The fog was thick with smoke and dirt. The air she breathed in was putrid with an unpleasant smell and taste. Ahsoka immediately sensed danger and gripped her lightsabers tight behind her back.
Why do I have two lightsabers again? That's not right.
She was certain one was left at the crash site, and the other was in the hangar with the Y-wing.
She tried to look around to get her bearings but only felt the scene around her hover in her vision. The hazy daylight served her no purpose other than to outline the silhouettes of gnarled lifeless trees. It was impossible to tell if it was dawn or dusk. For miles, she took in the endless rows of scorched earth; the giant trunks resembled desperate fingers trying to claw their way out of the ground.
What happened here?
The charred forest had lost all life and foliage. Was she still on Splendor? She moved to begin a run but could not. Something was wrong. She couldn't move. Her body was heavier, and she felt sore in places she never had before. She seemed…older, by decades.
"The people already suffer under your rule."
That was her own voice, though she had no idea to whom she was directing the accusation.
Suddenly, blaster fire shot out at her from all sides, and though she couldn't move, none of them hit her. She then saw her two glowing sabers, a shocking white she had never seen, now ignited as they easily cut down the masked figures one by one at her feet.
Her surroundings shifted, and she was caught in a different fog that was misty and wet. This new fog drifted in the same haunting and barren forest. Through the mist, she saw an armored figure,
"Rex?" No, that was not his armor; it looked…Mandalorian?
She called out to the figure. "Who are you?"
The only response the figure gave was to continue towards her. The armor appeared to be that of a man's, and his approach was steady and non-threatening. She began to feel someone else's thoughts; another being was with this unknown man. It was a child, but more importantly, another Jedi. The presence spoke to her through the Force, but the youngling was still unseen. As the armored figure approached her, the reflection in his beskar helmet and glass visor revealed her reflection as she saw herself presently. She might as well be looking in the bathroom mirror in the lodge. Shifting her gaze beyond the armored man's shoulder plate, she saw the distinct silhouette of Master Yoda.
"Master! Are you alright?"
Yoda's voice was clear, soft, and humbled as it responded to her.
"Found me, you have not. But found you, hope and love have. Yes. Safe, we will be now. Hope we have, now. Look to the Force, Ahsoka. To me, look not. To the Force…only," Yoda's voice trailed off, but she knew it was really him. He was alive…somewhere. He knew she was alive too.
"Good or bad, they are always memorable," once again her own voice rang in her ear, but she no longer saw the Mandalorian or felt the presence of the youngling.
She was alone again and had no idea where she was or what any of this meant. In an instant, the light from two suns beaming down shined so brightly it blocked out all that she saw before. Her eyes squinted to look as she felt the warmth pour over her skin. Soon the bright blinding lights shifted into the warm glow of Rex's amber eyes looking into hers as he spoke,
"Ahsoka? Time to wake up, Tano,"
Ahsoka's eyes opened to his familiar and comforting face. Rex's smile pushed aside the confusion in her thoughts caused by her dream. She let out a great big glorious yawn as her body twisted and stretched itself awake.
"Mmm…Rex," she smiled as she cupped his face, "What time is it?"
Rex laid beside her, propped up on one elbow, tracing the long sleeve of the light blue tunic she chose to nap in.
"I have no idea. Night time? I woke up a while ago. It was already dark and I took a quick shower."
"It finally stopped raining?"
"Yeah, it had stopped by the time I got up."
Ahsoka looked him over then cuddled up to him to ensure he was really there with her. Seeing Rex wearing only his upper blacks again, she noticed the high neckline, his now hidden chest, and muscular arms. It stirred her memories of post-battle briefings and innocent downtime on The Resolute. Then she noticed he had on the black drawstring pants that she had found in the closet for him this morning.
This morning. Even that felt like a lifetime ago. Time was completely out of sorts on this moon.
With her next breath, her senses were delighted as her nose took in a whiff of a delicious scent that opened her eyes wide and made her mouth water,
"Did you start cooking already?"
Rex smiled with self-satisfaction, "I did. I am attempting to make us dinner, or at least I hope it's edible. I was so hungry when I woke up. I ate an entire jar of nut paste!"
"With your fingers again?" Ahsoka laughed and traced his mouth clumsily.
"No, not this time. I did find a spoon, eventually."
Rex grabbed her hand and started kissing her fingers. He then playfully began to make fun of himself by pretending to eat her fingers. Their laughter filled the bedroom with the sound of uninhibited joy that quickly turned into adoring kisses and affection.
This once abandoned lodge built by Anakin and Padme Skywalker for their secret, hidden, and unspoken love had new occupants now. The marriage that was never supposed to happen was replaced by Ahsoka and Rex's newly discovered and growing love, a love that was battle-tested, unashamed, and inevitable. Their partnership would be needed for the years to come. The happiness and joy they felt right now would have to carry them both through the dark and lonely days that were indeed ahead.
Ahsoka could not help but still process the visions from her dream. Still, she was set afire again with her desire to touch Rex's skin, kiss him, and especially have him in her again. Even as they lay calmly in the bed, her hips ached for that feeling to return. These moments of laughter and playfulness were so new, yet it felt like they had always been this intimate. Ahsoka was a bit breathless with how he was looking at her at this moment. Rex's golden amber eyes had looked at her many times before they ever arrived on Splendor. Have they always appreciated her this much? Had she always looked at him so adoringly?
She wondered if Rex was as perplexed by their connection now.
"I feel so close to you now, Rex," she traced his bicep, feeling the curves and strength of this arm.
"Me too. I was nervous that you would feel differently after we…you know."
She sat up in the bed and took his hand in both of hers.
"I do feel different, Rex, wonderfully different."
Rex's bashful grin was trying so hard not to beam a huge smile. He was still learning how to accept this much affection. He knew now that he could only share this side of himself with Ahsoka. He couldn't imagine anyone else understanding just how difficult it was to be adored by someone like this. Moved by this awareness, he began to trace his fingers over her face and wanted to treasure her whole body.
He started at the diamond markings on her forehead then down across the markings on her cheek. He kissed her gently, laying her back into the pillows as his touch continued down her neck, where it landed on her lekku. Ahsoka's lips quivered against his, revealing that her sensitive lekku tails may be more than just ticklish, given the proper attention.
Her hand quickly met his hand to urge him to continue exploring her body over the dreamsilk fabric of her tunic. Then she guided him under the hem. Rex's hand grabbed her hip, still warm from her nap, as he kissed her passionately with every ounce of longing and desire for her. Ahsoka reciprocated as she slid her hands to his back under the hem of his shirt to scratch the skin of his back lightly. Rex moved his body over hers and settled between her legs that spread wide to fit him in. His thoughts went wild when he remembered she had nothing on underneath her borrowed long-sleeved tunic.
When she started rolling and bucking her hips towards him perfectly, his growing excitement underneath the fabric of his pants thrust deep to feel the warmth moistening between her legs. Bracing himself on one strong arm, he caressed her breast. She let out a sigh into his ear as he pinched at her nipple.
"Oh Rex, I want you in me again," she sharply traced her tongue along his ear lobe.
He whispered a growl into her montral just before confessing, "Stars, when you say that Ahsoka…."
She whispered into his ear again, "Rex? Is there still food that's cooking?"
"OH KRIFF!" he jumped off the bed to his feet, adjusted himself, shaking his head and even one foot to get his balance, "I completely forgot! So sorry!"
"Don't apologize! Just go save our dinner," Ahsoka laughed and shooed him away. He started to hurry out of the bedroom,
"I'm not done with you though!" Rex shouted from the hall as Ahsoka sat up and called back,
"Save the dinner, Rex!" She shook her head with a smile, then collapsed back into the enormous bed.
She had not laid in the bed by herself yet. She pulled the velvet comforter up to her chest as she let the heated sensations still resonating in her body move her to twist and turn. She was thinking about how Rex felt between her legs with his body on top of hers. She was biting her finger just thinking about the feeling of him pressed against her bare down there. She knew they had to eat, sleep, and all the normal functions of life, but she wondered if they could just keep having sex and pleasuring each other endlessly.
Then she recalled her dream again. It was more than a dream, she knew. She had a vision and had made a connection with Master Yoda. It also seemed that the wise old Master sensed what was happening here on Splendor between her and Rex. That realization made her sit up straight and cooled any heated passion leftover from her and Rex's recent actions.
She got quiet and crossed her legs. There, in the center of the bed, she drew a breath to recall the words of the Jedi Master,
"But found you, hope and love have…Safe, we will be now…Look to the Force, Ahsoka. To me, look not. To the Force… only."
Ahsoka was struck by the confirmation that another Jedi was indeed alive out there in the galaxy. He also encouraged her to continue on her current path and not seek him.
She thought she would have a much more insightful reaction. Instead, she just really needed to use the refresher.
Rex did what he could to save the well-overdone potatoes, but he was glad the rice grains were perfectly cooked. He fluffed the rice in the pot with the large wooden fork, tasted a bite, and decided on just a bit more salt for some flavor. As he put the lid back on the pot to keep the steam in, he grabbed one more burnt potato wedge and popped it into his mouth,
"Not that bad, I guess."
He looked over at the serving platter and two large bowls Ahsoka had found earlier in the day. It had been almost three rotations since he and Ahsoka had eaten a decent meal. The breakfast this morning was meager but certainly tied them over, considering the activities of the day. The best part of cooking was that he could get something done, feel useful, and more importantly, assess how much food they actually had to last however long they would stay.
Every time he thought about when they would leave or what their next move would be, Rex found himself immediately trying to figure out how much longer they could stay. He tried not to dwell on the conflicting thoughts by looking through the pantry again to hunt down more food options. It was a dreamy thought, but there was no way Splendor could be a permanent refuge for them. It was never meant to be more than a hidden temporary retreat. But he did think about it, maybe a little more than he wanted to admit.
Additionally, he had a nagging concern about what happened to his clone brothers, the Skywalkers, and even the whole damn Republic. A comm to Cut tomorrow would help him navigate all of these new feelings and any updates on what was happening in the galaxy.
He pulled the wyrg jerky out of its packaging and tried to arrange it on a platter. There really wasn't any way to make strips of jerky look nice. Still, they looked delicious . His mouth was watering at the smell of the spicy, savory flavor that filled the bag. He was determined to hold out and not start eating out of solidarity, but he did lick his fingers to taste. Rex didn't even like jerky; he always loathed the texture and how it never felt like you had thoroughly chewed it properly. Skywalker, though, could have eaten it for every meal if available. It occurred to Rex that his general had probably eaten from this very bag, and he paused for a moment, unsure how to feel or what to do,
"Sorry, general. If I ever see you again, I'll owe you."
Rex opted to retake stock of how much jerky they had. There was only so much in the two packages left at the lodge, and as their primary source of protein, it was a special treat just for tonight.
Ahsoka soon appeared rushing down the hallway, causing Rex to stop what he was doing and take in her giddiness. She was practically leaping towards the kitchen. She then slowed her step to a very suspicious stroll right up to him. Rex signaled his curiosity, raising one eyebrow,
"You look very proud of yourself. What are you up to there?
"Kiss me."
"What? Of course I will," He stepped closer to pull her to him. Rex gently traced the thickest part of her montral down to her shoulders, not sure what she was up to, before leaning in for a kiss that contained a surprise that made him pull back with eyes wide,
"You found a toothbrush?!"
" Four toothbrushes, actually, and two tubes of toothpaste. Rex! We can brush our teeth!"
"Where did you find them?"
"I had a feeling you may have not looked as thoroughly through Padme's drawers. Just a hunch. Why are men so weird about going through women's things?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing. I'm…quite certain that is a good thing."
"Do you remember that time, I think just before the Zygerrian mission, I grabbed the wrong data pad and asked you to get the one I needed out of my trunk for me?"
Rex easily replied, "And I brought the whole trunk? Yes."
"The entire trunk, Rex! I told you exactly where the datapad was in the top tray, but no. There in the mess room you set down my entire trunk on the table in front of Boomer, Vaughn, and Appo."
"If I may, most men just don't want to, how do I say this? Find something feminine that we aren't supposed to see like… intimate things."
"My underwear wasn't in the top tray, Rex, it was underneath, you wouldn't have even seen it."
"Well that alone confirms I did the right thing. What if the datapad hadn't been where you said it was? I was trying to be respectful. You just gave me the code to your quarters without even thinking twice, Ahsoka! You didn't see the look Skywalker gave me when you did that!"
"Ridiculous."
"If you say so. How about this? I promise, in the future, I will be more thorough when going through a female's personal belongings, even if I am not intimate with her."
"Oh, very funny, Rex."
He smiled as he met his hands with hers and gently interlaced their fingers, "Am I?" He then leaned in to taste the sweet mint of her kisses again. He pulled back slightly and hitched her chin between his thumb and trigger finger,
"Mmm…I've never been so excited to brush my teeth."
Ahsoka stretched up to kiss his nose, "I'd keep kissing you even if you didn't. But it does feel so much better."
"I'll be right back," he turned to head down the hallway and called back, "Food's ready to go if you want to get it on the table!"
"It looks delicious. Hurry up!"
Ahsoka was more than impressed when she took in all that Rex had prepared. Hot steaming rice grains, perfectly crispy potato wedges (just the way she liked them), a plate of jerky, wheat wafers, and a bowl of dried cherries and nuts. It was quite the spread. He had done all this for tonight, for them.
She looked over at the spot in the receiving room where she had stood, laughing to herself at the idea of Rex being a romantic.
And now? Now, she was on the other side of the room, about to happily feast on how romantic and thoughtful Rex could be. She knew better now. Rex was so much more than a captain, soldier, and friend. Ahsoka considered how fortunate she was to see the man he was without the war, the man he could choose to be on his own now.
Rex was always an officer that stood above other men by standing with them side by side. He immediately earned their respect because he was always respectful of others. She had seen him mold young soldiers with his stern but easy manner that they all admired. Every clone undeniably had their own personality, but Rex seemed to have this extra charm of class and distinction unique to him. For him to now desire her, care for her, like this, she couldn't help but straighten her shoulders, lift her chin and feel honored.
He had even put out the plates and cutlery on the table already, all while she slept and dreamed of distant visions of time.
There were no placemats or fancy centerpieces to add more decoration, but that was fine with Ahsoka. The craftwork of the table shouldn't be covered by anything anyway. Its half-moon shape, detailed aruk paw pedestal feet, and the wood's craftsmanship were a work of art to behold. One that she wished she knew more about and could only accept her lost history.
The scattered knots and imperfections in the wood table top had an inlay of Daga turquoise that could only be found in the rocky cliffs overlooking the Great Daga Sea, far from Shili's capital city of Corvala. Like Togruta's natural markings, the rare blue and black turquoise marked the wood with sleek hints here and there.
Her homeworld of Shili was known throughout the galaxy for its healers and unique insular culture. It was most certainly not known for exporting traditional wooden furniture made of timber from its impressive sacred forest valleys.
To make a clan's feast table for a Togruta binding ceremony required yet another ritual and ceremony just for choosing the tree. The tree would be giving its life for the benefit of celebrating many unions and births, hopefully over generations. A council of elder clan mothers would sleep outside, around the chosen tree for three rotations. There was a continuous routine of blessings, smudging of sage, and ceremonial dances that the elder mothers performed. The ritual was to deem the tree worthy and praise the worth of the female who would take possession of the table for all of her future binding ceremonies.
Ownership of the table would then pass down to the first daughter, who would be responsible for both the table and ensuring that her sisters obtained suitable warriors, always of their own choosing. This table was where the couple would sit and be celebrated by all who loved them. The table would be placed up high on a dais for all to have a view as hundreds would sing, drink, dance, and revel in hope for the future that the pairing would bring.
And yet, somehow, somewhere, and at some time, all of that supposed importance was sold to Padme and placed here, only to be hidden in the lodge. Something had happened to disrupt hundreds of years of generational tradition and ceremonial ritual. The table was hidden here, lost to time, just like Ahsoka's knowledge of her species and native culture. Sadly, whatever legacy the table was meant to ensure was stuck here on Splendor, concealed in secret.
"You alright there, Tano?"
Rex had just come out of the hallway heading towards the open kitchen. Ahsoka was shaken out of her fascination with the table. She looked at Rex and spooned the rice into the serving bowl,
"Yes. Why?"
"Nothing, just saw you staring at the table in a daze. I think I'm still on edge from the last time we tried to sit down and eat something at night."
Ahsoka then thought of something strange and bold; it was a wild idea. She wasn't entirely sure how Rex would react, but she at least had past evidence that he had gone along with plans of hers that were undoubtedly riskier. This one was very different and would be significant. But she felt like it was right.
"Rex I'll finish up getting the food and drinks on the table. But can you do me a favor?"
Standing next to Ahsoka at the kitchen's island, he then turned and leaned his back against the counter as she busied herself to get the food ready. He tapped her right shoulder with his right shoulder, "A favor huh? As long as I get a kiss first, I'll do anything you ask,"
"Oh yes, clean teeth! Let me kiss!"
She should have known better than to keep holding onto the spoon full of potato wedges, but there they were kissing sweetly again with Ahsoka's hand awkwardly holding the wooden spoon. Not wanting to let their lips part, Rex smiled on her lips and peeked one eye to help her release the captive utensil and set it down on the counter.
Ahsoka could barely register what was happening as she delighted in the taste of him combined with the fresh sweet mint. She parted her lips to let her eager tongue lick and taste every part of his mouth. She let a small moan escape at the way he moved his tongue and lips with hers, keeping in time and steady with her hunger for more of him.
Rex slowly traced, barely touching, both of her lekku tails down to the tips against her breast, causing Ahsoka to quiver her lips and lose command of her mouth completely. He took that signal for what it was, a sure sign that it gave her pleasure. He closed his lips over her bottom lip before giving it a slight bite, and she gripped his bicep tightly. Now ghosting his fingertips back up her tails, he kept his lips close to hers as he spoke,
"So…what's this favor I'm going to do for you?"
Ahsoka was a bit breathless and dazed from the combination of touch and kisses,
"My–my cloak. It's hanging…by the…."
"By the front door? Yes?"
"Yes…front door…Rex, that feels so good."
"You want me to get your cloak? For dinner?" Rex couldn't help that his confusion invaded his tone and made them both calm down a bit.
"Yes, please," Ahsoka returned the favor with a nibble at Rex's earlobe and a scrape of teeth just underneath. She wondered if the Kaminoans knew that a stellar clone officer could be completely undone and disarmed with a few nibbles and licks. Now he was the one who was breathless as she whispered in his ear, "You'll see why very soon, Rex," she then pulled back, "I hope you'll like my idea."
Rex headed towards the front door where her cloak had been hanging on a hook by the entryway without another hint of inquiry. As he brought it back to her, he had that familiar "What next" posture she knew too well.
"You sit at the table. Get off your feet already."
"You sure? I want to know what this little surprise of yours is?"
"You will see. Sit and I'll get the food on the table, I'm starving."
She left the cloak on the counter, finished setting up the food as quickly as possible, and brought them over to the table. As she headed back to the kitchen, she noticed that Rex had served her plate first.
There. That is the reason I know I am making the right choice.
She poured two tall glasses of water and came back to place them on the table.
Rex was serving himself as he spoke,
"I went ahead and gave you a bit of everything. Whatever you don't want, I will gladly eat."
"It's perfect, thank you."
"Sit down already."
"Real quick, Rex. I promise. You can start eating."
He took a sip from his glass and kept his eye on her, thoroughly intrigued.
What is she up to now?
Rex watched in astonishment as Ahsoka took a knife to her cloak, a cloak that Anakin had given her just before they left for their mission on Mandalore.
"What are you doing?!" He stood up from the seat at the table to look over the island counter.
"Rex will you calm down, I'm almost—" she grunted as she yanked a long strip of fabric from the entire bottom hem of her cloak.
"There!" She walked back over, carrying the long, ratty, and depressing strip of useless fabric that looked like a dried dead eel carcass. Then she rolled it up neatly, attempting to make it neat, and set it down on the table before taking a seat in the chair next to his. The arrangement of the table was same side seating. The half-moon shape made the table's arrangement only for a couple to sit close, facing out together as opposed to facing each other.
"Eat, Rex."
They both finally dug in, but Rex was still looking at the bizarre addition of a giant strip of her cloak.
"You going to tell me what that's all about?"
"Hmmm…later. Once we are done eating." She said with a twinkle in her eye and a sneaky grin as she crunched on a potato wedge,
"These came out perfect by the way. "
"Good, because we almost burned them. Thank goodness you said something."
"I can't believe you're eating jerky. Rex, you hate jerky."
"I know, but right now I could eat our whole stock of it."
"There's not much, right?"
"No. There isn't. We probably have five days of food, you and I could stretch that to another week. But uh, we'd have to reconsider our…recreational activities and not use too much energy."
"Oh, well that's bad news all around. I'm rather enjoying our—"
"Here it comes."
"—recreational activities." Now, Rex's laugh at Ahsoka making fun of him was layered with a soft adoration for how beautiful she looked, even when she did that goofy expression. She was chewing food he couldn't stand, making fun of him with that silly voice, and all he wanted to do was kiss her. Kiss every inch of her and let her drive him crazy again and again.
"It's not as funny anymore? I'm sorry, I'll stop doing it."
"Oh, no it's still funny. I'm just…."
I'm just in love with you, Ahsoka. Don't mind me.
"You look so cute when you do it." Rex went back to eating, not only to satisfy his hunger but also to get himself to calm down a bit and not look like a lovesick sap.
"I look cute?" Ahsoka appeared flattered but confused and was blushing. He noticed the markings on her tails looked darker, and her eyelashes were blinking rapidly until she somehow managed to look up from under them at him. His breath escaped him, and Rex wasn't even sure he would be able to finish the meal without leaning over to kiss her and let it sweep them both away.
"Yes, you do." He braved his hand onto her bare thigh. When she responded with her knowing and welcoming grin, he gave a squeeze and made himself finish the meal he had planned to savor.
Ahsoka reached over for more dried cherries and offered them to Rex first before she took some more.
"Yes, thank you. So please tell me what that is all about over there with the fabric from your cloak?"
"It's something that we can discuss after we finish eating. So impatient, Rex?"
"Hmmm…okay. It's very odd. Like that bottle with the metal shards in the kitchen. Oh I noticed."
"You hate it, don't you?"
"I don't hate it, I get why you saved them. But I'm not thrilled that it's in the kitchen where I was cooking food."
"Alright, I hear ya, Rexter. I will find a new home for them."
Rex put his fork down, reached to squeeze her thigh again, and leaned in closer to her, "Somehow, I think you know that you can do whatever you want and I'll still be nuts about you right?"
"I'm learning quickly."
"You tend to do that," Rex moved in closer to give her the signal for a kiss, and she happily gave him one on the lips but reminded him,
"If we start this up Rex, this whole meal will get cold."
"Well, whatever we don't eat is our breakfast anyway," he helped himself to some dried cherries, never taking his eyes off of her. Rex was looking at her like she was the next thing he would help himself devour. She felt herself slightly pant before licking her lips. She quickly reached for her water.
Ahsoka was determined to eat something, but Rex's eyes were making her stomach do backflips as her cheeks flushed. It occurred to her that they may not get through this magnificent meal he prepared, and Rex seemed completely fine with that. She attempted to eat some more rice to prepare herself for revealing her mysterious big idea.
"Fine! Here it is…I tore that piece of my cloak because I needed it to do something special with you tonight, at this table."
"Okay? What is this 'something special'?"
"Remember I told you this table was for Togruta binding ceremonies, when a female takes a warrior."
Rex knew his eyes went too wide when he saw Ahsoka get a little nervous at his response. He reached his hand to hold hers as she continued to let her know he wasn't scared right now, not one bit. He was in love…with her. Rex may not know how to say it plainly, but he understood what she was proposing now and was so moved by it, he may have been squeezing her hand a little too tightly. He eventually relaxed some.
"I remember."
"Right. So I don't really know what exactly happens in the ceremony, because my memory of my mother's ceremony seems to be images of people's ankles and looking up at the big table. But I want to make this a little different than what Togrutas usually do. I want this to be our way of doing this. So I'll ask you to choose whether—"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Yes, Ahsoka."
"Rex! I didn't even ask you the question yet?"
"Either the question is, 'if you have chosen me, then do I accept?' The answer is yes. Or the question is, 'do I choose you to love and fight beside?' Absolutely, yes. So…the answer is: yes."
"You didn't even think about it."
"Oh, I have thought about it. I can't stop thinking about it. That's all I think about now, Ahsoka."
His face was soft, but his tone was grave, with his honey golden eyes looking straight into hers that were widened and hanging on his every word.
"Ahsoka, when we were making our escape from the Tribunal, when you missed your landing, leaping to the ship? I almost had a heart attack, thinking I would lose you then. I would not lose you again. Then yesterday, when you were choking and then just, kriff! You just flopped over and wouldn't move at all. I sat with you outside on the balcony, just devastated. You don't know this, but I was a slobbering mess. I…I had no idea whether you were hurt, dying, would ever come back.
She was tracing his stubbled cheek now and settled her palm to cup his face to help him get out his admission.
"I had just got you back in my life and was so happy for the first time, after a very difficult year without you, and then I thought you were gone…again."
He kissed the palm of her hand, as his energy grew animated,
"But I swear, something came to me, and you know I'm no good with this Force stuff, but something, a bird, but not just a bird, it changed its shape, I can't explain it. It made me feel better, it made me see what you mean to me. And ever since we kissed, I can't stop thinking about how much I love you, Ahsoka.I really am in love with you."
Ahsoka's fingers went to her mouth with how moved her emotions were and how golden and genuine Rex's Force signature felt. It filled every cell in her body with light and joy.
"So, yes, Ahsoka, I have chosen you and would be honored that you chose me as your first warrior."
" First ? Rex, what do you mean, first?"
"You will outlive me, Ahsoka. We both know that will happen. But as long as I am alive—'
"As long as you are alive, Rex, I choose you to be my only warrior. My only love, Rex."
They were both allowing the happy tears of emotional relief to puddle up and fall from their eyes. Rex stood her up with him to hold her closer to him. Ahsoka melted into him; her face pressed up against his black liner to feel his heart beating steady and strong.
Ahsoka had thought this would go a lot differently, but here they were, confessing their love for each other. Neither of them knew if it was the years they had fought side by side or the time apart when the absence forced them to see how much they needed each other.
But this devastating and challenging week they endured together finally broke all defenses: the victory on Mandalore, Order 66, and now ending up here on Splendor.
No matter what was waiting for them when they would leave here, they chose to bind their hearts as one incredibly powerful love.
Ahsoka took the long strip of brown fiberweave in her hand, unraveling it as Rex let the length of it fall into his. They already knew how to follow each other's instincts and needs without words.
"So, I'm pretty sure we, um, say some words to each other as we wrap our hands together."
"Okay. Sounds good. You've thought of some already?"
"I did, if I can remember them now. I'm a bit scattered, but very happy right now."
"Me too, Ahsoka. I'll follow your lead and will make it my own."
"Okay," both of their left hands were holding different ends of the cloth, and she stood up on her toes to kiss him before they took the next step.
They took each other's right hand and clasped them together, interlacing their fingers. Ahsoka and Rex placed their right hands in the center of the strip of cloth with the extra length hanging down on either side. Then they crisscrossed the fabric one wrapping at a time to symbolize the binding of lives and their love as they spoke words that came to them,
"Rex, I have chosen you. I am bound to your life and you are bound to mine. There will never be distance between our hearts. They are one now. My love for you is like no other. Your love for me is mine to protect. Wherever I am, I am always yours. Now and forever, until I die."
"Ahsoka, I have chosen you to be mine. I am bound to you with loyalty and honor. You and your love are mine to protect. My love for you is like no other I'll ever know. Wherever I am, I will be yours. Now and forever, until I die."
The quiet, heavy realization of what they both had professed rang like the bells from the top tower of the Jedi Temple. It was impossible to ignore as it signaled that a new life for them would begin from this moment forward. There was no turning back to their old life; it was gone now. They had survived, escaped, and were now together. The only way was forward, and all they could feel now was the elation and love that pulled them together like magnets to share the fiery kiss that sealed their ceremonial union between them.
Rex squeezed Ahsoka in his one-armed embrace around her waist. Their bound hands rested in between their hearts. Ahsoka's free hand was tracing his neck and up through his buzzed golden hair. Her touch sent a wave of rolling warm sensations throughout every muscle of his body, and he couldn't help but respond by lifting her off the floor with all the strength in his one arm.
Pressed against his body as he lowered her back down, Ahsoka began to feel a great revelation in the Force. From the tips of her montrals, down to her toes, the power was growing from a small trace of light to a shining beacon within her chest and down to her core. She would remember this moment as the sum of so many chaotic parts that made them both whole now.
Rex wanted both hands to pick her up and swing her around, but he also didn't want ever to let go of their bound hands pressed against the scar on his chest that proved he may actually be the luckiest bastard in the galaxy.
"I want to carry you into the bedroom right now."
"Well I want you right here on the table, Rex."
He growled into her neck and lekku tail, even allowing his face stubble to softly trace her lekku, causing that wonderful sensation of wetness to slick her bare thighs again.
Rex reached behind her with his one free hand and pushed the food out of the way to the edges of the table. The basket of wheat wafers was the first to fall, followed by the burnt potatoes. She eased herself up into the table and spread her legs to bring his hips toward her by closing her legs around him.
"Help me take off the binding, Rex. Something tells me we'll need both our hands and I'm nervous one or both of us would tear it."
He quickly moved to help her loosen their hands,
"Here, I got it. Good call," as they both smiled and giggled, moving the fabric to slide off in a bundle. Rex began to roll the material back up neatly with a reverence for what it symbolized. He dropped it on the chair seat as it seemed the table might not be the safest place for anything right now.
"I um, I have a surprise of my own for you, if that's alright?" His fingers were gently kneading the flesh of her thighs wrapped around him.
"You do? What…what's that, Rex?" she pulled his black liner up for him to take off and she kissed the scars on his chest as he pulled off his shirt quickly.
He was nudging the chairs out of the way as he spoke,
"I'm not exactly sure. I've never done this before. So you'll have let me know if I'm doing it right, okay?"
"I have no idea what you're going to do, but I'll do my best?" Ahsoka watched him, but her sense of him was full of excitement and desire. Rex leaned into her mouth, knowing she could hear the slightest whisper,
"Ahsoka, I want to kiss you down here," Rex pulled back slightly to see her reaction.
Her realization clicked before his eyes. Her imagination had not been creative enough even to realize this was something that was done. But the moment Rex made his request, Ahsoka could barely contain her lust for what this would feel like.
She was speechless and only could eagerly nod as she bit her bottom lip to hold on to the smile that was stretching from cheek to cheek.
Rex began to kiss her neck and moved his hand to trace her lower lips that were bare, slick, and warm. He guided his kisses to gently follow a slow but hungry path over her breasts, letting his nose trace her lekku tail.
Rex moved to kneel down before her, taking command of his position, the same way he would confidently take command of a ship's control panel. He looked back up at her puzzled face, breathing heavy and focused on every move he made. The full lips of her mouth were parted, her tongue licking with desire, and her chest was moving up and down with her heavy breaths. The image was fanning the flame of heat building within him, and he moved to kiss her stomach gently. Even though he technically didn't know what he was doing, he didn't need to worry about wanting to figure it out. He licked his lips, anticipating how she would taste and feel. He wanted to please her with this act. Rex wanted Ahsoka to know that the man she chose was capable of satisfying her like this whenever she wanted him to, and it would equally please him to do this for her.
Speechless with desire, she watched the hungry look in Rex's eyes as he moved from looking up at her to looking down to see all of her down there. He hadn't even kissed her yet but her body was writhing with anticipation.
"I'm flying blind here, Ahsoka. So you'll have to tell me what to do. I want to make you feel good right now, okay?"
"Okay."
He pulled her legs over his shoulders as she braced back on her hands. He kissed her outer lips gently. The wetness of his lips on her soft skin down there caused Ahsoka to heave her shoulders over. She had to reach for his head to catch herself, and she curled with delight watching him taste her.
Rex let his tongue follow the stripes that adorned her outer lips before pulling his lips together over one of the sensitive spots she casually had pointed to in the bathtub. Hearing her moan "oh" so deep and low was incredible. He started using his tongue to explore her most sensitive spots. She whimpered each inhaling breath and keened out her exhaled breaths. Rex looked back up to see the overwhelmed expression on her face as she then softly begged him, calling out his name,
"Rex, please don't stop. Please keep going."
She was entirely at his command like this. Rex had one hand sneaking under her tunic to grab at her breasts and could start to feel his own excitement growing in his now thankfully looser pants. She responded by taking her whole tunic off and was now laid out on the table completely nude.
He remembered some idiot told him this was the best way to keep from finishing too early, but he quickly realized that may have been bad intel. For Rex, hearing and feeling Ahsoka getting off from what he was doing to her was getting him as hard and ready as an ion cannon. He decided to pace himself and get serious about getting her to climax. He began assessing all of her body to establish the best plan of action before launching into his fully coordinated action.
He kissed her inner thighs, keeping his eyes on her to watch her desire. She pouted those lips, and he couldn't help it, he felt bared his teeth, and it took everything in him to only bite gently, but Ahsoka's response that was half a growl and half a giggle, leading him to ask,
"Did you like that?"
"Yes! Do it again, Rex."
He kissed her inner thigh wet with his tongue and kept his eyes looking at her as he bit, enough to mark he knew, and she yelped gloriously, clenching her teeth.
He wanted to keep working on where to please her with his mouth, but each time he looked, he would get lost in fascination,
"I just want to keep looking at how beautiful you are down here," he moved his hands to grip her thighs and kissed her outer lips again.
Then he moved them to gently spread her lips open and look in wonder, as he then kissed and licked, adoring the beauty of what he saw. His eyes closed in ecstasy each time he did. He could taste her wetness, and it was the sweetest flavor of Ahsoka's scent, mixed with the wet intimate desire for him. Rex pulled back to study her inner lips and wanted to find exactly where her clit was before he got lost in his own pleasure of tasting her. He had to tell her,
"Ahsoka, it's incredible. It reminds me of a fire lily in bloom."
"Wha-what?" Ahsoka could barely have a conversation right now, but she was pretty sure Rex just said her vagina looked like a flower and could only smile at how sweet and gentle he was being.
"Your lips, the inner ones here," he kissed and licked them, up towards where he was sure her clit was, "they're soft like flower petals."
"Oh Force, Rex! Please do that again."
"This?" He licked again and couldn't help but want to kiss her there the way he would on her mouth, letting his lips and tongue work together to please her"
"Keep it doing that…there! Oh, there!"
Rex then let his mouth do what it wanted to in that very spot as he listened and peeked his eyes for her response. She was definitely responding now, and so was he. He kept the rhythm of one movement and listened to her call out for more when he attempted another. She then started arching her back, causing the bowl of cherries to fall off the edge of the table when her hands tried to find a better position.
"Rex, please, I want you in me now."
He moaned at her plea, and the vibrations of his voice against her caused her to squeal with delight. Rex was more determined than ever to get her over the edge. She certainly sounded like she was close. He decided to slide his finger inside her as he continued to satisfy her with his mouth. He could feel her clenching around his finger, so he slid another one in, and she groaned with pleasure,
"Rex, yes. Use your tongue too, oh it feels so good," she was grabbing at her breasts and twisting her nipples.
Rex easily continued but was longing to kiss her mouth and breasts too. He so wanted to watch her beautiful face when it was sultry and heated. He sucked on her down there like he wanted to suck on and lick her nipples.
Then she really started to clench around his penetrating fingers.
Her breath was caught at the pleasure. Every muscle was tight and tense at the approaching climax. Her throat ached audibly as it too seized up - cracking at the strain - allowing nothing more than a long choked whimper to escape past clenched teeth and pursed lips. Rex was now holding her hips down to keep her from bucking off the table. She reached her peak and cried out his name with an exhaled moan of astonishment at the enormous wave of pleasure he had just given her. He rode it out with her, easing up when he heard her breathing sound steady again.
Ahsoka looked spent but quickly recovered and sat up immediately. She pulled his face to bring his whole body up to hers. Rex complied readily and was now standing over her. She was kissing him, his face covered in her wetness, and she didn't care one bit. If he wasn't mistaken, she seemed to love it. She kissed him all over, practically drunk with appreciation,
"That was incredible, Rex! It felt so good."
Rex was enthralled and palming at his erection when Ahsoka placed her hand on his to feel him. He let her take over and mimic the movement while he cupped her face, pressed his cheek to hers, and felt the warmth and power of her hand excite his lust further.
He then noticed she had slight tears in the corners of her eyes, which made his eyes widen with concern as he wiped them away.
"Were you crying?"
She chuckled, "Probably!" She was now undoing the drawstring of his pants, and he gladly experienced her take command of their next moves,
"I want to feel you in me, Rex." She pulled his pants down, and they fell to the floor. There she saw his manhood in that wondrous state, thick, hard, and commanding attention from her instantly. She noticed that some of his own slick had already started leaking. The thought of Rex getting so turned on from pleasing her drove Ahsoka wild.
He had a hold of his hardened length now and brought her hand to hold it too. Ahsoka held it firmly. She wanted to feel his skin in her hand and the grip that could excite him. He then guided his hips to slide himself into her slowly. Ahsoka's breath was stuck as she took in the feel of him sheathing himself into her. Then he went in even deeper, and he practically collapsed against her shoulder. He worked at his pace as he kissed her neck and lekku. Gripping his back and shoulder muscles, Ahsoka was mesmerized by the sight of him thrusting into her when she looked down. His facial expressions were intoxicating as the friction and pounding shook her and made her body yearn for him to keep going.
By now, she had given up trying to make sense of the noises her body was calling out with each roll of pleasure that he rocked into her. When he would close his beautiful eyes, she saw him curse quietly about how she felt so good. And just when she thought she could keep up with what he was doing, he would then get a rhythm that would cause her both to brace herself and completely let go.
She noticed one particular shift in his facial expressions that she will never forget. In a matter of moments, when she pushed up on her arms to match his hips, Rex's face went from a grown man's intense and determined snarl to the mesmerized wonder of a boy, completely in awe of her.
He grabbed at her breasts to squeeze, lick and bite, causing her to lean back some more, and she widened her legs. She then arched her back fully and bucked her hips against him, and now they both were grunting and moaning with abandon.
The table was sturdy, not budging one bit with all they were doing. Rex then growled, and she heard his voice tremble,'
"Ahsoka, stars! Fuck…I'm…uh…."
"Do it, Rex. I want to feel you finish in me. Pleeeeeease don't stop!"
His pace went from deep, strong thrusts to a wild man out to ravage her. Her back was flat on the table, and Rex braced his arms on either side of her. Rex's pounding didn't stop him from letting his lips and tongue express all his pleasure on her breasts and her curled lekku tail and as Ahsoka was nearing a peak of climax. When Rex fully released his, her Force sensitivity took in his orgasm, and she wailed in the bliss of white light that ran through her veins and burst from her chest.
She wasn't even sure where she was for a few seconds. Her whole body was experiencing an overwhelming cascade of pleasure beyond her mental ability to register in real-time.
When she finally got her bearings, she felt Rex's body as it collapsed onto her chest. They were both smiling and laughing as they praised each other's skin with kisses.
"What am I going to do with you, Ahsoka? Kriffing Maker of Men, that was the best thing I've ever experienced in my life!" He was kissing her all over as she tried to remember how to speak. When Rex stood up and slowly pulled out of her, she whimpered. She felt so good and satisfied,
"Rex, that was incredible. You're incredible."
"You're going to make me blush, Ahsoka. "
Still smiling, Rex then looked up towards the balcony; soon, his face was frozen. Then he quickly darted his eyes and turned to scope the entire perimeter of the balcony.
"Rex, what is it?" She sat up and turned to look out where he looked and was equally shocked.
The quiet night and once darkened lagoon and forest outside were now lit with vibrant colors, glowing with bioluminescence. The lagoon swirled with a purple light. In the forest, outlines of glowing pink and red moonflowers, bright glowing yellow tendrils revealed the vines from the trees. An electric orange and soft yellow revealed pathways on the ground through the trees.
Perched on the balcony was a small, green bird with green eyes that glowed right into Ahsoka's connection to the Force.
Splendor was now alive.