It's Commander Tano, Not Padawan

Chapter 14

They didn't even make it to the mess hall before disaster struck.

Disaster, specifically, in the form of an ARC trooper named Fives.

Rounding a corner, the clone stood out against the other men with his advanced armor and distinctive goatee. Rex wanted to groan. He knew she'd find out eventually just how far reaching his stupidity was, but did they have to do this right now?

An obvious red bruise had blossomed along the left side of his jaw, and shame gripped Rex's heart, burning.

He winced, unable to meet the man's gaze.

Coward.

It most certainly didn't help when Ahsoka's concerned voice echoed across the space between them, doubling the Captain's guilt. His fingers tensely curled around the edge of his helmet.

"Fives, what happened to you?" she asked, white brow lines furrowed. That mark hadn't been there just a few hours ago when they had talked. She had been standing close enough to be sure of that.

Chakaar.

Rex painfully shifted his gaze to his brother's face and another wave of remorse rolled through him. It wasn't that the injury was really all too bad, but how it had gotten there ate away at him.

The ARC deliberately didn't look back at him, but kept his eyes on the Commander's, wide and concerned for her friend.

The shuffle of boots marched past them as the trio stood there, and Rex selfishly wished this conversation would take place in a less populated location.

The Captain steeled himself for his brother's words, knowing he would full well deserve whatever unpleasant reaction they incited from Ahsoka.

But then, for the first time in the entirety of their interaction, Fives' eyes flicked to his, a determined and foolhardy glint to them.

This is not going to end well.

Straight-faced, Fives stood stiffly and spoke with the air of a man who found the hill he was willing to die on.

"I walked into a door, sir."

Ahsoka and Rex were both speechless.

Out of all the lies he could come up with...

The Captain knew that he and Cody had been the two who had personally informed Echo and Fives of their promotion in rank, but, in that moment, Rex deeply questioned how this man had been made an ARC trooper if that was the best he could do.

An awkward, dumbstruck silence permeated the air, before Ahsoka, looking at the di'kut in front of them with the most dubious expression he had ever seen, asked, "You walked," she paused, incredulous. "Into a door?"

Fives shifted, fighting the urge to shuffle about too much. Rex honestly thought he would have learned by now – lying to CO's was a terrible idea.

"Uh, yes, Commander."

Her eyes landed upon her second in command, but, with another flush of guilt, Rex pointedly did not meet her gaze.

There was another lull of silence before, apparently coming to a decision, Ahsoka said, "Alright, both of you, with me. Now."

She didn't wait for any confirmation before turning back around the way they came. Rex and Fives just looked at each other.

"What do you think you're doing?" The blond clone asked in a hushed, furious whisper.

Fives shook his head and started walking. "Saving your shebs from your cyare. Keep your mouth shut and let me, Captain." He picked up the pace to catch up with the tensely gliding Togruta, whose hands were gripped tight behind her back.