Ahsoka squinted slightly as her eyes adjusted to the bright fluorescent lights of the kitchen, and she and the Paladuvan exited the refresher.

Her nose felt raw from the rough cloth that she had used to scrub the grease off of it, and her hands cold from the drying water meeting the cool air.

She felt much better and much more in control now that she had been able to put her mind and skills to something that was able to be fixed. The food and drink, as well as getting cleaned up helped too, but from her years as a Jedi, she knew that it wasn't always the physical things that calmed the conscience — her focus on a task had definitely been the main factor in her ability to center herself.

She found now that she didn't have to force her calm and collected look anymore. The panic and distress had taken the backseat and Ahsoka was now able to focus her mind.

Her eyes flickered upward to the chrono on the wall.

23:09 standard time.

She had been there for two hours? It hadn't felt that long. Ahsoka shook her head, clearing her thoughts. It's not like I have anything else to do.

If she had thought that statement an hour earlier, she might have wanted to cry. Now, though, she had to suppress the urge to laugh. I'm going crazy, she decided.

But she also decided that it meant she was starting to move on from her decision. She was now focusing more on the future than the past. Either that or the exhaustion was finally getting to her — she decided it was a mix of both.

The Paladuvan gave her a half-smile before picking up her spatula and getting back to work. Ahsoka returned it with a nod of her head in thanks.

"Thank you again."

The rough but kind voice of the Besalisk sounded from her right, and she turned to him, bowing her head slightly in response.

"Of course. Thank you for your help as well," she replied. Her voice had finally lost its rasp as her throat recovered.

"Anytime, kid. There's a spare room in the back if you wanted to crash here for the night." Dex offered, studying her — but less with pity this time. More of a mutual friend just offering to help, but not because he had an obligation to do so. Ahsoka appreciated it, but she found herself unable to give an affirmative nod of her head.

Ahsoka hesitated. She was grateful for Dex's help — she really was — but at the same time, she felt like she had already overstayed her welcome.

Not only that, but she needed to learn to survive on her own if she would ever recover to lead a life on her own. She had always been relatively independent, and she knew she wasn't completely helpless by herself.

"Thank you," she said carefully after a moment. "But I think I'll take my chances out there. You've already done more than enough." She assured him, meeting his eyes. He looked slightly taken aback, confused — but not exactly offended.

Dex furrowed his brow. "Kid, you don't want to be out on the streets this time of night, trust me." he told her with a shake of his head.

Ahsoka studied his face for a moment. "I believe you, Dex, but I can't stay here. Not on the upper levels." she told him softly with a slight shake of her head, and from the look in his eyes, she knew he understood.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait until morning to make this decision? Trust me, kid, it's not pretty down there — especially at night." He searched her face, but there was something hedging in his eyes — like he knew he wouldn't be changing her mind this time.

The side of Ahsokas mouth quirked up slightly, and she said, "I've been there before, Dex. Trust me... I've seen worse."

That much was true. War was not a pretty thing, but then again, she'd had people supporting her through it. This, though, she knew she had to do alone. She knew that it most likely was a stupid decision strategically to decline the offer of shelter and instead head to the lower levels where she knew it wouldn't be safe, but she also knew that she had to follow her own path, and it was not on the surface of Coruscant.

The slight tingling in her limbs, the soft lull of direction and the certainty it offered was the Force telling her she needed to choose her own path... after all, how could she get lost if she didn't have anywhere to go?

Dex still looked unsure, but if his friendship with Obi-Wan Kenobi had taught him anything, it was that Jedi should not be underestimated... especially when they got that slight look in their eye that meant they knew something you didn't, even if they couldn't say what it was yet.

It was much like what he thought the Force would feel like, Dex thought, the presence of a Jedi. You just knew. It was something indescribable, but you just knew. There was something... not quite that they had, but what you didn't that set them apart. And, as the saying went, the eyes are the windows to the soul, but when you looked into a Jedi's eyes, well, it wasn't so much a window as it was a door — a door that had opaque glass — see-through to a point, but mysterious all the same — that held back that thing that couldn't be described — not even by a Jedi.

So when Dex searched her eyes again, he was met with that same door, shining and twinkling, but containing something neither of them knew, but something Ahsoka was sure of.

And with that look in her eyes, Dex could feel his resolve slowly deteriorating.

He was still searching her face, but Ahsoka could tell he was caving.

"Alright, I trust you...Just don't forget to stop by once in a while to say hi." He patted her shoulder again with a warm, but uneasy smile.

"Will do."

....

Roaring laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, drowning out Ahsokas footfalls as she made her way across the durasteel floor, squeezing past beings and slipping through the crowd.

Dex had given her a spare cloak and bade her farewell, however uneasy the look in his eyes was, but Ahsoka wanted to check one more thing out before she left for good.

Finally breaking through the concentration of sentients, Ahsoka made her way over to where the two had sat before. It was cleaned off now, but Ahsoka wasn't interested in the table — she was interested in the notice board behind it.

She forced her eyes to skip over the wanted poster with her features printed in black and white, clear as day, in order to keep herself focused on her objective.

She scanned the clippings and posters until she found what she was looking for.

Help Wanted:
Retto's Tavern: Level 23c, Block 14, 5th Street, Set 4

It was unfamiliar territory, living on her own, but Ahsoka tried to think of it as just another mission. It's like adapting on the battlefield, she told herself. Just keep your focus and you'll be fine.

She quickly memorized the information, storing it away like she would have on any other mission, and continued searching the board.

Memorizing several other opportunities, she slowly turned around and began slipping her way back through the noisy crowd to the front of the diner.

Now she had a semi-plan. It was better than nothing, she decided.

The cool night air whipped her face, refreshing her senses. She hesitated for a moment just outside the threshold.

She took a deep breath. This is it. And she walked on.

::::

Sorry it's kind of short, but I just wanted to finish the part with Dex's diner because I think it was going on a little too long.

Anyway, tell me what you think. I feel like I didn't really keep Dex in character, but i dont know.

Also, I just made up the address format on the job advertisement... I feel like it would be different than what we have so I just made something up...

Anyway, hope you enjoyed! :)

*unedited

10/10/20

Word count: 1404