A Path Less Taken

Chapter 34 - Arrangements

"Took you long enough for you to figure it out," Rex said.

"That does not make this any easier, Rex," Anakin snapped.

"Sorry, sorry. I know," Rex said apologetically.

"The craziest thing is that it somehow feels damn good to say that out loud, but at the same time, it puts all of the issues with the situation in front of me. And I hate having to face up to all that," Anakin said, his shoulders slumping. Rex hadn't seen Anakin look... hopeless. Not completely defeated. Just lost to a certain extent. He had seen Anakin almost always be confident to some extent, so this was new to him.

"The thing you have to wonder is if it's worth it," Rex told him.

"Yes. Without a doubt," Anakin said without hesitation.

"Well, that gets one thing cleared up. Question is, what are you going to do about it?" Rex questioned.

"Well, my marriage is one thing. It's been a long time coming, honestly. But the idea of breaking off this marriage hurts. The idea of it hurts, but actually doing it is going to hurt far worse," Anakin said, looking to the side. But then his head snapped back up, his expression serious. "But it's got to happen."

"If it's of some comfort to you, I think Ahsoka will say yes whenever you get around to it," Rex said.

"And you know this how?" Anakin asked.

"I figured it out with you, didn't I? You two are blind to how you act even just normally," Rex said, making Anakin scratch the back of his head.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked.

"Not quite. There's a strange bit of subtlety to it, but at the same time not so. I can't really explain it, but to me, it just seemed a little too kindred of a relationship. For a second I thought I was crazy. Until I talked to your relatives about it," Rex said.

"They know too? Rex..." Anakin said, his eyes narrowing.

"I swear to you, they had the same suspicions I did. They just gave me someone to talk to it about," Rex said, raising his hands in surrender.

"Just be glad I can't prove or disprove that," Anakin said before switching off the autopilot as they neared the planet. "We're approaching the surface. Not a word to Ahsoka. This is my situation, and I want to be the one to tell her. If you say anything, I'll know. And if I find out you said a Force damned word..."

"I'll likely be in hospital for months on end. I promise you I won't say anything," Rex said honestly.

"Good," Anakin said. And that was the end of any more conversation. Rex wasn't even going to try to open the subject back up, given the blank stare Anakin gave Coruscant as he descended the ship to its surface.

"Deal," Anakin said with a nod. Anakin's payment options were settled with a Jedi and a politician. Though those two happened to be Windu and Palpatine. There was about an even distribution of like and dislike in this case.

"I shall see to the credits being distributed. And it is good to have you back Skywalker," Palpatine said with a warm smile, making Anakin smile just as warmly back.

"Thank you, your Excellency," Anakin said formally, nodding at the man. When he left, he turned to Windu. "We've got our money. Now you've got our time. What do you want us to start with?"

"Nothing yet. We will inform you when there is something," Windu said before looking at Anakin up and down. "Though I personally, could use a few moments of your time."

"With what?" he asked, raising a brow.

"You've learned control Skywalker," Windu said.

"Meaning?" Anakin asked.