Captain Rex adjusted the hood of his cloak, the coarse fabric brushing against his forehead as he scanned the shadowed alleyway for any signs of movement. The city lights cast a dim glow over the damp streets, reflecting off scattered puddles from the recent rain. It was quiet here, away from the bustling heart of the city—a place where two people could meet unseen. He hadn’t been sure if they would come. He barely knew where they were hiding, only that they’d been moving from one forgotten corner of the galaxy to another since leaving the Jedi Order. But he had to see them. It felt like ages since he’d heard their voice, and he knew the risks they both faced by meeting here. Rex was used to danger—it came with his job. But tonight, the danger felt sharper, somehow more personal.

A faint sound broke his thoughts. His heart quickened as he saw a familiar figure slip quietly from the shadows.

The former Jedi—his secret, his heart—moved toward him with graceful caution, their own hood drawn up. Even concealed in layers of roughspun clothing, they seemed to glow, a calming presence that Rex felt could soothe even the harshest battlefield. “Couldn’t stay away,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion he usually kept under tight control. He reached out, hesitating for just a second before his gloved hand rested on their shoulder, as if reassuring himself they were real.