Prompt: Sleepy Captain Rex

Buzzcut -

Among the clone cadets, all the blondies have the same haircut.

In a collective of identical individuals who value their individuality as much as is feasibly possible, here's why -

When Boba is four years old, he doesn't quite understand why the clones are different from him. He knows they are, though. So he looks to the trainers to imitate how to behave, and he treats them kind of like toys. It's fun enough, for a kid with no one else to play with.

And one day he drags his newest playmate back to his rooms to show his father - "Look, he doesn't look right! Look at his hair! Isn't it funny?"

CT -7567 is a cadet who looks the same age as Boba, who has cowlick blonde curls over atop his tan face and his bright brown eyes and he stares up at Jango with wide, wide eyes as Jango stoops to look at him, swatting Boba's hand where it's dragging on the clones arm.

Jango remembers, for the first time in a long time, that his sister had hair like that. That she looked like that - round cheeked and brown eyed and bright haired.

He pats the boy on the head, ruffling his fingers through his locks, a little thinner than Boba's own thick brown. Than Jango's own.

The boy stands very still till Jango's had enough of running his fingers through the strands and stands back up, sending him on his way and ruffling Boba's hair when he pouts about it.

Jango decides not to think about it, after.

Four days later he enters the mess looking for that blonde hair, looking for any blonde hair, and he doesn't find it.

He does find CT-7567, half-hidden in the shadow of a template-perfect CC cadet who dares to fully turn around and face him when Jango focuses on his smaller companion.

That blond hair has been sheared practically down to the skin, those bright brown eyes big and wary of him.

CT-7567 doesn't remind him anymore of his sister.

Right, Jango thinks derisively. What was he thinking? It was nothing more than a defect in the process. the boy was nothing more than a product.

He leaves.

No blonde cadet ever grows their hair out, after that. Even back then the boys all knew - it was never a good thing to garner Jango Fett's attention.

Even after Prime dies, the tradition remains, one batch warning the next behind them to keep the blonde hidden.

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: CC-2224 | Cody & CT-7567 | Rex Characters: CC-2224 | Cody, CT-7567 | Rex, Obi-Wan Kenobi Additional Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Post-Episode: s04e13 Escape From Kadavo, Implied/Referenced Torture, Whipping, Caretaking, Platonic Cuddling, Protective CC-2224 | Cody, CC-2224 | Cody Has Issues, CC-2224 | Cody Needs a Hug, CT-7567 | Rex Needs a Hug, CT-7567 | Rex Whump, Hurt CT-7567 | Rex, CC-2224 | Cody has PTSD, Clone Trooper Mistreatment (Star Wars), Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Slavery, Exhaustion, Aftermath of Torture Summary:

Cody and Rex after Kadavo.

@one-real-imonkey I loved this post, and as I said in my tags when I reblogged it, I made a drabble. I haven’t edited it, so sorry if it’s wonky, but I loved the idea. I hope you like it!

Dye

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Deadcember Day 17: Dark Night

Ever since he was a cadet fresh out of the tube, CT-7567 has been different.

Yeah, the blond hair is a pretty obvious indicator, but there’s something else. Something below the surface.

CT-7567 was always slightly faster, slightly stronger, slightly smarter than his batchmates. He has the best scores in training. Sometimes he knows which one of them was about to sneak up behind him, even if they weren’t making a sound. All of these inexplicable things added up to an anomaly that the Kaminoans just barely missed, despite them keeping a very close eye on him because of his “cosmetic defect.”

And there was the Voice.

The Voice isn’t his inner dialogue or anything—CT-7567 knows that. He can’t explain how or why, but he just knows. The Voice helps him, will tell him to take a left instead of a right to avoid being caught if he was out past curfew, will tell him when to dodge in order to avoid being shot during a training sim.

During one sim, something went wrong and CT-7570 is killed. The Voice seems to scream in pain and it’s almost as if ’67 feels CT-7570 die.

Such an explanation seems ridiculous, but he can’t think of a better one, and it just fits.

CT-7567 knows that his… quirks are strange and unique (are dangerous, are defects) when he asks one of his closest batchmates about it.

“When ’70 was killed, did you… feel anything? Like, pain or something?” He asks CT-7583, who taken to calling himself Keeli.

Keeli looks at him strangely, as if he had suddenly grown a second head (CT-7567 has heard rumors of such defects, though if they ever existed, the Kaminoans would decommission them at the first sign of abnormality). “No,” his batch mate responds. “Did you?”

“N-no. I just… I felt bad after, I guess.”

Keeli wraps his arm around ’67’s shoulders, pulling him close. “Me too.”

Then Keeli pokes ’67’s side, and they devolve into giggles and roughhousing, the day’s events forgotten.

%#%#%

Sometimes, the Voice is less of a Voice and more of a Feeling, like the day the War begins.

By this point, CT-7567 has received a nickname—Rex. He was also bumped up to the command track. He felt slightly out of place, but CC-2224, who likes to be called Cody, took him under his wing.

Over the past two days, there have been whispers of a Jedi on Kamino. Rex knew they were true: he felt the Jedi as soon as they entered the atmosphere. They glowed, brighter than all of his brothers.

Though no one is exactly sure why the Jedi came, they all knew what it meant—the War was here.

The day they are deployed, Rex wakes up feeling tense, as if he’s in a training sim. There’s this sense of foreboding, and Rex wants to prepare, but he doesn’t know what to get ready for, let alone how to do so.

He’s walking back to his barracks after midday meal, his head pounding, when the announcement comes in.

They’re being deployed to Geonosis. This is not a drill.

Rex turns around and runs to the hangars.

%#%#%

On Geonosis, Rex dies countless times.

He’s never felt so much death, so much despair, and it takes everything he has to keep his blaster up and remain on his feet. He keeps fighting, even as brothers and Jedi alike are shot down right in front of him.

He knows his purpose, knows he was bred to fight and even die for the Republic, but he’s not sure he can take it.

%#%#%

Somehow, Rex had been made a captain—he even earned himself some jaig eyes (no matter how undeserving he felt of them) and was assigned to the recently-knighted Anakin Skywalker. They’re headed to their first deployment when General Skywalker pulls him into his quarters.

“I have a question for you, Rex,” General Skywalker begins. Rex isn’t sure what’s about to happen. Did he already do something wrong? Is he going to get decommissioned?

The General continues. “Have you… ever noticed anything different about yourself? Like you know someone’s about to come through the door even if you can’t hear their footsteps, or you can dodge faster than those around?”

Oddly specific questions, but he’s not about to lie to a superior. “Y-yes, sir?”

General Skywalker exhales and smiles. “Cool. I was like 90% sure that I was right, but I had to check.”

“Right about… what, sir?”

“Ok, what do you know about the Force?”

Rex stares.

“Nothing. That’s alright. The Force is like… an energy field. It flows through the entire universe, from the biggest galaxies to the smallest womp rats. Some, like the Jedi, are Force-sensitive, which means they can sense and use it. So basically, um… congratulations, you’re Force-sensitive!”

What.

What.

On Kamino, they learned about the Jedi, how they wield swords made of light and can move objects with their minds. The Jedi sounded mythical, god-like.

And here Rex is, learning that he’s got those same powers.

Oh kriff.

This is it. He’s done for.

“If you’d like, I’d be happy to teach you some stuff. Basic shielding, Force usage, and maybe even some saber training. How does that sound?”

Rex looks at General Skywalker. The man is grinning from ear to ear, not a hint of disgust or deceit on his face.

Trust him, the Voice says. Trust him.

…So he’s not getting decommissioned?

Rex considers the General’s offer. “Do… are you going to tell anyone?”

“No. If you wanna tell people, that’s on you, but I figured, well, if you didn’t know you were Force-sensitive, then it’s not normal for you guys. I don’t want you… getting in trouble or anything. And no need to call me ‘sir.’ Just ‘Anakin’ is fine, at least when it’s just us.”

Rex isn’t quite ready to do that, yet.

After all, he still needs to process that he can potentially move things with his mind.

%#%#%

The war goes on.

Brothers come and are just as quickly caught in death’s chilling grasp. The deaths don’t hurt as much, though, since General Skywalker Anakin taught him how to shield his mind. He’s also learned some basic Force applications. He’s not great at it yet, but he pretty much has the basics down.

He excels at lightsaber training, and enjoys it more than the other things he’s learning. Upon expressing this to Anakin, the Jedi smirks and admits to being much the same.

Despite his protests, Anakin is assigned an actual Padawan, a sassy togruta by the name of Ahsoka Tano. She’s fresh and far too young in Rex’s opinion (like he can talk), but she’s a fast and eager learner. She grows on him and the 501st far faster than he’d like to admit, and for all his initial reluctance, it’s clear that Anakin adores her.

While the Jedi is obviously largely responsible for teaching his Padawan, Rex imparts some of his expertise. Rex learns from her, as well; upon discovering his Force-sensitivity, Ahsoka eagerly contributes to his knowledge and training.

He forges bonds (figurative and literal bonds. Yet another thing you can do when you’re Force-sensitive, apparently) with both Anakin and Ahsoka, which strengthen with every battle fought. It reaches the point where their efficiency and effectiveness are almost unparalleled.

They win battle after battle with minimal casualties. On one memorable occasion, Rex has the opportunity to use his new lightsaber skills, to the shock and awe of his troops.

The tide is turning in the Republic’s favor, and an end to the war is in sight.

Rex isn’t sure what’ll happen to him and his brothers after the war, but he finds himself filled with hope.

And then Ahsoka leaves.

%#%#%

Rex fights battle after battle. He’s lost track of the planets they’ve been on, the brothers he’s lost.

Anakin is more irritable, more prone to giving in to his anger.

Coruscant is attacked.

Count Dooku is killed.

The war is nearly over.

And then—

“Execute Order 66.”

Good soldiers follow orders.

“Yes, Lord Sidious,” CT-7567 replies.

The Jedi are traitors, and they must be dealt with as such, and—

A piercing pain erupts to life on the right side of his head. He staggers, gripping his head. The Force screams and the pain grows and grows and grows—

It explodes in a flash of blinding white light.

%#%#%

CT-7567 Rex wakes up in… a medbay, though he is unsure where he is, exactly. The pain in his head has decreased to a dull throbbing.

His General returns with a new name, confined to a suit because of his former Master’s betrayal. The Jedi attempted to assassinate the Chancellor, Anakin Darth Vader tells him.

The Republic no longer exists and has instead been rebuilt into an empire. The Empire.

Some things stay the same, though. Rex remains at his General’s side, both on and off the battlefield. Vader continues to teach him about the Force, but his methods are far different.

The Force feels twisted and dark, but Rex ignores the unease stirred within him.

After all, he’s right where he should be.

%#%#%

One day, Rex tells Vader of the strange experience he had prior to waking up in the medbay.

“My Master attempted to enslave you,” Darth Vader growls. “Not to worry. One day, I shall possess the strength and skill to strike him down and take his place as Emperor, as is the way of the Sith.”

On the third anniversary of the Empire’s birth, Darth Vader does just that.

Unfettered by his Master’s demands, Vader cracks down on slavery, his justice swift and sure.

He rules with an iron fist, stomping out any signs of dissent, tolerating nothing less than complete loyalty and absolute perfection.

Rex remains by his side, as he always was.

%#%#%

Darth Vader becomes complacent.

Complacency is what gets one killed.

Darth Vader’s problem is that he never suspected his loyal captain, his eager apprentice.

Darth Adenn uses the Force to shove Darth Vader’s body off the throne, stepping on it as he ascends to his rightful place.

Even as the Force plunges ever deeper into the Dark, Emperor Adenn’s eyes glow like the rising sun.

[Adenn= Mando'a for "merciless"]

Febuwhump 7- used as an experiment, Rex

He overhears the guards. He’s been here so long they don’t really care about hiding Separatist secrets from him. They know there’s no chance of Rex being rescued, and Rex stopped trying to escape on his own a long time ago.

They say he’s being transferred.

There might be a way to escape if he’s being moved but… what’s the point? It’s been months. Rex would never betray the Republic, hasn’t spilled one secret and never plans to, but the loyalty he has for the Republic is not reciprocated. He didn’t expect it to be. Out of millions of clones, thousands of captains, one captured prisoner is negligible.

He’d hoped his General and Commander would care enough to try and find him. Maybe they had, but it’s not in them to fail and give up. Either way he would be declared KIA by now.

Nobody is looking for him, nobody needs him. All he can do is quietly rot in one prison or another and do his duty not to reveal secrets that are probably outdated.

Rex walks calmly into the transport and is patient for the hours-long journey. He is led into a facility that looks fairly identical to the last. The first difference he notices is the prominent smell of bacta.

His cell is different too. Well, it’s not a cell, really. More of a medical examination room. He grimaces at the straps on the table. The guards shove him onto it, and despite every bone in his body screaming at him to fight back… he lets them strap him down.

“Oh, is it time for my checkup?” he hums sarcastically. “Your healthcare’s more impressive than what the GAR offers!”

He can still move his head, at least, so he looks around the room. There’s a large mirror that can only be a viewing window with one-way glass. His blond curls, having grown out far past regulation, block some of his view as he tries to squint and see if there are any figures on the other side.

The guards leave and the door buzzes loudly as it locks. “Is that really necessary? You think I’m gonna yank off this synthleather and run down the hall to give the guards some exercise?”

Nobody replies. “You Seppies have no sense of humor,” he grumbles.

Speakers in the room’s corners fizzle on. “VOICE ACTIVATION EXPERIMENT,” it announces, loudly. The audio is shrill and grainy, and Rex cringes. He wishes he could cover his ears but, again, his arms are strapped down.

“What? What experiment–?”

“TEST ONE. ANY VOICE, ALL COMMANDS.”

Rex only has to wait in confusion for a second before voices high and low, alien and humanoid, garble together and overwhelm him. They’re saying something about executing orders, numbers. He can already feel a headache setting in from the noise.

Then as soon as it starts, it’s over. “RESULTS: NEGATIVE. AS EXPECTED.”

“What was supposed to happen?” he wonders aloud.

“TEST TWO-ALPHA,” the voice continues. “SEPARATIST OFFICIALS.”

The speakers blast out the same nonsensical phrases. Order Five, Execute Order Thirty Two, Execute Order Sixty Six. Some of the voices are robotic and vocoded like Techno Unioners, one has a distinct arachnid tch-ing. They’re loud, but the experimenters seem no more satisfied. They move on. “TEST TWO-BETA. REPUBLIC OFFICIALS.”

He wonders through the ear-piercing noise how in the Sith Hells they got these voice recordings. Maybe they’re computer generated?

He hears Commander Tano say Execute Order Thirty Seven and a tear slips down his cheek. That’s it, these can’t be real. He wonders why he thinks it would be such a terrible thing for her to say, other than a deep gut feeling.

“TEST THREE,” the voice seems almost excited this time, like it’s really expecting something to happen. “CONFIRMED CODE ENABLERS.”

Rex frowns as he hears a tinny recording of Count Dooku’s unmistakable voice reciting the list of orders. He sits through it an looks expectantly to the ‘mirror’.

But this part of the test apparently isn’t done. He hears Chancellor Palpatine recite the orders. His head feels strangely heavy, his eyes can’t seem to focus, and his veins fill with ice. But when the recording is over he feels more or less the same.

“What… was that? What are you doing to me?”

“WHY DIDN’T IT WO–” the audio cuts off, the experimenter probably realizing he shouldn’t broadcast his apparent failure to his test subject.

Rex waits in silence. His mind hasn’t raced this fast since he was first captured. What are they trying to do?

If he escaped, could he warn the Republic? Save other clones from this… whatever this was? Rex tugs at his restraints.

The door buzzes open again and of all the people in the galaxy it is The Count of Serenno, Count Dooku himself that strides in with a nervous looking Ishi Tib in a labcoat hiding behind his brown-black cape. He stands above Rex, looking down with his face in shadow. His eyes seem to glow.

“My master was clever,” he hums. “False recordings won’t work. But soon we will find ways to get around that particular problem.”

“What do those orders mean?”

Dooku doesn’t answer, only leans down to Rex’s ear. “Might as well get some use out of you. Execute Order Sixty Six.”

CT-7567 stared blankly ahead. “Yes, Sir.”

There are no traitors in sight, but if he ever sees one, he knows exactly what to do.

“Now, little pawn,” Dooku waves a hand in front of him. “Sleep.”

CT-7567 Sleeps as commanded. He does not know for how long.

When he is brought back to consciousness, he is laying on some grassy ground, looking up at a blue sky. A Separatist ship is flying away from him.

“REX!” A strangely familiar voice shouts. He hears someone running towards him, and a traitor kneels beside him.

Call of the Sea

Chapter Two - Trust Read on AO3

Summary: Ever since Ashla could remember, she’d dreamed of the sea. Words: 2224 Warnings: near drowning, killing and cleaning of a fish (non-graphic)

 **********

 Ever since Ashla could remember, she’d dreamed of the sea.

 Many of the dreams were lovely; swimming through long kelp fronds, picking up shells from the sandy ocean floor, or simply floating weightless beneath sun-dappled waves. Things she could attribute to trips to the aquarium and vacations taken with her adopted family.

 But some dreams were dark and terrifying.

 Monsters with glowing eyes reaching for her from lightless depths. Blood staining the water crimson. Unspeakable pain that left her shaking and sweating when she woke.

 And a little boy with golden eyes.

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Character development moment for both Anakin and Ahsoka: imagine Ahsoka is heading one small leg of a mission on her own, with Rex as her second while Anakin is on the other side of the planet managing another part. Disaster strikes. Ahsoka and her men are attacked on a cliff. She survives, but Rex is severely injured and her other men are dead. This is early enough in the war that Ahsoka's more inexperienced than not, and the inability to get to safety + lack of sleep + lack of food + worry for Rex have her panicking

So she comms Anakin, who despite the distance between them is able to step up as a master and get her to calm down and think before she breaks down. I have some rough dialogue worked out of when Ahsoka first comms Anakin after the dust settles and she realizes Rex may die

Ahsoka's speaking in half sentences because adrenaline is scrambling her brain. Anakin asks what's wrong, think they've been ambushed, and she says "no, I'm digging him out. I'm digging Rex out" and then she's able to explain what happened

She's a little banged up but okay because she was able to jump away (which she feels guilty for) but shes having problems sensing her other men in the force but she knows at least one has to be alive. So anakin has to not force himself to cross an entire planet to get to his Padawan and captain. He asks Ahsoka is rex is free, she says mostly. He tells her she can use the force to clear the rocks away, she keeps saying she can't, he says something along the lines of Visualizing scooping the rocks up with her hands rather than trying to yank them off the top, and it works. The entire time he's walking her through this, he's remaining entirely calm even though visibly he's extremely tense.

An earlier version of Anakin would have been Moving mountains to get to them. By the time Ahsoka is done moving the rocks, everyone else is dead. This mission is taking a toll on her. She's trying to check Rexs vital signs but he's unconscious and she doesn't know if it's safe to move him due to the risk of spinal cord injuries. Her voice sounds wobbly when she says "I don't know what to do" and Anakin has to firmly cut her off and offer a solution: lay both her hands on Rex and check if she can feel his injuries through the Force. It's a Force healing technique that beginners can Learn easily enough. Rex wakes up though and says that he can still wiggle his toes, legs, arms, and hands, but that other things are definitely wrong. He more than likely has a concussion and internal damaging, so he still can't be moved. Anakin asks Ahsoka what she thinks She's meant to do next. She calls a medevac, which is almost a blow to her pride because she'd been hoping that she would solve the problem and save the day the way she's seen anakin do a dozen times by now.

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Clone Commander Blackout & CT-7567 | Rex, ARC-77 | Fordo & CT-7567 | Rex, Coric & CT-7567 | Rex Characters: Clone Commander Blackout (Star Wars), CT-7567 | Rex, ARC-77 | Fordo, Clone Trooper Coric (Star Wars), ARC Trooper Stec (Star Wars), Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano Additional Tags: Planet Teth (Star Wars), Post-Battle Of Teth, Post-Battle of Christophsis, Teth is its own warning, Battle of Hypori, there’s a lot going on ok, Alternate Universe, Jai'galaar Verda AU, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, No Beta we die like. like. everyone from torrent-, Author Is Sleep Deprived, The Author is Screaming Series: Part 3 of Jai'galaar Verda Summary:

Blackout received his Jaig eyes recently - only to learn that, apparently, he now is part of ancient magic. Fordo and his squad have been called in to save Jedi, but there is more than just one thing off about… well, everything, unfortunately. It just can’t ever be easy, can it? Rex has a lot to do, between the shriek-hawk in his head and the new padawan in his legion. Soon, both will be the least of his problems.

[You have to read at least Blue before this one - it’s a direct continuation.]

During the funeral Rex stood behind class Seventeen, his old spot in the platoon occupied by its previous owner. It reminded Rex of a question he’d been putting off asking. 

He didn’t go to find ‘17 until late that evening, almost curfew, knowing the dread low and heavy in his gut would make it impossible to sleep unless he had an answer. 

“Sir? Can I ask you something?” Rex  fell in beside ‘17 as he left the Aurek’s mess after a meeting and made his way to– presumably– his barracks. 

“Yes?” ‘17 stopped, turned to give Rex his full attention. Rex skidded to a halt as well, surprised. 

“Um. Now that Kote’s back, what’s going to happen to me?”

“What do you mean what’s going to happen to you?”

“Am I being transferred back to my CT platoon? If it’s possible, I’d like–” Rex swallowed. “If A-030’s alright with it, could I be transferred into Colt or Havoc’s spot in class Thirty?”

He didn’t want to leave command track. He didn’t want to leave Davijaan or Fox or Kote. And if he was honest with himself, he didn’t want to leave ‘17 either. 

Even if he was in a new class that would be better than being back in CT training. He’d at least get to see them. 

‘17 raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to be transferred?”

“… No, sir.” 

“Then you’re not getting transferred. Not if I have any say.”

“But–” Rex sputtered. “The class is at capacity!”

‘17 shrugged. “Thirty-seven’s only one more than thirty-six. Doesn’t seem like much of a difference to me.” 

“There’s nowhere for me to stand.” 

“Kote and Davijaan can squish in. I’m sure they won’t mind.” 

Rex gaped at ‘17. ‘17 reached out and squeezed his shoulder. “You’re not going anywhere, Rex,” he said, soft. “I promise. And I will do whatever I have to do to keep that promise.” 

And all Rex could do was nod, and hope.

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"It was me, Cody. It was me who killed Waxer. I'm almost positive about this..." Rex said quietly // If it's not so too late, oh, lovely Angst Igauana

It Was.... You?

You have awakened something terrible. This idea is exquisitely torturous and Iove it.

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Rex hadn't stopped shaking, for days, he'd been shaking non-stop. Even while Cody held him and rocked him in his arms, telling him everything wasn't terrible anymore, he still shook. He still cried and he still wanted to die. The two sat in the barracks, Rex was holding himself as Cody did. The younger brother stared off as the memories flashed through his head, his stomach turning, "Cody, I, I think I know who shot Waxer." He mumbled, eyes not meeting his brother's.

Cody perked up, "What do you mean?" They know who shot Waxer, it was a brother, but it wasn't on purpose and it wouldn't have happened if Krell hadn't been there. "Rex, what do you mean?" He asked again. For a long moment, Rex didn't move, every part of him numb as a hot tear streamed down his face.

"I keep replaying everything in my head and I remember seeing a spot on a helmet, Waxer's helmet." Rex recalled, his voice monotone and broken, "Cody, I killed him," his head at last turned to face Cody, who's eyes narrowed. "He's dead because of me."

"Rex, it wasn't your fault, if you had known-"

"But I didn't!" Rex screamed, jumping to his feet, he stumbled a little as his knees almost gave out. "I didn't know so I shot him!" He continued to scream, causing Cody's throat to run dry as he desperately thought of what to say. "I don't deserve to be a Captain, not when I lead good men to their deaths. I killed so many brothers, I was counting in my head, wanna know how many?" His voice was dry.

Cody stared at his brother, he was sleep deprived, shaky and still in shock. Cody couldn't think of what to say to his poor brother, "Twentynine" Rex inturrupted Cody's thoughts, "I killed twentynine brothers before I realized they were brothers." Rex laughed, tears pouring from his eyes, "Twentynine brothers died by my hand, Waxer died by my hand before I realized, they were brothers."

Cody stood up, reaching out his hand, but just as he was about to speak, a voice cut in. "What did you say?" Both brothers turned to them, Boil. He stood still, "What did you say?" He repeated, taking a step closer. "C-cause it sounded like you said you killed Waxer, d-did you Rex? Kill Waxer?" Boil fumbled over his words. He hadn't been able to sleep, he hadn't been able to breath.

Rex froze as he stared at Boil, he'd never seen him without Waxer by his side. "I did, I killed him." Rex confirmed. Cody shook his head, and as he was about to speak, but found himself cut off yet again as Boil ran into Rex, forcing him against the wall, gripping his shirt collar tightly.

"It was you?!" He screamed, slamming Rex against the wall, "You killed him!?" He screamed, tears of pained rage falling from his eyes, "You killed my brother! My best friend!" He pulled Rex forward slightly before slamming him back yet again. Rex tried to break free, but part of him didn't fight back, for he deserved this. "You killed Waxer, out of everyone it was you?!" He kept slamming Rex back until Cody broke them apart. "You bastard!" He yelled.

"Boil!" Cody screamed as he shoved him off Rex and back, "Take a walk!" He ordered, voice loud and sharp. Rex fell to the ground, sobbing loudly like a child, rocking slightly. "Go-" Cody ordered, watching Boil shake his head, a snarl on his face. He stared at Rex, still shaking his head before leaving the barracks in a rush. Once Boil had promptly exited, Cody turned to Rex and collapsed to the floor next to him, "Hey, Rex, it's okay lil'un," Cody reached his hand out, only to jump when Rex snapped away

"Don't touch me!" Rex wailed as he rocked, whimpering between staggered breaths, "I deserved it! I deserve this!" He continued to ball as Cody felt his own heart crumble at the sight of seeing his baby brother so indescribable hurt. "Leave me alone." Rex whimpered, burying his face in his arms .

"N-no!" Cody blurted as his eyes watered, "I'm not leaving you." He stated, catching Rex's attention as he spoke, for his voice had cracked. Cody couldn't meet the gaze of his little brother, for he was supposed to be strong, he wasn't supposed to cry in front of him.

"Cody." Rex whimpered, becoming more sad that he made his brother cry. "Cody please don't cry, please." Rex begged as he crawled towards his brother, he was frantically wiping his eyes, but the tears were too much. Rex reached his brother and tugged on Cody's arms, but they wouldn't budge "Cody, stop crying," Rex continued to weakly pull his brother's arm as he had when they were young, "Stop crying!"

"I can't!" Cody's head shot up, "I know I'm supposed to be strong enough for us but dammit Rex, I can't take it! I can't take watching you sob and sob and I can't handle the fact that I can't help you or take away your pain!" Cody confessed, face red hot, "You're suffering and I can't help you!" Rex stared wide-eyed at Cody as he thought of what to say, but nothing came in mind. So Rex did the one thing he knew he could, he hugged his brother.

Pulling Cody to him and hugging him tightly. "I love you, Bubby." Rex mumbled, hiding his head in Cody's shoulder and neck. He felt Cody's shoulders drop as his arms wrapped around him, tightly closing his eyes as he held Rex just as tight. "....I know I'm a mess sometimes, you're always there for me, I never stopped to consider that you were a mess too." Rex sighed, his tears finally stopping. Cody whimpered as he rocked the two of them, eyes shut tight.

"It's okay." Cody forced out in a clear tone, "That's what big brothers are supposed to do," Cody pulled away from the hug, he forced a soft smile as he reached out and wiped away the tears on Rex's face, "I'm supposed to take care of you." He stated. Rex reached out his hand to wipe away Cody's tears, he then smiled,

"Doesn't mean I can't take care of you too"

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

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