Jedi Need Protecting Too
This is a request by an anon here on Tumblr. They asked: “How about a fic where Rex is protective of Anakin?”
T for violence. Anakin is a little incompetent and Rex is very competent. 800 words.
Commander Skywalker is not a careful man. In fact, Rex would argue that he is deliberately reckless. And, as Rex dodges blaster bolts, sliding behind a mound of metal that was, at some point, probably a power droid, Rex thinks most of the 501st would agree with him. Something explodes off to his right, the direction Anakin had run, and Rex curses. He thinks most of the rest of the Republic would agree too.
Blasting two incoming droids, Rex rolls to the right, flinging himself behind a stand of stumps as he scans the battlefield for any flashes of blue in his periphery. There. The general leaps from atop a boulder, lightsaber flashing through a group of droids faster than their programming can track him.
It’d be impressive if it wasn’t obvious that Anakin was only using one hand, the other limp at his side.
Rex curses again, with more feeling, and rolls out from cover. He heads straight for the general, blasters ablaze. If Anakin is already injured, Rex is pulling him. They’re close to victory as is; that idiot doesn’t need to be endangering himself any more than he already has.
Ducking shrapnel, Rex breaks into a run. It’s easy to follow the path Anakin has wrought through the ranks of clankers. He takes the clear line of it at speed, closing in behind the general to shoot the few droids left functioning in his wake. Only when Rex climbs an overturned tank to smash through a battle droid’s faceplate with the butt of his blaster does Anakin notice him, grinning cheekily as he performs an impressive backflip, beheading a commando with an air of ease that forces a grin to Rex’s face. He knows Anakin can’t see it, but he fixes his face into a scowl as quickly as he can force it. If Anakin is showing off, he shouldn’t have gotten injured.
Finally, there’s a lull in the battle and Rex catches up. He shoves Anakin into a bombed-out building, shoves him right up against an inside wall. “You’re injured,” he growls, one hand firmly against Anakin’s shoulder and the other wrapped steadily around the grip of his blaster.
The jedi has the nerve to laugh, shrugging, “Yeah, but it’s not bad.” His eyes fall half-closed and a slow smirk spreads across his lips, “You gunna do something about it?”
Gritting his teeth, Rex checks the hole they entered through. With any luck, none of the clankers saw them and they can lie low until the rest of the 501st, as well as the 212th, catch up. The battle really is nearly won; the droids all but in full retreat. He risks glancing back to Anakin, regretting it when he finds that smirk still firmly in place, “I’m keeping you here in cover until this battle finishes, General.”
He emphasizes the rank in the hopes that it keeps Anakin from doing anything stupid on the field, like trying to rile Rex up any further. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t work.
Anakin squawks in indignation, pushing back against Rex’s hand, “We’ve nearly won! I should be out there! You can’t just keep me here to let Obi-Wan take all the glory!”
Even with his helmet on, Rex is fairly sure Anakin can tell how hard he rolls his eyes. Shoving back against Anakin’s protests, Rex all but presses the entire line of his body against the man, words coming through his vocal filters in an angry hiss, “You’re injured. You’re. Staying. Here.”
He can see the retort in the jedi’s eyes, but the distinct sound of metal on metal pulls Rex’s gaze to the hole in the building. A battle droid is looking into the gloom, scanning. Rex twists, facing the droid and placing himself in front of his general.
The droid falls to his blaster fire before it even realizes they’re there. Another takes its place. Rex keeps shooting.
When no more droids step into the shadow of the building and a neat little pile has begun to block the base of the hole, Rex glances at Anakin, making sure he hasn’t been hit in any of the crossfire. There are no injuries- no new injuries- and Rex relaxes a fraction.
His blaster smokes and Anakin looks a little breathless. It’s Rex’s turn to smirk. Anakin’s cheeks heat just the barest amount, probably guessing at how Rex is reacting, and he looks away to peer further into the gloom, frowning hard. He’s stubbornly silent.
When the 501st finally locates them, Anakin doesn’t fuss as Kix treats his hand. Rex knows it’s only because he’s crouched beside the jedi, hand placed unassumingly on Anakin’s shoulder.
If the grip is a little tight, if Rex still places himself between the door and Anakin, Kix doesn’t comment.