Rex walked briskly through the Resolute, trying to make up his mind about what to do next. His vod'ike would no doubt be happy to see him…. He frowned as another thought crossed his mind and stopped a shiny in the hall. "Have you seen the Commander?"
The trooper nodded. "In the hangar, sir."
Rex nodded his thanks and turned around to head to the hangar bay. He found Ahsoka under the Twilight and walked over to talk to her. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the sparks showering from the tool in her hand. He took several deep breaths, centering himself, keeping calm, then he walked a few more feet. "Hey, kid."
Ahsoka shut off the tool and sat up so fast she banged her head on the hull. "Rex!" She wrapped her arms around his middle and squeezed before jumping back, wiping her hands on a rag. "Sorry. There's something wrong with the ignition lines. I'm trying to figure it out, but even Master is stumped. He's going to try to make time to work on it himself sometime soon."
A last spark jumped out from under the ship and Rex took a step backward.
"Rex?" Ahsoka glanced up at him.
Rex shook his head as the spark extinguished. "It's nothing, sir."
Ahsoka glanced down to where he was looking, then back up to his face. She put a hand on his forehead. "You don't look flushed, but you feel like you're running a fever."
Rex nodded. "My body temperature runs about 15 degrees warmer than the average human, now."
Ahsoka nodded. "You didn't come to talk about that, did you?"
"How have you been?" Rex asked before she could ask him more questions.
Ahsoka smirked. "Oh, the usual: scrapping tinnies, keeping Skyguy out of trouble. You know the drill."
Rex chuckled. "Yes, I do. But that's not what I asked."
Ahsoka nodded. "I've been okay, I guess. Tired. I can't wait until the war is over."
Rex nodded.
"You should talk to Fives and Echo. They're both mystified and grateful. They want to know what would've happened if they hadn't looked up when you told them to."
Rex shook his head adamantly. "No, they don't."
Ahsoka looked up curiously, but shrugged. "You would know. What about you? How are you holding up?"
"What can you sense?"
Ahsoka glanced over at her friend. "You're scared," she finally said. "And you're guarded. You're not telling anyone everything."
"Some things aren't meant to be shared."
"Some things should be. Friends are there to help you carry the burdens you can't carry alone."
"And sometimes, those burdens are things you would never put on your friends."
"Rex -"
"I don't want to talk about it, Ahsoka."
Ahsoka held up her hands in surrender. "How was the debriefing?"
"I stay to find out."
"What?" Ahsoka stopped in her tracks. "Why?"
"He was asking the wrong questions," Rex said, a warning in his tone.
"Or maybe the right questions the wrong way?"
"Maybe."
Ahsoka sighed, but switched to an easier topic. "You kept it." She gestured to his long hair.
Rex brushed a few strands out of his eyes, nodding. "I decided I liked it."
"And facial hair, Rex?" Ahsoka teased. "I thought that was something you've always hated."
Rex shrugged. "I've changed."
"Yes, you have," Ahsoka agreed. "I'm headed to the mess now. Want to get something to eat?"
Rex wordlessly fell in behind his Commander.
…oOo…
A/N: This chapter was mostly to show the difference in Ahsoka and Rex' interactions. (If you want to know what Rex looks like, now, google "promise tamang Disney guys in real life", and imagine John Smith with a very rugged goatee. [Again, a la Strider.])
Next up: Ahsoka and Anakin notice something wrong with Rex and try to figure it out. Meanwhile, Rex visits his brothers.
Review response!
PhantomxWolf: Oh, wow, cool! Yeah, if you wouldn't mind doing that, that would be awesome! And so glad you're enjoying the story!
Oh, and, guys, I figured out how to draw clone troopers. They're basically made up of squares and diamonds. Unfortunately, whenever I try to draw the outline of their face, or try to give them long hair (a la Tup), it completely tanks my project. :(
Oh, well! See you next time!
Namarië!
~River