Chapter Text
Dim lights lit the floor, signaling the beginning of the base's day cycle in the darkened quarters. Outside the door, something (probably a droid) slammed against the wall. The clang was followed by an outburst of blips and other irritated droid noises.
Ahsoka was awake almost before the droid (probably Chopper)'s racket. She had trained herself ever since she was a padawan to wake at or before the first light of dawn.
With the knowledge that she was somewhere safe, she opened her eyes slowly. Rex was still asleep, facing her with his back against the wall and his hand draped loosely over her arm. With how close they were, she was surprised they were not entangled further.
She shifted out of his loose grip and rolled over, moving the blanket so she could begin to get up.
Rex's arms wrapped around her from behind again. "Stay," he chided sleepily. " 'S warm."
His barely-cognizant tone brought a smile to her lips. Back during the war, he'd only had two modes: asleep or vigilant. A distraction or delay, even during normal sleeping hours, could have cost any clone their life. Now, at least some of the time, he was considerably more lazy in the mornings. That was at least one change the years had wrought in him that she was glad to see occasionally.
He hugged her tighter, his strong arms pulling her close. Ahsoka doubted she could really resist him without the force. She huffed and collapsed back on the pillow. "Rex," she complained.
"You don't have anything to do; none of the briefings, if there are any, will start till 9 standard. If any do, it'll be because of an emergency, and I'm sure you're on their list of people to notify."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes at the casual complement. But, even Rex's sleepy logic worked out. She gave up and settled down again, pulling the blanket over her shoulder and trying to push a little farther away from the precarious edge.
These bunks were really not designed for two, especially considering one of them had headtails. Of course, Rex hadn't gotten any smaller, either. Not that she begrudged him that, after a life of rations. It was honestly rather nice to see him this well-fed: Ahsoka still had vivid memories of the few times she had seen Rex and his brothers out of their armor, how small they had looked despite their strength.
So she just sighed and rolled over, so she could inch further away from the edge without squishing him between the wall and her back headtail.
Rex, his eyes still closed, grunted in appreciation, and shifted his right arm out from beneath her so it rested in the small space between them.
Ahsoka tilted her head forward till their foreheads touched.
Rex leaned into her, then brought up his free hand to stroke one of her front headtails.
Ahsoka sighed and closed her eyes. "Fine, you win," she murmured at him. "This time."