Roots
Author's Note: This is a request by ZiggyStardusts_Lightsabre on ao3! If you enjoy fics that center on Anakin and Cody, you might also like 'The Mushroom Strikes Back' which similarly focuses on them, and which also we just posted. :)
I hope you enjoy! :D
~ Amina Gila
The first Jedi that Cody met was his new General, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The second was his new General's Padawan – something like a cadet, if he understands the terminology right – was Anakin Skywalker.
He didn't really have time to get to know either of them before they were shipped off on an urgent mission, one which needed them too much for Commander Skywalker to even be Knighted first – it's some sort of graduation ceremony or something? He's not quite certain of the details, and he doesn't really know how to ask, either.
They're both so tense though, uneasy and uncertain, though they do an admirable job at hiding it. Cody doesn't really know what he thought Jedi would be like, but not… this. They're so… human. They, General Kenobi at any rate, is doing a good job at acting as if he knows what he's doing, but it's quite obvious to Cody that he's rather unhappy about his assignment. Apparently, the Jedi were never properly informed that they would be in command, so Cody can understand the attitude, even if it worries him a little, because the Jedi are in charge. They're the ones who make the plans and give orders, and if they made a mistake, it's Cody's brothers who will pay the price.
But they're soldiers. They were born for this, trained for this. It'll be fine.
It will be.
(He's terrified, because yes, the concept of watching brothers die was all good and well, but it's only now, now that he's staring at the reality of it in the face that it's really sinking in. He's scared. He'd be a fool not to be scared, he guesses, and he finally understands why the clones were always discouraged from being too attached to each other. They need to be able to let go and move on, not letting deaths of squad members or batchmates phase them.)
He trained for this, though, for being a Marshal Commander, and he knows what to do. He was given the best training. He can do this, protect his brothers, but only if the Jedi respect his opinions. And he doesn't know if they will, or what kind of people they even are.
They're Jedi, but that – that doesn't mean anything in practice. The legends about them are… The legends make them into legends, and Cody knows that reality is often far, far different. So far General Kenobi still looks like a legend, even if there are cracks of his human side showing through. Commander Skywalker, on the other hand…
He looks half-panicked, staring at the hologram as the General tells him what they'll need to do to achieve their objective, and that look makes Cody uneasy. It's obvious that the Commander is way out of his depth, that he has no kriffing clue what he's supposed to do. That could be bad. It could mean Cody will watch his brothers die while the Jedi figure out how to lead them.
But it's not his place to say anything, so he keeps his mouth shut, standing at attention, helmet tucked tightly under his right arm while he watches and waits to see if his input is needed or necessary. He doesn't know if he wants them to ask his opinion more than he wants them to make their own decisions. (Stars, he isn't ready for this, even if he was born for this, and he's a kriffing Marshal Commander, and he can do this he was trained to do this he doesn't have a choice about not doing this –)
General Kenobi does not, in fact, ask Cody's opinion, though he does glance at him a couple times, almost hesitant, and Cody merely nods, because he has nothing to contribute. The strategy they decided on is not one he would have picked, but it should still theoretically work the same way – assuming, of course, that the Jedi are any good on the fronts.
The Commander nods along to whatever the General says, his only countersuggestion having been shot down as "too risky" which… Cody doesn't disagree with, but if they'd followed it, it would only have put him at risk. It… makes Cody torn between whether he wants to like him for only risking himself or be upset at him for only risking himself, because he's a Jedi, and he's a natborn, and he's not expendable like the rest of the clones are. He ought to know better.
At least General Kenobi understands that, at least.
When the briefing is over, the General leaves, but the Commander lingers, staring at the hologram, expression grim and set, absently flexing and unflexing his right hand. It's gloved, and there are faint noises coming from it that makes Cody suspect it's a prosthetic – he'd heard, in rumors, that Skywalker lost his right hand to Dooku on Geonosis, but he hadn't known if he could believe it until now. It's strange to see it, stranger still to know that Jedi can be injured like that, so seriously. He could have died there.
"Are you… alright, sir?" he asks finally when he realizes that the Commander isn't planning to shut down the hologram and leave with his master. He sort of feels like he should ask; the nervous unease that Skywalker is showing sort of reminds Cody of the shinies he's worked with. They're eager to fight, but a little afraid to at the same time. Skywalker's so out of his depth, and it's obvious just by looking at him that he knows it, too.
The Commander holds his hand in front of his face, turning it before absently reaching over to fiddle with the braid hanging over his shoulder – it must be a Jedi thing; Cody didn't ask, won't ask. "Not really, no," he answers honestly, waving a hand towards the hologram. "This is not something I was ever trained for, nothing I ever expected from being a Jedi. We – we were meant to be peacekeepers, not generals or commanders, and I – I do not know what I'm doing." He doesn't quite look at Cody as he says it, but at the end, he turns away entirely, as if unwilling to make eye contact. It's strange.
… What is he supposed to say to that?
"You will learn," Cody offers finally.
"But maybe not fast enough," Skywalker answers quietly. "If – any mistake I make will get people killed. I've never led… anyone before. I don't know what to do." Now, he does look at Cody, something shadowed and helpless in his blue eyes. It's so strange to see them, to see eyes that are blue; Cody has only ever seen brown eyes, his whole life, and yes, he knew that eyes can be other colors, but seeing it is different than knowing it.
Perhaps, he can sense Cody's uncertainty about how to reply, because he huffs out a breath that isn't quite a laugh, the barest shadow of a smile on his face. "You can speak your mind, if you want," he assures. "I don't mind."
"We – some of us were trained in strategy, trained to lead," Cody begins, guardedly, carefully watching the Padawan to see how he reacts to it. "It was expected that some of us would be commanders, and we… needed to know how to do it." The Commander nods, expression open, but Cody doesn't quite know how he'll handle this… suggestion, even if he did say Cody could speak his mind. Still, it wouldn't hurt to at least suggest it. "If you would like, we could give you some… pointers."
Cody doesn't quite expect the relief that visibly floods Skywalker's face. "Can you?" he says, just on the verge of desperation. "I do not know how to lead. I have never done it. I have always been taught to risk myself to protect those around me, and I know no other way. It is what I have always done."
"That won't work here," Cody answers frankly. "You are the Jedi. You need to protect yourself. We're replaceable, but you're the Commander. You're the one who needs to be there, to keep leading the men."
His jaw sets. "You matter, too," he replies stubbornly. "You're also people. Doesn't matter if you're clones. You're not expendable."
The flash of fond protectiveness that Cody feels is wholly unexpected. "Commander, that's just how it is. We're used to it. It's how we were trained."
"It's wrong."
Maybe, but it's just a part of life to Cody. He doesn't have to like it – and he doesn't – but the Republic doesn't especially care. They're soldiers. They were created and bred to fight and die for the Republic. There is no other life for them, and they all know that they need to be ready and willing to lay down their lives for their natborn leaders, like it or not.
But maybe the Jedi will understand and respect the lives that they have been tasked with caring for, the lives who will be lost while protecting them. Cody doesn't know for all the Jedi, but he knows for this Jedi, and he knows that his new Commander will be able to appreciate the clones who may die to protect him.
"Well," he says with a half shrug, "There isn't much that can be done about that. Why don't I call my second in? We can give you some pointers for this battle – and in general, if you want us to, sir."
"Yes, please," Skywalker replies, "Thank you, Cody." A pause, and then, as Cody is reaching for his comm, "You don't need to call me 'sir'. You can just call me Anakin."
He stills, surprised. The Commander keeps surprising him, and this isn't something he'd even begun to imagine could happen. He can't quite picture calling a natborn by name, especially not a superior. "I don't think that would be appropriate," he answers hesitantly.
"Why not?" The Jedi makes a face. "We're both commanders."
"You're a Jedi," Cody reminds, uncertain. It seems so obvious to him. They're clones. Anakin… is not. He's a Jedi, a natborn.
"And?" Sky- Anakin protests, because even if Cody can't address him by name, he can still think of him that way. "You have more experience with commanding than I do. Just because I'm a Jedi, that doesn't mean I automatically outrank you."
"I don't think the Republic military agrees with that assessment," he says dryly.
Anakin scowls. "Fine. If – you don't have to, if it makes you uncomfortable." There's an earnest sincerity to his voice, and Cody offers him a small nod, tapping on his comm to contact Rex.
Of all the brothers he was close to on Kamino, Rex is the only one who is still with him, but that will probably only last until a Jedi is assigned to his legion. Cody isn't looking forward to it because it means he may not see Rex much anymore. But they're soldiers, and this is their purpose – Cody isn't required to like it; his likes are meaningless in the whole scheme of things. Even if Rex fought in the first battle of the war, the Battle of Geonosis, Cody still feels protective of him, and he'll worry for him, just as he worries for all his brothers.
Get to the briefing room. The Commander wants our help.
It's such a strange thing to even say, because the Jedi are – Cody once thought they would know everything, that they'd be fully capable of leading them. The reality is far from the truth, and if anything, they seem woefully underprepared to fight a war at all.
On my way.
Maybe the reason Cody is so protective of Rex is because of how he was nearly decommissioned when he was young for having the "wrong" hair color. He always had to work extra hard to prove himself, so the Kaminoans wouldn't decide he was too "defective" to keep. It might have been hard for him, as a cadet, but it pushed him to be better, and Cody would say, without any hesitation whatsoever, that Rex is one of their best strategists. He's very, very good at what he does, and he's the best option to help Anakin learn, too.
While they wait, Anakin's gaze drifts to the hologram again, and his expression shifts to one of grimness. "I don't know how to be a commander," he admits quietly. "I've never led people, not like this, and I – if I make a mistake, people die. That is not something I was ever trained to… handle."
Cody steps a little closer, as if his proximity could somehow be enough to take the worry away. "That is the reality of command," he says quietly, "Knowing that you have men serving under you, who would die for you, and who will die when you make a mistake. We can only learn from our mistakes."
"I know, but it is harder when there are people… relying on me so directly," he answers, "But I suppose that is why we have rules and guidelines to follow. That is important, especially now." There's something in his eyes that makes Cody think he's trying to reassure himself of that more than anything else, as if he's trying to remind himself.
"Yes," Cody agrees, "Exactly." He wants to ask, but it isn't his place.
"I thought – I thought I… knew better," the Padawan continues, very quietly, staring at the hologram with unseeing eyes. "I nearly lost my way, and it is… hard. I can't tell Obi-Wan; he would not understand. I didn't grow up at the Temple, like the other Jedi."
He hesitates, looking at Cody, as if trying to see something. Cody has no idea what he's supposed to say, so he nods in what he hopes is an encouraging manner. He's helped many of his brothers when they've struggled, guided them when they made mistakes, and even if Anakin isn't exactly like his brothers, the principle is still the same – and if Cody is being honest, he thinks he could easily come to treat Anakin like he does shinies. Tough when they need to be pushed. Soft when they need to be comforted. Strong when they need to be supported. It's such a strange feeling to have for natborn, but then, maybe Anakin isn't all that different from Cody's little brothers.
"I grew up on Tatooine, for nine years," Anakin tells him, "With my mom. She was… amazing." There's a weighed grief in his eyes, mingled with a deep respect and fondness, too. Cody can't really relate. He's never had a parent – only brothers. "She – I – I left her, to become a Jedi, and I was having visions of her death right before the war."
Somehow, Cody already knows what happened. "And they… happened?" he guesses tentatively.
Anakin nods, swallowing. "She died in my arms," he whispers, "And I – I lost control of myself. I… killed the ones who took her, and I – I touched the Dark, then. I understand now, that there are rules for a reason, and that they need to be followed, but I – it is still… hard, and I do not trust myself quite the same as I did before."
Cody is at a loss for what to say. He has never once faced anything of this nature, and he feels wholly out of his depth. "I – That must be hard," he offers, lamely, stepping a little closer. "We clones have never had parents, but I know it is hard to lose brothers. I imagine it's similar."
"Yeah," he says, "Probably. I've never had a sibling before." He gives Cody a half-smile, and he doesn't seem like he means it as a suggestion, but his heart still skips a beat, because it feels like one anyway. He… could get used to having Anakin as a little brother; he certainly seems to need the guidance, especially if he's grieving and dealing with things that he doesn't want to tell the General, for whatever reason.
The moment is interrupted when the door slides open and Rex saunters through, glancing around, taking it all in with a curious, assessing gaze. "This is Rex, my current second," Cody introduces, looking between his brother and his Commander.
"What do you need my help with, Commander?" Rex asks with a salute, his helmet tucked under his arm. He's a captain now, promoted from being an ARC trooper after the Battle of Geonosis, after he proved himself there, and Cody is proud of him, even if he fears Rex being sent off to the other side of the galaxy where he'll rarely see him.
Anakin throws Cody a half-desperate, abashed look, as if he's too embarrassed or uncomfortable to explain it himself.
"Apparently," Cody tells Rex, stepping in, "The Jedi – or our Jedi, at any rate – have never been trained to lead armies into battle. The Commander wanted us to give him some pointers for strategy."
"I'm pretty good at it," Anakin interjects earnestly, "But I have never done anything like this before. It is… a little overwhelming."
Rex gives Cody a look before moving to join him at the holotable, just going with it in the same, steady way that he handles many things. "Why don't we see what you know, for starters?" he suggests, tapping on the controls and changing the projection to a generalized strategy hologram as opposed to anything specific. "And we can take it from there."
"Don't worry," Cody volunteers, reaching out to lightly pat Anakin's shoulder, "We'll make you an expert in no time." A pause, and then, a little impulsively, he adds, "Anakin."
The grin that Anakin gives him is mingled with appreciation and excitement, and Cody feels a fierce protectiveness towards him that takes him by surprise, but he still accepts it all the same. Anakin's their Commander, and sure, he might be older than them, but it doesn't feel like it right now, when faced with his inexperience. He's not a soldier, not like the rest of them, and Cody might not know him very well – yet – but he already knows that he would do anything to keep Anakin safe, even if it means giving him lessons on strategy every spare second that they get.
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