Fives was draped over Rex's lap completely over all of the rumors that had been spreading recently. Fives wasn't stupid. Rex must have heard the rumors as well, and he had yet to act against them. So he wasn't even trying to be subtle with his feelings either. The second he had walked into Rex's quarters he sat himself down in the captain's lap and didn't say a word. Rex had asked if he was alright, and Fives had merely replied with a grunt. Luckily the captain had been doing reports when Fives walked in so he didn't have to get off Rex for a while.

"Fives I need to get up," Rex spoke up a smile in his voice and a hand on Fives' waist.

The ARC made an annoyed noise and buried his head further into Rex's neck. The laugh that fell from Rex's lips made the ARC smile. He had managed to save Rex from the horrors of Umbara this time. The 501st and 212th still weren't the same, but it wasn't as bad. They weren't set up to kill each other this time. He and Jesse hadn't been set up for execution. Dogma wasn't being sent back to Kamino. Hardcase was alive. Things were better, but they still hurt.

He never told Rex what happened between him and Krell. He couldn't. There were certain things that he couldn't tell anyone. Like how he still listened to the reg manuals thinking about Echo or how he traced the inside of his wrist like Hevy used to when he got nightmares on Rishi Station.

"Fives I will push you out of my lap," Rex's voice cut through the ARC's thoughts.

Fives snorted lightly and tightened his hold on Rex's middle snuggling closer. If Rex wanted to push him out of the chair then he was taking him down with him. He wasn't entirely sure what happened first. The kiss to his neck or the hand on his stomach pushing him off. All Fives knew was that he ended up on the floor and on his back rather quickly.

"Kriffing— Mother—," Fives' curses were cut off by laughter above him causing the ARC to shoot a glare up to the captain.

"I warned you," Rex smiled down at the ARC who looked like an offended child.

"That was cheating," Fives hissed at Rex clearly unimpressed with the action as the ARC tackled the captain out of the chair.

The squeak that erupted from Rex was so worth the bruise that was gonna form on Fives' shoulder from hitting the floor.

"Kriffing di'kut!"

"Shouldn't have cheated!"

"I did no such thing!"

/—/—/

Fives was cleaning his blasters next to Rex when Hardcase came up to them. The heavy gunner had been trying to get answers about his and Rex's relationship ever since the younger vod saw the two sparing. The ARC took one glance at Hardcase and didn't dare say a word.

"Are you two a thing or not," Hardcase demanded his hands on his hips as he glared down at Fives.

"Don't know what you're talking about," came Fives' reply even though Rex knocked his knee against the ARC's.

Rex was smiling as he flipped through his data pad making sure to keep contact with Fives. Hardcase made some sort of annoyed retort as he continued to demand answers. Fives lifted his head again to make a comment when a hand wrapped around the back of his neck and a pair of lips pressed against his cheek causing the ARC to choke on his words.

"Kriffing called it! Jesse you owe me twenty creds," Hardcase yelled out clearly overly excited as he ran away.

"Oh stow it Hardcase you still owe me creds from our last bet!"

"No I don't!"

Fives tore his gaze from the younger trooper to look at the blonde beside him his eyes wide. The captain was smiling, but wasn't looking at Fives.

/—/—/

Fives was wrapped around Rex's middle his head buried in the older clones chest. He couldn't sleep. Kriffing Hardcase's rumors were keeping the ARC from sleeping peacefully. He was getting signs from Rex and he didn't know what to do with them. The tension between the two seemed to have sharpened ever since Umbara. The closeness and the power struggle between them was normal, but this was a bit much.

"What changed," Fives asked quietly knowing that Rex was still awake as well.

"What do you mean," came the blonde's reply as he propped himself up on his elbow.

"Don't pull that bantha-shit you know exactly what I mean…. The last time I lived this life there was still this tension, but this… what changed this time," Fives scoffed in response not meeting the captain's eyes until he finished.

The look in Fives' eyes was dangerous and guarded. It was the same look that Rex received when he tried to get Fives to not do something reckless and stupid. It was the same look he saw Fives throw at General Skywalker sometimes. Rex stared back at Fives knowing that whatever he said next would either ruin or expand whatever they had.

"You did. You changed a lot of things, both myself and events. Without you I wouldn't know what I was doing. You're my second Fives. I'm with you to the end," Rex replied carefully tracing the tattoo on the brunette's temple.

Fives was quiet as he leaned into the touch. Rex smiled lightly and replaced his hand with his lips kissing Fives' temple gently. Fives sighed lightly and buried closer to Rex.

/—/—/

"Fives."

"Hmmm."

"Fives you uh… you have to get off me. I need to get to a uh… a meeting."

"Meeting can wait."

"Fives…."

The ARC wasn't moving. Not when he was so comfortable. He didn't know why Rex sounded flustered, but he honestly didn't care. And what meeting? They were on leave for kriffs sake. The ARC shifted lightly and… oh. Oh. The brunette cracked his eyes open understanding why the captain's voice had been strained. Something was buried right up against his hip and it wasn't a blaster.

"Are you happy to see me, sir or is that a blaster I didn't know about," Fives managed to get out through his sleep filled voice a smirk playing at his lips.

"Fives I swear to gods."

Fives buried his laughter in the captain's neck. He could get used to this.

/—/—/

Hi everyone! I'm alive so don't panic! I've been meaning to post this for like a week, but I never got around to it. Sorry for the long wait. Next chapter should be coming out in a few days though. I'm debating on whether I should bump up the rating for this story for smut, but I'm not sure. What do you guys think? Do you guys what Fex smut or no?

Glogirl out!