Requested by Galletita on Archive of Our Own :)
Chapter 18: Commander Bly, after 'Liberty on Ryloth'
Don't send a child to war and expect them to remain a child.
"General Secura, Commander Bly, thank you for coming at such short notice." Windu's greeting was slightly dryer than normal.
"Happy to help where we can, General." Bly said when Aayla stayed silent. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her looking worriedly over the refugeed Twi'leks. "Where will we be most useful?"
"There is a lot of reparations to be done planet-side. Have your men sent down in gunships." Windu turned to Aayla, "Secura and I must negotiate a new treaty with the Twi'lek leaders."
When she didn't move initially, Bly discreetly reached out and brushed a hand on her elbow, drawing her gaze back to him. He could see it in her eyes; she was concerned about her people, and also saddened by the ordeal they had endured. "I'll organise the men, General."
She blinked, blushing a little when she realised that she dazed out, "Thank you, Commander." Then, with straight shoulders, she followed Windu out of the hanger, leaving Bly amongst the refugeed Twi'leks. Some were receiving medical care whilst others talked in groups in hushed tones or slept under GAR blankets on the hanger floor.
"Get yourselves onto transports." He told his men through his helmet comm, "We're going planet-side to help rebuild the city."
A series of replies could be heard, along with some grumbles of the pilots who had just got out of the cockpits. He was about to turn back to the LAAT's when the blue tips of a pair of montrals caught his eyes. In the centre of a group of Twi'lek children, Ahsoka Tano was sat cross-legged.
He hadn't thought that Ahsoka would be helping with clean-up after she led the assault on the blockade. Yet, here she was, and Bly found himself walking towards the group of youth. It had been a few months since their adventure on Maridun and he wondered if she was enlisting these kids to take down some wild beast like she had with him.
She looked up when he got closer and smiled, showing her teeth which made him shudder inwardly as he smiled back. He remembered her teeth being covered in the mastiff phalone's blood, looking up at him from underneath the slain creature. "Hey Bly!"
"Ahsoka." He greeted her with a nod then glanced at the wide-eyed Twi'lek children staring in awe at his armour. He passed his helmet to a red-skinned boy near his feet who tried putting it on and nearly toppled over from the weight.
"Careful, Mica." Ahsoka laughed, standing up. "Guys, this is my friend, Commander Bly."
"Hello Commander Bly!" Came the chorus of replies including Mica's distorted voice from the voice modulator on his helmet.
"Hello everyone." He replied in their native tongue, smiling at each colourful face in turn.
"You can speak Ryl?" Ahsoka said, picking his helmet off Mica's head and handing it to Bly. She was slightly taller than the last time he saw her, and her lekku were just reaching her collarbones, but she still had a lot of growing to do.
Bly nodded, "Aayla taught me a little." Then, he cringed, remembering how Ahsoka had commented on the way he referred to Aayla several months ago.
She definitely noticed his slip up, but she didn't say anything, instead turning to the children around them, "Right, who's hungry?"
"You're taking them to the mess?" Bly asked when all twelve children jumped out, complaining in Ryl about how hungry they were. "Can't we give them ration packs?"
"And let them burn themselves on the self-heating meals?" Good point. "I would've taken them earlier, but I was worried about some getting lost or separated, but now you're here." She gave him the cheeky grin which implied she was about to do something reckless or unorthodox when really, she just wanted to make sure the children were safe.
Gone was the youngling who only wanted fun and adventure and in exchange was a responsible Padawan who cared most of all about looking out for others. He had to say, he was impressed.
"I'll join you." He agreed, slamming on his bucket and contacting his Second, "Dauxer, I'm staying ship-side for a while to assist Commander Tano. You're in charge."
"To assist Commander Tano's babysitting duties, sir?"
Of course, they could see him from the gunships. Bly groaned, and cut off the channel, not having the energy to act all tough and stern. He removed his helmet again- the Kaminoans had taught all clones that helmets distressed children and should be kept off when out of combat. "Ready, Ahsoka?"
"Yep." She stepped back, revealing a chain of children who were all holding hands. Again, he was stunned by her organisational skills. "Let's get going. Can you make sure nobody gets left behind?"
"Yes, sir." He slid to the back of the group, just behind Mica and a blue-skinned girl who reminded him of the young Aayla that he'd been shown in photographs.
Bly accepted his task with his usual flare, walking behind the children and doing regular head counts as Ahsoka showed them a few points of interest between the hanger and mess. The children made 'oooo' and 'aaaa' sounds at the different sights and only twice did Bly have to help with the slight language barrier. These kids were smart, and could confidently speak Basic, even to each other. It reminded him of being on Kamino and murmuring Mando'a to his vod at night. The Kaminoans despised the language of their genetic template, but they couldn't stop it being spoken after curfew or in the freshers.
"So," Bly began once they were sat in the mess. Ahsoka was opposite him, playing her food whilst encouraging the children around them to eat up. They drew some attention when they entered, but the clones gave them space when they saw the Commanders. "How did you get put on clean-up duty?"
Ahsoka smiled meekly, "Master Skywalker sent me here. I think he was getting annoyed with me." The chevrons on her lekku darkened in embarrassment.
"Why's that?" Bly asked, chewing on some overly processed meat. Sure, Ahsoka could be a bit of a handful at times, but he wouldn't quite call her annoying. Easily excitable and short tempered, maybe, but not a pain to be around.
She shrugged, showing off her youthfulness as she gazed down at her hands. When she did speak, she was quiet, "Did you hear about the assault on the blockade?"
"I heard that you led it." Bly paused to help the blue-skinned girl, Sarra, cut her meat into smaller pieces. Ahsoka watched him, not saying anything. "There was an ambush, apparently, and you had to retreat."
"Yeah," her dejecting answer caused him to look back at her, a little concerned, "but I disobeyed my Master when the orders to retreat came through." She looked spaced out, as if she couldn't see him sat in front of her, "By the time I actually listened, most of my squad had been killed." She made a sound as if she were about to laugh before taking a long sip of caf.
Bly leaned forwards, not liking her saddened expression one bit. He'd lost men due to his own mistakes before, and it never got any easier, but he always had Aayla there to pick up the pieces. He'd done the same for her. Now, he needed to help Ahsoka.
"You broke through the blockade, Ahsoka, and you helped save the Twi'leks." He gestured to the children around him as if to prove his point. "That's all that matters, in the end of the day."
"Maybe." Her eyes finally focused on his again, but they seemed dimmer. "But the lives of my pilots wasn't a necessary price to pay for peace."
"No." He said bluntly, reaching out and lightly touching her hand that was resting on the table, "Don't beat yourself up over it. Those men knew what the price was to secure peace for Ryloth."
Ahsoka didn't reply. Her gaze flickered to his fingers on her wrist and he pulled back regretfully. That type of physical contact could ground Aayla, but he got the impression that it made Ahsoka feel smothered.
He was about to apologise when Mica, sat beside Ahsoka, choked on his water and started spluttering over the table. Ahsoka snapped out of her gaze and turned to the child, concern illuminated on her features.
Bly watched her pat the boy's back as he started to heave, tears threatening to fall. Immediately, Mica was swept into Ahsoka's arms and was clinging to her arm. "Bet that scared you, bud." He heard her murmur. "It's alright, I've got you."
"Calm down, little one." He said in Ryl, making Mica's eyes flash to his, "Ahsoka's got you."
"When you said you knew a little Ryl..." Ahsoka said, smiling a little as she rocked the boy in her arms.
"Maybe more than a little." Bly said, smiling as well. "I didn't want the General to not be able to speak her native tongue at all, so I started learning."
Her expression softened, "That was very thoughtful of you, Bly. I don't think Anakin knows a word of Togruti."
"From what I've heard from your men, he's being teaching you the Huttese curse words." He teased, chuckling when she blushed. Not that he'd expect her to fight a war without knowing a swear or two. "Teach me some Togruti, Ahsoka."
She instantly perked up, "You want to learn?"
"Why not?" Bly said, suppressing another chuckle. He enjoyed learning new languages, even if he only knew a couple words or a greeting.
"Well," she shifted Mica in her lap, so he wasn't snivelling on her bare shoulder. He wondered when she would start wearing something a little more appropriate for the battlefield. "There's 'Koh-ta-ya' which is a friendly greeting. Something like…" she thought for a moment before her face lit up, "Like 'su cuy'gar."
Bly nodded, the use of the Mando'a making it easy to understand. "So, between family or close friends?" She nodded, beaming, "Koh-ta-ya, Ahsoka."
Her smile widened, "Koh-ta-ya, sa'daar. That means brother." She glanced down at Mica, "Koh-ta-ya, tungu."
"Child?" Bly guessed, earning an excited nod in response. He was still feeling fuzzy that she called him brother.
"Sa'daar." Mica repeated, swiping at his slightly red eyes. He cocked his head at Ahsoka as if he were trying to figure something out. "Nerra."
Ahsoka cast Bly a confused look, "Brother." He told her.
Aayla used to call him 'Nerra' before, well, before they became something else to each other. Something that Bly wasn't sure what to call.
Mica pointed between Ahsoka and Bly, gripping onto her left lek to stay steady. A brief wince flickered over her face; he knew that those organs were sensitive. "Your brother?" He asked in Ryl.
"Not by blood." He told the child, also in the Twi'lek's native tongue, "But still family."
Ahsoka couldn't understand the language but she seemed to understand. Gently, she pried Mica's fingers off her lek and sat him back down beside her. She leaned on her forearms towards Bly, looking less sad but also serious.
"You've got something on your mind?"
He quirked a brow, "Do I?"
"You're confused about something." She smiled sweetly, "Want to talk about it?"
"I'm good, Ahsoka, thanks," because she was too young to understand anything about love. "Shall we get these kids back to the hanger?"
She seemed a little disheartened but didn't throw a tantrum like he feared she would at any point on Maridun. They walked back to the hanger, Mica riding on Ahsoka's back and Sarra clinging to Bly's waist and her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
These were good kids, and they didn't deserve to have their lives disrupted by war. Most of them probably didn't know they were now orphans and were expecting their parents to greet them on Ryloth.
"Ahsoka." He caught up to her as they boarded the children onto a shuttle, each one wanting to hug them goodbye, "What happens to these kids now?"
For the first time, he was the one with the questions and expected her to answer. How the tables had turned.
"I'm sure no one would hesitate to foster kids as great as these." She said, tapping Sarra on the nose before straightening and looking at Bly. She smiled, noticing his unease, "They'll be fine, Bly."
He offered her a stiff nod. She may have not changed in terms of appearance, but Ahsoka was a hell of a lot more mature than the last time they worked together. Then again, he couldn't expect a child to go into war and be unaffected by it. Ahsoka hadn't cracked under pressure, and she was taking every battle in her stride, even if things didn't work out the way she intended.
"Commander." He whipped around at the sound of Aayla's voice, nearly giving himself whiplash. His Twi'lek General and closest confident- and something else- approached, looking happier than she did when they arrived on the cruiser, "I thought you went planet-side with the others."
"Negative, sir." He struggled to maintain his professionalism, especially when Ahsoka glanced between him and Aayla with a knowing look on her face, "I was assisting Commander Tano."
"Bly helped me look after a group of orphans." Ahsoka said, emphasising every word whilst slapping him on the shoulder. "He's great with kids, Master Secura."
He knew exactly what she was doing, and he ought to be embarrassed, but Aayla's lips curled up into a genuine smile, "I always knew you had it in you, Bly." They stared into each other's eyes for a moment too long before Aayla glanced at Ahsoka, "Your Master is waiting for you, Padawan."
"He's here?!" Suddenly, the old Ahsoka who looked like a caf addict returned and she started bouncing on her heels, "On the cruiser?"
"In the briefing room." Aayla said, her eyes back on Bly. If he didn't know any better, he would say she was trying to get rid of the Togruta. He enjoyed Ahsoka's company, but Aayla's was better.
"Wicked!" Ahsoka started to run before pausing, offering Aayla a quick bow and sending a wink at Bly, jerking her head towards his Jedi. "Thanks for hanging out with me, Bly!"
"No problem, kid." He winced a little; she was hardly a kid anymore. "Ahsoka, wait!"
She spun on her heel, "Yeah?"
"Tell General Skywalker that…" he thought for a moment, figuring out what to say, "Tell him that I think you'll make a fine Knight one day."
A grin split her face apart, "I will, Commander, thank you!" Then, she was gone, just as fast as she was when she hunted the mastiff phalone.
Aayla stepped in line with him, "Skywalker already knows that she will be a great Jedi, Bly."
"I know." He carried on watching the hanger doors after they closed behind Ahsoka, "Hopefully, they can hurry the process along." Aayla frowned, silently asking him to explain, "It's easier to think about a Jedi Knight going into battle- witnessing all these horrible things- instead of a Jedi Padawan."
Word count: 2,522 - Published: 23/05/2020 - Last updated: 23/05/2020
More Bly/Aayla- I love it, and I hope you enjoyed it too!
I think the producers and writers really outdid themselves when getting the Jedi and clones to interact with children. Ahsoka dealt with those younglings that Cad Bane kidnapped, and she also saved the kid from a free-falling lift when she was on the run in season 5. I couldn't exactly not do this one-shot after an entire episode in the Ryloth arc was dedicated to Waxer, Boil and Numa. And no, I can't think about Waxer too much because it hurts.
Yours truly, dieFabuliererin