1Writer's Notes: so I just finished reading Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston today and I absolutely fell in love with these two and their relationship. I don't tend to be a big shipper so I was surprised by how much I wanted them together. It was a great book and this is my attempt at an epilogue to it and my first 'romance' story if you like. Hope you like it - please leave a review if you do!
"I could kiss you."
Ahsoka hadn't had time to think about what Kaeden had said at the time, and she hadn't allowed herself to process it after. The small Togruta had signed up for her role for the Rebellion and flown off without even saying goodbye to her friend.
The truth was it scared her. Jedi were taught to always show compassion, but never attachment. Romance and affection like that was something Ahsoka had grown up afraid of ever feeling. She never spoke to the boys as younglings as she grew up, in case she developed feelings for anyone them, not that she ever did. She much preferred to spend her time with the other girls, feeling safer in their company.
By the time she'd grown old enough to become a padawan, she'd found that boys held no appeal to her after all, allowing her to form her first meaningful relationship with a member of the other gender (excluding Master Yoda of course): her master Anakin Skywalker. Life was good. Life was simple. Until now it wasn't.
Because when Kaeden had said "I could kiss you", the thing that came into Ahsoka's head immediately was "yes please." That made her question everything. Those female friendships she'd prized so highly: were they all attachments like this? Were some of them? Was this new? Was it only Kaeden? Ahsoka didn't know the answers. The only reply she managed to give to Kaeden was "oh. Well, thanks." So she ran. She ran away to stop anyone getting hurt. Or at least that's what she told herself.
Kaeden was dark-skinned human girl of roughly the same age as Ahsoka. She had dark brown hair that Ahsoka couldn't help thinking suited her. She was slim and toned from working hard on the farms of Raada. Physically, the attraction was certainly understandable. But what had really won Ahsoka over was her heart. Kaeden had welcomed her at a time when nowhere in the galaxy seemed very welcoming. She'd been there for her without ever pushing her or crowding her. She'd given the lost Togruta somewhere to stick around and a sense of home and belonging when no one else had managed to. She was just kind and Ahsoka loved her to bits for that.
Kaeden dreamt of Ahsoka every night. How could she not? The short Togruta Jedi (or former Jedi anyway) was everything she could ever wish for. Kind, patient, caring, smart, beautiful. Kaeden had admired how smooth and perfect Ahsoka's burnt orange skin was, often glistening in the sunlight, since the day they'd met. She may have been small, but Ahsoka had a sense of authority to her that made Kaeden feel safe and turned her on more than a little bit. She was also strong for her size, and incredibly fit. Kaeden could have stared at her for hours. But what really got to Kaeden was that she cared about her. In a universe where nobody ever cared about anyone unless they had enough credits or were bound together by blood, Ahsoka Tano cared about her, Kaeden Larte.
Ahsoka was her hero. She was the heroic jedi knight who danced across the galaxy, saving lives and righting wrongs. She'd been something special as soon as she'd arrived on Raada, able to fix droids better than anyone and setting all of Kaeden's friends at ease the second she was with them. Ahsoka was perfect and to have someone like that care about her? How could Kaeden not fall completely in love?
Ahsoka had saved her life (not for the first time) and taken her and her sister Miara to safety on Alderaan. But then she'd left, disappeared without a trace. Kaeden had cried when she'd realised she was gone, careful not to let Miara see though. But she'd also made herself a promise. One day, somehow: she'd find Ahsoka Tano again. They would meet again one day - whatever it took.
Kaeden wasted no time joining the Rebel Alliance, and soon found herself serving on a medical frigate, aiding their struggle against the Imperials in any way she could. She wasn't a doctor but she'd been training in basic medical procedure on Alderaan and she was good at helping people. She was particularly good and setting new arrivals at ease. She was almost speechless when a young Togruta was brought onboard though: battered, scared and bruised badly. "Ahsoka..." she breathed out.
Perhaps it was because she was so worse for wear, or perhaps she just didn't recognise her at first, but Ahsoka took a moment to respond. "Kaeden," she replied at last, her weary eyes meeting the young human woman's. "Come with me," Kaeden told her firmly, immediately protective of the wounded soldier.
"I just need a quick Bacta shot," Ahsoka tried to tell her but Kaeden was having none of it, taking her into a free room and forcing her to sit down on the bed. "You need rest," Kaeden told her. She didn't need any medical training to see that. "Some bacta will help, but you're no good to anyone like this." Ahsoka protested, trying to stand up again: "no time to rest. People need me." Kaeden knew Ahsoka was making excuses.
"The galaxy won't end just because Ahsoka Tano takes a minute to lie down," she stood her ground. Ahsoka looked down with an unreadable expression on her face. Kaeden crouched down so their faces were level and looked her in the eye: "please." Ahsoka tried to look away, biting down on her lip. "You spend your whole life looking after everyone else," Kaeden said softly, "just this once let someone else look after you."
Ahsoka looked up finally letting their eyes meet again. She spoke quietly but Kaeden heard every word quite clearly: "I could kiss you." Her heart skipped a beat. "Oh," she was too shocked to say anything else, "well..." she fumbled for words, "thanks." Their eyes were still locked together. Ahsoka actually looked nervous, Kaeden realised. "Yes please," Kaeden managed to say finally. She cupped Ahsoka's cheek, stroking it with her thumb gently. Ahsoka still looked unsure, scared even. Kaeden smiled warmly. Suddenly Ahsoka jerked forwards and pressed their lips together.
"I feel better already," Ahsoka smirked, breaking the kiss. Kaeden stared at the Togruta for a moment then reached out and pressed a button to lock the door, she wasn't letting Ahsoka out of her sight. Ahsoka grinned. Kaeden returned the grin, sitting down next to Ahsoka on the bed. They both reached out, Ahsoka to run her hands down Kaeden's shoulders and forearms, Kaeden to cup Ahsoka's cheeks with both hands. They smashed their lips back together to resume the kiss.
Ahsoka's lips tasted even sweeter than Kaeden had dreamed they would and she found herself pressing her mouth deeper and deeper onto Ahsoka's, the tips of their tongues touching gently. Ahsoka's hands were running up and down Kaeden's back now, lightly tugging at her loose-fitting shirt. When Ahsoka's gently fingertips touched the bare skin of Kaeden's back, she felt her heart start thumping even louder in her ears, and felt like electricity was shooting through her.
Kaeden let her hands drop slowly down Ahsoka's chest, savouring every second they were connected to the togruta's body. She gently traced her fingers up and down her sides, soothing her gently. Ahsoka broke the kiss to moan out and for a second Kaeden was worried she'd upset one of her wounds, but it was a moan of pleasure and Ahsoka dived back in for the next kiss immediately.
Kaeden couldn't help smiling. Ahsoka had always seem so confident and had such a presence for to her. But she was pawing at Kaeden's human body so timidly, like she didn't know what to do with it. She seemed suddenly so vulnerable and Kaeden loved her all the more for it. She planted gentle kisses down Ahsoka's neck, nibbling the flesh slightly, while her hands gently fondled Ahsoka's lekku, stroking and tugging gently on them to make Ahsoka moan more.
Ahsoka looked at her with her big tired eyes and Kaeden's heart melted completely. She wrapped her arms around her and pulled the Jedi to her, hugging her tightly. Her hands gently traced patterns into her back, soothingly. They were both fully clothed still, but it felt like their bodies had become one in that moment. Feeling how hard they were both breathing now, Kaeden suspected their clothes would be on the floor before too much longer. But right now, in this second, all she wanted was to have Ahsoka in her arms, to keep her hero safe and let her feel how much she was loved.
She couldn't see the look on Ahsoka's face but she could hear her trembling voice as she whispered: "nobody's ever held me like this before." Kaeden couldn't help thinking that that was a crime, but also smiled slightly knowing how special this moment was for Ahsoka. How special Kaeden was for her. "Get used to it," she teased lovingly, "doctor's orders."
"What you need, miss Tano," Kaeden released her grip on Ahsoka so she could stare lovingly into her eyes: "is a lot more kissing and cuddling." Ahsoka looked down. Then back up again with a big grin and a slight cocky tilt of the head: "get on with it then." That self-assured confidence that Kaeden found so damn attractive was back. Kaeden licked her lips, feeling herself get even more excited. She lunged forwards and had her Ahsoka moaning again in no time.
