AN: I'm back for a few weeks so I'm hoping to get a few chapters in while I'm on break from school. My first semester of college was much crazier than I thought it would be so thank you for patiently waiting for this new chapter and thank you to all the new followers and favorites, it made me excited to come back and write!
Like always story ideas are always welcome!
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
"WHAT were you thinking!" Ahsoka yelled, vaulting off a window ledge to a door overhang.
The pounding of plastoid boots followed behind her. "I didn't KNOW that I wasn't supposed to bring a loaded carbine there!"
"Did you not read…" Jesse paused to duck a blaster bolt "the sign on the door?!"
"Did I read the sign on the door?" Hardcase turned around and ran backwards until he stumbled and almost fell only to be caught and dragged along by Fives and Kix. He shrugged off their arms and continued running "Of course I read the sign. I just didn't think they'd notice…." He trailed off in a slight whine.
"Hardcase." All four men stopped to look at their commander perched on an overhang "You brought a Z-6 rotary cannon into the bar that we were trying to gather surveillance in." A few beats of silence followed Ahsoka's deadpan statement.
All of the soldiers moaned in revelation. "Captain Rex is going to kill us."
"Hopefully what intel we gathered will be enough to save our skins."
Fives shrugged as the group slowed their pace as they neared the temporary base the 501st was currently stationed. "Maybe you can persuade your boyfriend to cut us some slack."
Ahsoka gave a short bark of laughter. "You know that part of the agreement of Rex and I dating is that no one gets favorable treatment or influence."
"It's really just Hardcase's fault. If he didn't insist on carrying his cannon everywhere we wouldn't be in this situation." Jesse mused
"Thanks Jesse, you're a real pal." Hardcase grumbled
Ahsoka handed over a holo disk to Anakin Skywalker's open palm.
"We were able to get a general idea of the insurgents numbers and weapons supply as well as their main travel routes. We were unable to figure out the exact date of the next weapons and drug sale but we know it is sometime next week." the Padawan reported
Anakin's grin was wry as he glanced at the group before him. "And what of your unforeseen escapade?"
Ahsoka nervously glanced behind her to the others who were looking abashed at each other and their superiors.
"That was an unfortunate miscommunication between our troops and the natives and we felt the tense situation was best diffused by us making a tactical retreat."
"Is that so." Anakin coughed discreetly into his fist. "Well we still need to stop these guys from making this sale and finish shutting this ring down so we can leave the citizens in peace to their rebuilding.
Rex stepped forward "Since you all were only able to get half the information needed to bust these weapons dealers you all are being assigned to stake out the location during the dark hours until we catch them." There was a barely concealed grin on his face that only turned more wry when he saw the glare his girlfriend leveled at him.
The captain was about to dismiss them when, as he left the room, he turned back to them and delivered the final word.
"Oh and Rex; you're going with them." At the sign of protest he finished "They need someone to keep them in line."
Fives sniggered and tried to hide it at the incredulous look on his captain's face.
"Not exactly the romantic date you had in mind with the commander now is this captain?" Fives jested, elbowing the elder in the ribs.
Shuffling slightly away from the former, Rex grunted in annoyance and firmly smacked the back of the ARC's head.
"Shut up and keep an eye on the gates."
"I vote that Hardcase be forever banned from sensitive reconcosense missions since he obviously cannot be separated from his beloved cannon." Ahsoka vehemently hissed over the coms.
A few beats of silence ensued "Commander I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest you're not too happy about having your date ruined." That was Jesse who was paired with the offending trooper.
"Is it that obvious Jesse? We thought we were being subtle in our frustration." Rex muttered
"Maybe we'll be lucky and tonight's the night and you guys can have your date tomorrow." Kix tentatively piped in.
"If we finish by tonight then tomorrow we will be cleaning up and shipping out as planned." The young togruta grumbled.
Coms were silent for the rest of the stake out; it wasn't until they they briefed the next watch and regrouped any of them spoke again.
"Tomorrow night we'll let you two stake out in the same position and that can be your date." Hardcase teased and then started at the sight of his commander's bared fangs.
Rex walked his girlfriend back to their respected chambers and stopped outside her door.
"As painful it is to admit it, Hardcase is on to something." At Ahsoka's raised eyemarking he continued "We're probably not going to be able to go out on a date now that we have our stake out every night until this issue is resolved. It might be best if we bring some snacks with us and make that our date." He shrugged
"It would certainly make for a date to remember." Ahsoka smiled before she narrowed her eyes "The next time this happens, I'm going to smack Hardcase so hard the rest of the 501st is going to feel it."
"I'll let you if you add General Skywalker to the list for adding me to this late night fun." Rex agreed
"Deal. See you in the evening for our next shift."
"What did you bring?" Ahsoka questioned her boyfriend as she started trekking towards their assigned stakeout location. "I brought dried fruit slices and a handful of roasted nuts.
Rex presented a small package from his side pouch. "A couple of squares of chocolate i've been saving and water flavoring."
Ahsoka smiled and settled herself on the ridge overlooking the enemy compound while Rex mixed the drinks and split the food into two piles.
"I'll watch first while you eat and then we'll switch places." The young woman offered, already peering through the binoculars
The man shrugged and started nibbling on his share of the food. "Sorry this is such a lousy date location."
"Not your fault." The former interrupted "I was in charge of the recon and I should've noticed that Hardcase was sneaking his weapon in."
An easy grin slid over the togruta's features "Plus this will make for an interesting story. We haven't missed a date on every planet we've visited yet." She popped a nut into her mouth before turning back to her station
"If I didn't know better I would say that between Hardcase's thick headedness and the general's insistence that I come on these stakeouts you'd think they'd plan this." Rex commented, sliding over to chance places as lookout.
"Nah. They'd know we'd kill 'em if they planned this. I think Anakin took this opportunity to make it funny." Ahsoka replied
"Har har. Very funny. I'm busting a gut over here." Rex deadpanned, never moving from his position.
"We'll get him back somehow." the reply was even "Maybe get Echo to help us rig his shower so there's only cold water or put sand in his socks or rig his door so everytime he opens it an alarm starts blaring." A devilish smile tugged at the padawan's lips.
At this exchange Rex did put down the binoculars and look at his girlfriend.
"You are frightfully scary at prank ideas, cyar'ika." at her self-satisfied grin he added "Even worse than Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase on a good day."
"I've been stewing on this for hours. I just keep the ideas hidden away until I need them for a really good prank." After a second "What would be really bad is if Fives, Jesse, Hardcase, and I all decided to prank people."
With a wary and wry look Rex placed a hand on Ahsoka's knee. "Just remember to keep me out of whatever pranks you decide to involve yourself in."
Laughing Ahsoka squeezed his hand "I still remember what happened the last time you got in the crosshairs of some of the shinnies pranks. They wouldn't come within 50 feet of you for months. So don't worry, I won't involve you in anything Rexster."
AN: So hopefully this makes up for the semester long silence! I hopefully will be able to post a couple more chapters while I'm on break! Please review and suggest more chapter ideas!