Work Text:
You've been in contact with Rex on and off for a few weeks. He was also deployed during this time. You've shifted from texts to holo transmissions. You would send short recorded holo messages about yourselves and your day and ask all kinds of questions. It was weirdly easy to talk. There was no pressure. He just sent them whenever. You were getting to know each other; you joked and flirted.
You got to know about the campaign the 501st was on. Rex mentioned how his General had been prudent and strategic but also instinctive. Battles were never easy, but strategies always helped. If there were no surprises, they could seize the front much quicker, which was the case with the 501st current engagement. You would tell him about your friends and your day. You wouldn't shut up about your work because you're really proud and consider it a part of your development and personality. He had asked you to send him your recent project report on the "Lost Trees of Coruscant." You left no space to not annoy him, you thought.
You had a work party, and everyone was invited with a plus one. Usually, you would take your siblings with you to show them the kind of work your organisation has been doing. They actually didn't really care much and called you a nerd. They loved you but would do anything to make fun of you like any sibling would.
You were contemplating it at work when Tai walked into your cabin, "Let's eat yo. Wanna go to that cafe again?"
"Mhm," you say as you put your things in order.
You both walk towards the Cafe, joking the entire way; only Maker knows how the work got done. You told them about your sibling cancelling on the work party and that you might be considering inviting Rex.
"You're still talking to him?" Tai asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, he's cool. Do you think I should invite him?" You ask carefully.
"I don't know," they shrug, "you're an adult. I think you can make your own decisions."
"Yeah, I know that," you say questionably but then quickly shake your head, gathering more confidence in your speech, "I think I will invite him." You smile to yourself.
You both chuckled as you entered the Cafe. And your stomach just drops along with your smile. Rex is there, sitting with his side to you. You identify the armour, the jaig-eyed bucket and most importantly, that blond buzzcut. Sitting on the bar stool, looking at a datapad.
"MAKER! IT'S HIM," you yell a whisper in Tai's ears, almost shaking, "we need to get out of here," you suddenly get nervous.
"Wha-," Tai is confused.
Rex does a double take as he shifts his gaze to the door, then his datapad, and then you; he squints his eyes a little, "Lou?" He says as his lips draw a small smile.
"Rex," words barely leave you.
Rex looks at Tai and gives a gentle nod. Tai is enjoying this very much, the sheer awkwardness of the situation. They push you towards him and take the seat, facing both your backs.
You walk towards him, and he gets up from the bar stool. "Hi," you say as you meet him with a gentle embrace, "what are you doing here?"
"Picking up lunch," he says, smiling. We all know why he was there. Picking up lunch for his General, who had a surprise date planned with the Senator and wanted Rex to help. Rex had rolled his eyes at Anakin while telling him he would get it. Rex was Anakin's best man first and first in command second.
"How are you? What are you doing here?" He asked as he sat back on his stool, gesturing for you to take a seat.
You shake your head, "I'm good. I'm here with my friend, Tai, for lunch." You keep standing as you point towards Tai, "How are you?"
"I'm good too."
There's a moment of silence as he nods.
"I wanted to ask you..."
"I was reading your report..."
You both say at the same time and chuckle.
"You read my report?" You said. The grin on your face grew as you finally took a breath.
"I'm still reading it," Rex pointed his head to the datapad, and you leaned in. He got so still. But this was the one thing that made you feel in place. You felt comfortable mentally and physically.
"Twentieth page, that's a good pace," you almost chuckled and eased in as you put one of your elbows on his shoulder, "Cool."
Rex said, without taking his eyes off the datapad as he swiped up and down. You could see some notes scribbled here and there, "well, you know, I was really fascinated when you started describing the history of the beautiful ecology of Coruscant and the transformation Coruscant has witnessed with the urbanisation and informal economy."
You blinked. He… he had actually read it and had something to say about it. Your eyes moved from the datapad to his face as he looked down at it. It was almost as if time slowed down, the background blurred, and his voice barely a muffle. You felt so appreciated; he took an interest in something you put so much effort in. Your arm resting on his shoulder slowly moved, knuckles gently brushing against his hair as you laid right at the back of his neck. He looked so much more beautiful in real life, more than in those holo transmissions or how you remember him drunk.
He kept going, "and the loss of natural environment, the excessive urban heat island effect and the planetary climate regulation measure to ensure balance," he finally looked at you, "I was-" he paused as he caught you blatantly staring, the edge of mouth tried to hide the smile that was forming, he continued, "I never thought of Coruscant's ecological history as something so alive. And the government's technical role in Coruscant's present and future. For me, it has always been buildings, gutters, and Republic, Separatists, and missions. I never thought much about Coruscant, not really from this point of view. Especially about the lost biodiversity, and I actually can't wait to read the entire thing."
You snapped back into reality when he stopped talking. You were actually elated. The one thing you seek in life is academic validation and to know that something you've written on themes that are not talked about, and is easy enough for laypeople to understand is why you did what you did. The biggest smile was plastered on your face.
"I'm so glad you read it and found something interesting," you said to him with genuine appreciation. You felt his hand under the hook of your arm, gently moving across your waist to your lower back and settling there. "I think you're gonna love Tai's part," you continue, "they've written brilliantly about the Uneti Tree in Jedi Temple and how that single tree affects the entire region. It may be closer to you since you must go to the Temple often."
"Yes, and I can't wait to hear more about it."
You smile at him, moving slightly forward as he pulls you, your arm draping further.
He continues, "I love how your writing is so poetic yet simple. And just the way you're describing minuscule details of the loss of history and ecology, it feels as if- it shows how much heart you've put into this..." You're about to melt in his arms, "I need to salute you for the duality you carry in yourself because when I'm usually in conversation with you, you're such a goofball."
You blink and then laugh, throwing your head backwards. You can hear him chuckle as well. When you straighten yourself, your other hand also finds its place behind his neck. You look into each other's eyes and smile. It's such a precious moment, you think to yourself.
"Sir," a service droid called from behind the counter, "your food is ready."
You blinked, knowing all nice moments have to end sometime, and you moved your hands. Yet his stay there, as well as his eyes. They shift to your lips, back to your eyes, behind you; he takes a deep breath and looks away from you to the Droid, who's handing him the food box. He moves his hand away from you as he stands, and you step back.
"Well," he says as he picks up the box, "duty calls."
You smile and nod. He smiles at the ground as he starts to move away from you.
"Hey, Rex," you call. He snaps his head back to you, "would you like to have dinner tonight? My place?"
"Of course, Lou," he leans in and kisses your cheek. Why is he so cute? "Can't wait to hear more Jedi jokes," he whispers. Why is he so cheeky? You chuckle as you playfully push him away. And he walks out, giving a single wave with the sweetest smile. You're a puddle.
"Niiice," Tai roared, enjoying the situation very much.
You roll your eyes. Embarrassed and flushed, you settle yourself in the seat across from them.
"By the way," Tai says, "I've taken the liberty of ordering your usual and also," a smirk formed on Tai's face, they whipped out the photos they clicked of Rex and you living the moment, and they giggle. You hide your face behind your palms as if that will hide your excitement and embarrassment.
Later that evening, Rex comes over for dinner. You jokingly show him the pictures Tai clicked. He asks if he could have them too. You talk, eat, laugh, invite him to your work party and exchange Jedi jokes later.
The next day Rex had accidentally swiped a little too far on his datapad in front of a few 501st troopers, but by the end of the day, everybody in the Grand Army of the Republic and their Tookas knew about you.
(To be continued...)