Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars - All Media Types

Don't worry vod, I got your back.

The captain is exhausted. He's been working on his dead trooper reports for way too long and isn't getting any progress. Too much paperwork, even for him.

At this point he's using all of his remaining energy to just keep his eyes open, but even that doesn't help much.

He has to do the reports, he has to. Otherwise the very existance of these long gone brothers would be never remembered, and that was not an option. He has a duty.

Though as much as he tries, as much as he forces himself to stay awake, it's no use. He's worked himself way too much..

..and he falls unconscious.

The papers and the datapad are just left there for another time for him to stress about them.

He really needs the sleep though..

Sometime later, Stiff enters quietly out the door to the Captain's quarters, coming to check up on him.

Just before that he was heading to the refresher at night, woken up from a nightmare which caused his adrenaline to flow and make him forget all of his wishes to sleep. Nor did Stiff feel like welcoming those nightmares anytime soon, so as he had passed the Captain's quarters, he thought about checking if he's sleeping for once. Knowing the tendencies of his blonde ori'vod, he's pretty sure he's overworking himself again.

He decided to check just to be sure.

The door opened with a tiny whiz as he entered the room quietly. He nearly sighed from relief that Rex had finally remembered to sleep as he saw how there were no lights on, but sadly he was mistaken.

The captain was indeed asleep, but seemingly not in a comfortable rest. He had, as expected, worked himself up again.

Stiff looked at Rex with a frown of sympathy written all over his face. 'I really hope he'd learn to take care of himself..' he thought.

Strangely, Stiff feels a lot of responsibility for taking care of the ones that don't seem to find selfcare so important.

Old habits die hard, I guess.

He thinks for a moment in hopes to find a way to help the captain.

Stiff leans to get a look of what kind of reports Rex had been filling up.

Fallen clone reports.

Well.. that's really nothing new to him. And neither his favourite thing to do. Quite the opposite.

But, he'd do anything to make someone feel better. In this case that someone is his brother who really needs it, even if he never asks for it.

Stiff goes on and carefully carries a chair next to Rex and starts reading the reports. He can't risk the light sleeper to wake up and get another sleepless night, so he has to be content with the little amount of light he gets from the datapad.

About an hour later he's done with them and the energy has gone from his body. Now the tired and sleepy clone can't believe how Rex can do this so often. Having to fill the reports of his dead men so often makes Stiff wonder if he would want to talk to someone. He knows Rex would immediately dismiss the offer of talking about his problems, but he needs it. No one should carry so much guilt, grief, and frustration just by themselves. Everyone needs a someone.

Stiff promises himself to ask Rex about it, whether or not he'd already know his answer.

He looks up from the table, having been deep in thought. How many times had he done that again? Sighing heavily, he throws the thoughts to the back of his head. 'I'll think more about that tomorrow.'

Stiff stands up and wonders what he's gonna do next. Maybe he should move him to his bed. The table isn't looking very comfortable to sleep on.

He knows that this brother if someone is the lightest sleeper ever, due to his alertness 24/7. Stiff has to make sure to be extra careful and not wake him up, since who knows how Rex would react to Stiff having done his work without context of why he even is in his room in the first place.

He has also carried his -passed out or injured- vods more than just a few times, so it's obviously nothing new.

After deciding, Stiff sits up from his chair, leaning down, carefully and quietly slithering his left hand under Rex's legs and right under his back. As gently as possible, resting him on the bed.

Waiting for a moment of making sure he didn't wake up, Rex shuffles to a comfortable sleeping position, sighs and relaxes.

Wow, he actually didn't wake up? Thank the maker.

Fortunately Rex had already taken off his upper armor so Stiff didn't have to accidentally shake him awake while taking off the rest.

After, he covers the sleeping captain -who's now on his blacks- with a warm blanket.

...Stiff hasn't seen such a peaceful expression on his face in forever...

Stiff also has to let him know that he did the work for him somehow..

Right, a note.

He looks around for clear paper and after finding, he ripped a piece of it and wrote a message on it for when Rex wakes up. He has to make sure the captain doesn't freak out that he had fallen asleep on his job.

"Don't worry Rex, I filled the reports for you. Hope you slept well :)

- Stiff"

..Is what he wrote, and of course with his signature smiley face.

With a content smile for his work and a hope for his ori'vod to be okay, he swiftly exited the room and went on to try and fall asleep again..

[ This was a pretty short one, but I hope you liked it! One of my first ever fanfics.. ]

"Cyar'ika"

Based on that post by @vclkyrxe

. . .

The pride Anakin constantly felt for his men was doubled with their latest victory and he swaggered down the hallways of the cruiser in an excellent mood.

The 501st had worked seamlessly alongside their brothers of the 212th, thriving under the joint leadership of Rex and Cody and making it out of their latest battle relatively unscathed, with minor injuries and zero fatalities. It was a tragically uncommon outcome.

Anakin congratulated the men he passed in the corridors, clasping shoulders and forearms, cherishing their smiles. Too often, they had so little to smile about. There were less and less troopers to greet as he neared the Jedi quarters; they had little need to venture down such hallways after all. Their absence saddened Anakin greatly, so used to their presence, wishing once again that he could be permitted to bunk with his men. The dog-piles of clones he often found himself in when resting mid-battle were surprisingly comfortable.

It wasn’t appropriate, however. Not for a Jedi.

Voices startled him, having expected that familiar, lonely silence, and curious at why it was broken.

“… more careful, general. Today could have gone much differently.”

It was Cody. Anakin knew the timbre of his voice. He must be debriefing with his general and, from what Anakin was overhearing, this particular debrief was more along the lines of a lecture. He smirked, leaned back against the wall outside his master’s room to listen to him get told off for once.

“You needn’t worry, Commander. I had it under control.”

“Sometimes I wonder if you know what that word means,” Cody huffed in reply to his general’s airy dismissal. “Fine. Don’t be careful. Just, keep in mind, someday I might not be there. I could get shot down mid battle and you may not notice for the duration—”

“Cody,” said Obi-Wan, quite firm, and Anakin recognised that tone: chiding, but ultimately so gentle. “I would feel your loss instantly.”

Anakin nodded, so enthused with agreement that he forgot briefly that he wasn’t a part of the conversation. The clones had a habit of downplaying their worth. They couldn’t be blamed, of course, having been created by those who believed they were expendable, but Anakin knew different. He knew that, if Rex should fall, he would feel it.

There was silence following Obi-Wan’s words but it broke now with Cody’s softened voice.

“It does not… invalidate my point, sir.”

“Cyar’ika,” Obi-Wan sighed and the word stuck in Anakin’s mind, knowing in his heart that it was important, feeling the weight and emotion behind it. “I hear you… and I will do my upmost to ease your anxiety.”

“That feels like a weak promise.”

“Well, I know if I tell you I’ll stop being reckless, you’ll just see right through me.”

Cody chuckled, completely genuine, untainted with bitterness or exasperation. It was such an unfamiliar sound. “I suppose it will do for now.”

There was a moment of silence. Anakin had to hold himself back from prying, from reaching out into the force to know what was happening in that room.

“I need to see to the men,” said Cody. “For some of them, a victory is just as hard as a defeat.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“Of course, general.”

The door opened and Anakin almost tripped over himself, realising quickly that he would not get away in time and simply leaning back against the wall, resting his chin in his hand with as much feigned nonchalance as he could muster. His goal had been to not draw attention. When Cody exited the room, however, the commander looked right at him.

His helmet was tucked under one arm, his eyes widening a moment, just a fraction, in surprise, before he set himself a carefully neutral expression.

“General Skywalker,” he acknowledged, setting off down the corridor, and Anakin grimaced a smile through his fingers.

“Cody,” he said in reply, closing his eyes in self-frustration when the man was out of sight because he definitely knew Anakin had been eavesdropping.

He wasn’t the only one.

“Anakin.”

Slowly, he turned his head. His hand lowered from his mouth. “Hey…?”

“What are you doing out here?” Obi-Wan asked, looking slightly alarmed, though it may have been because his hair was slightly out of place.

“I was coming to change out of my armour,” said Anakin honestly, “and then, well, I wasn’t expecting Cody to be down here and it, y’know, caught me off guard for a minute.”

Obi-Wan had a thoroughly unconvinced expression on his face, but he said nothing to contradict his former apprentice. “Cody was debriefing me on the battle. The men did well; the Seventh Sky Corps were very effective… Although, he was unhappy with the way I handled myself towards the end.”

“You mean when you were free falling between gunships?”

Obi-Wan’s jaw shifted. “Yes, precisely.”

An uncertain silence stretched out and Anakin shifted his weight between his feet. “So,” said Anakin, hoping to ease his master’s obvious and uncharacteristic discomfort, “‘cyar’ika’…? Haven’t heard that one before.”

“Ah, yes,” replied Obi-Wan, aiming for nonchalant, but no less tense. “It’s a Mando’a word. A… term of endearment, I suppose, for someone I admire and respect very much. Cody—all the clones, in fact—they aren’t used to praise. It’s good for him to know that he is valued.”

Anakin nodded, eager to validate him. “Of course, Master. I agree.”

In Anakin’s mind at least, Obi-Wan wasn’t doing anything wrong. Anakin loved his men like brothers, valued each and every one of them and hoped he conveyed that as much as possible. He knew his master had qualms about attachment, but it was a difficult thing to avoid in war. Without their friends in the clones, they would be lost.

It seemed, however, that—despite his master’s disapproval of such things—he was making a special effort to relate to his men, using words of their heritage language to address them, to assure them they were important. The older clones were fluent in Mando’a and many made it their mission to pass that knowledge on to the younger generations, now that Jango Fett was no longer there to train them. They would rarely have full conversations, but Anakin heard them speak the language often, words and phrases in passing. It had become so natural that he hadn’t thought twice about it.

He was unfamiliar with this new word, however. Rex had never said that before. Anakin new the Kaminoans had not treated the clones well, but he saw Rex with his brothers—with their younger troopers especially—and he knew his captain had not taken much personality from his creators. He was good with the men. He was less willing to accept praise himself, however.

Anakin made a silent vow to change that.

. . .

Anakin spent the rest of the day honouring his vow, honouring his men left and right.

He did as he usually would, praising men in the corridors with “good work today”, and calling up to the clone mechanics atop the damaged gunships with “looking good”, and stopping by the infirmary with “rest up”. “Men” or “troops” would normally round off each encouraging call, but today he left them with “cyar’ika”. It earned him a lot of rapid blinking and confused smiles. Fives laughed aloud when he heard it.

“You too, sir!” he chortled when Anakin praised him in passing for a job well done, but he had always been boisterous. Jesse, walking beside him, stopped and stared, gaping a moment before Fives dragged him along.

Anakin knew the men must be accustomed to his praise by now, so he attributed their surprise to his newly learned term of affection and honour. He hadn’t spoken Mando’a before, it was true, and it clearly came as a surprise to his men. Anakin hoped they would become used to it. Each and every one of them deserved admiration.

“Captain,” Anakin greeted, settled in the debriefing chamber after an hour or so of practicing his new compliment, watching Rex enter, still fully armour-clad.

When the helmets were on, most clones preferred correct procedure and, as independently minded as Rex was, he was no different in that respect.

“Sir,” said Rex in return, lifted his hands to remove his helmet and it put Anakin at ease. “I spoke to the engineers. We only lost one gunship this time. The rest are repairable; some will need more time than others, but they’ll fly again.”

Anakin let him rattle on, listening patiently as his captain filled him in on battle time and potential changes. Rex was very much a man who believed his strategies could always be improved upon, no matter how much Anakin tried to praise him and his intelligence. It was just further proof of his humble, self-critical nature.

“Rex,” said Anakin, half interrupting his talk of rations and mentally kicking himself because he should have used that word. He would slip in in somewhere. “How are you? How are the men?”

“Very well, sir,” Rex replied with a small nod, not seeming surprised to be asked such a thing and that could only be good. “It’s not often we get out without losing anyone, so we’re all feeling very grateful. Worst injury out there are some second-degree burns. Kix is saying they’ll scar but won’t leave any lasting damage. We got lucky.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it. Your skill and tactical mind helped a lot of people today, cyar’ika. You should be proud.”

Rex didn’t brush off the praise as he usually would, and Anakin frowned as Rex stared, a slight flush to his cheeks.

“Sir,” he said eventually, cleared his throat, “if I may, where did you pick up that word?”

“Do the 501st not use Mando’a?” Anakin asked, worried now that Rex may have chosen to cut his Mandalorian ties and Anakin had just offended him. “I thought I heard you sometimes—”

“We—We do, sir. Many phrases are part of our daily… lingo, I suppose, but that…”

“Did I pronounce it wrong?”

“Sir… do you know what it means?”

It dawned on Anakin suddenly that it was an intimate thing to compliment someone in their own language. “Rex,” he said through an exhale, rising to his feet to take Rex’s shoulders. The captain’s flush deepened, keeping searching eyes on his general. “You deserve admiration. I know the Kaminoans taught you otherwise, but I make it a point not to listen to those who treat people like property… I know it’s a Mando’a word and I’m not a clone, so tell me if I’m overstepping, but I see us as brothers. I had hoped you felt the same.”

Rex gaped a moment, closing his mouth with a click. “Sir, I don’t think you know, so I’m just going to tell it to you straight. ‘Cyar’ika’ is a term of romantic endearment. Loosely translated it means ‘darling’ or… ‘sweetheart’.”

Anakin stared at him, slowly releasing his shoulders. The blushing was making sense now. “That can’t be right…”

“It’s what Fives calls his lovers… They seem to like it, I suppose, but—”

“That’s what Fives calls…?” Anakin echoed, trailing in disbelief because Fives’ response to being called Cyar’ika suddenly made a lot more sense now that he had that flirtatious context.

“What did you think it meant?”

“Well, I didn’t think that!” exclaimed Anakin, waving a hand because Rex’s lips were twitching in the beginnings of a grin. “Okay, no, there has to be some other context to it. Surely it can be used platonically.”

“It really can’t,” said Rex, tilted his head in interest. “Who taught you that word, sir?”

It clicked suddenly—properly this time—and Anakin exhaled in disbelief because there was no doubt in his mind that Obi-Wan knew the real meaning of that word. There was no question now that Obi-Wan had lied to him, or—at the very least—twisted the truth enough not to be honest at all.

“I made… an assumption,” said Anakin slowly, “and I was very mistaken.”

He wondered how deep his misunderstanding ran.

If it had reached a point where Obi-Wan was calling Cody by a name that could only be awarded to lovers, then the image he had created of his master in his mind must be very mistaken indeed.

The Unknown

What if instead of Tiplee and Tiplar accompanying Anakin in "The Unknown" episode, Obi-Wan did? And what if instead of Fives and Tup, it's Cody and Rex?

Whumptober #28

Part 18 of Whumptober 2022

Febuwhump Day 23

Prompt: “Don’t look”

Warnings: graphic descriptions of violence/slave torture

Read on AO3

Oya Manda

While the tally marks on Rex’s armor are for his kills, the ones he now marks on the side of his boot are for the days that have passed since he and General Kenobi were taken to Kadavo. Crossing the other four marks with a shaky diagonal line to signify the end of the fifth day isn’t as satisfying as another enemy out of the way. He sighs as he sets down the little piece of graphite, letting his head hit the back of the bunk heavily like he’s too exhausted to hold it up himself.

Kadavo is a new type of hell. He thought cadet training was hard work but this… this is torture. The older troopers like to whisper about their “slavery to the Republic”, but those cushy Captains and Commanders haven’t been here. The clones might as well be house pets of the Republic compared to the horrors he’s seen at the Zygerrian market.

Keep reading

idk what to title this. it's basically about rex's life mostly pre-christophosis. ive been staring at wookiepedia for the past ten minutes and i've just now decided i'm going to use a mix of canon and legends content so if you thing something is factually wrong (and a lot will be) then your right, but im not spending two hours delving through old comics.

doing research it states as though arc troopers were made only after seeing battle, but idc, so rex and cody were made before they ever left kamino.

this is for @taylorswiftscar, i really hope this lives up to your expectations. if you (somehow) like it, i could do a part 2???

also, btw, most clone trooper numbers here are ones i made up. i googled each to make sure they wont real troopers but if they are, sorry.

warnings: death, mentions of war, war, fighting, battles, fight training.

CT-7567 reached a hand up to touch his short, soft blonde hair yet again, staring into the mirror with a shattered expression.

Why does my hair have to be different? He thought glumly, slowly running his fingers through the short hairs with glossy eyes. CT-7567 used his other hand to gently play with the ends of his cadet uniform - a blue tunic over a red long-sleeved top and red pants held close to his torso with a black belt.

Around him, the other cadets busied themselves with pulling on their own clothes, the room filled with quiet chatter and the sound of their black boots hitting the floor.

"You alright there, 7567?" A voice called and the blonde clone turned to his brother - who of course shared the same tan skin and hazel brown eyes but had his own cropped brown hair. CT-4826 gave him a soft smile before grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him along the hallway. "Let's go, 7567! I want to be first!"

-

"Did you hear?!" CT-7567 turned to see the other clone cadet - unique only for his shaggy dark hair - as he scurried across the silver floor to their bunks.

"What?!" CT-4826 called from the bunk above CT-7567, leaning down to hear better.

"I heard that CT-3383 went out in the rain and fell into the waters!" CT-4526 exclaimed quietly and CT-7567 shrank back in his bed, closer to the wall and further from the tales. "I heard he got eaten by the sea serpent!"

CT-7567 shuddered at the thought of the huge, mysterious creature supposedly lurking in Kamino's dark waters. CT-7567 wasn't afraid of much, but the tales he heard about the serpent made him shiver.

"Oh shut up, 4526," CT-4826 complained, rolling his eyes. "The sea serpents aren't real."

"Yes they are!" CT-4526 replied with a frown, a flicker of hurt playing at his features. "Stop lying, 4826! The Kaminoans said their real!"

"The only sea serpent here is you!" Another cadet giggled from across the room, darting over to the bunk and tackling CT-4526 to the ground. "You should be called Serpent!" The two cadets rolled around on the floor for a bit as CT-7567 turned to face the wall, pulling the sheets over his head and cowering.

-

CT-7567 watched as CT-3383 walked back into the barracks days later, smiling sheepishly as he held his left arm - which was tightly bandaged from his elbow to thumb.

"3383!" CT-7567 cheered as the cadet waddled in, racing over and hugging the brunette's right side tightly - although carefully not touching his left. "You're okay!"

"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked with a tilt of his head and CT-4826 scoffed.

"4526 over hear thought a sea serpent got you" CT-4826 explained, turning to face the cadet with a disappointed look.

CT-4526's bottom lip turned up in a pout as he clambered into his bunk to hide. "Not my fault," he grumbled. "One of the squad-cadets said he did."

The three other cadets exchanged worried glances before the blonde scrambled over to his brother. "It's alright, 4526." He told him, draping an arm over his shoulders. "I believe there really is a sea serpent, but at least 3383's here, ay?"

"Yeah."

-

"Watch your step, 4526!" CT-7567 cried out, slouching down behind the metal barrier to hide from the droids. He glanced at his armor, which was now scratched up from diving and rolling around the citadel training center.

"Go, 7567!" CT-3383 called out, CT-7786 peering out over his shoulder. "Make the run!"

CT-7567 nodded, sucking in a breath before rolling out to the side, racing along the metal floor to the tower. His shaking hand grasped the grappling hook attached to his belt and tossed it up, latching onto the wall.

Clambering up and up and up until finally he was over.

The blonde clone grabbed the staff and held it in the air, cheering as the droids deactivated.

-

"CT-7567 at your service, sir!" The blonde clone saluted, shoulders shaking slightly as he stared at the ARC Trooper in front of him.

"CC-2224 at your service, sir!" The clone next to CT-7567 announced. He was one of the 'classic'-looking clones - the ones with the tan skin, hazel eyes and short black hair. CT-7567 had never met him before this moment.

"At ease, troopers" the ARC Trooper told them, and both their stances relaxed ever so slightly. "I've been informed you both performed valiantly in your training and therefore are being prematurely promoted to ARC Troopers." CT-7567's face broke into a grin that he tried to hide. "My name is Alpha-17 and I'll be taking you for the next part of your training."

"CT-2224" the brunette clone introduced himself again and so CT-7567 did the same, frowning when Alpha-17 shook his head in dissapointment.

"What are your names, boys? Not your numbers," Alpha-17 asked and CT-7567 bit his lip.

"My name is my number" he told the ARC Trooper hesitantly, and CC-2224 nodded in agreement.

"Well, we'll just have to get you names."

-

"2224!" CT-7567 cried out with a grin, lunging towards the clone and wrapping his arms around him. "That shot was amazing!"

"Your tactic was too, 7567!" The brunette exclaimed, punching his brother's arm softly.

"You two make a great team," Alpha-17 told them with a proud grin. "Maybe to greater a team."

-

"7567! 2224! Come here!" Alpha called from the other end of the barracks, and the two younger clones scurried to meet him. "I've decided on names for both of you, if you like them."

CT-7567 nodded eagerly, jumping from foot to foot in excitement. CC-2224 was in a similar state, bouncing up and down. Individually was something clones weren't usually recognized for, and having an individual name was startling.

"2224," Alpha began, looking him directly in the eyes. "I dub you... Cody."

CC-2224, no, Cody beamed with joy, happiness radiating off of him in huge, endless waves. "I love it, thank you Alpha!"

The older clone gave him a gentle smile before turning to the patiently waiting blonde. "And 7567! I dub you, Rex."

-

"You ready to go, Rex?" Alpha asked, gently placing a hand on the Arc Trooper's back. Rex nodded, breathing in deeply and letting his adrenaline take over.

"Yes, sir!" He told him confidently, rolling his shoulders back as he switched the hand gripping the handle of the gunship. It wobbled in the air slightly before making a backwards motion. They were landing.

"Good luck, kid" his brother told him gently. "K'oyacyi!" Alpha patted his back one last time as the gunships doors opened and the clones around them filed out.

"K'oyacyi!" Rex called back, grasping his dual pistols - something he'd been allowed only recently but instantly loved - and rushing out into the sandy terrain of Geonosis.

hope y'all liked that! (to anyone actually reading this)

K'oyacyi means 'hang in there' or 'come back alive' or 'stay alive' in Mando'a.

btw i haven't read over that so thats why there may be several mistakes...

Have a great day!

I just had a thought

So this one day Rex comes back to Coruscant and he just doesn’t seem to be acting right. No one can quite put their finger on it…but something is just…off.

The next day Cody returns, and it’s the same thing. Something is just…off.

When asked if something’s wrong they both just kind of shrug it off. ‘I’m fine.’

They don’t talk as much. Their habits have changed just a little. No one can figure out what’s happened and it’s driving everyone crazy.

Then Ahsoka goes to talk to Rex and stops mid-sentence.

“…”

“Problem, Commander?”

And she rubs her hand across his head and the blonde comes out and it’s BLACK and ‘Rex’ starts cracking up and ‘Cody’ is almost crying because he’s laughing so hard and everyone realizes they switched armor and Wolffe almost shoots them both because THat wAS SO unNECESSARY.

7567 sits alone at the table.

The numerous decoms of their batch means that no one has to risk the attention of the Kaminoans by sitting next to him. They will share his pod later, promising to remember him. Eventually he’ll be shared between batches as a cautionary tale and one of pride. It’s a cold comfort but it’s a comfort all the same.

That is why he startles when a larger clone drops onto the table across from him. It’s a CC, and they’re never allowed over with the CTs. They’ve passed in the hallways as they march along to the next tasks and later, once the CTs have enough training to be useful, they will send the CTs out into battle sims.

But right now, despite all sense to the contrary, there is a CC sitting across from 7567 and it is smiling—not a kind smile either, like 7567 sometimes sees shared between his batchmates behind their trainer’s backs. It’s a sharp slash that shows off a threatening number of teeth and a promise of blood.

“You’ve been requisitioned, verd’ika.”

A cold pit opens at the base of 7567’s abdomen and he feels himself collapsing in on it like a black hole. He doesn’t know what that means but he does know that it’s new. New things happening to him is never good. He licks his bottom lip and swallows hard. “Sir?”

“New orders.” The CC, 1010 the tattoo just below the hinge of his jaw denotes, leans in with a fierce expression. “Every CC batch is getting an ad. Do what you’re told and you won’t be decommed. Tayli’bac?”

“I don’t…” 7567’s breath hitches. He doesn’t understand what the CC is saying and he doesn’t know what it wants. “Tallyback?”

Some of the tension eases around CC-1010’s eyes. “Tayli’bac. Understand?”

“Yessir.” 7567 says, because he does now. He draws his brows together just the slightest bit and purses his lips in annoyance as he takes his last bite. “I know how to follow orders, sir.”

Break

*Warning: angst*

Wolffe always thought that Rex was a rock. A strong guy who survived to a precocious death in his young age, who struggled more than all the other ones to prove that he has the same abilities as his siblings whatever he looked alike, who endured more than one terrible loss during the war and stood still to help his brothers to stand up again. As the king he was named after, Rex always made the well-being of his fellows a priority over his own health and feelings. 

Actually, even him used his strong shoulder to surpass his pain to have lost everything - brothers and what was the closest to a father - in a second. And now, Gregor, that they had meet some weeks before, also climb on the unsheakable mountain he was to endure that he was no more than an empty shell with almost no memories of himself.

But he was wrong. One question was sufficient to reveal the deep crack in his heart. 

- How it was to lead the 501st? asked Gregor as he heard that this company has quiet a reputation. 

- It was a mess, answered Rex rolling his eyes over the sky. Especially with Hardcase…

He stopped, his amber gaze falling down to the ground, jaws closed. For the first time, Wolffe saw his brother starting to shiver a little. 

- But Fives and Jesse… he tried to continue with a trembling voice. 

He froze again and the silence wrapped them up into the cave they were sitting in for the approaching night. Rex finally got up and left them without a word, disappearing in the tall grass of the savannah below. Wolffe crossed Gregor’s stare.

- I’m stupid, he said sadly. 

- Wait here. 

The former commander of the 104th jumped on his feet and quitted the place, searching for his comrade. He quickly found him no that far from him, on his knees. Wolffe hesitated for a moment but thought that it was now his turn to be the big brother he has to be for him. So he walked towards the ex-captain and crouched in front of the sobbing soldier to reassure him. When Rex did realise he was not alone anymore, he tried to wipe away his tears but Wolffe stopped him. 

- It’s okay. I think you desserve the right to. 

- I… 

He swallowed his saliva, the pain stretching his features. 

- Thinking about Hardcase… then Fives and Jesse… I thought I could but…

- It’s normal, Rex. Don’t worry. 

Wolffe felt his own heart tightened up but he knew that he has no right, at this very precise moment, to be sad. He has to be strong, like this blond boy was for him before. So he smiled and squeezed gentily the shoulder of his brother-in-arms.

- I so much wanted to save them all… he avowed, a tear rolling down his cheek.

- We all wanted to. 

- I have failed, Wolffe. I have failed so much.

He was now crying for real but didn’t seem to notice it. The commander continued to smile. 

- No, Rex, you did your best. It was the war, you know. There was nothing we could do against this. 

- I buried Jesse. I buried them all…

A confession that broke him for good as he finally collapsed against his chest, bursting into unstoppable tears. Wolffe didn’t say a word and embraced him softly. Not so far from them, Gregor was standing by, watching them silently. He heard everything and looked more embarrassed than ever. The three of them stayed in that position for a long time before Rex took back the control of himself.

- Gregor… he must be worried… he said in a whisper.

- You know what? I think he will perfectly understand this. 

Wolffe smiled again. Even in the bottom of the deepest hole, the king still thought about the other ones before himself. 

***

I put a warning this time because I wish my brain put warning on what he is up to tell me sometimes. The other day, he offered me a soft and funny scene between Hardcase and Rex, but the sweetness finished into a deep sadness that still hurts me now. Damn you, brain! >_<

Sorry for the mistakes again. 

Chapter One: The Cadets

Rex woke up with a start and immediately knew something was wrong. He screwed his eyes shut and thought back to the night before. All he had done was sign some reports and pass out onto his bunk after feeling lightheaded. Nothing was wrong then. Something sure felt wrong now. He sat up, yawning and looked to the mirror at the other side of his quarters. And screamed. Jumping up, now wide awake, he stumbled over to the mirror and stared in terrified awe. The cadet in the mirror stared back. His blacks were now about 6 sizes too big and his short blond hair was now sitting around his shoulders. Just like he had it when he was a cadet. “No, no, no, no, no!” He cried, unable to tear his gaze away from his new reflection.

The door to his quarters opened with a small whoosh and the General stood in the doorway, looking around worriedly.

“Rex, are you okay-“ Skywalker stared at Rex who was now very slightly panicking. “Cadet, what are you doing in Captain Rex’s quarters, wait, no, what are you doing on the ship?”

Rex had to say something. He turned to the doorway hesitantly.

“Sir, I’m Rex.” He said, startled at how young his voice sounded. The General stared at the little blond child that was standing in oversized blacks in Rex’s quarters. Rex couldn’t tell if the General believed him or not.

“Wait, wha- how, that’s-“ Skywalker stuttered, visibly confused at the situation. “Rex?!”

“Yes, sir.” He replied, attempting to stand at attention, but only managing to look like he was trying to fix his posture. This is a dream, right? He thought furiously, staring at his now small hands. He looked in the mirror again. He looked eleven years old. He looked his physical age.

The General’s comlink started to aggressively beep at him. Not breaking eye contact with Rex, he answered the call. “Skywalker here.” 

“Anakin, something has happened to my troops.” General Kenobi’s voice came through urgently. “I need you to come to the Negotiator and bring Rex."

"Why?" General Skywalker asked, curiously. General Kenobi cleared his throat and said:

"It appears they have.....turned into children, somehow."

Skywalker looked at his comlink in a mixture of horror and panic. Rex sat down. So it’s not just me. He thought. Then immediately regretted it when Fives, fully grown, came sprinting down the hall, almost crashing into General Skywalker. 

“Sir, I can’t find Echo or Rex!” He doubled over, panting. It was obvious he had run halfway across the Resolute looking for Skywalker when he couldn’t get ahold of Rex. Looking into Rex’s quarters Fives froze, staring at him. Skywalker rolled his eyes and walked over to the end of the corridor, so he could take his call in peace. Fives barely noticed him. 

“Ca-Captain?” He asked cautiously.  Rex sighed.

“Yes, Fives.”

Fives looked like he was going to pass out. Then he doubled over laughing.

"Fives!"

"S-sorry-" Fives gasped between cackles. Rex's comm started to aggressively beep from the other side of the room. He got up and immediately tripped on his oversized blacks, which caused Fives to fall to the ground wheezing. Rex rolled his eyes and answered the call.

"Captain!" A young voice yelled from the comlink, "Sir, you have to get to the barracks!” 

Fives stopped laughing. “Echo?!” He called crawling over to Rex and the comlink. 

“Fives! I’m stuck in the vent!” Echo replied, panic growing. Rex sighed as Fives collapsed in a new fit of giggles.

“How did you get in the vent?” 

“Well, I woke up as a cadet and panicked, so I climbed into the vent.”

“But the vents are small enough for a cadet to fit into.” Rex replied, confused.

“Yeah, but not for a fully grown clone!” Mumbled another voice. 

“Don’t tell me Hardcase got stuck in the vent again?” Rex asked already done with day, even though he only just woke up. Fives was now suffocating with the force of his own laughter. Rex ignored him.

“Hardcase got stuck in the vent again.” Echo confirmed, “Please help us.” 

“Yep, Rex out.”

He turned to Fives, who was practically dying on the floor. “Fives, stop laughing and go help your brothers.” He attempted to use his usually commanding tone, but that made Fives laugh harder. Sighing, Rex went over to his small closet, and pulled out a spare cadet uniform. It was regulation to keep at least one cadet uniform in the barracks, just in case a kid got on the ship. Again. Rex shoved Fives out of his quarters and changed.

It had been years since he had worn this uniform and he felt nostalgic, standing in the soft fabric. Grabbing one of his DC-17 blaster pistols, he opened the door and started to walk towards the barracks.

“Oh, hell no.” Fives said, plucking the pistol from Rex’s grasp. 

“Hey!” He protested attempting to seize the blaster that Fives was holding above his head. “Give me the blaster, Fives!” He yelled, now trying to kick the other in the shin.

“Uh uh uh, cadets can’t have blasters.” Fives sung at him, obviously absolutely delighted at being able to tease his Captain with no real consequences. Well, not no consequences.

“Fives,” Rex breathed in his most dangerous voice, “give me the blaster, or you’ll get so many demerits it’ll seperate you from Echo.” It still worked.

“Yes, sir.” Fives replied, handing it over. 

The second they got to the barracks, Rex really wished he was fully grown and not for the first time today. Half the men were running around screaming, and the other half were kriffing cadets. This is really bad. Rex thought as he yelled, “Everyone calm down!”

The commotion stopped. Everyone was looking at Fives, like he was the one who yelled. Rex rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “What is going on here? I take a break for, what five minutes, and all of you are screaming and running around like headless nunas!” 

All eyes were on him now as the men processed what was going on. 

“Captain, is, is that you?” Jesse whispered, uncertainly. Rex sighed again.

“Yes, Jesse, it is me. Now what have you idiots done about Hardcase and Echo being stuck in the vent?”

“Oh, absolutely nothing, sir.” Kosi piped up happily. “We were just laughing our sheds off at him while he struggled.” 

You have got to be kidding me. Of course it was Kosi of all people who said that confidently. Rex could give him 100 demerits and he still would refuse to let it be a big deal.

“So where are they.” Rex sighed. Kosi pointed over to the far corner where a pair of armoured legs could be seen, kicking around pointlessly.

“Oh, great.” Rex muttered as Fives dissolved in laughter once more. “Banjo, Jesse, grab Hardcase's legs and see if you can manage to pull him out."

Banjo nodded and walked over to the vent instantly, while Jesse, still laughing, had to peel himself off of the floor. Rex rolled his eyes again and looked around. "Wait, where's Kix?"

And of the cadets put up his hand from the top of one of the bunks. 

"I'm here, sir." He called, climbing down. Rex stared. He still had that intricate buzzcut, even as a cadet. The Kaminoans probably hated that.

"Kix, shouldn't you be in the medbay?" 

Kix shrugged. I felt really lightheaded and couldn't concentrate, so Overflow said he could cover my shift." Overflow was the new medic that came in with Banjo, Clancy, Kosi and Vibe, and already he showed an impressive knack for knowing when troopers were tired.

"Any other cadets, follow me. We're going to the medbay to get this sorted out." Rex yelled over the laughter that had kicked up again.

About 40 cadets awkwardly waddled over, some had attempted to make their oversized blacks fit, but to no avail. Fives was still suffocating on the ground, Kix looked at him worriedly. 

"Yo, you good." One of the cadets asked, poking Fives.  

"He won't be if you keep poking him, look," another cadet said, kicking the suffering ARC.

"Cut it out, Clancy!" Banjo commanded from the vent.

***     ***    ***

Rex would never live this down. Ever. The second him and the rest of the cadets filed into the medbay, Overflow was doubled over laughing. After a couple of stern looks and half a cantina of water, he managed to regain some composure. 

"What happened?" He asked, completely in awe, as yet another cadet in oversized blacks stumbled into the room. 

"I got no clue, mate." Clancy yelled over Rex's head. Overflow laughed, walking over to his batchmate. He shook his head, still chuckling, he said: 

"Alright, first things first. We need to get you idiots some actual clothes."

Clancy's smile got even wider as he stared in awe at his older brother.

"You don't mean-" he started but was cut off by Overflow's comm. 

"Overflow, why you got, like, 300 cadets in the medbay?" Rex knew that voice anywhere. His youngest batchmate.

"Those 300 cadets are troopers who got....shrunk."  Overflow said, haltingly. Rex could practically hear the smile in his voice as he replied:

“Custom hoodies?”

“Custom hoodies.” 

Tax cheered and disconnected the call. Clancy was jumping and running around yelling: 

“CUSTOM HOODIES!” 

Rex rolled his eyes. This was going to take a while.

This fic is FILLED with OC’s, sorry 😃. I’m not gonna update this if it doesn’t get attention, so yeah.

Hello :) Missing my siblings so I wrote this :)

It’s sorta a continuation of this, which is a modern AU where Alpha is the oldest. @plainshobbit all of this is your fault <3

*

Alpha had agreed to babysit for the morning so mom and dad could catch up on sleep. He didn’t have work, his only class was in the afternoon, and for once he was caught up on homework. So while their parents slept in and the other boys left for school, Alpha got Cody his breakfast and Rex a bottle. 

There was one couch in the living room where you could sit and see inside the kitchen, so Alpha settled there with Rex and the bottle and kept half an eye on where Cody sat in dad’s chair with the armrests, smearing scrambled eggs across the kitchen table. Hopefully he got some inside his mouth. Alpha would have to remember to get him a snack later. 

Cody had good balance and Alpha had specifically put him in the only chair he couldn’t fall out of, so eventually he turned his attention from the kitchen to trying to get Rex to fall asleep with the power of warm milk. It was slow going. Rex was a weirdly alert baby. 

Alpha had been five when Fordo was born. He hadn’t been able to help at the time but he’d helped a lot in the ensuing years. He didn’t remember much from when Fordo was a baby, but he remembered everything from when Cody was a newborn, and Cody had been sleepy and serious and calm. 

Rex cried. A lot. If he wasn’t being held he was crying. Anyone who said babies didn’t have personalities didn’t spend much time around them. 

But Rex had also been up all night, and apparently warm milk was just as effective on fussy babies as happy ones, and eventually Rex fell asleep, his little scrunched up face going lax and milk dribbling out of his mouth. Alpha wiped it up and set the mostly empty bottle on the floor and adjusted Rex to be upright against his shoulder. He didn’t want to burp him while he was asleep, but if he did burp or something Alpha wanted to be prepared. 

Finally he breathed a long sigh and closed his eyes and let his head thunk against the back of the couch. He hadn’t been up all night, but he hadn’t gotten as much sleep as he should have, knowing he was going to be dealing with a toddler and a newborn in the morning. 

This was going to be a long day. 

After a few minutes he actually started to drift off so he didn’t notice the terrifying pitter patter of little feet until it was almost too late, jerking his head up just as something squishy slammed into his legs and catching Cody’s slimy hand right before it landed on his jeans. 

“No. You can’t touch, you have egg on you,” he said, very stern. 

Cody gave him a look that said as soon as Alpha let go of that hand he would also have egg on him. 

“Don’t test me, brat,” he muttered under his breath. 

Maintaining eye contact, Alpha released his grip and gently nudged Cody in the stomach with a socked foot. Cody scowled and took a few steps back. 

Leaning as far over as he could without dropping Rex, Alpha fumbled around in the diaper bag next to the couch and found a packet of wipes. Cody whined and wriggled as Alpha cleaned his face and hands, but suffered the indignity. Alpha would have to remember to clean the kitchen before their parents woke up. 

When he was clean Cody again threw himself against Alpha’s legs, waving one fist in the air in Rex’s general direction. 

“Wha’ ith?”

“What is it?” Alpha translated. “It’s baby Rex.”

“Baby Reth?”

“Baby Rex.” Alpha shifted the baby, regarding Cody with a raised eyebrow. “You want to hold him?”

“Ho’l da baby?” 

“Hold the baby, that’s right. Come sit.”

Cody pulled himself up onto the couch, grunting with exertion and heaving a sigh as he flopped next to Alpha. 

He’d held Rex once already, in the hospital when they’d all gone to visit mom, propped up next to her in the bed and with dad’s arms supporting his own. But that had been a whole four days ago and he likely didn’t remember. 

Alpha hesitated, and then carefully set Rex on the cushion on his other side and reached over to pull Cody into his lap. Cody kicked his legs, giggling as he settled. 

“Hold still. You have to hold still.”

“Ho’d still?”

“That’s right. Hold still. Now, put your arms like this.”

Alpha tugged at Cody’s arms until they were curved with enough room to cradle a baby.

“Dis?”

“This. Right. Good.”

Alpha leaned over, making sure he didn’t dislodge Cody, and picked up Rex. Ever so carefully he maneuvered the baby into Cody’s hold, keeping his own arms wrapped around both of them so as to keep the whole squirmy mess of small child contained. 

Cody made a little sound of excited wonder when Rex settled in his arms, miraculously still asleep. Alpha smiled, resting his chin on top of Cody’s head. They were both so very small. 

“Sleepin!”

“Yes, the baby’s sleeping.” 

Cody pulled a hand free– Alpha adjusted his own hold to compensate– and patted Rex forcefully on the head. 

Alpha sucked in a breath. “Gentle, Cody. You have to be gentle. See, like this.”

He maneuvered until he could free his own hand, and then took Cody’s and smoothed down Rex’s curls. “Gentle.” 

“Gent’o.” 

“That’s right. Good job.”

With Alpha’s help Cody sat still and stroked Rex’s hair for almost a full minute, before he got bored and wiggled to be released. Alpha lifted Rex up so Cody could squirm down out of his lap. 

Cody took off towards the stairs, thundering up with all the strength in his little legs. The older boys had started locking their doors as soon as Cody learned to walk, so he should be fine on his own up there for a bit. 

Alpha settled back against the couch once again, Rex a warm weight against his chest. His hair was very soft, and he had a lot of it– dark wispy curls on his head and dark soft fuzz on the back of his neck and shoulders. The blue blanket he’d been sort of swaddled in had come untucked with all the movement, though somehow Rex had remained asleep. Maybe the harder it was to get a baby to sleep the harder it was to wake them up. 

Alpha re-wrapped the blanket as best he could, pressed a kiss to the top of Rex’s head, and then grabbed his phone with the intention of doing some mindless scrolling while he waited for the sound of something breaking to echo down the stairs.

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