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Chandrila was beautiful in the winter. The city he had chosen to live in, in particular, was stunning. The tall transparisteel buildings elegantly shadowed the snowy streets tonight, taking Rex’s breath away.
In the daytime, the skies were often clear and blue. In the winter it was so cold that water vapor in the air often froze in the air and created a sparking rainbow of hues, despite the lack of clouds. And at night, clouds often floated in and settled low in the sky, giving the whole city a hushed, cozy feeling. He hadn’t seen the stars in months, but he found that he didn’t mind.
Rex turned the corner onto the street that held his destination. Behind him, speeders rushed by on the street, the sound livening up the quiet hush of the darkening city. There was something dreamy about the hazy street lights beaming down onto the busy street that evening.
Rex paused on the street corner, looking up at the cloudy sky as flakes began to float down and settle on his cheeks and nose.
He grinned, letting out a breath, watching the steam from it curl into the air and disappear.
The climate on Chandrila was much colder than so many planets Rex had been to during the war. It was a bit further from its sun than most inhabited planets.
It had now been a year since the war had ended. The first months afterward had been stressful; full of trying to find out who was alive, then fighting in the Senate and finally, trying to find places for all of his brothers to live and work and fit in.
Rex himself had still been reeling from the betrayal of General Skywalker and at the casual usage of the Vode to a Sith Lord’s own selfish ends. It made it seem like the Vode were just robots to be programmed and used however someone else wanted.
And General Skywalker had been right there, on the opposite side, pretending as if that was alright. Pretending his men weren’t humans that deserved to be able to choose who they were and what their actions would be.
Rex had lost so many men that day. So many brothers.
He hadn’t been on Coruscant, but in hyperspace on his way back, when Order 66 had dropped.
The chip had overridden everything about his brothers. Rex couldn’t stand to see Ahsoka die because of the order, but the result of saving her life was something Rex would have to live with for the rest of his life. He had lost every single one of his brothers on that ship, that day.
Sometimes Rex wanted to hate Ahsoka for being there. If she hadn’t been, maybe all those brothers of the 501st could have lived. If they had been able to hold on just a little longer, until Master Windu and Master Kenobi had gotten out the stand down order through the chips. If his Vode on that ship had been able to stop themselves without having to turn on their Jedi, then maybe those men could have lived.
So many had died that day; Jedi and Vode alike. Not just on that ship, but across the galaxy.
All of those deaths weighed heavily on Rex.
So Rex wanted to be mad at Ahsoka, but he couldn’t and didn’t blame her. She had been trying to survive the war, just like the rest of them.
After Order 66 was over and the Sith Lord had been taken out, it had been months of frantic re-organization and fighting for their rights. And once everything had finally settled, Rex had slumped down on the couch in Cody’s flat and cried for the first and only time since the war had ended.
Cody had taken one look at Rex, and pulled him close. Rex had resisted at first, but Cody hadn’t let him escape, hugging him tightly and resting that awful, pointy, left-edge of his chin against Rex’s temple.
“I think you need to take some time away Rex,” Cody had whispered. “Let yourself mourn somewhere you won’t be reminded of everything that has happened.”
Cody hadn’t lost any of the 212th, but more than half of the Vode from the 501st had died.
It had been luck, or maybe the Force that had saved the 212th. General Kenobi had killed Grievous, then received a very strange message from Skywalker, causing him to ask Cody to hold off on telling Coruscant about Grievous’ death.
The General traveled to Coruscant on his own. Once there, he had stumbled across the scene in the Chancellor's office just after Windu’s arm had been severed, and he had managed to help Windu subdue Palpatine. But they hadn’t managed to stop Palpatine before the Order 66 message had gone out.
Half of Rex thought that Cody could never understand how Rex felt about losing so many brothers under his command. But the other half of him appreciated Cody trying to look out for Rex and his peace of mind.
So Rex took Cody’s advice, and he had left Coruscant.
For the first few months, he’d traveled around the Mid Rim, feeling lost and not sure where to go.
When he’d circled back into the Inner Core and landed on Chandrila, there had been something about this place that had sparked inside of him. Something that had drawn him in about the planet. He tried to convince himself that it had nothing to do with the humans who lived here and their bright red hair and pale complexions that reminded him of a certain General.
In fact, Rex had often wondered if this is where the General was originally from. And his time on Chandrila had made Rex think this must be the planet Obi-Wan hailed from.
Rex and Obi-Wan had had a few dalliances during the war, but they hadn’t had the opportunity to talk about those kind of things.
Rex knew how Obi-Wan liked his tea. He knew about Obi-Wan’s sleeping habits and how he kissed. He knew how the man snored and what the man smelled and tasted of; but he didn’t know much about Obi-Wan’s past. He didn’t know about who Obi-Wan was before the war, or what Obi-Wan wanted after the war, for that matter.
Rex sometimes wished he’d had the opportunity to find out, but they had both gone different ways after the war and that had been that.
Rex blinked up at the falling snow, letting his thoughts about the war and Obi-Wan drift away. He let out another deep breath, watching his foggy breath dissipate into the air and then continued on down the well-shoveled street.
Chandrila was generally a very well-off planet, but it had its seedier areas too. However, this street was not one of them; it was full of clean, welcoming hotels and restaurants filled with smiling staff. Other professional businesses dotted this street amongst the hotels and restaurants, that were empty and dark at this time of night.
Halfway down the block, Rex stopped and walked into a hotel, double-checking the name before he stepped through the doors.
It was a nice hotel, not grand or so expensive that Rex felt like he shouldn’t be stepping into such an establishment, but the lobby was clean and brightly-lit, and the well-dressed staff smiled and welcomed him.
Rex made his way over to the lifts and pressed the call button.
Cody had sent him a message about a month ago, asking him if he was ready to come home. A management position had opened in Cody’s staff, and he wanted his little brother home to fill it.
Rex had refused at first. He’d found a semblance of peace here on Chandrila.
At first Cody had tried to argue that Rex must be lonely so far from his Vode. But Rex was in contact with any of his Vode that wanted to stay in touch.
Cody had argued that living in the Jedi temple was nice, but Rex had a decent flat here on Chandrila and a job that was enjoyable and filled his time. He didn’t need anything more, really.
But every week since, Cody had tried to find another way to convince Rex to come back to Coruscant. Some of the tactics Cody had used had been devious, some had been downright rude.
The second time Cody tried to convince Rex, Cody had said he was stressed and needed someone he could count on to work on his staff. The third time, Cody had revealed that Echo was lonely and missed Rex. The fourth time, Cody had said that Obi-Wan seemed to rarely come out of the Archives when he wasn’t in Council meetings, that the Jedi seemed lost and isolated.
Rex couldn’t lie to himself that some of those reasons had made Rex ache to return to Coruscant. But he’d held his ground.
Then last week, when Cody had holocalled him, he had casually mentioned that Gregor had returned to Coruscant and was looking for someone to room with. Rex and Gregor had always gotten along well. They’d both trained as lower officers on Kamino together and they both had very laid-back personalities. Rex knew he probably would enjoy living with Gregor.
Feeling tired of continuously rebuffing Cody’s reasons to get Rex back, Rex had compromised and told Cody he had wanted to spend New Years in Chandrila before returning.
So of course, yesterday he’d gotten another holocall from Cody. This time his vod had mentioned that he was on Chandrila for a “completely coincidental business reason” and he wanted Rex to stop by his hotel room the next day.
So here Rex was, a couple hours before the new calendar year turned over, waiting to get on a lift to take him up to the floor Cody’s room was on.
He was sure Cody’s visit wasn’t “coincidental” at all.
Rex stopped in front of the right room and pressed the door chime, waiting for Cody to answer the door.
Rex heard footsteps approach the door on the other side and then the door swished open. Only, it wasn’t Cody on the other side of the door. Instead, it was Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, looking more gorgeous than he had any right to.
Obi-Wan looked Rex up and down with longing eyes. “Rex, it’s good to see you.”
“Uh, C-Cody?” Rex stuttered, feeling completely flustered.
Obi-Wan pressed his lips together, trying not to smile. “I know it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, but I’m not Cody.”
“Thank kriff for that,” Cody’s voice came from behind Obi-Wan, and the Jedi Master turned so Rex could see Cody stepping up behind Obi-Wan. “The GAR would have fallen apart if you were Cody.”
“I resent that,” Obi-Wan grinned and snipped back, “I am very capable.”
Rex had never really quite understood their dynamic, but they’d always been like this. How the two of them had ever gotten anything done — not to mention led one-third of the army — Rex didn’t think he would ever know.
“Capable,” Cody rolled his eyes, snorting. “You didn’t even invite Rex in.”
“If you would have given me more than three seconds, I would have,” Obi-Wan laughed and clapped Cody on the shoulder. Cody leaned into the friendly touch, smiling back.
Rex couldn’t remember ever seeing his vod this relaxed… ever. He was glad to see Cody was doing well. Rex hadn’t really been able to see through the haze of his own grief, but looking back, Cody’d had a lot on his plate. He’d walked around most days, right after the war, with tight shoulders, a grim expression, and a datapad glued to his hand.
Obi-Wan turned his head to catch Rex’s eye. “Why don’t you come in, Rex?” Obi-Wan stepped back to let Rex into the suite.
And it was a suite, the room had a combined kitchenette and sitting room, and three doors to one side. Two of the doors looked like they led into bedrooms and another that led into a shared ‘fresher.
The three of them settled on the sofas and began to chat. Obi-Wan and Cody caught Rex up on how the Vode currently on Coruscant, were doing.
Just over a third of the Vode had transitioned to begin working in Coruscant Guard, especially those who had the desire to stay planetside. Some others had gone off into the galaxy to travel or try making their own way, like Rex had. The rest had transitioned into a new branch of the Jedi Order.
Somehow, despite the Jedi’s resistance to the initial idea, Cody and the Commanders had convinced the Order to take on the rest of the Vode as guards on their missions. These Vode would be part of a new branch of the Order: a security branch.
Rex thought the idea had been born out of a misguided thought that the Jedi could not take care of themselves on missions. And when Cody had originally told Rex about this idea, months ago, Cody had righteously told Rex that the Jedi were trouble magnets who didn't know what was good for them, and he’d had to bully them into accepting the new branch. (After all, Cody knew Obi-Wan Kenobi far too well, and the rest were almost as bad.)
Really, Rex was in awe of Cody’s stubborn determination to out-stubborn the Jedi Council. Somehow though, the new branch was approved. And in the last few months, teams from the new branch had been integrated into Jedi missions. Since then, Jedi mission casualties had gone down significantly, Cody had proudly reported to Rex.
Now, Cody was regaling Rex with some of the times the missions didn’t go quite so well. Rex laughed especially hard at a story that Cody told about Fives and Echo going on a mission with Master Mundi.
Apparently, Master Mundi had seriously lost his cool during talks with a local planetary leader about the humanitarian aid the Republic was offering to provide. Echo and Fives had been standing behind the Jedi Master during these talks, and the two of them had been bickering back and forth about who had gotten a higher score on their latest session at the blaster range. Apparently, the two of them had been bickering about this non-stop for the last three days of the mission and finally, Mundi had just snapped. The Jedi Master had pulled out his lightsaber and threatened to cut off both of their shooting arms if they wouldn’t stop arguing.
According to Cody, the two had gone quiet and then began arguing about who they thought would be better at shooting with their non-dominant hands.
Rex laughed until he felt ill at that. The whole situation was very Fives and Echo.
“The teams are a work-in-progress, I’ll admit,” Obi-Wan chimed in, his eyes sparkling in amusement. “But they have truly been a wonderful new addition to the temple. I think all of the Jedi that I have spoken with — beyond Master Mundi — have seen the value in the Vode as part of the Jedi.”
Cody nodded, his eyes serious. “And I really could use someone reliable, who knows the dynamics of some of the brothers better than I do. Someone who could help me with the scheduling so we could avoid things like this in the future,” he sent Rex a pointed look.
Rex glared at his vod. “I’m sure you’ll find someone.”
Cody just sighed, giving Rex his best impression of big Tooka eyes. It wasn’t very effective. Cody wasn’t nearly sweet enough to pull-off such a look.
Obi-Wan looked between the two of them then smoothly changed the subject, asking Rex about Chandrila.
The three of them talked for a little longer until Cody’s stomach began to growl loudly.
“It’s been a while since we had a meal,” Obi-Wan remarked casually, shooting Cody a friendly smile. “How about I order some food for us?”
Cody nodded. “Is there anything traditional to eat in Chandrila to celebrate the New Year?” Cody turned to ask Rex.
Rex shrugged, he hadn’t been on Chandrila that long and wasn’t sure. Instead, he offered up a few different cuisines that were popular in the city. The three of them ended up picking Alderaanian fare, which would be filling, but fairly easy on their stomachs since Obi-Wan and Cody would be traveling back to Coruscant in the morning.
Obi-Wan left the room to call in their order. As soon as he left, Rex took Obi-Wan’s spot next to Cody on the other sofa, so he could bend close and hiss in his brother’s ear.
“Why did you bring him?” Rex asked, feeling a little off-balance that Cody hadn’t even mentioned that the Jedi would be coming with him. As good as it was to see Obi-Wan, Rex was feeling a little blindsided.
His feelings hadn’t changed. He still loved Obi-Wan. Rex still wanted to be with him. But it felt as if the two of them had diverged paths after Order 66, and Rex wasn’t sure their paths would cross again. He was sure too much had changed.
Rex knew he had changed. And he didn’t want Obi-Wan to feel like he had to be with the man Rex had become. Rex’s sense of self had been hard won these past few months. His sense of grief and understanding of the galaxy had completely shifted.
Rex had been born and made to be a weapon, a soldier; and that hadn’t changed. What had changed was who Rex was fighting for.
Over the past few months Rex had learned how to fight for himself. Not for the galaxy, not for the Republic, not even for his brothers. He had learned to put himself first. And Rex knew the kind of man Obi-Wan was. He was the kind of man who gave his whole body, soul and mind to the good of the galaxy and the Force.
Rex just wasn’t sure they were compatible anymore. And he wouldn’t blame Obi-Wan if they weren’t.
“He was just sitting around, pining,” Cody sighed, leaning away from Rex and running his hand through the side of his cropped-short hair.
Rex snorted. Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t the kind of man to sit around and wait for anything. He was the kind of man who did. He was a man of action. Rex found that really hard to believe and said so.
“Alright, well he wasn’t sitting around.” Cody conceded. “He was busy restructuring the Order, teaching classes to younglings, arguing the new laws regarding the separation of the Jedi and the Senate, and being a general nuisance to me and the rest of his friends. But in the quiet moments when we were sharing a meal or working out together, he would get this look. And I knew he was lonely and he was missing you.”
Rex sighed, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Rex,” Cody put his hand on Rex’s wrist. “He was sad and lonely. He was busy, but he wasn’t being fulfilled. He needs someone. Someone to help him have moments to slow down, someone to take care of him, and someone he can take care of in turn. He is adrift and he needs someone to anchor him. I think you could do that for him, but I also think he could do the same for you. Whatever you have found out about yourself here, Rex, it doesn’t outweigh the fact that there is a place for you in the galaxy alongside me and our brothers. A place where you belong and are needed. A place you will be loved. We… I want you back with us.”
For a moment Rex was quiet. He could tell Cody truly did want Rex back. But the real question Rex needed to answer was, did Rex want to come back?
“So… you’re saying,” Rex said hesitantly, “you didn’t think you could get me to come back on your own? And so instead of trying and failing, you guaranteed my return by dangling Obi-Wan in front of me like a sparkly fishing lure.”
“Well when you put it that way,” Cody grinned, “I guess I knew that if I brought him, you might actually come home.”
Rex snorted and looked away from Cody’s searching eyes. He stared out the window at the falling snow. “I’m not sure he will want to be with me once he’s seen the man I’ve become,” Rex said honestly.
“I don’t think there could be anything that would stop me from wanting you,” Obi-Wan said, from right behind Rex.
Rex jumped off the sofa and spun to face the Jedi Master that had snuck up on them. “You can’t know that for sure,” Rex insisted, his heart pounding in his chest.
“I can,” Obi-Wan stated, unwaveringly. “I know you Rex,” Obi-Wan stepped around the sofa and got close, placing his hand over Rex’s heart. “I can still feel you so strongly in the Force. Even my Force-presence yearns to be near you every moment of every day.”
“Oh would you look at that, I think I must have left something important in my room,” Cody said nonchalantly. “I think I’ll go get it,” he stood from the sofa and walked away, giving the two of them privacy.
Rex watched his brother leave from the corner of his eye. When the door to his room had shut, he let him lean forward into Obi-Wan’s hand, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Obi-Wan took another step forward himself so they were almost pressed together, only Obi-Wan’s hand was separating them.
“I don’t know if I can be the man you knew when we started… whatever this was,” Rex whispered, looking into Obi-Wan’s eyes.
“I just want you to be yourself, how you are now,” Obi-Wan said earnestly. “People change Rex. No one stays the same; nobody’s personality stays stagnant. I’ve changed too, over the past year. So I would be a shallow man if I could only love you as you were once. But I understand if you want space. I just want you in my life however you will feel comfortable. I want you, darling.”
Rex tried to hold back the beaming smile that took over his face, knowing how lovestruck it made him look. “Then I would like to come back and try again.”
Obi-Wan grinned back, his eyes creasing with happiness. “Rex, will you be my partner? My boyfriend, my love?”
Rex huffed a laugh filled with irony, appreciating Obi-Wan laying everything out clearly like that. They had never defined the relationship they had fallen into during the war, and Rex had wished so many times they had. “I will.”
“Good.” Obi-Wan said firmly, the word pushing a puff of air against Rex’s cheek. His breath smelled like tea. It was familiar and it made Rex’s stomach ache happily. “Then should we go get Cody and—”
Rex leaned across the few inches between them and kissed Obi-Wan into silence, desperate for one more moment of just the two of them alone.
Obi-Wan’s words were muffled by Rex’s lips. Obi-Wan seemed almost taken aback by the suddenness of the kiss, before he got with the program and kissed Rex back.
A knock on the hotel room’s door interrupted them.
Once they had finally pulled away from each other, Obi-Wan huffed. “I was going to say we should get Cody, the food should be showing up any moment here.”
Rex just laughed and went to get his brother, while Obi-Wan turned away to get the food.
Dinner was a bit awkward at first. Rex couldn’t stop himself from taking subtle glances at Obi-Wan every moment that he could. He felt so giddy.
Cody used dinner to rigorously tease the two of them about the soft, sappy expressions they kept sending to each other. Despite the blushes that dawned both of their faces by the end of the meal, Rex wouldn’t have had it any other way.
After dinner — and a few quiet rounds of drinks with Cody — Obi-Wan and Rex retreated to Obi-Wan’s room to find sleep in each other’s arms.
They moved seamlessly around each other in the ‘fresher and turned in for bed. Rex put on a comfortable sleep tunic that Obi-Wan lent him. Despite the long time they had been apart, Rex found snuggling up to the other man was just as easy as it had been during the war.
If the Rex from a year ago could see Rex now, he wouldn't have even recognized the look of happy contentment on his face as Obi-Wan snuggled up behind Rex, pressing his cold feet against Rex’s ankles. Rex closed his eyes, but found he could not sleep. He felt almost too delighted to sleep. So Rex turned in the bed, needing to see Obi-Wan’s face again, needing to reassure himself that Obi-Wan was actually there.
For the next hour they just lay there, sharing soft, affectionate kisses of reacquaintance. The light from the streetlamps outside drifted through the blinds and dimly lit the room, giving everything a soft, dreamy feel.
For a moment, Rex was sure this couldn’t be real. Rex was far too happy.
And as the clock hit midnight and the New Year rolled in, Rex leaned in to kiss the man he loved. Their lips locked in the sweetest of caresses. It was the first of many kisses that would frequent the next year.