INT. BARRACKS - SPACE

Fives and Hardcase sit on the floor of the barracks playing sabacc. Other 501st troopers watch from the sides and on the bunks.

FIVES
You're bluffing!

HARDCASE
Am not!

Rex runs inside, yelling.

REX
The 212th are here!

Some of the troopers grab their gear and run out of the barracks. Hardcase puts down his cards.

HARDCASE
I'm out. Gonna go see Waxer and Boil.

Hardcase runs out of the barracks. Rex looks down at Fives.

REX
Where's Echo?

FIVES
(shrugs)
I dunno.

REX
The Generals are having a private party and you're both invited. So is Echo.

FIVES
A private party?

REX
Cody will be there, too.

FIVES
What about the Commander?

REX
The General had special training for her that she hasn't finished yet.

FIVES
(smirks)
So the General wanted an all boys night?

REX
(chuckles)
Probably.

Fives stands up and follows Rex out the door.

INT. LOUNGE - HYPERSPACE

Rex and Fives walk into a secret lounge. It's a very cozy room that has four couches surrounding a giant caf table. Obi Wan and Anakin sit on one couch. Cody sits with Echo.

REX
I didn't know the Resolute had a secret lounge.

FIVES
You've never been here?

REX
No.

FIVES
(cracks knuckles)
I've been here loads of times.

Rex gives Fives a concerned look. Fives wanders off to sit by Echo and Cody. Rex follows him. Anakin stands up.

ANAKIN
Well, since we're all here, I'd like to welcome Obi Wan back on board the Resolute.

Anakin raises a glass towards Obi Wan. He raises his glass back.

ANAKIN
I was thinking we could play a game since we'll be in hyperspace for a while.

Some "ooh's" and "hmm's" echo around the room.

ANAKIN
It's called Empire. We each write down a word and put it in this bucket. Then I read the words out loud.

Anakin walks around handing out old fashioned paper and pens.

ANAKIN
Your goal is to guess someone's word, and you become team members if you're correct.

OBI WAN
Any type of word?

ANAKIN
Any word. And you should try to sound like someone else in the room to throw them off.

OBI WAN
Hmm.

FIVES
This doesn't sound too bad.

ANAKIN
Okay, I'll take your words now.

Anakin walks around the circle collecting the words.

ANAKIN
I'll read them out loud. Your words are: 501st, Cody, high ground, passion, and datapad. Rex you start.

Rex looks around the room. Fives leans forward and blurts out.

FIVES
Who had passion?

ANAKIN
You can't ask yet it's not your turn.

REX
Cody, was your word datapad?

CODY
No.

ANAKIN
Now it's Cody's turn.

ECHO
Wait, who had passion though?

CODY
Passion is such a suave word.

Fives and Echo give Cody a look. Fives crosses his arms.

FIVES
I wanna know said passion.

Fives, Echo, and Cody all turn to Rex at the same time. Naturally, Obi Wan and Anakin all turn to look at him, too. Rex gets defensive, with a what-did-I-do look on his face.

REX
It's not my word!

ANAKIN
Uh, are we done playing this round? Because that's not how-

FIVES
-Are we allowed to use such suggestive words, General?

Rex's mouth hands agape. Anakin stumbles for words.

ANAKIN
Uh... There aren't really rules about that...

REX
It wasn't my word, though!

OBI WAN
Fives, I don't see why Rex is the obvious person to have written that down. If anyone, I would think it was you.

FIVES
It wasn't me.

Obi Wan narrows his eyes, thinking.

ANAKIN
This isn't how the game is played.

CODY
Are you suggesting that Rex is passionate about someone and that's why he wrote that word down?

REX
(stands up)
I DIDN'T WRITE THAT WORD DOWN!

Cody sinks deeper into the couch, looking slightly terrified.

FIVES
(stands up)
Well, no one else if fessing up!

Rex crosses the room and grabs Fives by the collar. Fives leans in closer and smirks.

REX
This is hardly the time or the place.

Rex throws him backwards onto the couch and storms out the door. Everyone sits in an awkward silence.

Echo breaks the silence by grabbing Fives by the ear and dragging him out the door after Rex.

INT. RESOLUTE HALLWAYS - CONTINUOUS

Echo pushes Fives up against the wall, letting go of his ear.

ECHO
What did you do?

FIVES
I...

ECHO
It was your word, wasn't it?

FIVES
Yes, it was.

ECHO
Why did you do that to the Captain?

FIVES
He doesn't even realize.

ECHO
Realize what?

FIVES
(gives Echo a look)
You know.

ECHO
So what? Why did you tease him in front of everyone? That's never acceptable.

FIVES
I'm sorry, Echo! I just wish he'd wake up and smell the caf. He loves her and he doesn't even know it!

ECHO
Love!? And you need to apologize to Rex.

FIVES
Fine. Should I also mention how he's in love with the Commander?

ECHO
No. He needs to learn that on his own, if it's true.

Fives stands up straight and nudges Echo away.

FIVES
Oh, I know I'm right about this.

Echo gives him a look.

FIVES
(looks down)
And I'll apologize.

INT. CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS

Rex storms into his room and paces around. He yells out in frustration and kicks the wall, immediately regretting it.

Rex sits down on the floor holding his foot. He then screams out again in pure frustration, squinting his eyes so hard that a tear leaks out.

The door opens. Ahsoka walks in.

AHSOKA
Are you okay?

Rex lets out a big "ughh" and backs up against the wall, still holding his foot. Ahsoka sits down next to him.

AHSOKA
What's bothering you?

REX
(bitterly)
Why are you here?

Ahsoka puts a hand on his shoulder.

AHSOKA
Talk to me.

REX
(sighs)
...Fives really gets on my nerves.

Ahsoka gazes at him, waiting for him to continue. Rex lets his shoulders slump forward. He stares at the ground.

REX
I can't believe he would allude to that in public.

Ahsoka looks confused, but sits there listening. Rex throws his arms up in the air.

REX
Like there's even anything to tease about! The Generals were right there for crying out loud!

Rex leans his head back against the wall.

REX
Di'kut.

Rex lifts his hands to cover his face.

AHSOKA
What happened?

Rex lowers his hands and turns his head against the wall to look at Ahsoka.

REX
He was teasing me for being passionate about someone. It's not even true.

AHSOKA
Then what are you so worried about? If it's not true, then he's the idiot.

Ahsoka playfully bumps him in the shoulder. A smile spreads across Rex's face, then he frowns again.

REX
He seems to have this crazy idea that-

AHSOKA
-Let it go.

Ahsoka takes his hand in hers. Rex takes a deep breath.

REX
Thanks, Ahsoka.

She smiles up at him.

AHSOKA
Anytime.

The door slides open. Fives walks in.

FIVES
Before you say anything, I'm here to apologize.

Fives stares at Ahsoka's and Rex's interlocked hands as he sits down next to Rex. Rex stares cautiously at Fives.

FIVES
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have teased you, especially in front of everyone else.

REX
Why all the teasing and assuming? I'm sick of it.

FIVES
Well...
(shifts uncomfortably)
I want you to be happy, Rex.

REX
I am happy.

FIVES
I know. I'll stop teasing if it's what you want.

REX
And no more assuming.

FIVES
I won't assume ever again.

Rex smiles at his brother.

REX
I forgive you.

Fives stands up and makes a heart shape with his hands.

FIVES
That's for you.

Fives runs out the door, leaving Rex satisfied but a little puzzled.

REX
Well, that was easy.

AHSOKA
What does he mean he wants you to be happy?

Rex puts an arm around Ahsoka's shoulders.

REX
I have no idea.

INT. RESOLUTE HALLWAYS - CONTINUOUS

Fives runs down the hallway, fully intending to stop teasing Rex, but he won't stop assuming. Is Rex more clueless than he lets on? Fives lets out a laugh. He probably is.

Author's Note: I think Cody needs to find out about them next. Also not sure if I like what I wrote for this chapter, but it'll do for now. I want to write more fluff coming up.