Tw: Blood, violence, awkward flirting 

NOT EDITED.

I'm tired.

I'm also dealing with asthma right now, so I don't have the energy to edit this.

An idiot. She was a kriffing idiot.

Rayna shouldn't have shopped at the market. Her mother always told her it was too dangerous, and now here she was. She should've just ordered her supplies like the rest of the family.

But, no, Rayna just had to pick out her vegetables herself. It was really her own fault that she ended up here. She made a mental note to listen to her mother more.

The blaster against her head nudged again, and the droid said, "Keep moving."

"Does it look like I stopped?" Rayna demanded, glancing over her shoulder at it.

"Keep moving, hostage," it ordered.

Hostage.

Rayna swallowed and kept walking. Along with ten other civilians that had been taken prisoner by the Separatist forces, she hadn't expected to be held hostage when she woke that morning.

"We've gathered them all," a B1 informed a commando droid.

Rayna felt her chest seize at the sight of a commando droid. She'd seen news articles about them, but they were even more terrifying in person. The eyes shined in a way that made her shudder, and how quickly it moved assured her it could kill her at a moments notice.

"Gather them in the corner. Restrain them and distribute yourselves around as lookouts," the commando droid ordered. 

"Roger roger," the B1 responded. It settled its metal digits on Rayna's shoulder and gave her a push. 

Rayna stumbled forwards, making brief eye contact with an old little boy no older than ten. He was shaking, eyes wide with terror as he stared up at the droids. She held out a hand, and he wordlessly took it, gripping her tightly.

"My name's Rayna," she softly introduced herself as the droids filed away. She heard the door lock and let out a sigh.

His mouth patted, but he didn't say anything. He just fearfully looked to the door.

"It's okay if you can't, or don't want to talk," Rayna told him, babbling away to keep them both sane. "Where are your guardians?"

"I saw him run into the market alone," an elderly woman commented. She smiled, the corners of her eyes wrinkling. 

An explosion was heard, soon followed by rumbling shaking the building. Rayna stood in front of the boy, holding her arms out protectively.

A droid rushed inside, pointing a blaster at them. "Hands up, all of you! Follow-"

It was cut off as its head was blown off. 

An armoured clone ran into the room, holding his own blaster up. "Follow me, instead of some clanker."

"Thank you, young man," the old woman said as she slowly walked towards him.

His helmet dipped, along with the blue drop painted on it, as he watched her shuffle at a painfully slow pace. "Of course, ma'am."

Rayna herded the boy along, nodding at the solider. "Thank you."

Then they were all running, trying to make it out of the building, which was now an open war zone. The little boy had tears streaking his face, and the old woman was wheezing.

Along the way, they saw more clones fighting droids. It was impressive, really, how accurate they were with shooting. She was even sure she saw a flash of a lightsaber in the distance.

"This way!" The clone escorting them had used his body weight to knock a door down. "I need everyone to-"

Rayna was the only one to see a droid with a blaster hole through its middle lift its head. She saw it lift an arm, aiming its weapons at the boy. She lunged, pushing him aside as the shot ripped through her side.

The clone whipped around and finished off the droid as she crumpled. "Ma'am-"

Another explosion struck the side of the building they were on, and a massive crack formed in the floor. The boy gasped as he tipped sideways, falling into another civilian.

The clone stood at the gap in the floor, looking as if he might try to jump it, but Rayna shook her head.

"Don't." Rayna squeezed her eyes shut. "Just... Get the others out."

"I'll send someone else," he promised as he guided the others away.

Captain Rex rolled out his shoulders as he stood next to his general. He let his eyes wander away to the city around them. It was sad how much ruin had come to a place after mere hours of Separatist inhabitation.

"Captain." Tup panted as he sprinted over. "I got most of the civilians out, but-"

"Most?" Rex raised an eyebrow, stepping away from Anakin.

"Yes, sir." Tup nodded. "One is still stuck. She has a wound on her side from being shot, and due to a hole in the floor, I was unable to reach her."

Rex cursed. "Fine. I'll go get her. But for future reference, I'd prefer if you commed me at the time so I could get there sooner."

Tup faltered. "Oh. Right. I'll try that next time."

Rex just shook his head before he jogged away. He knew roughly where she was, based on the description of the explosion. They were obvious to see. They made big holes.

So he climbed up a set of stairs, and another, and another, and another, until he finally reached the top floor. He searched until he found a woman leaning against a wall. She had blood coming from her side, and her eyes were shut.

He shot out his grappling hook, quickly landing next to her.

"Please don't be dead," Rex muttered as he knelt by her side. 

"I'm not dead." She cracked an eye open to look at him. 

"Good." Rex glanced down the hole between levels. 

"I'm dying," she corrected.

He grimaced and took his helmet off, setting it down next to him. He peeled his gloves off and placed his fingers on her neck. "How deep is the wound?"

"Dunno." She frowned. "I think I'll pass out if I look at it."

He hummed and inspected her side. It appeared deep, but he knew that might just be because of all the blood. "I'll get you to a medic as soon as I can. I just need to get you out of here."

Rayna pursed her lips as she studied his face. "Huh."

"What?" Rex asked absently as he prepared his grappling hook again.

"You're like, really pretty," Rayna distractedly said. 

Rex snorted and slipped his helmet back on. "Lady, you're in shock. Not to mention lightheaded due to blood loss."

Rayna made a noise from the back of her throat. "I mean it. I'm just admitting it because I'm dizzy and can't seem to stop talking."

Rex helped her stand, throwing one of her arms over his shoulder. "Uh-huh. Anyways, ma'am, we'll be out of here in no time."

"Okay," Rayna agreed, falling into step with him. She leaned heavily against him, ignoring the pain radiating from her side.

"So, what's your name?" Rex asked, trying to keep her engaged so she didn't pass out.

"Rayna. But you can call me Rayna." 

Rex attached the hook to a metal beam sticking out of the floor. He tied it, then tossed the end down the hole. "We'll go to the floor below, where we can go down the stairs."

"So... What's your name?" Rayna casually asked.

"I'm CT-"

"Your name."

"Captain Rex, ma'am." Rex peered down the hole before stepping back with a groan. "Okay, hold on tight."

"Wha-" Rayna cut herself off with a shriek as they plummeted down the hole. She wrapped her arms (and legs) around him and buried her face against him, refusing to look at the rapidly approaching ground.

Then he gently landed, nudging her carefully. "We're done."

Rayna peeked with one open eye. "Oh." 

She released him, hoping her trembling muscles would ease. She winced as the pain flared up again.

"Now that we're no longer at risk of falling through the floor, I'll temporarily wrap your side." Rex lowered her to the ground, rummaging through one of his belt pouches until he had bandages in his grasp. "Lift your shirt, please."

"I usually don't until we've at least had dinner, but okay." Rayna reached down to lift the hem of her too, only for him to hold out a hand.

"I'll do it so you don't strain yourself." Rex pulled it up and began wrapping the bandages around her side. He glanced up in alarm when he noticed her eyes had fallen shut. "Hey, stay with me."

"I am," she murmured.

He clicked his tongue as he helped her stand. "Doesn't seem like it."

"Maybe you should use your gorgeous eyes," Rayna sharply said. 

"Wow," Rex dryly replied. "Such an insult."

Rayna stumbled. "Can we- Can we take a break?"

"We were just resting." Rex pressed his fingers to her neck again, feeling her pulse. Was it just his imagination, or was it getting slower?

"So that's a yes?" Rayna weakly laughed.

Rex simply picked her up, cautious to avoid her wound. "It's not much farther."

Her head lolled against him and her eyes fluttered. "Mhm."

"Tell me more about my eyes." Rex needed to keep her awake for her to make it to Kix.

"They're weirdly beautiful. Best eyes I've ever seen. Kinda wanna just keep them. In my pocket." Rayna grinned lazily at him. "I'm joking. About the keeping them. Not about them being beautiful."

Rex could see the medical tents ahead. "What else?"

"Your hair. It's such a nice colour. Do you dye it?" Rayna's hand twitched as it she was goignt I stroke his hair.

Why did he want her to touch his hair? 

"No. I don't dye it," Rex answered. He waved down Kix, who had just finished with his last patient. "Kix!"

"Captain." Kix frowned at Rayna. "Who's this?"

"My name is Reema. But you can't call me Reema." Rayna's brow furrowed. "Wait."

"This is Rayna," Rex said for her. "She got shot and needs medical attention."

"Did you know he's really pretty?" Rayna whispered to Kix. 

Kix raised an eyebrow. "No, I didn't. Tell me more while I treat you. I need to know every detail of this."

Rex rolled his eyes as she was taken from his arms. "I'll check in with you later, Rayna."

"Okey-dokey," Rayna cheerily replied, winking. "And I'll see you later, Rex-man of the caps."

"It's just Captain Rex." He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Then stop calling me Tina," Rayna argued.

"I- Just take her away," Rex exasperatedly ordered Kix.

He couldn't help but smile as she winked at him again.

Part two coming soon.