Latest Posts by endortheline - Page 2

I just thought of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad au where during Umbara it’s Rex that’s injured and he’s begging Kix to leave him behind so Kix can keep outrunning the tanks. And Kix still tells Rex he sounds like General Krell but he’s more frustrated and afraid than angry. Kix manages to group Rex with the rest of the wounded and Rex orders Kix to leave them behind and initially Kix is like no Fucking way I’m leaving you all out here but Rex reasons with him that he’s the only medic with the company right now and he had to keep moving with the group and Rex would keep an eye on and defend the rest of the wounded. At this point Kix knows he’s right so he leaves with them with a bunch of supplies and keeps going with Torrent. At the end of the battle when their recovering everyone’s like oh Kriff where’s Rex?! Did we loose him?! Is he dead?! And Kix speaks up and tells them he’s with the wounded, which spurts Fives and company to try and go back and look for them but in the name of progress and sacrifice Krell forbids it. He temporarily promotes Jesse to captain because i think at the time he was Rex’s lieutenant but mostly because Krell liked Jesse’s attitude more than he liked Five’s. The rest of the arc continues the way it originally did but with Jesse and fives at the lead. Meanwhile, Rex and like 25 other troops are lost in a foreign environment in the center of hostile territory on a planet far from any republic system, dwindling rations and medical supplies trying their best to live off the land for weeks. Rex had found a cave for the men to hide out in and made a camp there. Since he’s the captain and one of the least injured he goes out trying to locate and contact the gar while finding food and supplies. Between encounters with natural predators and Umbaran squads he always comes back more injured than he left. At this time Anakin gets back and he’s also like umm where’s Rex?? When the 501st tells him what happened he’s pissed and immediately goes out into the jungle to find Rex. And he does, just in time too because Rex had gotten his legs caught in a trap and was too injured to walk or fight and was surrounded by enemy Umbarans. Rex and the others wounded are rescued and get shipped of to a medical station for a while. When they get back hella comfort ensues and torrent is never letting Rex out of their sight again. Over the next few months however it’s clear that Rex has developed a significant amount of trauma and ptsd from the experience and is finding it hard to integrate back into and function within the gar.

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

Blue sounds like a beautiful color

A blind Leo AU one shot

...

One day like others in the deepest of the sewers,the ex-world champion Lou Jitsu, which real name is Hamato Yoshi,was preparing for another one exhaustin day with his four blessings, Raphael the big brother,Donatello and Leonardo,the "twin" brothers,and Michaelangelo the baby brother,they now have 4,3 and 2 years respectively.

Despite being of different species and ages,the poor old rat has a bad memory and very often mistake their names,he had the idea to put them nicknames based of their shells but this was a bad idea because Raph hate being named like "Snapping one" and Donnie like "Soft one".

"They need a colors code" think to himself

While they were taking their nap,Splinter took the oportunity to go outside the sewers and take a lot of colorfull clothes for his babies.

"Sleep well my sons..."He said while climbed the sewer stairs

Hours later,that afternoon,the kids was very playful,Raph crush every fruit of the fridge with his feet to make smoothies,Donnie destroyed the TV, again. His sole defense was to see how it was made, Mikey was painting on all the walls and Leo, he had a lot of fun listening to the chaos his brothers caused but he wanted to be apart of it.

"Leo!! Come here and paint with me!"

"Sure Mikey!" Leo likes the sensation of have paint between his fingers so he just lends Mikey choose the paint and he put his hands on it

"You always let me choose the colors,what color do you like more?"

"Ummm"Leo paused briefly "I don't know,what's your favorite color?"

"Oh!! This one!!"Then Mikey grabed a can of orange paint " It's orange!"

"Like the fruit?"

"Yes!!"

Then the red eared slider began to smell every can of paint "Ugh! everything smells bad!" said,covering his nose

Mikey only laughted "The paint does not smell good, you have to see the colors to differentiate them"

"What is "see" Mikey? Why you can "see" them but I can't?"

"You don't know what is "see"? See is...You know!! See! When you wake up and open your eyes,watch TV,see the music!"

"That's only for you Mikey,You have synesthesia" Said the purple one,who was approaching them

"Oh right!"

"Donnie,You are a nerd,what is "see?"

Then Donnie,very exciting,went for makers and a whiteboard,then procced to explain "The vision or visual perception is the ability to interpret visible light information reaching the eyes which is then made available for planning and action. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, or simply sight adjectival form: visual, optical, or ocular"He said while painting "any other question?"

"Yes,what is perception?" Asked Mikey

"So the see thing is relationated with my eyes?" Asked Leo

"Correct!,but you said you cannot difference the colors or...maybe you can't see the colors"

Mikey gasped with fear "Thats horrible!! You can't see none of them?! The rainbow colors?! Red,orange,yellow,green,blue,purple or pink? or more? black or white?"

"Technically, black is the result of the absence of color or the complete absorption of visible light" said Donnie "You're not helping!" screamed Mikey "You neither!!"replied the spiny softshell

"Guys!! What's the problem? I made a lot of smoothies for all of us!" said Raph

"Raph...is is something wrong with me?"asked Leo with tears in his eyes "Why I can't see? Why is so important? I'm sick? i'm a weirdo? Am I a b-bad b-brother?" Asked covering his eyes

The other three brothers don't know what to say...but they know what to do...one by one they hugged him

"We don't know if you're sick" said Raph "We don't think this converts you in a weird"said Donnie "But we know that you're not a bad brother!" Exclaimed Mikey "did you remember when the lair had a blackout and we were so scared to the dark? You're not! You were very brave! and you hugged me all the time!"

"And you can smell when Splinter puts a wrong or spoiled ingredient better than us" said Raph "And maybe you're the worst to hidding after Raph,but you're the best seeking us" said Donnie

"...Thank you guys,that means a lot!,and maybe I can't see,but I can know how you are" then Leo proceeded to touch the face of each of his brothers"Raph, you're the strongest and big of us and you have a lot of thorns...Donnie,you have a big forehead,maybe that's why you're the smartest...and Mikey,your face is always full of fresh paint,I like it!"

"Je,thanks big bro!" Said the box turtle

Then the four turtles kept playing,this time making things that Leo could do.

Later,Splinter came back with a big bag in his back "Oh childrens~!! your father brings you something!"

"No way!! Did You stole Santa's magic coat?!" Asked Mikey very exciting

"What? No,no Mikey,steal is bad for you,anyway,come on here!" He said while opened the big coat with a lot of kids clothes

"Woahhh~!!!" Gasped Raph,Mikey and Donnie

"What?,what is?"asked Leo very exciting

Splinter just smiled and put on a beautiful blue t-shirt on he "Do You like it?"

Leo procced to touch it"Is...soft,and warm,like your clothes...I like it!! can I have more!?"

"Of course,it's enough for all"

"The big is perfect for me!"Said Raph,putting on a big red football shirt

Mikey took a lot of clothes,especially the orange clothes"Everything is awesome!! I can't decide-"

"The purple clothes it's mine!!" Said Donnie, putting on a purple sweater "Purple like atomic lass~"

"What color would you like,Leo?" Asked Splinter

"Dad! He can't choose, he's blind"

"Yeah,I knew Donatello,but you can help him to decide"

"Mmm~ it's very hard,there is a lot of colors"said Mikey "What's the color of My shirt?"asked Leo "Oh!, it's blue!"answered Donnie

"How is the blue color?"

"Is a great color! It's the sky color,the sea color...your eyes color!"said Mikey

"Really?!"

"Yes!! And your shell color too!" Said Donnie

"Then I want it!" Exclaimed Leo very happy

"...My sons,I think you can use all the colors,but maybe...this looks better in only each one of you" said Splinter,tying a mask to each of them"

That's how Slinter begun to differentiate them... unfortnunately,this made he forgot his real names a lot of times,but well,at least Leo has one thing more in common with his brothers.

...

I hope you like it,sorry for grammatical errors,english isn't my first language

Thanks to @simplyfornardo for help me with the errors

❤️💜💙🧡

Febuwhump Day 23 - "Don't Leave!"

Summary: While in mandatory quarantine, Rex's gets a visit from a brother he's been missing terribly.

Warning: Hallucinations caused by sickness.

[Sometimes I remember Rex got infected by the Blue Shadow Virus and that recovering from that probably didn't happen in just one day, regardless of there being a miracle cure... It's probably left a mark on his immunity system...]

[THIS STORY IS NOW ON AO3]

---

---

Kix opts to quarantine him despite limited contact with the infected population of the little planet they'd been sent to help evacuate. A plague had run through, destroying a great part of the sentient life forms on said planet, and unfortunately Rex's armour had been breeched during an altercation with a delirious citizen.

Kix decides to quarantine him, because despite his limited contact Rex still got sick in the end. Because his immunity system had been absolutely ruined by his past run in with the BSV. The medic knows best in the end. Gives him several shots of whatever miracle cure the GAR has concocted to fight this menace of a disease, and leaves him to rest and recuperate. But the captain of the 501st can't help but feel uneasy by the decision anyway.

Everyone knew clones didn't do so good in isolation. They were raised in communal circumstances and trained to be dependant of each other's help out in the field, so separation anxiety was something of a common occurance among vode that either lost their squadrons or closest batchmates. Independent survival had to be taught to the clones that expressed enough hardiness to become ARCs.

Rex had earned that honour himself. But he was nothing if not a very social creature. And being confined to a lonely cot was... It was doing things to him.

Between the wet-sounding coughs, the sudden instances where he was overcome by vertigo even as he lay still, and the fogginess that came with flare-ups and fever, Rex wasn't sure what was worse... The fact he felt like he'd been run over and dragged by a hovercraft, or the fact it was getting hard to figure out if the things he was hearing and seeing were real or not.

Because he could swear Keeli was just sitting there with him. Watching him. Talking to him.

He didn't know his vod was on leave... He could have sworn he was on Ryloth...

"Easy now Seven..." His batchmate, his older brother, purred softly as he ran his fingers through the blond fuzz atop Rex's head. "It's just a little cold..."

"M'not supposed to get those..." He murmured back miserably, as he tried to lean into the contact. Everything hurt and he couldn't move. The covers felt really heavy on top of him. "M'a clone..."

"Even clones get sick vod'ika..." Keeli whispered soothingly. "We're engineered, but not even we can remain strong forever."

"No... s'just me... M'broken..." Rex whined. The aching muscles and sore throat made it hard to say more, but Rex didn't have to. Keeli knew. " Came out wrong..."

"No you didn't."

"I did..." His eyes burnt and he could feel tears slip down his flushed face. Past shame making his stomach feel funny. "Wrong... Hair... Everyone's... Everyone sees... M'cooked up wrong..."

"Your hair doesn't make you wrong. It makes you unique." Keeli frowned. "And I'm sorry... I'm sorry that we dyed it back on Kamino. That we tried to hide it, and made you think it was something to be ashamed of. We just wanted to protect you..."

"Ori'vod..." He wanted to reach out and hold Keeli's hand. He still couldn't bring himself to do so. It was all so unbearably hot and his body wouldn't obey.

"It's ok Rex... Rest now. I'll see you again some day..."

"Stay... Please..." The sickly clone whimpered. "Don't go..."

"I can't vod'ika... I'm dead..."

Keeli wasn't there anymore. Rex was alone. His heart ached as he remembered. Remembered that nearly all his batch was gone. That he was one of the last.

"Don't leave!" His nerve shattered and he yelled through a strained throat. "Keeli don't leave me! Keeli!!!"

The curtains parted. Kix rushed to check up on his captain as his strangled and incoherent screams and sobs annihilated the peace and quiet of the medical wing. Rex was out of his mind with delirium and fear, the fever reeking havoc in his mind as his immune system fought the leftover effects of the plague.

It was hard to see his brother so distressed, but there was nothing more he could do besides sedate him and wait out the effects...

Whumptober Day 7: The Way You Shake And Shiver

Prompt: Shaking Hands & Silent Panic Attack

Warning: Mentions of Suicide

Summary: Rex isn't doing so great when they're finally on their way back to 000 from Umbara...

[Sometimes in moments of weakness we turn to old coping mechanisms. Whether that's a good thing or not is up for debate... Sometimes it makes it easier to lie to yourself that something broken can still be fixed.]

THIS STORY IS ALSO ON AO3

---

Before Fox had given him his name, Rex had made a list of options just like every other cadet in his age group. It was almost a tradition for most young clones who still only had their numbers. The task of compiling potential names that may one day suit them in some way, shape, or form.

None of the ones he'd considered had ever stuck.

He'd been rather unsure of himself (the sole golden haired child among a sea of dark curls), often made to hide behind his batchmates. Keeli and Jek had both found their names quickly, and they'd been quite indecisive themselves. But they'd never been as nervous as he had been, so finding something to claim as theirs wasn't hard for them in the slightest.

They knew who they were.

Rex thought he knew who he was. A king with a crown of gold growing naturally upon his skull. A fellow misfit among the CCs that had adopted him. Fitting of a title that had his ori'vod beaming with pride. Fox had made him believe he was a leader.

Fox was a very good liar.

The trip back to Coruscant is a slow one. Umbara long gone from their radar, but still closer than home. Its darkness following the vode well into the flight. The hollowness behind their eyes... It makes his stomach twist and his heart hammer in his chest cavity like there's a parade in town. For once in his life a campaign has left Rex unable to think.

Or rather, unable to process the sheer horror of what he had witnessed. What he had let happen. What he had done.

Little Force Gods what had he done?

So many brothers dead. So many brothers left for dead. So many more dying inside.

He swallows thickly around the lump forming in his throat, and stares ahead unblinkingly. Watching the blue-tinted lines of hyperspace zip by as he considers what's to come, while a voice in the back of his head that sounds suspiciously like Keeli whispers for him to take deep breaths, to start counting.

If he counts it'll help ground him. But does he want to stay grounded? When there is too much going on right now?

Three troopers have eaten their own blasters before departure from Umbara. The death tool rising steadily. Many more might follow. Will follow. The guilt is killing them all, and he doesn't know how to help.

They should be incapable of breaking. Should be impervious to diseases of the brain. But Krell has left an infectious mind. One that makes it hard for Rex to breathe even in the safety of this ship.

His eyes sting, his chest hurts, his heart is breaking into a million pieces, and there's a good chance he might throw up.

His hands are shaking. They shook back on Umbara too.

Dogma's hadn't.

He comes back to in the refresher. Jesse and Fives are at his sides. They look shaken and tired, and a little of something else Rex can't identify right now.

Angry? Disappointed?

Disgusted with their oh so great captain who couldn't even take the shot himself? Who'd let so many brothers die needlessly when he could have acted immediately and avoided disaster?

The thought makes him vomit up more bile. Salty shame runs down his face, snot bubbles up in his nostrils, foamy sick lands in the toilet. Rough but gentle hands rub at the small of his back. He knows whatever relationship he had with both Jesse and Fives is strained now. Justifiably so. But they still have his back. They're holding him through a panic attack.

He counts each circle, each finger on his back. Then counts the murmurs he can hear. Then the instances where he hears Kix at the door, checking up on them. Making sure he's not going to eat his blaster like the others who just couldn't bare the guilt anymore.

Counting helps. It helped back when he was a cadet. It still does now.

He can't for the life of him recall how many names he'd compiled before he'd been given his own. Maybe someone else knew. Rex doesn't think he knows anything anymore. But he has to move on, regardless of what happened on Umbara.

He had to believe in the cause.

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.. ]

The Truth Lies (In An Unmarked Grave)

On some days, Rex is certain the grief is going to kill him. There's only so much a person can take, and he reached that limit long ago-- reached it, then vaulted straight past it. Echo is alive, and that's fantastic, but... Fives isn't, and he's only the most recent on the long list of people Rex has failed to save. On some days, Rex is convinced that he's just walking wounded, that it's only a matter of time before his injuries catch up to him and put him in the ground.

That's... not what happens. Instead, Rex wakes up with Fives, and General Skywalker years in the past, back before Fives' death, before the Citadel, with their memories of the future intact. Instead, Rex finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to save his family, with the constant threat of the Chancellor hanging over his shoulder.

(Ao3 Link)

Chapter 1

After working with The Bad Batch– after finding Echo and losing him again, after punching Crosshair and forcing himself to work with him anyway– Rex finds himself sitting on a log, staring at the bonfire in front of him.

The roaring fire illuminates the darkness of the night sky, and Rex can feel the heat from it on his face, warming up his knees. Despite that, his fingers feel cold around his beer bottle as he stares down the flames, a shade short of tipsy, not quite tipsy enough.

[[MORE]]

He feels… almost isolated, with the way the sky stretches out above him, vast and endless, twinkling stars bright against the darkness of the night. But he’s not alone– far from it, in fact– Jesse’s sitting on his right, and Kix is on Jesse’s right, and Ridge on Kix’s right, and Sterling on Ridge’s right, which brings him all around to being on Rex’s left.

They’re a lively bunch. It’s not quiet around the campfire– far from it, in fact. If Rex felt a little less detached, he knows he’d be right there with them, laughing and joking. But the events of the last few days, months, years, weigh on him, and it’s easier to let himself be mesmerized by the crackling flames than putting in the effort to be engrossed in conversation.

Jesse, however, is not one to be upstaged by a firepit. He leans forward, grins, waves his hand in front of Rex’s face. “Hey Cap,” he says, ignoring Kix’s facepalm. “How do you know if there’s a member of the Bad Batch at your party?”

Rex sighs, looks up at the sky. Prays for some sort of divine intervention.

No divine intervention arrives. Rex sighs, loudly. “How, Jesse?” he asks, half certain he already knows the answer.

“”They’ll tell you,” Jesse replies, and despite the fact that Rex had been expecting that exact answer, he still finds himself snorting at the accuracy of it. “Hey, how would the Bad Batch kill a space snake?”

Rex sighs again, louder this time. He definitely knows where this one is going. “How?”

“They make contact with it, ignore all Judicial Department directives and build a rapport with the snake, train it to kill other snakes, then return to Kamino to file a requisition of GAR resources form and take in the snake.”

Rex… shouldn’t ask. They’re all feeling weird after their last mission, every single Forcedamned clone is a raw nerve at the moment. He really shouldn’t ask.

Kriff it. He might as well ask. “Is the snake in this metaphor meant to be Echo?”

“Of course not sir, Echo was– is about as sneaky as a reg manual to the face.”

“Big words coming from you,” Kix chimes in, taking advantage of Jesse’s temporary distraction to steal his beer and finish it off.

“Kix, I’ll let you know that I’m an ARC trooper, actually,” Jesse defends. “I absolutely know how to be sneaky.”

“Well, since you’re a high and mighty ARC trooper, I guess that means that you’d just kill our metaphorical space snake by accident, and it would turn out that this metaphorical snake was sacred to the people there, and the natborns would then demand the removal of Republic forces from the planet.”

Rex chokes on his beer, coughs as Jesse sputters. Kriffing hell, someone decided to go for the throat today. “Oh, kark off,” is what Jesse eventually says in response, and Kix shrugs, looking all too smug with Jesse’s bottle in his hand.

After he finishes restoring the air to his lungs, Rex finds himself looking down at his hands, letting the conversation fade to a dull roar in the background. He looks down at his right hand, forms a fist with it, frowns. Unrolls his fingers one by one, flexes them once, then twice, then three times. The memory of punching Crosshair is all too present in his mind, as is the memory of liking it. Of wanting to do it again.

For all that he knows that he was made for killing, Rex has never thought of himself as an inherently violent person. But right now, there’s a part of him saying otherwise, a part of him that’s determinedly whispering what might even be the truth in the back of his mind.

He’s realized recently that he’s changing. And it’s because of the war, yes, but it’s also because of other things, and that… worries him. Scares him, almost, though he’ll never admit it out loud. Rex is a clone. He’s not made for change– the opposite, really. He’s been designed not to evolve past his programming.

But Crosshair had said that they should’ve left Echo behind, and Rex had seen red. For a second, all he’d been able to think about was Fives’ anguish at the Citadel, Fives’ grief in the aftermath, Fives’ rapidly cooling body in his arms, and–

Yeah, Rex had punched him. The shabuir had deserved it– deserved worse, an insidious voice inside him whispers.

(Rex at the beginning of the war never would’ve done that. Rex doesn’t know if his past self would even recognize the man he’s become now.)

Anyway, General Skywalker may not have liked that punch, but Kix and Jesse were on his side, and that was good enough for Rex. It had to be.

He glances down at his fist once more, sighs, and picks up his beer again, finishing it off. He probably should get started on those reports and finish filling out Echo’s transfer forms, so Rex opens his mouth to excuse himself when General Skywalker comes out of his tent, holding something strange and triangular, something that’s glowing red, and suddenly–

The world tips sideways.

Dimly, Rex hears alarmed shouts of his own name, feels the beer bottle slip from his hands, but all he can focus on is the nauseating roil of his own stomach, and the way that General Skywalker seems to have lost his balance too, and is clinging to a tree for support. Rex blinks, tries to focus, tries to marshal his thoughts into something coherent, then–

Nothing.

Rex, trying to give a motivational speech but then it evolved into him casualty talking about his really really fucked up cadethood:

“-I mean yeah all the other kids bullied me, hated me even, and no one liked me or even came near me. Come to think of it I did get shuffled around a lot, but that’s just because my entire original batch was decommissioned. And yeah I did have a lot of near death experiences, but I only needed to be resuscitated a handful of times. Ha, there was that one time a trainer threw me off a platform because they were sick of dealing with all my paperwork, but I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and hauled myself out of the ocean. You know what they say; you want something done you gotta do it yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you! I think I came out the other side just fine and I’m stronger because of it! :)”

The entire 501st: “…whAT THE FUUUUUCK!”

The cadet raised his head, the blond curls cut short enough that they couldn’t really be called curls anymore, and his dark eyes examined 10 head to toe, with such intensity that 10 had to look away.

”This is CT-7567”, Alpha introduced him, and CT-7567 got up, standing straight and looking somewhere at 10’s eyebrows. 10 recognised what he was doing and looked up at Alpha, who was smiling at him, despite 10 not seeing any reason to do so.

If he could talk, if he could just- force the words out, he’d ask what the kriff was he trying to do.

”He’s like you”, Alpha explained, confirming 10’s suspicions. ”His brain is wired the same way as yours: a little differently than the rest of us. I think you’d get along just fine.”

CT-7567 glanced between Alpha and 10 before frowning. ”We’re not the same. Similar, but not the same.” His voice was monotonous and even, unlike 10’s whose voice trembled and stuttered and made weird pitch changes throughout his sentences.

Yeah. Definitely not the same.

Alpha nodded and stepped between them, offering CT-7567 his hand, which he didn’t take, but took a step forward regardless. 10 faced the ground and shook Alpha’s hand off of his shoulder, the beam of the light above him striking his eyes like shattered glass. He blinked and pulled his shoulders to his ears, clenching his fists.

”I know that. But you’re more similar to each other than you’re to me, or the other cadets. I thought this way you could have some company, maybe help each other with tasks and training, and maybe, maybe-”, Alpha looked pointedly at CT-7567, ”become friends.”

10 glanced up momentarily to look CT-7567 in the eye, standing the eyecontact long enough to maybe find out how he was feeling. Of course it was to no avail, his eyes were as much of a mystery as anyone elses, except for the intense frown.

Frown: an indicator of disapproval or displeasure.

10 turned his head to look at the corner of the room, hiding his pained grimace. He glanced at Alpha, who looked back at CT-7567, and humphed.

”He’s always frowning. Nothing personal.”

Fox breathed out and stubbornly faced the other way. He counted the tiles of the wall, going up and to the right and down in a geometric shape.

65.

He heard Alpha’s kama shuffle when he sat down, CT-7567 following suit, but 10 couldn’t make his legs move.

”Take your time”, Alpha reassured and whispered something to CT-7567. 10 breathed out and started counting, the steps from the messhall to his bunk, the windows on their way from the classroom C-2 to B-14, the amount of freckles on his nosebridge, the snores it took from Wolffe to wake Cody up and slap him awake.

236.

19.

7.

4.

10 inhaled deeply, facing Alpha and CT-7567 again, and exhaled as he sat down opposite of CT-7567. He was still frowning, looking at 10 like he was dirt stuck on his shoe, and 10 wanted to cry.

”Easy now”, Alpha said, and laid his hands on the floor. 10 did the same, feeling the cold durasteel prickle his palms, a grounding sensation that he put all his focus on, counting the stings on each hand before he lost count. When he did, he began again. And again, and again, until his palms were numb and his hands started to warm up the floor.

10 looked up at CT-7567, who was still sitting straight, his hands folded in his lap, stubbornly facing the ground between them. 10 wondered if he’d have wrinkles on his forehead as deep as Jango Fett’s before he would even get deployed to war.

CT-7567 seemed to sense 10’s staring and he picked his head up, staring back. 10 glanced uncertainly at Alpha, who nodded and smiled.

”OK. You’re both OK now, yeah?”, he asked, his voice sounding gruff and deep like he had something stuck in his throat. He coughed, making CT-7567 flinch and instantly slap his ears, before hastily putting them back down in his lap and look down, his ears reddening along with his cheeks.

Blushing: a sign of embarrassment, shyness or shame.

”It’s OK”, Alpha said, tapping the ground next to CT-7567’s knee, ”like I said. You’re both OK. This is a safe space, like we discussed. Here you don’t have to hide your stims.”

CT-7567 nodded rigidly and started instantly picking at the skin of his palm, where 10 could see a faint red mark already forming on top of a light patch that seemed like a scar. 10 wondered if he had been picking it for a long time, or if it had been a wound from practice which CT-7567 had then picked the scarring off of, like 10 used to. Before he had been threatened to stop.

10 looked at Alpha, wondering. Alpha didn’t seem to want CT-7567 to stop, he just stared out the window with an expression that made the lines on his face smoother and the tension in his eyes loosen. He didn’t pay attention to CT-7567, so 10 wondered if he’d make 10 stop either.

10 decided to test out his theory and tapped his right thigh with his fingers. Alpha didn’t react, but kept looking at the window, eyes following the motions of the racing raindrops. 10 looked at CT-7567, who hadn’t noticed it either, or maybe he just didn’t care.

10 tapped his thigh again, now with his whole hand, making a sound loud enough that Alpha had had to hear it, but he didn’t look away from the storm. 10 curled his hand into a fist and hit his thigh, now making his whole body shake, and Alpha still didn’t look at him.

10 raised his eyebrows and curled his other hand into a fist too, now hitting his hips in turns, a second in between each hit, after four hits he’d inhale and after two hits he’d exhale. He didn’t look at Alpha anymore, deciding that if he didn’t care, neither would 10. He instead stared in front of him, not concentrating on anything, but letting his eyes unfocus and his eyelids droop as he breathed and hit his hips lightly, making his stomach bounce from side to side, counting each hit in an even rhythm.

It felt good. With his eyes closed the lights were dim, only light sparks above his eyelids, not making his eyes water and drill pain into his skull. He could only hear the steady breathing of Alpha, the occasional sound when CT-7567’s fingers would tap together, the howling wind outside, the rain hitting the glass. The world went quiet, only his fists hitting his hips, his stomach jiggling, his whole body swaying from side to side.

Before he even noticed it, he was shaking, but in a good way, not in the way that he did when the trainers yelled at him, or when the messhall was too loud, or when his brothers were talking on top of each other making it too hard to concentrate. He felt his anxieties disappear and the pressure in his chest vanish, his thoughts quieting down and the outside seemed to feel enough. Not too much or too little, but just enough to keep him grounded, but not pressurized. It felt right.

10 huffed out a breath and wiped his cheek. To his surprise his hand got wet and he opened his eyes to look at it, his tears glistening on it. He wiped it quickly on his pants, sheepishly glancing up at Alpha, who had now closed his eyes. He looked at CT-7567, who was swaying from side to side, his eyes closed, his fingers lightly tapping his knees. 10 breathed out his relief and quickly dried his face and sniffled as quietly as he could, but in the silence of the small room it didn’t go unnoticed. Alpha opened his left eye and smiled at 10. 10 tensed his left cheek, lifting his lips into something Wolffe called a smirk.

”You feeling better?”, Alpha asked quietly, and 10 nodded, turning to look at CT-7567, who was still swaying gently, quietly humming now. ”Let’s give him some more time.”

10 turned to stare out the window, his eyes watering a little, but not just from the lights. He felt so safe, so- so light, like he had been at the bottom of the ocean and had finally resurfaced and breathing fresh air. His breath didn’t catch when he inhaled, and his hands didn’t tremble, but were steady and ready to hold a blaster, and hit his targets. 10 did some practice motions, aiming everywhere around him, and Alpha hummed.

”You trying to shoot me?”, he grumbled, and 10 was ready to shout his protest, before noticing Alpha’s smile.

Oh. A joke.

10 smiled, ”smirked” in return, and shook his head. Alpha huffed out a laugh, the ground trembling slightly, and CT-7567 opened his eyes. They looked dim, relaxed, his eyelids were drooping and he kept swaying however slightly.

”You ready?”, Alpha asked, placing a hand next to CT-7567’s knee.

CT-7567 blinked at him, and 10 could almost see his brain trying to form words.

”F-for what?”, he stuttered a little, and 10 thought maybe they weren’t so different after all.

”For sleep”, Alpha smiled, and got up. 10 glanced at CT-7567 at the same time as CT-7567 glanced at him, and if not for his blond hair he could’ve been 10’s reflection.

”You- we- we did all this- and now- sleep?”, CT-7567 kept stuttering, and got up, dusting his pants. ”I thought we’d-”

”You’re both tired, no?”, Alpha asked, looking at them both with his hands on his hips. ”If you feel like it we can train or do math..”

”No thank you,” CT-7567 said quickly and 10 could feel his face muscles quiver. He embraced the smirk creeping on his face and smiled at CT-7567, then at Alpha who looked at him with the same pride and fondness as the day 10 had spoken his first word.

CT-7567 didn’t smile back, but his frown mildened a little into something that 10 had to search his mind for a long time.

Smugness: having excessive pride in oneself’s achievements.

10 tilted his head at CT-7567, who took a step forward and offered his hand to 10. He hesitated a little before accepting it, and let CT-7567 pull him up. 10 dusted his pants too, and stood in line next to CT-7567 as Alpha looked at them both fondly.

”I’m proud of you two”, he said, and 10 could feel warmth spreading in his chest. ”I know it was just a few minutes in a closed space but- this is the first step into unlearning your mindset towards stimming. It feels good, doesn’t it? I saw how you both easened up, relaxed.”

10 and CT-7567 glanced at each other, and CT-7567 shrugged. 10 mimicked the gesture and glanced at Alpha.

”Yes”, he whispered, his throat strained and scratchy, ”it felt nice.”

CT-7567 nodded eagerly beside him, and Alpha smiled.

”This room is for you two. I’ll make sure that you have your space and peace, so that you can do whatever, whenever, when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or just want to be alone. You can also meet up here, if you ever need to, OK? This is for you two, only. I promise.”

10 took a deep inhale and looked at CT-7567, who nodded at him and 10 exhaled. He nodded back and smirked, to which CT-7567 stopped frowning for a moment before doing so again and looking back at Alpha.

”Just us?”, he asked, and Alpha nodded.

”Just you.”

”Will we- will we be- could-”, CT-7567 tried, and coughed. ”Could- Cody-”

”If you want to, you can ask someone to come with you”, Alpha said, crossing his arms. ”Mainly I meant this as a… secret lair of sorts, so that the Longnecks won’t find out what you’re doing. The trainers too. So, try to keep it lowkey, OK?”

CT-7567 confirmed affirmative, 10 nodded. Alpha smiled at them and turned around. ”Come on. I’ll take you to bed. And- remember, keep this a secret, OK? If a non-brother asks, you’re here to receive extra training. Understood?”

This time 10 and CT-7567 confirmed affirmative aloud in unison.

Okay, but consider: Rex is caught in a time loop on Umbara, as the only one

TW for Umbara's everything, except I traumatize Rex even further. I intend this to be something of a fix-it or at least hopeful, but like, there's implied suicidal thoughts and. lots of um. Heavy Angst. ask to tag please

The first time is horrible. Like. canon. Then he wakes up again at the beginning of the campaign and-

He's wary, and tries to tell himself that it's a dream. He knows it's not. He tries to change things but it doesn't end up too different than before.

He wakes up again. What's going on? He's still trying not to aggravate Krell too much, these lightsabers tearing through his men still haunting his dreams. He stands his ground more often than not but it's a dangerous game - again he loses.

He wakes up again. This must be some sick joke. Fives and Jesse - they know something is up. He tries to save as many men as he can, tries to stop the friendly fire before it can really begin - not much changes. It's him that kills Krell, but at what cost?

He wakes up again. He barely gets to his feet. He can't see themm all die again. He goes regardless, because what if he makes a difference this time? What if he manages to save them? The time loop is irrelevant as long as he gets another chance. He fails.

He wakes up again. Nothing works. He doesn't want to get his brothers killed, but he loses control of himself. Appo takes him aside, puts him on the side lines for this - they don't want to risk losing Rex. Everyone is worried. Rex just stumbles along like it's a fever dream. (If only.) Few things change.

He wakes up again. He just wants to scream. He tries a more offensive approach - Krell nearly loses his temper then and there. A part of him wonders if it would be better now than later, when even more have died. It sends the same as any other time.

He wakes up again. He doesn't have the energy to fight anymore. It's no use. But then Krell sends them against the 212th again - he snaps, he stops it from happening, and he directly confronts Krell once more. He refuses to back down. Krell reveals himself and - this time, Rex ends the day with a lightsaber through his guts.

He wakes up again. He can barely keep himself upright. He keeps feeling the phantom pains of his death - he keeps trying to push through. Nothing works out.

He wakes up again. He doesn't even try anymore.

He wakes up again. He can't do this anymore. He barely registers what's happening - he knows how it ends anyway. He struggles to separate this time from all the previous ones. He it hit by a stray bolt; Kix makes it to him just in time to see him die. At least this time he doesn't have to watch everyone else die.

He wakes up again. He barely speaks, drinks, does anything more than going through the needed motions to appear alive. He won't talk to anyone concerned about him. He can't do this anymore. However this ends - he just wants it to end. It doesn't.

He wakes up again. He shoots Krell on sight. Except Krell reflects the bolts back to him - Rex dies laughing and under the horrified gazes of everyone around him. What use is there in carrying on?

He wakes up again. His body refuses to get up. He doesn't care either way. Skywalker pries out of him what's up - it's a long and gruelling process, but the Force tells him that Rex speaks the truth. They try to change things, but even Anakin knows he can't just attack Krell like that. He still has a hard time actually believing it, too. He sends Ahsoka instead of himself and stays, and they end up with less casualties.

Then he gets called to the battle above the capital in an Umbaran fighter - he's the best pilot, after all. Rex stays, and it's going so well - but everything keeps gnawing at him, his living nightmares keep resurfacing, he crashes.

It's an Umbaran that hits him, but at least he now has an idea of how it might work. Maybe, if he's lucky, the time loop breaks when he saves them.

He wakes up again. Approaches Skywalker directly. Krell is greatly displeased when he sticks around and... it seems to work. And still, when Anakin is forced into the medbay, he sends them against the 212th. But Rex knows. He tells his men, has them marching without helmets on. They don't start firing and got to arrest Krell. This time, they have Skywalker on their side - and Krell still murders many of them, but only a fraction of the casualties of the other times. They execute him for treason - and with a Jedi on their side.

Then he wakes up again.

And for a horrible moment he thinks it's all starting again, it's not ending - before he notices he's still at the post they set up.

He stopped caring a long time ago, and as the realization hits that it's over and they made it and they're still alive he starts laughing and crying almost hysterically because... because they're alive.

And it's finally over.

I just thought of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad au where during Umbara it’s Rex that’s injured and he’s begging Kix to leave him behind so Kix can keep outrunning the tanks. And Kix still tells Rex he sounds like General Krell but he’s more frustrated and afraid than angry. Kix manages to group Rex with the rest of the wounded and Rex orders Kix to leave them behind and initially Kix is like no Fucking way I’m leaving you all out here but Rex reasons with him that he’s the only medic with the company right now and he had to keep moving with the group and Rex would keep an eye on and defend the rest of the wounded. At this point Kix knows he’s right so he leaves with them with a bunch of supplies and keeps going with Torrent. At the end of the battle when their recovering everyone’s like oh Kriff where’s Rex?! Did we loose him?! Is he dead?! And Kix speaks up and tells them he’s with the wounded, which spurts Fives and company to try and go back and look for them but in the name of progress and sacrifice Krell forbids it. He temporarily promotes Jesse to captain because i think at the time he was Rex’s lieutenant but mostly because Krell liked Jesse’s attitude more than he liked Five’s. The rest of the arc continues the way it originally did but with Jesse and fives at the lead. Meanwhile, Rex and like 25 other troops are lost in a foreign environment in the center of hostile territory on a planet far from any republic system, dwindling rations and medical supplies trying their best to live off the land for weeks. Rex had found a cave for the men to hide out in and made a camp there. Since he’s the captain and one of the least injured he goes out trying to locate and contact the gar while finding food and supplies. Between encounters with natural predators and Umbaran squads he always comes back more injured than he left. At this time Anakin gets back and he’s also like umm where’s Rex?? When the 501st tells him what happened he’s pissed and immediately goes out into the jungle to find Rex. And he does, just in time too because Rex had gotten his legs caught in a trap and was too injured to walk or fight and was surrounded by enemy Umbarans. Rex and the others wounded are rescued and get shipped of to a medical station for a while. When they get back hella comfort ensues and torrent is never letting Rex out of their sight again. Over the next few months however it’s clear that Rex has developed a significant amount of trauma and ptsd from the experience and is finding it hard to integrate back into and function within the gar.

Trial Run

Just a little piece inspired by @jasjuliet‘s beautiful piece. Can be read as shippy or not. Up to you. Under a cut because it got a little long. Also available on ao3.

Keep reading

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.]

Clone Wars Headcanon: Rex seeing Fox die

Mmmm just Fox stuck in his mind and he’s attacking Rex and Rex tries to help, begging Fox to stop and break free but he can’t

Rex being put in a position where he ends up shooting Fox to defend himself

Fox having attacked Rex and cut his throat so Rex can’t speak and he couldn’t call for help and Rex was terrified … still is

Rex crawling to Fox and crying, shaking him and Fox is weak and he’s free from the control and he grabs Rex’s wrist and he tries to apologize but the words don’t come out, gurgled by blood

Maybe it’s Cody who finds him or Thorn

Maybe it’s one of the Jedi or maybe it’s no one

Rex is crying, hugging Fox’s body

If he could scream, he would but he can’t and no one is coming and it’s just him in this room with his Ori’vod’s body and he didn’t mean to kill him! He didn’t

Cody being the one to find him eventually, having been looking for Rex since that morning

Terror filling his body and he runs to the bodies and at first he thinks Rex is also dead but the small rise of Rex’s chest is enough for Cody to call a medic

Rex clings to Fox like it will burn him if he lets go and no matter the Vod who keep telling him it’s safe and he needs to let go, Rex doesn’t listen

He can’t leave Fox alone. Fox is his Ori’vod and he still has a duty to protect Rex and Rex doesn’t want him to go because if he lets go, he won’t see him again and Fox isn’t supposed to die and don’t take Fox away from him! Don’t take him away!

Cody prying Rex’s fingers loose and titling Rex’s head towards him and saying it’s okay Rex, you’re safe now. I’m still here

Rex staring at Cody with tears in his eyes and he can’t look away and his fingers tighten against Fox’s body as Cody continues to reassure him

Cody trying not to look at Fox, at the blood that pools around his body. Cody making sure to keep calm because Rex needs him and he can’t breakdown now

His vod’ika is covered in blood and Cody doesn’t know which is his and which is Fox’s and he’s trying so hard to ignore the body under Rex because if he looks, he won’t be able to help Rex and his vod’ika needs him right now

Cody just muttering in Rex’s ear, we need to go. You have to let go and it burns him to pry Rex’s fingers off of Fox but Rex needs a medic and it’s all he could do to lift Rex up and carry him to the medbay

Each step he takes feels like a betrayal, leaving Fox behind but Wolffe and Bly are there, taking care of him while Cody focuses on getting Rex help

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.

Astronomy

"My memories, they get fuzzy here and there, I don't remember a lot most the time, except Fives, I can't forget him, and sometimes, I really wish I could-"

TW for Echo being absolutely awful to Rex and blaming him for Fives' death in the worst way possible.

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Echo knew he wasn't the easiest to live with. Sure, he wasn't as much an ass as Tech was in the morning or as annoying as Crosshair, whose insecurities leaked out like a broken facet, but he still wasn't easy. He didn't take a whole hour to do his hair like Hunter and regularly dropped knives, and he also didn't look right through his brothers, able to place exactly what was wrong like Wrecker. He wasn't as bad as he could be, but he wasn't better.

He used to be better. He used to be perfect. But he'd fallen so far, half the time, Echo didn't know who he was anymore. His name didn't really feel like his anymore. But what would his name be? Echo looked down at his arm, studying scars he didn't remember getting, they danced up his arm until his clothing covered the rest. Ever since Rex rescued him, he was trying to place himself in this universe again. He was supposed to be dead. He wasn't supposed to get a second chance. But he wasn't, and he does.

Echo let out a sigh as he commed Rex, some part of him always sparked back to life when he spoke to his former Captain. But Rex didn't answer, so the last living part of Echo stayed dead. He'd just go inside.

"-No, if I ever do something as shitty as that, just leave me, let me suffer in my own stupidity, it'd do me good." Crosshair chuckled as he took a drink, "Your turn." He said before looked over to Echo and gestured towards a glass, "Join us?"

"Please, join us," Tech took a drink, "Alright, if I turned evil, shoot me on the spot and take my bed, don't let Wrecker or Hunter have it. They stink."

"-What are you two even doing?" Echo asked as he sat down. He gladly took a glass and poured himself a drink.

"I don't know if you'd call this putting together our wills, but that's basically what we're doing, except only in the case we turn evil, not if we die." Crosshair filled him in, "-and we're drinking, so it works."

"Seriously though, if I turned evil, or something more stupid than usual, I know you'd just let me think you'd never come-"

"-But we would," Tech laughed, "Not right away of course, but we'd never actually leave your sorry ass." They laughed some more, "You'd be dead within the week." Their banter continued but Echo stopped listening.

Crosshair's words echoed in his head, "-You'd just let me think you'd never come-" Echo looked at his brothers, laughing away at such a ridiculous thought: losing one another. Echo envied the fact they never had to live with the pain of a forever goodbye. He envied the fact they could joke about it and that's all it was: a joke.

"I'm gonna go move Hunter's knives slightly out of place-"

"This is why you're the smart one, good man, Echo." Crosshair nodded, refilling his brother's glass once more before he left.

"I'm the sma-"

"No-"

Their banter was fazed out yet again as Echo headed in the direction of Hunter's knife collection. He shifted a few of them but moved them back, he couldn't go through with it. Even if it was meant to be a joke, Echo found it cruel. He didn't know why, so he just stared at them, Crosshair's words still echoing in his head. "You'd just let me think you'd never come-"

Echo knew they were joking, he'd made those same jokes with Fives, Jesse, and Kix countless times. He'd laugh and drink with his brothers just as Crosshair and Tech did. But they were brothers and Echo was just invading. Echo went outside, reminding himself that there was nothing for him back with the 501st, without Fives, that there was no home with the 501st. Not anymore. Echo missed his family, but he was with his family.

Fives was dead, and when he died, Echo imagined everything bright and wonderful died with him. Every sunrise and blooming flower ceased to exist now that Fives was dead. Echo, though not bright nor wonderful, died too. He didn't exist without his brother.

Echo wondered how Fives carried on without him, who got him out of trouble, who consoled him after a battle, who loved him when Echo left. Did Fives know I was alive? Did he know I wasn't dead? Could he feel it? Did he know? Echo wanted to ask Rex questions about his brother but everytime he did, he'd watch the Captain start to down. He'd full with such sorrow, such... Guilt.

His comlink blinked and Echo answered it, Rex. "Echo, hey! Sorry, I just got back to Coruscant-"

"How did he die?" Echo inturrupted Rex, who froze instantly.

"W-What?"

"Fives. How did he die, what happened, what actually happened?" Echo practically hissed but desperation made him a monster. He was more machine now anyways, so what was the difference between monsters and men, men and machines?

Rex's stomach twisted in a knot, he felt his heart break all over again, "-I" Rex looked up at the scowl on Echo's face. Rex couldn't do it. He couldn't tell him. He opened his mouth and nothing came out. He gave Echo a plea, refraining from crying.

"-It's because of you, right? He's dead because of you?"

"Echo-"

"Tell me!" Echo screamed, "Tell me that you got him killed! Tell me that it's your fault he died!" Echo wanted to tackle Rex to the ground, it was his fault, it was written all over his face, Rex knew what happened, he was there when it happened, and he didn't do anything to save him, "Tell me how you got my brother, my best friend, killed, Rex, tell me how you killed my brother."

"I didn't, I didn't-" Rex mumbled as his eyes teared up and his voice was a desperate whisper, "Echo, please." Rex looked at Echo, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Echo, I didn't save him."

Echo saw a tear run down Rex's cheek and it only filled him with anger that quickly came then simmered away because some part of Echo knew it wasn't Rex's fault, but all the same, "He was my brother and he came to you for help," Echo sobbed, breaking his shell of anger on the spot, "He came to you for help and you got him killed-" shaking his head, Echo wished he hadn't said anything at all, that he hadn't picked at this wound, if only he'd just let it bleed. "He needed you and all you did to help was have a bullet shot in his heart-"

Rex was light years away from Echo, crying at the blue imagine of him, teary eyed and angry and all because he couldn't talk and he couldn't hang out. He'd been rendered powerless in shock, so all he could do was cry and accept all of Echo's yelling. Everything Echo accused him of, Rex believed. He'd gotten his brother killed and that was on him. He needed him, and instead, Rex got him shot. "I can't do this Echo," Rex looked up, "Everything you said, I can't defend against, I know, I know I failed you and Fives-"

"Don't say his name!" Echo cried, "You don't get to say his name, if you had been better he'd still be alive!" Echo knew he wasn't who he should be, he knew he was being awful and he knew better. But he didn't care. He didn't care. God dammit, he didn't care. So through teary, bloodstained eyes, he took aim, "You don't deserve to be here, Rex, Fives does, he would have never done that shit to you, he would've done something." Echo cried, absolutely furious.

All Rex could do was stand there, head hanging low as he tried to gather the will to hang up and end it. But he deserved it. He deserved each punch Echo threw, he deserved to hate himself all over again. "He would've done something-" Fives would've fought to hell and back, Fives deserved to be alive, and if Rex could trade places, he would, if only to see Echo smile. But that's not how this works. Echo wasn't even yelling anymore, he was only crying. Through his crys, he choked out all the anger at its target "-It's your fault, it's all your fault, you didn't do anything, you didn't do anything and he died because of it,

Because of you-

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

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. 

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: CC-2224 | Cody, CT-7567 | Rex, CC-1010 | Fox, CC-3636 | Wolffe, CC-5052 | Bly, Alpha-17 (Star Wars) Additional Tags: Crack, i guess, there is not a trace of hurt in here, Alpha-17 is a tired dad, his cadets don’t give him any breaks, cody and his squad kidnapped rex i don’t make the rules, brothers being brothers Summary:

Inspections are coming up. They have absolutely nothing to hide. Nope. Not a thing. What do you mean there’s someone hiding? You should get your head checked. Alpha-17 just wants a break from his cadets. Only once.

Call of the Sea

Chapter 5 - Revelations Read on AO3

Summary: Ashla climbed the ladder. It gave her enough height to comfortably reach over the side of the tank. Rex rose slowly toward her, keeping eye contact as his head broke the surface.

Words: 2629

Warning: physical violence (nothing graphic)

 **********

 One of the men in red and gold livery was waiting for her when Ashla pulled up to Palpatine’s mansion. He opened the front door for her, then followed as she headed for the seascape hallway.

 “This way, miss,” the man said. “He’s in the lab.”

 Ashla’s gut clenched. That didn’t sound good at all.

 The man led her through a new hallway, through a door that led outside to a wide expanse of lawn.

 “What’s your name?” Ashla asked, trying to distract herself from the growing unease crawling up her spine.

 The man gave her a surprised look, then said, “Thire.”

Keep reading

Masterlist

Key:

+ = w.i.p

X = discontinued

Ao3:

AOJAOP Universe

Growing Pains

The Mutation – Rex is a natural blond, making him a mutant. How did he survive when almost all mutants are terminated, if not tested on?

Advice – Some advice is given on how to survive Kamino. It may be effective, but maybe not the best for a child’s self-confidence.

Lesson Learned – Rex and his closest friend decide to go on a mission and learn about the CC units. It doesn’t go as they had hoped.

A New Brother – Some rumours turn out to be true, and Rex makes it to command track. Cody’s just excited to have a new brother.

What’s in a Name? – Cody discovers a secret Rex has been keeping for years, and learns there’s more to a name than he originally thought.

Afraid – Working with different batches was always horrible, but after a particularly bad week with another batch, Rex just needs Cody by his side.

All Our Joy, All Our Pain

Udesii – Rex wanders the halls of the Negotiator after a hard battle, the toll of the war starting to show and wear on him. Cody refuses to let his brother suffer alone.

I’m Sorry (I Didn’t Mean To) – Fox killed Fives, but the guilt haunts him. He has to at least try to explain himself, even if others won’t believe him.

Betrayal – In the second between being given the order and following it, Cody’s mind races through his emotions.

Alone – Those who suffer don’t act rationally or fairly. Rex knows this, but still can’t stop himself from acting on his emotions.

Extra

An End – A short moment of grieving before Rex has to leave his brothers.

X Nu Kyr'adyc, Shi Taab'echaaj'la – A first attempt at an afterlife AU. Rex is stuck on Kamino while the war kicks back up. It causes a lot of pain for everyone involved.

Tumblr:

Headcanons

Clone Culture – 1, 2, 3, 4

Inhibitor Chips – x

Prompts

Moonlit Flurry – Cody and Rex see snow for the first time.

Don’t Eat Your Vegetables, Kids – Anakin doesn’t know that togrutas are carnivores.

Dual Dual-Wielders Dueling – Ahsoka meets Asajj and they decide to have a friendly duel.

50% Demon, 50% Human, 100% Disaster – Anakin is half mythic, in this case, half demon. He tells the council, and the reaction is not what he expected.

50% Angel, 50% Togruta, 100% Confused – Ahsoka is half mythic, and Anakin just discovered this. Everyone thought he already knew.

Need a Hand? – Ahsoka doesn’t know about Anakin’s prosthetic, and Anakin only realises this when it smacks him in the face (literally).

I’ll Tell You a Story – Ahsoka meets Luke after the Battle of Endor.

Almost Gay, But Then Chaos – Rex and Ahsoka were in an undercover mission in Separatist space when they got caught and had to hide. Ahsoka found a place to hide for a bit, and chaos ensues.

Afraid – Working with different batches was always horrible, but after a particularly bad week with another batch, Rex just needs Cody by his side.

Bonk – Three snippets of when Rex hit his head on various things.

Extra

I’m Sorry, My Friend – Cody has been tasked with hunting down Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Captain Brothers – Rex meets Hondo, and Hondo is quick to make friends (or brothers).

Dye – Rex has to dye his hair, and Cody and Wolffe help him out.

Snoozeville with rex maybe?

I’ve never written for Rebels Era Rex and I thought that I might give it a try. I hope you don’t mind! Rexsoka shippers DNI, this is purely platonic.

Snoozeville— character falls asleep somewhere that isn’t their bed

Rex was sitting in the common room of the Ghost after a supply run. Surprisingly enough, this one had actually gone off without a hitch (most likely because Ahsoka had decided to come with them for whatever reason), and they were able to get in and out of the planet quickly. Said planet, however, had been rather cold and damp and that did not make for a good experience.

Rex was well aware of the fact that he’d come down with a cold after being on that planet, if the pressure in his head and the incessant runny nose that was plaguing him were any indication. He really didn’t want to admit that he was sick, though, because he was a clone who had been raised on a planet where it was cold and wet constantly, but he wasn’t as young as he used to be and his immune system had permanently been compromised by the Blue Shadow Virus. However, he’d mellowed down since his days as a hot-headed captain and would admit his illness if anyone came and asked him outright… if not, then he’d go about his business like nothing happened.

He sighed to himself, as no one was in the common room with him, the rest of them elsewhere in the ship. He forced himself to keep his eyes open. It was the middle of the day cycle, according to the chrono on the wall, and he refused to go to sleep any earlier than necessary, no matter how tempting a nap was at the moment. He knew it would probably make him feel better, but… he didn’t want to admit it. He supposed some part of him was still that stubborn captain.

Ahsoka made her way into the room and slid onto the bench next to him, regarding him carefully.

“Rexter, you aren’t looking too hot,” she stated bluntly.

“Yeah, must’ve caught a cold on that planet,” Rex replied, sniffling as if to prove his point. He grimaced at the pressure in his head and sighed yet again.

“Wow, you’re openly admitting you’re sick? Because I distinctly remember multiple occasions where you refused to admit you were sick and then made yourself sicker as a result,” Ahsoka said, lifting a brow marking at him.

“Yeah, well, maybe I’ve gone soft in my old age,” Rex said, rolling his eyes at her as she giggled. He then yawned and suppressed an involuntary shiver as he felt a fever taking hold.

Ahsoka immediately grew concerned, “Oh, let me go get you some medicine and a blanket, and you can take a nap right here if you want to!”

Rex shook his head vehemently, “No, I don’t want to go to sleep right now. It’s the middle of the day.”

“So? Naps are one of the best things that have ever been invented. I used to nap all the time when I was a Padawan,” Ahsoka said, moving to stand up.

“Well, we clones were engineered to not need naps. I shouldn’t need one. I can last without one,” Rex said stubbornly, refusing to make eye contact with her.

Ahsoka sighed and settled back into her seat, laying a reassuring hand on Rex’s shoulder, “Rex, that may have been true when you were younger, but like it or not, you’ve aged a little and things like recovering from sickness are going to take a little more effort.”

Rex frowned and stared at the table in front of them. Ahsoka looked like she was going to say more, but Rex ruined the moment with a loud sneeze.

Ahsoka chuckled warmly, “At least let me get you some medicine and a blanket. You don’t have to fall asleep if you don’t want to.” Rex nodded. Ahsoka patted his shoulder and got up to get the supplies.

She returned only a few minutes later with medicine, a bottle of water, and a blanket, just as promised. After ensuring Rex took the medicine she provided him with, she sat down next to him and handed him the blanket, which he begrudgingly wrapped around himself.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, only interrupted by Rex’s occasional sniffle or stifled cough.

Ahsoka regarded him carefully in that time, and Rex was all too aware of her gaze on him.

“What?” He asked defensively.

“What’s really bothering you, Rex?” Ahsoka asked.

Rex frowned and shook his head, “It’s just… Ahsoka, I’m younger than you. I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t have gray hair already and wake up with every single one of my joints aching. I shouldn’t fall sick so easily and it shouldn’t take so much for me to get back on my feet.”

“Oh, Rex,” Ahsoka said, gently shushing him, “I know. It’s not fair.”

“No, it’s not,” Rex agreed, leaning against Ahsoka and closing his eyes, “Why did I have to be one of the last clones? All by myself?”

“I don’t know, Rex, but I do know that I and everyone on this ship are glad to have you by our sides, aged or not. And you’re not alone, Rex. You have me and you always will,” Ahsoka replied, adjusting the way that she was sitting so that Rex could be more comfortable.

Rex grumbled but didn’t respond, the lure of sleep calling his name. He fell asleep sitting in that exact position, head resting on Ahsoka’s shoulder. Ahsoka put a comforting arm around his shoulders and sighed, raging at the universe that had been so cruel to clones and had cast them such an unlucky lot at life. Truly, she didn’t know whether Rex was lucky or unlucky to live as long as he had, and she wasn’t sure that either of them wanted to know the answer to that.

Some of the other Ghost crew members wandered in at different points, but they were all shushed pretty quickly upon seeing Rex resting on Ahsoka as he was (her fierce glare towards Ezra when he’d been about to yell at Zeb had certainly helped things, as well). Eventually, she fell asleep in her seat as well, sitting with her fellow survivor and brother.

“ c'mere. let me give you a hug. “ with Kix and Rex maybe, please?

Thanks for asking, anon! The ending references my fic Golden Heart because I can’t resist an opportunity to reference it :)

——————

Kix stood outside Rex’s quarters, staring at the door as though it had done something to offend him. He was hesitant to knock on the door, and he’d never been hesitant before, but…

But, after Umbara, Kix was hesitant to approach anyone, especially Rex.

Umbara took a toll on everyone. Kix could see it in the way everyone held themselves. Their energies were slightly subdued. Tup seemed lost with Dogma gone, and Fives had taken to the young trooper pretty quickly. Fives liked to help people in order to distract himself from his own problems and, well, there were worse coping mechanisms out there. Kix would have to talk to him at some point to make sure he was actually addressing his own issues.

Jesse had taken things hard, too. Losing Hardcase was rough on both Jesse and Kix because he was their batchmate. They were working through their grief together, and it would be a long process, but at least they weren’t alone.

Shaking himself out of his musings, Kix thought back to the matter at hand. He was standing outside of Rex’s door, fist hovering just a few inches away from knocking. He knew that Rex was also struggling with his own guilt for everything that happened in Umbara. Kix thought he could help.

Kix remembered with great clarity the moment that he snapped at Rex and accused him of acting like General Krell when Rex ordered him to leave the injured behind.

The guilt of that interaction was hanging like an albatross around Kix’s neck. Looking back on it, he realized that Rex had been put in an impossible situation where he had to mediate between his men, his brothers, and a leader whose entire goal was to get them killed. Rex was right, too— Kix had to survive and carry on because if he wasn’t alright, then there would‘ve been no one else to take care of other injured brothers.

Kix knew he had to apologize for his outburst, both for his own ease of mind and for Rex’s. Still, he hesitated, and was about to turn on his heel and come back another time when the door to Rex’s quarters slid open, and the captain himself stood in the doorway. He jumped a bit upon seeing Kix there, obviously not having been aware of his presence just beyond his walls.

“Sir,” Kix said, slowly lowering his fist from where it was poised to knock on the door, “may I have a word with you?”

Rex furrowed his brows together but nodded and gestured to have Kix enter his quarters.

The room was in disarray. Rex’s armor was skewed about the room in a disorderly fashion, which was uncharacteristic for his usual organized room. There were datapads strewn about the floor as well, all incomplete paperwork that had to be filled out in the aftermath of a battle.

Kix didn’t comment on any of this, and instead stood in the corner of the room, looking at his feet and fiddling with the sleeve of his body glove.

There was silence between the pair for a few moments. Rex sat himself on his unmade bed and regarded Kix with a blank expression, not that Kix noticed his gaze, as focused on the ground as he was.

Finally, Kix took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry.” He was startled, then, upon realizing that Rex had said the same thing in sync with him.

“Sir? What do you have to apologize for?” Kix asked.

“The… the campaign as a whole. I let you all down, and you had to bear the brunt of so many unfair situations. I never should ordered you to leave those men behind. That’s not what we’re trained to do, and I asked you to do it anyway. So, I’m sorry.” Rex explained, now looking at the ground instead of at Kix.

Kix scoffed, “Sir, Rex, I don’t blame you for that. I’m sorry for comparing you to General Krell in that moment. You are nothing like him, and I just said that because I was tired and frustrated. I know you were put in a ridiculously tough scenario and… it’s been weighing on you as much as it’s been weighing on me, maybe even more.”

Rex just sniffed and nodded slowly. He glanced at Kix and let a slight smile grace his face, “C’mere. Let me give you a hug.” He said, holding out his arm as an invitation.

Kix sighed dramatically and sat down on the bed next to Rex, leaning into and returning his older brother’s embrace.

“You’re never going to let me forget that I gave you a hug when I was still in medic training, are you?” Kix said with a sigh.

Rex laughed, “Oh, definitely not. But, hey, I think this hug is helping, so maybe the research you did back then wasn’t all for nothing.”

“Damn straight.” Kix said with a huff. Rex let out a laugh at that, and Kix allowed himself a chuckle, too.

Umbara left wounds on them all, but… they would heal with time (and maybe a few hugs, too).

Found a thing I wrote a while back with the concept of Cody taking Waxer's spot on umbara...... should I post it on here 👀

It’s been a while, but I finally got a new chapter out! I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Summary: Wolffe tries to build his lightsaber, “tries” being the operative word. Rex tries to figure out how to deal with Anakin after their startling conversation a few days prior.

Work Summary: The 501st suffered a devastating blow on Umbara with the loss of Captain Rex at the hands of Pong Krell.

Rex doesn’t understand why he’s still around after having died, but he realizes that he might be able to use this to the advantage of all of his brothers.

Or: Rex is a ghost, and he’s just as confused about it as everyone else is.

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: CC-2224 | Cody & CC-1010 | Fox, CC-2224 | Cody & CT-7567 | Rex Characters: CC-2224 | Cody, CC-1010 | Fox, CT-7567 | Rex, Blitz (Star Wars), Colt (Star Wars) Additional Tags: 212th Appreciation Week, Prompt | Magic/Mythology/Fantasy, Sirens, Sirens AU, CCs as Sirens, beginning of the war, Kaminoans Being Assholes (Star Wars), but they’re not actually given a chance to be assholes this time, 212th CT-7567 | Rex Series: Part 3 of Shon'laar, Part 9 of 212th Appreciation Week Summary:

The war has begun, and with the war comes new responsibilities. Not everyone is happy with their assignments, but the vode make do. And some force changes.

@212thappreciation for the Fantasy/Mythology prompt

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.

Keep reading

"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.

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.

Seguir leyendo

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.

Keep reading

Fic Masterlist

This is so that they’re all in one place on tumblr! These aren’t in any particular order other than the one that I thought of them in as I was writing out the titles in this post. The links and summaries are below the cut! I hope this is helpful! As I write more, I’ll be sure to keep this updated.

Multi-Chapter Fics:

What Died Didn’t Stay Dead — The 501st suffered a devastating blow on Umbara with the loss of Captain Rex at the hands of Pong Krell.

Rex doesn’t understand why he’s still around after having died, but he realizes that he might be able to use this to the advantage of all of his brothers.

Or: Rex is a ghost, and he’s just as confused about it as everyone else is.

Mars AU — A role-reversal AU in which Rex gets caught in the explosion at the Citadel and is experimented on by the Techno Union, and Echo is promoted to Captain of the 501st. This series explores what would be different and what would stay the same.

Losing Track (of What We’re Fighting For) — the first installment, which spans from Rex’s rescue through Order 66

Cool Clone Commanders (+ a Slightly Less Cool Captain) — A series of missing scenes and brotherly shenanigans during Losing Track (of What We’re Fighting For)

Brand New War Begins — Order 66 has been executed and the galaxy is in shambles. In an attempt to pick up some of the pieces, Rex and Echo split into groups on missions to save those who may have survived. Meanwhile, two lost souls run into each other and the future of the galaxy is drastically changed as a result.

One Shots:

Golden Heart — Kix has always wanted to help his brothers; that’s why he’s always wanted to be a medic. One day, when he’s first starting his medical training, he helps a blond cadet with a concussion. Years later, after the war has begun, history repeats itself.

A Bit of Tin — Echo notices a familiar medal on display in the Bad Batch’s ship and asks them about it. It leads to a conversation about their old batchmates.

When You Let it Leave, it Can’t Hurt You — The Bad Batchers find a holopic in their barracks when they return to Kamino after a mission. It holds nothing but bittersweet and painful memories for Echo, but he eventually learns that just because it hurts doesn’t mean he should forget.

Promotion — When Anakin Skywalker is Knighted, Rex is given a promotion as well, much to his surprise.

Homecoming — After the Clone War ended with the reveal of Chancellor Palpatine as a Sith Lord, Fives and Echo get the reunion that they deserved all along. The rest of Domino Squad joins in on the fun.

Comfort — Kix has been awake for nearly 24 hours trying to save as many brothers as he could. A breakdown was inevitable. Luckily, Echo is really great at comforting brothers who are hurting.

Tackling Grievous — Cody tackles Grievous yet again, and Rex comms him to give him a piece of his mind. Obi-Wan’s enjoying this far too much for his own good.

Keep Your Eyes Open — Cody gets a concussion during a battle, but luckily Rex is there to make sure he stays awake.

I Know You — “This is not who you are. I know you better than that.”

Anakin says these words to Ahsoka on Mortis. Years later, Ahsoka says them to Anakin on Malachor.

What’s in a Name — Fives has been in ARC training for 2 weeks when he runs into Clone Force 99, who are preparing to ship out of Kamino for their first mission.

Or: Fives meets Clone Force 99 and accidentally gives them their other name.

Where I Confess My Doubt — A supply run takes Ghost Crew to Umbara. Everyone’s worried about Rex.

A Great Man — To Rex, Fives was a great man, and great men deserve to be remembered. *Ao3 link here*

The One Left Behind — In which Death watches a particular clone captain repeatedly lose, and still continue to fight.

Only Time Will Tell — The clones wake up with memories of their lives up to their deaths only a few weeks before Kenobi was due to arrive on Kamino in the original timeline. Rex stays strong for his brothers— he has to. But who will stay strong for him? *will likely end up being a series of oneshots*