Rex’s eyes were gritty from lack of sleep, and he gave up trying to parse the sentence the third time the words blurred together.
“What time is it?” he asked, tossing the data pad aside.
Cody looked up from his pad. The only concession he made to the reams of reports they were going through was the carafe of caf at his elbow and the mussed tangle of his hair from running his hands through it.
“No idea,” Cody said, standing. “Pass me my kit.”
Later, Rex blamed the exhaustion for how he unthinkingly passed it over. Cody picked out what looked like a sonic detonator, fiddled with the settings, and then keyed open the door and tossed it into the hall.
“Oh fuck,” Rex said, scrambling backwards as Cody serenely keyed the door shut.
Even through the closed door and on one of the lowest settings, the damn thing squealed loud enough it made Rex’s teeth ached and the wax in his ears bubble.
There was the sound of several panicked bodies hitting the floor followed by vicious swearing as the detonator mercifully died away.
Cody opened the door to the shocked awake faces of several brothers as they spilled out into The Negotiator’s hall.
“What the fuck, sir?” Wooley demanded, living up to his namesake as his was a giant cloud burst about his head. “Are we under attack?”
There was a deep and heavy sigh as Kenobi stepped into view, robe wrapped loosely about his body and dark circles under his eyes.
“It is currently ten after five Coruscant time,” Kenobi said, pinning Cody with a look that was equal parts exasperated and amused.
“Thank you, sir,” Cody said. “You can go back to bed, boys. We’ll talk about your response time in the morning.”
“This is why I dream of you dying,” Boil muttered as they headed back to their racks. “It’s so peaceful.”
“And,” Kenobi said once the hall cleared, “this is why I bought you a watch, Commander.”
“Lost it on our last campaign,” Cody answered, “when you led us into that lake.”
Kenobi’s expression didn’t change. “Ah, well, I suppose I walked into that one. Get some rest, both of you. You look terrible.”
“No worse than you, sir,” Cody said, and Kenobi made a rude gesture before retreating back to his quarters.
“If I were you” Rex said, pressing a knuckle against one ear, “I’d be worried about friendly fire in my future.”
“I’d like to see them try,” Cody said, and threw a pillow at his face.
“I should go back to barracks,” Cody said, but didn’t rise from his sprawl on Obi-Wan’s sofa.
“Mmmm, no, comfy,” Obi-Wan argued sleepily from where he was curled
against Cody’s chest. His head rested just over Cody’s steadily beating
heart, and he didn’t want to move a micron.
“Morning briefing,” Cody reminded, as there were certain habits they maintained even though the war was essentially over.
“I’ll wake you in time,” Obi-Wan promised, nuzzling against Cody,
then humming softly with satisfaction as strong, slender fingers found
their way into his hair and began to gently stroke.
“The vod’ike will worry.”
“No they won’t, they know where you are.”
Cody huffed softly, but bent his head to kiss Obi-Wan’s soft hair. It wasn’t as if he really wanted to go.
“Should just move in permanently,” Obi-Wan groused. “There is enough room for both of us.” Especially since Anakin’s finally moved out, he didn’t say.
“I’ll stay tonight, and we’ll have a proper conversation about the
rest come morning,” Cody compromised, and Obi-Wan mumbled and hugged his
waist. Cody shook his head, then carefully gathered up his Jedi and
carried him off to bed.
“I should go back to barracks,” Cody said, but didn’t rise from his sprawl on Obi-Wan’s sofa.
“Mmmm, no, comfy,” Obi-Wan argued sleepily from where he was curled
against Cody’s chest. His head rested just over Cody’s steadily beating
heart, and he didn’t want to move a micron.
“Morning briefing,” Cody reminded, as there were certain habits they maintained even though the war was essentially over.
“I’ll wake you in time,” Obi-Wan promised, nuzzling against Cody,
then humming softly with satisfaction as strong, slender fingers found
their way into his hair and began to gently stroke.
“The vod’ike will worry.”
“No they won’t, they know where you are.”
Cody huffed softly, but bent his head to kiss Obi-Wan’s soft hair. It wasn’t as if he really wanted to go.
“Should just move in permanently,” Obi-Wan groused. “There is enough room for both of us.” Especially since Anakin’s finally moved out, he didn’t say.
“I’ll stay tonight, and we’ll have a proper conversation about the
rest come morning,” Cody compromised, and Obi-Wan mumbled and hugged his
waist. Cody shook his head, then carefully gathered up his Jedi and
carried him off to bed.
Cody shifted, waiting despite knowing that Obi-Wan was unlikely to
make the first move. But his Jedi also liked to keep him off balance, so
since Obi-Wan knew that Cody knew that Soresu was a defensive form –
well, sparring with Obi-Wan was always as much a mental battle as a
physical one, which was part of what made it so enjoyable for Cody.
A smile twitched at the corner of Cody’s mouth as they circled, the
training ‘saber humming in his hands with an almost familiar vibration.
In the months since the end of hostilities, Cody had rarely left his
Jedi’s side, and Obi-Wan was more in demand for negotiating ceasefires
at the moment than for strategizing attacks. Cody knew it was a state
that immensely pleased Obi-Wan. To that end, Cody too was pleased. He
was still contemplating what he wanted to do himself, but acting as
Obi-Wan’s mission partner and head of his security detail was a good
stop gap until Cody figured things out. He was quite sure, after all,
that he wanted to remain at Obi-Wan’s side.
Obi-Wan shifted across the mats, and Cody felt his muscles
instinctively tighten in anticipation. The circling continued, until
Cody’s mind almost wandered again. Then – then Obi-Wan streaked forward.
Cody raised his ‘saber, their blades clashing together in a flare of
retina searing light. Cody pushed back, and the grin broke free on his
face. He had a good feeling.
A corresponding smile flashed across Obi-Wan’s face, toothy and
eager, and then they were parting, only to meet again. Practice and
before that familiarity with one another’s fighting styles and
personalities made their sparring as much a dance as anything; a
challenge and collaboration at once, they whirled around the room until
Cody managed to pin Obi-Wan down. It wasn’t often he gained the
advantage in their matches, and he savoured the feeling of having
obi-Wan wrong-footed.
“You have me at a disadvantage,” Obi-Wan noted mildly, and Cody felt his grin widen further.
“For the moment,” Cody said, knowing that words were just another
weapon in his Jedi’s arsenal, and one which he was not so skilled at
countering.
“And the cost of my freedom?” Obi-Wan inquired, shifting slightly to
see if he could free himself. Cody hummed thoughtfully, one eyebrow
flicking up but his eyes not shifting from Obi-Wan’s, knowing that there
alone would he be able to see and anticipate the Jedi’s intentions.
There was no surrender in those eyes.
“You’ve assumed I’d willing to free you,” Cody pointed out.
“And that is an erroneous assumption?” Obi-Wan asked, buying time.
“Oh yes,” Cody said, still grinning. “Haven’t I made clear I’m never
letting you go?” He shifted his weight, pinning Obi-Wan to the mats more
securely and stealing a kiss. Obi-Wan smiled fondly at that and kissed
back. Which promptly preoccupied Cody and allowed Obi-Wan to free
himself. Cody shook his head, still smiling himself, and knowing he’d
let himself be distracted. “Gedin’la besom,” he said, and Obi-Wan
grinned, shifting back into his ready position. Cody shook his head
again, but raised his own weapon in readiness.
“If I was predictable your life would be so boring though,” Obi-Wan
teased, and then sprang forward. Cody dodged the sweeping attack,
rolling beneath Obi-Wan’s blade and swiping at his Jedi’s side as they
passed one another. Obi-Wan hissed, letting Cody know he’d scored a
touch, and then they were whirling back into their dance, trading blows
at rapid pace. Cody knew he would tire first – even if endurance wasn’t
Obi-Wan’s specialty, the Force was a Jedi’s ally, and granted greater
stamina. It was also inaccessible to Cody as a Force-null. If he won, it
would be with a combination of skill, tactics, and sheer luck.
Eventually, their previous positions on the mat were reversed, Cody
pinned beneath Obi-Wan, their ‘sabers crossed between them. For all he
wanted to win – he was as competitive as any of his vode – Cody couldn’t
quite bring himself to dislike being in that position. He met Obi-Wan’s
gaze, and couldn’t help but smile.
“What?” Obi-Wan asked after a moment, a faint smile teasing at the corner of his mouth.
“Your lightsaber – it brings out your eyes,” Cody said, and Obi-Wan
barked out a laugh, then disengaged and pushed away Cody’s borrowed
‘saber so they could kiss again.
Mando’a:
Gedin’la: eccentric, cranky, in a mood – literally *almost insane*
Besom: ill-mannered lout, unhygienic person, someone with no manners (in Mandalorian terms)
Cody shifted, waiting despite knowing that Obi-Wan was unlikely to
make the first move. But his Jedi also liked to keep him off balance, so
since Obi-Wan knew that Cody knew that Soresu was a defensive form –
well, sparring with Obi-Wan was always as much a mental battle as a
physical one, which was part of what made it so enjoyable for Cody.
A smile twitched at the corner of Cody’s mouth as they circled, the
training ‘saber humming in his hands with an almost familiar vibration.
In the months since the end of hostilities, Cody had rarely left his
Jedi’s side, and Obi-Wan was more in demand for negotiating ceasefires
at the moment than for strategizing attacks. Cody knew it was a state
that immensely pleased Obi-Wan. To that end, Cody too was pleased. He
was still contemplating what he wanted to do himself, but acting as
Obi-Wan’s mission partner and head of his security detail was a good
stop gap until Cody figured things out. He was quite sure, after all,
that he wanted to remain at Obi-Wan’s side.
Obi-Wan shifted across the mats, and Cody felt his muscles
instinctively tighten in anticipation. The circling continued, until
Cody’s mind almost wandered again. Then – then Obi-Wan streaked forward.
Cody raised his ‘saber, their blades clashing together in a flare of
retina searing light. Cody pushed back, and the grin broke free on his
face. He had a good feeling.
A corresponding smile flashed across Obi-Wan’s face, toothy and
eager, and then they were parting, only to meet again. Practice and
before that familiarity with one another’s fighting styles and
personalities made their sparring as much a dance as anything; a
challenge and collaboration at once, they whirled around the room until
Cody managed to pin Obi-Wan down. It wasn’t often he gained the
advantage in their matches, and he savoured the feeling of having
obi-Wan wrong-footed.
“You have me at a disadvantage,” Obi-Wan noted mildly, and Cody felt his grin widen further.
“For the moment,” Cody said, knowing that words were just another
weapon in his Jedi’s arsenal, and one which he was not so skilled at
countering.
“And the cost of my freedom?” Obi-Wan inquired, shifting slightly to
see if he could free himself. Cody hummed thoughtfully, one eyebrow
flicking up but his eyes not shifting from Obi-Wan’s, knowing that there
alone would he be able to see and anticipate the Jedi’s intentions.
There was no surrender in those eyes.
“You’ve assumed I’d willing to free you,” Cody pointed out.
“And that is an erroneous assumption?” Obi-Wan asked, buying time.
“Oh yes,” Cody said, still grinning. “Haven’t I made clear I’m never
letting you go?” He shifted his weight, pinning Obi-Wan to the mats more
securely and stealing a kiss. Obi-Wan smiled fondly at that and kissed
back. Which promptly preoccupied Cody and allowed Obi-Wan to free
himself. Cody shook his head, still smiling himself, and knowing he’d
let himself be distracted. “Gedin’la besom,” he said, and Obi-Wan
grinned, shifting back into his ready position. Cody shook his head
again, but raised his own weapon in readiness.
“If I was predictable your life would be so boring though,” Obi-Wan
teased, and then sprang forward. Cody dodged the sweeping attack,
rolling beneath Obi-Wan’s blade and swiping at his Jedi’s side as they
passed one another. Obi-Wan hissed, letting Cody know he’d scored a
touch, and then they were whirling back into their dance, trading blows
at rapid pace. Cody knew he would tire first – even if endurance wasn’t
Obi-Wan’s specialty, the Force was a Jedi’s ally, and granted greater
stamina. It was also inaccessible to Cody as a Force-null. If he won, it
would be with a combination of skill, tactics, and sheer luck.
Eventually, their previous positions on the mat were reversed, Cody
pinned beneath Obi-Wan, their ‘sabers crossed between them. For all he
wanted to win – he was as competitive as any of his vode – Cody couldn’t
quite bring himself to dislike being in that position. He met Obi-Wan’s
gaze, and couldn’t help but smile.
“What?” Obi-Wan asked after a moment, a faint smile teasing at the corner of his mouth.
“Your lightsaber – it brings out your eyes,” Cody said, and Obi-Wan
barked out a laugh, then disengaged and pushed away Cody’s borrowed
‘saber so they could kiss again.
Mando’a:
Gedin’la: eccentric, cranky, in a mood – literally *almost insane*
Besom: ill-mannered lout, unhygienic person, someone with no manners (in Mandalorian terms)
AU where Cody is running on three days of battle with no sleep and too many stims, and he just can’t figure out what this random-ass guy in a hood wants. Who is he? He doesn’t look like any general Cody knows. Honestly fuck this, he’s trying to keep his men and his reckless idiot Jedi alive, try again later Sidious. And that’s how everyone survives 66.
wrennette 