Author's Note: I feel like I need to do a little PSA here and shoutout to CoyoteN7 for inspiring me.

So the ol' Coronavirus AKA COVID-19 is making the rounds and is shutting down everything from the NBA to the NHL and I hope you're all doing alright. But in all seriousness, there's no need for mass hysteria or to panic. China has basically given us the flu we get once a year, just in a different package. Let me break down some facts for you real quick:

-It has been proven that if you do get Coronavirus, there's a 94% you'll get better. You're only in trouble if you're elderly or have an at-risk medical issue... like a recent kidney transplant.

-Coronavirus is a RESPIRATORY disease. You're more likely to cough up a lung then soil yourself. So there's really no need to stock up on toilet paper... like Canada's spanner of a Health Minister suggests.

-COVID-19 can be killed. It just takes soap, warm water, and at least 20 seconds of hand washing. Don't bother going after rubbing alcohols or hand sanitizer, that stuff isn't nearly as effective as humming 'twinkle twinkle little star' at the sink (stats have proven it).

-And if the above doesn't put you at ease, then rejoice because Israel is working on a cure. It should be good to go by mid-April/early-May.

In conclusion, THERE IS NO NEED TO LOSE OUR COLLECTIVE MARBLES. Everybody's freaking out because they haven't heard the truth, only what the media spin-doctors are putting out. Here's the thing; the reason why the truth about COVID-19 isn't really out there is because 'pandemic' sells a story better than 'flu bug round two'. Big news companies are out there to sell a story, not tell the truth. So do some homework, this virus really isn't that scary. Plus, we've all had the Coronavirus before in varying forms. Seriously. Why do you think this is called the COVID-19? And if you do insist on going into self-quarantine... might I suggest you read this story and others in support your local FanFiction authors?

Alright, I've said my piece. Now let's enjoy some calming, tranquil Wraithsoka fluff!


-Chapter 91: First Date-

Location: Coruscant

"Date with a purpose, not a passion."

Ahsoka Tano looked at herself in the mirror one more time. She was determined to make sure she looked somewhat presentable, even though she lacked any essential beautification tools. She'd gone through a few hours of careful preparation and organization, the work of the past several days slowly coming together. This had been planned well in advance and now it just required some basic execution. In theory, it should be no trouble. Jedi took time outside the Temple all the time, she just had to go the extra mile with her appearance.

For tonight, she was going on a date.

Her first ever date, to be exact. It was something that, as a Jedi, she would not have expected to ever experience at all. But fate had taken a different turn and, contrary to the Jedi Code she was supposed to obey, had caused her to fall in love and acquire a boyfriend.

A boyfriend whose name was Wraith.

There were times when saying that out loud just made it sound impossible. To most it would seem ludicrous for a Jedi Padawan to be in love with a deadly Separatist super-soldier and vice versa. Yet here they were, both very much in love and readily referring to one another as their respective boyfriend/girlfriend.

This whole notion had started back when Wraith had been imprisoned and a connection opened to allow them time to talk. Considering they had yet to engage in something of that caliber, and that she'd wanted to for some time, Ahsoka accepted his offer. And so she was here, worrying about her appearance with only a short while before the rendezvous. Given she was a battlefield commander and a Jedi, she didn't exactly have a lot of makeup with her, but she still wanted to look good for Wraith.

"Then again, he'd probably say I look good regardless." She said to herself. "I could be wearing this or a fancy dress or even my workout clothes." She took a breath, closing her eyes and centering herself. "Calm down, you're overthinking things. Don't think, just do." Exhaling quickly, Ahsoka left the mirror and collected her robe. She didn't have any other clothes she could wear, a fact she wondered if she ought to correct for future dates. She made the choice to leave her lightsabers behind (a scary choice and not one she made lightly) in order to distance herself from the appearance of a Jedi. She had to do this right, no one could know she was a Jedi, not tonight.

It was already dark out, the night would provide ample cover and help her keep things on the low. Now it was just a question of finding the courage to work her way out of the Temple without arousing suspicion. Master Plo did not need her right now, so she should be just fine. Donning her robe, Ahsoka wrapped it around her shoulders and made sure her lightsabers were well-concealed under her bed. Checking her private holocom one more time, she confirmed the coordinates of the meet-up point, having done so almost a dozen times beforehand. She was nervous and excited, stuck in the terrible place between both of them. "Well, either I bite the slug or have the best night out I've ever had." She mused. "Wraith'll be there regardless, though." For better or worse, he'd be by her side. Therefore, things couldn't be that bad.

Her mind made up, Ahsoka left her room, pulling her cloak a little tighter around her.


She made a beeline straight to the address she'd received earlier, making her way through the bustling streets of Galactic City, not a single one of the passer-bys recognizing her to be a Jedi. She was thankful the location was within the Senate District, not too far away from the Temple. Ahsoka had visited this area enough times with various Jedi and Senators to be pretty familiar with the layout and was able to use simple logic and basic mapping skills to figure out where she was going. The result was an alley between twin blocks of ritzy eateries and restaurants, a far cry from the average diners and bars she tended to frequent with Anakin.

She had to wonder just what Wraith was planning.

She'd left all the arrangements to him, offering only her impending schedule. Other than the day and the time, she had no idea what his plans were for their very first date. That made her excited, but standing here all by herself was only serving to increase her worry. The minutes ticked by, Ahsoka getting a little anxious and hoping Wraith would show up soon. She felt nervous about just standing here. What if someone noticed her and told the Jedi? What if there were Clones around that recognized her? A dozen improbable situations that might give away her illicit activity flashed through her mind, each one furthering Ahsoka's anxiousness. Part of her wanted to just cut and run, but each time she convinced herself to wait a little longer, clinging to the hope that Wraith would appear and all would be well.

Finally, one of the back doors slid open and she recognized the familiar facial features of her boyfriend... even though he was disguised.

His hair was combed over to conceal his tattoo, a simple prosthetic application hid his scars, and a set of contact lens changed the appearance of his eyes from reptilian amber to human brown. As a result, he looked a lot like he did the night they danced on Daimar, a decently appealing look in her eyes, although she preferred the real him. He smiled and waved her over, Ahsoka readily joining him.

"How are you?" He politely asked.

"Better now that you're here," she admitted, lowering her hood, "you had me worried you weren't going to show up."

"I would never leave you stranded, my love." Wraith promised as he took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Shall we?" He asked, gesturing to the stairs behind him.

"Lead the way." Ahsoka replied, holding his hand as he led them up the stairs. "This place is... 'safe', right?" She wondered after a moment of climbing.

"I paid the owner a shipload of credits, so we better be safe." He responded. Opening a door at the top Wraith ushered them through a small corridor that quickly opened up. "Ah, here we are." He announced, stepping aside and letting Ahsoka get a glimpse. The Togruta's eyes widened at the sight,

"Oh! Oh wow...!" She gasped. The entire room was surrounded by dark red drapes, periodically backlit by lowlight dimmers. The room had a darkened, romantic atmosphere about it, especially with their central table sporting a trio of candles around a tall, dark bottle. "A... candle-lit dinner?"

"You like it?" Wraith wondered.

"Yeah! Yeah, it looks amazing!" Ahsoka excitedly agreed as Wraith slipped her robe off her shoulders. "You planned all this?"

"Of course. I also got a little help from the staff." He responded, guiding her towards a chair, which he pulled out and seated her in.

"So, how did you convince them to close except for us?" Ahsoka asked as he rounded the table. "Did you wave your hand and say 'you will let me take a Jedi on a date'?"

"Considering I'm not Force-sensitive, no, I did not." Wraith chuckled as he sat across from her. He was wearing a synth leather jacket and casual clothes, no armor or weapons could be seen on him, a style that suited him very well according to Ahsoka. "What I did was pay them all a small fortune apiece and then use the old 'going to conduct sensitive business' routine." He revealed.

"Ah, so we're supposed to be engaged in 'sensitive buisness' then, are we?" Ahsoka mused.

"I'd call a scandalous, borderline treacherous, relationship 'sensitive business'. Wouldn't you?" Wraith asked with a knowing grin.

"Yes. Yes I would." Ahsoka agreed with a nod. Wraith took hold of the bottle and popped the cork.

"Zelosian wine?" He offered.

"Please." Ahsoka accepted and he poured them both a glass.

"A word of warning; I'd go easy on it, my dear. I'd prefer to not send you back tipsy." He cautioned, handing her one.

"I'll be careful, trust me."

"Speaking from experience?"

"Yeah, actually." Ahsoka confirmed, taking a quick sip. "It was the first time Anakin and I went to a bar to look for someone..." She regaled him with how they had both tried to get a possible informant to talk and had indulged him with a few glasses of Zelosian wine. It had a sweet taste that she found enjoyable, but something about its properties had an effect on highly-Force-sensitive individuals like her and Anakin, resulting in them getting quite drunk rather quickly. They had lost the trail and the informant and had to sleep things off. The hangover the next morning was something to remember... but not favourably.

Their conversation continued, even as the first course of their three-course meal arrived. Wraith had selected their meals in advance, ensuring there was plenty for Ahsoka to like about each one. She was a carnivore by nature, so Wraith made sure there was plenty of meat but also a little bit of mixed grains and greens available (to compliment her Jedi diet).

"Enjoying it so far?" Wraith asked as they dived into their main course, sawing his meat into pieces.

"It's good. Really good, actually." Ahsoka agreed, chewing a forkful of greens. "Glad you kept things healthy, have to keep my curves somehow." She joked.

"You'd look beautiful regardless of what you ate." Wraith complimented, earning a blush from her.

Their conversation jumped to a variety of subjects. Ahsoka would ask how things were going with his new partner (learning her name was Banshee), Wraith would ask how her training was coming along and how she was coping with her depression. He'd asked that last one on a whim, not really expecting an answer, but to his surprise she did honestly tell him how she was doing. Since they'd begun talking a lot more frequently, taking their relationship a little deeper by building their ability to communicate, she'd gotten better at being able to express herself.

"When I'm around you, I feel like I can be normal. Like I can let myself be... well... myself." Ahsoka described. "It's not building up, I'm not feeling so burdened anymore. Somebody gets me and isn't going to give me a Jedi-like answer." Wraith smiled.

"That's good to hear. I'm glad I could help." He replied, gently touching her hand.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything, Wraith. You have no idea how much this relationship means to me." She softly and earnestly thanked him.

"You mean a lot to me too." He quietly told her with a broad and honest smile she returned.

They continued to eat and converse, basking in the comfortable stillness of the evening. It was a chance for them to talk without hinderance, to be together without looking over their shoulders, to be themselves without fear of judgement. It was an opportunity for them to simply be normal, to act normally. The labels of Jedi Padawan and super-soldier did not apply here, they were just a couple on a date. They enjoyed each other's company in this atmosphere. They talked and laughed and shared smiles and little touches, offering loving gazes across the table as their dinner slowly wound down.

Dessert was creamy and came in small portions (Ahsoka wanting to maintain her athletic form and Wraith having a specific sugar-intake limit), but by the time it was finished, the couple felt quite satisfied. But as Wraith helped Ahsoka out of her chair, he had a surprise for her.

"If you'll follow me to the main entrance, my love, we'll continue with our date." He offered, her robe folded over his arm.

"There's more?" Ahsoka queried, surprised by this.

"Of course. I didn't just want to take you out to dinner, I wanted to spend the night together. So you may have to push your bedtime back a little further." Wraith replied with a grin. Considering everything was going very well so far, Ahsoka genuinely wanted to continue.

"Alright. What did you have in mind?" She obliged him.

"If you'll follow me, milady." She did, walking hand in hand with him towards the restaurant exit. As soon as they reached the glass doors, she could see a elongated vehicle waiting by the curb.

"Is this a... hover cab?" She wondered, having seen dozens of yellow ones before but never a black one.

"Yes and no." Wraith answered. "It's a special, unmarked hover limo, designed to be discreet and to offer maximum privacy. So call it a... hover cab deluxe." The tinted windows gave that much away and the interior proved to be markedly plush and comfortable as Wraith opened the door and helped Ahsoka in. As he joined her, he called up to the pilot, who was a droid, "As planned, my good sir. And, uh, take the scenic route." He instructed it.

"As you wish, sir." A synthesized voice responded, taking off as soon as the door was sealed.

"The 'scenic' route?" Ahsoka repeated.

"Ever seen Coruscant at night?" Wraith asked. She nodded, having gone on dozens of late-night patrols with Anakin and Obi-Wan, not to mention the late return-flights from whatever battlefield she'd just been on. "How about from above?" Wraith then asked as their ride rose higher and higher, forgoing any of the usual lanes for mass transit until they were level with the tops of the buildings. Wraith then gestured out the nearest window and Ahsoka followed his hand.

She was left in awe for a moment at the towers of a thousand glimmering lights, all spread out in a vast expanse below them. Ahsoka had never seen Coruscant like this before, always behind durasteel bulkheads or on the street level. She'd never seen it like this before. They weren't too high up to be distant or too low to be in the middle of it. They were in just the right place, precariously balanced on the edge. The further their cab travelled, the more she saw, Coruscant spreading out like a vast network of radiant lights without the demeaning noise of society. It briefly reminded her of a starfighter console with all the flashing lights and indicators.

"I'd say there's a sense of beauty in it all." Wraith quietly mused. "A certain type of... magnificence."

"I've never seen it like this before." Ahsoka murmured. In the dead of night, all she usually saw was cloud, smog and streetlights as she roamed the dirty alleys and lower levels of the ecumenopolis. But this... this was simply breathtaking. "It's incredible."

"To a degree," Wraith slowly responded, "but not nearly as incredible as you." Ahsoka managed a breathy laugh.

"You and your compliments."

"I mean it." He whispered, and she could hear it in his voice. He was trying to be kind, but Ahsoka knew that in such a big galaxy, she paled in comparison to some of the feats pulled off both in ancient and recent history.

"Winning a war. That's incredible. Cheating death. That's incredible." She quietly responded, soft blue eyes meeting his chocolate gaze. "I'm just a Padawan." She supposed she was just feeling a little overwhelmed by all the emotions of the night. No one had ever done anything like this for her before, no one had ever acted like this because of her before. Everything she felt and could feel radiating from Wraith was, simply put, scary. She felt small by comparison to the sheer magnitude of such feelings that were still quite alien to her.

The way his hand rested on her face, gently curving around her cheek, served to assure her and put her at ease simultaneously.

"Overcoming depression. That's incredible." He whispered. "Inspiring others. That's incredible. You may be a Padawan, but you're one helluva Jedi." He admitted, earning a giggle from her.

There truly was no greater sound than a woman's laughter.

"All those lights down there, this whole magnificent wonder of societal progress... I really wouldn't care for it if I couldn't share it with you," he told her, "my incredible, amazing, breathtakingly intelligent, compassionate, beautiful Ahsoka." He hadn't used a title like a pet name, or even a nickname like others might. He used her full name. It was who she was... and who she was to him.

She realized that, as a super-soldier, and a very handsome man, there were likely a few dozen women swooning over him. Women who were wealthy, women who were highly desirable, women of power and prominence, women who were Separatists and shared his ideology wholeheartedly. Women who he would've had a far easier time constructing a relationship with, without clandestine meetings and a cruiserload of secrets. Women who his superiors would gladly approve. He could've had any of them...

But he didn't want them. He wanted her.

He wanted the Jedi, he wanted the Republic Commander, he wanted the struggling Togrutan adolescent. He chose the hard way... and yet he went the distance. He met every obstacle, every wall and every barricade that came between them and he sought to conquer them all... for her.

"I love you, Ahsoka. With all my heart and with every fibre of my being." His statement compounded her thoughts and feel absolutely special. Like she was the most important girl in the galaxy...

Like she was one of those twinkling lights that sparkled with beauty and purpose.

"If this is wrong," she whispered, gesturing to the two of them, "then I don't want to be right." She admitted, drawing closer to him. "I love you too Wraith." Without hesitation, she kissed him, and he reciprocated.


The Skydome Botanical Gardens were located in the Fobosi District, which was adjacent to The Works. Not far from the Coruscant University, it seemed like a risky place to go. But thanks to another shipload of credits, they had the entire place all to themselves, with no one else to watch them.

Walking along the plant-lined path, arm in arm, Wraith and Ahsoka took in the sights and smells of actual nature. The warmth of the humid environment was a welcome change form the usually stale and sometimes brisk air of Coruscant, plus the yellowed lights illuminating their way added a layer of closeness to the tranquil atmosphere.

"I gotta ask, just how much did you pay to make this all happen?" Ahsoka wondered.

"Let's just say if I get a call from the Banking Clan about my account, there'll be a very good reason." Wraith calmly replied, not willing to divulge the actual details.

"Oh... Well, in case you were wondering, I think it was worth every credit."

"Good. The last thing I wanted to hear is that you weren't enjoying yourself." They continued walking until they came across a familiar-looking flower, where they both paused for a moment.

"Ah, a marg sabl." Wraith mused.

"These are from my homeworld." Ahsoka added. It had been a while since she'd seen a live one, much less actually visited Shili. "They look so pretty during the day. I love the way it looks just like a sunrise." She marvelled. "You know, I named a strategy after it."

"So if I were to suddenly hear 'they're pulling a marg sabl' over my comms one day, what should I expect?" Wraith asked.

"Our forces exploding out from a single defensive position, like a rising sun." Ahsoka described. "I invented it during the Battle of Ryloth."

"Ah, so that was the move that overwhelmed our blockade." Wraith had been on the planet during the naval assault but had left as soon as word came through that the line had been broken. Those were the days when he attacked from the shadows, leaving no survivors in order to keep his identity a surprise.

They had both certainly come a long way since then.

They spent another two hours wandering the gardens before deciding they both needed to retire for the evening. Their time was short and the encouter had to be limited, even though neither of them really wanted it to be. So the hover cab set down on an empty street not too far from the Jedi Temple and left as soon as the occupants had disembarked (Wraith having paid the company well in advance). Left alone on the street, they held hands, lingering for a while as they tried to stretch out the final moment of the night.

"Thank you Wraith." Ahsoka finally said. "I had... an amazing time. We really should do this again."

"It's a date." He agreed, pun entirely intended. Ahsoka giggled in response, his humour aligning with hers once more. "I'd walk you back, but I am a wanted man in these parts." He said, disappointed he could not. Ahsoka nodded in understanding. "Until next time, my love," he promised, raising and kissing the back of her hand. He made to leave with one final wink, but Ahsoka wasn't about to let him go just yet.

"Hey," she softly called, stopping him, "kiss me again." With an obliging smile, he stooped and pressed his lips to her cheek. She smiled at the affectionate gesture... but wasn't satisfied. "You know what I meant." She teased. Wraith smiled, indicating he knew as well, and proved it when he bent down and kissed her on the lips. Ahsoka closed her eyes and reciprocated, savouring the moment. Her hands idly held his jaw, feeling smooth skin and occasionally prickly stubble. By the time they parted, her gaze was warm and loving and content. "That's better." She whispered with a smile. Wraith returned it. He said nothing more and slowly slipped from her hold after a moment. She continued to smile at him as she lifted her hood, concealing her appearance from everyone save him. It isn't until she turns and starts walking that he does too, knowing tonight had gone better than he could've hoped it would. Shoving his hands into his pockets, Wraith started to hum as he began strolling at a leisurely pace. He was in a good mood, and for good reason.

But the dark of the night revealed something to him, something glowing on the sidewalk between streetlights. It was a cigarra, recently discarded, the ashen tip still glowing. Wraith slowed to a halt as he registered this one blemish on an otherwise pristine stretch of permacrete. In an instant his mind jumped to a plethora of conclusions and irrational scenarios, which, after a brief moment of panic, he discarded with a shake of his head. Sure he a knew a chainsmoker, but that couldn't be right. "I'm paranoid." He muttered, casting his worries aside. He kept walking, passing a nearby alley on his way back to his carefully concealed shuttle.

Had he lingered any longer, he would've noticed the glow of a lighter as another cigarra was lit in the darkened back alley.

A few stray puffs of smoke curled around his face as he took a deep drag and exhaled, surrounding him with a cloud of smoke.

"Interestin'." Was all he had to say. Casting a glance in the direction of the departing Ahsoka with arms crossed, he chalked this up to be very potent information. It was a confirmation of everything he'd been wondering about. She wasn't talking to thin air, but him. She was in a relationship with him.

And he knew he could use this to his every advantage.

"I'm gonna need a shovel fo' all tha dirt I got on ya, Ahsoka Tano." Corsair mused with a slowly growing, borderline sinister, grin.


Author's Note: I know what some of you are thinking: "not another fluff chapter!" Well, there is a romance going on here, so... calm down. Besides, this was a short one. Next chapter is getting back to the action, though, and it's gonna be a whopper! Something will happen that'll you'll either love me or hate me for...