A Path Less Taken

"I should not have agreed to this," Anakin said as he adjusted the tie he was wearing.

"Well, you did. Get used to it," Rex said, his arms behind his head as he relaxed on his couch. "Still, Ahsoka hasn't said it, but I can tell she's really excited."

"Why? It's just dinner with the Chancellor," Anakin said.

"And you," Rex said with a smirk. Anakin looked down, his cheeks slightly red.

"Shut up," he said, making Rex cackle like a madman. But then he put an arm around his friend's shoulders.

"It's gonna go fine. It's not a traditional date, but it's a start," Rex told him.

"It's not a date at all. Cause we won't be alone," Anakin said.

"Who said you have to just stop at the dinner? There's no missions, and no responsibility. It'll just be the two of you should you choose to make it happen," Rex told him.

"How is it I end up asking you for advice, and you have yet to find a woman of your own?" Anakin questioned.

"Well, it's easier said than done. Like most situations. Speaking of which, Ahsoka's been here a lot longer than you. And she's still in the back getting ready," Rex told him.

"Ah. So she isn't that different from most women after all," Anakin said with a grin. Rex chuckled and shook his head, but he didn't disagree.

"You do know I can hear you, right?!" Ahsoka exclaimed from behind the door.

"Well, when you make it out of there after the war is over, please tell me why I should care," Rex said in a teasing tone.

"Haha. Very funny," Ahsoka said sarcastically. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Ok then," Rex said before lowering his voice. "You know she's getting ready for you, right?"

"She's right. You are funny," Anakin said in a deadpan tone of voice.

"Alright then. But the day I expected Ahsoka to wear heels was when..."

"Hold up, hold up," Anakin interrupted, raising a hand. "Did you say heels?"

"Yes," Rex said as he got up to fix himself a drink.

"Ahsoka? And heels?" Anakin questioned, raising a brow.

"If we're playing twenty questions, shouldn't be playing twenty different questions?" Rex questioned with a smirk.

"Very..." Anakin's eyes darted away from him. "...funny..." Rex turned, and he laid his eyes upon an interesting sight.

It wasn't often Rex saw Ahsoka in something other than clothing that solely fit the battlefield. So to see her in a black dress was something. And... was that...

"Are you wearing jewelry?" Anakin questioned, pointing at the necklace and bracelets.

"Kinda," Ahsoka said, nervously brushing her hand on the necklace before resting it on the back of her neck. "Too much?"

"No, no. You look outstanding," Anakin told her. Ahsoka smiled at the fact that his attention was solely on her. It made her feel like all this trouble was worth it.

"As do you," Ahsoka said, walking up to him. "I just picked them out and... well, I liked them."

"You look good in it, so uh... good choice," Anakin said, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Alright, you crazy kids have got a deadline to meet. So shouldn't you get going?" Rex questioned.

"Right. Yeah, we'll get going," Anakin said, opening the door for Ahsoka.