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Ahsoka took a deep breath before knocking on the door. “Why did you come here Ahsoka? She probably doesn’t even care about seeing you,” she muttered to herself while waiting for someone to answer.
“What’s the password?” a deep voice chuckled from the door’s intercom. Ahsoka immediately recognized the voice.
“Zeb, it’s Ahsoka”
“I said what’s the pass word.” Zeb chuckled more.
“No one told me there was going to be a password,” Ahsoka sighed and shook her head while the door pops open quickly. She looks up at the laughing Lasat while he smiles and looks back down at her.
“You’re late Fulcrum party is starting to dwindle down,” he noted as Ahsoka stepped into the break room noting the small group of people talking in small groups or just plainly passed out on a lounger.
“How have you been Zeb?”
“Alright, heard a lot about you though. Sabine had a lot to say about you.”
“I’m sure she did.” Ahsoka let out a heavy sigh and crossed her arms while quickly scanning the room once more. She saw Hera sitting in the corner talking to some pilots all with drinks in hand.
“Don’t worry Sabine’s not here, she doesn’t come to these, makes her too depressed,” Zeb said in an almost mocking tone.
“Ahsoka!” Hera had noticed her over her should and shouted at them from across the room with a wave in her free hand. Ahsoka smiled and waved back while the Twi'lek attempted to stand, stumbling on her first step.
“How late am I?” Ahsoka whispered. Zeb shrugged.
“Not too late for a drink. Do you want one?”
“I don’ really drink…” Ahsoka felt herself shrink back as Hera approached them. Hera’s self confidence and beauty was intimidating to her, even in this intoxicated state.
“I’m so glad you came!” Hera wrapped her arms around Ahsoka swiftly and tightly. Ahsoka immediately felt herself tighten up and blush as Hera hugged her, feeling the warmth of her body pressed against. She smelled of a soft sweet perfume and a twinge of alcohol.
“Zeb go get Ahsoka some jet juice,” Hera said while letting go of Ahsoka. Her hand lingered on the small of Ahsoka’s back.
“Ahsoka says she doesn’t drink.”
“Actually I could use a drink but maybe something not as strong.” Ahsoka noted. Zeb shrugged and smirked at the two before walking over to the bar.
“You look good, is that a new poncho?” Hera asked.
“Oh thanks, it is. You look great as usual.”
Hera pressed her lips together before pulling them into a smile. “As usual?” she asked with a raised brow. Ahsoka just nodded in response, trying not to stare at Hera’s beautiful smile.
“A Jedi Mind Trick for Lady Tano” Zeb said handing her a bright blue neon drink.
“Is that really what it’s called?”
“Zeb, she asked for something light”
“Relax I went light on the hooch. Taste it.”
Hera stared at Ahsoka for a moment, not sure what she was looking for, as the former Jedi awkwardly brought the bubbling drink to her mouth, sniffing it, before taking a cautious sip. Ahsoka raised her brows and gave a slight nod. “It’s pretty good.”
Zeb light punched Ahsoka on the shoulder. “Ah it worked! That’s what I wanted you to think.”
“Come on let’s go sit down,” Hera gestured at a nearby couch. “Hey Zeb can you make me one of those too?”
“I don’t really know if you should have more.” Zeb chuckled. Hera glared at him while sitting down. “I was just joking General Syndulla.” Zeb winked back at her and saluted before walking back to the bar to get her another.
“So what exactly is the party for?’ Ahsoka asked sitting next to Hera.
“Zeb and some of the pilots from Phoenix squadron throw me a party on the day I got promoted to General.”
“Oh that’s considerate.”
“I guess… but it’s not really about that though. I was made General right before the battle of Lothal.” Hera took a long deep breath and made eye contact with Ahsoka, “It’s mostly just Zeb’s idea and they’ve been doing it every year. It’s really just a good excuse to get black out drunk.”
“Ah and I finally got an invite…”Ahsoka looked down at drink; suppressing insecure thoughts of being an outsider in the moment.
“Can you blame us? It doesn’t really seem like your scene.”
“So why did Zeb invite me now?”
“I asked him to. I missed you.” Ahsoka perked up and smiled at Hera. The air in her throat suddenly felt heavy and warm. Hera broke their eye contact and began to fidget with her own hands. “After what happened with Sabine we haven’t really been talking as often and I just wanted you to know that I don’t blame you for everything.” Hera looked at Ahsoka again with soft somber eyes and her cheeks flushed from drinking. She reached for Ahsoka’s empty hand that was resting on the couch. “We are friends, right?” The feeling of Hera’s hand on hers sent of a wave of electricity and warmth through her body that Ahsoka had not felt in ages. Overwhelmed with both the sensations and memories she pulled her hand away. “Oh I’m sorry.” Hera quickly apologized with a frown of concern.
“No I’m sorry,” Ahsoka quickly responded to dismiss any guilt Hera might have been feeling, “ I was just reminded of an old friend. Someone from the Academy...” Hera waits for Ahsoka to continue to explain, filled with excitement and curiosity that she might speak of her past but the former Jedi does not.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Hera’s voice was filled a nurturing warmth. Ahsoka looked down at her drink thinking that if she was going to talk about Barriss with anyone, it probably would be Hera. But it would have to be another time; when she was sober.
“No, not really, things ended terrible between us.” Ahsoka said bluntly before taking a sip of her drink. Hera pouted in disappointment but didn’t pry. When the silence became too awkward Hera placed her hand on Ahsoka’s shoulder.
“It’s okay. I just want you to know that if you ever do need talk about anything I can be your friend and listen.”
“Thanks, I really do appreciate that.” Ahsoka smiled and placed her hand on Hera’s.
“As long as you listen to my complaining about the bureaucracy of the new Republic.”
“I’m not sure that’s a fair trade,” Ahsoka chuckled.
“You have no idea,” Hera brought back her hand as she began to vocalize with her arms, her voice raised and her brow scrunched, “Mon Mothma and Senator Organa are making me got to a formal party next week and I am absolutely dreading it.”
“Why are you dreading it?”
“They want me to schmooze with a rich Twilek investor from Corruscant. Leia thinks we can get more funding for ships and pilot recruitment.”
Ahsoka frowned, “Why do they need you do that? You’re a general.”
“Apparently, he asked about me specifically in a previous conversation with Leia and I must go and represent the fleet at these sorts of things from time to time. We’re not an underground rebellion that works from the shadows anymore.” Hera reaches over to the side table and finishes a drink that was left on it. Ahsoka is unsure who it belonged to and doesn’t say anything in response, unsure of what to say. Hera begins to fidget with her hands again; a habit Ahsoka has noticed she picked up when she became a mother. “Sorry sometimes I get really frustrated.” Hera began to calm down but a frown remained on her face. She let out a heavy sigh, “This is what I have to look forward to. My pilots forced to do mundane work like giving speeding tickets and be at the mercy of the rich of Corrusant? This is what Kanan…” Hera began to sob. “and Ezra what they fought for?”
“Hey hey they saved of countless people from the regime of the Empire.” Ahsoka wrapped her arms around Hera in a panicked attempt to comfort her. One arm across the back of her shoulders and the other grabbing her hands. “I know things aren’t perfect, but we can’t think like that.”
“I know I’m sorry I just miss them so much and I’m drunk.” Hera took a deep breath and wiped away tears that were starting to form. Zeb returned and sat next to Hera on her other side handing her the drink she asked for earlier.
“Sorry I’m not interrupting anything am I?” Zeb knowingly joked to Hera who in turn slapped him on the knee. Zeb recognized that Hera was upset and changed the flow of the conversation to small talk. They are joined with some of the other pilots in conversation and everyone begans to reminisce about the earlier days of the new republic. Ahsoka was careful about how much she drank while she watched Zeb and Hera throw caution to the wind. The two tried to out do the other long after the three of them were the only ones still there. When the Twi-leks words began to slur Ahsoka spoke up.
“Hera you should probably stop.”
“Yeah Ahsoka is right it’s time to give up loser.” Zeb drunkenly mocked.
“Nah itsss fiiine. I don’t work for the resssst of the weeek any way. I really gotta peee though.” Hera attempted to stand but immediately fell back onto the couch. “Ok Ahsssoka is right.”
“We should probably get her home to the Ghost, it’s parked up on the roof” Zeb and Ahsoka helped Hera stand draping one of her arms across each of their backs. They dragged her up to the lift while Hera protested that she could walk alone, failing each attempt. When they go to the Ghost they were greeted by Alexsandr Kallus and Chopper. Chopper immediately grumbled at the three of them accusing Zeb and Ahsoka of taking poor care of his Mom.
“Leave them alone Chopper I made my own choices tonight.”
“You look like you all had a lot of fun,” Kallus chuckled, “Jacen and I had a lot of fun working on puzzles. I put him to bed a while ago. He’s been sleeping soundly.”
“Thanks for watching over him.” Hera said as Ahsoka and Zeb place her into one of the lounge room chairs.
“It was a pleasure. Ready to get going Zeb?”
“Yeah. I’m beat.”
“Don’t you have a job with Captain Teva? I told you not to overdo it.”
“Ah I’ll be fine.” Zeb waved his arms in a dismissive manner while he pulled Ahsoka away to whisper in her ear. “Can you take care of Hera tonight and tomorrow morning. You can sleep in my old room. We really over did it.”
“Yeah of course.”
“Thanks” Zeb patted Ahsoka on the shoulder before quickly saying goodbye to Hera and leaving with Kallus.
After awkwardly helping Hera to the refresher and arguing with Chopper about responsibility Ahsoka helped Hera to her room and onto her bed in the dimly lit bedroom.
“Thanks for helping me Ahsoka.” Hera said while flopping onto her bed. She awkwardly managed to sit up and take her boots off.
“I’ll go get you some water.” Ahsoka promptly left and came back with a bottle of water. Hera was laying down on top of the covers on her side facing away from the door. “Here you should drink some now.” Ahsoka said as she approached Hera to hand her the water, she saw Hera crying holding a photo of Kanan. “Um are you ok?” Ahsoka asked and sat net to Hera on the bed.
“I was terrible to him,” Hera sobbed.
“What do you mean?”
“I always put the Rebellion before him. He wanted to settle down long before that and if we had just done that he might still be here.”
“You don’t know that,” Ahsoka sighed and placed her hand on Hera’s shoulder, “besides I know that Kanan always did want you to follow your dreams even if that wasn’t exactly what he wanted. Your dedication of the cause is noble and inspiring. I have always admired it.”
“Did you two talked about me?” Hera asked as she continued to stare at the opposite wall.
“No, I could just see it in the way he looked at you.” There was a somberness in Ahsoka’s voice. She suddenly felt a twinge of guilt and pulled her hand off Hera’s shoulder. “I should get going-“ Ahsoka started to get up Hera quickly asked her to wait.
“You know Kanan was always jealous of you.” There was a playfulness in Hera’s voice as she turned around and sat back up to face the Tortuga.
“Why?”
“He said you and your master were well known in the academy for being incredible duelists.”
“I don’t know about me but my Master was known for that… but Master Billaba was a model Jedi filled with wisdom and was also a well renowned duelist and she clearly had taught him well. There’s no reason to be jealous of that…”
“Well, that wasn’t the only reason… he didn’t like the way you looked at me.”
“What?” Ahsoka felt her cheeks turn red and Hera scooted closer on the bed to try to get a better look at her reaction.
“Of course, he didn’t like that I think you’re good-looking either.” Ahsoka had no response as she crossed her arms and stared at the wall. She wondered if she should just walk out the door but she felt herself being frozen at what she had just heard Hera say. She had convinced herself that she was just imagining that Hera could ever feel the same way about her. That those looks across the room were just in her imagination. Lost in her thoughts she didn’t notice how much closer Hera had gotten to her until she felt one of her arms brushing up against her Lekku, wrapping around her waist and Hera’s warm soft body against her back. Hera whispered into her ear, “was he right to be jealous about that?”
“Yes…” Ahsoka responded meekly while Hera’s hand wandered down from Ahsoka’s waist to her thigh. Ahsoka turned her head to face Hera but the smell of alcohol from Hera’s breath overwhelmed her. She quickly removed herself from the embrace and turned to face Hera on the bed looking up at her in the dark with a disappointed pout.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re drunk, we can’t, not like this.”
Hera looked up at her confused, like a spoiled child who had their favorite toy taken away, “I’m sorry.”
“Goodnight Hera.” Ahsoka said in a panicked manner as she fled the room. She quickly went to the empty barrack Zeb pointed out to her earlier as his room and she went to bed. Eventually falling asleep as she tried to not think about all the things she could have been doing.
Hera woke up with a pounding headache. She searched her bed for Jacen. Normally he wakes up in the middle of the night and sneaks into bed with her, but he was not there. She noted how it was unusual and made her way to go check on him.
“Mommy!” she heard Jacen shout from down the hall. She looked over to the lounge to see Ahsoka sitting with him at the table eating.
“Mommy! Why didn’t you tell me Ahsoka wasn’t going to visit us!”
“I wasn’t sure she was going to.” Hera smiled at Ahsoka while she sat down next to Jacen and hugged him.
“Mommy you smell weird.” Jacen said bluntly with a wrinkled face.
Ahsoka laughed and pointed to a bowl of porridge, “I know it doesn’t look good, but Rex used to swear that stuff was the best for a hangovers.”
“Thanks, I hope Jacen hasn’t been too much of a handful.” Hera asked as she cautiously looked at the pink porridge that had pieces of ronto jerky floating out of the top.
“Oh not at all we’ve been having lots of fun.” Ahsoka reached over to Jacen and patted his head, purposely messing with his green hair, making him laugh.
“I’m sorry if I was a handful too… I don’t really remember much after you and Zeb brough me back…” Hera said noting a look of disappointment in Ahsoka’s face as she apologized.
“Ahsoka was telling me about the Clone wars! Did you know she fought in the battle of Ryloth like granddad.” Jacen excitedly cut her off.
“No I did not!” Hera exclaimed in mild shock looking back at Ahsoka who immediately was shaking her head in disagreement with Jacen’s statement. “How old where you? You must’ve been young?
“I was 13. My master and I aided to break the Separatist blockade, but I got cocky and didn’t listen to my superiors when they told me to retreat on our first assault and lost many of my squadron. I… still feel guilty about it to this day.” Embarrassed Ahsoka looked over at Hera who was smiling at her with pure admiration.
“Don’t feel sorry. You breaking that blockade was a major turning point in the war. Seeing those Republic ships fly down into the atmosphere is what inspired me to be a pilot!”
“Really?” Ahsoka couldn’t help but smile back at the excitement shown on Hera’s face.
“Really.”