Archive of Our Own ^beta

Anakin sighed into her phone. “Really, mom, I’m fine.” She was trying to keep her voice calm despite the aggravation she felt bubbling up within, threatening to spill over.

Her mother meant well, but there was a limit to how much empathy she could handle. The breakup was still painful - of course it was, Padmé had said no to her proposal after three years together - but she didn’t need to be reminded of it with every damn phone call.

“I sorry, Ani, but you know I worry.”

“I know, mom. But I’m fine,” Anakin repeated.

“Ani…”

“Okay, I’m not fine. But I’m dealing. I’ve been keeping busy with my projects,” she explained. “And hey, Ahsoka finally convinced me to get out of the apartment.”

“Did she?” Anakin found the excitement in her mother’s tone both annoying and, frankly, quite depressing.

Had she really become that pathetic that her simply leaving the house was cause for celebration?

“Yep. I went for a walk. A park a few blocks away from our building. Plenty of trees and sunlight and other people…” Anakin tried her best to sound enthusiastic, hoping to appease her mother’s concerns. She didn’t want to burden her with all the lingering emotional turmoil.

Anakin strolled through the park as she talked, trying to find comfort in the sounds and sights around her. The afternoon sun was warm on her skin and a gentle breeze brushed against her face, almost whispering promises of a fresh start. She noticed children playing in a playground in the distance, their boisterous chatter and laughter serving as a reminder that the world kept spinning, even if her heart felt stuck in the past.

 “So, are you excited about the new semester?” her mother asked, breaking the silence that hung between them.

The tension in Anakin’s shoulders eased some at the shift in conversation. “You know I am.”

Their conversation continued, with her updating her mother on her plans for the upcoming school year. She spoke about her master’s program and intended thesis, as well as the various projects she was keeping busy with, continuing to divert the conversation away from her recent heartbreak. And as Anakin shared these details, she could sense the relief in her mother’s voice - as if a burden had been lifted and she could finally breathe easy, confident that her daughter was beginning to heal.

With goodbyes exchanged, Anakin ended the call and let out a deep, weary sigh. As she did, she noted a text from Ahsoka inquiring how she was.

Her roommate-turned-best-friend had been the key to pulling Anakin out of her self-imposed isolation. For weeks Ahsoka had been, not-so-subtly, urging Anakin to re-engage with the world and rediscover the simple pleasures of life. Like taking a walk in the park.

Anakin tapped out a reassuring message and tucked the phone back into her pocket. She made her way towards the adjacent pond, a picturesque body of water that could easily be mistaken for a small lake. As she reached the water’s edge, the gentle rustling of leaves and the melodic chirping of birds filled the air, creating a serene setting.

Anakin stared out at the water, gentle waves lapping against the shore and a few ducks floating along. With a deep inhale, her lungs filled with the sweet fragrance of grass and flowers, and she let her eyes slip shut as she took in the moment.

Her serenity, however, was abruptly interrupted when something wet nudged against her palm. Startled, she reflexively withdrew her hand and glanced down to find a dog standing at her side. The canine, probably a blend of Pit Bull and German Shepherd if she had to guess, boasted a sleek, tan coat with a white underbelly and chin. Its kind, brown eyes met hers, radiating a sense of calm, its long tail wagging, and ears perked.

She offered it a small smile. “Hey there, buddy,” she greeted warmly.

The dog’s tail wagged more at the acknowledgement, and it nudged at her palm again. Tentatively, it tried to take hold of her hand with its mouth, its warm and damp breath tickling her skin. Her brow furrowed as she tried to decipher the dog’s intentions.

Maybe it wanted to show her something? That seemed like the most logical conclusion.

Curiosity piqued, she consented, allowing the dog to grasp her hand in its mouth. With a gentle tug, it guided her away from the pond and back toward the main path.

The dog led her along, eventually releasing her hand and staying a few steps ahead of Anakin. They continued walking until they reached a remote section of the park where a small bridge loomed ahead; the path continuing underneath through a tunnel. The dog’s ears perked up, and it hastened its pace. Anakin soon understood why.

They came across a man, presumably the dog’s owner, sitting at the entrance of the tunnel. His nose was bloody, and his shirt was partially torn.

“Oh shit.” Cautiously, she made her way towards the battered man. “Hey, do you need help?” She reached into her pocket, retrieving her phone and preparing to call for an ambulance if necessary.

The man gazed up at her, fortunately still conscious and appearing attentive. Despite his bloodied face and the slight swelling, he possessed a striking handsomeness. His skin held a rich tan, and he had a well-built physique with broad arms and a sculpted chest, visible through his torn shirt. He had short, cropped hair, a curly platinum blond, and his eyes shimmered with a warm golden-brown hue.

He blinked at her, showing a momentary confusion, until his dog nuzzled him, snapping him out of his daze. He forced a smile and patted the dog. “You should see the other guys.”

Anakin chuckled softly, finding the man’s relaxed attitude amusing, given the situation. “Yeah, I’m sure you showed them who’s boss,” she replied, joining him with a smile. “But seriously, should I call the police or something? Are the dicks who did this still around, or did you manage to scare them off?” she asked, pressing him for more information.

“They ran off,” he said, “And I’ve had worse. No need to call anyone.”

“Okay…” Anakin observed him for a moment, her brows furrowing. “So what happened?”

“Nothing. Just a run in with some thugs looking for a fight,” he replied as he stood up, a leash wrapped around his hand. “I didn’t want Ru to get caught in the crossfire, so I sent her off. Guess she found you,” he added, clipping the leash back onto the dog’s collar.

“Ru,” Anakin repeated with a smile. “That’s cute.”

“It’s short for Ruusaan.”

“Oh, well, still cute.” She knelt down, her hand stretching out towards the dog’s head, but hesitated to touch. “Is she a service dog?”

“She is. But you can pet her. She’s off duty. Well, she’s technically never off duty, but it’s a break,” he explained, his voice calm and reassuring.

Anakin nodded in understanding, her mind buzzing with curiosity, and heart filled with empathy for the man. With a gentle motion, she scratched behind the dog’s soft ears, eliciting a lazy wag of Ru’s tail.

“So you’re disabled then?” Anakin asked, her words tumbling out faster than her brain could process. “Oh…sorry. Um, uh…” She struggled to find the right words to recover from her bluntness, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“She’s for PTSD.” His words seemed to flow readily, as if her candor didn’t bother him. More than likely, he had become accustomed to explaining the purpose of his canine companion by now.

Anakin felt a small sense of relief as he offered her a way to move past her faux pas. “Military vet?”

A faint nod accompanied his response. “Yes ma’am. Three tours,” he said with a tone reflecting both pride and a hint of weariness. There was also something else, a weight to his words that she couldn’t fully comprehend.

Anakin finished scratching the dog, and she rose back to her feet. “Thank you for your service, then,” she said sincerely.

The man gave a small huff, amused by her words. “No need for thanks, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

“I’m Anakin,” she offered with another smile, extending her hand.

“Rex,” he replied, giving a firm handshake, and Anakin was able to feel how rough his fingers were as they gripped her own. “Thanks for finding Ru for me,” Rex said as he released her hand.

“Technically, I think she found me.”

“Either way, I’m grateful,” he said with a warm smile, his calloused fingers gently tugging at the frayed edges of his torn shirt.

Anakin’s eyes flickered to the garment, her gaze lingering on the exposed, sculpted torso revealed beneath it. A smile danced at the corners of Anakin’s lips as she took in the sight, and she found his gaze once more.

“Guess you need to find a new shirt, huh, soldier?” Anakin commented with a teasing lilt.

“Yeah, I suppose so.” A chuckle escaped the man’s lips, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I don’t live too far from here. Did you want to walk with me?”

“Seeing that I have nowhere else to be…sure.”

Side by side, they exited the bridge tunnel and followed the path that led to the park’s North entrance. They walked in silence for a few minutes, the symphony of bird songs and the distant rumble of traffic filling the surrounding air.

“So…do you come here often?” Rex asked casually as they walked.

“Sometimes, yeah. Good place to come if you want to think since it’s normally quiet, especially at this end of the park.”

“Yeah, unfortunately, the quieter parts also tend to attract some of the more unsavory types.”

Anakin gave a solemn nod. “Yeah. It’s not a place to go after dark. But during the day…it’s not too bad.” Giving him a brief glance, she added, “Most of the time.”

Rex responded with a low hum of agreement, and Ru affectionately nudged his hand, her tail wagging languidly behind her.

The gesture brought a soft smile to Anakin’s face. “She really is cute. And obviously well trained,” she commented. “How does she, um, serve you?” She was familiar with dogs for the blind and physically disabled. But veterans with PTSD? She did not know what a service dog did for them. Besides, apparently, getting help.

“She gives comfort and stability. If I have a panic attack or something like that, she knows how to calm me down.”

Anakin nodded, stealing a glance at Rex. “I’m sorry if my questions are, um, ignorant. I’ve never had any experience with these situations outside what I’ve seen on TV or in movies.”

“No, it’s fine. I explain it all the time. Mostly to the children around my apartment.”

Anakin’s brows furrowed, her lips forming a tight line as she felt a surge of annoyance. There was nothing more demeaning than being lumped in the same category as children.

“Right, well, um, how long have you been back, or, uh, out of the service? Not sure how to phrase that,” she stammered, the words tumbling out. “My stepdad was a veteran, got his legs blown off from a landmine…or was it an enemy strike? Well, either way, he was in a wheelchair.” She paused, the memories of the solemn yet kind man flooding back. “He kinda died before I was really old enough to ask him about his time in the service…” Her voice trailed off, falling into an uncomfortable silence, broken only by her awkwardly clearing her throat. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to dump all that on you.”

“It’s fine. I’m sorry for your loss,” Rex offered.

“It was a long time ago.”

“A loss sticks with you no matter how long it’s been,” Rex stated softly before continuing. “I’ve been out of service for almost a year now,” he supplied, answering her initial question.

“And how are you adjusting?”

He let out a heavy sigh and scratched Ru’s ears. “Its…been an adjustment.”

“But she’s helping?”

“She is. She’s a very good girl,” he praised, making Ru’s ears perk up.

They lapsed into content silence once more as they left the park and made their way towards the closest intersection. While waiting for the traffic signal to change, Anakin turned to Rex. “So, what do you do now? For a job, that is.”

“I’m still finishing up my studies, but I’m working on getting my degree in education.”

“Education, that’s cool. Do you take classes at the university?”

“No, just online courses.”

As the signal changed, she gave a small nod, and they began to make their way across the street. “I take courses at the university’s tech institute,” Anakin stated. “Working on a mechanical engineering degree. Focus on robotics.”

Rex looked her over in slight surprise. “Robotics? Huh. You don’t look the type.”

She quirked a brow. “Why do you say that?”

In an instant, Rex’s cheeks flushed, and he coughed to regain his composure. “Well, it’s just that, um, you don’t typically expect such, uh, nice-looking people in that field.”

Anakin stared at him for a moment, processing his words, before she too felt a small blush creep up her cheeks. “Right. Most STEM majors aren’t hot girls. I get you,” she replied, adverting her gaze. “I’m both flattered and insulted.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine. You’re attractive yourself, for a man.”

“I’ll take it.”

“So, what do you want to teach?”

“History. You a fan?”

“Sometimes. Depends on the book.”

“School books can be a little dry.”

“Oh, yeah, I actually meant more along the lines of historical fiction,” Anakin confessed, letting out an awkward chuckle. “I haven’t touched a history book since high school.”

“You like to read then?”

“Yeah, when I have the time.”

Rex nodded his agreement. “Me too. But not much fiction,” He said as they continued down the block, moving deeper into a neighborhood Anakin wasn’t too familiar with.

“You live alone? Besides, Ru, that is.”

“Yeah, recently. My vod, my brother, got tired of me taking up residence of his couch,” he said with a lighthearted smile. “Started renting a place above a restaurant. It’s a little place, but I get it for half the price if I pitch in with cleaning the restaurant at night.”

Anakin smiled in turn. “Good deal.”

“I think so. Do you rent? Or do you live on campus?”

“I rent. A shitty place near campus. I live with my friend, but she plans on ditching me to go live with her girlfriend once our lease is up in a few months.”

“Ah, well, at least she gave you time to find other living conditions.”

“Yeah, I guess. But her girlfriend kinda hates me, so I’m not sure how often I’ll get to see her afterwards.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah…”

As they turned down an alleyway, the air grew thick with the scent of spices, overpowering the usual unpleasant odor that permeated the city. Anakin hadn’t been particularly focused on their destination, but she couldn’t help but sense that they had crossed some invisible border during their walk. Despite having lived in Coruscant for a few years now, she had yet to explore the various self-contained neighborhoods and boroughs that existed within the city.

Anakin looked around, taking in the few back-alley storefronts and entrances. “What kind of restaurant do you live above?”

“A Mandalorian one,” he stated simply, rubbing at the dried blood on his cheek. He winced as his fingers grazed the tender black and blue bruise that had formed below his eye.

She frowned when she caught sight of his grimace, but refrained from commenting. “I’ve never tried Mandalorian food before.”

“It’s very spicy. If you, um, if you want, I can go change and then we can get lunch together.”

Anakin grinned happily at the invitation. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”

“Great. Have you ever been in Little Keldabe before?”

“Little Keldabe…?”

“The neighborhood?” He gestured to the surrounding buildings before smiling. “I’m assuming not.”

“Ah, no. I don’t really venture out. I’m normally busy with school.”

“Well, we’re not a popular tourist destination as is,” Rex said as he stepped up to the backdoor of a building.

Anakin watched as he unlocked the door before following him inside. The stairwell was tidier than she had expected, with an adjacent corridor presumably leading towards the restaurant at the front of the building. From that direction, a delicious aroma of cumin, turmeric, and a myriad of other spices permeated the air, even more potent than what Anakin had smelled from the street. Rex ascended the stairs, accompanied by Ru, with Anakin trailing behind the pair. Reaching the third floor, they wandered down the hall until they reached Rex’s door.

“Would you like to come in? Or you can wait out here if you’re not comfortable with that,” Rex offered.

“I feel like it would be more awkward just standing out here.”

“Then please, come in,” he said, stepping aside to let Anakin enter. “Mind the mess.”

The apartment was a modest space, comprised a kitchen and living room, with a door leading to a bedroom and bathroom. Contrary to Rex’s warning, the space was far from disorganized, though the furniture showed telltale signs of wear and tear, and there were a few books scattered about the various surfaces. As soon as Rex unhooked her leash, Ru wasted no time in making herself comfortable on the couch.

Anakin took a seat on the couch next to Ru, waiting for Rex to disappear into the bedroom before picking up a book from the coffee table. She flipped through the pages, finding that the book was about the history of warfare. Not her cup of tea, but she did pause as she found the section on modern conflicts, specifically a chapter about robotics and AI in warfare.

“Anything you like?” Rex asked from the bedroom doorway, a fresh shirt now covering his chest and a set of blue and silver vambrace clasped around his wrists.

“Like? Not really. But the whole ethics of AI in warfare is interesting.”

“Terrifying is more my word for it,” he said, as he walked into the bathroom before Anakin heard the sound of the tap running.

“Yeah, I guess from your perspective, it would be.”

“But not from yours?” he asked, no judgment in his tone, just curiosity.

“Yes, and no. I’m not really looking to build weapons. Just robots,” she replied. “But I know what that tech normally gets used for in the end.”

He emerged from the bathroom, his blood-stained face now fresh and unblemished, save for the bruise on his cheek. “Is that what you want to do? Make smart robots?”

“Yeah,” Anakin said and sat up eagerly. “I have one at home I made. Her name is Avee. She mostly cleans, but she can do other things too, if prompted.”

Rex blinked. “Really? That’s amazing. I can’t even imagine the amount of effort you put into that.”

“It took a while,” Anakin said with a small shrug. “She’s technically my eighth model.”

“Ah, so, Avee-eight?” Rex guessed, sounding amused.

Anakin grinned. “A lucky coincidence, huh?”

“Very. How smart is it, she?”

“Pretty smart. She’s a domestic robot, you know, like a Roomba? She has all the sensors and motors you’d expect. But she also has a microphone and a high-def camera and runs on software I created. Well, it’s a work in progress. I built it off a common OSS and have been tweaking it for years now,” she rambled before catching herself. “But anyway, her feedback system is amazing. She can learn and adapt as needed, and she responds to cues. Verbal and visual. She can read an environment and determine what work needs to be done.”

Rex stared at Anakin, his eyes sparking with admiration. “Wow,” he said. “You must be incredibly smart to make her do all that.”

Anakin concealed her rush of pride behind a modest smile. “Well, I could say the same about you,” she replied, her voice carrying a hint of regard. “You need to be pretty smart to remember dates and events and all that.”

Rex chuckled, his laughter filling the air with a warm and genuine sound, akin to a comforting embrace. He casually tossed the wet rag he had been holding into the bathroom, the sound of it making a wet slap as it landed in the sink. “I guess when you put it that way, it does sound pretty impressive,” he said, his tone light and playful. “Did you still want to grab lunch?”

With an eager nod, Anakin rose to her feet. “Oh yeah, I’m starving.”

In a rather gallant show, Rex opened the door for Anakin, and Ru trotted along to her owner’s side, the pair forgoing the leash. They descended the stairs, their footsteps echoing softly in the tight stairwell.

As they made their way to the restaurant, they entered through the back, passing through the service corridor that skirted along an active kitchen. The rich aroma of spices filled the air once again, accompanied by the tempting scent of grilled meats. Anakin’s mouth watered, and her stomach let out a low growl, making her realize just how hungry she was.

The staff welcomed them with warm smiles and casual greetings as Rex and Anakin made their way to the central dining space. The walls and ceilings were adorned with a display of banners and flags in an array of colors, each bearing symbols of animals, plants, and weapons. The dining area was spacious and cozy, with individual tables tucked away behind heavy curtains, allowing privacy for each diner.

Anakin and Rex eased themselves into a set of plush seats, and Ru nestled snugly on the cool tiles beneath the table. They attracted curious glances from the other diners, many of whom wore sparse amounts of armor like Rex with his vambraces, while others donned full body armor, pauldrons, or greaves.

As one server approached the table, she greeted Rex in a melodic language that Anakin could only assume was Mando’a. The server, a young woman named Jhane according to the name tag pinned to her uniform, engaged Rex in a brief conversation. Jhane gestured towards the bruise on Rex’s face, but he seemed to brush off the injury with a dismissive laugh.

After a few more words, Jhane walked off, and Rex turned back to Anakin. “She’s going to get you a menu.”

“And here I was just going to let you order for me.”

A subtle blush tinted Rex’s cheek. “Well, I could, but I don’t want to get anything you won’t like. We did just meet.”

Anakin smiled. “I think I trust your judgement. Good food is good food, right?”

“Yes, but Mandalorian food is spicy. Especially what I like,” he warned.

“Maybe I like things spicy.”

For a brief moment, their eyes locked, and Anakin’s gaze was filled with an unspoken challenge, with Rex being the first to avert his gaze.

“Alright,” he relented as Jhane returned. He wove away the offered menu, and the waitress looked skeptical, but nodded along to what Anakin assumed was Rex’s order. Rex glanced over at Anakin. “Do you want water or anything?”

“Water’s fine.”

Jhane nodded and mumbled something to Rex, a sly smile dancing on her lips, provoking him to swat at her before she went to put in their order.

“What did she say?”

“Nothing. Just that she’s happy to see me out with someone.”

A grin spread across Anakin’s face. “A rare occurrence, then?”

“So she would make everyone believe.”

“Yeah, I get that. My, uh, girlfriend of three years dumped me at the beginning of summer break. I pretty much lived in my apartment for like a month before my roommate convinced me to see the sun.”

Rex’s brows furrowed as he frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. Three years is a long time.”

“Yeah,” Anakin’s smile faltered, and she looked down at her lap. “I thought she was the one. But, uh, guess not.”

He leaned forward a little. “Did you want to talk about it, or do I need to change the topic?”

“Change in topic would be great…I-I shouldn’t have said anything to begin with. Sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize. We all carry out pain differently,” he said easily as two glasses of water were set onto their table. Rex waited for the waitress to leave before speaking again. “So, what do you want to talk about then?”

“Um…I don’t know. I guess tell me more about yourself,” Anakin replied. “You have an accent…where are you from?”

“New Zealand. A little town called Concord Dawn. It’s at the southern tip of the south island. Most of my family is from there.”

“And you moved to Coruscant?” she asked, almost in disbelief. She regarded New Zealand as a picturesque place. And Coruscant was…not that.

A slight frown appeared on Rex’s face. “It’s…complicated. My shabuir of a father didn’t really give me or my brothers a good childhood. We all left as soon as we could. I came here to be with my brothers, and after three months, I was able to join the Republic’s military. Was awarded full citizenship for my service.”

“Ah, gotcha…well, I’m sorry your dad’s a dick. But I’m glad you have the rest of your family to rely on.”

“Yeah. A lot of the family ended up moving to the Republic. After they clear us to be not terrorists, the military is happy to have any Mandalorian in their service.”

“Did you serve in the New Zealand military too?”

“For a few years. We all did. It was a good way to get away from home. There is an island, Kamino, a rainy little navel base where we all did basic training at one point or another. It was miserable,” he said with a fond laugh.

Anakin smiled at the sound of his laugh. It was a deep, pleasant sound. “I love the rain. But I could see that being horrible if you had to train in it for days on end.”

“You get used to it. And it was nice, when you weren’t running laps in it.”

She let out a soft titter. “I can imagine.”

Jhane returned to the table, balancing a tray of steaming plates in her hands. She gently placed the dishes before them, wisps of fragrant steam rising and filling Anakin’s nose with their flavorful scents.

There were two distinct types of stew. One resembled a curry, with a deep reddish-brown and exuding earthy spices, while the other was a bowl of dumplings floating in an opaque broth. Beside the dishes, a side of bread, its golden crust glistening with a glaze of honey and sprinkled with crushed nuts.

“Looks delicious,” Anakin commented, practically salivating at the array. As hungry as she was, she made sure to let Rex serve himself first before she took her portion.

As Anakin scooped the food onto her plate, Rex explained what each dish was. “That one is tiingilar, its beef, vegetables, and couscous. It’s the staple dish of the mando’ade and you’ll find hundreds of different recipes for it. No clan has the same,” he explained. “The other is Gi dumpling soup - fish dumplings. It’s less spicy than the tiingilar but probably still spicy if you’re not used to it.”

Anakin delved into the tiingilar first, letting out a soft hum at the taste. The spiciness juxtaposed with the comforting flavors of the dish and left a satisfying burn.

Rex observed her, a subtle trace of admiration gleaming in his eyes, before starting in on his own meal. “I once saw an aru- er, a guest cry trying to eat the tiingilar here.” He tore a piece of the honey and nut covered bread and dipped it into his curry.

“Really?” Anakin commented after swallowing down her bite. “That’s pathetic.”

Rex laughed. “Every once in a while, you get a few college kids or teenagers who think they can stomach the fire. Ask for as spicy as possible. They usually record each other.”

Anakin joined in on his laughter. “Yeah, that sounds about right,” she replied and started in on the fish dumplings. Just as Rex had described, she found the spice level was just right, providing a gentle kick without overwhelming her palate.

As they continued to eat their meal, the rapport between Anakin and Rex grew progressively more comfortable. Even though she and Rex both seemed to have reserved natures, the casual conversation between them flowed effortlessly, with Anakin sharing stories about her recent summer classes and Rex animatedly discussing his brothers.

Anakin couldn’t help but notice how naturally they connected, their conversations moving seamlessly from one topic to another. It had been quite a while since she had felt such a strong sense of camaraderie, where she felt truly understood and appreciated by someone else. Her laughter came easily, her heart filled with genuine joy, and Rex couldn’t help but match her enthusiasm with his own infectious laughter.

As lunch transitioned into dessert and coffee, neither of them seemed willing to let the impromptu date come to an end. After their meal, Rex proposed a tour of Little Keldabe, and Anakin readily accepted. They walked side by side at a leisurely pace through the busy streets, continuing to enjoy each other’s company.

But as they strolled along, a small part of Anakin couldn’t help but dread the inevitable conclusion to their time together.

The warm evening air wrapped around them as they started toward Rex’s home, and Anakin mustered up the courage to ask him if they could see each other again.

“I’d love to,” Rex replied ardently, dispelling any doubts she had. He was quick to fish his phone out of his pocket. “I’m free most days. You can call or message me anytime.”

Anakin’s face broke into a dumb grin as she replied, “Okay.” She pulled out her own phone, and the pair exchanged numbers. “I’m free most days, too. At least until the semester starts up.”

“Then I’ll-” Rex cleared his throat, a hint of nervousness lacing his words, “See you around sometime?”

“Sounds good,” she replied, her dumb grin widening, and her cheeks flushed with happiness. They exchanged brief farewells before going their separate ways.

As she walked, Anakin couldn’t help but reflect on the unforeseen twist her life had taken. Fate was never something she believed in, but finding Rex that day seemed too coincidental to ignore. Meeting him was like a ray of sunlight piercing through the clouds, bringing her hope that she might finally find the strength to move on.

Making her way through Coruscant, Anakin watched the bustling cityscape come alive around her, its vibrant lights and distant sounds fueling her excitement for what the future might bring.

**Big thanks to battlekilt on tumblr (Aiwha ao3) for their idea of making Rex a teacher! They made a fun little post about Rex being a military history teacher and I absolutely adore that and have adopted it into my modern hc for the character. (With their permission of course!)**