Hey guys! I'm sorry for not posting this on actual day two. Finals are happening here at school and I've been really busy. I'm going to continue posting these as I have time to finish them, but don't expect them to be on the actual day.
Day 2: Just Like Old Times
"Rex!"
Rex jerked up, banging his head against the bottom of the speeder he was attempting to fix. He cursed as he pushed himself out from under the thing. He looked up at who had interrupted him.
"Sorry." Hera said with an apologetic smile.
"It'll be fine. What can I do for you?" Rex asked, rubbing his head.
If it had been Ezra or Sabine, he would have assumed foul play, but he knew that Hera hadn't meant it.
"Are you up for another supply run? We're running low on medical supplies, but a contact has agreed to drop some off for us." Hera said.
"Sure." Rex said.
It'd be good to get out and get something done besides the busywork of building up the base.
"Thanks!" Hera said. "I think that Ahsoka'll be up for it as well."
"Commander Tano?" Rex asked with a snort. As if the Commander had time.
"I thought you'd be pleased." Hera said with a raised eyebrow. "I can ask her."
"What?" Rex asked. "No, don't bother her-"
Ahsoka didn't go on simple supply runs. She had far more important missions and half the time she was away on her own Jedi business.
"I don't think she's got another mission." Hera said. "And since it's you- well, I don't think she'll say no."
Hera winked and Rex flushed. He didn't know why he got embarrassed whenever people alluded to his closeness with Ahsoka.
Well, maybe he did. Maybe it had something to do with those emotions born during the Siege of Mandalore, emotions he had smothered during his years on Seelos, emotions that had burst into bloom again when he'd seen her again.
Rex shrugged at Hera.
"Well, if she says yes, I won't complain." He said. "Though Zeb's a good enough replacement."
Hera nodded and left, presumably to find Ahsoka. Rex looked back at the speeder and contemplated going back to work on it. He probably wouldn't be able to concentrate. Thoughts of Ahsoka tended to be distracting.
Rex shook his head hard. What was he doing, thinking of his Commander like that? Not only was he too far beneath her, he was an old man now. She deserved someone who could last her more than a few years.
It would be good to go on a mission with her. They hadn't had too much time to catch up since he'd returned to the Rebellion. It'd be just like old times.
He continued to tell himself that as he sat in the shuttle, waiting for Ahsoka to board. She came into the cockpit and smiled at him, blue eyes twinkling as she met his gaze.
"We ready to go?" She asked as she took the co-pilot's seat.
Rex nodded. He turned the engines on, feeling them rumble beneath him.
"Didn't think you'd be able to make it." He said. "Commander Sato's usually got you doing more important things than supply runs."
Ahsoka shrugged as Rex guided the shuttle out of the hangar and into the sky.
"I needed a break." She said. "And we haven't had a chance to sit down and talk since you've gotten back."
Rex glanced at her. It was true. They'd had a short time alone after their reunion, but it had been mostly questions to make sure the other was okay and Rex getting answers about the Rebellion. He knew at the time that the moments they had were precious and going to be rare from that point onward. He'd been too afraid to let them proceed naturally.
"You're telling me that there's nothing else you could be doing besides humoring an old man?" He asked.
The ship jumped into hyperspace. Ahsoka turned to him with a frown.
"Don't call yourself that." She said. "You're four years younger than me."
"Tell that to my knees." Rex replied.
He felt his body's age every time he stood, moved, or even woke up in the morning. His mind, though, felt far younger than his fifty-five year old body.
Ahsoka continued to give him a disapproving glare and Rex sighed.
"All right. I won't." He said. "This still isn't a great use of your time."
"I think I can decide that." Ahsoka said, a smile twitching at her lips.
Rex met her gaze for a moment and her blue eyes seemed to stun him. He swallowed hard and turned back to the controls.
Just like old times. He told himself. That's all it's going to be.
He could feel Ahsoka's curious gaze on him.
"Rex?" She asked. "Are you all right?" "I'm just fine." He said. "This'll be just like old times, huh? The two of us on a mission."
Ahsoka cocked her head.
"But it's not like old times." She said softly.
Don't say that. Rex thought. It needed to be like old times. Times where all he felt for Ahsoka was fondness and his love for her was that of a friend.
"Oh?" Rex asked, trying to keep his voice even.
"We didn't go on missions too often by ourselves." Ahsoka said. A nostalgic smile graced her lips. "I think Anakin avoided it, to be honest."
Rex blinked at her.
"Why?" He asked. "We make a good team."
"I know." Ahsoka said. Her lekku and cheeks were darkening into a blush. "Maybe too good of a team."
So the General had seen what Rex had tried to ignore for those years before the Siege: Ahsoka's massive crush on Rex.
"Ah." Rex managed.
Ahsoka's eyes were distant.
"I wish it were just like old times." She said. "With the 501st, and Anakin, and Obi Wan."
Rex nodded his head. The loss of his brothers and Generals spiked his heart, as fresh as the day the Tribunal had crashed.
"I did have other duties I could have been doing." Ahsoka went on. Rex jolted as she put her hand on his. "But, Rex, you're the only person I have left."
Rex didn't quite trust himself as he lifted his gaze to meet her eyes again. She was staring at him with an intensity that made him shiver.
"Anakin was probably right in not letting us go on missions together." She said. "At least for my sake."
She leaned forward, their faces closer than they ever had been. Rex's heart began to pound against his chest as if he were facing his first ordinance drill.
"I think he'd be right to do the same now." She said.
Rex found himself nodding, breathless. Ahsoka smiled.
She kissed him.
Not like old times. Rex thought vaguely as he pressed back. It wasn't a bad thing.