Absolute darkness was disrupted by a faint purple glow of the blade nearing his neck. A pitiful whine got extracted from him as a ruthless force crushed his arm. Fives had to swallow his pride but as he did, a sharp knife grazed his throat. Heavy, crimson droplets ran down his skin while new ones dripped onto his forehead. He pleadingly raised his eyes, praying to the universe for release. The galaxy didn't seem to find any shred of compassion for his existence as, instead of mercy, more drops hit his skin in the bloody downpour. But he wasn't alone, no. Dozer's empty gaze bore into his eyes and Fives was certain it wasn't going to leave his side. Fives couldn't move anymore, every sense overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. A deafening throb of his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Metallic taste in his mouth. And the suffocating odour of blood.
Cold water splashed over his face, washing the reminiscents of the nightmare away.
Fives turned down the tap. He didn't want to think about the dream, nor did he have time for it. Everything that had happened in that base was in the past now and should stay that way. The memories coming back to haunt him at night were just a plain malfunction. A defect that made him already ten minutes late.
His shower was quick as he was working against the clock. Yet, Fives couldn't simply run out of the barracks and agree to whatever looks he was left with after a restless night. He especially cared about his appearance that day - even more than he was willing to admit. He tried to combine precision with speed but the more he was hasting the more his mistakes were slowing him down. A droplet of blood ran down his cheek when the razor staggered in his wavering hold; the jacket he donned didn't fit well until he noticed it was inside-out. Fives nearly crashed into a group of brothers as he rushed out of the barracks, at this point too afraid to even glance at the chrono.
It wasn't until he had taken his seat on a speed train that Fives allowed himself a calming breath. The machine shot forward with a piercing whistle, only to halt abruptly at the next station. Fives watched with irritation at the slowly entering passengers, using every ounce of willpower not to groan as an old Rodian couldn't decide whether it was the right train to take. Fives' arms crossed over his chest and his foot started tapping impatiently on the flooring. He wished he could just magically teleport himself. Or at least go back in time two hours, when after a night spent fighting nightmares, his mind simply couldn't switch on at the alarm's ringing. It just had to happen today when he was meeting Ahsoka.
501st had returned to Coruscant only two days ago and, against Fives' prediction, troopers had actually been given a few days' leave. Ahsoka was quick to gather that information and even quicker to reach out to Fives and remind him of the agreed appointment. Ever since they set the date, Fives had been constantly elated and not even the phantom feeling of Lester's blood haunting him at night could take that away from him.
It was nearly noon and the closer he got to the city centre, the more people filled the compartment. Fives had used the annoyingly long ride to compose his apology to Ahsoka and was now replaying the speech in his mind, thinking of different cadences and trying to imagine her response. He knew she wouldn't say anything mean or get mad - that's just how she was. But Fives would rather she cursed him, especially since she had every right to do so. Greeting his teeth as hard as his stomach was clenched, Fives darted a glance at the chrono. Twelve ten hours. He really kept her waiting for forty minutes already and had still two more stations to go. The meeting hadn't even started and he'd already managed to kriff it up.
As soon as the doors slid open, Fives leapt off onto the crowded platform, frantically looking around in search of blue-white montrals. He fervently hoped that Ahsoka hadn't left yet, though he wouldn't hold any grudges if she did. He pushed past people till he got to the less cramped rear part of the station, where he finally spotted her. Fives thought that the moment he found Ahsoka, he would immediately run to her, just to not keep her waiting any longer. But the sight of his love made his feet halt in place.
Heavy exhale left his lips as his eyes slowly took her in. Ahsoka was sitting on a bench with stretched-out legs and hands hidden inside the jacket's pockets. Even though he was standing a good few metres away, and Ahsoka was looking ahead, Fives could see her serene expression and noticed how her foot swayed in her own rhythm. Kriff, had he missed her. He traced her silhouette from the tips of her montrals where a new brown headpiece lay, down her striped lekku, which were already reaching her waist.
But then, as if stirred by the intensity of his stare, Ahsoka glanced in his direction and immediately a huge grin flashed across her lips. Flustered by being caught like that, Fives forced his legs to move. The train on the platform next to him shot forward and Fives hoped that the strong gust of wind would blow away the blush that had risen to his cheeks. By the time he ran up to Ahsoka, the girl was already on her feet. His mind was still hazy from the sheer sight of her, and the gorgeous smile she was wearing definitely wasn't helping, but Fives tried to get it together and voice the apologies she so deserved to hear.
"Standing me up on our first date?" Ahsoka said before he could start his speech. There was a smirk on her lips and cheekiness in her voice but still the word 'date' managed to baffle Fives and made his heart stutter.
"I'm so sorry for making you wait." He said weakly through a fast-beating heart, sending all his prior preparations to hell.
"It's fine." Ahsoka replied easily, thereby confirming every estimate he had about her. "Worth the wait. Shall we?" She asked with a tilt of her head.
Fives led them out of the station and down the suburbs, away from the city centre and its crowds. Walking through calmer districts, they had some time to catch up. Fives was asking about her enforced vacation at the Temple to which Ahsoka gladly replied, sharing very detailed stories. Though most of these featured her attempts to violate healers' orders or receiving punishments once she succeeded in getting away.
"Are you on a run right now too?" Fives teased. "Should I watch out for Guards?"
"Of course not. Look - all healed." She said proudly, flexing her abilities by spinning around on her left foot. A chuckle left Fives' lips at her act. "Though I may want to use your service to carry me if you're intending on walking the entire city. How much further till the cantina?"
"Not much." He replied lightly.
"Precise as always." She rolled her eyes.
The road got narrow so Fives walked one step ahead, leading the way. He didn't have to think much about where he was going - despite not being a very frequent visitor to the cantina, he had spent enough self-pity parties there to remember the path. While the 79's was a great spot to either drink your sorrows away with brothers or celebrate successes, Fives sometimes needed a space for himself alone and a small cantina proved to be the perfect place. No liquor nor music reverberating in his bones - just sugary pastries and a dark caf. Ahsoka was actually the first person he was going to show the place to. Yet, ever since their arrangement, Fives had never once had second thoughts or regrets. Sharing this next side of him felt right and he had no doubts she'd love the venue.
"You sure it's the right place?" Ahsoka asked with a great dose of scepticism. They'd entered a less well-maintained area and admittedly the buildings weren't as encouraging as the ones on the higher levels. "Looks more like somewhere you could get your organs sold." Fives had to hold back his laughter; he could almost see the way she wrinkled her nose by the sound of her voice. Instead, he looked at her over his shoulder and asked mysteriously.
"And how did you think I found it in the first place?"
"Oh, that clears so much out." Ahsoka said as if all the pieces that she had been trying to put together for years had finally come together. "So, how much did you get for your brain?"
"Twice as much you'd get for yours." He retorted and heard a huff from behind his back.
"I'm not the one who- Ah!" Ahsoka couldn't finish her riposte because of the overly bold step that her injured leg was apparently not ready for.
Despite Ahsoka's assurance, her limb wasn't completely fine and now has collapsed under her weight. Fives' instincts were quick; he turned just in time to stop the girl from falling to the ground by swinging his arm around her waist. Ahsoka instinctively tightened her hand on his bicep for balance but she seemed to immediately lose it again as she locked eyes with Fives who happened to be so close.
"Not so healed after all, huh?" Fives murmured, without letting go of her nor looking away.
He was smirking, anticipating a cheeky retort from her side but none came as a breath hitched in her throat. It was a rising blush to her chevrons that made him realise that no reply was going to leave her parted lips. His heartbeat quickened and a smile faded from his face but their eyes remained locked in each other's gaze.
Fives had no idea what internal willpower forced him to get back to reality but after awkwardly clearing his throat, he slowly pulled away. He withdrew his arm from her waist but kept close until he'd made sure Ahsoka was standing steadily again. She fixed the sleeve of her jacket that had slipped off her shoulder.
"Just two more corners til the cantina." He assured, at which Ahsoka nodded silently. From now on she seemed more interested in the surrounding architecture, promptly avoiding his gaze.
Fives' words weren't just kind encouragement - they did reach the right alley within a few minutes. Although the neighbourhood didn't improve much and Fives noticed the uncertain looks Ahsoka was sending at the battered walls and the signs that hung on sheer willpower. He halted before one that looked admittedly better, at least in comparison to the surrounding competition. The name "Gold-dine" glittered slightly on the old board; Fives smiled at the sign, which he could only believe was really once written in gold lettering. The name was a wink to mine workers, who made up the majority of customers due to the location.
"Ladies first." Fives pulled the door open and let Ahsoka in. She sent him a quick smile before getting past the threshold and under the ringing bell.
The jingling hadn't yet quieted when Ahsoka stopped mid-stride, looking around the establishment, which in no way resembled the exterior. It was far from fancy restaurants on the Surface, literally and figuratively, but the simple furniture and long bar counter bathed in multicoloured lighting made it really unique. He could tell that Ahsoka was more than enraptured by the sight of the hundreds of lights hanging from the ceiling, as her head kept turning to watch the colourful spots projected onto the leather couches. Fives was no longer surprised by the decor, but immediately smelled the sweetness in the air and felt warmth spreading in his chest at the familiarity of the place.
"You've got the nerve to show up here again." A low voice sounded from behind the bar. An elder Keteerian pushed the counter doors, not caring about the rumble it caused. His dark eyes were fixed on Fives as he slowly approached them. "Haven't seen you so long already thought you forgot 'bout me."
"Come on, Rhoro. How could I forget the best pastry in the whole system?" Fives replied dashingly, flashing his best grin.
"Bastard. I hoped you'd miss me for more reasons than food." He grumbled but heartfully patted Fives' shoulder in a half-hug he trapped him in. "And who's that companion of yours?" Rhoro turned to the girl who had been watching the display with a warm smile.
"Ahsoka." She greeted him politely. "And I can confirm that food is indeed high in Fives' value hierarchy."
The man laughed wholeheartedly, his shoulders were shaking and Fives along with them as he was still stuck under Keteerian's arm.
"Fives! How come you've never brought her here before?"
"Yeah, Fives. How come you've never brought me here before?" Ahsoka teased; her eyes lit up immediately and a mischievous smirk appeared on her lips.
"Act nicely or I won't again." He threatened after he managed to get out of the tight hold.
"Go take a place." Rhoro shut his ears to Fives' comment; a testimony of the fact that they knew each other quite well and such remarks weren't impressing him anymore. "I'll be back in a minute."
Fives led Ahsoka to the booth at the corner. The place was quite packed at this hour so no one really paid any attention to them as they traversed the room.
"I didn't know you had such connections." Ahsoka remarked after they slipped into seats opposite each other. "How many times have you been here to get Rhoro on your side?"
"What are you talking about? My charm is irresistible from the first glance." He spread his arms on the backrest, sending her a charming smile.
"Over three years now and it still hasn't gotten to me."
"No?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, fighting the smirk that threatened to appear on his lips. "So how come we're on a date?"
Ahsoka's mouth opened immediately as if to throw a retort but after a moment of silence fell closed. "You got me." She conceded and Fives was about to boast that he won this round but then she spoke up again. "I'm completely smitten by you."
He knew it was just a joke, they always were. But his stupid heart couldn't cooly accept that fact and was now raving in his chest. "Figured." Fives replied, struggling for a nonchalant manner.
"So." Ahsoka said casually, apparently not aware that he was close to having a heart attack. "How often were you coming here to get Rhoro under your spell too?"
"'ve been visiting the place for a year now." Fives replied, still trying to even out his breathing. "Whenever 501st stations on Corrie for more than a day." He liked the occasional break from the barracks and most of the time Fives had no problem running around Corrie disguised in anything other than his armour. "Gold-dine" was no different. At least for the first few times. After a couple of longer conversations by the bar with Rhoro, the owner put the two together and figured out who Fives was. But he was one of those exceptional people who actually saw Clones as sentient beings. That fact only made Fives even more comfortable in the establishment and his visits to the cantina became as frequent as possible. It might have sounded pathetic, but Rhoro was one of the few people he considered a friend and was in no way linked to the GAR. Fives intended to maintain that acquaintance. "He's a good guy. Knows who I am and still treats me as sentient. Kinda rare." He admitted, but without bitterness.
"However awful it sounds to have to look just for a decent person, I'm really happy you've found someone like that." She answered with a kind smile. Right now Fives was happy the galaxy bestowed him with someone like Ahsoka. He was so distracted by the girl and her words that hadn't noticed Rhoro's presence until the Keteerian spoke up.
"The usual?" Rhoro turned to Fives, inquiring about his order but it was merely a question.
"What can I say?" He shrugged one shoulder. "I'm a man of tradition."
"I'll risk trusting Fives' taste and take the same."
"A brave one, huh?" Rhoro huffed a laugh. "Alright. Drinks? Alcohol only after three." He forestalled Fives with a knowing look.
"Just caf then." Fives chuckled. "You?" He asked Ahsoka.
"Tea, please."
Rhoro's orange fingers tapped some more on a datapad's screen to finish placing their order before walking away. Once the man was out of their earshot, Fives turned to Ahsoka. "Tea?" He asked suspiciously, raising his eyebrows.
"Too much time with Master Kenobi." She explained with a shrug of her shoulders under his surprised look. Fives then nodded understandingly.
"Cody's the same way." Fives said, recalling times he spent in 212th. "But don't try implanting this habit in five-oh-first." He warned her. "I like it the way it is with the common addiction to the absurdly big amount of consumed caf."
"Ah yes, the two most signature signs of 501st - colour blue and caf addiction." Ahsoka admitted in an almost spiritual way before regaining her natural tone. "Think about it this way, common rehab would also be something to bond over."
"Maybe," He admitted slowly. "But when would we hold meetings for addicts? We already have sabback Primedays and movie evenings every Taungsday." He reasoned with fake concern at which Ahsoka just rolled her eyes. "Besides, you don't wanna deal with a legion of irritated, caffeine-starved troopers."
"Maybe you're right." She yielded unusually fast. "You haven't started your rehab yet and you're already annoying."
Fives burst out laughing, a grin on his lips as he replied with a slight tease. "Yeah, I missed you too."
"Never said I didn't miss you." Ahsoka replied with a smile. "Ah right, that reminded me; how did the mission go?" She accosted briskly. "I've heard so much praise about you, but, out of the goodness of my heart, I'll let you brag some more." She sent him a smirk.
"It…went well." Fives nodded tightly and swallowed hard. He didn't want to come back to this particular memory. Not now. Not ever. Displeased, he suspected Ahsoka wouldn't believe in his modesty and was likely to drag the topic. Thankfully an old droid appeared by the table with their drinks, allowing Fives to swiftly change the subject. "Have you already packed your bags for Mantessa?"
"Sure. Ten raincoats and pink wellingtons." Ahsoka joked, though, with the conditions prevailing on the planet, it would've actually been a wise decision. "Sorry, I don't have anything your size. But I can get you an umbrella if you want?" She took to stirring her tea after sipping two spoons of sugar.
"That'd be really thoughtful of you." He replied sweetly.
It was sudden to send Torrent onto the next campaign right after merely returning from another, but as long as Ahsoka was also assigned, Fives wasn't going to complain. Besides, in comparison to Hoth's harsh weather, some rain seemed like a pleasant reward - they certainly could, and had done, worse.
As they talked, a couple more people entered the cantina, making it nearly full. Had they come a few minutes later, Fives would have had trouble finding free seats, even with the leverage he had with Rhoro. There was an overall chatter and clink of mugs but not enough to disturb the conversation with the person at the table. However, the inside of the cantina was getting warmer, making Fives' jacket redundant. He slipped the garment off his shoulders and placed it on the seat next to him. He reached out a hand for his drink but was stopped midway as a sienna palm landed on his forearm.
"What's that?" Ahsoka's index finger brushed the inside of his arm below the elbow, over the black marking ornamenting his skin. "I've never seen this one." She said pensively as she stared at the tattooed Aurebesh letters, tracing their outline with her fingertips.
Well, Fives hadn't seen that coming. He needed a few seconds to get over the feeling of her sudden touch and collect himself enough to form a coherent response.
"It's quite new." He cleared his throat and replied, though still a bit hoarsely. Ahsoka must have caught his uneven tone because she reflected on herself and took the hand away.
"I like it." Ahsoka stated simply but he knew it was sincere. "What other tattoos do you have?" She asked, apparently not embarrassed enough to drop the topic entirely.
Fives tapped his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "This five on my temple." He indicated the mark with a tap of his finger.
"No way! How could I miss that?" Her eyes grew larger and her lips fell agape in shock. But then in a flash, her face returned to a calm expression. "I mean the ones that aren't on display." She said evenly and went back to stirring her tea.
"Are you asking me to take off my clothes?" Fives asked coquettishly, raising one eyebrow. "I don't do that until at least a second date." He teased, kinda hoping to admire a blush coming to her face at his comment but to his surprise, Ahsoka didn't seem abashed one bit.
"Guy with principles, hm?" She rested her chin on her palm with a smug smile. "Have it your way. Second date doesn't seem that far off, anyway."
Fives' mouth had gone completely dry but he couldn't even reach for his caf as his whole body was frozen in astonishment. He had no idea how to answer that and even if a retort had come to his mind, he would've been too afraid to voice it as his last comment had backfired and burned his collar. He felt a blush escaping from under his shirt and knew he wouldn't be able to hide it beneath the jacket which lay neatly beside him. For the second time that day, the droid turned out to be his saviour as it now placed plates with a loud clatter. Fives was a soldier, he knew that terrible feeling of half-starvation after feeding on ration bars. However, he had never in his life taken to a meal as quickly as he did now, and he wasn't even particularly hungry.
The rest of the dinner went on smoothly in a great atmosphere. Thankfully Ahsoka didn't say or do anything that would evoke his arrhythmia so he was able to enjoy this meal in peace. Perhaps it was the food that distracted her from teasing him as she marvelled over each bite she took.
"Can you wait for me for a sec?" Fives asked her once they both cleared their plates. "I wanted to say goodbye to Rhoro."
"Sure." Ahsoka said easily. "I'll be outside."
Fives squeezed out from the booth and walked to the centre of the cantina. Rhoro was busy preparing drinks at the bar but once he spotted Fives approaching, he asked a Rodian waiter to take over so he could move from behind the counter.
"I gather you'll share some stories next time?" The man asked with hands folded over his chest.
"Even more than I already have." Fives assured with a grin.
"Well, the old ones you omitted 'bout the girl seem good enough to me."
Fives jerked slightly. "Omitted? There's just nothing to talk about." His hand mindlessly went to his neck as he looked away from the Keteerian's wrinkled face. Fives rebuked himself mentally and grimaced - his body language probably only confirmed everything he tried to deny.
But frankly, it didn't matter what Rhoro made of their specific relationship. Fives trusted the man and it wasn't like he would file any complaint to the GAR. Rhoro had no idea Ahsoka was a Jedi, or his Commander for that matter. He must've assumed she was just someone he met during one of his leaves on Corrie. Fives wished things were that simple. "We're just friends." He summed up truthfully.
"Whatever you say." Keteerian waved his hand but his tone suggested he didn't believe this crap one bit. "Good to know you do have some company. You were always coming alone so I started thinking you're some loser or something."
Fives snorted at this confession. "So what? You talked to me out of pity? I thought our friendship was authentic." He said dramatically and placed his hand over his heart.
"Sure, kid." The man huffed out a raspy laugh. "For real now, hope to see you sooner than last time. See you both." Rhoro nodded towards the street outside where Ahsoka was crouching on the pavement, playing with a stray Tooka with the strap of her jacket. "I like her." Rhoro stated simply. Fives' eyes followed the man's gaze to the window and he couldn't help but smile. Yeah, me too, Fives thought to himself.
"Stay well, Rhoro. Till the next one." Fives exchanged a firm handshake with the man for the last time and left to join Ahsoka.
When he pulled the door open, the bell rang resonantly, causing Ahsoka to turn in his direction and startling the small Tooka away. Fives began to wonder what would happen next, what he was supposed to do. Should he offer to walk her back to the station? It was still quite early but they never settled the exact schedule for the day. The plan included dinner and that's what they did. But what if she'd interpret it as him having enough of her? He had already messed up the opening of their meeting, he didn't want to ruin the ending too.
Before Fives managed to open his mouth, Ahsoka spoke up.
"Come on, I've planned something too." She said and not waiting for his response, she moved ahead.
Fives tried inquiring where she was taking him but Ahsoka didn't spill even a hint during either a twenty-minute walk or a speed-train drive.
"Does it count as abduction?" He asked when he lost his sense of direction after mindlessly following Ahsoka for such a long time. "Cause I can openly inform you that ransom won't work - Jesse has already spent his credits on a limited sabacc deck and I'm pretty sure Rex wouldn't be particularly crushed by this loss."
"Don't worry, I already knew that. Just- trust me; you're gonna like this."
He did.
A huge neon sign board flashed his eyes as they stopped in front of the arcade. Even from behind the closed doors, he could hear the music's rumbling. When they entered the building, Fives got almost blinded by the number of neons shining from every direction. Each game machine was flashing in its own rhythm and colour, emanating bright glows and reverberating different melodies. But there was one sound that was exceptionally unmatched and made Fives frown.
"What's with the wailing?" He asked and his mouth twitched at the particularly hurtful note.
"That," Ahsoka smirked, pointing at the opposite corner of the hall. "Is the object of our competition."
Fives followed the direction of Ahsoka's finger and noticed a small stage on which a tipsy Trandoshan tried to follow the words displayed on the screen. The only people not running away from the karaoke right now was a group of other Reptilians whose chants were broken by rounds of laughter.
"Well, look at you." Fives folded his arms over his chest as his full of approbation gaze fell on Ahsoka. "Planning everything so thoroughly. I hope you prepared song for your performance as well cause ain't no way I'm losing it."
"We'll see about that." She replied smugly.
And so it was on. They took turns choosing games and with each one, they picked more wicked ones to take advantage of the other's weaknesses. Starting from firing with fake guns, through car racing to the basketball automat. With each round, they were becoming more and more competitive. In the beginning, they went head to head, winning the games of their own choosing. However, after a severe loss on his part at board skating, it was hard to get back into the lead and whatever upper hand he managed to gain, it was quickly wiped out by Ahsoka. By the time he could level the score, it was the final match and his turn to choose.
"I didn't want to resort to such measures but you leave me no choice." Fives said solemnly, in contrast with the cheerful melody sounding from behind him. "It's a dance-off." The flashy machine flared with thousand colours which illuminated two sets of tiles on the dancefloor.
"What makes you think I can't handle it?" Ahsoka asked boldly with her arms crossed over her chest. The rebellious spark in her eyes was competing with pinkish lights reflected from the surrounding neons.
"The life experience." He replied deadpan. "I've seen your attempts at your so-called dancing." He folded his arms as well after making air quotes with his fingers.
"Is that so?" She drawled, raising one eye marking. "Fine. Then show me how a pro does it."
When they both placed their feet on the starting panel, the music changed and the countdown began. Fives was confident, his mind started preparing the acceptance speech before they even started. But his hopes went crashing down as he quickly realised that the match on an automat wasn't really much about rhythm or swag but more about reflexes and coordination. And at these Ahsoka excelled. She could swiftly follow the steps displayed in front of them and, while she may have looked more like in one of her balance workouts rather than dancing, she never once slipped. The ending screen with her points doubling his, was just an unnerving confirmation of what he had become aware of after the first minute of the match. Fives tried to look for a hole in their agreement to invalidate the impending penalty or propose an extra time to at least postpone it, but Ahsoka was quicker.
"Come on, my Dancing Star." She teased him with a teeth-showing grin. "You can flex your skills with a bigger audience."
Fives really had no desire to perform, but he knew there was no point in negotiating a punishment, and any complaints he voiced would only fuel Ahsoka's mockery later. If he really had to do this, he was gonna go all in. Without her further encouragement, he stepped onto the platform and tapped the mic which screeched loudly, confirming its readiness. Fives cleared his throat to get ready as well.
"Attention please," He said clearly in an even voice. "speeder with the registration number XVS 903 is blocking the entrance. The owner is requested to move it immediately. Thank you." He finished and proceeded to leave the stage. Fives had caught a few baffled gazes at his announcement but Ahsoka's told him that she wasn't buying that either. "All right all right, I'm going." He conceded and turned to the screen to select a song.
The first notes of Upmoon Funk reverberated from the speaker and his body automatically began moving to the groove. He was very familiar with the song as he and Tup would often execute their own interpretation after a few drinks. Maybe a glass of whiskey wouldn't be such a bad idea now either. But when he looked into Ahsoka's eyes full of admiration, he knew there was no better confidence boost. And no drug was more addictive. Fives didn't devote a single thought to what others were thinking, the only person whose opinion he cared about was Ahsoka and with her loud cheering he couldn't worry less. He was getting more and more relaxed and could forget about the displayed lyrics as words left his mouth on their own. Where his vocal skills couldn't keep up, he made up for it with his moves by spinning around or sending flying kisses in her direction which made Ahsoka cheer even louder.
After one verse, a chorus and his dramatic pose, Fives decided it was enough and left the stage allowing the rest of the song to play without his voice's disturbance. Energetic clapping greeted him once he stepped back onto the floor.
"Whoa Fives! Can I have an autograph?" Ahsoka begged in an enthusiastic voice. "Please sign my arm."
"I'm a singer not a writer." He remarked, doing a gesture of flipping the fringe he didn't have. Ahsoka burst into giggles and Fives joined her, finally being able to let out the laughter he'd been restraining for the whole performance. He was so preoccupied with Ahsoka that he didn't notice a few Twi'leks whose sultry gazes followed him till the exit.
When they left the arcade it was already dusk, and with his cheeks heated, Fives felt the chilly wind even more intensely. They walked down the bridge, coming in and out of shadow as they passed the evenly spaced street lights. The already closed stalls and shops stretched along the entire avenue while a glowing city with its bustling roads peeked at them from behind the metal railing. But unlike the fast-paced lifestyle on Corrie, their stride was slow. Fives was aware of each brush of their shoulders and even more mindful of the fact that Ahsoka had plenty of space on her left and still didn't care to widen the gap between them.
"You were actually really good, tho." She said once Fives finished complaining about her rigged competition.
"Shut up." He nudged her in the ribs, which was barely an effort given their proximity.
"No, I'm serious!" Ahsoka opposed and smacked him lightheartedly on the shoulder. "How come I've never heard you sing before?"
"Cause you're not in the 79's often enough." Fives said playfully but in fact, that wasn't far from the truth. Neither Skywalker nor Rex had been too happy about letting her to the club when she was younger and even now that Ahsoka was an adult, her tight schedule didn't leave many opportunities for tagging along and partying. And on the rare occasions she was there, the men were more clear-headed to not let the Commander see them from the bad side.
"So you mean this wasn't your debut?" Ahsoka slowed her stride even more until she came to a halt. Her back pressed against the railing, her elbows propped on the bannister and she looked at him with a smirk. "I knew these moves were way too precise."
"Don't be so cheeky. Next time I can be the winner and you'll end up as a celebrity." Fives remarked, mirroring her pose but with his face directed at the illuminated streets below.
"Actually it still could've been me today. You hadn't used your wish, remember?"
The answer to this question wasn't as easy as one would think. With the recent events, he didn't really think about his prize from the bet, especially since the concept was still a troublesome one. "Ah, yes. The wish." He tried to express any emotion besides the one he felt.
"You can't blackmail me with it forever, you know that, right?"
"It's good to have leverage on you." Fives avoided her gaze, tracing the yellow speeder dashing along the lower road.
"You'll have to look for another then." She said resolutely, the smile on her face not faltering one bit.
"There are many options to think through-" He dragged out lamely, hopelessly wishing she would let it go.
"Oh, don't tell me you don't know what to ask for." Ahsoka cut in, drawing his gaze to her face. "I'm sure you already have something in mind." She tried encouraging him but Fives supposed he looked as unconvinced as he felt because Ahsoka huffed lightly. "Come on." She drawled the word, pressing further as he silently stared at her. "It's your wish. Do whatever you want with it."
Do whatever you want. Ahsoka said it with such ease. As if it was the simplest thing in the galaxy. But Fives rarely was able to act as he pleased. He never had many life choices to make; everything was planned and coded beforehand, without space for such rubbish as his desires. This whole day was like being cut out of reality. He got a taste of what it would feel like to have a more ordinary life - away from the battlefield and constraints pinned to his lab-grown bones. But however Fives treasured such moments, he never demanded anything above that. He took what was given with gratitude, never having the nerve to reach for something that wasn't meant for him.
And here Ahsoka was, telling him to do what he wanted.
Fives knew what it was. Enough time had passed to embrace and name his heart's desires. Enough time to make him exhausted from restraining his yearning, keeping on a leash his wandering thoughts. He just wanted to be with her. In whatever aspect he was allowed, however she would let him. He understood and followed the order of things. Until now.
Ahsoka was looking expectantly at him, seemingly trying to read what was going through his mind. Her eyes were bright, emanating warmth and kindness in which he could so easily drown. But now Fives' gaze fell lower at the full, round lips. Chest burning, he took a deeper breath. His hand clenched tightly around the railing as if his own body was trying to stop him from what the heart was set on. Fives leaned to Ahsoka and without a moment's hesitation, he pressed his lips to her left montral. He heard her sudden inhale but she didn't move away. They were so close that Fives could almost hear the fast rhythm of her heartbeat and briefly wondered if she could hear his.
But Fives realised he was calm. It felt so right to be this close to her. For once he acted like there were no expectations from either of them. As if they were just ordinary people, not a commander and soldier. Like he could show her how he felt for her without risking shattering everything into pieces. He only hoped the shatters won't be too fragile to put them back together, nor their edges too sharp.
After pressing his mouth slightly tad firmer, he very slowly, and reluctantly, pulled away. "As for my wish…" He said quietly with lips merely millimetres from her montral. "Just forget the last ten seconds." Heart swelling, Fives stepped back, his body tense. It pained to move away from her but he was also afraid to face both her and the consequences. Because no matter where, no matter when, the reality couldn't be escaped from.
His eyes tentatively slid down to meet hers. Ahsoka was staring at him with what he could name as pure astonishment. Her lips parted for a long moment of silence before she took a shallow breath.
"Fives-"
"Just forget, ok?" He quickly broke into her sentence, sounding even weaker than he expected. "A wish is a wish, right?" Fives tried to banter but it ended up nowhere near as his voice was layered with heartache.
Even though both his sentences ended in questions, Ahsoka didn't reply. Her lips were now pressed together and eye markings furrowed as she studied him with a concerned expression. Fives couldn't bear her penetrating gaze. He quickly turned his head to the side, determined to look anywhere but at her. His heart hammered in his ribcage and a shudder ran down his spine.
"It's gotten cold, huh?" He said quietly while shrugging off the trembling and crossing his arms but the truth was that the wind was nowhere as acute as Ahsoka's gaze. He leaned his back against the railing and nervously shoved his hands inside his jacket's pockets. Ahsoka didn't move an inch, still standing with an unreadable expression.
"Yeah." She finally replied in a broken whisper. "It has." Fives have experienced pain but nothing compared to this moment. Each breath burned with living fire, chest hurting as if pierced with a thousand shards and he had no idea how to fix it. "We should get back."
"I'll walk you." He offered uncertainly and after a moment Ahsoka gave him a small nod. As much as he was terrified by her silence, it was a relief she didn't oppose.
The whole way to the station, all Fives could think about was the fact of how spectacularly he kriffed things up. All the wonderful moments they'd shared that day seemed so distant. The distance was reflected in their moves as they walked at least one metre afar, without their regular shoulder bumps or playful nudges. Something he took for granted suddenly vanished. As programmed as a clone's life may seem, years have passed since he felt life was straightforward. And in the middle of the karking mess surrounding him, the comfort he derived from Ahsoka's presence was one of the few things that kept him sane. Now his stupid brain decided to smash that pillar with a hammer. And all he was supposed to do was not kiss her. Simple as that.
Fives hated the stillness between them, he hated the stiffness of her movements and the tense posture as she almost cautiously took a seat beside him on the subway. Why the kriff did he do that? Everything was going so well till he decided to throw it away for a selfish desire. In horror, Fives thought that he should get used to this heavy silence between them cause he didn't see any possibility of going back to how things were. The prospect made his eyes sting but before he could dwell for too long in the terrifying vision, the train stopped with a yank.
The temperature has dropped even further and the streets have become completely deserted. Fives accompanied Ahsoka as far to the Temple as he could, certain that around the next corner, he'd be held back by the Guards. They stopped in the middle of an empty street, staring at their own shadows cast by the nearby lantern. So this was it. They will each turn in their own direction, carrying the weight of his wish. Fives wanted to say something, scream or beg. Anything. The only thought that was restraining him from letting the words out of his mouth was the fear of making the situation even worse. As if somehow it was possible.
Ahsoka moved first. She turned her head towards the Temple, shifting enough to let the lantern's light fall upon her features. There was a crease between her eye markings and a conflicted look in her eyes. It took her two more calming breaths to make up her mind.
"Fives- Wait." She said firmly even though he didn't move an inch. But before he could question her demand, Ahsoka made two swift steps to close the separating them distance. Her palm rested on his shoulder as she climbed on her toes and pressed her lips against his cheekbone. "This one's for me to remember." Her voice was as soft as her lips when they brushed against his skin while she spoke.
As soon as it happened, it all ended. The feel of her lips and the pressure of her palm as she leaned on him was gone. Ahsoka made a step backwards and only then did she pluck up enough courage to look him in the eye. Fives guessed she wasn't very relieved by the utter astonishment on his face as he froze in sheer disbelief but she managed an embarrassed smile despite warmth spreading fervently on her cheeks and lekku.
"I'll… see you on Mantessa." Ahsoka said gently. She clasped hands behind her back, her shoulders rising in a cute manner. Ahsoka didn't wait for Fives' answer which was probably a good call since he could barely breathe, not to choke a word out. She turned on her heel and with a slight bounce in her step, moved towards the Temple.
Minutes passed before Fives' soul came back to his body, but that still didn't make him move. He was standing like a complete di'kut - staring at the place she already left, feeling the lips that were long gone. A speeder bike screeched past him, bringing him back to reality. But nothing felt even remotely realistic right now. Fives shook his shoulders and blinked his eyes away from their last focus point. He wasn't sure his legs were still able to walk but after the first few wobbly steps, he was on his way to the station.
The compartment was nearly empty. Fives fell onto the nearest seat and let his head bump against the window. The richly illuminated city flashed by but with the lights from inside the train reflecting off the glass, it was impossible to admire the view. Fives didn't care. He closed his eyes, holding dearly onto the feeling of soft lips against his cheek.
A swift swoosh accompanied his ride as the train streaked across the Coruscant's surface. Fives only wished the ride could last longer as he replayed past events in his head over and over again.