Chapter Text
Rex has always hated waiting.
He's never been good with stagnation - especially when one of his ad'ike troops is hurt. Echo was practically skin and bone when they found him, pale as a ghost. Kix had told him not to hover in the med-bay, so Rex is stuck pacing in the hallway outside, practically vibrating with worry. It's ironic, he feels. He'd told Hardcase so many times to be patient, but can barely sit still himself.
After about an hour of concerned hovering, Rex's feet are starting to hurt so he takes a seat at the bench in the hallway. His leg bounces without any conscious thought, a habit he thought he'd crushed. Guess not. But he's too tired to stifle the unprofessional action, so he simply lets it do its thing.
"Captain."
Rex looks up at the sound of his name, surprised to see Hunter making his way over to him. The Sergeant sits, rubbing his hands together and clearing his throat. Rex gives him a questioning look.
"Sergeant."
"How's Echo?"
The Captain hums, but the sound is drenched in worry. "He's in good hands. Kix knows what he's doing. I trust him." Hunter gives him a look.
"That's not what I asked."
Rex sighs. "He's…he was in rough shape when we found him…combined with the immediate action afterwards…I don't know. Kix snapped at me 'cause I was hovering, kicked me out before I could find out anything, sorry." He finishes with a chuckle more bitter than he intended.
Hunter hums in response, looking at the wall opposite. The two sit in silence for a while, the quiet only broken by the soft chatter Rex's armour as the plasteriod clicks together with the rhythm of his bouncing leg. Should he be suppressing it? Probably, but Hunter doesn't seem to mind the less than professional habit.
"Rex…" Hunter starts, wringing his hands together in his lap. "Now, I say this as…a bystander. I don't know what kind of relationship you and the General have - if it's casual or what - but…you might want to be more subtle."
Rex blinks, brow furrowing in confusion. Is Hunter disapproving of…his and the General's friendship? "…sorry?"
"You need to be more subtle." Hunter repeats, wincing as if he'd rather be anywhere but here. "I'm not gonna pretend to know anything about Jedi customs or regulations surrounding that, but…"
"The Jedi are allowed to have friends." Rex says, narrowing his eyes a little. Hunter raises his hands in mock-surrender.
"Hey, I'm not judging, Captain. You call it whatever you want- I'm not against it or anything. Y'know…pride and all that, I'm not a prick, not gonna judge you if that's what you like. Some really close friends of mine are like that! I, uh…."
Rex just stares at the Sergeant, absolutely bewildered. What in the name of manda is Hunter even talking about?! He's not even sure Hunter knows what the fuck he's even talking about - the Sergeant is still rambling about being an 'ally'.
"Yeah, um…" Rex clears his throat awkwardly, patting Hunter on the shoulder. "Yeah. You're a good ally to have…"
Hunter flashes him a smile in return, strained and the most painfully awkward. 'Oh my Force get me out of here.' It was less agonising attempting to lie to General Kenobi. Why is Hunter making this so uncomfortable??
After a solid 30 seconds sitting in silence, the Sergeant stands up, pats Rex on the shoulder and leaves. Rex blinks, utterly perplexed.
…what the fuck just happened?