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Cody had expected it to feel different.
He understood, of course, that things wouldn't change overnight - even with the passing of the Clone Citizenship Bill, the easiest way to feed, clothe, and house hundreds of thousands of now-unemployed citizens was to use the existing infrastructure and systems - but as he stood in line with dozens of his siblings, he couldn't help but feel a bit of disappointment. It was the outcome they hadn't dared even hope for, and yet he was still in the same uniform, following the same directions to return to the same quarters aboard the Negotiator where he had spent the past three years.
"What are you thinking about?" Rex asked, his fingers interlaced in Cody's own.
That was different, Cody supposed. They had been exceptionally careful to keep their relationship private during the war - but they were people now, and people were allowed to be publicly affectionate with one another.
"Cody?" Rex prompted, nudging him gently in the side.
"It's nothing," Cody said, shaking the thoughts away. "Just… I guess I was expecting more fanfare."
Rex chuckled. "I've heard from many reliable sources that standing in line to get your ID card is just one of the many thrilling things we can look forward to as citizens of the Republic. Right up there with filing our taxes and being summoned for jury duty."
Cody snorted. "Force, can you imagine?"
"I heard Wolffe already got called," Rex said, grinning. "A full three hours after he got his RSSID card."
"You're joking."
"Nope. The judge apparently didn't know what to do with him."
"Well," Cody said, looking down the long line of vode still in front of them, "that's one record of Wolffe's I don't care to try to beat."
"Mm," Rex agreed, leaning into Cody's shoulder. "Still deciding on a surname?"
"Have you picked one?" Cody asked. Choosing a name had been hard enough the first time around as a cadet, in Cody's opinion, and he couldn't really imagine himself being addressed by anything else.
"I thought about Skywalker or Tano," Rex said, "or maybe Amidala."
"I'm sensing a 'but' coming," Cody replied, arching an eyebrow.
"You know some natborns just use their parent's name as a surname?"
Cody frowned. "I thought you didn't want Fett."
"I don't," Rex replied, "although Fives thinks it would be hilarious to pick 'Prime'. No, I was thinking something more like Alphason."
"Alphason," Cody repeated, testing the name out on his tongue, "Seventeen's going to be so annoyed."
Rex shrugged. "Then he should have given me a better suggestion when I asked him."
"Well now you have me curious. What did he suggest?"
Rex fished out his comm, holding it out for Cody to see.
"That's just a knife emoji."
"I know."
"I'm not sure that we can legally do that."
"I know," Rex said, slipping the comm away again. "No one else was particularly helpful either."
"I assume Bly and Wolffe took their Jedi's names?"
"Yeah, Ponds as well, I think."
"What about Fox?"
"He said 'you'll find out soon enough'," Rex replied, rolling his eyes.
"Of course," Cody said. "He would say that."
"I think the Corries might all be planning something together, but I'm not sure," Rex admitted. "What about Kenobi?"
"Hmm," Cody hummed thoughtfully. "Obi-wan said I could have it - he offered to the entire 212th, in fact - but it just doesn't feel right."
"Well," Rex said, nudging his shoulder affectionately, "you've still got a few minutes left to decide."
"Name?" The bored-looking clerk asked without looking up from her datapad.
"Cody."
"Surname?"
Cody shot a quick look towards Rex, who smiled back encouragingly. "Alphason."
"How old are you, Mister Alphason?"
"Thirteen and a half."
"And where are you currently residing?"
"Uh… the Negotiator. Command Quarters."
The clerk nodded, chewing on the end of her stylus as she held out her datapad. "This you?"
Cody skimmed the information on the screen. "Yes ma'am."
"Very good. Your RSSID card will be sent to you by courier droid by end of day, Mr. Alphason, along with your banking information and your new credit chit. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?"
"No, th-"
"Actually, yes," Rex said. "Can we be married?"
The clerk looked up. "Like now? Or in general?"
Rex shot a look at Cody. "I was thinking now, if it's possible."
The clerk raised an eyebrow at Cody. "That rather depends on you, I think."
"Yes, absolutely," Cody said, reaching out to take Rex's hand again. "Now sounds perfect."
The clerk shot them both a disbelieving look, but shrugged. "You'll both need to sign here…"
"Well," Cody said, swiping his key to access the apartment, "this is it. Home."
It wasn't anything particularly special - a double bedroom apartment on the midlevels with a view of the dive bar across the way - but it was theirs, and that's all that really mattered.
"It's perfect," Rex said, stepping inside to look around. "Well… almost perfect."
"Almost?" Cody asked, leaning against the kitchen countertop. "What'd I miss?"
"What the fuck are these?" Rex asked, gesturing towards the window.
"Curtains," Cody said drily.
"Plastihide curtains?" Rex asked incredulously. "With a pattern that makes you dizzy if you stare at it for too long?"
"I figured we would be taking a trip to Spikea soon enough," Cody said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I didn't realize it would be such a dealbreaker."
"I suppose I can put up with them for a few days," Rex said, "depending on how good the mattress is."
"Is that an invitation, Mr. Alphason?" Cody asked, grinning as he followed Rex towards the master bedroom.
"I think it might be, Mr. Alphason," Rex shot back, picking up the pace. "After all, there's no place like home."
"… we need a better mattress," Rex said, his fingers idly twisting through Cody's hair. "This one sucks."
"I don't know," Cody replied, smirking up at his husband, "this one seems pretty good to me."
Rex rolled his eyes. "That's because you're lying on my chest and not the actual bed."
"Picky, picky," Cody teased. "First the curtains, now the mattress… I have to wonder if this is all an elaborate plot to get me to take you to Spikea."
Rex laughed, the sound echoing through his chest against Cody's ear. "I have heard they have excellent meatballs."
"Meatballs," Cody repeated, sitting up ever so slightly, "at the furniture store??"
"Or so Jesse told me," Rex said, nodding. "Best in the galaxy, apparently."
"…I'll add them to the shopping list," Cody muttered, relaxing into Rex's chest again.
Rex leaned into him, close enough that Cody could feel the warmth of his breath on his cheek.
"You should add a blåhaj too," Rex whispered, his voice cracking as he tried not to laugh. "Or three."
"There's only so much room on the bed, Rex," Cody huffed.
Rex shrugged. "We've slept in tighter spaces. This is positively roomy compared to the pods on Kamino."
"Until you fill it up with stuffed sharks," Cody said pointedly.
"Have you ever actually seen a blåhaj?" Rex asked. "Their doofy grins are irresistible."
Cody sighed. "Fine. The blåhajs can-"
"Blåhajar," Rex corrected, grinning as Cody glared up at him. "The plural of blåhaj is blåhajar."
"Fine. The blåhajar can sleep in the spare room."
"Thank you, Cody," Rex said, planting a kiss on the top of his head. "I love you."
"I love you too," Cody grumbled affectionately, "even if you're ridiculous."
"Rex, come here," Cody said, retrieving the ornate envelope from the pile of other datacards and advertisements they had received over the past few days. If there was one thing he hadn't quite anticipated about being a person, it was how much stuff needed to be done just to maintain the status quo. Bills, advertisements, invitations and interview requests just seemed to keep piling up, and Cody wasn't entirely sure how natborns managed to keep track of it all.
"Hm?" Rex asked, snaking his arms around Cody to lean over his shoulder. "Another request for The Latest Late Show with Jim'mi Cald'ra?"
Cody shook his head, holding up the delicate envelope for Rex to see. "It's real flimsi, with a wax seal and everything."
"Who the hell is sending us stuff with wax seals?" Rex asked, reaching out to take the envelope.
"Maybe it was sent to us by mistake?"
"Maybe…" Rex said, turning it over. "Or not."
It was addressed to 'Retired Commanders Rex and Cody Alphason' in a decorative but legible script, leaving no doubt about who the intended recipients were meant to be.
"Hang on," Cody said, frowning. "Is that the seal of the Alderaanian Royal Family? Why would they be sending us mail?"
"Maybe it's a housewarming gift from Senator Organa?" Rex said, shrugging. "We won't know until we open it."
"True enough," Cody agreed, watching as Rex deftly wiggled the envelope open. "Well?"
"It's an invitation, I think," Rex said, leaning further into Cody to get a better look. "You are hereby invited as guests of honour to attend the Investiture of his Lordship, Fox Organa, Duke of-"
"What."
"That's what it says!" Rex said defensively, holding the invitation up for Cody to see.
"Fox Organa," Cody repeated, still not quite believing it. "How the hell did he manage that?"
"More importantly, how the hell did he manage to become a Duke? I thought Organa was famously unbribable?"
"I don't know," Cody said, pulling out his comm, "but I sure intend to find out."
[PRIVATE COMMUNICATION GROUP #1020462739: ALPHA-17'S PROBLEM CHILDREN]
>[REXSSUNSHINE] posted an image
[REXSSUNSHINE]
>@[FOXINSOX] what the fuck is this[FOXINSOX]
>an invitation
>obviously
>despite the fact that u didnt invite us to ur wedding[CODYSCYARE]
>we didn't have a wedding
>we eloped[FOXINSOX]
>doesnt matter
>u know how much i love government bureaucracy[seventeen knife emojis]
>he's got a point
>how dare you brats not give me the opportunity to give you away at the altar[REXSSUNSHINE]
>I don't think that's how anything works[WOLFFESONOFPLO]
>no no i think Seventeen has a point
>you should have invited us to your elopement[BLYSECURA~~]
>yeah :(
>it would have been fun[CODYSCYARE]
>we could recreate it
>if you're all so desperate to watch Cody and I sign some forms[VODESCHOLAR]
>the moment has passed I fear
>it just wouldn't be the same :(([FOXINSOX]
>btw u all better not show up to my investiture in ur uniforms[REXSSUNSHINE]
>Why not?
>Isn't that exactly the sort of thing retired natborn officers wear their uniforms to?[FOXINSOX]
>yeah but if u do u will earn the bail look of disappointment™️
>and u dont want that[seventeen knife emojis]
>I'm not the one who's dating him why do i care[BLYSECURA~~]
>wait what[VODESCHOLAR]
>You didn't know that??[BLYSECURA~~]
>NO??!?
>I thought Bail and Breha just let him take the name![CODYSCYARE]
>the same way you just took General Secura's name?[BLYSECURA~~]
>uh[WOLFFESONOFPLO]
>no I'm pretty sure they've picked Fox up as their sugar baby[SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE TYPING]
...
[seventeen knife emojis]
>speaking of names…
>what the fuck were you two thinking[REXSSUNSHINE]
>That we like you better than Prime?[CODYSCYARE]
>That you were the least traumatic part of our childhoods?[REXSSUNSHINE]
>That they wouldn't let us make it a number?[seventeen knife emojis]
>…
>you did make Fordo jealous
>so I guess that's acceptable[REXSSUNSHINE]
>I'm so glad you approve[seventeen knife emojis]
>would you have changed it if I didnt[CODYSCYARE]
>No
>But it's nice to have
"I'm not sure that actually accomplished anything," Cody said, sighing as he slipped his comm back in his pocket again, "but it will be nice to see everyone again."
"Not true," Rex said, still typing away on his own comm. "We learned some vital intelligence to help us prepare for the mission ahead."
"Which is?"
"We're going to need Senator Amidala's help."
"Let me get this straight," Cody said, eyeing the rows of multicoloured fabric warily, "you hated the patterned curtains, but you want the Senator from the planet of elaborate outfits to help choose our formalware? Did I get that right?"
"Those curtains deserved to be burned and you know it, Cody," Rex retorted, rolling his eyes. "Besides, Padme is a friend."
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Rex," Senator Amidala said, pulling Rex into a quick hug as she swept into the room, handmaidens in tow. "Those curtains were an abomination."
"Senator Amidala," Cody said, fighting back the urge to salute, "you're looking well."
"Call me Padme," Amidala responded, smiling back at him, "since we're among friends."
"Padme," Cody repeated, trying not to overthink it, "thank you for your assistance with this."
"It's no trouble at all," Amidala replied, turning her attention back towards the racks of fabric. "Besides, Rex has saved both me and Anakin more times than I can count, the least I can do in turn is ensure you're dressed at your best."
"We've been invited as guests of honour to an Investiture on Alderaan," Rex explained, "and given explicit instructions not to wear our uniforms."
"What sort of Guests of Honour?" Amidala asked, gesturing vaguely towards one of her handmaidens as she flipped through the fabrics. "Do you know the Investee personally?"
"It's Fox," Cody said awkwardly. "He's a Duke now."
Amidala turned back around, her eyes narrowed as she studied Rex and Cody carefully. "And you didn't receive any other instructions? As immediate family of the Investee?"
"Uh… no," Cody said, frowning. "Fox just said 'Bail would give you a Look of Disappointment™️ if you show up in your uniform'."
"Seventeen is going to anyway," Rex added, "but I'm fairly certain that's because he refuses to buy clothes out of principle."
"Well," Padme said after sharing a long look with one of her handmaidens, "that's his choice to make, I suppose. But I will ensure you and Cody are both dressed appropriately."
"Do I want to know what, exactly, that entails?" Cody asked, frowning slightly. He tried to picture himself in something like the elaborate finery Amidala usually wore, but all he could conjure was the image of him tripping over something and making an absolute fool of himself.
"Don't look quite so concerned, Commander," Amidala said with a smirk, "Rex told me to go easy on you."
"Cody," he corrected. "If we're among friends."
"Cody, then," Amidala said with a small smile. "I promise to save the makeup and hairdos for another time."
"This is the one you were thinking of, my Lady?" Amidala's handmaiden asked, popping out from the rack of clothes with a dark purple suit jacket in hand.
Amidala nodded, taking the hangar. "Can you find the other one as well? The one with the tailcoat?"
"Oh! Yes of course."
Cody watched her duck back into the maze of clothes before turning his attention back to Amidala and the article in her hands.
"What do you think?" Amidala asked, holding it out for Cody to inspect. "Of the cut, not the colour."
Cody studied it, unsure of exactly what he should be looking for. It was cut shorter than his greys, and from what seemed to be a lighter fabric as well - which meant it would give him a greater range of motion than his greys, but less opportunities to hide a concealed weapon without making it obvious.
"Why a different colour?" Rex asked, leaning over Cody's shoulder. "I like the plum."
Amidala shook her head, holding it out in front of Cody. "It has potential, but it would have to match… actually, will you be in gold or blue? Or red, I suppose, if it's Commander Fox…"
"Um…" Cody said, glancing at Rex. "I don't think Fox said."
"He didn't," Rex confirmed, "but if it's our battalion colours that would be blue for me and gold for Cody."
"Hm," Amidala said thoughtfully. "By tradition on Alderaan, you would be wearing neutrals accented by your Family's colours for this type of ceremony, but since you're in a rather unique situation… Sabe, can you look up the Alderaanian Tradition for families without a coat of arms?"
"Right away, Milady."
"Otherwise," Amidala said as she turned back to face them again, "you should at least pick something that matches well with each other."
"Can we do blue and gold?" Rex asked. "Maybe a dark blue with gold accents?"
"That would fit well with what I've been able to find," Sabe added. "As long as it's not too extravagant with the gold."
"Excellent," Padme said, grinning. "In that case, let's get some measurements so I can reach out to my tailor."
"I take back everything I said," Cody said, unable to tear his eyes away from his husband, "calling in Senator Amidala was absolutely the right call."
"Absolutely," Rex agreed, the gold embroidery on his sleeve catching the light as he fastened his cufflink. "The bowtie is absolutely adorable."
Cody felt his cheeks go red. "That part was my idea, actually."
"Even better," Rex said, leaning in to press a kiss to Cody's cheek. "It suits you."
"As long as it's enough to avoid the Look of Disappointment™️," Cody said, still mesmerized by the way Rex's tailcoat hugged his frame. It was almost reminiscent of his Kama in a way that made Cody certain it was a deliberate choice, and he made a mental note to thank Amidala personally when he saw her again.
"The only thing that would make that suit look better is if it were on the bedroom floor," Rex said, his fingers tracing down Cody's lapel, "but I'm afraid we don't have time for that at the moment."
"Surely Fox wouldn't notice if we're a little bit late," Cody replied, wrapping an arm around Rex's waist and pulling him close.
"You make a very good point, Mr Alphason," Rex murmured, his hands snaking up Cody's back, "a very good point indeed."
"Shall we test your theory then, Mr Alphason?" Cody whispered, pressing a kiss to Rex's jaw.
"Yes," Rex agreed, "I think we shall."
Cody had expected it to feel different, but not like this.
Never in his wildest dreams had he even conceived of the idea that he would arrive at an important event barely on time and slightly disheveled, and yet here he was - civilian clothes made specifically for him, surrounded by his brothers with his husband on his arm, with no threats or battledroids or anything else to worry about.
He had expected it to feel different, but he never would have guessed he could be this happy.