Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For a boring Taungdays, it assuredly kept one senator Riyo Chuchi quite busy. The Coruscanti skyline was already filling up on the colors of the dawn and the strobing light of the nightlife while she was still stuck on the revision of a proposition of the Coruscant business committee. While the letters were starting to jumble, she needed to finish her work. After all, Pantora wouldn’t represent itself and the outer rim room couldn’t afford much staff. 

As the night was first showing its neck, a large bump arrived from the vent. Broken from her work, she thought « Whoever dropped a cleaning droid in the ventilation must be quite cruel. ». As she approached from the vents, a large creature emerged in a puff of the dust bunnies. 

-Oh wait! These aren't Padme’s offices!!

A very recognizable jedi padawan had just fallen into Riyo arms. 

-Well I would sure hope so, what are you doing here, Ahsoka!?

It took no time for the young Togruta to start to ramble. 

-Well you see, everybody in the 501st and like half GAR has seen Skyguy and Senator Amidala kiss, but as of yet nobody has concrete proof. So Fives, that’s one of our ARC troopers, bet me that there would be some clues at Padme and…

Riyo was already starting to feel a headache coming over, a mix of the rapid fire word and the overuse of the caf machine were clearly taking its toll and while the padawan was quite endearing she needed a stop, both to the sound and to her work.

-Ahsoka, shush, please you’re killing my brain.

The reply was quite bashful. 

-Sorry, I get a bit excited when I focus.

 The good senator finally dropped the accidental bridal carry with a bit of humor.

-Oh, it’s no problem, there are much worse things to happen to me than a sentient with too much to say.

As Ahsoka was dusting herself, she remarked 

-You seem like you could use a break, wanna help me find some dirt on Padme?

Riyo thought about her paperwork and then of going through an adventure with a friend and she quickly made up her mind. 

-I do need some gossip for the next delegation meeting, lately it’s mostly been Mon who had the best tea.  

Ahsoka quickly jumped in a hug, purring loudly as she thanked Riyo. 

-Great, it’s gonna be so simple to find what’s proof, because you know as a jedi we don’t really… 

Riyo wasn’t listening much as she felt the purring throughout her body, it was quite pleasant as she was dragged towards the senate corridor. (Gosh… She is cute when she rambles doesn’t she…).

Chapter Text

Riyo was sadly banished from her office, it would probably have to do with the third iteration of her accidental naps being interrupted by that poor alderaanian aide. A visit from Bail Organa quickly ensued, and sincerely now that she was on an actual reprieve from her office, she might admit (and only to herself) that she might have overdid the work schedule. Just a smidge.

-What do you mean I should take a break. I take plenty of breaks when I’m at home?

-And that’s the problem dear, when was the last time you took a weekend off?

-Well, last… month or so… I should probably take a break.

-I assure you, my friend, the galaxy won’t crumble while you take an actual nap.

-Thank you Bail, i think i really needed to hear it.

After her impromptu expulsion from the senate for the next two to three business days, she went home to her small apartment and slept for 13 hours, but now that she was finally freshly out of her morning shower and standing alone in the middle of her apartment did she see the problem. 

She hadn’t exactly been living in her apartment per se. More so sleeping and then leaving for the senate at the small hours of the day. Now that she wasn’t forced to eat from the senate mess hall, did she see the state of the conservator. She had in fact left only two bottles of celebratory wine and some kind of cake though she wasn’t sure what was the original colors or intent when she received it.

Deciding against eating the strange cake, she opted to go shop for some food and probably some appliances for her home. While it is true that she hadn’t used much of her senatorial suite, she could absolutely use a cafmaker of her own. If only for getting the wakeful brew a half hour early. While shopping through the adorned quarters of little Lessu, she saw the headtails of one very lost padawan with one little limpet on her arm.

-Soka? Hey Ahsoka!

One very lost Ashoka was looking around for who was hailing her when she bumped into the soft cloth of the senator's cloak.

-Ouch! Wait? Hey, hi Riyo, what are you doing here? Oh, and can you help me get out! See me and…

Ahsoka was already starting to ramble again, while the little girl she had in her arms was starting to fuss, quite angry to be left in air jail. 

-Hello Ahsoka, who’s your little friend?

The little rose Twi’lek was looking at her with enormous pale golden eyes, and Riyo felt like she was having all of her secrets pulled out of her very soul.

-Hey, little you, stop doing that, Riyo actually nice.

Ahsoka was changing the position of the toddler in her arms while she continued to speak.

-Yeah, that’s initiate Témis. I was helping for a cultural visit with the initiates when this little thief decided she really wanted some meiloorun. It was actually quite impressive to use the force to take her snack. And by the time I defused the situation, well… I might have lost my com and now I'm kind of completely lost…

Ahsoka was looking at the ground guiltily. Riyo was kinda feeling bad for the poor padawan who was wholesale out of her depth with a young child.

-It’s not a problem, want to follow me back to the pantoran embassy, you should be able to rejoin the temple from there.
-Yeah, ok.

Riyo rapidly reassembles the bag of groceries while the young Temis babble about something in Ahsoka montrals. 

The little troop quickly jumped on one of the lifts toward the coruscanti surface. After a ride where everyone was smooched together, while Témis was slowly drooping into a sleepful rest. As the small group took a walk through the higher alleyway of the ecumenopolis,Temis started drooling on Ahsoka’s tabard (to Riyo secret amusement), the night sky was filling with the firmament. A careful silence installed itself as they approached the embassy, keeping the youngling asleep and the walk comfortable.

When they finally showed up at the door of Riyo home on the planet. The guard was quite surprised to see two jedi accompanying the senator who simply going on a grocery trip.

(-They are no danger sergeant, i promise, they simply need to use the com.

-Of course my lady, but a bit of warning would do well for our blood pressure.)

It didn’t take long for Ahsoka to make her call to the temple and she came back to Riyo helping Temis to settle on the couch.

-Well the temple said it’s too late to send someone to get us home. The war has kept many of our knights on the fight, so… maybe me and Temis stay the night?..

Riyo graced her with a shining smile.

-Of course, you can stay in Ahsoka, my couch is always open for you. I mean everyone knows your my favourite handmaiden, right.
Ahsoka was blushing brightly

-Of course Riyo.

With Ahsoka's help, most of the groceries was quickly stashed away and a weird meal consisting of some fish broth with some noodles and some crumbled fish jerky. Temis was quite happy to eat stuck between the two girls, while they set up for a movie night. It didn’t take long for the two jedi to conk out on the pantoran couch. Riyo was quite surprised to feel Ahsoka rumbling purrs even through the little Twi’lek body. The holo was slowly pushing her into a drowsy cuddles pile in the middle of her living room. Temis sleepily mumbled about how it was the sweetest and warmest place she had ever been, Riyo barely hearing her as she too fell asleep.

Chapter Text

For all of its splendour, the ballroom was currently quite dull, an old ballad serving a lukewarm ambiance and the amuse-bouche weren’t doing much to raise it. At least everyone seemed to be equally bored by the scene. The clones were silent statues with the exception of the good commander Fox who was mutely listening to the endless droning of Palpatine inner circle. Bail and Mon were discussing the treaties that were supposedly being celebrated, though it was quite visible they were more so looking for allies than anything else. The Jedi who were there in matters of security seem superfluous as Master Kenobi seemed mostly miffed to see his padawan poorly hide his flirting with Senator Amidala.

At least she had a partner in this whole debacle. Ahsoka particularly dashing in light armour whose designs reminded a bit of a reduced mandalorian armour. The white and blue of the 501st were put on quite dashingly. Riyo was forcefully awakened from her reverie 

-So who’s gonna break him first in your opinion. 

-What?! 

-Master Kenobi, he looks like he would prefer to jump of a cliff than be here  

-Why are you so irreverent toward your grandmasters? 

Ahsoka took a thoughtful pause. 

-Well he is cool and the Negotiator™, but once you know him personally, he is actually just an overachiever who can’t quit. 

-Dear god, then who are the contestants for his ire? 

-Well first there’s… 

A powerful cracking of ozone passed through the room, all the electronics frying instantly. The clones started to get in action, the commander started shouting orders while the chancellor was evacuated towards the exit. Suddenly Riyo felt herself getting dragged by the arm towards the cover of an adjacent stairwell. As they descended through, guided by Ahsoka night sight, they were the first to hear the voice. « Come on, the boss asked for some fresh meat, the last hostage didn’t get enough bread on the table.» rang through the stairwell as armour clad men climbed up toward the reception hall. She suddenly felt a tug of panic through her mind as she was pulled inside a service closet. She felt the heavy boots rumble throughout the whole story as the men searched for some fresh victim. As the panic started to set in, she heard a faint humm. Ahsoka had just headbutted her and started to purr against her chest. 

-Soka, what… are you doing? It’s gonna get us caught… 

The padawan snipped back quietly, 

-You need to stop panicking in the force, because then I would start to panic too and…

She was quickly shushed. 

-Thank you Soka, for saving me. 

Both women sat on the floor and huddled as much as they could while staying comfortable. Riyo snickered to herself quietly. 

-What? 

-You’re doing it again. 

-I'm doing what?

-You’re purring. 

Ahsoka startled herself in a bright blush that was barely visible through the dark closet. She started a stuttering explanation, 

-Yeah… it’s kind of an instinct thing, when you feel really or you need someone you're really close with to feel safe.

A quiet pause ensued. 

-You feel safe with me?

-Well… yeah, you’re pretty much my only friend who isn’t a jedi or a clone, and nothing against them, they’re great but they’re all soldiers who need to be ready and up in arms. The temple… feels emptier each time I pass by for shore week.

The Togruta gently bumps her head against Riyo.  

-At least, your apartment feels lived in. My master is always with his girlfriend and Obi Wan keeps getting stuck in council meetings.

A fragile silence hangs over the small room. 

-I don’t even know if there’s anyone else of my lineage.

Ahsoka tensed when two arms embraced her 

-Soka, is this fine?

The warm body within her grasp went and responded hoarsely

-Yeah… 

As both women were emotionally exhausted by the day’s events, the strange lull in noise was enough for them to finally relapse in their own presences and finally pass out.

As the two corries were cleaning up the mess that was a Kyr’tsad attack to kidnap the duchess's nephew. Or really any and every important person they could get their hands on for a good old ransom. The poor commander was currently assuring the chancellor that every senator was accounted for. What Fox and Sergeant Hound didn’t expect was to find a padawan and a senator huddled in one of the secret maintenance closet that peppered the senate district where servants were better seen but not in a way thought of.

-Well at least Rex’ika can finally unclench his sheb’s about where his little commander 

went. 

The good commander took a picture which was quickly sent to his extensive blackmail folder and told Hound to find the jedi in charge of security. Closing the hidden panel, he simply left a sticky note for Hound to find the door later. After all, getting Orn Free Taa from whatever bolt-hole he hid himself in would probably take the rest of the day.

Chapter Text

Temis was really happy, because today she would see her friends! Ahsoka had finally got the permission to go meet Miss Chuchi, since the day she got in trouble for (the totally deserved) meiloorun that she had found on the clan trip. Master Faw was quite unhappy when she showed up the next day with a huge grin because she had her first night without a nightmare. But apparently, it was very important to go say sorry for taking up the time of the senator. 

She didn’t really understand why she had to apologize but at least she got to bake a cloudberry cake and her and Padawan Tano to go give it as thanks. She currently was in the hoverbus towards the legations quarters. Ahsoka was holding the cake while a clone in red armour was tapping some messages in his com. There was a lot of thought going through the cabin as she focused back on her breathing, just like master Faw told her.

She could already feel Ahsoka nervous excitement over the visit while the clone passed for a blank sheet of boredom. The little family in front of her was calmly following their mothers lullabies and the two men in suits wafted with an air of angry negotiations, ideas of unknown numbers fussing around them. On the outside, a sphere containing so many shapes she couldn’t count them. She didn't quite jump, but the gravely voice coming from the tall soldier was more than enough to get her out of her colorful visions.

-Commander, if I may?

-Just Padawan Tano, Commander Thire, I don't even understand why a guard was needed, it isn’t even a mission or anything.

Images of dark offices and bloody floors waft out of the helmet but the tone of the clone barely changes. 

-Some senators usually ask for personal excuses when there’s… errors that are made by those in their service. We just like to stop incidents before they happen. 

Ahsoka took an inquisitive look.  

-What kind of… WOAH! 

The announcement of their arrival on the legations plaza was more or less drowned by the cries of surprise to the pilot droid dry stop. Getting back on her feet after her accidental slingshotting into Commander Thires' sides, she quickly shot out of the hover bus toward the fountain. Thémis was followed by the cries of « Initiate Ankaro! » and a « Kid! Come back here! ». 

She wasn’t just running for the fountain but for the force presence that felt like freshly baked sweets. Riyo was currently waiting by the fountain with a lanky soldier standing guard. Riyo's face lit up as a handful of pink Twi’lek, her whole force presence brightened up. 

-Oh! Témis, hello, how have you been?

The expletive was quickly followed by an armful of rosy Twi'leks and babble about a movie she got to watch with her clan. What quickly followed was the rushed arrival of a flustered padawan and a panicked clone. The guard seemed quite grumpy as the padawan quickly joined the side of the senators. 

-Témis, you can’t just run away like that. I know that you were excited to see Riyo but it’s dangerous to just run in the middle of Coruscant. 

-Oh, sorry Soka, next time I'll walk with you… 

A tinkling laugh rang through the plaza, the senators finding Ahsoka panic quite funny and Témis réaction quite cute.

-It’s fine Ahsoka, the legations are quite safe, even if the little one here seems to have developed a love jailbreak. For now we should go back to the embassy for now.»

- Are they always like that?

-Oh yeah, pretty much, the padawan has been here about every time her battalion touched down on Coruscant. 

-We’re fine with them making doves eyes at each other, at least Mrs. Chuchi takes more than one break every year. 

Thire shuffled a bit and then finally responded

-For once we were happy with the result of one of the bets on the board.   

-Good…

Témis was quite surprised when she entered the living quarters of the embassy. Last time it was mostly empty and felt void, like one of those storage rooms that hadn’t been entered in a century or two. But now, warmth and life had entered the small apartment, as mementoes and decorations had filled the furniture with sunnier tones. Plasti-holo’s of Riyo family now lined the wall with happy faces and the couch was now covered in a large blanket covered in the wintery motif.

She quickly jumps on it as she hears Ahsoka talking in the small kitchenette, putting the cake in the conservator and pulling out a pitcher of water. Now that the soldiers have left them alone, a comfortable silence takes over the room. The senator quickly came back with some kind of board game. 

-So Témis, why did you want to come see me today? It’s the first time I received a formal message from the Jedi. 

Témis turned around and laid herself on the back of the couch. 

-Well, you were really fun the last time I was here and apparently I needed to write you an excuse letter because I slept a night here.

- Why would you need to excuse yourself? 

Ahsoka quickly responded 

-So nobody feels they are owed something by the other. 

And quickly continued on a cheerier note.

- But at least a little excuse to watch the second part of that movie.   

-YAY!!

The night had finally overtaken the district and has the credit to the movie shown up, snack long discarded and the three of them thoroughly tuckered out. Both women were discreetly talking, thinking that Temis was finally asleep. 

-How’s the front doing these days?  

-Not too bad, just… boring, either I'm following Obi-Wan around some treaty negotiation or Anakin, but he keeps getting angry at everyone and everything. 

The hushed conversation continues, completely ignoring the fact that Témis' small ears are listening. Témis already had doubts about Riyo and Soka. They apparently always together and kept cuddling, in fact she was currently quite stuck as the togruta had her head firmly nestled in Riyo's neck and was dully purring.

-Are you two together? 

Riyo cheeks took to a bright lilac blush. Ahsoka made a particularly startling sound for her part.  

-Because Ahsoka keeps purring and my initiate Sanasha keeps cuddling with initiate Gungi because the purring reminds her of her parents and you keep being touchy feely and you feel like whipped cream in the force…

Both ladies had frozen in shock and by the time Ahsoka had finally come out of her blue screen, their blush was probably warm enough to cook an egg on their faces. 

-Initiate Ankaro, you can’t speak about relationships like that and it’s very impolite.

-But you guys aren't together? 

The only sound that came out was the deafening silence as the two oblivious idiots looked at their relationship these past months.

A comfortable silence had overtook the small kitchenette as Riyo finished the pouring of two cups of herbal tea. Témis was finally asleep and now her questions were just hanging in the air. Riyo had always liked Ahsoka, with her cute rambling and warm disposition, but she thought that the jedi didn’t permit any relationship so she simply let it go and took what she had for now. 

Ahsoka on her part, had nursed a big fat crush on Riyo since their first meeting. And if the kind senator had commenced as a tall and imposing figure, she was now her closest friend on the outside of the Jedi. But she was a senator and she was but a padawan and surely Riyo had better prospects on her home planet and…

-Ahsoka?

She really needed to meditate. She really shouldn’t be this easily startled. By the third time her name was called she finally looked up into those pools of gold that were the senators eyes.

-Yeah?

-Your tea is going cold.

-Oh kriff, sorry, I was stuck in my head for a bit.

-Yeah, you’ve been stuck in the cloud quite a lot lately.

-Yeah…

-We should probably…

-Yeah we should… Talk about that.

-So?

A tight silence took the room as Riyo presence in force went from a shielded mix of worry and amusement to an inquisitive and hopeful focus.

-What?

-Either we are really oblivious as Témis said or we should speak about whatever is happening between us.

-I… Ok, we should speak about that before I do something dumb.

-Good, so should you start or can I go first.

-You go first, I have yet to fully digest the situation.

Riyo took a seat right in front of Ahsoka (which really made her heart go faster) and took her hands in her own.

-Ahsoka Tano, I have feelings for you. I held them in fact for more than a while. While I understand that your position as a Jedi is stopping you from having a relationship…

-Wait what?

-I know that the attraction is probably…

-No not that, we will get back to it. What do you mean by the Jedi can’t have a relationship?

-Aren't Jedi supposed to stay celibate?

-Oh… OH NO! Eehhh… Relationships are fine, it’s kinda more focused on the “no oath over the force things” so most marriage vows are kinda impossible to take as Jedi. But relationships are fine, I mean, everyone knows about Knight Secura and her clone commander and nobody has kicked up a fuss about it, so yeah, no, relationships are fine, marriage is more complicated.

-OK… Hmmm… Ok, so do I restart or can we continue?

-Continue about the whole… Feelings and stuff…

-Right… So I do wish for a relationship if you want one too, but I don't want to put you in any trouble and I will accept any answer you give me.

Ahsoka mulled over the answer to the confession. She did like Riyo a lot, but most Jedi didn’t stay in a relationship for a long time because they were always away on some mission or another. She would need to be honest. After an internal pep talk she finally responded.

-Riyo Chuchi, I also have some feelings for you, but if you really want a relationship, you must understand that as a Jedi, my oath to the force will always supersede everything else and sometimes I will be away for a long time…

-So kind of like now…

-Wait what?

-Well with war and all, our friendship mostly happened around the constraints of our agenda, and we also know not to talk about work stuff because of classification and such. 

-Uh… I guess we really were the oblivious ones… So basically, we continued as usual but with some kisses…

-If that’s what you want?

-I really would like one now I guess.

Ahsoka never thought that whipped cream and tea would go together, but Riyo lips were that sweet.

-You said that marriage for the Jedi was complicated, but does it still happen?

Both were currently cuddled in Riyo bed as stars were dancing right over them. Ahsoka thought of an example but after a minute or two of reflection, she finally had one.

-I know that master Ti - she’s one of the masters of the council - is actually married to one of the mandalorian trainers on Kamino. They had met before on some mission and now they actually took the Ridurrok. I know about it because Master Kenobi sent her a congratulation card.

-Then why does your Master keep his relationship a… poorly kept secret.

-Rex’s theory is because Anakin is actually married to Padmé and the Nubian vow is actually one of the most possessive and conservative and that’s a no-no for the council.

-Right, Naboo has some of the strictest marriage laws if I remember well, and divorce is super complicated.

-Yeah, but my guess is just that Anakin is dumb, sometimes he seems to really misinterpret what a Jedi is. He’s always fighting and sometimes, following him really doesn’t make me feel like a peacekeeper.

-The war is really taking a toll on everything doesn’t it.

-Yeah…

Témis ran through the corridor of the temple, happy from her sleepover and with more questions for her favorite teacher!

-Master Fisto! 

-Hey! Little manta, how was the sleepover!

-Great, we had some kind of roasted meat with a sweet sauce and then we ate the cake I baked and we watched that movie I was talking about and…

-Okay, little one slow down, you can tell me while I walk you back to your creche.

-Fine, so I finally asked if Lady Chuchi and Soka were in a “Relationship” but when I asked they said no and made weird faces. So I guess it was a no. But then I heard some kissy noises and now I guess it’s a yes, but they told me it was impolite to ask so I didn't but they seemed really happy.

-Good, the kid needs more friends than Lumi’s padawan and… Oh force.

-What?

-Someone needs to speak about their relationship with that kid, because Kenobi and Skywalker are probably the two best examples of what not to do in a relationship. 

Chapter Text

Ahsoka was miffed to say the least. It was fine, normal even but still, she really wished Riyo wasn’t stuck in the Senate for another hour of hearing the mighty and powerful screaming at each other like children. Really, she knew democracy was important and such and the bill that was debated was probably something that would affect millions, but… she had just come back from a 3 month deployment on some skugholl where the Seppies thought it was clever to leave an enormous droid plant on site. Because of course. R7-A7 pushed a bunch of expletives in binary, laughing at her expense.

-No, I’m not whipped, R7. If you had a girlfriend you would also be despairing.

A cacophony of mocking thrills continues.

-Not pouting either, you dysfunctional buckets of bolts.

A tired Riyo was quite surprised to see her girlfriend’s droid run out of her apartment, spouting about some kind of heart sickness and was even more surprised to see a pair of blue montrals pursuing the fleeing droid. At least she had the time to react before a tangle of orange limbs slammed into an accidental hug.

-Hey sunshine, I heard you were finally planetside but I didn't expect an ambush for our reunion.

-Sorry, I was bored and the little rapscallion…

Ahsoka was quickly shushed by a peck on the lips, which was quickly followed by a longer kiss as Riyo dragged her into the apartment. As they finally sat down, slotted herself against Riyo on the couch. 

-Since I can't talk about what’s happening to me, what's the latest news at your job? I heard about a visiting Mandalorian delegation so Master Kenobi has been hiding in the temple with paperwork for the past ten days.

-Ah yes, Korkie has actually inquired about your wellbeing. And the Duchess did seem to be quite stressed, I wonder what’s happening in Mandalore these days . But apart from that I finally got that appointment on the Coruscanti Administrative Board I was speaking to you about. 

-So you’ll look into those old agri-corp greenhouses on the lower level that I told you about, right?

-Yup, I already secured the funds from the Alderaanian Royal Humanitarian Mission for their restoration. The one part I still can’t understand is why the banking clan was the one to push for their closure? 

-Wait, the banking clan pushed that, why?

-Something about unfair competition to the Ma-Koshi conglomerate, but the rest of the documentation was sealed under the Banking Secrecy Agreement so i can’t find more about it.

-Well that’s dumb.

Ahsoka started to cuddle closer to Riyo, a low purr finally showing up. While the both of them knew quite well about the difficulties that would come with a long distance relationship, it was still quite hard to have a connection that could be limited to threadbare bond that stretched sectors apart and the message transmitted to temple and smuggled to Riyo when one of Ahsoka friends was on the planet.  But now, at least, the relapse of the war inside their little bubble lets them have this moment of calm.

-I got some actual nerf steaks from the conservator. 

The togruta devisaged Riyo barely hidden hunger, a very manic grin overtooking the usually sunny disposition of the jedi. She was quickly dragged inside the kitchen where a meal was prepared. While the sizzling noise was enough of a distraction, Riyo found it quite funny to see how much of her lover reminded her of the big feline that roamed the winterland of her homeworld. From the huge round eyes that reflected the light, to the barely restrained need to pounce on the content of the pan.

-I know you're quite hungry, bussá, but do you want to hear the story about how liberated those lovely steaks from the devious hand from a fellow of the senate?

Ahsoka finally defrosted from her obsession with the red meat in front of her and turned toward the dashing pantoran telling her about how one Perrin Fertha was currently regretting his gambling on the ability of the good commander Fox to drag senator Mox’utle out of his pod when his dealings with the Separatist Techno-Union were revealed in front of the whole Senate. The conversation flowed easily over dinners, Ahsoka relishing in the présence of actual red meat and Riyo just being happy to see Ahsoka eating food that her species is actually meant to eat. 

-If you receive a love letter in triplicate about nutrition, that just might be Kix signing your praise.

-Ah, you have competition then, you have yet to give me a love letter. 

-Quite sorry princess Riyo, but the only flimsi to be found in the temple is fiercely protected by a terrible dragon.

-But Madam Nu was so kind when I asked her for the databanks from the Coruscanti Architectural Committee.

-That might be because my lineage has history of not returning books, in fact I think the only real reason the war is still going on, is that Jocasta Nu has been grounded on Coruscant or she would have beaten the into the ground for modifying the files of the archives.

-That much?

-She can teleport to ask about unreturned data slates.

-Dear gods…

Ahsoka's loud guffaw finally broke the theatrics as they both continued to eat contentedly on the apartment couch.

-My flesh-bag is better than yours!

-No mine is better, it gave me a full oil bath!

-And mine got me the electro-prode model!

-And mine got me a welding torch!

-And mine overclocked my charging port.

-And mine doesn’t leave with the annoying golden one who speaks in their dumb language.

R2 stopped the cry and superiority for a second and thought about it.

-Fine, you have the better flesh-bag… for now!

-YOU CAN’T HAVE MY FLESH-BAG!!

Fox really hoped that the two roving trash cans he saw running after one another didn't start a fire in some random bathroom. But he was on his royally assented break and Breha really insisted he took a break in his 24h shift.

-Not circus, not my problem…

It was weird, thought Ahsoka. Most of her life had been at the temple, still was really. If she wanted, inside her quarters she would probably find her clothes and her unfinished homework, forgotten on the side of the couch. The pot of dried jerky was probably sitting right next to her Master’s chocolate cookies and her grandmaster’s tea set. Still, over the last few months more and more of her life was inside the Pantoran embassy. At least the adult’s part she guessed. 

While the clothes were her clothes of the early war, before the armour that sat inside one of the enormous warships that now constantly dominated the Coruscanti skyline, the newer one now sits inside Riyo’s closet. Her favourite tea stays firmly next to the Pantoran traditional tea set. She even had her toothbrush, like in all those holo-romance that she used to read and most of all, she was currently pressed against Riyo warm blue skin.

-I’m no Jedi, Soka, but I can feel you thinking to yourself very loudly.

-Yeah, sorry, I should probably sleep or something but…

She was quickly pulled out of her rambling by a small kiss on the tip of her nose.

-Bussá… what’s on your mind? I’m more than happy to listen.

-It’s… you don’t have problems with me being here right, not like… for the girlfriends part but like… I kinda halfway moved inside your house and…

This time it was a searing kiss that made her brain stop for five seconds and then she heard Riyo speaking to her.

-Ahsoka, I’m extremely happy that you moved in and that you're comfortable in my… no, inside our home. It’s because of you that I finally started to spend some time home appreciating both Coruscant and more importantly my time with you. 

The togruta made a thoughtful sound as she climbed back up the bed to put herself to the same eye level as the pantoran. She planted a deep kiss as vengeance for that brain freeze earlier and finally responded.

-Thanks Riyo, I know I’m not always the best at verbalizing my emotions, it’s kind of a lineage thing actually, but thank you for being probably the closest thing to an anchor even when the galaxy keeps throwing me across it.

The still darkness finally overtook both lovers as they fell asleep into the night, the simple rumbling of the togruta warming their little sphere of love, even in cold depths of the galaxy.

Chapter Text

Riyo had been frozen for the last two months. Everyone around her was still feeling the shock that came with the end of the Republic, of the war and of the genocide of the Jedi. The Senate was currently in a jubilant hunt for any Separatist sympathiser - real or perceived - and the Empire would rule absolute. Ahsoka was gone and the burning corpses that composed her family were still burning in front of her ancestral home. She can still smell the body… 

-Go through the motions… you need to keep going for Pantora… for Soka…

She jumped out of her skin when the cold voice of a guard spoke to her from behind. It was weird, they had turned so cold, soulless even. But as with everything else, normalcy returned. (She didn’t think about the shiny had found in a closet, a blaster in his mouth, his body limp.). The sergeant, Hound if she remembered well, continued to speak.

-Ma’am… Senator Chuchi. This data-disc contains information that is for the viewing of the Pantoran representative only. Their report on the Pantoran sector military report. The security of the Empire depends on you communicating the needs of the Empire with local authority.

The Pantoran grasped the small purple disk, as the faceless man looked upon her. She didn’t know it then but the sergeant was currently barely pulling off the fog that had taken the Grand Army of the Republic. Still, she went back to her office, muttering and looking over her shoulder. Some of the members of the Galactic Committee for the Protection of Civilization had started to make some noise to “retire” the senators that come from “sub-sentient” species. As she was slowly starting to guess, that was the Empire being the Empire.

-Thanks, Sergeant, I'll review the file post-haste.

-Thanks you, Senators. 

The clone finally left as she started to secure her office. She would follow Bail’s advice on this one. Even though the 2000 delegations tried to stem the flow of anti-privacy laws that were passed, they quickly discovered that many of them had been sneaked in anyway. Still, work never stopped.

-She got the disc?

-Yes Vaughn, one of my best sergeants transferred it. You have my word.

-Good… good… I know that I can't ask where you hide them, but how’s the New Shelters project going?

-The moon has been fully hidden and the first amenities have arrived. A friend of ours actually got two people of interest to the project.

-Great.

Most of it was bad. Like real bad. Everything she had worked for would be thrown away. Orto Plutonia would be remilitarized, a new chairman had to be elected immediately or an Imperial governor would be sent, neutering the assembly again. The forced stationment of a fleet in the Sujimis sector. In fact the only document on the disc that wasn't the empire's command was the file of the ecological report of a random planet. Surnamed Paerto by the Explora-Corp when it was indexed by them, it was covered in shallow seas that formed massive tidepools with thriving ecosystems, but it also made the settling uninteresting due to inclement weather.

The last report that had come from a local surveillance probe was that the… oh… oh force… The freerunner had crashed on the planet around the time of the rise of the Empire. No rescue mission had been set up but the crew survival rate had been determined high. Ahsoka might be alive. She needed to prepare her own mission then. She should contact Bail, surely one of his humanitarian missions passed by or she could probably authorize a rescue operation by herself.

As she calmed herself, she thought of something that Ahsoka had told her about when they had started their relationship. 

The coziness of Riyo’s bedroom really was without compare and now that she actually looked at it, it was probably now her own too. She was able to see some of her clothes folded in a hamper by the commode and her akul teeth were strewn on the desk, right next to the rest of Riyo’s jewelry. The soft discussion continued.

-So any more questions about the Jedi or anything else really?

-You said that you could… “feel” me in the force. Is it like telepathy or…

-There’s two things actually…

Riyo was looking at her with rapt attention, two pools of molten gold staring straight through her heart.

-Soka.

-What?!

-You’re staring…

-Oh! Sorry… Where was I?.. Aaah…

Her rambling was suddenly interrupted by a kiss that left her with even less of an idea of what she was saying before. Finally buffering trough.

-Oh force, I can barely speak when you look at me, if you continue to kiss me, I’ll go mute.

-Oh no, what would I do?

-It would probably be the greatest tragedy, wouldn’t it?

A quiet laughter takes over the room, both girls basking in the calm of the midnight ambiance. 

-But yeah, two things, first is the empath part of being force sensitive. Every being affects the force, even the most force-null. But as Jedi we can actually feel the fluctuations that are caused by other beings around them quite instinctively. That’s one of the reasons that force-sensitive babies are so difficult to raise. The parents literally can’t shield any frustration that they might have towards the child and that can cause enormous distress.

-Oof… that seems quite disquieting.

-It can be. For the second part, bonds in the force form naturally, like pathways that are walked more and more. Threading it clarifies what passes through. There is actually a whole course at the temple on how bonds work, their type and how to not misuse them.

-Misuse them, I'm not putting you in danger with our relationships?

-No, rather the inverse actually. Because I can access at will. Its bonds kind of act as a corridor for our thoughts and emotions, but as a trained force sensitive, I have control over the flow that is going through with ease. You could also communicate actually, but it would be simplistic after images and not much more. 

-Oh can you show me?

-Of course, but later when the bond is secured. Though it would be quite fun to feel when you think of me, I can also feel the more carnal stuff too.

-The carnal stuff too… Oh god!

Riyo blushed heavily.

-I was actually quite pleased with myself when you thought of me that way, but not in the middle of battle planning would you?

Though Ahsoka had not been on her first outing as head of the crew of a space crasher, this trip was really starting to last longer than it should. Everything was blowing up, if the comm or the force was to be believed. She couldn't feel any Jedi as a dark tide seemed to drown everything. And now… Now there was water invading their shelter and the cloud seemed to get angrier and angrier. She needed to organise the evacuation of the wreck of the freerunner, which served as their shelter for the last two months. At least, she could still see the star from where she was standing on the rocky outcrop that oversaw their base camp. The only light that came off this planet was her bond with Riyo. While the current position of the Senator was probably quite harsh but she knew her. Knew that she would for the good of her people. She seemed to always send her notes of her favourite songs. Specifically the one they had danced to in her office…

-Soka, we finally got news.

Commander Vaughn approached her, the man’s plastoid glimmering under the three moons of the planet. At least, the first box of essentials had been mounted up in a cavern that was hidden up on the bluff. 

-So… How bad was it?

-Fox got someone to get us out… He also told us to stay away from Coruscant for now. He apparently had a plan to hide you while we went underground.

-Why would we separate?

-Kid… we aren't abandoning you but you wouldn’t be the first kid that was protected that everyone thought was a padawan. Remember Cut, that vod Rex fought with on Saleucemi? 

-Yeah, the one we couldn’t speak about around the navy’s officers right?

-He got attacked by a mob because they thought his twi-lek step-kid was a padawan and they attacked him.

-Why!?

-Because…

-The galaxy is going to shit.

-The galaxy is going to shit.

Again, the darkness of the galaxy and she couldn’t be there to help. Surely if Master Skywalker and Kenobi were still alive, they would be fighting with their man. Come on, the war was approaching its end now everything was falling apart and…

-Soka…

-What!?

-I don’t need the force to know that your brain is brewing on the most bitter of caf currently, but you know that staying alive for another day is the best way to keep the Jedi alive. Their millions will fight against the Empire and…

-But you're not just expandable in another fight and..!

Vaughn grabbed by both shoulders, looking her straight in the eyes, trying to convey the necessity of her safety. 

-Commander please, before you can fight you need to get the massive crosshairs off your back. What did Codes tell you about unnecessary losses?

-Retreating before they happen is the preferred option… General Skywalker.

-Fine… I’ll stay where Fox will hide me. Just… promise you guys don’t put yourself in bad trouble… without me that is!

-Of course commander!

-Fox, please give me some good news. The kid was pouting at everyone.

-I got my own kid now!

The absence of the helmet couldn’t hide the slack-jawed reaction to a CC-1010 that was actually happy for once in his life.

-How… When? You… Why?!

-Because both of my riduur adopted the cutest little tubie and she has those big bright brown eyes and..!

The communication was quickly closed and Arguile's head passed through the drapes that separated the comm room from the rest of the shelter.

-That was quick, usually you stay there for at least half an hour.

-There was an overly happy buir on the call and he surely got banned from annoying his squad.

-Wait, 1010 adopted someone?

-Apparently…

Echo was quite happy with this escort mission, the Senator was actually quite friendly and helped Omega choose herself some clothing from her own baggage, because she needed to have clothes she felt good in. Wrecker had slept through the whole flight and Tech seemed to be happy. Fixing the cooking unit was apparently more than stimulating enough for him.

The senator seemed to stay calm enough, she was focusing on her breathing… maybe? It looked like she used the same technique as Ahsoka one did… Force, he hoped that she was okay. Too many had died, and many more would. At least the commander of the Coruscant Guard seemed focused on getting as many Jedi out of the core as possible. Not much to wonder about anyway, Hunter was back with some of the latest information anyway.

-So we aren't on the first voyage to get people out, with all the clones that were on the wreck having received a transfer to other occupations. Our mission consists of extracting the VIP and then relocating her and Senator Chuchi back to Pantora. Ready boys?

A united cry of « Sir yes sir! » resounded through the ship as most of the team grabbed something to hold as they descended inside the humid atmosphere. While a rainstorm seemed to hold the locations, the landing gear stood firm on the rocky bluff. As Wrecker opened the back door, a tall figure stood in a mix of beige robes and white Jedi armour. A tall hood covered her montrals, but the old pattern that he and Torrents can’t conceal the kid that used to hide the venators vents.

-Soka..?

-Wait… Echo, you’re alive!? How? And Riyo, what are you doing here?

Echo didn't have to wait for the response as a blue blur passed by him and wrapped the tall togruta into a tight hold. What was a half-sob-half-cry of joy as the senator started to make an inventory of the young woman.

-Hey you, I don't even get a hello.

-Don’t « hey you » me Soka, I thought you were dead for the past month before someone informed me of your whereabouts. Don’t…

Riyo thudded her head against Ahsoka's plastoid chestplate and sighed.

-I knew you would always be in danger, Soka, but I thought that problem would alway be the droid attacking you, not the men you served with. At least I can keep you safe this time around.

-Wait? Keep me safe?!

-There were already rumours that I was seeing a Togruti aide, they just couldn’t figure out who. So if I go back home with a Togruti girlfriend. Then…

-They just assume I'm that aide and nobody says anything. Yeah, that would be good.

As both women went back to the ship arm in arm, the batch mostly let them have their own discussion. Echo was quite happy to know that the operation «get the commander a girlfriend» had actually worked even if he didn’t see the results for himself. They stood in small huddles as Omega looked at them curiously. The kid looked happy to finally be able to speak to other girls about her own stuff.

-So…

-What, Echo?

It was quite humorous to see the commander indignantly huff, stuck under the petite Pantoran senator.

-And I am quoting, « meeting my parents will probably the hardest part ». I didn’t know you were that smooth Soka.

-I don’t really know, but we make each other happy and for now it’s probably one of the greatest things ever to happen in this galaxy. Probably the next one over too.

-Oh force, you’re gone for her…

-Yup, as seems to be tradition in my lineage anyway.

The both of them laughed as Riyo started to quietly hum a song in her state of somnolence.