Private Rebel Path

[Resh]

Resh did a double take in Acier's direction, as if surprised that he had been listening to intently. When he locked eyes with the pureblood, Resh found it hard for himself to look away. Ace spoke with conviction, with experience. They weren't just words to smooth things over. The padawan found himself shrinking, not in shame but in comfort. The tension he always carried in his chest dissipated. A new face who didn't just accept, but understood. That was a rare blessing for him.

"I guess you're right…" Resh answered, a slight smile creeping across his lips, "You said you get it. And I think you do. So what about you then? Is there a story there?" He took a relieved breath as the droid left him be, the ache of his wounds already subsiding.

Acier Moonbound​

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: New Plympto

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace's dark eyes held Resh's for a long moment. The kid had bared something raw, and now he was asking in turn.​

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"There's a story." Ace said finally, voice low. He shook his head, lips pressing thin. "Just not one I want to tell."​

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The shuttle rocked underfoot as it banked, the sound of its engines steady where blasterfire had been minutes ago. Refugees murmured in relief, some clinging to family, others just staring blank at the deck like they couldn't believe they were still alive. Ace's gaze lingered on them, then flicked back to Resh.​

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"You wanna know the real truth?" His voice was rough, tired, but steady. "Everyone's carrying baggage. Trick is to do your best to not let it define you."​

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It was something Ace himself still struggled with and actively wrestled with. Dealing with the knowledge of his past, his birth, knowing what he was meant to be, living with that fear. And yet, he continued to do his best to become his own person.​

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The droid fiddled at his ribs and he shoved it off with a grunt, hissing as the bacta patch sealed over burned flesh. Tic chittered at him in protest, claws scratching his boot, but he ignored it.​

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His gaze stayed on Resh, steady. "That's how you make sure you're more than what they tried to write over you. More than their story."​

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Ace shifted, elbows braced on his knees, every breath tugging sharp at the burn across his ribs. His knuckles were still raw, flexing unconsciously as if he hadn't completely left the fight behind. Tic scrambled up to Ace's thigh, photoreceptor flickering as he leaned into him like he could keep him upright. His voice came quieter when he finally spoke.​

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"You talk like belonging means a lot to you, I get it. It's worth something. More than most things. Just… don't confuse it with the chains. Find it in the ones who see you, not the ones who'd use you."​

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Resh ​

 

[Resh]

Resh nodded in understanding, not pressing the issue further but now finding himself stewing in the uncomfortable silence. When Ace broke it again, Resh quickly turned his eyes back towards the rebel, "Yeah. I'm starting to figure that out."

He was older now, old enough to understand some of the complexities that he could not when he was first brought to the Jedi Temple. And the more he saw of peers and mentors alike, the more he realized that most of these people had their own imperfections. The ideals he tried to strive for were worthy, but also an impossible standard for even the most righteous among them. They simply had to be the best they could be, as often as they could be.

"You talk like belonging means a lot to you, I get it. It's worth something. More than most things. Just… don't confuse it with the chains. Find it in the ones who see you, not the ones who'd use you."

"Sounds like you've had a lot of time to think about this yourself." Resh leaned back, staring up at the ship rafters, "Thanks. I try to tell myself that, but I have a hard time really get it through, you know? It's nice to hear someone else say it out loud, though."

Acier Moonbound​

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: New Plympto

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace huffed out something between a laugh and a wince, hand still clamped over his ribs. "Don't give me too much credit. I'm just good at overthinking when I can't sleep."

The silence stretched, filled by the steady hum of the shuttle and the low murmur of refugees pressing close to their families. Tic tilted his head up at him, warbling affectionately. He gave the droid a flat look, then ruffled its battered casing with two fingers.

A comm crackled overhead, the pilot calling ETA. The shuttle jolted slightly as it climbed higher, beginning to cut through the clouds beyond the viewport.

Ace shifted, easing back against the bulkhead, eyes half-lidding with fatigue. "Think you could tell your pilot to swing me by the starport?" he muttered. "Got my own ship to get back to."

For a moment his eyes lingered on Resh, the kid was bloodied, patched up, but still upright. Stronger than he probably realized. Ace exhaled through his nose, a faint, tired grin tugging at his mouth.

"Not bad at all." He said quietly, more to himself than to Resh.

Tic chirped softly, curling into his lap as the shuttle carried them all toward safer skies.

Resh​

 

[Resh]

Resh became distracted by his own thoughts as silence filled the space between them. Ace's voice cut through the thrum of the ship's engines, pulling the pureblood's golden eyes back towards him.

"Think you could tell your pilot to swing me by the starport?" he muttered. "Got my own ship to get back to."

Resh blinked, then smirked, "Heh. Yeah. I'll let him know. Wouldn't want to forget that." Something told him that getting your vessels impounded by Imperials was a much messier process than your usual ship troubles. He hadn't noticed what Ace said after, only sparing a glance at what he thought sounded like some muttering. But he stood up tall in spite of his injuries, reflecting that underlying confidence which Resh himself was not fully aware of, "Thanks for the help, Acier. You're pretty cool," He stared at the rebel for a moment, then chose to offer a handshake. That was what professionals did, right?

Then, it was off to the pilot, so they could make a pit stop for Ace's sake. And his ship.

Acier Moonbound​