Chapter 2: Commander Cody, after 'Crisis on Naboo'
Keep your friends close, but a bottle of whiskey closer.
The choice was simple; board the gunship on the left with Anakin or board the one on the right with Obi-Wan. Usually, the two Jedi remained inseparable during transit, but the circumstances were extenuating.
Anakin looked like he could snap his lightsaber in half as he walked with purposeful strides away from Obi-Wan. Ahsoka should go with him, take his side like the loyal Padawan and friend she was. He would inevitably break down as soon as they boarded the cruiser, and Ahsoka should be there to pick up the pieces.
Obi-Wan's head was also lowered, and guilt radiated from his Force-signature. How did she not know it was him all along? She had missed her Grandmaster, and sought his comforting presence, even if he still looked like Rako Hardeen. She should go with him, be the welcoming arms that he deserved after such a demanding mission.
Ahsoka looked between the two Jedi's retreating forms, trying to decide which route to take. It should've been a simple choice, but even the Force wasn't showing her an answer. Her lower lip stuck out involuntarily, and she didn't realise tears were brimming in her eyes until she saw a blurry clone appear in front of her.
Blinking rapidly, she forced a smile for the Commander whose armour was trimmed with orange. "Hey, Cody."
"Ahsoka." His helmet jerked with a nod. "Saved you a seat on the trooper transport."
Silently, he told her that she didn't have to choose between her Master and Obi-Wan. Her heart warmed at the gesture, "Thank you."
Cody nodded again, more slowly this time. She turned away from Anakin and Obi-Wan, "Lead the way, Commander."
As they walked back towards the landing platform, Ahsoka glanced over her shoulder to see Glory running into step with Obi-Wan whilst Honour casually strolled behind Anakin. "Did you order them to do that?"
"Better they handle the childish Generals than you." He told her sternly. The picture-perfect Commander even after being deceived by his General. "Skywalker and Kenobi need to figure this out for themselves, Ahsoka."
They boarded the trooper transport and Cody guided her towards the back of the ship. She sat down near the window, allowing Cody to take the seat beside her.
Her mind was elsewhere, so she didn't notice them taking off until Cody was pulling a restraint belt across her hips, "Thank-"
"Don't mention it." The clone Commander leaned back, casually throwing an arm around her shoulders. Ahsoka leaned against the side of his chest, allowing his fingertips to gently rub her right shoulder like Anakin would do after a tough mission, "You want to talk about it?"
"I'm fine." She replied quickly, focusing on a spot on the floor. Cody was probably stressed enough, and he didn't need to worry about her as well. Ahsoka lifted her feet to rest on the edge of the seat, hugging her knees tight to her chest.
"You haven't answered my question, Soka." His voice sounded soft, even with his ventilator.
She wiped her eyes, demanding them to remain dry. The last thing her reputation needed was for her to break down in front of such an established officer. Especially one like Cody. He probably felt more betrayed than Obi-Wan's actions than her. She couldn't imagine having to fake her own death and then show up in front of Rex, expecting him to be fine with it.
"How do you do it, Cody?" She asked, her voice so quiet the clone had to tilt his head towards her to hear. She turned her head so her cheek rested on her knee and she could watch him.
"Do what? Pretend I'm fine when I'm not?" He clarified, causing Ahsoka's lips to part slightly. That was exactly what she meant. "Pretend I'm unaffected that my supposedly dead General was never dead? Pretend I understand that he didn't tell me to ensure the mission was successful?"
Maybe she had underestimated how much Cody cared. She uncurled herself slightly, "You don't have to."
"Don't have to, want to." With that, Cody retracted his arm from around her shoulder and removed his helmet. He passed it to her, much to Ahsoka's delight, whilst he fiddled with his belt. "One second."
Before she started fiddling with his helmet as she liked to do with Rex's, Ahsoka risked a glance at his face. Cody's brow was furrowed a little as he half-stood up to reach the back of his belt. Their eyes met from a split second, and she knew he only grinned to cheer her up.
Looking at the helmet in her hands, she marvelled at the feeling of rough plastoid beneath her fingertips. If she closed her eyes, she could see the many battles that accounted for every scratch and dent. Everything that made Cody the brilliant Commander than he was.
The sound of a bottle being unscrewed brought her attention back to reality. Cody had retrieved a small, metal flask from his belt and once unscrewed, an unpleasant aroma caused Ahsoka to scrunch up her nose, "What is that?"
"Whyren's Reserve Corellian whiskey." He told her, offering the flask for her to smell. She leaned closer and breathed in the scent, it smelt somewhere between woody and spicy. "This stuff, Commander Tano, is how I cope."
She managed to quip him a cheeky smile, "No offense, Cody, but you sound like you have an alcohol problem."
"Cheek!" He nudged her shoulder lightly, "Allow me to explain, kid."
He lifted the flask to her montrals and swirled it around. Ahsoka heard the liquid sloshing around quietly, "It's less than half full."
"You're right." He brought the flask in front of her, titling it just enough for her to see the glint of brown liquid inside. "I haven't filled it up since the war began."
"Gross!" Ahsoka pushed the flask away from her with one hand.
"It only gets better with age, kid." He explained, taking his helmet off her lap to rest on his left thigh.
"What? The older you get the better it tastes?" She teased, earning another playful nudge.
"After every mission that is considerably tougher than the others, I take a swig." As if to prove a point, Cody tossed some of the whiskey into his mouth, swallowing instantly. His grimace lasted half a second, "One swig, that's all I need."
"What's the point then?" She rested her cheek on her knees once again, watching him. She's seen members of Torrent drink enough alcohol to make the medics worried and still make an appearance at training the next day. So a swig, at least by her knowledge, was nothing.
"When things aren't going as I planned, I have a look at this." He held up the flask in front of his own face, "It reminds me that, in the future, there will be many more times when things feel tough. But when they come, I'll be able to handle it."
Ahsoka chewed her lip as she thought about what he said. After thinking for a few moments, she knew that Cody was right.
Her and Anakin had taken on many tough missions before, but they always got out in one piece, more or less. It was no secret that the war was far from over, and there would be dozens of tough times ahead.
"Bittersweet comfort." She concluded, her voice just above a whisper.
"Exactly, you catch on quick." He offered her the open flask, and Ahsoka found herself extending a hand for it, "Just a swig, Soka. Skywalker will have my head if you stumble out of this transport."
"I've drank before." She rolled her eyes at his stern tone, "Dad."
Cody chuckled, passing her the flask. She felt the cool metal in her palm, certain spots were warmer where he had gripped it. Her stomach fluttered; she'd never had whiskey before.
"You don't have to if you don't-" Cody didn't finish, Ahsoka lifted the flask to her lips and tossed her head back.
The whiskey burned like acid down her throat, but the warmth it left in her chest was comforting. It tasted a lot better than it smelt, and Ahsoka drank a lot more than a swig before Cody pulled the flask away from her mouth, "Easy, kid, don't bite more than you can chew."
At first, she was confused by what he meant, until she felt a horrible sensation stirring in her stomach. It felt like fire and ice reaching up her throat, and panic settled in her mind. If she threw up and Anakin found out, he would disown her.
"I thought you said you've drank before!" Cody exclaimed quietly. Ahsoka grabbed his gloved hand, rubbing it across her tongue to get rid of the burning sensation on every taste bud whilst using the Force to suppress the urge to vomit.
"That stuff packs a punch." She murmured, releasing his hand. The alcohol finally reached her head and make the transport spin. She leaned back onto Cody's chest, letting him hold her upright, "Give me a second."
"You need a bucket?" He offered his helmet, making her cough out a laugh.
"Just a pillow." She turned to rest her face against his chest plate, "Found one."
"I'll wake you when we dock." He told her, shifting to accommodate her new position. Ahsoka quickly dozed off, and the alcohol numbed the reality of Obi-Wan's deception, making it easier to think about the fact that their mission was a success and the Chancellor was safe.
Cody rubbed a finger up and down Ahsoka's lekku as she napped, careful not to go too low and stir her. Before returning his hip flask to his belt, lest a member of Torrent caught him intoxicating their underage Commander, he raised it and whispered a toast, "To tough times ahead."
The Padawan only murmured in response, making him chuckle. Obi-Wan's deception hurt Cody, and only a sip of whiskey wouldn't take away all his pain. The Togruta curled against his chest, however, made it bearable.
Months later, when Ahsoka descended into the lower levels of Coruscant after leaving the only life she'd ever known, she went to a bar.
"One shot of Corellian whiskey." She told the bartender, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Any particular brand?" He gestured to the rows of bottles along the wall.
"Whyren's Reserve."
With the shot in hand, Ahsoka found a booth in a quiet corner and swirled the liquid around the glass, remembering what Cody taught her on the transport from Naboo.
She raised the glass and whispered, "To tough times ahead." Wiping the single tear off her cheek, Ahsoka tossed the whiskey down her throat, "Thanks, Cody."
Word count: 1,781
Chapter 2 and Cody's first appearance is done! I quite enjoyed imagining Ahsoka using his lesson at the darkest time of her life, did you guys enjoy it? There's certainly a lot more closeness in Cody and Ahsoka's relationship compared to hers and Wolffe's, I'd like to think that Cody is a sort of uncle-figure for her.
As always, feel free to make requests and give constructive criticism. I like to hear your opinions and improve my work to suit your preferences!
Yours truly, dieFabuliererin