Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ever since leaving Kamino, Cody had a habit. There were many words in the Basic dictionary, words that meant little on their own. But whenever they landed on a new planet he had the pleasure of putting experiences and memories to those words. Furthering his understanding of them and appreciating them as more than just letters on a screen. In this case words like ‘breathtaking,’ ‘serene,’ and ‘idyllic,’ came to mind.

The planet was what the General had described as a ‘temperate rainforest.’ A world that was within very acceptable temperature ranges for humans or near-humans to live in, as long as you didn’t mind all the rain. Thus the ‘rainforest’ part. A forest that was beset by rain for more than half the year.

Thankfully it seemed they’d come in what the General called ‘late spring, early summer.’ Where the rain had all but stopped for the year and the temperature had become its most pleasant. No longer cold but not yet hot enough to boil them in their armor.

Seeing the off-duty vode sloshing about in the wide shallow river he couldn’t help but to let out a small amused huff. It turned into an actual chuckle when Skinner tackled Bolt, who yelped in surprise, and the two of them fell into the water with a large splash.

He sobered a moment later as he turned toward the task at hand. If only his General would take some time off to unwind the way he always encouraged the vode to.

Thinking back to the meeting they’d just held Cody scowled within the safety of his bucket. Lately the General had been looking more and more haggard, although he didn’t think the man had noticed it himself. Nor did he seem to notice all the concerned looks he was receiving from the vode. Being clones, with literally millions of identical brothers, they were well trained in noticing the most minute of details. So every time the bags under the General’s eyes got darker it was impossible not to notice.

Shaking himself internally he turned away from the scene of vode blowing off steam and pushed himself to focus on the task at hand.

The General had suggested they do a wider sweep of the area around their camp, just in case, and he had agreed wholeheartedly. Of course he didn’t think the General had quite meant that Cody himself should do the scouting, but well- he liked getting a good look for himself. Maps could only show so much, whereas a good pair of eyes and instincts could glean far more information. While he trusted his scouts, sometimes it was nice to get away from command for a short time and see what he had to work with.

As the other scouts gathered at his position he tapped into their frequency. ::I want frequent check-ins at half hour intervals. Syncing chronos in… three, two, one- sync.:: He nodded in approval as their chronos chimed in time with one another.

::See you on the other side, vode.:: He said as he turned toward the sector he had claimed for himself.

Walking into the unknown he left the bustling camp of vode behind him.

The further his steps carried him the fewer familiar sounds filtered through his helmet. You’d think that all of it would put him on edge, but it didn’t. Each sound was something interesting and new. More experiences to put to the words he already knew. The long grass brushing past his armor swayed in the breeze he could not feel, rippling like the ocean of Kamino. Some kind of avian creature made a sound and he cocked his head curiously to listen. He wasn’t quite sure what to call the sound, either trilling or warbling, but he would be sure to ask the General later. He always knew those sorts of things.

Hopping over a fallen tree that was all covered in moss, like a green carpet, he stumbled slightly when something bolted past. Aiming his carbine he tracked the object but stopped when he recognized it as a relatively harmless animal. Letting out a small relieved huff he lowered his weapon and reoriented himself with the mapping program that had been logging the terrain around him.

The small alert timer blinked on his HUD and he opened the comm. ::This is Commander Cody reporting in, things are all quiet in this sector.::

::Acknowledged, Commander. Stay safe out there, Sir.::

::Acknowledged base camp.:: And with that his trek resumed.

The further he walked from the camp the more wild things seemed to become. Thick underbrush and wide canopies of trees that almost blocked out the sun entirely. He was worried that his scouting would turn up nothing useful until he stumbled, entirely by accident, upon what looked to be an abandoned trail. Warily he crouched and scanned the area, checking for any more recent tracks. He relaxed once he realized the only thing that had used the trail recently were larger animals. It looked to be a path created entirely by hoofed feet, not the unyielding metal of droids.

Curious, he marked the trail on his map and began to follow it. If it remained hidden between the thick groves of trees then it might be a good way to sneak past enemy defenses and take them out before they even knew what hit them.

Two more calls to base and multiple side-trails later Cody walked out of a darker part of the forest and stopped in his tracks. What he saw stole his breath as a gentle breeze whispered through the soft grasses of a large meadow. Dotted amongst the swaying sea of green were small golden flowers that gleamed in the sun. Past the large tree at the center of the meadow he could see a steep slope. Further than that he could see a snow kissed mountain in the distance and the open sky above him.

Stepping into the meadow he glanced around carefully to ensure he was in no danger before slipping off his helmet and breathing deeply. The soft scent of growing things hit him and he smiled. It was the kind of place he knew the General would appreciate if he were there. Cody could see it clearly in his mind's eye.

The General’s eyes lightening as a soft smile crossed his face. Pressing his hand against the tree and making some comment about the ‘serenity’ of untouched places. All while looking like-

Cody shook his head to rid himself of the intrusive and not at all appropriate thought. The timer on his bracer went off again and he quickly jammed his helmet back on his head. He had no time for such frivolity. He had a duty he should be focusing on.

Even if the thought of seeing his General relaxing in the meadow, taking a moment to unburden himself, made his heart clench almost painfully in his chest.

Leaving that beautiful meadow took a little more effort than he would have liked, but he wasn’t a commander for no reason. His duty to the vode and the Republic, the General, had his feet moving before any more impertinent thoughts could intrude on his mind.

It took less time to backtrack than it had to discover the trails leading to the clearing. By the time he returned the sun was beginning to set in the sky and the vode who had been playing in the river earlier were sitting around an honest to force campfire.

Stepping up to the group he crossed his arms over his chest in the most ‘I am unimpressed with you’ way he could muster. “What is all this, then?” To a man they hunched in on themselves, eyes darting around like misbehaving cadets.

“We asked the General permission first!” Bolt blurted, fidgeting in place.

“You don’t sound so sure about that, trooper.”

Coming up to the fire Trapper let out an amused snort and dropped another armful of wood. “They actually started planning the fire first before the General walked by and asked them what they were doing. He said it was a ‘wonderful’ way to get dry after splashing around in the river but warned them not to make it too large. So while their execution could use some work they did get permission, sir.”

Cody let out an amused huff and uncrossed his arms. “Fine, but I want it put out by 2100, understood?”

“Sir, yes, Sir!” The younger troopers said eagerly, voices nearly synchronized.

Cody nodded before turning to Trapper. “Where did the General go after he agreed to let the vod’ike play with fire?”

Trapper’s hands paused in the middle of organizing the wood. “Where else would he be?” He said, motioning with his head toward the command tent.

Letting out a heavy sigh Cody shook his head. “As you were, vode.” He said to the group before turning away.

He should have known. The General did his best not to show it but they all knew he was the type to plan for every eventuality. It was almost a compulsion, as if the man thought he could never do enough. Even though the entire 212th knew that their General ran himself ragged trying to save as many beings as he could. Be they civilian or clone.

Coming into the tent his eyes immediately fell on the soft brown robes and coppery locks of his- the General. Taking in the way the man swayed slightly as he stood poring over the terrain Cody couldn’t help frowning. It was obvious to all and sundry that he was barely hanging on by a thread. No matter how many times he waved the medics away and told them he was fine.

After a moment of staring the General noticed his presence and turned to smile at him. “Commander, you’ve returned.” The man’s piercing blue eyes scanned up and down Cody’s body, looking for injuries, and he felt a warmth in his chest at the open care he was being shown. “Mapping out the area ourselves was a brilliant idea, although I’m a little fuzzy on the protocol. Is it normal to send out the Commander on a simple scouting mission?” There was a playful smile at the edge of his lips, partially hidden beneath the beard, but Cody had long since memorized the General’s facial expressions. He could tell the man was more amused than chiding.

“Sir.” He greeted as he came to stand next to the holomap. He didn’t acknowledge the comment about protocol. They both knew the standard procedures forwards and back. How else would they be able to get away with crazy Jedi antics otherwise? The others might think that the 212th were the kind of battalion that never went against the rules but they were only partially right. When the rules and regulation were absolute osik filled with loop holes and contradictions there were times when you had to be creative in your interpretation.

The General let out a small hum of amusement before turning back to the map. “These trails you’ve marked, they’d be perfect for getting around undetected.”

“That was my thought exactly, Sir. We could set up some patrols as well.” He already knew exactly who to send. There were a few scouts who were particularly good at getting around undetected.

“I trust your judgment, Commander.” The General said with a tired smile.

“Do you really, Sir?” He asked quietly.

The man looked taken aback before facing him fully, giving him the full brunt of his attention. “Of course I do Commander.” He said gently, voice sincere.

Swallowing down his apprehension he drew himself upward. “Then you should trust me when I say you need to rest. I can see that you’re exhausted, Sir.”

There. He’d said it. There was no taking it back now.

The General’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment before a vulnerable look crossed his face. A moment of silence passed between them and Cody was certain that he was either going to be reprimanded, which was a rare occurrence but had happened before so there was a precedent, or the topic was going to be stashed under the seat again. Finally the man let out a small sigh and ran his hand over his beard, as if trying to wipe away the previous vulnerable expression. “There is no time to waste on this campaign.” He said quietly, almost as if he was unsure what Cody’s reaction would be.

“Sir.” He said in a quiet breath. “Leaders need to rest. They need to trust those under their command to do as ordered. Are we not fully trained soldiers?”

“Of course, Cody, I know you are all exceptionally skilled, but-” The change from his rank to his name made him relax his stance slightly. This was no longer a talk between two officers, it was a talk between two people.

“Then trust that if the situation changes we will alert you.” He interrupted firmly. “For all our sakes, even yours, we need someone who is in the proper mindset to lead.” His dark amber eyes bored into stunning blue and he willed himself not to shake at the near insubordination he was committing. He knew without a shadow of doubt that this was what was needed to get Ob- the General to sleep for at least a few hours without the use of tranqs. That didn’t mean it wasn’t a nerve-wracking experience, even if they were speaking nominally as equals.

“I can- no.” The General closed his eyes and took a deep steady breath. “I see your point, Cody. Will telling you that I can use the force to keep myself awake and functional sway your opinion on the matter?” He asked lightly, as if he already knew the answer.

“No, Sir, it will not.” He stood firm in his conviction to make the General take a nap.

The man let out a chuckle and muttered something that sounded like, ‘tenacious as Bantling,’ but he couldn’t be sure he heard correctly. “You win, Cody. I’ll retire to my bunk. But the moment something happens I want to be alerted. Understood Commander?”

And it was back to ranks. Their little personal chat was over. “Yes, Sir. As soon as, you have my word.”

The man glanced around to see they were being watched but as soon as the vode caught on they quickly focused back on their tasks. “I suppose I should head back to my bunk, then.”

Turning Cody glanced around until he found who he was looking for. “Wooley, see that the General makes it back to his bunk without interruption.”

The younger trooper practically scampered over to them, eager to be helpful. “Yes, Sir! Don’t worry General, I’ll make sure no one will bother you. You can get a nice nap!” The cadet-like smile on his face was enough to make the General sag in defeat. Cody was careful to keep his expression neutral, although he was sure the General could feel the amusement in the air. Or however Jedi felt things, he still wasn’t quite sure how extensive their abilities were.

“You are quite clever, Commander.” The General said dryly, though his beard twitched into what Cody knew to be amusement.

“I have my moments, Sir.” There must have been something in his voice or face that gave away the playful jab because the General actually laughed.

“Well then, I suppose I shall see you as soon as I wake. Good evening Commander, vode.”

Once the General was gone, off toward his bunk, Cody turned to look over the map. Sending the data from his vambrace he waited for it to update and contemplated his temporary victory. It was only a matter of time until something went ass over teakettle and the General would be on his feet again.

“Prime’s balls, Cody.” Turning he tilted his head as Waxer stepped up, shaking his head with a small grin.

He raised his eyebrow and the man let out a small chuckle.

“You look like the General when you do that.” He said slyly. “I think I’ve only ever seen Suture handle the General like that, and that’s usually after he’s jabbed him with a sedative.” The man shook his head before looking downcast. “We really need to find a better way to get our Jedi to sleep more.”

Cody let out a grunt of agreement and his mind wandered back to the clearing he’d seen earlier that day. “The General likes to meditate, he says it calms him down and clears his head…”

“True, but he hasn’t had time lately, right?” Waxer crossed his arms and cocked his head, thinking.

“If we could figure out a way to keep him from accessing his reports and find somewhere quiet we might be able to give him the rest he deserves.” Cody mused aloud as the map updated with a ping. Using the dials he scrolled to the area with the clearing and pointed it out. “There’s a clearing here with a large tree in the center, good cover, with a cliff on the far side. Isolated, far enough from camp to be quiet but not so far that back-up couldn’t arrive quickly.”

Waxer looked at the location on the map and a determined glint entered his eyes. “Let me grab Boil and we can hatch a plan.”

Cody put a hand on his vod’s shoulder. “We’ll get that man a vacation, even if we have to do everything ourselves.”

“Oya!” Waxer said with a wide grin.

Chapter Text

Growing up as a clone on the watery planet of Kamino, Cody thought he had learned the meaning of the words ‘dedication,’ ‘exhaustion,’ and ‘self-sacrifice.’ But he’d been wrong. He had only experienced one facet of what those words could mean. Now, looking at the pale gaunt face of his General as the man swayed dangerously on his feet- he knew. He knew and it made something deep in his abdomen clench with concern.

The campaign hadn’t gone as they’d planned but they were lucky to have only lost a few good men. The real hit was to their Jedi, who had remained vigilant and alert for days at a time with little chance to rest. Thanks to the Seperatists attacking their perimeter at all hours in a bid to demoralize them and catch them unaware.

He was just thankful the clankers hadn’t tried to burn the forest down around them and that the relief force had finally landed on the planet to take over. Already the surrounding area had been cleared and fortified with fresh troops, leaving them some time to finally breathe.

Watching as Suture and Wooley tag teamed their General, trying to get him to stand down and finally rest, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Forcing down the fluttering nerves in his stomach he strode across the room and planted himself firmly in front of his- their Jedi. “Sir. Do you remember that discussion we had a week ago?” The redhead frowned, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. Cody had to wonder if the man could even see properly at the moment, his focus seemed to be everywhere.

“I… yes, Commander, I remember.” He said, words careful and slow so as not to slur. Not that it helped any, he even sounded exhausted to the bone.

“Then you know what I’m going to say now. You need to sleep. Seeing you like this is not good for morale, you’re worrying the vod’ike.” His voice dropped to a near whisper but he knew the Jedi had heard him when the man winced as if physically struck. He didn’t want to use the men against their Jedi but he currently had no other leverage. If emotional manipulation would keep the man from ruining his health any further then Cody was going to use it.

“Cody, I- no. No, you’re right. Now that I’m looking I can sense the concern of the vode.” The man drooped in place before jolting slightly and straightening, like a puppet on strings whose puppeteer had imbibed too much.

A hurried tapping sound caught his attention and he glanced over at Suture in time to catch the message. ‘-battle stress response. Brother needed for General.’ He blinked for a moment before understanding what the medic was getting at. Turning back to their Jedi he tried to see what the medic was seeing, running down the visual checklist as if the Jedi was a trooper. Comparing the two he realized that their Jedi’s condition was even worse than he’d thought.

“Sir, I need you to listen to me.” He said gently, slowly stepping closer with his hands raised where the man could see them. “Everyone is fine, the relief forces are getting their boots on the ground as we speak. It’s time to stand down. You’re safe, and nothing is going to happen if you take a short rest.” He explained in as calm a voice as he could muster.

Haunted blue eyes looked at him, almost through him, and Cody couldn’t stand it anymore. Reaching up he placed his hands delicately on either side of his Jedi’s head before gently pressing their foreheads together. “Trust me, Obi-wan. I promise we’ll all still be here when you wake up. But you need to sleep. Please.” He implored.

“Alright, Cody. I trust… you…” With a whole body shudder his Jedi’s eyes slid closed and he sagged into Cody’s hold, finally relinquishing whatever control he had over the force that was keeping him standing. The extra weight was nothing compared to that of another vod in full kit so he was able to keep the man upright easily, but his worry quickly rose. Concerned for the welfare of their Jedi he turned to look for Suture, only to find the medic already moving to his side.

Letting out a relieved sigh after taking some kind of reading the medic gave him a grateful grin. “He’s asleep. Finally succumbed to the medication.” The vod let out a shaky breath. “I’m going to have to run some tests and do some research on his biology at this rate. I can’t be sure if he’s just immune to certain medications or if he’s using the Force to stave them off.” The medic shook his head and muttered something quite unflattering about ‘Jedi with the stubbornness of an Alpha ARC.’

Which Cody promptly ignored.

Turning his attention back toward the sleeping Jedi in his arms he froze. Now that the crisis was over he realized belatedly that he was holding his Jedi in a manner that could be considered quite… familiar. Clearing his throat he caught Suture’s attention then raised a brow at him. “Do you have a stretcher handy or-?”

The vod snorted in amusement. “I couldn’t get one within a parsec of the General without him finding a way to eel his way out of visiting medical.” He shook his head in exasperation. “But it seems like we won’t need one.” The vod’s lips ticked upward slightly and Cody knew he wasn’t going to like what came out of his mouth next. “It looks like the General is comfortable with you, best not to disturb him by trying to put him on a stretcher. We don’t want him to wake up, panic, and then refuse to sleep again. Do we Commander?”

There was a smattering of quickly aborted snickers as Cody glowered at the vode standing around gawking. “Back to your posts!” He said as loudly as he felt he could get away with without disturbing the sleeping Jedi in his arms. Glancing over at Waxer and Boil he could see the two of them with their buckets together, probably scheming as they were wont to do. “Waxer! You’re in charge until I get back. Wooley,” he called softly to the vod’ika hovering near his shoulder, “I want you with me.”

The younger vod brightened considerably. “Yes, Sir!” He said in a loud whisper, trying to be heard without waking the General.

After lifting the man into his arms, frowning at his weight, Cody carried his General back to his tent. At least… that had originally been his intention. But when Wooley tugged on his arm and gave him those devastating puppy eyes he knew they would not be returning to the General’s tent.

With a sigh he nodded his assent and Wooley grinned brightly at him before taking off in the direction of the barracks as Cody continued to slowly carry their General so as not to wake him. By the time he made it to the largest of the vod’ike’s barracks all of the bedding and blankets had been tossed onto the ground in one giant comfortable pile. Wooley sat in the center with a large triumphant grin on his face and patted the bedding next to him. Cody let out an amused huff as he gently passed their Jedi off to the younger troopers.

The moment he took a step back, holding onto his Jedi’s weapon for safekeeping, the vod’ike swarmed onto the bedding and got settled. In the center, being jealously guarded by Wooley and Bolt, their Jedi looked almost small. Vulnerable. It tugged at Cody’s heart to see the man so worn down. But at least now that he had been handed off to the vod’ike he could get some actual sleep.

“Make sure he stays here and gets some rest. Suture doesn’t want him up for at least ten hours.” He ordered as loud as he dared.

Once his orders were acknowledged Cody left them to it. As much as he’d have loved to stay and make sure their Jedi got a good amount of proper rest he knew that the redhead would be worried about all the datawork he’d missed. So Cody would shoulder as much of it as possible and give him the break he deserved.

Entering the command tent once again he sent a message to Suture about where his patient had ended up before turning to the task of sifting through a vod’s weight in datawork.

He was just about to start when Waxer and Boil appeared and began sorting through the pads as well. He was going to send them away but after the looks they both gave him he resigned himself to the help with a small huff of amusement.

Five hours of datawork later his vode were pushing him to take a break. “If this is what you and the General have to deal with on a daily basis it’s no wonder he needs a nap. You should take a break, Commander.” Waxer said with a slightly worried frown.

“Waxer’s right. Most of these need the General’s sign off anyway so it doesn’t matter who does the work as long as the General okays them. If you’re worried about our work you could always look them over later.” Boil added, glowering down at the pad in his hands as if it had offended him.

Cody sighed and shook his head. “I really should finish this before the General wakes up.” And it was fairly likely he’d wake sooner rather than later, even with Suture’s cocktail of medication and the vod’ike trying to keep the man grounded.

“Think of it this way- you can use the time to plan that vacation for the General!” Waxer smiled excitedly. “We don’t have to worry about this sector being attacked anymore with the clankers dealt with. All you need to do is lure him out there with the promise of meditation and some tea. He’s like a tooka, he won’t be able to resist.” The man snickered.

Boil let out an amused snort and shook his head at his partner. “Go on, Sir. We’ll hold the fort while you’re gone.”

Letting out a sigh that was somewhere between relief and fondness he set down the datapad he’d been working on and stood. “Thank you.” Just as he made it to the door he turned and gave them a wicked grin. “I expect at least half of this to be finished by the time the General wakes up. It’s the least we can do.” He chuckled at their muttered curses as he left the tent.

It was the prerogative of all ori’vode to pick on their vod’ike after all.

It didn’t take him long to find the items he required for the plan he, Waxer, and Boil had come up with. All it took was careful questioning of the vode and mentioning that the items he needed were all for their Jedi. So the man could take a damned break for once.

From Hook he borrowed a beautifully crocheted blanket. It was primarily white with a 212th gold colored sunburst pattern in the center and bordered in black. The vod’ika had turned red and fidgeted when he’d first presented it, nervous and shy, but beamed when Cody complimented his skill and patience.

From Draft he was able to procure a packet of high grade tea and a couple of thermoses. Where the vod had found them he didn’t know, and he didn’t want to know. Couldn’t report what you didn’t know about after all, and Draft was one of the vode’s best ‘requisitions’ officers. Without him the morale of the troops would basically crumble.

By the time he made it to the mess tent three hours later Sous and Poisson, who was named for a fancy kind of fish in the core worlds and not because he’d poisoned a whole platoon once, were ready for him. The duo had done their damnedest to plan out calorie rich food, which Suture approved of, that was easy to eat and could be hauled through the forest for an hour. The containers were re-purposed from scrap fabrication material and made by the quartermasters upon request. As soon as their Jedi was awake the two of them would have everything packed up and ready to go.

When he was finished all his preparations, and had handed everything over to Trapper, he returned to the command tent to find Waxer and Boil still poring over datapads.

“How far did you get while I was gone?” He asked with a grin. Which grew wider as Boil began to curse and Waxer grimaced at him as if he were in pain.

“How do you even-? With all these numbers and figures! I think my brain is trying to melt through my ears.” Waxer whined like a cadet whose scores had come back poor and he blamed the equipment.

“I was trained for it, Wax’ika. And the General shoulders half the burden, or more if I can’t get to it in time.” Which was a very Obi-wan thing to do. Take too much on himself. Not because he thought Cody was incompetent, but because he cared.

“Good thing we’re planning on giving him a break. Your Jedi deserves it.” Boil muttered.

“What do you mean ‘your-?’” His comm beeped and he glanced down, it was a priority message. Frowning he answered. “Cody here.”

“Commander! We, uh, we tried to keep him longer, Sir, but he’s refusing to listen.” Wooley looked sheepish and regretful. “He’s on his way to the command tent now.”

Cody closed his eyes and let out a long, slow, sigh of resignation. “Thank you for informing me, Wooley. It’s not your fault you couldn’t keep him, he’s agile as a tooka and stubborn as a bantha when he wants to get away.” There was a snort from one of the vode sitting at his desk but he ignored it. “Send a message to Suture and let him know where the General will be. I’ll see if I can’t convince him to rest a little longer.”

“Yessir! I’m on it!” Then the vod’ika hung up. Cody let out a low grumble of discontent.

“Looks like we’ll have to speed up the timeline a little. You keep him occupied and we’ll get things squared away. We can alert you later by text so the General doesn’t catch on.”

Cody thought about it for a moment before inclining his head toward them gratefully. “Alright. I’ll leave it to you both. Tap anyone else you think could be helpful, on my orders.”

Boil nodded firmly and Waxer grinned. Just as they were leaving the General wandered into the tent, smiling as serenely as ever, although there was still a tired slant to his shoulders. The moment his eyes settled on Cody, however, there was a spark of mischief.

“Commander, I must insist that the next time I fall unconscious I am not left to the tender mercies of the younger troopers. They can be quite… difficult to reject when they look at one with such endearingly wide pleading eyes.”

Cody barked out a laugh and had to shove his fist over his mouth to stop himself from laughing further. It didn’t stop his shoulders from shaking with mirth, however. “No promises, Sir. I’m sure Suture would agree with me that doing so was in your best interest. How did you sleep?”

The redhead gave a small huff of amusement as he sat down and reached for the discarded datapads. “I… I slept well. Thank you, Cody.”

The softness of his voice and the gentle look on his face made Cody’s chest ache. “You’re welcome, Obi-wan.”

They sat there smiling at one another for a moment before the Jedi cleared his throat. “Well, back to work then.”

Cody remained silent as he watched the Jedi pulling out different datapads and chewing on the inside of his cheek. It was as good a distraction as any, even though he had hoped he could distract the man with something else. Oh well, it was only until Waxer and Boil called. Then their Jedi would get his little vacation.

Chapter Text

Sitting across from Obi-wan he wondered if there was a word for the kind of nervousness he was carefully keeping under wraps. It wasn’t anticipation, the feeling he got while waiting for the enemy to make their move, and it wasn’t anxiety, like waiting to hear the casualty reports after a battle. It was something softer but also heavier. It lodged itself in his abdomen and made him feel as if there were small darting fish swimming around in his stomach.

Glancing up from the datapad he had been cross-referencing he watched his General as the man reached up and distractedly brushed his bangs out of his face. It was a common occurrence and yet every time he saw it Cody felt the sudden urge to run his fingers through those soft locks and tuck them behind the man’s ear for him.

Shaking himself out of the thought he glanced down at his wrist comm when it beeped. Checking the message he had to stop himself from grinning.

All of the preparations were complete. Now all he had to do was lure their Jedi out to the clearing.

“Something good happen, Commander?” Obi-wan asked, one brow raised and a smile at the corner of his lips.

“Yes. But it’s something you really have to see for yourself to believe, Sir.” He took a fortifying breath to steady his nerves.

The Jedi let out a thoughtful hum, blue eyes unreadable as he stared Cody down. “Okay.” Standing he set down the datapad and folded his hands into his sleeves. “I assume we’ll be going now?”

Cody quickly got to his feet and came around the desk to stand before the Jedi. “Yes. Now would be best.”

“Then lead the way, Commander, I am at your disposal.” He said with a small smile.

Cody faltered, frowning slightly in concern. “Just like that-?”

The Jedi chuckled. “Of course, Cody. I said it earlier, didn’t I? That I trust you. Or did I only imagine that in my… less than conscious state?” Blue eyes drifted away from him in embarrassment and Cody huffed.

“You didn’t imagine it. Thank you, Obi-wan. For your trust. I swear it won’t be misplaced.” His voice dropped low as he spoke and he felt his heartbeat pick up in his chest as the man’s ears turned faintly red.

“Ahem, well, you have certainly earned it.” The man fidgeted for a moment before motioning at the door. “Weren’t we going somewhere-?”

Cody smiled. “Of course, Sir, excuse me. If you’ll follow me?”

Walking through the camp he had to wonder what Waxer and Boil had told the vode as many of them waved from a distance but were careful not to stop the two of them as they passed by. Even the most eager of shinies took one look at them and pretended to be busy so as not to halt their progress.

Every now and then Obi-wan would glance at him, as if trying to puzzle something out, before going back to greeting the vode.

When they made it to the edge of camp the man hesitated. “Is this mysterious thing I need to see outside of camp, then?”

“It is. But the area is secure and back-up is close by in case something slipped through.” He turned and gave the man a reassuring smile. “It’s safe, Sir. You can trust me on that.”

The Jedi gave him an amused smile. “At least someone has been listening to my negotiation lessons, it’s just a shame that it isn’t my former padawan.” He joked.

Cody laughed. “I’m sure he’ll learn eventually, Sir. You’re an excellent teacher.”

The man stared at him for a moment before shaking his head ruefully. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Sir- Obi-wan. You are an excellent teacher. It’s not the teacher’s fault if the student refuses to learn.”

The man’s expression brightened. “Thank you.” He reached out to clap Cody on the pauldron before looking out towards the tree line. “So, which direction are we going, Commander?”

“This way. It’s a little bit of a walk but it will be worth it.” He was certain of it.

From there the two of them walked, side by side, along the trail that Cody knew would bring them directly to their destination. As they went they exchanged more stories about people they knew.

For Cody that mostly meant his batchmates and Rex. For Obi-wan it meant his crechemates and Anakin, as well as a few friends he’d made on missions.

“…and then, of course, the alarm goes off and all eyes, or similar visual organs, turn toward us. The look on Bant’s face was priceless as she realized she was the one who had managed to, accidentally, prank the Masters. I swear she turned three different colors before apologizing profusely.” Cody laughed along, shoulders shaking with mirth.

It was nice to see Obi-wan like this, relaxed and without that haunted look in his eyes. For the moment they were not General and Commander, but two friends reminiscing about a time before the war.

Coming up to the last stretch Cody saw three lights flicker on his HUD. It was Waxer, Boil, and Trapper. They were nearby. Close enough to come to their aid if something happened but far enough away to let the General rest without feeling watched.

Cody approved.

Stepping out of the trees he turned and slipped off his helmet. “We’re here.”

Blinking at him curiously Obi-wan came into the clearing and sucked in a breath of surprise. Blue eyes wide he took in the sight of the golden meadow with its single towering tree, like a lone guardian. “Cody this- I- it’s beautiful.” He half whispered.

Cody grinned in triumph as he scanned the area and caught sight of the actual surprise. “That’s not the half of it.” He said as he placed a hand on the man’s back and steered him toward the large tree.

Laid out on the borrowed blanket was a small stack of containers and a pair of thermoses, one with warm tea and one with cold water. There was even a holonet locked datapad with a historical novel pre-loaded onto it. Everything was set up perfectly for their Jedi to have a relaxing afternoon of meditation.

As Obi-wan was standing there, gaping at the thoughtful gifts, Cody was surprised by his comm.

‘Good luck!’ Frowning down at his comm he opened the message and was met with a timer as well as a scramble code. ‘All messages will be re-routed to base. Do us all a favor and spend some time with your Jedi. The pining is getting on all our nerves.’

The audacity! Cody growled as his comm was sent into blackout mode. Only the most extreme of emergencies would ping his comm until he returned to base to have it unlocked. Of course, he could always unlock it himself. He was a talented slicer, after all. But as he looked over at Obi-wan, who was running his hand over the hand-made blanket in awe, he decided against it.

One day to indulge wouldn’t change anything about the war.

“Did you plan all this?” Looking down at Obi-wan he shrugged, running a hand across the back of his neck.

“Yes, but I had a lot of help.” He glanced at the blanket and finally noticed the two sets of dishes. Doubt began to creep in now that they were completely alone. What if his company wasn’t wanted? “Do you… mind if I join you?”

Obi-wan smiled and it warmed him from the inside out. “Of course, Cody. I could never say no to spending more time with you, my dear.”

Cody’s heart thudded against his ribcage as he took a seat on the blanket and accepted a cup of tea from Obi-wan.

Sipping at his drink the Jedi let out a happy hum and smiled as he touched one of the rays stitched into the blanket.

Cody wanted to sear the image into his mind so he could never forget this moment. For the first time since he’d met him, the man looked peaceful, content. It was as if he was a part of the natural world around them.

It made him look radiant.

“Well then.” The man cleared his throat, looking more than a little distracted. “Let’s see what we have here, hm?” Opening the containers his eyebrows rose as he took in the bite sized snacks. “Skraan’ikase?” He half-whispered. “When and where-?”

Cody smirked. “Sous and Poisson have been studying in their off hours. All of the ingredients were scavenged from the planet and carefully tested to make sure they were safe to consume. Everything has Suture’s stamp of approval.” Picking out a small tart he held it out for Obi-wan to try. “This one was made with Sous’s personal muja jam recipe. I know the mess vode are eager to know what you think.”

Obi-wan gave him a faux disgruntled look. “That is playing dirty, Commander.”

Cody smirked at him and pushed the tart closer. Obi-wan huffed in amusement but carefully took the tart, their fingers brushing against one another. Without breaking eye contact the redhead popped the small tart into his mouth and chewed on it thoughtfully for a moment. He let out a pleased little sound.

“I’ll have to compliment them when we return. It has a wonderful balance between sweet and tart.”

Grabbing the thermos of tea he filled Obi-wan’s cup. “Why don’t you try everything first before you start planning on our return?” He said playfully.

The comment earned him an amused snort.

“Quite. Well then, shall we sample everything so we can make a thorough report?” He said with a mischievous glint in his blue eyes.

Cody snorted and grabbed a tart for himself. “Sir, yes, Sir.” He joked.

Once all the food had been polished off Cody sat there looking out at the mountains as Obi-wan checked the datapad that had been left for him. Everything about the scene, except for his armor, was so domestic and cozy that he wasn’t prepared for the yawn that tore its way out of his throat. He blinked in surprise as Obi-wan snickered, ducking behind the datapad to hide a wide smile.

“It seems like someone needs to take their own advice and take a break themselves.”

Before Cody could come up with a comeback Obi-wan was shifting the basket of used dishes out of the way and patting the blanket beside him. “Come here, dear one. Why don’t I read to you and you can rest for a little while? You’ve certainly earned a reprieve.”

Cody was torn. On one hand the idea of being so close to Obi-wan was tempting. While on the other hand this entire picnic had been planned so that Obi-wan could relax.

In the end his desire to be closer won out. So he let Obi-wan tug him down so that his head was pillowed on the Jedi’s lap. A hand delicately ran through his short hair, nails gently scratching at his scalp, and Cody quickly became a puddle of contentment.

Above him Obi-wan studied him, blue eyes conflicted as he nibbled on his bottom lip. “Dear one? I have a question, if you will indulge me.”

Sleepily he nodded. “Of course, Obi-wan. What is it?”

The man let out a shivery breath, his hand falling away. “You know that Jedi can feel the emotions of others, and that unless someone is actively shielding it is quite difficult for us to not feel what others around us feel.”

Cody’s brows came together slightly but he nodded.

“So when I ask you about this thing between us, about what it could mean to you-?”

Cody’s eyes went wide and he quickly sat up so he could face the man properly. Staring into intense blue eyes he was suddenly at a loss for words.

What was this thing between them? And what did Cody want it to be?

He didn’t even have to think about it. His body moved on its own as he placed a hand behind Obi-wan’s neck and gently pressed their foreheads together in a keldabe kiss. “It means everything to me.” He said firmly. “I know that the Jedi don’t allow relationships, and I’m okay with that. As long as I can be by your side. Will you let me stay by your side, cyare?”

Obi-wan’s face flushed red as he lifted a shaking hand and gently ran his fingers down Cody’s face, ghosting over the scar of the wound that had almost killed him. He let out a shuddery breath. “The Jedi do not forbid relationships, only attachment and possession. I know that you would never forsake your duty for me, and you know I would never forsake mine for you.”

“Is that a yes?” Cody felt as if they were at the edge of a cliff on the side of a mountain. His heart was pounding so fast he was certain Obi-wan could feel it through his armor.

“Yes.” The word rang between them like a crystal bell, sweet and uplifting.

Before he could lose his nerve Cody leaned in and captured Obi-wan’s lips in a tender kiss. At first it was just the barest brush of contact, but then his Jedi tipped his head back and pressed into it- silently demanding more.

They pulled away when the lack of air forced them apart, both flushed and grinning like idiots.

“You know, your vod’ike are going to be very smug about this once we head back.” Obi-wan teased.

Cody groaned and let his head fall to Obi-wan’s shoulder. “I’m sure I can find more than enough dirty work to make them think twice about bringing it up.” Turning his head he pressed a gentle kiss to the underside of the redhead’s jaw and smirked at the pleased shudder it earned him.

“As lovely as that is, dear one, I think it would be best to explore that aspect of our new relationship somewhere less… open. Why don’t you lay back down and let me read to you like we were planning before, hm?”

Pulling away from his Jedi he gave the man a soft smile. “Of course, cyare. We’ll do things at your pace.”

Obi-wan gave him a grateful smile and playfully patted his lap, inviting Cody to lay down once more.

With a soft chuckle he shifted around and got comfortable, letting out a happy sigh as those slender fingers began to run through his hair once again.

“So it is written, this tale of old, that the Lords of Ferrum gathered behind closed doors-” As Obi-wan’s voice washed over him Cody lay there in the shade of the tree and let himself drift.

The war hadn’t ended, and he knew they needed to return to their roles soon, but for this one moment in time they were safe and content- surrounded by a meadow of gold.