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Cody hasn't been back on Kamino in a while. There is a certain comfort in hearing the waves crash against the buildings, instead of the rapid darts of blaster fire and the heavy booms of plasma cannons. It's quieter than Cody remembers.
He's here for a quick checkup and to pick up new troops. None of it seems as important as checking up on Rex though. Cody recommended Rex for ARC training himself. He's been gone from Cody's side for weeks, leaving Cody to look like a proper fool every time he turned around and there was a different trooper standing in Rex's place. The thought of seeing Rex again quickens his steps.
Cody knows he shouldn't have favorites but he can't help it. As far as he can tell, nobody who has ever worked with Rex can. He has a way about him that makes people trust him - clone brothers and natborns alike. Even though some of his ideas are a little outside the standard rule book. But Rex makes it work, possibly because he has charmed fate to the point where it can't say no to him.
It worked on Cody too. A little too well. He runs his thumb over his lips absentmindedly as he hurries down the gleaming white corridors towards the training halls. That kiss they shared before Rex left for ARC training is still on Cody's mind. They shouldn't have done that. Cody's immediate reaction was to vow to himself never to let it happen again, but now that he's here, and the prospect of seeing Rex is lifting his spirits, he has to admit that he wouldn't mind letting it happen again.
Rex didn't share his concerns, of course. He just beamed at Cody and promised to become the best ARC the 212th had ever seen. Big words. It'll be interesting to see if Rex can put some weight behind them.
Cody smirks as he steps into the training area, thinking about Rex's claim. He finds the room empty - all of its occupants huddled around one single mat. There is cheering and booing in equal measure.
The center of attention turns out to be Rex, who appears to be fighting one of the trainers, albeit one Cody has never seen before. Cody's heart makes an unexpected, excited leap in his chest. He creeps closer, careful not to let the other troopers become aware of his presence too soon. A couple of clone brothers give him curious looks but step aside nonetheless to allow for a better view.
They are fighting with staffs - electricity crackling at both ends. It's not a weapon in their standard arsenal but a good way to get your lights knocked out. An ARC needs to be able to work with all sorts of weapons and even though the power is turned way down, getting slapped with one of those is no joke.
Rex is holding his own remarkably well. Cody tries to appear unaffected but he can't deny the pride that is welling up in his chest at seeing his best trooper outmaneuver an experienced trainer.
Sweat is glittering in Rex's short hair as he evades an otherwise deadly jab. He rolls across the mat and comes to stand not far from Cody, his fellow troopers' hollering edging him on. The glowing ends of the staff form an almost perfect circle when Rex twirls it, grinning. Too confident.
'Don't get distracted now,' Cody thinks. He wants to call out to Rex, remind him not to get too cocky, but he doesn't. Electricity makes the hairs on the back of Cody's neck stand up when the trainer's staff whooshes past him in a surprise attack.
It's not a surprise to Rex. He paries splendidly and forces the trainer into a defensive stance. There's that grin again. Cody knows this is far from over, but he can't stop himself. Elation from a win within grasp is coaxing him into taking a step forward.
And that's when Rex spots him. They lock eyes over the trainer's shoulder. Cody didn't mean to smile, but there it is. Rex's eyes go wide for a moment, but then he flashes Cody a bright smile in return. A mistake.
The trainer's staff hits him square in the side. Cody hisses as if the staff had hit him instead. Rex tumbles but manages to sidestep the incoming blow. The bruise that is surely forming underneath Rex's shirt is impeding his movements. He barely escapes another jab - it glances off his back. While not incapacitating, it will be a problem. An injury like that will render Rex's offensive strikes much less effective.
The grin is gone from Rex's face - replaced by a grimace locked between pain and stubbornness. Cody's palms itch from the urge to step in. He can't. It would invalidate the training exercise, not to mention piss Rex off. But he is getting his ass handed to him and Cody can barely watch.
Rex stumbles, clutching his right arm close to his body, as yet another disastrous hit sends him to the mat. His weapon escapes his grasp. He manages to roll out of the way before the trainer's staff impacts the mat where his shoulder would have been. But it's not enough. The trainer catches him in the chin with the broadside of the staff and sends him flying across the mat.
Cody eyes the trooper next to him. He is holding the same type of staff while yelling at Rex to get up.
Rex grunts, trying to shuffle back onto his feet, but the trainer is on him with a vengeance. He swings his staff as if to deliver a lethal blow but finds it stopped mere inches from Rex's face.
Cody pants from the effort of keeping the trainer at bay and the frenzy of having done something he absolutely shouldn't. The electricity of the two interlocked staffs buzzes as the trainer scrutinizes Cody.
"You are about to make a gave mistake, soldier," the trainer snarls.
Out of the corner of his eye Cody can see Rex looking up at him in a mixture of awe and frustration. Cody nods. "And I'll deal with it accordingly." He pushes the trainer away while Rex struggles onto his feet, wheezing and rubbing his reddening chin.
It's been a long time since Cody went through this training but the staff rests easily in his palm and the movements come back to him in an instant. He lets the staff pass between his hands in a twirl obviously way too playful for the trainer's liking and goes into an offensive stance. Next to him, Rex worms his bare toes under his own staff and kicks it up into his hands.
Cody glances at him over his shoulder. Rex looks a little worse for the wear but there is defiance in his every move. He gives Cody a firm nod as he slips into the same posture.
A murmur goes through the crowd. Some of the troopers must have identified Cody. The trainer couldn't be less impressed. He paries their attack with astounding ease, not missing a beat, even with two trained soldiers coming at him in tandem.
But they are not any two random troopers. They have been doing this for months on the battlefield, and before that during sparring sessions, and, quite possibly, before that when they were both just an idea in the Force. Rex knows exactly when to yield and let Cody take the field. At the same time, Rex is a force all on his own and Cody knows when to let him loose.
They have the trainer panting and on his back within minutes, defenseless. Their audience cheers but is quickly silenced by an admonishing glare from their trainer. Cody and Rex switch off their staffs and each hold out their hand to help the man up.
"So," the trainer says and bestows a vexed look upon both of them as he dusts himself off, "you think this was a good idea?"
Rex stands to attention, albeit a little lopsided since he must still be aching all over. Cody can see him swallowing hard, but the trainer's scowl comes to rest upon Cody so Rex holds his tongue. Cody mirrors Rex's stance, perhaps a little less rigidly. He stares at a point above the trainer's right ear when he answers, "Absolutely."
There is some snickering from the stands and comments along the line of 'Wow, he kriffed up bad.' and 'Wonder what's the punishment for kicking a trainer's shebs.'. Cody ignores them all. He knows he's to blame for this and he'll handle the consequences. He knows it was stupid and neither of them can afford to be stupid. Except, it doesn't exactly feel stupid in a bad way.
"Easy to say in a training environment," the trainer scoffs. "Would you do the same in the field?"
Cody's glance slips to the trainer's face. "I have."
"Would you do it again?"
"Any time, sir," Cody says firmly.
Another round of gasps from the sidelines penetrates the ensuing silence. Cody can feel the anxiety radiating off of Rex. Needless, as it turns out. The trainer suddenly clasps their shoulders and smiles grimly.
"Good," he commends before he turns to their audience. "This is what you do when you see a fellow trooper in trouble. Doesn't matter who you are, what rank you hold, or if it's a trooper from another battalion. You work together and you might just make it out alive."
The group of troopers stands to attention and a chorus of 'Yessir's hits them like a tidal wave. The trainer gives another firm nod. "Dismissed." As the crowd disperses the trainer turns to Cody, but instead of a private reprimand he merely winks at Cody and says, "Commander. Nice to see the cushy command job didn't dull your skills."
"I assure you, there is nothing cushy about it," Cody says. The trainer lets out a single, slightly derogatory 'Ha!' and leaves them to their own devices. Rex finally lets out the breath Cody knows he's been holding. He hangs off of his staff as if it's the only solid thing left on a crashing LAAT/i.
"You okay?" Cody asks, concerned.
Rex slowly straightens up and frowns. "Does that mean I'm not booted from the program?"
Cody chuckles. "I think you're good." His worry recedes at the sight of Rex's smile and turns into something a lot softer.
Rex waves his hand at the mat they are still standing on. "So, that was a good thing we just did?"
"Apparently."
Rex rubs his chin and works his jaw a couple of times, groaning. That's going to become all shades of green and purple soon. Cody winces in Rex's stead. He follows Rex to the wall mounted holder and puts his stolen staff next to Rex's.
"Well," Rex says, grinning, as he turns to Cody, "in that case, let's do it again."
He rests his hand on top of Cody's on the wall holder, acting as if it were a mere coincidence, and Cody becomes lightheaded for a second there. For someone who just almost got beaten in front of the whole class Rex is strikingly self-confident. Maybe that's why Cody likes him so much. Maybe that's one of the many reasons.
"Sure," Cody laughs, "if you like getting your shebs kicked so much…"
Rex makes a disgruntled face. "Okay, you can stop now." He lurches after Cody, who is discreetly steering Rex towards the med bay. He won't go on his own, that much Cody is sure of.
In the meantime, Cody laughs and slings his arm around Rex's shoulders, and if his lips brush against Rex's cheek a little too much when he whispers 'You did good.' that's just as well. And if Rex leans into him a little too heavily after that, well, they are headed for the med bay and no one can fault him for seeking a bit of support.