Can We Keep Her Forever (and Ever Again)?

Chapter 5: Braids

Heyo, human beings from outer space!

I wrote this, so I know what's happening, and I don't know if it makes sense at first to anyone who doesn't know exactly what's happening, so just bear with it and it'll make sense at the end.

Read on if you dare. 

"Anyone in there?"

"Yeah," Ahsoka said from inside the 'fresher, and her voice gave an ugly crack. She pushed herself up from the chilly tile, deciding that she'd overstayed her welcome by the toilet. She'd lost her sense of time. She was getting sloppy.

Ahsoka stumbled to the door and it swished open, sending her keeling forward so she nearly crashed into Hunter's chest.

"Whoa there, kid, were you sleeping in there?" Hunter said, steadying her by the shoulders. "If you wanted your own room, you coulda just asked. No need to sleep in the 'fresher."

Ahsoka forced a smile.

"Tech has some great sleep meds, you sleep but don't dream. Not the best sleep but at least it's something," Hunter said.

"Yeah, he gave me some," Ahsoka said and something unsaid flittered between them.

Hunter nodded slowly. "He'd be glad to tell you the name and everything in it if you asked."

"Thanks," Ahsoka said, and she went to meditate in the gunner's mount.

///

"Stop moping, kid, you're killing the vibes in here."

Ahsoka paused her finger tracing the rim of her cup and glanced up at Cid from where she'd laid her head atop her arm on the table, the other arm propped limply by her elbow with her hand dangling down. "There are no vibes."

"Because you're bringin' the mood down! Stop pouting," Cid said. "Come on, you used to be so happy. What happened to that bouncy little padawan?"

"War, Cid. War happened. War and betrayal and everyone trying to kill me and a little more war and everyone trying to kill me again."

Cid snorted and Ahsoka looked up again, raising her eye markings.

"Look at those boys," Cid said, gesturing to the Bad Batch. "They've seen things just as bad as you have, and they don't go around all depressed like you do. Everyone's constantly trying to kill them! Tiny, too. She's young and seen a lot."

Ahsoka thought for a moment, unconsciously tracing her finger around the rim of the cup again.

"Now stop pouting. I didn't give you a free drink so you could cry in it and play with the cup. You're old enough for it now, so bottoms up!"

Ahsoka snorted. "Since when does my age matter? You tried to give me drinks all the time when I was fourteen."

Cid shrugged and Ahsoka pushed herself up from the counter and swiped the drink, purely so Cid would stop pestering her. She took it to Wrecker, who cackled deeply and downed it like a shot.

"Hey, that drink was for you, not Muscles!"

"Don't be offended, it's not like we're friends," Ahsoka said, and wandered off to sit in a dark corner where Cid wouldn't come looking for her.

///

Cid was right.

Every single one of the Bad Batchers had seen things equally as horrible as Ahsoka had... including Omega. So why did Ahsoka belly ache and cry while the others pressed on like they did?

She was being a drama queen again. That's what it was.

Ahsoka drew herself together, forced a smile over her face, and fist bumped Wrecker on her way out to join the rest of them.