At request of 'Rokawk15' Here's Jesse! This takes place in Ahsoka's earlier times with the 501st, maybe it's just after one of their first really long campaigns together, anyways it's the spunky-sparsley dressed 14 year old Ahsoka we all learned to love!
(Still own nothing yeah achievement.)
Normally, the day before landing on Curascant for leave was a day where everyone took it easy and packed up what few belongings they had. Most people hung out in the mess, or gym and it was an easygoing carefree time.
Ahsoka was not having an easygoing or carefree time. While the troops got to go hang out at the Base and have free reign of the bars and city, she had to go back to the Temple and make up all the work in the classes she'd missed on their latest campaign. It's not like she was fighting a war or something, of course she had time to continue taking classes full time when she wasn't on the Resolute.
And so, she found herself taking up nearly half a table in the mess with her various datapads, holobooks and sheets of flimsi that were covered in hastily scrawled notes. She sat in the center of this pile of…knowledge, and had sat there with her head on the table for almost half an hour. No one had dared to ask why the Commander was having an emotional breakdown while surrounded by a pile of informational devices, and so she remained undisturbed as the clones discussed when they were going to 79's or what tattoo they were getting next. In that moment, she loathed each and every one of them.
Kix, Jesse, and Hardcase sat not far from her table, all watching her in idle amusement. Not that they enjoyed her pain and anguish really, but watching their commanding officer be overwhelmed by schoolwork was too good to pass up. They snickered as she scrolled through a data pad, let out a stream of swears that made the rookies a table over jump.
That was it. That was the final straw. They knew she was frustrated- but no. NO they just HAD to laugh. "Jesse- if you're smug enough to laugh then let's hope you're smart enough to help. Get over here." Kix and Hardcase were leaning against each other, laughing so hard they were nearly in tears. Jesse shrugged, and sat down beside her amongst the resources.
"What can I do for you Commander?" He was grinning, that smug sun of a gun was grinning at her. Ahsoka only scowled farther.
"You guys are always saying even the dumbest clone is twice as smart as the civilian teacher, so if you're so brilliant you can help me study for my classes before we get back." She had her arms crossed over her chest, her sarcasm being wielded as a weapon of defense. She dared him to laugh, she kriffing dared him.
Jesse, for what it was worth, managed not to laugh again, and only smiled a little too sweetly. "Of course. I mean, it can't be that hard. What are your tests over?"
She sighed, any anger in her swiftly replaced with exasperation. "I have the class final in Domestic Politics and Inter-Planetal Relations, I have to make up the test over 'The Socio-Economic State of the Outer Rim circa 25,000 BTC', two quizzes and a test for my Etiquette course, AND finals for my Durese, Rodese, and Shyriiwook language classes."
The clone paled. "Wait you're telling me that in the week we get to spend Planet-side once in a blue moon you're taking all of these classes?"
"And meditating, and practicing lightsaber technique and katas, and sparring with other learners and some knights, and teaching youngling classes- and if I'm really lucky I have to put in hours at the Hall of Healing as well." The two stared at each other for a moment and Ahsoka's look of 'I am done with this' was obvious.
"Well, that is some agenda isn't it… and you keep up with schooling here too?" he was almost interested now, all the men assumed that Ahsoka just got all training in the field, she was a warrior- this was war, it made sense to them. None of them had considered the option that she was still taking courses and classes while out in the field.
She nodded, leaning her chin on the edge of the table. "Yup. Me and some of the other Padawans who aren't at the Temple as often get our assignments in bulk before we leave for missions or campaigns and then turn them in whenever we can.
"Thats rough…Uh yeah sure, let's see what you've got here and I can help you out. It's a lot but I'm sure it can't be that hard-" Jesse grabbed one of the holobooks that was towards the top of a stack, he opened it up and immediately regretted his decision. "Wait- why does which fork you use matter?" he flipped through a few more pages, his face crunching to match the look of confusion and irritation Ahsoka had been sporting not too much earlier. "This is ridiculous- why would you ever need to know anything about forks and what the length of a sleeve means?"
She groaned, her forehead making it's way back onto the table top. "I know! Is it not the stupidest thing you've ever seen? Flip to the 6th chapter- there's an entire chapter on how to pour tea- as if we don't all kriffing well know how to pour some tea!"
Jesse set the book aside, shaking his head. "That's just silly, it's not like you're ever gonna use any of this etiquette stuff anyways. Listen to your superiors and a good 'Yes sir, no sir' is all you need."
"That's what I said-" came the muffled response from Ahsoka. "Apparently when I talk to those of a higher status than me I'm 'too military'."
"Well that's ridiculous you are military. I'm certain you spend more time as an acting commander than you do a dignitary, so it makes sense your manners reflect that." He frowned, grabbing another book. "How about this- this-…..I can't read this."
Ahsoka groaned. "I thought you guys were flash trained with a knowledge of a bunch of languages- it's Durese- even the bums on the street corners of kriffing Tatooine understand Durese!"
From their table, Kix and Hardcase were having a blast as Jesse slowly grew as frustrated as their Commander and even more confused. The two clones had tears running down their face, and were clutching onto each other for some semblance of support. The two tables in question were earning their fair share of curious glances from the other troopers.
Jesse had discarded that book as well and picked up a sheet of notes that were in Ahsoka's familiar scrawl. "the discovery of the Perlemian TR linked the growing Rep with the Outer Rim world of Ossus, which became the domain of the Jedi Order over the years(lots of years) Eventually, the Rep began colonizing worlds within the area. While the Rep continued to expand in the Core Worlds and the Colonies, Ossus became a fortress world blocking Tionese and Hutt expansion past-" He stopped mid sentence, staring at her with wide eyes. "What is that even supposed to mean?"
"I thought clones were supposed to be smart!-" snapped Ahsoka irritably. "The trade route linked the Republic to the Outer Rim- specifically Ossus, which allowed the Republic to colonize the Outer Rim AND make an end point for the Hutt expansion and slave trade route- it's basic stuff Jesse- You were supposed to help me not be worse at this stuff than I am!"
It was his turn to groan in frustration. "Well you obviously know that pretty well- let's move on-"
"We haven't even covered anything to begin with! We can't move on- because we haven't done anything!"
"Well I don't see why any of this is important, so I say you just don't do it. Spend some more time doing something that you'll actually use like training or working on the ships or something…" Jesse shrugged. "This is just..useless nonsense, honestly."
"I can't just not do it." said Ahsoka with a sigh.
He stared at her, unconvinced. "Well…why not?"
She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Because! It's like when you guys are in the barracks and have an inspection- you can't just skip it!"
"Well inspections have reason and use- this stuff is useless and unreasonable. Therefore, just skip it." He gave a nonchalant sort of shrug. "I don't really see what the problem is…"
"The problem-" She was glaring at him now, a finger poking into his chest to emphasize her point. "Is that this 'nonsense' is knowledge I'm apparently going to need someday- and if the Jedi Masters say it's important- than I'm going to at least humor them and learn it no matter how ridiculous- AND if I don't pass these courses then I'l have to take them again, and it'll make both me and my Master look bad, and I'm already one of the youngest Padawans so I'm on thin ice and I don't need to give them anything to send me to the AgriCorps over— So just stop making fun of this because as 'stupid' as it may be I need to do good so that I don't let everyone down!"
Jesse was fairly sure he was going to have a bruise on the spot on his chest where she'd been mercilessly jabbing him with her accusatory finger. "Alright, alright, calm down.." he gentle moved her hand away from him and set it on the table, giving it a soft 'pat' before letting go. "Look, honestly I think you know this stuff. You're a bright kid, you picked up all this military stuff" he gestured around him. "stuff in less than a week, if you've been studying all this trip, then I'd wager you know it. You'd do good to take some time to relax and have some 'you time' before you have to go back."
She paused in her rage and titled her head to the side, nose scrunched in thought. "Well…that makes sense I guess… thanks Jesse! I guess you did help me after all!"
He grinned. "Told you I would, now let's go put all this nonsense-" Her pout stopped him. "Stuff, let's put this stuff away and then you can come with Kix, Hardcase and me to go watch Fives challenger the Captain to hand to hand."
"Rexter versus Fives? Sounds like a party to me! Let's go!" She began gathering her various resources and Jesse grabbed a stack, following her back to her quarters he smiled as she chattered on about her guess as to the results of the impending match.
He grinned to himself. "If she keeps this up, the 501st might just adopt her…she's as close to being a brother as a 14 year old Togruta Jedi has ever been, that's for sure..little brat, probably doesn't even realize it." He shook his head and followed after her, giving her a solid pat on the back. "I think you're right Kid, my money's on Rex too!"
I especially like this one because it never really goes anywhere dark and it's just a happy little super domestic moment that I'm completely about! Also, the trio of Kix, Jesse, and Hardcase are one of my favorites they're just honestly too good for this world. Those little nerds. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading and be sure to leave a review and let me know what you think and what you wanna see in the future!
~GettingTraught