Cejanr (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

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As soon as Trace left, Rafa pounced on Ahsoka. Almost literally. She stormed into the small bunk room where Ahsoka was working through some leftover paperwork from the clinic stopped in front of her. Her stance was rigid, her hands shaking at her sides. It was something Ahsoka had seen Rex do from time to time when he was resisting the urge to pin someone against the wall. 

Considering Ahsoka had just taken down two full grown men with minimal effort, she was probably a little on the wary side to try and shake her. Didn't stop her from getting in Ahsoka's face. 

"Listen." She hissed, jabbing her finger under Ahsoka's nose. "The only reason you're here is because Trace likes you. I don't." Small wonder. "I know your type. All 'mightier than thou, anything you can do I can do better' jedi, thinking that your serenity makes you perfect and untouchable. If we step in the slag bucket, you're going in with us, and I expect you to pull your weight more than simply saying 'I'm sorry for your loss, may the force be with you' and skipping out on your own, Prime?"

Ahsoka sighed. So they were expecting her to be that stereotype. Ahsoka met her eyes, flashing a still bloody grin with a broken fang. "Good. I'd hate to be forced not to help." She said simply. Rafa hesitated, clearly not expecting this. She forced her composure back into an angry huff. 

"Well, get off your butt and help get Trace ready to fly. I have a few business opportunities to close." She snapped, stalking out of the room. Ahsoka just shook her head, setting down her datapad and stretching. 

She found Trace under the ship, working on the landing array for a last minute check when Ahsoka joined her. She nearly jumped out of her skin as the togruta seemingly appeared next to her. 

"SLAG PILE OF A- Don't do that!" She smacked Ahsoka playfully in the arm. Ahsoka smiled tersely. 

"I take it you're not too badly shaken up?" She asked. Trace shook her head. 

"Pinto is a petty criminal. He's come around here a few times to try and squeeze a credit or two out of us for a debt already long since paid off." Trace explained. "Usually causing a big enough ruckus scares him off, but I don't think anybody's kicked his slag throwing butt like you have."

Ahsoka chuckled wryly. "Didn't wanna kill him. Bodies tend to be suspicious and messy to clean." She glanced at the wires that Trace was fiddling with. "Nice. You franken mashed the compression cylinders and didn't crosswire anything." She commented. Trace was staring at her, like she was trying to tell if she was being sarcastic or not when the second remark registered. 

"Oh. Yeah. I learned my lesson a while back. Do it right or do it twice, yeah?" She sighed. "You know your way around a ship, noticing the wiring like that."

"My... older brother taught me." Ahsoka said softly. Trace smiled. 

"Ah, older siblings. Annoy the heck out of you but teach you a thing or two when it comes down to it. Usually by being the 'what not to do' example." Trace snickered. Ahsoka laughed with her. 

"Yeah. That sounds about right." She smiled, remembering all the times she had watched Kenobi yell at Anakin for something he had done. Her grin slid a little at the mental image of Kenobi and Anakin talking. Anakin appearing downcast while secretly hiding a smile. The endearment in Kenobi's scolding. 

"Miss Tano?" Trace asked. Ahsoka gave a start, coming out of her reverie with a flinch away from the hand that brushed her arm. "Is... is your brother ok? You looked so sad there for a minute." 

Ahsoka shook herself. Here and now. Here and now. "Yeah. I just haven't seen him in a couple months." She said. 

"Ah. I know the feeling. Rafa disappears sometimes as well, but she's never gone longer than a day or so. Don't know what I'd do if she was gone longer." Trace commented. "Is she gone now? We're almost ready to go."

"Yeah. Said she had some business deals to wrap up. Told me to go help you. Don't think she likes me very much." Ahsoka sighed. Trace frowned a little. 

"Our family... had some bad run ins with jedi. She's just trying to look out for me, I know. But I wish she'd treat me for the adult that I am." Trace shut the panel she had been working on. "Right. That's done." She crawled out from under the ramp and headed up into the ship. Ahsoka let her, knowing now it would be time for the first set of preflight checks. She scanned the area, looking to see if Rafa was in the vicinity or not. 

No sign of her. Ahsoka debated following Trace, but decided that based on the way she acted it would be better to let her burn off some steam. 

She settled herself back on the bunk Trace had given her, and glanced at her commlink. Rex would be on Yerbana by now. She wondered how the siege was going. Hopefully it would all be over soon. She missed him. She knew she should be grateful for calls every couple days or so, but she hadn't heard from him in nearly a week now. 

Three out of five sieges, and she was already going crazy. She wondered how Padme did it for the times they were away for six or even eight months at a time. Then again, Padme was human, and not biologically semi dependant on Anakin.

There was a noise at the ramp and Rafa trudged up. Her gait was slightly unsteady, as if she was trying not to stumble. Ahsoka's sharp nose picked up the faintest whiff of something pungent and chemical smelling. She stood up, about to ask if Rafa was ok. The older girl's eyes were slightly unfocused, further concerning Ahsoka when she suddenly remembered where she knew that smell. 

Spice. Rafa smelled like spice.