Author's Note: This story takes place in the same fic-universe as my Said the Joker series. You don't have to read that to understand this. Just know that Rex and Ahsoka are alive post-Order 66, and they have a teenage boy named Rithron currently with them. That said, enjoy!
Smile
First.
Rex knew he shouldn't get involved.
The dispute, whatever it was over, was none of his business, and likely more trouble than it was worth; they were leaving Corellia before the day was out, as soon as the last of the repairs were finished and the new cargo secured. The Drake's hold was full near to bursting from the new shipment. Business at the loading docks was slowing, now that the evening was beginning to draw on into night, and the pilots and their crews were heading into the city for entertainment. Electric lamps were beginning to flicker on in the occupied hangar bays, but the noise was coming from one of the unlit ones, the pair involved cast in shadows and not quite distinguishable in the pale moonlight.
He hesitated at the entrance to the dock, keeping close to the entranceway. If either of the two arguing figures turned their heads, they'd see his dark silhouette easily enough, but whatever it was that had the smaller one so upset was clearly occupying their attention enough that they paid him no heed.
It was the younger one raising his voice that gave Rex pause. For a moment, he'd thought it was Rithron, finding himself some more trouble to get into, even here where they were marginally safe. It was a boy's voice, not quite a man's, smooth toned even in agitation, though cracking inopportunely even while Rex paused to listen. A teenage boy, then. The second voice was lower, steadier, but harsher and more arrogant – a man, and a confident one. Their heights corresponded – the boy's shorter silhouette suggested a lanky human male, the man's…Rex frowned, peered closer. A Weequay, he determined with a grimace. He didn't like making assumptions, but an annoyed, cocky Weequay arguing in the shadows of an empty hangar bay at night boded well for trouble. There'd been more than a few pirate attacks along the Corellian Run during the past year, and they were still ongoing, the Imperial draft tapping into the pool of men and women who would instead be serving in the Corellian Security Forces. The trade routes weren't as protected as they should be, and it was inviting in all kinds of trouble – some of it was apparently reaching the surface of the planet.
He really shouldn't get involved.
The boy's voice increased in volume and exasperation. "I told you, I've got the money!"
Rex could practically hear the smirk in the Weequay's voice. "Give it to me, and maybe I won't tell the Boss where you and Shrike are hiding out."
The boy's voice grew more agitated, cracking again mid-sentence. "I don't have it with me!"
A low laugh. "Not so good for you, then, is it brat?"
There was a shifting in the shadows; Rex squinted against the dark, tracing the Weequay's outline. He'd been leaning back before, clearly relaxed and sure of himself; he was still clearly sure of himself, but the relaxed posture was now gone. He was leaning forward, shoulders rounding and his weight was shifting forward onto the balls of his feet – obvious preparation for an attack.
Rex tensed; the boy did as well, and he took a step backward, his hands coming halfway up in fists as he began to crouch. The Weequay merely laughed, and Rex wondered if the boy was armed. Even if the kid was good in a fistfight, a pirate would be armed and ready to fight dirty. With firepower as well as superior weight, height and reach, he had every advantage.
Rex moved, stomping his feet loudly as he lurched forward into the hangar bay, making a deliberate display of swinging the bag of takeout in his right hand, while reaching up to scratch the back of his head with his left. He put on his most bewildered expression, and looked around with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. When he brought his gaze back down to the pair, they were staring at him, though still bristling and ready to launch themselves into a fight.
"Umm," Rex dragged out, trying to look embarrassed and feeling foolish over his bad acting. "Sorry, first time around here. Where's the block of K docks? I got turned around back in the E's."
Taking another couple steps forward, he could see each of the two faces more clearly in the moonlight, though their features were cast sharply into shadow. The boy looked bewildered by his sudden appearance, and the Weequay just looked pissed. Rex set his bag of nerfburger cartons down and tried to assume a non-threatening posture that still allowed him quick access to his hand blasters. He favored his right leg and stepped forward once, limping as though from an old injury.
Slowly, as though just figuring out there was a problem, he said, "Everything alright here?"
Best to diffuse things. The last thing anyone needed was a shootout; the Weequay was definitely armed, he could see that now with better proximity. The kid had a blaster strapped to his thigh as well, but with his hands up in readiness for a fistfight, the Weequay would be the faster draw. Rex dropped his hands closer to his waist, wringing them once as though the thought of a fight distressed him. He shifted his weight, steadying himself.
"Who are you?" the Weequay hissed at him, angling his body so that he could add Rex to his line of sight. "You with him?" He jerked his head towards the kid.
"Never seen him before," Rex said, honestly, but perhaps too calmly. The Weequay scowled, his face contorting into a mass of black shadows.
"Liar!" he snapped.
They both moved. Two hands flashed towards two blasters, and two shots rang out. One struck true, the other flew wide.
Rex swore once, quietly, as the Weequay hit the ground, a hole in the middle of his chest. Pissing off pirates did nothing but bring trouble. Ahsoka was going to be annoyed. He glanced at the kid. She'd probably also be proud of him. He sighed and straightened.
"Better get out of here, kid. His pals find out who's responsible, it'll get ugly."
The kid was gaping at him, his fists still up. "What'd you do that for?"
Rex snorted and reholstered his blaster. "You're welcome." He leaned down and picked up the bag of takeout. The kid was still staring at him, but he'd closed his mouth and was merely wide-eyed, looking between Rex and the Weequay's body.
"Who are you?" the kid asked.
Rex shrugged and grimaced. "A meddler, apparently." He paused, then added, thinking of Rithron, "I've got a kid about your age." It was more or less the truth, even if Rithron wasn't technically his.
That seemed to mollify the boy's curiosity, at least a little. He was making a face that was difficult to read, all hard eyed and serious. It was hard to tell, in the darkness, but Rex suspected there was a little sadness there too. He glanced from Rex to the body, then back again. The gangly teenager seemed to melt away for a moment, and for that moment, Rex caught a glimpse of the man this boy would become in a few more years. The kid jerked his chin at Rex, then tilted his head towards the Weequay. "How'd you do that so fast?"
Rex couldn't help but give a small smirk, though it only lasted a second. "I know when to shoot first."
The man melted back into a boy, and the boy's eyes widened, and he guffawed at what Rex was saying. His teeth flashed white in the darkness amid a grin. "Thanks."
"Get out of here," Rex repeated. "You don't want to deal with a bunch of angry pirates and neither do I." He turned and began walking towards the entranceway, looking back after a couple steps. The boy was hovering, standing over the body of the Weequay, then turning quickly and breaking into a trot. Rex lengthened his strides and made it out into the street first, glancing back and forth. A man crossed the intersection down the road, intent on his own business; no one else seemed to be nearby. Rex sighed. Corellia wasn't some backwater Outer Rim world; the authorities wouldn't be pleased about the body, even if it was a pirate, though they'd chalk it up to some intergang fighting. This wasn't the most reputable of areas, either. They'd need to get moving as soon as he got back, assuming the repairs were done.
"Hey, mister," the boy said, and Rex turned enough to see him standing several strides away. His hand was hovering over his blaster, though everything else about him was non-threatening. The grin was back on his face, and this time, he was the one sounding cocky when he continued, "Good lesson. I'll remember to be first next time."
With a final flash of a smile, he turned on a heel and began moving rapidly away, shoulders back and a bit of a swagger in his step.
Rex shook his head; whoever the kid was, he was obviously used to trouble. With a sigh, Rex turned in the opposite direction, heading back towards the Drake, Ahsoka and home.
Several years later, Han still remembered the lesson.
This one is for sachariah, who requested a scene between Rex and Han. Hope you like it!
Also I just wanted to take a moment to say, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Yule, and a general Happy Holidays to everyone out there!
~Queen