to hop off the counter and Rex stepped aside, watching curiously as she stepped over to a nearby shelf. 
Two picture frames sat displayed in the apartment, one of Rex and a few of his brothers, and the other in a frame much dantier — much more heart-shaped. 
Ahsoka’s chest swelled as she looked up at the photo, the same one from Rex’s office. Padmé must’ve gathered his belongings from not just the barracks, but his work desk too. 
Coming to stand behind her, Rex looked where the light was catching the image and his arm slinked around Ahsoka’s waist. “I remember that day,” he said distantly, a soft smile on his buzzing lips. His brows knitted together as the memory resurfaced. “It was the day you returned. There was so much happening around us in preparation for Mandalore, but we got pushed together for a photo anyway.”
“Rex, you remembered something!” Ahsoka said excitedly. “Being back home is already working.”
Her throat closed around the word. Calling this place home felt equally as right as it felt wrong. Rex flattened his mouth and shrugged. “It’s just a small memory.”
“But it’s something,” she assured. Ahsoka utilized the Force to pluck the frame from the shelf and get it into her hands. She looked between the small printed version of herself and Rex. She remembered smiling for it, but had never seen the image, not until today. “Do you know why you’re looking at me instead of the camera? It was pretty loud in the hangar, I barely heard Sterling tell us to smile.”
His brows were dipped and his pink lips curved upwards when she met his gaze. Rex shook his head and, as if it was the most obvious answer in the galaxy, said, “Why would I ever look at a camera when you’re right next to me?”
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se7ens-oc-heaven · 22 days ago
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I don't fully recall what originally prompted this - probably a discussion with @shyyren tbh - but found this among my lists! Basically trying to consider if the other legendkeepers had ended up in Ritsu's shoes in Legends: Arceus - specifically being banished from Jubilife Village.
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[Image text: I wrote out 'how the legendkeepers cast react to Kamado's Banishment in PLA' can I copypaste that here to share?]
Satsuki - hurt, teary, 'I worked hard, I didn't do anything wrong here, this isn't fair' type of angle. Takes being escorted with some grace but is Dissatisfied with the outcome
Ren - 'haha wow Kamado you had me going, didn't take you for a prankster b-- oh. Oh you're serious. Oh, mb. ......can I at least take my gear with me on my way out?' Handles being escorted compliantly enough
Aya - pulls Rex on Rose level violence, but gets Thrown since Kamado has far more years of training. Takes the escort kicking and screaming the whole way
Maciel - shoots some counter retorts, may stare down Kamado for a moment before giving up on it. Storms out
Touya - Disappointed™️ in Kamado. It doesn't change anything but Kamado walks away somehow feeling lowkey chastised even if Touya doesn't argue too much against it /silly. Takes the escort with no complaints so long as they let him get the egg gear and eggs bc you Know he'd introduce this concept Immediately
Lena - either slaps or just hits him once across the face*. Expresses that he is a terrible leader, to make such a decision when it has proven time and again that working together is The Solution - including alongside pokemon. Leaves without further fuss but has clearly lost respect for Kamado.
Kimmie - v loud, full of disbelief and indignant at this turn of events. Might make a comment about how following superstitions won't get them anywhere. Fussy about being escorted out but goes with it
Xav - meets Kamado with a deadeye stare from start to finish. Leaves without a word.
Rex - see Aya above. Only slightly less feral as he's escorted out
Aspen - if he makes it this far? Cries. Leaves village still crying
Natsumi - seems mildly inconvenienced and leaves without much fuss (is actually a lot more upset than they let on)
*I do think with Kamado's training she wouldn't normally get one in, BUT - Lena also does not seem like the type to do this in the slightest (unlike Aya or Rex) so I figure she gets one in on the grace of it being so out of nowhere.
Bonus round since this prompt predates a few of the cast:
Sumire - Like Aspen, may not get this far (though she'd get furthest out of the ones who Wouldn't)- but if she does, starts crying mixed with an anxiety attack, but is also angry in the midst of all that. Wants to retort or make some well-thought out point like the others but it most likely gets lost in stuttering and sobbing, unfortunately. Lets herself get escorted just calmly enough to barely hold back further sobbing/hyperventilating.
Dust - would likely get further than Aspen, but again is unlikely to get this far. If they do, they're stunned speechless for most of the Commander's decree. Most likely the type to be like "you can't do this to me" once she finds her words - not necessarily in an aggrandizing fashion, but definitely wasn't expecting this, with some level of pleading mixed in. Leaves the village in a state of shock, moving slowly and likely has to be urged to hurry up.
Troy - she gives Commander Kamado an icy stare through it all - and most likely had seen this coming. Is not surprised, but is still very bitter. She likely makes a sharp comment about the village getting on without her help, and is annoyed at the escort because it holds her back from leaving in a huff if anything.
Realistically, I think the people least likely to get through the PLA plot far enough to reach this point include Aspen, Dust, Touya, Ren, and Sumire - in approximate order of who'd drop out soonest. Several of them (Aspen, Dust and Touya) are not really serious battlers/trainers without the right influences, and even those who do (Ren and Sumire) either don't quite meet challenge levels as readily/easily as other champions do, and/or may not be suited to the trials Hisui specifically offers.
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yukipri · 2 years ago
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The Bad Batch Season 2 - Mid-Season Eps 7 & 8 Spoilers & Thoughts
Ranted it out on twitter last night and forgot to share here.
LOT of thoughts this time
Major Spoilers beneath cut!
Really trully phenomenal writing, so much more than I expected to be said so explicitly. Open discussion of clones' rights, their futures, their lack of personhood under both the Republic and the Empire, even the threat of decommissioning.
What we always knew, what we wanted explicitly addressed in mainstream canon, stated by the clones themselves. Truly ecstatic about these episodes.
Absolutely loved the confirmation that yes, this is what Rex has been doing all along. We saw it implied with Gregor in S1, but it's so good to see it clearly stated, and to see him in action. It makes me hope he got Cody out too.
It also made me crave a show dedicated entirely to this fight. I once again understand and am okay with the TBB centering solely around the Batch. But it's hard not to be anxious knowing what all the other clones are facing. Which makes me understand Echo even more.
Echo's decision. I knew it would come to a boiling point, trusted it would. I'd hoped that Echo would convince Hunter + co to care, but they have their own priorities. I love Echo more bc he decided he couldn't walk away.
He said that his place was with the Batch, and I like to think that he found some kind of home with them. But unlike the rest of them, he sees the rest of the clones as his brothers too. I hope this isn't the last we see of him, but I know he is loved and respected with Rex.
These episodes were a wealth of nostalgic locations, and seeing each one caused such a beautiful ache. I love all the lush new planets explored in the other episodes, but Coruscant felt like coming home.
The specific locations: 79s, the Senate building, Riyo's room that looks so much liked Padmé's, the Martez sisters' place, the clone memorial, the lower levels, even the star destroyer, the stunning of the troops specifically evoking S7's finale. Everything the same but different.
We didn't get to see all of these places with the new graphics, bc TCW S7 only had 4 arcs and TBB S1 covered a lot of newer locations. But gosh what a treat. It was all so beautiful, both aesthetically and metaphorically. Defs need to rewatch so many times to truly appreciate.
Rampart's fall surprised me, bc I did feel he's the lone Big Bad of the show so far, the true embodiment of anti-clone. He's done a lot of unforgivable things and having Palps lock him up isn't satisfying, even if it was surprising. I unfortunately doubt that's the last we've seen of him, though who knows. I admittedly don't care too much either way, but if he's gone, it'll be interesting to see who steps into the next "main antag" shoes, bc I doubt it's Palps himself.
IAN MCDIARMID.
TRULY THE KING.
(or should I say, Emperor)
RIYO.
I'm so glad to see her again
(also, apparently I've been saying her first name wrong all this time??? Am I the only one who's been saying Ree-yo when it apparently shoulda been Rai-yo?)
Rex had his tiddies uncovered the whole time and I was so concerned he'd get shot. i mean he's the only chara guaranteed to live, and I'm also glad he's got a better disguise, but dear please wear some protection
(but yeah ngl it's nice that we got to see him armorless with the beefier new model. I am still remembering TCW Saleucami and thinking my gosh this man is a STICK he is STARVED they ALL ARE. I am always for adding more beef to clones.)
Really curious where they're going with the chips brainwashing the clones. Both Rex and Wrecker appeared conscious of the whole time they were under, trying and unable to stop and remembering it afterwards.
Yet other clones seem to be gradually "waking up," even though many of them likely should have been equally horrified at the moment O66 went live. Rex and the Batch aren't exceptions being Good Guys, the vast majority of the clones are extremely loyal and honorable.
Makes me wonder if after an extended time under the chip's control, that feeling of wrongness/fighting against it fades, until it seems the new ordinary? But then the more time passes, the Order weakens, and they're able to feel more discrepancies, hence the desertions?
The clone assassin definitely seemed super "under" an Order, extremely Off and not himself, like what I'd imagine a freshly O66 clone to be like. Which makes me further curious that Rampart had him (and presumably more like him) under his control. We'll have to see!
But yeah, to conclude: Cody didn't die! (didn't show up!) Named clones I cared about too much in the few minutes we had them DID die and I am still sad but, it could have been worse.
Also huh, not even a glimpse of Crosshair? (feeling a wee bit bad for his fans, that out of the first 8 eps, he's only in one of them...hopefully the next one will be about him ^ ^; )
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kabutoraiger · 11 months ago
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fun find at the used bookstore the other day since their horror section is usually pretty sparse. had to stop myself from saying Holy Fuck out loud upon picking it up and seeing that guy. retro horror book covers you will always be famous to me
as for the actual stories inside,
son of celluloid - really cool concept of a monster in a movie theater that can like send your ass to the Movie Dimension and shapeshift itself into old film stars to lure you in with a beloved face and gets stronger the more it is "perceived"
however i really did not understand part of the lore of this creature which was that it partially grew out of cancer cells...?? what does that have to do with the rest of this... and unfortunately this story gets bogged down with the central POV character who is a fat woman, which is obviously fine, but like half of her narration is just thinking about how she hates being soo fat and how men aren't into her which is just. :/
also it made me question if clive has ever actually seen dumbo. dumbo's ears were his notable feature, my guy. that's kind of the whole thrust of the film.
rawhead rex - this is the only one i'd heard of in advance and it's certainly... memorable.
again the idea here is kino with this beast from ancient times being unleashed on this blase little british town and kind of plunging them back into a more primal state of being. the descriptions of rawhead and especially of him eating the children is like. viscerally freaky and horrible.
but the decision to write some scenes from the POV of rawhead himself is... i dunno. like i do think the story would feel a bit unfinished without his perspective so it's more How they're written, i guess, in this very normal voice that just makes him come across as a simple animal crossed with a petulant cruel teenager or something, and thus kind of ruining his scariness. maybe that was part of the intention and i just didn't fully get it? to me it would've been better for his POV to read as very stylized & different from the humans somehow.
and god i wish there didn't have to be so much piss involved. the demonic watersports scene got me staring off into the distance with a tired resignation
confessions of a pornographer's shroud - relatively simple ghostly revenge story. due to being told in big part from the POV of the ghost i can't call this one particularly scary, but the base idea of taking the silly halloweencore ghost wearing sheet and turning that into an actual serious haunting is fun.
scapegoats - a ship gets beached on a creepy little island they hadn't even noticed on the map which turns out to be a burial ground for tons of unidentified bodies who washed up there during the world wars.
the ending bit of this one was pretty effective but i can't get over my disappointment that this island wasn't more like lovecraftian in origin, which felt plausible based on initial descriptions of it. half alive corpses are scary sure but i wanted At The Shitty English Island of Madness instead.
also there's one part that felt straight out of one of junji ito's weirder oneshots which made me laugh out loud and im not sure the humor was intended.
human remains - sex worker goes home with a guy and finds some kind of sentient human sized statue in his bathtub which then proceeds to start following him around and taking on his identity & exact appearance.
probably my favorite in this book which feels odd to say since it's the least horror out of them. the MC's reaction to this creature eventually becomes almost friendly or loving, and the creature is polite and well spoken and though it kills people it generally only does so to live. very interesting. a story that it's difficult to imagine a straight author writing. could probably read some layers of metaphor into it if you were inclined
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cyaino · 4 months ago
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Omg I pulled an all nighter reading your fic, it’s SO good!? I remember reading through the first chapter thinking how amazingly floored I was, then I was completely sucked in entirely. Oh the comforts of my bed, a day off from work/school, enjoying an amazing Star Wars fic is the best way to re-energize.
I love love this fic so so much: How you fleshed out different characters that I could tell apart their traits for who they are—you giving each character their own spot light to shine and balancing out their interactions with other characters—it makes the world feel more lived in and lively: Obiwan being a sweetheart, Ahsoka being her silly self, even making more OCs up with Emma!!!, etc., how there’s actual support for/from other women characters (makes me so sad whenever anakin fics paint Padmé as just an obstacle), the writing style is such a wonderful mix of gorgeous, serious tone settings and also humor (I can’t count how many times I giggled and kicked my feet with what transpired), and I just LOVE the first few chapters so much with the plot of language barrier. I think it’s such a compelling story arc where the characterization is only through physical movements and tone; forced to be in the same helpless state as the Reader being confused about the newness of it all—the misunderstandings, the desperation finding different methods to communicate, body language/facial expressions. SO SO GOOD!!! AND YOU STILL PORTRAYED THEM SO WELL!!!
The plot is so interesting too with how much mystery shrouds���I came up already with so many theories of why things are happening/how they’ll end (really hyping myself up for Anakin/Padmé/Reader endgame); I won’t add it though cause this ask is already so long/don’t wanna accidentally spoil newcomers T_T but I love when fics work out storylines in a multidimensional way with it’s varying complexities of “what is going on…”
Chpt 12 was so beautiful too with how you described the setting of the foliage and lighting, ooooh I am living within your fic!!
I can’t wait to see more of your future chapters and where you’ll lead the story—I’m so so excited (for more horrors Reader will face LMAO) 💗
Btw! Do you have any fav Star Wars x Reader fic recs (LOL recs autocorrected to Rex’s)
AAAAAA omg i had to read this like four times cos i kept getting flustered, thank you for such lovely long messages <3 I always come back to these when I'm feeling lost while writing
It's hard to talk about without spoiling because I have so much planned out already, but it's so cool to see reactions as things develop. i need to write faster so I can babble about things that haven't been revealed yet
I'm particularly excited to develop the love triangle (more of a web tbh) and see people's reactions.
I'm so happy that the mystery is coming across too! It's so hard to balance the right amount of clues without being too vague or too forward ;; This is my first multi chapter fic, so I'm learning as I go, but it's been a lot of fun :D
Unfortunately I haven't been in the fandom very long, so I don't have any recs but i'll try to post about them when I do !
Again thank youu, sorry I take forever to respond, I'm a busy-adhd-bee but i appreciate it so much <3
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thelonelywiz · 1 year ago
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DRASTIC TIMES.
“It wasn’t the city who was poisoning her after all. It was me.”
SYNOPSIS.
Detective KASPER MONTE makes a mad dash out of Los Angeles after pulling his sister out of the muck. Again. BLAIR MONTE, an infamous criminal, unfortunately can’t talk her way out of this one. The twins must drive across the country to a safe haven in the American Southwest, confront the dynamic they share, face their own identities, and find their place in the world.
States away in a holy rolling town in Missouri, DELIA WRIGHT struggles to break out of her shell and make the hardest decision of her life: run away for her and her daughter’s safety and threaten her tense relationship with God, or appease her abusive husband and keep up her good Christian lifestyle for everyone’s sake. 
Right on Kasper’s trail, Detective REX slowly unravels the twists and turns that is his friend’s past. Along the way, Rex encounters an orphan girl who’s seen more than she should, and as she tags along he must figure out what it means to have a family of his own, and if his mission is really worth it.
In this nonlinear NEO-NOIR film, one must either live with the consequences or learn to take some drastic measures.
NOTES.
Started: September 2022
Format: screenplay
Word/page count: 160 pages
Genre: neo-noir crime drama
Themes: identity, family, morality, the cycle of violence, love, hope
Content warnings: child abuse & domestic abuse (implied and on screen), transphobia & homophobia, gun violence & death surrounding guns, stranglation, child endangerment, on screen car accident
CHARACTERS.
Kasper Monte (he/him): The classic hard-boiled detective minus the attraction to women. Very overprotective of his sister and has at least two friends.
Blair Monte (she/her): The femme fatale that has so much guilt. She’s like Cain if he was a woman and also slayed so fucking hard.
Delia Wright (she/her): The housewife, Kasper’s parallel and Blair’s love interest. She’s like Carrie if she loved to be in her late 20s.
Detective Rex (he/him): Kasper’s foil who’s also a little in love with him. He’s a good person but not a good cop, but not for the reason you think.
Thelma Bell (she/her): A preteen in desperate need of a father figure. She’s like Ellie TLOU if she were mixed.
Addison Wright (she/her): Literally just a baby who loves her mama. Number one Tupac stan, she doesn’t mind that he swears.
FURTHERMORE…
This post is very unserious but this script is so unhinged I really can’t take it too seriously or else I will lose my mind /pos, the script is basically done. All I’m doing now is adding scenes and fixing typos. If anyone wants to read the script hmu…join me in the madness /hj
Soundtrack: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/20EdHFqCd3UNkVCuMbLFy0?si=6e25dbe1c2234afa
Pinterest board: https://pin.it/24p3vhA0o
Tags: #drastic times
Taglist: @calenhads, @thelittlestspider, comment or write in the tags if you want to be added to the taglist :D
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kit-fisto-obsessive · 2 years ago
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Captain Rex Is In Trouble
Chapter 13: Big Boys Do Cry
AO3
[previous] [fic masterpost] [next]
Summary
Wat Tambor had left Ryloth in a much worse state than they'd first thought. Not only the firebombing campaign – which was somehow still claiming lives as the fires kept burning – but the sheer level of infrastructure damage they'd managed to inflict before they fled the planet was frankly sickening.
Dooku had told Tambor to show the Galaxy the cost of a Republic Victory. The Republic were determined to not let them have the final say.
Notes
I am once again cackling with anticipation, and eagerly awaiting your comments. Thanks to my beta for this week - @irresponsibility101 [BlueishSugar2288 on AO3].
Rating: T
Warnings
Panic attacks, breathing difficulty.
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Annoyingly, Rex didn’t get a chance to enact his plan that evening.
Not that he really had a plan. He’d used all his military training to assess the situation, and realised that he was probably going to have to be very adaptive to his situation. Fluid – and if things worked out the way he hoped they did, flexible.
Anyway, he didn't get a chance to do anything – whatever that thing may be – that night. Kit and Mace hadn't returned from the council meeting for hours, by which time Rex was… well. The word 'shitfaced' comes to mind. Kit was tired, but he still carried Rex to his quarters and tossed him on the bed with good humour.
Rex is fairly sure that Kit stroked the back of his hand down the side of Rex's face before he left, but the agonising headache he had the next morning meant he wasn't entirely sure he didn't just imagine it. For the rest of that day he was just too damn hungover to even consider attempting anything.
The three days after that were too busy, for the both of them. 
Wat Tambor had left Ryloth in a much worse state than they'd first thought. Not only the firebombing campaign – which was somehow still claiming lives as the fires kept burning – but the sheer level of infrastructure damage they'd managed to inflict before they fled the planet was frankly sickening.
Dooku had told Tambor to show the Galaxy the cost of a Republic Victory. The Republic were determined to not let them have the final say.
Unfortunately, it meant that the Twi'leks couldn't not have a Republic presence remaining on Ryloth. They needed help – desperately. 
Syndulla had been unhappy at first, but the guy truly did want the best for his people. He'd agreed, with some arguing, to let a much smaller battalion remain in place to help out with the rebuilding efforts. Funnily enough, the Senate had selected Howzer and the 599th, who were currently on their way from Umbara. 
Some deal had been struck and now the newly formed pro-republic – or at least anti-separatist – government were going to supply the GAR with some of their nightmarish sophisticated weaponry. Rex just hoped he’d never have to use any of it. 
In the end the 501st had only missed the 96th by two days. They and the 411th had been shipped off planet as soon as was feasibly possible as per their agreement with Taa and Syndulla. It sucked that Rex and Kix had been that close to Howzer only to miss him. They hadn’t seen their eldest batcher in well over a year. Sophi was going to pass on well wishes and requisite sibling abuse on their behalf – the 212th were staying behind until the 96th got there to begin rebuilding – but it wasn't the same.
Before the 501st and the 411th had shipped out from Ryloth, new orders ready for them before Rex had fought off his victory celebration hangover, they'd spent every moment moving rubble. Clearing roads was their priority, trying to make sure that when the rebuilding efforts began again that the transports could actually move around. 
It was hard work, and the fact that they were recovering bodies at the same time meant that it was as draining emotionally as it was physically. The day after the 501st left Ryloth Rex had been too exhausted to do anything about anything. He'd done paperwork alone in his office, and not actually done any of it at all, cried in the fresher and fallen asleep at his desk three hours before his shift was supposedly over. 
The next day had gone pretty much the same way. Numb exhaustion and plodding through his tasks. He'd had a quick meeting with Kit, but he'd obviously been in much the same state as Rex. Shattered both emotionally and physically.
Rex had hugged him at the end of their meeting and left him to get some rest.
Kit was due to leave the next morning, so Rex only had tonight to make a move.
Which is why he was standing outside of Kit's loaned quarters, in his smartest casual clothes. He'd showered, thoroughly, finally found the energy to trim and then dye his hair. He'd even put on a little of the cologne that Anakin had given Rex and Kix.
Padmé had given it to him as a gift, or a ploy to make him clean up more often, and he hated it. He'd thrown the bottle into their quarters with very little explanation, because it was Anakin and that was how he did things.
He did one last check before knocking on the metal door panels – brushing a tiny speck of dust off his pants and running a hand through his hair like it would have any kind of effect. Then he took a deep breath and rapped his knuckles against the door. 
“Come in!”
"Hey," Rex said as he entered. 
"Sorry I'm just – kark – packing up. With you in a moment."
Rex looked around the room, searching for Kit. It took a second, because as giant as the man was he had somehow managed to cram himself wholly behind the desk. As he rose Rex had an excellent view of the muscles shifting across his bare back. He was shirtless – because of course he was. 
He placed the stack of flimsi he'd apparently been tidying up from the floor into a case that was resting on the desk chair, then turned to Rex with a smile. 
"Forgive me," he said, "I appear to have amassed more datawork over the past two months than I thought possible." 
Rex laughed, sauntering into the room. 
"Isn't that just how it is with datawork?" 
He leaned against the wall beside the bunk, watching as Kit had to use his weight to seal the case. His shoulders flexed and Rex found himself biting his lip as firm muscles shifted under green skin. 
"Seems to be," Kit laughed, sealing the case. He finally turned towards Rex with a wide smile, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners.
Rex met his gaze, ducking his face to look up through his eyelashes in a way he happened to know made him look sexy as hell. The slight darkening of Kit's gaze suggested he agreed. 
"Having said that, I don't think I've ever seen so much flimsi in one place before."
Kit snorted, flicking his fingers and sending the case of datawork to the pile of crates in the corner. He wandered around the desk, sending a few more things flying with a casual wave of his hand. 
"I can only apologise," he said. "I find that taking physical notes can help organise my mind, if not my living quarters. It is a habit that has only gotten worse since I joined the Council."
"Just shows you're taking it seriously," Rex murmured. He turned and picked up a bit of loose wiring from an almost empty shelf and fiddled with it.
"I'd thank you to keep that to yourself," Kit said. He picked up a datapad and started scrolling, frowning faintly. "I do my best to portray a casual disdain for the office I hold. Ocean forbid I ever seen competent – or worse, responsible."
Rex grinned. He placed the metal thingamajig back where he found it, and turned around to face Kit again. 
"I hate to break it to you," he said, "but the tooka’s already out of the bag."
Kit mock gasped, placing a hand on his chest. 
"Why Rex, how could you say such an awful thing?" 
Rex laughed. He wandered to the other side of the room and sat himself on the bunk, content to watch Kit potter around the room and finish packing his things away – ready for his journey tomorrow.
"So will you get to see Nadhar when you go back?" he asked, studying Kit's backside as the man bent over to pick something up from the floor. 
"Yes," Kit said, glancing over his shoulder to look at Rex. "Though unfortunately, our paths will only cross for about an hour before he must return to Coruscant." 
"That's a shame." 
Rex fell silent again, all the better to let Kit focus on whatever he was doing. The fact that it meant he could all the easier watch the play of muscles across Kit's chest and back as he lifted various crates and boxes, the way his ahwey swayed as he moved, and the way his breeches were stretched tight over his muscular backside. 
Eventually though, the silence got to him. 
"Are you looking forward to getting back to your usual thing?" Rex asked, chewing his lip as Kit opened another crate and started to fill it with datapads. 
"In a fashion," Kit murmured, frowning thoughtfully as he flipped through the pads on the desk – choosing what he needed to take with him and what he needed to leave for Anakin. 
"Yeah?"
"I'm looking forward to seeing Monnk and Bacta, and all the rest, however I still don't count it as my 'usual thing'." Kit smiled a little sadly at Rex. "I dread the day that I do, in all honesty." 
Rex nodded, understanding a little. He forgot, occasionally, that the Jedi hadn't been preparing for this war their whole lives like he and the rest of the clones had been. Rex had no other normal, but to Kit and the others this was just some horrible nightmare they were waiting to wake up from. 
Kit continued. 
“And of course, I will miss my new friends in the 501st,” he said, flashing Rex a grin. 
"Anyone in particular?" 
"Well –" Kit said, a smile flickering around his lips, "– you see…"
Rex leaned forwards, holding his breath.
"I believe I have found a soulmate in Lieutenant Jesse," Kit said. 
Rex burst out laughing. 
"He and I have such a deep connection," Kit continued, grinning. "I truly think – I don't know why you're laughing, Rex. I'm very much in love with him."
"Sorry – sorry," Rex said. He ran a hand through his buzz, grinning ruefully, then looked up at Kit. He rose from the bunk, with his bottom lip caught between his teeth. 
"So… just Jesse you're going to miss?" he asked, moving slowly towards Kit.
"Now, I didn't say that."
"Who else?" Rex asked softly, stopping just in front of the taller man. Even with his spine straight, the top of his head was just about level with Kit's chin. He was close enough to see the delicate spray of green freckles across the bridge of Kit's nose and cheeks that spread up and over the base of his ahwey, growing in size until they became the dark patches that covered his tresses.
Rex didn't think he would ever get over how beautiful Kit was.
"Who?" Rex asked him – his voice almost a whisper.
"I think you know," Kit replied, just as quietly.
His dark eyes, while nothing but black pupil, held such a depth of emotion. Rex wanted to swim in them.
He took that final step, closing the final distance between them and swallowing down his nervousness. He rose up on his tiptoes, looking Kit in the eyes with every slow movement. His hands settled on Kit's chest.
He moved closer.
Kit's eyes flicked down to his lips, then back up to meet Rex's gaze. 
Rex could see his pulse jumping in the skin of his neck.
Rex's lips brushed against Kit's – as plush and silky soft to touch as they looked. His eyes slid closed and he breathed out softly. He took a final step, to finally feel Kit's body pressed against his once more. 
Before he could move that final inch, a pair of firm hands settled on his shoulders. They pushed him away gently, and Rex's eyes opened again. 
"I'm sorry," Kit said softly. 
"Oh," Rex stammered, stepping away quickly. He snatched his hands back. 
Kit's mouth opened, then closed again. His arms lowered slowly to his sides and his eyes darted away. He couldn't seem to look Rex in the eye. 
"I just thought… I mean, you just said… and when we were dancing I thought…" Rex grabbed his elbow, squeezing it as tightly. Force, his cheeks felt like they were on fire.
"It looked like you wanted to kiss me."
He'd been so sure. How did he get it so wrong?"
Kit didn't say anything. It was the first time Rex had seen him lost for words, floundering. It wasn't like him. Everything was wrong.
Eventually he finally managed to look Rex in the eyes again. 
"I did," he said quietly. 
"Okay but…" Rex found himself blinking rapidly, "not now?"
Kit sighed, running a hand over his ahwey. 
"I’m sorry," he said, staring at the floor again. "I truly am very fond of you, I just don’t think that I can… that we should…"
He closed his eyes, his brow ridges meeting in the middle as he struggled for words. Kit never struggled for words. 
"Okay," Rex said, trying to ignore the way his voice was shaking. "That's… Okay."
He swallowed back the lump in his throat and forced his next question out. 
"Well… is it alright if I ask why?"
Kit blew out another agonised breath. He took a step back to rest against his desk, his knuckles paling as he gripped the edge.
“There are… several reasons. I’m a General, and you are a Captain. I am your superior. Not only do I have a position of power over you, but I also have a duty of care towards you. A relationship would be inappropriate.”
“But… Cody and Obi-Wan, Bly and Aayla, Fox and Vos… is it because I’m not a Commander or – ”
“No, no. It’s more to do with my own personal feelings.”
“So… you disagree with their relationships? You disapprove?” 
“No. Not at all,” Kit sighed. “I just…”
“I mean either you disapprove of the power imbalance between us, and therefore all of them too. Or you don’t disapprove and it’s just something about me in particular.” Rex’s voice shook as he spoke. “You’re not even my direct superior after tomorrow when Anakin comes to relieve you so… what is it? Because there has to be more than that Kit… there just has to be.”
Kit looked up at him, pain in his eyes as he studied Rex’s face. He shook his head slightly, then looked away. Rex felt sick.
"Rex," Kit sighed. "You deserve someone better."
Rex blinked. He didn’t understand. 
"You deserve someone who can give you so much more than I. You are… truly wonderful. An exceptional person. Brave, and kind, and just so…" Kit blew out a frustrated breath, gripping the back of his neck and frowning. "Good , Rex. You are so good, and you deserve someone who is just as good. You need someone who can give you the time – and love – that you deserve."
He lifted his head, looking Rex in the eyes.
"I can't be that person, as much as I wish that I could."
Rex swallowed. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. 
This didn’t make any sense.
Kit sighed again. 
"You are so young, and –"
Ice washed over Rex's whole body. He froze and blood rushed like a waterfall in his ears. He didn’t – couldn’t – hear the rest of Kit’s sentence as his brain picked carefully through the words, and his confusion was quickly by white hot rage .
"I’m too young?"
Kit frowned.
"That's not what I said."
"But it's what you meant," Rex spat. 
"No, I –"
"Fuck you."
"Rex!" Kit exclaimed, standing up.
"Fuck. You," Rex said, jamming a finger into Kit's bare chest. 
"So I’m old enough to fight in your war, but not old enough to fuck? That’s what it is?" 
Kit stared at him, aghast. He opened his mouth to speak, but Rex cut in before he could say anything else.
"Screw you," he spat. "I’m out of here."
"Rex, please –" 
Kit stood up straight as Rex spun around, reaching out to him. He smacked the hand away as hard as he could.
"Safe Travels, General Fisto," he spat with as much venom as he could manage. He slammed his palm to the door lock and stormed out. 
As he marched through the halls of the Resolute, he clenched his jaw to hold back the tide of tears that wanted to stream down his cheeks. The sting of humiliation and rejection sat like a jagged rock in the back of his throat and burned in the corners of his eyes.
How had he got things so wrong? How had he been so stupid? He thought Kit understood, he thought Kit was a decent fucking guy but this… 
Rex was an idiot. He’d just seen what he wanted to see. What a karking di’kut.
Had the flirting all been some kind of joke to him? Was Rex a joke to him? Had it all been a game? It sure seemed like it.
He’d just been stringing Rex along this whole time, something to pass that time. What a fucking asshole. Or maybe Rex was the asshole – falling for it all. Fisto had probably gone back to his quarters every night and laughed himself silly.
The furious tears that were gathering in the corners of his eyes made him feel exactly like the child Kit had accused him of being. He had to get back to his quarters before he completely broke down where everyone could see him. He hated the fact he was an angry crier, it just made him seem like a fucking idiot, or worse – a baby 
Rex couldn’t tell who he hated more, himself or Fisto. What a fucking idiot.
That whole spiel about how Kit wasn’t good enough for him was clearly bullshit – nothing more than a smokescreen to get rid of Rex without hurting his feelings. No wonder it had made no sense, it was all lies to get him off Kit’s back. Kit hadn’t even wanted to look at him – because – because – 
Because Kit thought Rex was too young. Kit thought Rex was a child – 
And here he was, crying in the halls like a cadet and proving that green prick right. 
Not crying – he was just about holding himself together. He kept his head down, hoping the people he passed would just see his furious scowl and not the tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.
Too young.
Fuck him. Fuck everything.
Rex couldn’t breathe. His hands shook, balled in fists at his sides.
As he hit the door lock for his own quarters the tears finally won out. 
His vision blurred as he locked the door behind him, a strangled sob working its way out of his chest.
“Hey Rex!”
Of all the times for Kix to not be overworking himself in his office, he chose now. Rex stormed past him, trying to get to his bunk without Kix catching on. It was too late though – the flood gates had opened. There was no hiding it.
“Shit,” Kix said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m – I'm fine.”
Rex’s hands were shaking as he sat down on his bunk. He couldn’t even undo his fucking boots.
Some karking Captain he was.
“No you’re not, you’re crying.” 
Kix stood from his own bunk, making his way towards Rex. At least, that's what he assumed the noise was. He couldn’t see shit through his tears.
His suspicions were confirmed when the bed dipped beside him. When Kix's arms settled around his shoulders, the very last shred of whatever was holding Rex together vanished. 
"Shit," he choked, tears streaming down his face.
"Wanna talk about it?" Kix asked, rubbing his hand up and down Rex's bicep. 
"No – no, I –" 
He couldn't breathe –
He couldn't –
He can't – 
"Hey, hey," Kix soothed. "Come here."
Rex let his brother pull him down sideways onto his bunk, choking on every breath. He ended up half sprawled on Kix's chest, crying into the hollow of his neck. Kix wrapped his arms around Rex's shoulders, and it just pulled more wracking sobs from deep inside him. 
He hadn't cried like this in ages. 
The last time he'd cried like this was – 
Oh. 
"K – Kix," Rex stuttered, "I th – think I'm ha – having a p – p – panic attack."
"As a medical professional," Kix said dryly, "I agree with your diagnosis."
Rex tried to laugh but it just came out as another hacking sob. Kix kept soothing his hand down Rex's back, resting his cheek on top of Rex's head.
What a fucking idiot he was. How could he think – what was he thinking? That Kit was some perfect Jedi Knight and he was going to save Rex from this life with the power of his dick? 
He wasn't perfect, and he wasn't going to save Rex from anything. He couldn't, even if he wasn't a gigantic clonephobic racist asshole. 
Gods. Rex was so fucking stupid.
Whatever ratchet strap was binding his chest tightened. Oddly it loosened when Kix squeezed him tighter too – the pressure of his body was so much kinder than the crushing self loathing in Rex's mind. 
It took him a while to calm down enough to breathe normally. Minutes, or maybe hours, Rex couldn't tell.
All he knew was that when the panic subsided, it left bone deep exhaustion.
"M' fuckin tired," he mumbled into Kix's neck. 
"Just get some rest," Kix said, his fingers scratching the nape of Rex's neck.
"M'kay," Rex slurred.
It took only seconds after that for him to fall asleep. The last thing he was aware of was Kix’s thumb pressing into the back of his neck, and the comforting warmth of his brother beside him.
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The next morning, Rex watched Fisto's transport leave through a view port. He wiped what he swore would be the last tear he ever shed because of Kit fucking Fisto, plastered a smile on his face, and went to greet Anakin.
It was time for him to move on.
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Notes:
If you need something to cheer you up after that, might I recommend this piece of wonderfully chaotic chatfic from my beta and buddy @irresponsibility101 - Clones Vs. Washing Machines, And Other Stories.
Awaiting your comments eagerly, on both our works. Thank you for reading! Likes/comments/reblogs are greatly appreciated.
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storyoftest · 2 years ago
Text
Text Log - William Samuel Part 2
Regu — 03/20/2023 5:38 AM The results were that William and his electricity powers and Samuel, unnoticed by him, was extreme durability William was also able to turn into a sort of were-possom beast made up of lightning when an immense amount of electricity is coursing through him Samuel could survive even the most deadliest of blows and also has impressive regeneration to go along that Wanting to see these abilities in action Rex's had the two of them go through many trials and see them in action [5:41 AM] During the off time Rex isn't paying attention to them they make a truce and work together to escape during the trials They mainly fought multiple enemies for their trials along side some random games that where only established when Rex got bored of watching them fight everything
Regu — 03/20/2023 5:47 AM Eventually they manage to escape the testing halls and confront Rex face to face William gets emotional with was surprising to Samuel as he learns more about the two's past and how they were a romantic pair and everything Unfortunately Rex's ultimate goal is to wreak havok with the powers held within the fallen meteorites around the world Before they could learn anything more they get overwhelmed by Rex's robots and they make their full escape from the lab (edited) [5:51 AM] Things are a bit awkward as Samuel and William try to find their way home Its quite a long journey back and along the way William open up more to Samuel abt his past and everything up to now They clear up a lot of things between them and find themselves not able to see the other as an enemy anymore but still not quite on friendly friend terms March 24, 2023
Regu — 03/24/2023 2:21 AM On thier long journey home many events take place ranging from fun but odd to high stakes battles [2:25 AM] Often they work together within these situations and from these they increasingly start to worry about the other Within periods they are in a safe location without monsters/Rex's goons they make a habit to train together so that when it comes to a battle they are relatively in sync [2:26 AM] As a sort of time frame it took around 3 ish months to get back home by foot/car since even tho both fellas escaped Rex's set up obstacles and challenges to continue on his experimenting on them
Regu — 03/24/2023 2:31 AM Said challenges are Mad max ish mario kart racing - some races mixed with musical battles Underground Battle pits Robot monster hybrid boss fights One of those battles includes  a battle between Rex and Williams robot son Jr [2:34 AM] Another side quest like thing to this act is William and Samuel taking on odd jobs in the towns/villages they stay in for money as they escaped with nothing Such jobs relate to the guys previous jobs like delivering mail or electronic error fixes
Regu — 03/24/2023 2:39 AM One boss fight thats planned out is one against a giant mutant bee they stumble across as they traverse a plains filled with mutated flowers that produces sickeningly sweet smell [2:40 AM]
Cold Rock It - 2 Mello
Song here gives the vibes of the fight i have associated with it
Regu — 03/24/2023 2:51 AM Theres also an encounter battle between Darius with William Darius more known as the Lone Lion is a sort of a random figure outside of the main cities. While not working as a sort of phantom thief, he works for a organization that also wants to stop the experimentation of humans with altered dna Due to Williams background Darius engages in a fight with William not knowing his change of heart It get sorted out when Samuel hears the commotion and they exchange info about  Rex They part ways after this and dont really meet up again after the Dakota Story end [2:58 AM] Another encounter battle happens between Regulus in his mind controlled state This occurs when Rex manages to capture Samuel and they are at a stand off in an airplane setting Rex continuing his curiosity has the two of them fight Regulus and see how long they last Rex leaves the plane to the two of them as a defense since its on auto pilot and its path is directly in Regulus' direction They both try to control the plane while fending off the creature and eventually they succeed and escape but still make a rough landing
Regu — 03/24/2023 3:10 AM Space Police in the Sky - Space Channel 5 OST Song vibe of battle
Regu — 03/24/2023 3:17 AM Within the off time where William and Samuel rest at motels and the like they slowly start to talk to one another more At first it was general thoughts about how they should continue forward and other planning but later grew into small talk and learning more about each other [3:23 AM] It became a small way to decompress after a day and allowed them to be more comfortable with each other One night William told Samuel his full story Rex and William were at first merely pawns of a larger corporation who worked similarly to unethical scientists however their talent and skill had them rise in rank and then Rex one day became lead of a project which William was his right hand man
Regu — 03/24/2023 3:26 AM They worked and made weapons made from materials not easily obtainable mainly pure light or electricity They created robots as well and led to them creating a very intelligent and sentient robot [Jr] Many of these weapons where mainly failures sans a barely stable prototype of William Electricity Dual Knives [3:31 AM] William at this time was not trusting in others to test out the knives at an unstable state and opted to test them out himself while he mainly used it on mundane things somehow he learned that someone stole them and tested it in a way he didn't want to, through assassination
Regu — 03/24/2023 3:40 AM The devastating damages caused by the knives on a live target impressed the higher-ups however and wanted the refinement of the knives This made Rex felt betrayed in a twisted way that William was able to create something more dangerous that he did. He started to become colder to William and let to an obsession with the dangerous One day Rex's created something that eliminated the higher-ups and from there he established his dominance and became the leader of the facility [3:44 AM] William at this point didn't want any part of this take over and he sought out to escape with his knives He also allowed others to escape with him and together formed a gang set on stopping Rex's havok
Regu — 03/24/2023 3:50 AM However at the start William did go down the dark route of using his knives for assassination of Rex's associates despite his previous objections This lasted for a long while before he got caught up in the explosion that sort of snapped him out of it realizing that even though he thinks he's halting Rex's plans hes still not doing any big damage and after recovery sets out a proper plan to stop Rex himself (edited)
Regu — 03/24/2023 4:16 AM Samuel was sort of perturbed after hearing this at first but seeing William actively trying to cover him in battle shows that William wouldn't necessarily do harm. He still worries about how he would go about stopping Rex givin that his number far exceeds both of theirs combined Still Rex did have to be stopped before more harms comes to more innocent people (edited)
Regu — 03/24/2023 4:37 AM Eventually when they get back to their main bases they split off in a sort of hesitant manner They go back to thier previous responsibilities and act like usual with the antics of trying to protect themselves from the king of the hill battles [4:41 AM] However despite going back to their old lives, they find themselves secretly meeting up whether its go train or just talk and hang around each others company
Regu — 03/24/2023 4:49 AM They often talked deeper about their fears and worries and past experiences together and undergo a sort of bond between each other It would be a long while where their crews would learn about their meet ups and partnership when working together towards stopping Rex March 29, 2023
Regu — 03/29/2023 2:49 AM Side info William has possum traits mainly seen in the ears eyes nose and tail. he also can be found wearing a gas mask to hide his face completely so no one can recognize him. is a big fan of punk/metal rock and wanted to initially become a singer. Samuel is a big baseball fan and even owns a bat. he also uses the bat for defense if it comes to it. Samuel is mixed black and Menominee alongside Dakota, they are cousins. [2:55 AM] William owns a motorcycle and is knowledgeable in mechanical stuff relating to fixing them Samuel has a big interest in bugs and such which is why he wasn't afraid in encountering a giant tarantula creature
Regu — 03/29/2023 3:09 AM William still has a slight australian accent
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asurastro · 7 days ago
Note
"FINISH HIM"
Send in "FINISH HIM" to witness my muse delivering a brutal finishing blow.
____
"The doorway between realms shall be broken open! And NONE of you can lay a finger on me!"
Doluum the Decapitator was roaring with triumph, having achieved an incorporeal form. With this spectral state, several others who stepped up to face off with him were unable to land their blows. Some tried at range, but also failed. Resulting in their being stricken by some empyrean force, a sudden blastwave that traveled far and reached widely to find its mark.
And find it, it unfortunately did: The Original Turbine Turner of the Golden Age. DEFEATED. Lock-On & Radar. A high-tech street-level duo. DELETED. The promising newcomer of myth, Kid Enkidu. DETHRONED.
And Rex was nearly DE-MATERIALIZED. His body had gone from jettisoning its iridescent plasma life "blood" to full physical fragmentation, limbs freely floating in defiance of gravity every which way. Still appearing human, save for the ends where they broke off. That was where the plasma dripped out, the cosmic energy that now comprised his very being mingled with the physical components. Even going as far as to generate organs that appeared like jagged static.
A disembodied hand rocketed out, fingers in a clawing motion as it went after Doluum. An electromagnetic effect of some sort occurred: incorporeal manifestations needed things like ectoplasm, psychokinetic or a kind of semi-identified mystical energy to interact with the physical plane at all. Too many mistook their respective abilities to alter or defy physics for rewriting its laws altogether. That was reserved for abstract entities of more esteemed presence.
Gradually reassembling his fragmented body, an anguished Rex was finally back. And with a glow of his aura, he was reaching out to inflict metaphysical pain to Doluum. Every new attack threatening his consciousness. Making sense of this form of attack by recollecting old signals from his nerves, when he once fought in a more conventional fashion.
Then, when Doluum was weakened, Rex gathered him up and flew him into the very inter-realm portal he had commissioned from the efforts of multiple warlock conjurers. Surfing the aether until he found a suitable space to deposit this sorry excuse for a warlord.
"No, no!" rasped Doluum. "That's one of the eternal torments! I recognize it-- the priests of Agnorr spoke oft of these things in my youth!"
"Cry me a river. I hope they give ya a million encores for trying to harness exactly that!"
And with another electromagnetic effort, the spectre was flung forth, while Rex raced back towards the portal he originated from. Nether-thunder cracking along his path in an attempt to cast him into the same-such damnation, if he didn't push through to escape!
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