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Rex stepped inside the small quarters that had graciously been assigned to him.
He had tried to protest that having his own room was unnecessary. But his objections had been promptly ignored and well… here he was.
There wasn’t much. Just a bunk, a single shelf for personal belongings that sat beneath a window and a door to what Rex assumed was a fresher. But that was honestly more than Rex had expected.
He slowly approached the shelf and carefully placed his helmet on top of it before he took a step back. Rex absently traced one of the compartments of his belt as he stared at the empty spot beside his helmet.
He had never been a materialistic man. Being a clone made sure of that. For most of his life, Rex had never really owned a thing. Not even himself.
Except for that one holopic. The one where he and Cody sported proud looks while Fives and Echo wore beaming smiles.
That was gone now, destroyed alongside the Tribunal when she went down in the chaos of Order 66. Despite the fact that Rex and his brothers shared the same face, his heart still ached at the knowledge that he’d never see the faces of three of his closest vode again.
With a quiet sigh, he flicked open the compartment on his belt and carefully reached inside for the one remaining item from his old life.
It was over a decade old by now. But it was perhaps his most prized possession. As Rex observed the frail object in his hand, he couldn’t stop himself from becoming lost in his memories.
“I told you he’d come here,” Ahsoka whispered to Fives.
Rex glanced between the two. Ahsoka was doing a remarkable job at appearing unaffected by his scowl. But Fives, who was trying to avoid squirming where he sat, was failing miserably.
“Umm, hi Captain,” Fives began nervously. “Is there anything we can help you with?”
Rex scanned the guilty faces of everyone present as well as the stack of flimsi that sat in the middle of their loose circle before he returned his gaze to Fives.
“You can start by explaining why all of my flimsi is gone. And why it’s here.”
“Ah- well… You see..” Fives stammered but whatever he was about to say was interrupted by Ahsoka sighing dramatically.
“Oh don’t be a sour puss Rexter, we were just borrowing it.”
Rex glanced at the balls of crumpled up flimsi that decorated the barracks floor. “Right. Borrowed.”
Ahsoka grinned. “Alright, maybe we weren’t giving it back. But we took it for a good reason!”
Curious, Rex lifted an eyebrow. “Oh? Care to elaborate Commander?”
Ahsoka brightened and she gestured for him to approach while shuffling to the side to make space for him. “Take a seat and prepare to be amazed.”
Rex sighed but obediently made his way to the empty spot that Ahsoka had created. “Well…” he drawled once he was situated. “I'm waiting to be amazed.”
Ahsoka gave his shoulder a shove and gestured towards the centre of the circle. “We’re making origami.”
Rex frowned. “You stole my flimsi… to make origami?”
“Yup!” Ahsoka replied. “I thought it would be fun. You know, something to boost morale.”
Rex wasn’t sure how folding flimsi could be considered fun. But he trusted her decisions, even if they seemed a little strange at times.
A piece of flimsi was shoved into his hand and Rex stared at it in confusion. “What-”
A datapad was shoved into his other hand. “We have some tutorial videos. Have a look Rexter, I bet you’ll find one that catches your eye.”
Rex hummed, but tapped the power button and began scrolling through the options before he finally selected one at random.
He felt Ahsoka’s eyes on him and glanced over her, only to find that Ahsoka was watching him with a surprised but impressed expression. “Feeling bold eh Rex.”
“Why?” he asked suspiciously.
Ahsoka smirked and turned back to her own piece of flimsi. “Ohhhh no reason.”
Rex resurfaced from the fond memory, blinking away the filmy sheen that had obscured his eyesight as he refocused.
His attempts at origami that night had left much to be desired. Ahsoka had put everyone to shame and produced a beautifully intricate rose which fit neatly in the palm of her hand.
But as everyone roared with laughter at each other's failed attempts, Rex had realised that it didn’t matter.
Ahsoka had been right. It had certainly been a morale booster for everyone.
And when it was time for everyone to either leave for their shifts or head to their bunks for the night, Ahsoka had gently taken hold of his hand with one of hers and placed her rose into the palm of his hand.
The wistful smile on his face faded. That had been just before Cato Neimoidia. Before Ahsoka had been framed for bombing the temple and her subsequent departure.
Things didn’t quite feel the same after Ahsoka had left. He would often catch himself turning to his side only to find the space that Ahsoka used to occupy empty. He started to keep the flower that Ahsoka had made for him inside his belt compartment and sometimes his ammo pouch as a keepsake… and a reminder that Ahsoka was still out there, somewhere.
If he was asked about it, Rex would say that it was a lucky charm. No one questioned him on it, but Rex could tell by the knowing looks on his brothers faces, especially those who had known Ahsoka, that they knew.
And then she came back and things had changed.
Not just the fact that Ahsoka had matured. Or that everything they had ever known was destroyed with three words.
Their relationship changed. They had always been friends, best friends even.
But during that time when they had been on the run together, their feelings towards each other turned into something else.
Something that they explored together.
And when their duties called for them to be apart. That little origami rose continued to serve its original purpose. It was a keepsake, a reminder that Ahsoka, his cyare was still there.
But it also became something that helped Rex remember that there was still good left in the galaxy.
Rex sighed and placed the rose down onto the shelf. After Ahsoka’s messages had stopped, Rex had begun to wonder if he was being foolish for continuing to hold onto the rose.
For years, he had feared that Ahsoka had died, even if that tiny spot inside him could feel that she was alive. And he was proven right.
And now here he was, hiding away in his quarters while he reminisced like the old fool that he was.
A quiet, but firm metallic rapping startled Rex and he twisted around to face the door.
Rex wasn’t sure how long he spent staring at the door as he fought to regain his composure, but it was obviously long enough for his vis- Ahsoka to knock again.
“Rex?”
Rex cleared his throat, hoping that it would chase away the tight knot in his throat. “Come- come in.”
He watched as the door was pushed open with a faint metallic creak. Moments later, Rex was greeted with the sight of Ahsoka carefully stepping into his room before closing the door behind her.
They had technically reunited earlier, but this encounter felt different… weighted. There was no one around, no judgemental eyes watching them closely.
Seconds later his arms were full of Togruta. Her own strong arms wrapped around his back, squeezing him just as tightly as he was her.
His emotions were as tumultuous as the oceans of Kamino and the breath in his chest stuttered more than once, but Rex could be forgiven after being separated from Ahsoka for more years than he cared to count.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d come,” Ahsoka quietly whispered. She sounded small, so unlike the formidable fighter that Rex knew she was.
Rex slid his hands up Ahsoka’s back until he had hold of her shoulders and gently pushed her so he could see her face. “Why wouldn’t I come?”
Ahsoka shrugged and lowered her gaze. “I don’t know. You’ve been retired for years now and when your messages stopped… I know what the reason was now but-”
Rex reached up and cradled Ahsoka’s cheek. The intimate gesture still felt as natural as breathing even after all the time that had passed.
When Ahsoka didn’t pull away, Rex leaned in and pressed his forehead against hers. “Ahsoka,” he sighed.
They didn’t speak for a while after that. They would later, but right now their emotions were high and both of them needed the comfort of this quiet encounter, this moment that would start to smooth away the jagged edges of hurt.
When they broke apart, Ahsoka’s entire demeanour looked lighter than before. “You always did give the best hugs.”
Rex chuckled. “Well, your hugs are nothing to knock. I’m feeling better already.”
Ahsoka’s eyes were sparkling and Rex was sure that he was smiling like an idiot, but he didn’t care.
“So you’ve made yourself at home?” she asked, giving his room a once over.
“As much as I can. I didn’t really have much to bring with me so-” he trailed off when he heard Ahsoka let out a quiet sound.
Before he could ask what was wrong, Ahsoka started walking towards the shelf where his possessions lay and carefully scooped up the rose.
Rex watched as Ahsoka gently ran her fingers over the aged flimsi, her eyes gaining a far off look to them, no doubt recalling the time that she had given it to him.
“You kept it.”
“Yeah,” he rasped. “I kept it.”
Ahsoka looked up at him then, her eyes were bright with wonder and unshed tears. “I can’t believe you kept it. After all this time, I never knew.”
Rex nodded as he came to a stop at her side. “It’s been my most cherished possession,” he admitted as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and leaned his head against her montrals.
“Except you.”
He heard Ahsoka let out a shaky breath before she carefully placed the rose back down on the shelf and turned to face him.
She lifted a hand and Rex stood stock still as Ahsoka began to run her fingers over his face, studying his features curiously.
Rex had wondered what Ahsoka would think of him now. He had admittedly feared that she would not want to rekindle their relationship when she saw how much he had changed.
But that nagging fear was chased away with each gentle pass of her slender fingers. Then Ahsoka was throwing her arms around him and burrowing her face into the crook of his neck.
Rex wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body tightly against his, marvelling at how after all this time, their bodies still slotted together perfectly.
“So,” he murmured against the curve of her montral. “What now?”
“Well, that's up to you,” Ahsoka replied, her words slightly muffled from where her face was still squished into his neck. “But I was thinking that we could get something to eat from the mess and then, spend some time together.”
Rex hummed in agreement and leaned back just enough so he could hook a finger beneath Ahsoka’s chin and tilt her face up. “On one condition.”
“Does this condition involve a kiss perchance.”
Rex grinned. “You read my mind.”