That Familiar, Yet Unfamiliar Feeling - Part 12

Bad Batch cadets could have their own show

i'll miss the old armor but i had to draw the new look

I was listening to the song and imagined Omega dancing in the rain on the Camino) And Crosshair walked by and secretly smiled)

Omg this was so adorable! Literally just what I needed today. Thank you for the fic 💕💕

For your valentines drabbles: Echo/Cadence for prompt: Dancing! Thank you 💕💕

Thanks for the request and for the opportunity to write more about these two! 💙

The song that Cadence sings in this drabble is “Better When I’m Dancin’” by Meghan Trainor.

It’s also here on AO3.

Echo was tired. It wasn’t something specific, though. He hadn’t had a particularly difficult workout nor had the 501st’s most recent mission been especially long. He hadn’t lost anyone he was close to recently nor had he performed any tasks that were more mentally taxing than normal. No, it was more of a general tiredness.

He was tired of war, of watching his brothers die—whether or not he was close with them—and the hopelessness of it all. How much longer would it go on? However long that was, would he even live to see the end? It was just one of those days.

But Echo did his best to push his weariness to the back of his mind as he strode through the streets of Coruscant. Cadence had just arrived on the capital planet and it would be their first time seeing each other in over a month. That last thing he wanted was to dampen their reunion with his dismal mindset about a situation that he wouldn’t be able to change.

When he reached the hangar, he stopped to take a breath before approaching her ship, making one more effort to clear his thoughts. Then he made his way over to her freighter, the Atonal , and tapped the entry code into the security panel.

“Echo!”

He had only just made it to the top of the ramp when he heard his name. Then Cadence was running at him and leaping into his arms. He caught her instinctively and held her off the ground as she kissed him fiercely.

“I missed you,” he breathed, after they broke apart.

He was still holding her and she leaned her forehead against his. “Echo, what’s wrong?”

He fought the urge to sigh. Of course she knew and he knew better than to think that she wouldn’t sense his negative emotions immediately.

“It’s nothing specific,” he answered honestly. “Just one of those days when I wish this war would just end already.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He shook his head.

“Dance with me then,” she said.

“What? Now?” He wasn’t opposed to dancing in general, but now didn’t seem like the best time.

“Yes! Put me down.” He did. “Now, come on.”

She took his hands and led him to the living area of her ship.

“Bettii!”

At the sound of her name, the little BD unit darted in from the direction of the cockpit. She beeped excitedly when she spotted Echo and hurried over to greet him by climbing up onto his shoulder.

“Hey, Bettii,” he said, patting the droid’s head.

Cadence pressed two fingers to the side of Bettii’s head and music began to trickle out of the little droid. The instrumental tune was upbeat and Cadence immediately added her voice.

—

Don’t think about it, just move your body

Listen to the music, sing, oh, ey, oh

—

A small smile crept onto Echo’s face as his partner, still holding his hands, pulled him farther into the center of the room. It really wasn’t fair. She knew hearing her singing voice always made him smile.

Bettii hopped off his shoulder and Cadence continued her vocals, as she began moving their arms in some sort of motion that Echo didn’t quite understand.

“What dance is this?” he asked.

“Don’t worry about it!” she responded, between lyrics.

“But what are the steps?” Echo asked again.

“I have no idea!” She beamed at him and he couldn’t stop his own smile from widening.

—

We can do this together

I bet you feel better when you’re dancin’, yeah, yeah

—

Now they were spinning aimlessly around the ship’s living area, still joined by their hands. At one point, Echo thought to lift one of his arms, so Cadence could twirl underneath it. Then he pulled her to him and kept an arm around her waist as they continued their chaotic dance routine. His partner’s voice remained steady the entire time; he still couldn’t understand how she could sing so flawlessly while moving her body so rapidly.

When the song finally tapered off, Echo halted their steps and pulled her into a series of heated kisses. They were both breathing heavily by the time their lips disconnected and he bent down to lean his forehead against hers.

“Thank you,” he whispered, tucking some of her wavy hair behind her ear.

“I hope it helped,” she said quietly. “For now, at least.”

“It did.” He tilted his head to place another soft kiss on her mouth.

The Love Drabble requests are now closed, but stay tuned for more drabbles that have yet to be posted! 💕

Last Line Challenge

Thanks for the tags @tealmisthams and @queen-of-mandalore !

Here is a line from the upcoming chapter of my newest Crosslo fic from my Crosshair x OC series. The first chapter of this fic can be found here on ao3. Hopefully this chapter should be up by the end of the night, so enjoy the sneak peak :)

Crosshair turned around and debated staying away for a while longer. Morbid tendrils of self-hatred wound around his ribs and snaked their way up his spine before settling at the base of his skull. Crosshair shuddered. He couldn’t be alone right now. He needed to go home. He needed his brothers. He needed Tech.

NP Tags: @ladylucksrogue, @ahsokathegray, @melting-houses-of-gold, @acatinwinterfell, and anyone else who wants to participate!

On the last Bad Batch eve, thank you from the bottom of my heart to the creators, the fandom, and the wonderful people i've met ❣️ TBB and these characters mean more to me than i could ever put into words, and they will stay a part of me forever

If still doing the kiss roulette, 35 or 43 Rexsoka? Pls and thanks.

Thank you so much for the request! I decided to do both prompts in one fic, so this one got a little longer than intended. I really hope you like it thought <3 This fic is set sometime during the later half of TCW and I want to make clear that this is an aged up, adult version of Ahsoka! If i ever write her during TCW I always age her up :)

Full fic below the cut!

Reasons

Kiss Roulette Prompts: 35 - a kiss against a wall & 43 - a bloody kiss

Pairing: Rexsoka

Word Count: ~1600

Warnings: blood, minor injury

Rex shoved Ahsoka against the wall, covering her body with his against the shower of shrapnel that followed the deafening blast from the Separatist cannons. Every nerve in his body was on high alert, and his muscles were tense, ready to jump and move again if need be. The shrapnel, gravel and debris pinged and clattered against his armor, and Rex pressed even tighter against Ahsoka, ensuring she was entirely shielded from the aftermath of the blast, knowing she wore far less protective equipment than he did.

Her hands were clutching his chest plate, and he listened to the sound of her breathing, muffled behind the ringing in his ears from the blast. Her respirations were clear and even, and Rex matched his breathing to hers, slowly calming his racing heart.

When it had been silent for long enough that Rex was certain another blast was not coming, he relaxed marginally and chanced a glance over his shoulder. Sure enough, the spot in the square where they’d been standing was now a crater, and various chunks of debris as well as troopers unlucky enough to be caught in the blast littered the area.

Rex couldn’t tear his eyes from the bodies, strewn at awkward angles throughout the square as they were. He fought the urge to run to his brothers, desperate to search for survivors, however small that possibility that might be.

“They’re…” Ahsoka coughed as the dust in the air tickled her throat, interrupting her words. “They’re gone, Rex.”

As she confirmed his suspicions, Rex let out the breath he’d been holding, shoulders slumping under the weight of his despair. His entire squadron, gone in one moment. He wished for the chance to mourn, but they needed to move, and they needed to do so quickly. They still had a shield generator to destroy so General Skywalker could move his troops through the main streets and into the legislative buildings were the Seppies were holed up, and now they needed to do so without the rest of their strike force.

With a sigh of resignation, Rex turned back to Ahsoka to suggest they do exactly that, but he found his words remained trapped within his throat at the sight of her.

Ahsoka was dabbing with her bare hand at a laceration on her forehead, just below her headband. As scalp wounds were wont to do, it was bleeding profusely, and the blood easily escaped her half-hearted attempts at tamponade, running down the right side of her face. It marred the beautiful white markings on her cheek, and stained her lips a bright red.

Rex was no medic, but he’d tended to his fair share of wounds. Theoretically, he knew this wound was superficial. Theoretically, he knew that the scalp was a very vascular part of the body, therefore although the blood loss looked impressive, it was likely not serious. Theoretically, Rex knew Ahsoka would be just fine.

But in reality, Rex tore his helmet from his head, letting it bounce haphazardly across the ground as he dropped it unceremoniously. He grasped her chin with trembling fingers and turned her head, pressing the gloved fingers of his other hand firmly against her wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

“Rex, please, it’s fine,” Ahsoka grumbled, trying feebly to free herself from his grasp, but he held her fast, pressing her into the wall more securely to prevent her from escaping.

Refusing to take no for an answer, Rex indicated to his belt with his chin. “There are a couple of bacta strips in the side pouch. Grab them for me.”

“You’re overreacting,” Ahsoka bemoaned with a roll of her eyes, but she did as he bid her, grabbing the bacta strips and handing them to Rex. “I’m fine.”

“You will be,” Rex agreed gruffly. Then more softly he said, “Please, just let me help you, ‘Soka.”

His gentle plea effectively silenced any further protests from Ahsoka. He made quick work of treating her wound, appraising his work briefly once he was done.

“There,” Rex stated softly. “Good as new.”

Ahsoka rolled her eyes and laughed softly, laying her blood-stained fingers gently against his cheek. Her smile was sad, as how could it not be in a world filled with war and death, but her words were light, buoying his heart against the darkness and fear.

“My hero. You saved my life and patched me up,” Ahsoka told him with a subtle wink, a little impishness making it through the sadness in her smile. Rex cradled her face in his hands, his eyes reflecting her melancholy, but also her resolve. They couldn’t linger long, but Rex took the chance to be with her now, if only for a moment. The reality of war had taught him to savour such moments. Nothing was permanent. He could lose her as easily as he’d just lost all of his men.

“Mmmhmm. And just how will you ever repay me?” he quipped, leaning down while losing himself briefly in her beautiful blue eyes. Ahsoka smiled fully, her gaze drifting down to his lips.

“I can think of something,” she murmured. She stepped closer, and Rex watched as her eyes fluttered closed. His own were half lidded.

“Hmm. Something nice, I hope…” he replied.

Ahsoka’s lips brushed his. “Very nice, I promise.”

Before Rex could respond, she kissed him. Her lips were soft and sweet, and Rex cradled her face gently between his hands, swiping his thumbs lovingly over her cheeks. All he could feel was her. She invaded all of his senses, sweeping him well away from the horrible reality of war, if only for a moment.

But as she deepened the kiss, the tangy, metallic taste of blood slipped through the blissful haze the movement of her lips had lulled him into.

Suddenly, he could hear the distant blaster fire, mixing with the even more distant clanking of battle droids. He could smell the scorched earth from the cannon’s blast and felt the dirt and dust upon his skin and hers.

The wounds on his heart opened anew as he thought of his men, dead in the square behind him while he stood, alive and well, kissing his Commander.

He should stop it. He should end things as regulation and expectation dictated. He was not a mere man, entirely susceptible and beguiled by the affections of a woman, even a very beautiful one such as Ahsoka.

But that was entirely the problem. This wasn’t some irresponsible dalliance, distracting him from his mission, his purpose. This was love. It was the desperation for a connection with another being, fighting for life amongst all the death.

Ahsoka was his whole world. The clones were bread to fight for the Republic. They didn’t need a reason to do so. But all the same, Rex knew Ahsoka had become his reason. He fought, day in and day out, for her.

Desperately, he deepened the kiss further, slipping his tongue into her mouth as he pushed her a few steps back towards the wall. Gasps left both their chests as they crashed harder than Rex had intended into the solid structure.

He couldn’t stop, and he didn’t want to, so he continued kissing her and touching her, pressing their bodies as close together as his blasted armor would allow. Ahsoka returned his passion with vigor, her fingers hooked around his chest plate, holding him close while her other hand scrapped against the back of his head.

They kissed without a thought for anything but each other. Rex didn’t even bother to stop for a breath until he could go no longer without one.

When he broke the kiss, his chest was heaving, his oxygen starved lungs begging for relief. Ahsoka’s breathing was similarly labored, and she clutched tighter at his armor, unwilling to let go.

“I love you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. Rex opened his eyes then to find hers filled with tears, which slowly slipped down her cheeks, creating tear tracks through the dried blood that still marred her beautiful features. Rex blinked away the blurriness from his own vision and held her tighter.

“I love you too, ‘Soka.”

They held each other for a moment more before Ahsoka let out a long sigh, breaking through the emotional veil of desperation, fear and love. Rex stepped back, standing at attention, while Ahsoka peeled herself from the wall, brushing her hands over her battle dress in an attempt to clear it of any dust and grime.

Bending down, she grabbed Rex’s helmet from the ground, studying it briefly before holding it out to him, He accepted it from her, but hesitated before placing it upon his head. Ahsoka pressed a hand to his cheek and tried to smile, although her eyes were still troubled by a stormy darkness, dimming her shining blue hues to a muted grey.

“Please don’t die,” she bid him, her voice breathy and desperate, as it seemed she too must have tasted their mortality and found it rather jarring. Rex leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead, before pressing his own against one of her montrals.

“I go where you go, cyare. I have no plans to leave your side.”

“See that you don’t,” Ahsoka ordered before stepping back, her posture and expression morphing into that of his battle-hardened Commander once more, although the affection in her eyes remained.

“Yessir,” Rex agreed, nodding before securing his helmet upon his head. Taking a deep breath, he deferred to her, ready to jump back into the fray, as his duty bid him. “Lead the way, sir.”

Ahsoka nodded and they slipped around the wall, keeping to the shadows as they pushed on towards their objective. Although weary and worn, war left no rest for any but the dead, and Rex was not about to join them. So, he followed his Commander without question, staying close to her side as she bid him, and keeping her even closer to his heart.

Might I pretty please request prompt 40 for rexsoka!!

Ahh thank you for the ask and your patience! I am sorry it took so long to write this. I've added a healthy dose of Rex-centric angst and hurt/comfort for you, so i hope that makes up for the long wait!

This fic is set a couple years after they part at the end of TCW, sometime during when Rex is gathering his forces on Teth.

The fic is a little longer than planned so the full text is below the cut!

Beside You

Kiss Roulette Prompt 40: Impulsive Kiss

Pairing: Rexsoka

Word Count: 1,500

Rex sat up, desperately gasping for air, arms shaking as he trained his pistols on the clone troopers holding the med bay door open. He had to do it. He had to save her. To save them, both of them.

GoodsoldiersfollowordersGoodsoldiersfolloworders-

The blaster shots rang out in his mind, shattering the dream and suddenly he was sitting up on his bunk all over again, gasping for air and training his empty, outstretched arms towards the wall.

Rex wasn’t sure how long he remained frozen in that position. His breathing was ragged and his heart hammered so speedily behind his ribs he was sure it would stop of fatigue. An uncomfortable mixture of terror, guilt and relief ran through his veins, as clear and palpable as it had been on the day Order 66 had come through. 

Trying desperately to control his breathing and calm his rapid heartbeat, he swung his legs over the side of the bunk. The stone floors of the monastery on Teth were cool beneath his feet, but the sensation did nothing to ground him. His breath still came in short, shallow gasps. His hands trembled in his lap. Hands that were covered in the blood of his brothers-

Rex squeezed his eyes shut tight, balling his shaking hands into fists. Wrangling for control of himself once more, he forced his focus to his breath. 

In through the nose, out through the mouth. In, hold for four seconds. Out, hold for four seconds. Repeat. Repeat. Re-

A knock at his door had him drawing in another sharp breath, ruining his methodical pattern and sending his heart rate skyrocketing once more. 

He forced another shaky breath past his lips, screwing his eyes shut tighter and hoping that whomever was at the door would be on their way shortly when he didn’t answer. He couldn’t speak right now. His voice was lost between the panicked, stilted breaths he desperately tried to pull in and out of his chest.

The knock came again, making him wince, but the voice, soft and sweet to his ears, made his heart marginally calmer.

“Rex?” Ahsoka’s voice was muffled through the door. “Are you alright?”

Rex tried to find his voice, but when he opened his mouth the words wouldn’t come. He hoped beyond hope that Ahsoka would leave him in peace, but he worried such a desire would be in vain. 

She’d stood by him, through all of it. He’d nearly killed her, and she’d never once wavered in her faith or support of him. He shuddered, remembering the days after, left with only each other for comfort. The way she’d cried in his arms on that little forgotten farming planet. The way he’d cried in hers. 

He could feel tears behind his eyes now, and attempted to blink them away, but when he opened his eyes he found his breath was stuck in his chest as the horror gripped him anew. His hands were covered in blood. His brothers’ blood. He stood and shook them, backing towards the wall at the other side of the room. 

Suddenly, his foot caught on something, one of his boots perhaps, lined up neatly beside his bunk, and he stumbled, falling hard onto his backside with a thud and a low groan. But all he could think about was his hands. His hands. His brothers were gone, it was his fault myfaultmyfault-

“Rex?”

Startled, he jumped, eyes flicking to Ahsoka standing in his doorway, backlit by the illuminators in the hallway. Something told him she wanted to rush to his side, but she approached him cautiously, kneeling before him. He caught the concerned look on her face before the door snapped shut, leaving them in darkness. He could only just make out her face in the blue glow from the chrono, sitting on the ledge beside his bunk.

“Hey now, it’s okay,” Ahsoka assured him, her voice calm and gentle. She reached out, taking his hand in hers and pulling it so it rested against her chest. “You’re going to be okay, Rex. Just breathe with me.”

He nodded, unable to do anything but breathe and focus on holding back the tears that were clouding the corners of his vision, threatening to spill over.

As Ahsoka instructed him, she took her other hand and carded her fingers through his hair. Or more accurately rubbed her hands against the short, soft strands. Rex briefly cursed himself for cutting his hair short again. He missed the feel of her fingers playing with his curls.

Closing his eyes, Rex leaned into her touch and followed her voice as she continued her quiet, reassuring instruction. Slowly, his breathing evened out, and his heart returned to a more normal rhythm. 

Somehow in the interim, Ahsoka had found her way onto the ground, just behind him, and he was now lying against her chest, his head resting on her shoulder as she continued running her fingers over his hair, and her other hand remaining locked in his. 

Finally, he managed to find his voice.

“Thanks, ‘Soka.”

“You alright? Do you want to talk about it?”

Her voice was so near to his head her lips were nearly at his ear, he reckoned. He shook his head but held his breath, wanting to feel her lips against the side of his head, though he knew it wouldn’t come. It had been too long. Their relationship had changed. Their feelings still ran deep, but after so many years apart, it was different.

He cursed himself for leaving. He missed her so much.

“You can talk to me, you know.” Her nose brushed the side of his head, and he could have sworn she held him a little tighter. He traced circles against the back of her hand, selfishly leaning a little closer. Ahsoka adjusted her position, pressing her cheek to the top of his head.

“Tell me,” she murmured, an open invitation, not an order.

Rex contemplated. The Tribunal. His brothers. The med bay, the chip-

“I can’t right now,” he rasped, shuddering in her arms. “But you know of it.”

His hands shook again. Ahsoka nodded against the top of his head.

“Your brothers?” She guessed correctly. All Rex could do was nod.

“I’m sorry.” She was quiet for a moment. Then, “Rex I… thank you.”

His brow furrowed. He didn’t get it. She was the one comforting him.

“For… what?”

“For choosing to save my life.”

Her voice was quiet and thick. Rex felt his heart twist in his chest as tears clouded his vision once more. He didn’t know what to say. The phrase that came to mind was ‘of course’ but he couldn’t force the words past the tears in his throat. He felt guilty for his actions, but he’d never once regretted saving Ahsoka. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do, yet it had been the easiest choice he’d ever made. 

Ahsoka’s fingers left his hair and found their way beneath his chin, turning his head to meet her eyes. He could see her gratitude clear in her blue gaze, and the sorrow in the tears that rolled down her face. Still, he couldn’t find his voice to answer her, to comfort her. 

So, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. She was stiff at first, surprised, but she kissed him back without hesitation. Rex relished in the feeling of her lips on his, moving slowly to savor the moment. 

Wrapping one arm around her waist, he cradled her rear lek with the other hand, pulling her against him and deepening their kiss. Ahsoka responded in kind, melting into his embrace.

When they finally broke apart he pressed their foreheads together, holding her close.

“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have done that-“

“It’s alright, Rex.” Her breath was warm against his lips, and he shivered. “I feel it too.”

Rex nodded and just held her close. After a while, Ahsoka shifted, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek and then whispering in his ear, “You should sleep. We have quite the day ahead of us.”

“Stay with me,” Rex whispered, ghosting his lips over her montrals, unable to let her go. “I sleep better beside you.”

“I sleep better beside you too,” Ahsoka confessed, nodding and pressing a fleeting kiss to his temple.

Without another word they situated themselves on Rex’s bunk, old habits returning as they fell into a familiar position. 

As Rex tucked her into his arms, settling his chin between his montrals, he pretended like things could go back to how they were before. He pretended that tomorrow morning wouldn’t mean a return to their new commands in the rebellion, he as the leader of his troop of clones, she as Fulcrum. The only thing he did not pretend was that he still loved her. No matter what changed, Rex knew his love for Ahsoka would never fade. He fell into a deep, dreamless sleep with that comforting thought at the forefront of his mind.

Ask game: ✨❌🎢

Thank you for the ask! These are so fun :)

✨ Give you and your writing a compliment.

Awww this is a sweet one. I guess I'd have to say I'm really proud of the way I've been able to inhabit different character's perspectives, even those who are very different from my own. In particular, I really enjoy writing the character Crosshair from The Bad Batch, and for those who know me, he and I couldn't have any more different of mindsets XD

❌ What's a trope you will never write?

Oddly enough, this was the hardest question for me to answer, because I've never given much of thought to what tropes I wouldn't write. In saying that, I don't think I'd ever write the "ugly duckling" story line (ie. all it takes is for her to remove her glasses and BAM he falls in love lol she was beautiful all along, who knew). I think it can be a fun trope if done right, but it's not what I enjoy writing myself.

🎢 Which of your fics would you call your wildest ride?

I think I'd have to say my long fic, "That Familiar, Yet Unfamiliar Feeling"! I just went through such an array of emotions, stages of motivation and whatnot for this fic. It's was the very first fanfic I ever wrote, so the journey to get it to a state worthy of posting was a crazy one at times.