Tumblr Prompt X 2
A.N: Timeline setting: Some time after 'To Take Down An Emperor'
Side note: These two prompts were sent to me on Tumblr. I figured I'd upload them together as they are quite short by themselves, but together they make a good chapter. The prompts in question are:
1: Hi! I have a chapter/prompt idea for you. Remember the line in the Ahsoka book that goes... "what do you even know about family?" Kaeden said. "You never had one. And you probably never had friends, either. Just clones who had to do everything you said, because you were their superior officer." Would love to see Ahsoka and Kaeden talk about it in a prompt/chapter. It really struck a nerve in me. The Jedi and clones were Ahsoka's family and majority of them died... :(
2: Okay okay I got a prompt. Have you ever seen that review on a takeaway that went viral? Basically says the food from the take out was great, but it arrived half an hour early and the dude was "balls deep in my girlfriend when I heard a knock on the door". You gotta do Kaeden and Ahsoka for that hahah. Obviously not as graphic though hahah
1: Kaeden and Ahsoka speak about family
"Hey, I need to talk to you. It's important."
Ahsoka Tano was no expert at romance. There was a reason many of her closest friends, her girlfriend included, often referred to her as the 'Queen of being Dense'. Nine times out of ten she missed the subtle social cues that usually indicated that something was wrong, or that something shouldn't be investigated or talked about.
Of course though, Ahsoka just had to be the person who would break all of those rules! She blamed her time as an undercover spy.
That said, even she knew when something was bothering someone, and by the way Kaeden has suddenly sunk onto the couch next to her, her posture slouched in despair and her tone grim, it was something bad.
And as Kaeden Larte's girlfriend, it was Ahsoka's job to find out what the problem was!
"What's up?" Ahsoka replied as she bookmarked the page of the 'Book of Hondo', setting it aside for later, before moving closer to Kaeden, one arm wrapping round the human woman.
Kaeden didn't answer immediately, though she did raise her head from where she had been staring at the floor blankly. Her eyes, usually so bright with joy and focus, and sometimes mischievousness, instead seemed to have a dark shadow to them, as if something was haunting the gateway to her soul.
"Kaeden? Talk to me."
"I need to apologise to you."
That surprised Ahsoka! What did Kaeden possibly have to apologise for? If anything Ahsoka was the one that should be apologizing on a daily basis for all the crazy stunts she pulled.
Still, whatever Kaeden felt like she had to apologize for was clearly eating her up inside, so Ahsoka didn't hesitate to respond.
"I forgive you."
"No! I… you don't even know what I'm apologizing for!
"I know… but I already forgive you."
"Please Ahsoka… just… just let me speak."
Ahsoka didn't miss the way Kaeden had winced as Ahsoka had 'forgiven' her without blinking an eye. The thought that Kaeden thought that Ahsoka wouldn't forgive her hurt the Togruta. Did Kaeden not know how special she was to Ahsoka?
"Ok Kaeden… ok. What do you need to apologize for?"
Kaeden lowered her head for a few seconds as she contemplated how to phrase whatever was on her mind. Ahsoka didn't want to rush her, but every moment that passed was hell for the Togruta. She hated seeing anyone suffer, double so for Kaeden.
"About Raada. About what I said to you when you first revealed your Force powers. I said you didn't know what it was like to have a family. That all you had were Clones to boss around because you were their commanding officer. I was wrong to say that, and I was wrong to say you didn't know what it meant to have a family and I'm so sorry for what I said to you."
Ahsoka's eyes widened. She had honestly forgotten that Kaeden had ever said such a thing! Had she really said something that could have been taken in such a cruel way?
Memories came back to Ahsoka, one of an angry Kaeden surrounded by her friends and sister on Raada, accusing her of not helping them fight the Empire more, of not doing enough!
But even back then, Ahsoka had remembered not being angry at the words. She had understood, and in some ways she agreed. What did Ahsoka know about a true family? She had been taken from hers at three years of age after all.
"What's brought this on Kaeden?" Ahsoka asked quietly, pulling the human woman closer to her, resting her head atop Kaeden's, hoping it offered some comfort. From the way Kaeden leaned in closer as well, Ahsoka could tell it was having some sort of positive effect.
"I was speaking to Rex. I told him what I said to you and he… well he didn't take it too well to say the least."
Ahsoka didn't even realize she had frozen up until she felt Kaeden's palm gently wrap around her own, squeezing intently as a reminder that she was still there. Ahsoka couldn't help the build up of anger at herself that occurred suddenly. She was supposed to be comforting Kaeden… not the other way around!
"What did Rex say?" Ahsoka inquired, worried that her girlfriend had just inadvertently made an enemy out of her oldest and most trusted friend.
"He called me unreasonable and said I was damned lucky to have you. He said if anyone ever hurt his little sister he would kill them, then clone them just so he could kill them again. I don't think he was even kidding!"
Once more Ahsoka's eyes widened at Kaeden's recount of Rex's words. In all honesty, she wasn't that surprised about ex's reaction. The old Clone Captain was fiercely territorial and defensive when it came to people he saw as his brothers and family, and in Ahsoka's case, his little sister.
There was a time Ahsoka could recall that all of the Clones in the 501st saw her that way. Rex was always willing to teach her, to help her improve herself.
Fives was always willing to joke around with her. He had taught her how not to succumb to the pressures of command.
Echo had taught her how to be patient, how to follow procedure when it mattered most. Losing him at the Citadel had been a major blow for them all.
Kix and Coric had taught her how to save people in more ways than one. It didn't matter that they weren't always out fighting, as they fought the most dangerous and formidable foe in existence on a daily basis and won. Combating death was one hell of a task after all.
It wasn't just the boys in the 501st that had taught her either. Both Cody and Wolffe had given her new perspective on things. Through their teachings and encouragement, she had learned how to adapt on the fly, how to improvise, and most importantly, how to get the job done.
And then there were the rest. Hardcase had taught her to be bold. Waxer and Boil had taught her the importance of companionship. Dogma had taught her to have faith and not lose it.
And Jesse had taught her how to be cautious. It was not the lesson she wished she had learnt from him, but it was the most important one of her life, one she had carried with her as Fulcrum. When Order 66 had been issued, and Jesse turned on her and Rex, Ahsoka had no choice but to act.
There were nights where she still saw the Arc Trooper in her dreams, impaled on a burning green blade, mere seconds away from murdering Rex in cold blood. She did not regret her actions, but she wished how they had been different.
If only things had been different.
"He was right of course. The Clones, despite being your subordinates, were your family. Rex told me about them all. About Fives and Echo, Jesse and Hardcase. Hell he even introduced me to Kix. And then there's the Jedi too!"
Ahsoka listened as Kaeden continued on, recalling more and more of her discussion with Rex, which sounded like had gotten more civil after the old Clone's initial hostility.
"And then Rex told me about the Jedi he knew, about the one's he knew had a strong bond with you. I'm sorry about Master Plo Koon, Ahsoka. I wish I could have met him. He sounded wonderful."
"He really was." Ahsoka couldn't help but reply, her fond memories of the Kel Dor coming to her mind. How she wished he was still here.
"He also told me about Anakin. And Senator Amidala too."
Ahsoka tried not to stiffen at the mention of her former Jedi Master. Even now he was a sore spot, for both her and Rex. How Obi-Wan was able to forgive and forget was unknown to her. She really wished she had his patience and understanding sometimes.
But then she hadn't been there at the end, and Obi-Wan had. Perhaps he knew something she didn't.
"I know you hate him Ahsoka, and no one blames you for it, but from what Rex told me he was like your father figure in many ways. I can't imagine what it was like to have to kill him."
It had been hard at the time…. but like with Jesse it had been necessary. Ahsoka had had to make a difficult decision with the information she had… just as Anakin had taught her too as a Padawan.
And Padmé? Padmé had taught her to trust in her actions, and to know right from wrong.
Ahsoka really hoped that the Senator would be proud of her if she was still alive.
"So I'm sorry. I was wrong to say you didn't know what it was like to have a family, because you did have one. It was just very different from mine." Kaeden finished, squeezing Ahsoka's hand again whilst waiting for the Togruta's response.
Wasting no time and already knowing how she was going to respond, Ahsoka brought her free hand up to Kaeden's cheek, gently pulling the woman's face towards her before placing a gentle kiss to her lips.
Pulling back, Ahsoka rested her forehead on Kaeden's and spoke.
"As I said, you are already forgiven, forever and always. My family may have been different from yours, but back then you had every right to say what you did. I may have lost that family, but now I have a new one in you."
The way Kaeden's face lit up with a small smile was all the response Ahsoka needed. If Kaeden was happy, so was she.
"I…. ok… thanks Ahsoka. I feel like I understand you better now thanks to Rex. I wish I could have met all of your old family."
"Me too Kaeden. Me too." Ahsoka replied, banishing any thoughts of the fate of her old family from her mind. It would not do her well to dwell on the past. Right now all she wanted to focus on was the present.
And that present was Kaeden Larte.
2: Pizza Delivery Comes Too Early
"Ok, thank you very much. See you in an hour."
Kaeden watched as Ahsoka turned the holocomm off, the image of the owner of the fast food restaurant fading away instantly, their order taken and no doubt being prepared.
Kaeden didn't know why she had fancied fast food for the night. Something inside her just said so, likely her stomach. She'd never been what some would call a fussy eater, a trait that she picked up from her upbringing working in the fields of Raada. But even still, she liked a treat every now and then.
And after the stressful week she had at work, Ahsoka had been more than happy to comply. By luck there had been a nearby takeout on Alderaan's mood, one that was situated in a small town not too far away from Ahsoka's apartment. It was a nice enough town, and the duo had eaten food from the takeout before.
This time however, Kaeden really could not be bothered with going out for food. She wanted something nice and tasty to come to her.
And thus Ahsoka had taken it up herself to order the food for delivery.
Smiling at the Togruta as she moved to take a seat on the couch next to where Kaeden was slumped, the human woman spoke.
"So… an hour huh?"
"Yeah, that's the fastest they could do I'm afraid. Said they were really busy. You don't mind do you?"
"No… of course not. Just means I'll have to occupy myself for a bit."
"Oh? And how do you plan on doing that?"
"I think you know Tano."
With that, Kaeden lunged towards the Togruta, pushing onto her back and forcing her to lie down on the couch. The Togruta made a sound of surprise before she realised what was happening. The sudden presence of Kaeden atop her no doubt gave it away.
"Oh! I see."
"That you do!"
Kaeden didn't hesitate to lean forward, claiming the Togruta's lips with her own.
They did have an hour to pass after all.
Pristato Picos honestly didn't mind doing the deliveries. The hardest part of his job was smelling the food that people had ordered, and resisting the urge to eat it before he had delivered it. If he ever did such a thing he'd no doubt be fired, and that was something he could not have happen. He needed the money to pay off the student loan he had after all.
Whilst his job was not exactly glamorous, he did enjoy it. Delivering food to people, more often than not pizzas, was a rewarding experience. He got to meet new people and travel around the planet. The gratitude of hungry customers when he delivered their tasty food was just as rewarding to him as his weekly paycheck.
Right now he had a delivery to make, one that was earlier than the chefs at the takeout had anticipated. The customer, apparently a Togrutan female, had ordered two large pizzas and been told it would be an hour before delivery. By chance that had changed, and both pizzas had been ready within thirty minutes and out for delivery. Hopefully the customer had been told. Pristato really didn't like showing up unannounced.
Stepping off his speeder bike, he looked up at the apartment before him. Why there was a house in the middle of the fields of Alderaan's mood he did not know. It was clearly someone's private retreat. If the rumours he'd heard in town were true, whoever lived here had been given the apartment by the Senator of Alderaan himself.
If Bail Organa had told someone they could live here, they were clearly important.
Or scary enough to intimidate the Senator. Pristato hoped it was the former.
Either way, he had a pizza to deliver, and he wasn't going to let rumours stop him.
Reaching back to his speeder bike, Pristato picked up the two boxes of pizza before beginning to head towards what he assumed was the front door of the apartment.
He really really hoped the customer had been told he was early.
Approaching the door, Pristato reached on hand forward and rapped three times on the door, waiting for a response.
But none came.
"Ah kriff I hate it when this happens!"
Reaching forward again, Pristato knocked three more times, hoping, praying that someone would answer.
But again, no one did.
"For the love of…"
'Hoot!'
"Huh?"
The sudden sound of what appeared to be a bird made Pristato jump out of his skin. It was a miracle that he didn't drop the pizza boxes.
Glancing at his feet, Pristato saw a small green avian creature, one that looked up at him with bright beady eyes.
"Um… hi?"
'Hoot!'
"Um… me no speak bird?"
'Hoot hoot!'
"Seriously, I don't speak bird!"
'Hoot hoot hoot hoot hoot!'
"What!?"
At his confused exclamation, the avian appeared to laugh at him, before leaning towards the door herself, eyes suddenly closed.
A moment later, Pristato heard the familiar sound of a lock turning, and the door slowly opened.
"What the…."
'Hoot hoot.'
At that, the avian turned and walked into the apartment, making itself at home. Pristato had no idea how it had done such a thing, but in an odd way he felt as if he was being welcomed into the apartment.
Not fully understanding the situation, Pristato opted to move through the threshold of the doorway, hoping he'd find this Togrutan woman he was supposed to deliver the pizzas too.
Moving through the hall, Pristato found himself in a large open room, one that housed both a living room and a kitchen.
And there, in the middle of the room was a large couch, one that seems to be covered in a very bumpy blanket.
"That's odd." Pristato muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the room for someone. It was then that he saw something on the floor next to the couch.
A pile of what appeared to be clothes sat, as if they had been hastily discarded by whomever they belonged to. There was what appeared to be a grey tunic, mixed up with what looked oddly enough like pieces of armour. And then there was another outfit beside it one that reminded him of hospital scrubs.
"AH! Kaeden!"
The sudden sound of a feminine voice drew Pristato's attention back to the bumpy blanket on the couch, except this time he realised it wasn't empty! There were people underneath it! And from the sounds of it they were in the middle of…
"Oh kriff!"
Pristato couldn't help the exclamation that escaped him, and in some ways he was glad he didn't. At the sound of his voice the people beneath the blanket suddenly stopped, gasps of surprise and horror coming from beneath the cover.
Suddenly, the head of a Togrutan woman popped up from beneath the blanket, an embarrassed look on her face as she acknowledged Pristato's presence.
"Um… hi?"
"Pizza delivery." Was all Pristato could say as he averted his eyes, taking care not to see anything he shouldn't. Judging by the pile of clothes on the floor, whoever was under the blanket was likely….
"Oh! You're early. We weren't expecting you for another half an hour."
'Clearly.' Thought Pristato as he continued to avert his eyes. Why did it have to be him?
"Well, your credits are on the side. Please take them and go." The Togruta spoke, her composure somehow regained despite the situation. Out of the corner of his eye Pristato saw a pile of credits sitting on a worktop waiting to be retrieved.
Wasting no more time, he moved over to the worktop, swapping the credits for the pizza boxes before hightailing it for the exit.
"Enjoy." Pristato called as he made for the door, feeling the need to be polite despite the situation.
"Oh… we will!" Another feminine voice echoed out as he left, not the same as the one the Togruta had used, but no doubt belonging instead to whoever was underneath the blanket with her.
Resisting the urge to let his eyes pop out of their sockets, Pristato dashed for the front door, charging past the avian creature in the process who released several more laugh like chirps.
Once he made it to his speeder bike, Pristato could think of only one thing.
He needed a damn raise!
"Well that was mortifying."
"Ha! Least he didn't see me."
"True. His eyes would probably explode."
"He did look rather shocked."
"Who wouldn't be."
"True. Anyways, pizza is here now."
"Cool. It can be reheated, right?"
"Um… I'd guess so. Why?"
"Well… gotta finish what we started first right?"
"..."
"..."
"That we do dear. That we do."
Author's thoughts
Hey! Surprise update time!
Much like the last 'One-Shot Saga' chapter, this chapter is derived from some prompts I was sent on Tumblr with ideas for mini stories. I thought I would combine the two prompts together to make one chapter for this story as well so that everyone could read them. Hope you enjoyed them.
As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:
Mogor: Poor Ahsoka indeed. Kaeden did go a bit too far, but they will make up once Ahsoka explains everything to Kaeden, so no worries there. :)
