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The bustling of the herds of people muffled the sounds of whirring ships, Hera and Kanan paced through the streets of Coruscant. Kanan's tall figure was shrouded by a dirty brown cloak, he glared at the ground, avoiding eye-contact with any of the various species treading through the malignant crowds. He clutched Hera’s hand in his, using his other hand to drag the crates of security hologram files they had smuggled from the ruins of the old Jedi Temple. Coruscant was under occupation of the Imperial Security Bureau, as much as it was a part of the New Republic, meaning the Temple, although deserted, singed, and in ruins was still guarded.
The surviving Jedi were wise enough to not return to the Temple, which was why Kanan’s presence on the city-planet made Hera more tense then usual.
Hera felt her chest aching. Coruscant was riddled with Imperials, this was too close to the heart of Empire territory, far too close compared to missions before. But Ahsoka had asked them to do this. She had explained it was personal… that she needed these holograms files. Something in Ahsoka’s eyes stuck with her. Hera had asked what was on them and Ahsoka’s orange skin flushed pale. The togruta’s pupils fluctuated and the pain that filled them told her that whatever was on these files was important. Hera had reluctantly agreed to the mission, despite the risk of Kanan returning to the old Temple. She even suggested he stay behind because she knew going back could be sensitive for him.
“I was young… I don’t remember it much.. I should be fine.” He reassured her, his firm hands on her shoulders.
“If anything happens, we are leaving. I can’t let you risk your life like that, even for this.”
“I know,” He paused, staring into her worried eyes, “I promise, I’ll be alright love.” He pecked a kiss to her forehead before boarding the Ghost. She had stood motionless for a few seconds before following behind, her warm breaths visible in the frigid air.
She shook her head, focusing on the mission and getting off Coruscant.
“Come on, Sabine and Chopper said they’d be here with the ship!” Hera whispered, fastening her stride around another turn.
Kanan led Hera and the crates through the opening leading to the clearing where they said they’d land.
“Stop. You two - right there.” A small squad of troopers stepped in front of them as they emerged from the entrance onto the landing pad.
“Show us your chain codes.”
Kanan and Hera didn’t respond.
“We can’t let you pass unless you show us the codes. It’s protocol.” A trooper stepped forward, his voice firm but muffled by his helmet.
“Captain..” Kanan nudged Hera.
“Hera handed over the two chips with the faked chain codes on them. The trooper in glistening white armor scanned the codes as both Kanan and Hera held their breath. The stormtrooper looked up and back down again, eyeing the green twi’lek and cloaked man.
He tossed the codes aside. “Drop the crates. These aren’t your codes.” The squad pulled out their blasters and Kanan stepped slightly in front of Hera.
“Fine, guess we will have to get through without them.” Kanan grabbed his blaster from his holster and fired on the troopers. Three of them hit the platform with a thud and another two as Hera shot at them with her blasters too.
“There’s one more - over there!” Kanan shouted to her, she turned and squeezed the trigger, striking the trooper through in the chest.
“There will be more coming soon, come on… where is Chopper and Sabine.”
Hera pressed on her comm link, “Zeb.. Sabine, we are at the platform, hurry up there’s going to be troopers on us any second!”
The comm link crackled, “Almost there Captain.” Zeb's deep voice rumbled in response.
Hera grabbed Kanans hand, pulling him further towards the platform. The sound of footsteps pounding on the ground behind them grew louder. Kriff. More troopers.
The small ship creaked as it touched down onto the landing pad. A gust of wind pushed Hera’s lekku.
Kanan almost shoved Hera onto the ship.
“Go. GO. I got the crates.”
“Well come on!” Hera shouted, while firing at the troopers. Zeb ran off to help Kanan shove the holograms onto the ship.
“Hera get to the-“ Kanan’s order was interrupted by a blaster fire that struck him in the left rib. He hurled over, gripping the side where the wound was. Kanan backed up, slamming into the interior of the ship.
“KANAN-“ Hera cried, a rasp in her voice. She furred her brow, one hand in front of Kanan, the other squeezing the blaster, shooting at the troopers.
Zeb shoved the crates on. As he stepped aboard, the automatic sensors flung the hatch shut.
Kanan leaned on the wall of the ship, his arm still wrapped around where the burn was.
Hera nodded to Zeb, “Let Ahsoka and Ezra know we got her holograms. Also let her know to ready any bacta supplies they might have.”
“Will do Captain.” Zeb headed to the cockpit.
“Come on, Sabine should have the med pack ready in the lounge.” Hera grunted as she helped Kanan get up, his arm slung over her shoulder.
As Hera got Kanan into the lounge from the cargo bay, Zeb scurried over, “Hera…. Ezra’s pretty worried, want me to tell him Kanan’s going to be alright?”
Kanan coughed, “Tell him I’ll be okay, don’t need another thing for him to worry about.”
Hera let Kanan slid himself onto the cushioned bench.
“Lie down love,” She pushed him down gently. “Can I take this off?”
“Yeah,” He grimaced, pulling off his cloak and shirt.
The burn mark from the blaster singed his tunic and skin, it stung and Kanan winced as Hera dabbed the wound with a bacta patch.
“Stay still dear.”
“I am, you’re just putting a lot of pressure on it.” He responded.
“Sorry… im just- I told you you should have sit this one out.”
“Hey its okay, we made it out, finished the mission… but you were right, we probably should have sent Zeb and Sabine for this one...”
“Im sure the two of them would have blown their way out with thermal detonators,” Hera asserted, her tone sarcastic, “No way they wouldn’t have been noticed.”
Kanan laughed, gritting his teeth at the sudden movement that irked the aching wound on his rib. Hera placed her hand on him.
“Try not to move too much, it’ll make it worse.” Hera stroked his cheek with her hand before reaching for the med kit again.
Hera unraveled a strip of gauze and began to wrap it around Kanan’s lower chest, covering the blaster mark that burned his left side.
“Thanks love.” Kanan kissed her on the cheek.
Her summery green face flushed a slight pink, “You get some rest now.”
——————
Ahsoka and Ezra stood in the hanger bay on the rebel’s mothership, waiting for the Ghosts arrival.
“Look! There it is.” Ezra pointed as they could see the Ghost appear, emerging from hyperspace.
Ahsoka grinned.
——————
Zeb and Sabine hauled the crates off the ship. Chopper rolled behind them.
“Thank you, you two.“ The togruta nodded.
“Is Kanan okay?” Ezra rushed over to his siblings.
“He’s doing alright, not as bad as it could be. He should be coming off with Hera in a second.” Sabine replied.
Ezra ran over to Hera and Kanan as they stepped off the Ghost’s ramp.
“We readied a bacta tank just in case. And I have other med supplies.”
Hera put her hand around him and ruffled his hair, “Thanks Ezra.“
“Kanan I’ll talk to Ahsoka, why don’t you head with Ezra to the med bay.”
Kanan nodded in agreement, following his apprentice.
“Let's go up to my quarters Hera.” Ahsoka stated.
——————
The lights were dimmed in Ahsoka’s quarters, the scent of plants, soil, and the herbal tea Ahsoka stirred filled the room. An assortment of pots blooming with a variety of floral life pervaded the space in her small cabin. She didn't have much else among the at-home botanical garden besides a photo on her nightstand. In the frame, was a younger Ahsoka was surrounded by two Jedi and two clone troopers. One had curly brown hair, the other an had almost ginger-blond and a beard of the same color framing his face. One clone trooper had orange paint smeared on his armor, the other had blue. The one in blue had tan skin and a shaved head bleached blond. Rex, she figured.
These people must have meant a lot to her if it was one of the only decorations she had kept around. They seemed just like us, Hera thought.
Ahsoka placed the ceramic cup of tea on the round table, using the force to slide it towards Hera. The cup was an off white, with a translucent coating of blue glaze swirled into a pattern on the side.
“Thank you again, for getting those holograms. I know going back to Coruscant during this time is… difficult.” Ahsoka sat down across from the Twi’lek, “I never told you what was on them, but I figured you probably knew. I want to know what happened to my old Master…. to my old friends.” Hera thought about the photo.
Hera reached out a hand to hold Ashoka’s. Her yellowish-green skin contrasting with Ahsoka’s rich orange.
“I just, I know what happened.. I just want edto see for myself.” Ahsoka pinched the bridge of her nose with her other hand.
“Hey don’t worry, I get it. And I’m sorry, to all of you, both you and Kanan and your friends.”
Ahsoka blinked slowly, the corners of her mouth tugged upwards slightly.
“It’ll be alright, thank you,” She paused, “I've been meaning to tell you but you know…. you and Kanan deserve a break.”
“Ahsoka… we are in the middle of a war, there’s no time for that.”
Ahsoka opened her palm to hold Hera’s other hand now, squeezing both, “We have more than enough pilots, and… Ezra told me its almost your anniversary.”
“Are you sure us taking time off will be okay?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Ezra even helped me plan a trip for you two.”
“You guys planned something!?”
“Ohhhh it was all his idea.” She giggled.
She clicked her comm link, “Ezra, want to come up to my quarters tell Hera about your plan?”
The link buzzed as Ezra responded, “On my way.”
Hera sipped her tea again, the warm steam brushing against her face.
Minutes passed before the quarter door slammed open, Ezra hurried to sit down at the circle table in Ahsoka’s cabin.
“So tell me about this anniversary plan you made.”
“Okay well Zeb, Chopper Sabine and I thought it would be a good idea because the four of us can run the Ghost while you two take your time off.”
“Oh so you think im letting you guys have my ship huh??” Hera teased.
“Um well… Sabine can fly it?”
“Only if Ahsoka stays with you guys.”
“Fine… Okay but our plan was to let you guys go to Naboo. To the lake country. We had Zeb call ahead and book a villa. I think it worked but you might want to ask him. We also scheduled for it for after this mission, or you can go whenever Kanan’s ready?” Ezra smiled and pushed his hair back.
“That sounds lovely Ezra. Thank you. Does Kanan know?”
“Yeah I told him! He’s also doing better, we didn’t need a bacta tank.”
“That’s good.” Ahsoka replied. She stood up, as did Hera.
“The tea was lovely by the way.” They hugged, and Hera gestured a goodbye by pressing her forehead to the togrutas. Ahsoka did the same, closing her eyes.
Ezra waved bye at Ahsoka as he headed off to find Zeb and Sabine while Hera headed to the med bay.
——————
Hera and Kanan stood on the balcony of the Naboo villa, the sun’s warmth kissed Kanan’s tan skin. Despite Ezra’s poor planning and Hera’s disinclination to taking a break, Hera and Kanan’s anniversary trip was everything the both of them had longed for. Ahsoka was right. They did need some time off.
The Ghost crew hadn’t spent much time off since Ezra’s training began and the Empire’s grasp had consumed their world. And Hera couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn such elegant clothing.
The breeze blew Hera’s Lekku and the white gown she wore. The light fabric fluttered in the wind, touching the stone bricking of the balcony. A silver collar held up the bodice of the dress, the rest flowing down only to be cinched by the waistband.
Kanan wore a dusty brown tunic and billowy pants, a contrast to the usual armor.
“It’s been awhile since we have had some time alone,” Kanan ran the back of his hand across her cheek and down to her neck and chest. “For once, im glad the kids planned something without telling us.” Hera laughed.
“Its been so long.” Her voice was soft.
“You look so beautiful.” Kanan hummed.
She held his hand as he leaned down to kiss her. His kiss was one steeped in sweetness, something about it was filled with comfort. Her whole body tensed and relaxed in his embrace.
“I love you Kanan.”
His eyes crinkled as he smiled and kissed her again.
“I love you too dear.”
The sun stained the sky a pinkish orange and whispy clouds crawled over the mountain landscape, his hand still traced whorls over Hera’s skin and clothes.
Hera inhaled deeply, her senses suffused with the scent of the water from the lake. Kanan wrapped his arm around her waist, and she rested her head on his shoulder, together they watched the Naboo sun sink below the horizon.