#(my best guess was slightly strange Jedi robes)

[lazerswordweilder]

Okay this was under my tags, and I follow cw eyestrain because I like the art, but primarily Star Wars and Batfam stuff, and I’ve seen this about three times, and I thought it was Darth Vader?? I’m realising now it’s another character I don’t know very well, but he has the scar under his eye which I’m now realising are eye bags, the scars on his head I’m realising is a crack in his skull, the other side of his face is obscured so I can’t see his other scar, his hands are prosthetics which are actually bones, I was staring at the outfit trying to work it out before I looked at the tags and went OOHHHHH

Consume me, I'll be okay.

return of whatever this style is

[nevertheless-moving]

Suicidal Misunderstanding XIV

Part I - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Part XI - - - - Part XII - - - - Part XIII

Star Wars Time Travel AU #27

Plo Koon woke to find himself chained in a dark room.

Somewhere behind him he could hear steady dripping; it was uncertain if that was deliberate or not.

He strained to discern anything in the dim light, but the walls of his prison refused to form into anything recognizable.

Cautiously, the trapped Master cast his senses out, only to find them reflected back at odd angles. He decided to wait before attempting to push any further past what his captor wished him to see.

Time passed strangely, but sooner than expected there was the sound of a pressurized airlock opening and, distantly, a raging ocean.

The airlock cycled through its rotation and Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped out of the amorphous shadows looking...decidedly worse for the wear. 

Plo ached at the sight. His normally carefully maintained beard was a scraggly mess. His robes hung tattered and bloodied. Of particular concern was how dry he looked, skin cracked and bleeding for want of water. The figure standing before him with a dead-eyed glare resembled less an accomplished Jedi Master and more the wretched husk of one. 

“Who are you?”  Obi-Wan's shade hissed. The chains around the Kel Dooran tightened. 

Well, however he might view himself and others...at least he’s willing to fight to defend what remains? At the bare minimum he’s not acting intentionally self destructive...

“Good Morning, Obi-Wan. I am a Jedi Master and your friend. I have been attempting to reach you through your rather impressive shielding. I must say, you’ve done a remarkable job confining me in this mental construct, its been sometime since anyone has managed to get the best of me in this arena.”

Obi-Wan snorted. “Don’t try and flatter me, you barely fought back. You could easily have forced your way anywhere, but for some reason you let me corral you, presumably to try and gain my trust. Now answer my question. Your presence is very much light so I doubt you’re Sidious or...Vader. I could be wrong obviously, but i can’t see either of themselves putting this much effort into that sort of mask...just tell me who you are, and why you’re with them.”

“I am Master Plo Koon, a High Council Member, and I am not unknown to you” he elaborated without hesitation. “I am glad that you can identify that I am a light force user. Can you not sense familiarity within my force presence, even so far within your domain?”

Obi-Wan reared back and the dripping noise in the corner stopped.

“It’s a trick. We might be in my head but that doesn’t mean I’m surrendering any of my thoughts to you,” Obi-Wan snarled. “I felt Plo Koon’s death, he was one of the first...and even if he somehow survived he would never work with the Sith to invade my mind. Never.”

“Obi-Wan. Listen to me. Please. I am not dead. I am not working with the Sith. I was brought in to reach you because no other method was working. You are in the healing halls at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.” Plo spoke calmly, but implacably, “We believe you have either experienced a uniquely detailed vision, or a run in with a dark-sider. Whatever has happened, I can feel the lingering impression of unsafety. But here and now, you are not in any immediate physical danger. There must be something I can do to convince you of your present physical location.”

“A uniquely detailed vision, huh? ha!” Obi-Wan replied, gesturing wildly. “Ha! You expect me to believe that what, the last four years of my life were a detailed prophecy? Why?”

“You...believe you have lived years beyond the rest of us. I take it the- what you remember has been dangerous enough to warrant maintaining abnormally tight control over your mental walls, precluding simply reaching out to ascertain the truth yourself.”

“Clearly my control wasn’t enough if you’re in here.” Obi-Wan muttered.

“I do apologize for the intrusion, but we’ve already used every other tool at our disposal to reach you. I repeat, is there anything that can be done to convince you that you are, from your perspective, ‘in the past’. You are a High Council member with a grandpadawan. It’s been two years since the start of the clone wars. You recently finished an extended clean up of the Mon Cala sector after your victory.”

Obi-Wan stared at him curiously. “If I set a test and you fail, will you agree to dispense with the pretenses?”

Plo-Koon hesitated. “Perhaps I’m making this deal in bad faith, as I am know I am Plo-Koon, and that everything I have said is the truth... but I swear that if you somehow prove that neither of those things are true and I am secretly working for a sith lord, I will...reveal that.”

Obi-Wan sighed. “Best I’m going to get, I suppose.”

The chains holding Plo-Koon loosened. Before he could respond, there was a hurtling rising sensation that he struggled not to fight against. After a disorienting moment, he found himself in his own body, feeling vaguely seasick. Obi-Wan blinked awake, apparently unfazed by the precautionary bonds holding him in place. Master Aerdo’s gaze flicked between them intensely. Plo-Koon held up a clawed hand to forestall any interruption while the two gained their bearings.

Obi-Wan spoke first:

“Cihynglo’s Fourth Meditation”

“...What?” Koon replied, honestly confused.

“Cihynglo was a renowned Kashykian Jedi, her mediations are, well i suppose were considered a quintessential example of High Republic cosmic poetry.”

“I’m familiar with Cihynglo- my master used to speak of her fondly.” Plo Koon said slowly. “Though I can’t say I’m familiar with her Fourth Mediation.”

“Hmm. Yes, well her poetry in the last few decades of her life got increasingly, well, esoteric. While most of her work was widely translated and distributed, she requested that those who wished to read her fourth Meditations do so in person, so as to experience without dilution the full calligraphy and artwork that accompanied her words. She only ever produced two copies. Any guesses where they were kept?”

Obi-Wan’s voice started out in the steady tones of a born lecturer, only to grow bitter towards the end.

“Is one in the temple?” Master Koon asked.

“Yes, one was held in the Master’s wing of the temple archives. The other was housed in a place of honor in The White Forest’s Great Tree of Knowledge. Considering both libraries were reduced to ash in the first month of the Empire, it is quite impossible, even for the Emperor, to find a copy.” 

His vague attempt at a smirk quickly fell flat. 

“I was privileged enough to be granted time to begin reading it once, but, alas, an emergency situation in the intergalactic war you created meant that I had to run off mid-sonnet. Bring me that book, let me hold it, read it, and I will believe that I somehow unlocked the secret of time-travel while overdosing on Spice.” 

Obi-Wan paused, catching his breath. “In the next fifteen minutes, please. Any more than that and you might try tracking down the few surviving Wookie scholars.” Koon flipped open his comm. “Master Nu, I have an urgent request.”

“Nu here, go on,” came the response.

“This may sound strange, but it is crucial that Cihynglo’s Fourth Meditation be brought to the healing halls, room seven. Within the next 15 minutes.”

“You do understand you’re talking about a physical book, not a flimsi-stack or a holocron. It’s not meant to leave a climate-controlled room.”

“I promise you, I would not ask if it weren’t life or death. Please Jocasta, I’ll explain later.”

“I’ll be there in 10. It had better be one durned good explanation.”

Obi-Wan looked bemused. ”You’re setting yourself up for failure.”

“I am glad you were able to come up with a test you found meaningful. Remember, you have friends here, regardless of whether you experienced subjective time travel or an incredibly detailed vision.”

They waited a little longer. Obi-Wan critically examined Master Aerdo.

“I’m a Senior Soul Healer” they offered at the non-verbal prompting.

“How interesting.” Obi-Wan remarked dryly.

They sat in awkward silence for another minute. 

They were all equally trained in suppressing fidgets, coughs, or other nervous tics, which made the wait that slightest bit more unbearable, each second nearly imperceptible from the one before.

Eventually the sound of heavy boots moving at speed approached.

Master Nu strode in, gently cradling a great burden. The book gleamed large and vital in the light of its stasis wrap. Her eyes widened at they took in Obi-Wan, still cuffed to the bed. 

“Cihynglo’s Fourth Meditation, as asked for. I trust you have an excellent explanation for how a book of poetry is a matter of life or death.”

“I’m hoping that it will convince our friend Master Kenobi that I am who I claim to be and we are where I claim we are.” Koon gently pulled the book from her grasp and reverently placed it on Obi-Wan’s lap. Obi-Wan stared at it uncomprehendingly.

“Obi-Wan, I’m going to uncuff you now. I trust that you will use your freedom to examine our ‘proof.’ We will physically intercede if you make any attempts at self harm.”

Master Nu gasped. “Then the temple rumors...I don’t understand.”

Obi Wan picked up the book as if he was afraid it might bite him. With an irritated snort, he opened brusquely to the middle, and began carelessly flipping ahead.

Master Nu started forward, offended, but Plo Koon held her back. “Please Master Nu, patience-”

Finally Obi-Wan seemed to reach the page he was looking for and stopped. “..And still the rain fell like blood of the womb” he murmured. “That...I tried to think of how the line ended but I...”

Everyone watched as the book shook in Obi-Wan's grasp. He turned the page, gasping slightly and murmuring as he read. “This is...a little gross, but oddly touching. I certainly would not have come up with it myself...but its so clearly...” They watched his react, eyes darting wildly and brow furrowing in confusion.

Several pages later he dropped the book abruptly.

“This is impossible,” he gasped.

Nu darted forward, carefully snatching it from his lap, "I am endeavoring to practice tolerance, but how is destroying an irreplaceable piece of literature supposed to help anyone?!” she snapped

“I admit I wondered that myself, but when I imagined what harm the Sith could do with some of the archive’s more practical works, I understood your decision to torch the collection” Obi-Wan responded dreamily. “I suppose the more beautific works would likely have been destroyed anyway...”

“Torch the archives? I would never.”

“But you did,” Obi-Wan insisted feverishly. “I found your message when we searching for survivors. There were so many bodies piled at the archive door that I was almost hopeful that they had managed to...but I suppose they held out just long enough for you to complete your task.”

Nu backed away slowly. “That sounds like quite the disturbing vision, Master Kenobi.”

“It wasn’t just a vision, it was my life. It-visions don’t last years!” he said, finally growing hysterical. “I remember everything! That gods-awful mission to Cato Nemodia! Getting takeout food with Anakin! The smell of burning flesh in the creche! Singing to Luke! The last year of the war! All of you! You crying after Dooku’s death,” he added gesturing wildly at the archivist. “It was so awkward! You were embarrassed! You told me that for some stupid reason you had ‘held out hope’ it was all an insane uncover mission, that he wasn’t really- Three years alone in the desert! I remember three years of living on fucking Tatooine, how could that possibly be a vision!”

“I...hadn’t told anyone that,” Nu whispered with a hint of alarm. She glanced at Plo Koon, daring him to comment. “I know its very much unlikely at this point, and by any measure, he’s taken things too far, but he’s gone on such long shadow missions in the past...” she looked away.

“Oh, Jocasta...” Plo sighed.

“Master Kenobi. I cannot explain how you came to have such detailed knowledge of the future,” Aerdo said, drawing focus back to the bewildered Obi-Wan, who had shifted into a defensive crouch on the bed. “But I do know one reasonably sure fire way to establish that this, us, is the present. Open yourself up to the force, please, just let yourself listen to what it has to say.

“I...want to, of course I want to believe- but the idea that I’m here- it’s, if you’re real than you can’t possibly understand, its too good to be true.” Obi-Wan responded brokenly.

“I know things have been clouded of late, but, if nothing else trust in the force to not lie to you.” Plo-Koon urged. “If you keep closing yourself off like this, how can you possibly learn if things are better than you think”

Obi-Wan collapsed from his crouch, knees folding underneath.

“If I am...even if I am in the past... Sideous might be watching...i didn’t- i don’t know the extent of his gaze- even if...” he trailed off.

“If it makes you feel safer, you are of course free to again raise your shields to whatever extent you feel necessary once you have verified your reality.” Aerdo replied smoothly.

Obi-Wan looked warily at the three Jedi in the room.“I...” he started, trying to articulate the swelling hope and fear only to find himself at a loss for words.

Aerdo shot him a reassuring smile, “If you don’t feel ready right now, that’s perfectly understandable. We’re very happy you’re willing to reach out as much as you have already. Would you like to pause this discussion for now so we can find you something to eat? I believe a simple broth is a customary first post-bacta meal, but if you have any special requests I’ll do what I can.”

Obi-Wan let out a deep breath, dropping his head into his hands. “I- I need to know, don’t I?” he mumbled. “Force help me...you win.” He took one last, searching look at the faces of his fellow Jedi before closing his eyes and surrendering himself to the force.

He opened a small hole in his mental barricades and tentatively allowed his thoughts to drip out. Tentatively, he trickled over the bank of Plo Koon’s being (expecting a frigid burn) only to find a warm and heartbreakingly familiar pool of tempered kindness. 

He ran, slightly faster now, over the other Jedi presences in the room. Having finished his course without encountering any dark undertow, he ebbed back. There was an indistinct impression of something heavy giving way.

Obi-Wan’s Shields Fell Like A Dam Beneath a Tidal Wave -

[ddaeng-danvers]

under and over

pairing: anakin skywalker x reader

genre: fluff

summary: in which anakin learns how to braid hair

warnings: mention of death, minor injuries, the reader is described as having long hair

word count: 2753

a/n: well...i’m having an anakin phase, what can i say. this is unedited and i wrote it in one sitting so i apologize for any mistakes, also!! i’m aware some things may be inconsistent with ~canon~ but i’m having a good time so leave me alone,,, there are also mentions of platonic anakin x padme as an fyi... finally!! this isn’t a part two of my last fic (dreams) but in my brain they are like the same universe,,, so yeah,,, enjoy!!

masterlist

*this gif has nothing to do with the fic but he looks GREAT so i’m using it anyway*

You left for the Jedi Order when you were quite young. You left only your mother behind, as your father died in a shipping accident on Corellia. You held on to as many memories of your mother as possible, as she was the only family you had left. One of your fondest memories of your mother was the way she did your hair. Every morning, from the moment you had a sprout of hair on your head, she attempted to braid and style it intricately. The styles were always beautiful, inspired by the different cultures of the galaxy your mother had seen in her travels with your father before he passed.

Now, over fifteen years later, you long for the feeling of your mother’s fingers weaving through your hair. Because you left for the order at such a young age, your mother was never able to teach you her braiding and styling methods. This has left you with two simple skills, tying your hair into ponytails, and braiding it into two strands on either side of your head. You longed for the ability to weave it atop your head, but now, with the war, there was little time for hair styling.

Almost immediately after passing your trials, you were thrown into the Clone War. You worked alongside Anakin Skywalker and the 501st battalion most often, but frequently bounced around to others, such as Obi-Wan’s 212th, and your former master Shaak Ti’s position on Kamino. You were never officially assigned a battalion of your own due to your opposition of the war, but remained a Jedi General for the benefit of the Republic.

After a particularly rough mission, your find yourself sneaking from the medbay (you suffered only minor scrapes and bruises) and retreated to your quarters. It is there that you find Anakin standing on the balcony.

“What’re you doing out here, Ani?” He smiles and looks back at you.

“I should be asking you that. You should be in the medbay.” You look at the ground, feeling the slightest bit guilty. You know how much Anakin cares for you. If you stayed you may have lessened his worrying slightly.

“I’m alright. It’s nothing too serious.” A moment of silence passes. “What about you? You and Snips didn’t come out unscathed either.” Anakin’s face shrinks in the slightest, the thought of his padawan’s injuries a difficult one to process.

“We’re both okay. She was checked over. Hit her head pretty hard, but she’ll be okay. She does have to stay on bedrest for a bit, which I’m sure she’s thrilled about.” You both laugh at the thought.

“She reminds me of you, y’know.” Anakin’s expression becomes puzzled.

“Really?” He asks. You nod, looking out into the Coruscant skyline.

“She’s headstrong, confident. Sometimes a bit overconfident.” Anakin lets out a chuckle. “But she’s got a good heart. And she cares about those around her, deeply.” Anakin smiles at you again.

“Well I certainly do care for you, my love.” He leans down and presses the softest kiss to your lips, and then to both cheeks, which begin to redden. He still makes you feel like a bubbling padawan.

“We should probably head to bed soon, debriefs and all in the morning.” Anakin curtly nods, continuing to gaze at the setting sun. “We can check on Ahsoka too, before we head to bed., if you want.”

Although attachments are technically forbidden by the Jedi Council, there was a strange exception granted to you and Anakin. The council knew of your relationship, and even approved it. Master Yoda claimed you had prevented Anakin from falling down a darker path. He insisted that the force willed you together. Luckily, it seems the exception of your attachment has led to some more leniency in the Council regarding the subject.

After a quick trip to the refresher and a check-up with Ahsoka, you and Anakin retire back to your quarters. (Technically Anakin has his own quarters that he is supposed to stay in, although everyone knows this is a rare occurrence). He always seemed to like your room more. He claimed it had more personality than his. Likely because he didn’t have much to bring with him from Tatooine, and materialism was generally discouraged among Jedi.

Being held by Anakin at night felt like a gift from the Maker himself. His arms warm, his chest firm, and his hands combing through the tresses of your hair.

Anakin awoke the next morning to a cold bed. He heard you clamoring around the refresher. Curious, he threw on his robe and knocked on the door.

“You alright in there, love?” He stands up against the door, waiting for a response. You open the door a moment later, a grumbly look on your face. It seems you’ve already gotten dressed. You had on a brown and black tunic and pants. Your armor for battle left at the foot of your bed, since today was to be a day filled with debriefing, strategizing, and paperwork.

“I’m fine, I just woke up early and then couldn’t fall asleep, so I decided to get up, be productive, but I just can’t do my hair right.” Anakin noticed the rough braids on your scalp, likely from failed attempts at braiding it moments ago.

“I wish I could help you, but hair isn’t my area of expertise.” Anakin looks at you through the mirror as he wraps his arms around your torso. He places a kiss to your shoulder.

“It’s fine.” You affirm. “I’m just frustrated.”

The debrief with the Council went without a hitch. Just a standard report on your success, information regarding casualties, and your new assignments. Fortunately, the Council gave the two of you a few days off before your next assignments. You planned to spend every waking moment possible with Anakin, as you were being sent to aid Obi-Wan and the 212th. You returned to your quarters shortly after the meeting to strategize a plan for your upcoming assault with Anakin on your heels. He helped you as much as he could, before becoming distracted. (He was never the best strategizer. He joked you were the brains of this relationship). He tinkered with his arm as you worked alongside him.

A knock on the door pulled you from your work. You opened it slowly, curious as to who it could be. Opening it all the way, you were met with the colors and patterns of a traditional Nabooian gown.

“Padme!” You exclaimed. It had been so long since you’d seen her. You grew quite close when you and Anakin were assigned to protect her all those years ago. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here on Senate business, and I couldn’t be here without stopping by to say hello to you two.” Anakin has since gotten up from his seat and come over to great Padme as well. “I was going to stop and see Ahsoka, but I assumed she’d be training. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Ahsoka was actually injured on our last mission. Nothing serious, just a mild concussion, she’s resting in her quarters as far as I know.” Anakin assures.

“We could stop by and see her, I’m sure she’d be excited to know you’re here.” Padme smiles at the implied compliment. You grab your robes from your bed, and usher everyone through the hallway to Ahsoka’s quarters. You knock as lightly as possible on the door.

“Ahsoka, you in there? You have a visitor.” Ahsoka fumbles behind the door, before opening it.

“Senator Amidala!” Ahsoka exclaims. The two of them envelop in a brief hug before separating. “It’s great to see you!”

“And you as well Ahsoka. You’ve gotten so tall!” Ahsoka viewed Padme as an older sister figure. She’d lost the rest of her family so young, she had little memory of them. The memories she does have however, she cherishes. You and her both.

After an hour or so of catching up, you notice Ahsoka’s eye’s begin to droop. You look up at Anakin who seems to have noticed the same thing. Through the briefest of eye contact, you understand Anakin’s request. He wants you to stay with her, make sure she’s actually resting. You nod, as Anakin whispers this information to Padme. “It’s been great catching up with you Ahsoka, but I’m afraid I have to tend to that Senate business now. Rest well.” Ahsoka nods politely, her drowsy expression only worsening.

“Thank you Senator Amidala. See you later. You too, Master Skywalker.” You stay in your standing position before guiding Ahsoka down to her bed. She practically rolls over the moment she sits down.”

“Tired?” You chuckle. Ahsoka smiles slightly.

“Yeah, this concussion took me out more than I care to admit.” You laugh again. “You are just like Anakin when he was a padawan. It scares me sometimes how similar you to are.” Ahsoka nods again.

“I guess that means we’re a perfect match.”

“I guess so.” Ahsoka seems to drift off quickly, and you begin to tidy anything out of place around her room. There isn’t much out of place, so you make your way to the door. But just before you open it, Ahsoka calls out your name.

“Master Y/L/N?” You walk over to the edge of her bed again.

“Yes Ahsoka? Is there something wrong?” Her expression is confused and guilt-ridden.

“Can you stay here with me? I haven’t gotten very good sleep lately, I’ve been having nightmares.” You looks down at Ahsoka again. She seems to be like Anakin in her sleep habits as well.

“Of course, Ahsoka. If anything you are sparing me from planning Obi-Wan’s attack later this week.”

“I’m sure Master Kenobi can figure that out himself.” Ahsoka smiles.

“Yes, I’m sure he can.”

Anakin smiles as her feels your Force presence relax, assuming because you’ve fallen asleep. Padme smiles up at him.

“You’ve got that dumbstruck look on your face, again.”

“What do you mean again?” Anakin questions.

“You were looking at her like that the whole time we were in Ahsoka’s room.” Padme laughs. “It’s okay, it’s cute. I remember you two on Naboo. Absolutely dancing around your feelings until I put a stop to it.” Anakin remembers his mission with you to Naboo fondly. You assumed Anakin loved Padme, when he never held romantic feelings for her. Only familial admiration. You and Padme spoke over dinner one night after Anakin went to bed early. She essentially pried your confession out of you, but you assured her that Anakin loved her. How very wrong you were. Padme made it her mission to set you two up while you were still on Naboo. Clearly, she was successful.

“I have a strange request.” Anakin spoke up. Padme nodded at him to continue speaking. “Can you teach me how to braid hair?” Padme stops in her tracks, Anakin continuing to walk a few steps forward before turning around. “What?”

“Nothing, just, that is in fact a strange request. Why do you want to learn?” Anakin describes the scene of you this morning, frustrated in the mirror.

“Her mother used to style it, but she left for the Order so young that she was never able to learn how her mother did it.” Padme nods along.

“I can teach you. We’ll start with some simple ones, I’ll leave you datapads to look over in the future. Does that suffice?” Anakin nods, gratefully.

“Yes, thank you Padme. When should I meet you again for my...lesson?”

“We can go back to my room right now, if that works for you?”

“Of course, but I thought you had Senate duties to attend to?” Padme chuckles.

“If this is for Y/N’s benefit, this far outweighs my senatorial duties.” Padme and Anakin laugh and continue their walk down the hall.

Anakin spent the next few hours listening to Padme’s instructions as she demonstrated a few hairstyles on her handmaidens. They allowed Anakin to practice on their hair as well. Anakin was always a fast learner, and picked up these skills quickly.

Time flew by, and Anakin suddenly felt your Force precense awaken. He ties the braid he was working on in Sabe’s hair, and received an impressed nod from Padme.

“Not half bad, Anakin. You’ve picked this all up quite fast.” Anakin gives a nod with a hint of smirk on his face. He’s impressed with himself too. He thanks everyone in the room, especially the handmaidens who have had him tugging at their hair for the past few hours, and departs for your quarters, excited to show off his new skills.

When he arrives, you’ve already made it back from Ahsoka’s room and changed into a lighter pair of pants and a looser tunic. You have battle plans strewn across the table, with your head resting in your hands.

“Thank you for staying with Ahsoka, I had a feeling she wasn’t getting the best rest.” You nod in agreement.

“She’s been having nightmares. Nothing serious, I think she’s still reflecting on the mission. I think she’s being reminded of her squadron on Ryloth. She’s afraid of it happening again.” Anakin’s expression sinks. You know him well enough to understand his thought process. He wishes to protect Ahsoka from as much pain as possible. Although he knows this isn’t possible, he beats himself up when she feels this pain. “I can practically read your thoughts, love. It’s not your fault.”

“I know, I just wished she believed in herself a little more. She’s capable, but afraid of further consequences.” You both nod and let a comfortable silence overtake the room.

Hours fly by yet again, and the sun has set behind the Coruscant skyline, signaling the end of another day. You both wordlessly get ready for bed.

As you finish drying your hair, Anakin can seethe wheels turning in your head. He knows exactly what you are about to attempt, and he has a surprise in store. He grabs your brush of the stand along your bed, and elastics gifted to him by Padme. “Love, come here.” He motions for you to sit in front of him, your bottom practically in his lap. Anakin has brushed your hair before, you used to rebraid each other’s braids during your time as padawans as well, so you weren’t suspicious when Anakin began to brush through you hair.

What did surprise you is when he began to section it off. He weaved it gently between his fingers, skillfully. He managed to avoid every knot and unnecessary tug. You felt him pin the braids intricately forming a ring over the top of your head. The rest were tucked into a bun, with braids that formed a section of their own. He placed his hands on your shoulder to signal his completion, and you looked at him eagerly.

“Can I look at it?” You asked, brimming with glee.

“Of course, love.” You rush to the mirror in the refresher. As soon as you are met with your reflection, you are rendered speechless. Anakin has since gotten out of bed and come to stand behind you in the refresher. “You like it?” Anakin asks. You nod your head. You turn your neck to see the back, and it’s beautiful, The braids flow within your natural hair perfectly. It feels both similar and different from your mother’s style. Not quite Correlian, but…

“Padme taught you how to do this.” You stated.

“How did you know?” Anakin asked, surprised you deciphered it that quickly.

“I’ve seen her wear something similar before. It also feels very Nabooian.” Anakin gleams down at you, thrilled to see your smile. You reach up and grip his cheeks pulling him into a kiss. You separate a moment later. “Can you teach me how to do this?”

Anakin laughs. “Of course my love.” The two of you retire to bed shortly after. Anakin admires his handiwork as you lay your head against his shoulder.

“Thank you, Ani. I really do appreciate it.”

“It’s no problem, love. It made me upset that you never got to learn from your mother, I know how much it meant to you, so we can learn together.” The thought of Anakin with his hands in your hair glaring at a datapad about hair styles made you giggle. “Maybe you can pass these hairstyles on to our children one day.” The thought of Anakin with a child, your child in his lap, makes you smile as you slip into sleep.

[labyrinth-runner]

yak who this is 😘 So ani and reader are undercover on a mission, and there’s some mutual pining, and they have to play a couple for this and i’ll let you decide from there

I AM SO SORRY THAT THIS HAS SIT HERE FOR AS LONG AS IT HAS.

It’s also like 4000 words for which I offer up no apologies.

No warnings apply. @workitholland

“The two of you will be sent to Corellia,” Mace Windu said without room for argument.

“Spy on the locals, you shall. Learn about the secret ship trading, you must,” Master Yoda said gravely. 

You cast a glimpse towards the Jedi Knight beside you. “If we are to spy, we cannot be seen as Jedi, I’m assuming.”

“No, you are not,” Mace replied, folding his arms. 

“Undercover, you shall go. The cover story, up to you it is. Find the information, you must. Details, we need not ask for,” Master Yoda said.

The Council stared at you in silence for a moment.

“I know this goes without saying, but your mission is secret. Tell no one,” Mace said in a serious tone.

“Yes, Masters,” you replied, bowing politely before excusing yourself from the room along with your new partner. 

You studied him as you exited the room, remembering how close you had been as padawans, having drifted since the war started and put you on different paths. That didn’t mean you hadn’t kept up with the man’s lucrative career. He was a Holonet star in his own right by now, a fact that was not lost on you.

“How are we going to go about this, Master Skywalker?” you asked, turning a keen eye on him.

He seemed to wither under your scrutiny for a moment before regaining his bravado, “You mean our cover stories?”

“We could be siblings,” you proffered.

“Or lovers,” he said with a sly smirk. “We could be on Corellia for our honeymoon.”

“It isn’t a very romantic destination,” you replied. “Pirates and thugs everywhere.”

“Romance can happen under any conditions,” he replied as he got to the transport that the Council had prepared for you. 

“Very well,” you sighed, but you couldn’t help the slight tinge of blush on your cheeks.

The two of you made your way up into the craft, settling in to pilot it. In order to remove suspicion, you were to make a series of jumps instead of flying straight from Coruscant. While in hyperspace, you found civilian clothes and changed. It felt strange to be out of your robes. They were as much a part of you as your lightsaber in a way, an outward expression of your devotion to the order. Looking in the mirror, you turned this way and that trying to alleviate some of the awkwardness you felt.

“You don’t look as bad as you think you do,” Anakin said.

You jumped at the sound of his voice, turning to see him leaning against the doorway behind you. “That’s easy for you to say. You didn’t always wear the robes.”

“No, but I find that the robes sometimes strip us of our individuality,” he replied, coming over to stand behind you. Gently he turned you back towards the mirror, resting a hand on your shoulders, “It downplays beauty and handsomeness in order to safeguard against pride. There is nothing wrong with the way you look.”

Meeting his eyes in the mirror, the moment felt charged. His hands on your bare shoulders were hot, making you wish for the layers of your robes to protect you from the intimacy of it all. “How long before we land?”

“We’ll be dropping out of hyperspace soon,” he replied, dropping his hands from your shoulders. “From there it’ll just be a short while until we touch down in the capital.”

You nodded, “Aren’t I lucky to have a husband who is such a good pilot.”

A playful smirk flitted across his face at your teasing. “Listen, angel, your husband is not just good. He’s the best.”

“A change of clothes for you could never hide your pride,” you shot back with a chuckle.

Anakin shrugged, the smile dropping from his face at your remark as he thought about how many times he’d been chastised by Obi-Wan for saying such things, “Many have tried.”

You watched as he walked out of the room, taking one last look at yourself in the mirror before joining him just as the ship dropped out of hyperspace.

The space in front of the planet was cluttered with ships.

“It’s almost as if they have a battle of their own,” you murmured as Anakin guided the craft through shipping lanes.

“It’s one of the busier ports in the galaxy. The fact that it’s also responsible for building a lot of ships probably doesn’t help the clutter,” he explained as he took the ship into the atmosphere.

You’d never been to Corellia before, and therefore didn’t know what to expect. It was as if there were a little bit of everywhere in the galaxy on one planet, visually. Having spent most of your time on Coruscant while you were growing up, it still felt odd to see cities that sprawled out instead of up.

As if it were almost second nature to him, Anakin gracefully landed the ship in a busy space port.

“Are you sure its safe to leave the ship here?” you asked as you glanced around at some seedy people eyeing up your ship.

“Well, unless you have a better idea,” he shot back as he got out of his chair.

A grimace settled on your face. “Just.... lock the ship up after we leave.”

Anakin rolled his eyes as the two of you left the ship and went towards town.

Your senses were overwhelmed when you stepped out onto the busy street. There were so many sights, smells, and sounds, not to mention people bustling and jostling you every which way. Anakin reached out to take your hand when the crowd started to separate the two of you.

“Stay close,” he said. “I don’t want to have to go looking for you.”

“R-right,” you stammered as you felt how warm and safe his hand felt around yours. “We should find lodgings.”

Anakin nodded and started to tug you down the street towards an inn. You were lucky enough that they had one room left. As you settled in for a meal, the two of you listened closely to the discussions around you.

“The group in the corner,” you murmured.

“What about them?” Anakin asked, tilting his eating utensil slightly to see the group in the silver.

“They’re pirates, talking about smuggling crafts. I heard them when I passed by earlier to use the refresher,” you murmured. “They also mentioned a race. It’s a front. The Hutt who sponsors the race takes possession of the winner. The fastest racer is then given a new ship and told to fly to a neighboring planet for a race that never happens. The pirates intercept the ship and sell it on the black market and the racers are never heard from again. The Hutt tells the people that they left Corellia to race in better places and were killed in a racing accident.”

Anakin’s eyes squinted as he studied them, “How often does this happen?”

“Once a year,” you replied, taking a sip of your soup. “If they did it any more often, they’d get suspicious.”

“And I’m assuming the ship the winner receives is whatever the latest model is from the shops,” Anakin murmured darkly.

“With the newest technology,” you replied. “Presumably it’s then sold to rival manufacturers who take the secrets and make their own versions. The Hutt is then sold the new ships at a cheaper price than what the Corellians would have charged, as well as given a bit of a bonus as a thank you for doing business.”

“Intellectual property theft isn’t exactly a crime we concern ourselves with,” he said thoughtfully.

“It is when the ships are currently being sold to the Separatists,” you shot back.

“When’s the race?” Anakin asked in amusement.

“Tomorrow,” you replied. “Why?”

“That should be enough time,” he said with a nod, getting up from the table.

“Enough time for what?” you asked incredulously.

He gave you a smile and a wink before leaving you alone at the table.

You sighed, “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

After gulping down the rest of your soup, you rushed back to the room the two of you were sharing and gave your report to the council.

“Very good,” Mace said. “See if you can find out more information about this year’s model, that way we can hope to figure out what new advances the Separatists will have. Then come home.”

“Yes, Master,” you said, bowing as the call disconnected.

The early morning rays streamed in through the window. You’d missed your opportunity to sleep, and Anakin was still missing. You sat on the only bed in the room as you contemplated how you would go about finding that new information when Anakin returned.

“Why are you covered in grease?” you asked as he headed towards the refresher.

“I was working on a ship,” he shrugged.

“There’s nothing wrong with our ship,” you said, getting up to follow him.

“I said a ship, not our ship,” he replied as he started to strip in front of you. 

You turned to the side to give him some privacy, your cheeks getting hot. “Anakin, what are you doing?”

“I can’t race without a ship,” he said as he stepped into the steamy column. “I can’t use ours in case it gets damaged.”

“You’re not racing, period,” you replied.

“I already paid the entrance fee,” he replied.

Your mouth fell open. “You can’t be serious.”

“I can win,” he shot back.

“That isn’t the point!” you replied with a groan before slamming the door shut and returning to your room. 

Your feet were insistent as they paced back and forth along the room waiting for him to come back out. When he finally emerged, you were all roiled up.

“Anakin, you cannot race. I forbid it!” you said finally.

His eyes narrowed at you, “Oh, you forbid it? Well, then I guess I’ll just stay here!”

You scoffed. “It’s dangerous, not to mention it’s not part of the mission. You don’t have to do this.”

“It’s racing, of course I have to! I’ll be fine. I’m doing this,” he said, pointing at you, “and you... you’re not my actual spouse. You don’t get to decide this. ”

“Of course I’m not your actual spouse,” you shot back, “Like this farce of a relationship could actually work out in the real world. You’re too impulsive and you don’t think about any of the consequences of your actions. Or who you hurt.”

“I don’t care what you think,” Anakin looked as though you had stricken him. “The race is in an hour. I don’t expect you to come, and I don’t need you to,” he mumbled before walking past you and out the door. 

As the door closed behind him, your knees gave out and you sat on the bed. That burst of outrage was so unlike you, and in truth, you weren’t actually angry. You were worried. You held your head in your hands, unsure why you were so worried. Anakin was a great pilot. He was more than capable of handling himself, and yet you didn’t want him to race. Was it because it went against your mission’s directive? Or was it out of concern for his safety? Or... perhaps... you wondered softly, if it was something much deeper.

What you did know was that you couldn’t just sit in this room and not know what was happening. With a sigh, you went to the races. At the very least, perhaps you’d find out more about this new ship while you were there. 

The crowd was charged as they waited for the race to begin. You scanned the line of racers to find Anakin, eventually catching sight of him towards the middle of the pack. Taking a steadying breath, you let yourself fade into the background. You were just an innocent bystander. Nothing to see, but unbeknownst to all, listening to everything. 

Anakin tightened his hands on the controls, feeling a bit of anger bubble in his chest. At the root of it all, though, was hurt. Hurt that the one person who’s opinion mattered the most didn’t support him, didn’t believe in him. He looked out towards the crowd, hopelessly looking for you. When he found you hidden between some Wookies, a smile came to his face.

They came, he thought. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he turned his attention back to the race. The track wasn’t large, at least, not by Tatooine’s standards, but it was still formidable. He flexed his fingers as he waited for the countdown, connecting with his machine like he used to with his pod racer. The lights flashed as engines revved before finally, it was showtime.

Now this is pod racing, he thought as he shot out from the starting line. 

You heard the people around you talking about the new ships, having entrenched yourself in a group of shipbuilders if their uniforms were to be believed. Soon enough, you knew everything you needed for the council. Turning your attention back to the race, you saw Anakin weaving dangerously in and out of the crowd of racers. 

It was as if your feet moved on their own accord, running towards the boundary until you pressed flush against it, your eyes tracking every movement he made. Your hands tightened on the rail in anticipation when one racer cut him off and sent him into a tail spin.

Anakin quickly recovered, muttering Huttese under his breath as he course-corrected. His eyes found you and saw your nervous face. He sighed, feeling guilty at how upset he made you. He wanted to be the hero, the winner, to prove he could do it. But... he also knew what was more important: you. He didn’t have to prove anything to these people about his flying skills. He had to prove to you that he didn’t mean what he said earlier. He did care what you thought. So, he did something that shocked you. He threw the race.

As he pulled into the finish line, you hopped the barricade and ran towards him. Your arms encircled him and held him close. He crushed you back. 

“You’re an idiot!” you said as tears of relief stung your eyes.

Anakin let his shoulders relax as he held you close. “I’m sorry.”

“I got the information we need,” you sniffed. “Let’s just go back and get some rest. Neither of us got any sleep last night.”

He slowly released you and followed you back to the inn. 

You kicked off your shoes next to your bag and disarmed yourself before getting into bed as he walked towards the bathroom to freshen up.

Slipping into the sheets, you buried yourself under the blankets hoping to find a false sense of security, or at least a rationalization for your feelings. When Anakin had almost gotten hurt earlier, it felt as though your heart had dropped into your stomach. You should unpack that, but you couldn’t. Not right now, at least. Instead, your mind drifted to all the late nights the two of you shared as younglings, talking about your hopes and dreams. You remembered talking about what kind of Jedi you wanted to be. With a wistful sigh, you realized it was nothing like the Jedi the two of you had actually become.

The bed shifted softly behind you as a warm body slipped into it.

“Credit for your thoughts?” he murmured.

“How’d you know I was still awake?” you asked.

“I could feel your uncertainty from across the room. Anyone feeling like that isn’t sleeping,” he replied, propping up on his elbow and turning towards you.

You turned back, pleasantly shocked to find yourself staring at his bare chest. “You’re not wearing a shirt.”

“I get hot when I sleep,” he shrugged.

You swallowed and nodded, trying to settle your gaze anywhere but on the set of abs in front of you. “Do you ever think about what we wanted to be when we were younger and how we turned out?”

Anakin’s brow furrowed, “I was a slave and I dreamed of seeing the galaxy. I got my wish.”

“Not that young,” you said with a slight smile, reaching outs to smooth his brow. “Remember when we were padawans and we talked about what we wanted to do?”

“I remember you talking about how badly you wanted to work in the library with Master Nu and me calling you boring for not wanting a life of adventure,” he teased.

“Well, I doubt I’ll ever cease having adventures at this point,” you sighed.

“War changes a person,” he said solemnly.

“I don’t know if I’d ever be content to hide in the library again,” you admitted, “Not when I know everything that’s out there. All the pain... cruelty... things we should be working towards getting rid of.”

“You can’t save the galaxy,” he said sadly. “Sometimes you can’t even save one person.”

“Never hurts to try,” you replied, laying back down on your back.

He looked at you then, dragged his eyes down your face. Gently, he reached over to caress your cheek. “Is that what was keeping you up?”

You leaned into his touch, shutting your eyes. “No.” Keeping them closed, you murmured, “You’ve turned out to be remarkable.”

“I’ll try not to let it go to my head,” he teased.

Your eyes opened, “I’m serious. I always admired you when we were younger. You were, are-” you corrected- “fearless. You were never afraid of doing what you wanted. I wish I had that same instinct.”

Anakin swallowed, looking down at the space between the two of you. “If you could do what you wanted, what would you do?”

Your eyes trailed his naked chest before making their way up to his face. You took in the slight stubble from the long day he had had. Then, your fingers reached up to touch. He looked up at you through his lashes, blue eyes like the endless sky that made you feel like you were soaring within them, falling up into the heavens. Gently, you traced your forefinger down the pink flesh of a scar long healed. He sucked in a breath as you let the hand trail down his face. Your thumb settled in the divot of his chin as the rest of your fingers reached up to settle on his cheek. Feeling bold, you let your thumb slide up to run across his bottom lip as your eyes settled on them.

“If I were fearless,” you said, softly, barely above a whisper, “I would kiss you.”

Hesitantly, you brought your eyes up to meet his to find his searing gaze holding you in place. There was a torment behind his eyes as you dangled a forbidden possibility in front of him. Your heart clenched at having done this to him, having burdened him with the knowledge of your affections. It wasn’t your fault that you felt this way, and it certainly wasn’t his.

“Good night, Ani,” you murmured before letting your hand fall from his face and turning away from him.

“No,” he said shakily, sliding his arm around you to turn you back towards him.

“N-no?” you stammered in confusion.

“You don’t get to just say that and then turn away as if nothing has happened,” he said, feeling impassioned. “You can’t tell me how you feel, touch me as tenderly as you have, and then give me a cold shoulder to calm your own conscience. Not...”he trailed off, licking his lips, “not without giving me the chance to respond.”

You felt frozen in place, fearful of the rejection you were sure would be coming. The chosen one, Anakin Skywalker, surely could never want someone like you, could he? His victories inspired hope. He was the face of the Republic while Master Kenobi was the face of the Order. You were a nobody in comparison.

“I used to always be so tired when we were younger,” he explained, “but, I was also homesick, too homesick to sleep. I always felt so far behind all the other padawans because I hadn’t grown up in the Order, going so far as to train every night. Yet, everyone always treated me like I was above them, like I was untouchable because of what I was, not who I was. Everyone except you. Do you remember when we first met?”

“You were going through the basic lightsaber forms and I told you that your footwork was wrong,” you replied.

“And then you taught me the actual way to do things,” he replied. “You trained with me when no one else would approach me. You were one of my first friends.”

Friends. Your heart sank into a sadness of knowing that this was how it should be, and that you were foolish to get your hopes up.

“And then we drifted and I realized how much I missed you,” he added. “More than I’ve ever missed a friend. I’d see you across the Temple when were both there and I couldn’t meet your eyes because I knew I’d lose myself in them. You always think you can just slip into the background and hide from even yourself, but you don’t with me. You are all I can think about when life gets dark. You’re my light. When I think a battle is hopeless, I remember that I’d rather have you read about my victory instead of reading my name on the list of those who have fallen.”

You swallowed, turning your head away to hide the emotion in your eyes.

He reached out with the metal hand he so despised and tenderly turned you back to him. “Thoughts of you consume.”

In that moment, you came to the realization that the star that was Anakin Skywalker not only burned ever so brightly as to illuminate the entire galaxy, but that he burned for you. 

Your mouth went dry. 

“I’m not a hero without fear,” he admitted, “I have so many fears, but my biggest fear is losing you.”

Your eyes softened as you reached up to cup his cheek, “You’ll never lose me, Ani.”

He leaned into your touch, slowly closing his eyes to savor the moment, “But... I’m not afraid to do this,” he said before pulling you close. His lips pressed firmly to yours and you felt like your bodies were in tune with each other. You molded yourself into him, feeling the force flow freely between the two of you. All were connected through the force, but this rivaled anything you’d ever felt before. Electricity danced over your skin as his touch sent sparks down your spine. Your hands explored the flat planes of his chest, as his hands slipped up your arms, just as warm as earlier. His heat enveloped you as you lost yourself in him until you didn’t know where Anakin ended and you began. In the back of your mind, you knew that this wasn’t something you should be doing. This wasn’t the type of Jedi you should be, but it was the type of Jedi you had become. 

War changes people.

The thought echoed in your head.

War reminds us what’s really important. War shows us what we are afraid to lose. War shows us how far from our ideals we’re willing to fall in order to win.

War shows us where love can be found, because the opposite of war is not peace. 

The opposite of war is creation. 

The opposite of war is love.

The trip back to the Temple was easy. Living with the knowledge of what had transpired on Corellia was not.

As you walked down the ramp, his hand brushed yours, barely holding it. The Council would be waiting for you in the tower spire looming above you. You’d debrief and then you’d be sent on your separate ways.

A small smile settled on your face as Anakin beamed like a god of the sun. His warmth radiated through you and you knew.

Physical difference wouldn’t alter the emotional closeness you’d found on Corellia. You would always be with each other.

[siennahrobek]

Future Past

5 BBY

(Luke is approximately 14 years old)

Lothal was a bit of a strange place to stop, on account of being so bustling with the Empire’s presence. However, for some reason, Ben had insisted on a short stop there and lured him in with that mischievous smirk he would get sometimes and a mention of a surprise. And Luke supposed, he could use the distraction. Of anything, really.

It had been hard; so soon after Ben had forced Boil to leave them. Boil had been Luke’s friend, in a way that he had never had before. He and Ben didn’t stay on a planet long enough for Luke to actually make friends, but Boil had stayed with them for months and it was turning into routine. It became normal. Even squishing him into their little ship wasn’t too bad; Luke was just too happy about just having someone else around. Of course, Qui-Gon stopped by once in a while, but he couldn’t hold his form for very long and generally, he only came when he had something to teach. Luke had been so happy for those couple of months, having someone around to talk to and help and teach and be taught by. He loved Ben, of course, he did, with so much, but there was a difference.

And suddenly that was taken away.

And Luke had been very upset.

After Boil had been sent away, Luke didn’t talk to Ben for nearly a week and even after that, it was only necessary exchanges between them. Which led to their trip to Lothal where they barely made it past the strict incoming traffic regulations and landed in the middle of nowhere.

Meditation, Luke presumed with a frown and the roll of his eyes.

Ben took nothing with him, just gestured for Luke to follow him out into the grasslands. And, as of course, he did, and they walked in silence through the tiny civilization which he knew would be leading out into the actual, literal, middle of nowhere. At least, until Ben had spotted something that had interested in him. After telling Luke to stay where he was and the younger man returning that request with a long, irritated whine and near rebuttal, Ben had left him in the market, hidden away in an alley until he got back.

It wasn’t just hard because of Boil leaving, although that was the core of it. It wasn’t just because Luke had lost pretty much the only friend, he had made that he knew Ben would trust. But Luke had been a bit bitter towards his guardian. Things were a bit more strained than usual, and Luke was holding onto his feelings. The ones that were so upset and angry that he felt like sometimes he could just explode.

Because he finally, finally, had a friend that Ben would approve of. Sure, he was older like Ben, but it was a start, it was something. It was even a person that Ben cared about and trusted. But then he just sent him away and Luke was struggling on forgiving Ben for that.

Lost in thought and his bitterness, Luke was a bit too late to notice the being creeping up on him but realized just enough for avoid the stun coming his way. He didn’t get a good look at his opponent who tried to flip him…only for Luke to bring the being with him and flipped him as well.

It hurt. And no doubt it hurt the other guy too.

The ensuing fight was rather brutal, and Luke had a feeling if he hadn’t been shown so many hand-to-hand moves by Boil, he would have lost. Well, if the fight had gone on any longer than the few moments that it had, he probably would have lost. At least, if Luke hadn’t used the Force. But that would blow their cover.

It was sharp and ruthless with fast strikes that were almost always some kind of hit, whether or not it was the area that it was intended. And for absolute certain, Luke knew he would hurt and be so sore tomorrow. Well, if he liveduntil tomorrow. And by the way things were going with this fight, he wasn’t entirely so sure he would.

“Luke!”

“Echo!”

The two of them had stopped so abruptly that they both stumbled, nearing falling over one another as they tripped over themselves to stand up and move away, one from the other. Luke felt like he was coughing up the dust the two fighters had kicked into the air, but it was difficult to get enough air in his lungs. He was tired. Ben and another trooper, longer hair and a bandana were standing in their sight line, looking quite unimpressed and frowning, expectantly.

“Ben!”

“General Kenobi?”

Luke’s head whipped around to the side, where his opponent was, eyes wide and shocked. The man had ripped off his dark helmet to stare and Luke tried to prevent his double take. Because…. well, because he looked like Boil. Well, not exactly. He didn’t really have much in the way of hair and his skin was a bit ashen, but they looked so similar. Meaning this was a clone. Luke glanced back at Ben and the other man. Another clone.

“Echo,” Ben greeted, quiet and soft with a slight bow. His presence softened at the sight of this former soldier that he knew but he was still guarded, shielded. Luke struggled to understand this sometimes, but Ben had believed the clones had betrayed the jedi and killed all of his family and people for well over a decade. That caution wasn’t just going to go away. But he was trying, and he did his best. “It is good to see you alive and well.”

“Is it?” the clone – Echo – sputtered, obviously a bit surprised at the statement. “Because I have a hard time being glad to see…people like us, knowing what happened.” Luke knew what he was alluding to; how could he not. Everyone knew what had happened, even though there were different stories surrounding it, depending on who one heard it from.

“I know about the chips,” Ben swallowed as his eyes softened further in grief, something misty and far away, like he wasn’t quite in the present. It was for everyone involved, rather tragic. The jedi dead and the troopers brainwashed; the galaxy gone and under the tyranny of the new Galactic Empire. “We found out a few months ago. I am so sorry.”

“I feel like I should be saying that to you,” Echo muttered, shaking his head while the other clone just looked between the both of them. He wondered who he was exactly and how he knew them. “I shouldn’t be surprised you are alive. The 212thalways had rumors about you.”

“Rumors?” Ben mused, an eyebrow raising curiously.

“Yeah. Some of them thought you were unkillable.”

Ben scoffed with several different and varying emotions running through it, some Luke couldn’t quite identify with any amount of certainty. “That is rather ridiculous but, I suppose, their faith in me is… it would have been nice, if things hadn’t worked out the way they did,” Ben said. “I hear you are chasing a bounty. On Luke and myself.”

Echo blinked and shot a glance at Luke before turning back to Ben. “Uh… yes sir. Although, in our defense, we didn’t know it was you.”

“No worries,” Ben shrugged and tucked his hands into the large sleeves of the overcoat of his robe. “And I think you can drop the sir. I am no longer your superior officer, much less a general.”

Echo just smirked faintly. “Of course, sir.”

“Hunter and I just wanted to make sure you and Luke didn’t kill each other,” Ben responded, his tone filling with a form of amusement. “Would you mind keeping him company or entertained while we speak?”

The trooper just nodded. As the two of them walked off to have their talk with the assurance that the clone and boy did not, in fact, kill one another or would for that matter, Echo turned back towards Luke and tried to smile, offering his good hand for Luke to shake. He did, of course. It was only polite. “Sorry about, ya know, hitting you in the face, kid.”

“You can call me Luke,” the younger boy replied but he forced himself to look at him. It was a bit difficult with the similar facial structure of his friend. They looked virtually nothing alike aside from that. Boil had more hair and a bit of a scowl, and his presence was oh so vastly different. Neither were bad or better, but it just kind of made Luke miss Boil. “I’m sorry for nearly busting your vambrace,” he added, gesturing towards the slightly sparking tech inside. Echo just winced but then shrugged and pulled up his other arm which…had a machine attached to it.

“I’ve got it,” he added as he started to poke at it. “Those moves looked familiar. Considering General Kenobi knew about the chips, I guess it is safe to say that you two came in contact with some troopers.”

Luke nodded.

“Anyone I might know?”

“I don’t know in particular if you knew them,” Luke replied as the two of them walked through the little marketplace, slow and steady. Echo continued to work a bit on his partially broken vambrace, and Luke kept his gaze on the varying items that were out for sale in the market. “Commander Cody and Sergeant Boil we found on Vader’s ship.”

The clone paused and stared at him, just kicking up as he stopped in his tracks. Luke paused enough to glance at him, a bit startled. “That…is a lot to unpack. I’m going to skip over the whole Lord Vader thing for now. Cody is alive?”

Luke hesitated and looked away. “No. He’s not.”

Echo sagged in disappointment, but they continued to walk. “Oh…so you…you learned some stuff from the other guy, Boil.”

“He was a part of the 212th, Ben’s immediate battalion,” Luke explained. He didn’t know if Echo knew in particular but he just thought it would be best to clarify. “He was with us for several months before Ben sent him away. He taught me some things and told me a ton of stories. About Ben and the 212th, about Cody, about him and his brother Waxer and all the others.”

“You like stories?”

Luke tried not to look sheepish when he nodded in affirmation.

Echo just grinned. “I have plenty of stories. And trust me, they are some of the most insane and fantastical stories you will hear. My brother, Fives, and I were amidst all sorts of action alongside our general. They called him the Hero with No Fear and he was…something else. His name was Anakin Skywalker.”

*

Luke barely got to hear a fraction of what Echo had to offer and it just made him even more upset when Ben told him they had to go their separate ways. He wanted more. He needed more. Echo was fun and his stories great and they were about his father! Oh, he wanted to know more!

But Ben was stern, and Hunter was anxious to get back to the rest of their party. Luke somehow convinced them to give the two jedi a ride to their destination, which Ben very reluctantly finally caved to. Luke had a few more minutes and he would use it to the best of his ability. Their destination, as Ben pointed out, was a fairly natural looking structure for Lothal’s environment and the two clones had left near immediately after dropping them off. Luke’s heart just felt heavy.

Ben explained that it was a Jedi Temple and that they would both have to use the force to make the entrance known. It took them a fair amount of time, possibly due to their conflicting feelings on the past events and Luke’s bitterness. But, eventually, it happened and the Temple unraveled to reveal its door way, coming up from the ground.

Ben didn’t say a word.

They walked in. It was musty and disgusting but there was a brief and faint scent of freshness, possibly from someone opening the Temple recently. At least before the last two hundred years. Luke voiced this out loud.

“I would believe so,” Ben hummed as he looked around, running a hand along one of the pillars with a kind of sad reverence. “This is a Jedi Temple and I do believe we will find some guidance here.”

“Guidance for what?”

“Whoever knows,” Ben replied, letting the torches light up in small flickers of flames that lit their way. There were a few skeletons around the floor near the columns. Neither of them tried to look at them, rather avoided them and kept walking deeper. “The Force may use the Temple for varying lessons for any one of us and it is a good place to be to learn something. I dare say you could use some guidance that is not from me.”

Luke just glanced away and swallowed.

It hadn’t been easy between the two of them, that was for sure.

“Are we…splitting up?”

“Your journey is your own,” Ben replied, calm and kind, although there was something underneath that Luke couldn’t identify. “Just as mine will be mine. Why don’t you start that way? It smells less musty.”

Luke glanced to where he gestured. “Okay,” he replied and looked back to Ben, but he had already disappeared. Even for someone at his age with as much grey hairs as he had, he was surprisingly quick and sneaky. “Okay,” he repeated to himself with a sharp exhale. He turned towards the doorway and took one of the torches before heading in.

He didn’t know how long he walked or how he lost his torch. For a while, he was in the dark. Everything was so silent it was eerie and rather disturbing, making Luke exceptionally uncomfortable.

And then. And then things changed.

And that change was so sudden and so real and the reason he was here seemed to mush in his mind. He didn’t exactly remember where he was or what exactly he was supposed to be doing. But he stopped when he felt it. Luke stepped into a gorgeous garden, grass tickling at his legs, soft and lush with the crashing of waterfalls bubbling over his ears. It was a sound he would never get bored of; ever since the first time he had seen one. There were walkways winding around the land, with patches of flowers and a few trees, full bearing of fruit and leaves, dotting the grounds. It was so beautiful.

He wanted to know off his boots and just…relish in the feeling.

It was warm here. Not the kind of heat that was oppressive and ongoing and just made one want to lie down in their room and not move, ever. But the kind that would come and go just enough for comfort, something of joy and kindness. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, taking in those good feelings and the brisk freshness of the air.

There was a joyful shout, and he opened his eyes. Ther were children running over a hill chasing one another and reaching out with huge grins on their faces and sparkling eyes full of laughter and playfulness. Luke blinked.

And then again.

There were…people here?

He paused and stared in wonderment. Maybe…maybe they were jedi. They were in a Temple. Right? That was where he was. Right, right, he and Ben had went into a Jedi Temple. Made sense, perhaps, that there would be remnants of jedi here…right?

Maybe there were survivors.

Survivors, Luke thought numbly. It sounded too good to be true. He had to find Ben. He had to tell him what he had discovered.

“Luke!” a voice called, cheerfully. He spun around and stared at the being, blankly as a he strode up; a Kel Dor if he wasn’t mistaken, walked to him, hands tucked into his sleeves, similar to the way Ben did when he was wearing a large cloak. “Initiate Luke,” he corrected with a chuckle and although his face was incapable of smiling with the mask that he wore, Luke was pretty sure he was grinning on the inside.

“Initiate?” Luke echoed, questioningly.

“Yes,” the being chuckled again and gestured to him up and down. “The step before becoming a padawan, of course.” Luke looked down at the light-colored tunics he was in. These…were not his clothes.

“I can be a padawan?” he murmured.

“Of course!” the Kel Dor teased but he sounded warm and kind, although a bit surprised on Luke’s questioning about his place here. “You have done very well in your classes. You are well on your way to becoming a great jedi.”

“There are no more jedi…besides Ben,” Luke replied numbly as his mind sparked. Of course, Ben. That was what he was supposed to do. He needed to find Ben, tell him about this, about these…jedi he had discovered. At least, Luke thought they were jedi.

“Nonsense, Initiate,” the Kel Dor said, with a light shake of his head, amusement filling his voice. He waved around the garden, gesturing to other beings that had now entered and were mingling around. There were so many, of different ages and appearances and species. Most were speaking to one another, in groups of two to several. “There are many,” he assured as he made Luke look. “And you must only choose.”

“Choose?” he sounded too much like an echo.

“A master.”

Sure enough, some of those around were speaking with children that were dressed like Luke. Some were hugging, being led away by the respective masters with their hand or appendage in the other’s. They were choosing and being chosen, Luke realized. Initiates being chosen as padawans. Initiates choosing their masters.

“I can choose?”

“Well,” the being pointed out as he put a hand on Luke’s shoulder. He nearly startled; only Ben and Boil had generally touched him. The Kel Dor didn’t seem to notice. “It is a mutual thing. However, I was hoping to ask you.”

“Ask me?”

“To be my padawan,” the master suggested and turned to face him straight on. “You are kind, driven and compassionate. You would do well under my tutelage. What do you say, Initiate? Would you like to be my padawan?”

Luke stared for an embarrassingly long time because that just…it seemed impossible. He had always wanted to be a jedi; especially a padawan, for as long as he knew what a padawan was. Ben never technically denied him outright or said no. Rather, he would just tell him how dangerous that term was, and they had better not speak of it again. Luke didn’t always listen. “I…I’m sorry, sir – master – but I don’t think so. I need to find my guardian.”

“Unfortunate,” the master hummed, shaking his head and he sounded genuinely disappointed. Luke hated doing that to him but something about this just didn’t seem right. Something else at play. “Good luck, I suppose then. I hope you find what you are looking for.”

“I’m looking for Ben,” Luke replied, glancing around. When he turned back, the Kel Dor was gone. It was like he had disappeared right out of the thin air. After what Luke had seen Ben do, he couldn’t be terrible surprised if the jedi had been capable of that, but he thought it was rather unlikely. “This is rather strange.”

“Quite not,” someone else said. Another master was behind him again and Luke turned around towards him. He was older, with long greying hair.

“Master…?” he questioned.

He frowned. “Master Drallig. Better work on that memory, initiate. A master will not want to train a child who cannot even remember their name.”

“Yes master,” he replied.

“You are up next.”

“Up?”

“The Exhibition match,” Master Drallig frowned deeper. “Come on, initiate! Get your head in the game! Prospective masters are watching.”

“Of course. Of course,” Luke nodded and jogged off to where the master gestured. Even though he had no idea where this was, what was happening or what exactly he was supposed to be doing, his body seemed to know, and he just moved with it. He spent hours in the exhibition, sparring and fighting against other students, moving on to next rounds as he won bouts.

It was like he had been training and readying himself for this for his entire life. And it was an amazing feeling.

Luke didn’t know if he won the exhibition match or, rather, if anyone had or could. He just remembered doing several fights and moving on until he found himself back in the depths of the garden again, away from the tournament itself and amidst other masters. He was having an increasingly difficult time reminding himself that this wasn’t real and his goal here.

All he knew was that this was his chance to become a padawan.

He just had to find someone that felt right.

So, Luke went through the garden, every so often someone asking him to be their padawan but none of them felt quite right. Or perhaps they felt too right to be true. It hardly mattered; something niggled in the back of his mind, reminding him he had a goal and a purpose. He just kept forgetting what that was exactly. He was getting desperate. Nothing felt quite right. But he was running out of time and options. It was getting harder to say no. By the time Qui-Gon Jinn came around with his request, there were barely any masters left. He was so kind and gentle and a familiar face. Luke wanted to wrap himself in the cloak like he did with…

Ben!

Luke stuttered and took off, leaving Master Jinn without an answer. Rude, perhaps, but Luke was running out of time. He had to find Ben. Because Ben. The light that appeared before him was blinding and devastating but Luke knew. He knew. It was his father.

“Hey kiddo.”

Luke swallowed. This…this was something he had always wanted. To meet his father. It seemed like an impossible dream. Because it was. Impossible.

His father began to speak and oh! Was Luke so starstruck! It was his father! The famous jedi! The hero with no fear! Ben’s friend, his brother…

Luke stopped.

Ben.

“I’m sorry,” he croaked out. “I can’t talk. I have to find Ben.”

His father stared at him with a serious frown, his face perfect and smooth, with the locks of his hair framing his face that made Luke too easily calm. He looked right; perfect. Like Luke had always imagined his father to be. There was something missing about his face, but Luke couldn’t quite put his finger on what. He supposed, at this point, it hardly mattered. “Isn’t this what you always wanted? Your greatest dream? To meet me? To talk to me?”

“I have to find Ben before it’s too late,” Luke tried to reason, and he found it difficult to tear his eyes away from his father to look around for his guardian.

“So, he’s more important than me? I am your father!”

“And I want to be a jedi. Like you. Like Ben.”

“I can teach you, I can teach you much better than that insecure relic of an age long gone,” his father insisted, determined and strong. Luke’s brows just scrunched together with a deepening frown because that didn’t quite sound right. His father loved Ben, they were friends, brothers. He couldn’t imagine him saying something rather rude and disrespectful like this about him. “I am your father.”

“I know,” Luke replied with a hard swallow. So much was running through his head. It was so hard to keep track. “But this…I need to do this. I want to be a jedi and that means sacrifice. Letting go.”

His father reeled back and scowled, his eyes blazing with heat and color and lines scratching into the sides of his face, barely noticeable but it was almost all Luke could see. “You would trade this – everything you ever wanted – me, the jedi, this world, for him?”

“This isn’t real,” Luke responded, sadly as he forced himself to stare at his father, into his eyes. Direct and resolute. “And Ben…even if he wasn’t destined to be my jedi master, I would choose him every time,” he backed away, one foot after another. It had started out slow, but he knew he didn’t have a lot of time. “I will still dream of truly meeting you,” he said and then began to run. It was all he could do to keep himself from staying, from staying and losing everything else but the feeling of dreams. All he could feel was the heat burning into his back as he ran off. And he just kept running. His feet began to ache, and he tripped over them in embarrassing frequency.

“Ben!”

Nothing.

“BEN!”

Still nothing. There was no one in sight of the garden anymore.

“Ben! Please!” he begged, finally tripping to a halt. He nearly fell, exhausted and out of breath as he tried to catch up. He didn’t have much more time; it was running out. “Please. Please. I just…I just want to be a jedi.” His chest started to heave, and tears threatened to overtake his vision. “Please.”

There was a brief silence.

“Well, if a jedi is all you wanted to be, there were plenty of masters willing to teach you. I have no doubt you had plenty of offers.”

Luke scrambled to turn because that voice; oh he knew that voice. “Ben!” he cried, happily, tears coming out in relief as he caught sight of his guardian. He looked a bit younger, less weary. The bags under his eyes were less noticeable and the only real wrinkles around his face were that in the corners of his eyes from smiling.

“Hello, Beacon.”

“I want to be a jedi,” he promised as he got closer to him. “I hope you never question my commitment.”

Ben hummed. “You have made your desire to become a jedi rather clear. You had plenty of chance. Master Koon, Master Jinn, even your father.”

“You saw that?”

He smiled but shrugged. “You said no to all of them. Why?”

“Because of you.”

“I’m holding you back?” he asked, incredulously. He looked torn and almost offended, almost horrified at the prospect. It was laughable to Luke but apparently Ben had taken that very seriously. Luke wondered what that meant; why he would react in such a way.

Luke choked out a laugh and shook his head, rather vehemently. “No Ben. Never. I didn’t want anyone else. And I know it’s important. You are always my choice. You were always my choice.”

Present Past

Luke

Iyah, one of the slaves that Siri and Luke had freed from the little temporary quarters that the troopers had been held in had a hiding place for them until the group figured out what to do next. Siri still had her disguise of a slave trader and with all the traffic and bustle of the up-and-coming auction, it was easy to move and blend in with the crowds when Luke and Siri’s smoke bombs erupted upon Luke’s presence being found missing. Iyah’s former master had died as of recently and she was in the auction house because her master’s family was going to sell her. It would be some time before the rest of the family went through all of his things and house, so they had a fairly secure hiding place until then. Luke didn’t think that they would be at the house that long.

The smoke from their little distraction is noticeable, even to those out in the streets and far from the palace but they were practically harmless. Just enough to mask their presence and allow them to escape. Wrapping the troopers in cloaks, they moved through the curious crowds that watched as the smoke puffed from the palace windows and doors.

The house that Iyah brings them to is out of the way and not something that someone would come to immediately, as it is just a bit off the streets. The other slaves mostly huddled on their own, leaving the jedi and troopers to their own devices but Iyah just eyes Luke up, warily and announces her intention to make food for everyone as she comes back to bring them a first aid kit; probably one that she knew her master had on hand. Most beings had something of the sort.

“You don’t have to do that, ma’am,” Captain Rex tried to assure her quickly, in some attempt to convince her that she had nothing to fear from them; that she had no obligation to feed any of them.

Luke met her eyes for a moment, and she frowned at the trooper, but she doesn’t say anything. She just turned and nearly stormed back to the kitchen.

Fives was itching to speak, to ask for answers. Luke didn’t have to be force sensitive to know how eager and pressed he was for such things. He didn’t want to explain everything at the moment; he hurt, and he was tired, but he knew it was inevitable. Eventually, Fives could not quite continue to keep it all in. It hadn’t been long. Most of them were still trying to just catch their breath.

“I think it is about time you tell us what is going on,” Fives started, his jaw clenching. If nothing else, Luke had to admire his persistence and pursuit for answers and justice.

Luke sighed and tried to sit up further. They were all on the floor, mostly collapsed over themselves in their exhaustion but Waxer helped him and let him lean against his solid shoulder. “I can tell him about some things, if you want,” he suggested, gently.

The boy knew the trooper was being genuine. Boil had told Luke so much about Waxer in the months that he had with him, and he didn’t seem to downplay how kind and good Waxer was. Luke hoped he could keep him alive, if only for Boil’s sake but he couldn’t help but value him above and beyond. He hadn’t been around for long but trusting Waxer felt near like second nature.

“I knew you were keeping secrets,” Fives frowned at the Lieutenant, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. Waxer, took it in stride, barely shrugging and projecting a show of simple acceptance. Fives kept going with a stream of questions and a demand for answers. “What do you know? What is going on? Does this have anything to do with what happened with Krell? Or why we were put under him and not ourGeneral. Or how about the fact that General Kenobi came back to the Resolute on a stretcher?”

“One at a time, Fives,” Rex interrupted, flatly with a tired sigh. It perhaps, wasn’t exactly the right thing to say at the moment.

“And you, you have been keeping secrets too,” Fives shot at him, his frowning deepening. He was so frustrated and scared; Luke could feel it. He couldn’t entirely blame the trooper; the situation was intense and strange. Sometimes with one’s most intense emotions, in the moment, they could not be shielded. It was easier for a jedi because they trained for that sort of thing, but most other beings didn’t even know the existence of shields; not really. “You know it as well but decided, hey, let’s not tell your troops. Maybe some of them would still be alive if you had.”

Rex’s jaw clenched and Luke lurched forward, ready to defend. It wasn’t his fault and Luke hardly thought it mattered knowing what he knew would have changed anything. Luke hadn’t known specifically Krell was a traitor or any specifics on the Umbara campaign but that didn’t make the losses they encountered hurt any less.

“Enough,” Master Tachi nearly barked. She was still standing for a moment and towered over the rest of them, coming back from getting some pillows and blankets from the others. They weren’t great, probably not even that comfortable, but it would do. “This is getting none of us anywhere. I am certain they all have good explanations for what information they have and the lack of flow of it.” At the very least, she seemed to believe it.

Luke shook his head, mostly to himself, and tried to organize his thoughts and what exactly he would say. He didn’t want to tell the 501st, only because of how close they were with his father and due to Palpatine being around his father all the time… secrecy was crucial. “Look, okay,” he started, trying to catch up with himself. It was not particularly easy. He didn’t even know if they would believe him. Others had taken it fairly well; the 212th’s faith in Ben and Cody’s reasoning was helpful, as well as Master Vos’s abilities. But most of these guys were from the 501st; Luke didn’t know if they had that type of faith or belief. “This is…the galaxy depends on total, complete and absolute secrecy. Absolute. You cannot tell anyone,” he stressed as best he could.

“Why not?” Jesse asked, genuinely curious.

“We have to be very careful on the flow of this because there are people we cannot trust and I don’t know all of them,” Luke started to explain, his voice nearly rocky as he spoke. He didn’t particularly want to because well, it was complicated and in all honesty, he had no idea what exactly all he would be revealing to these people. “I don’t know all the people I cannot trust in this time,” he tried to clarify with a bit of a wince. “Some of the 212th knows a bit of what I explained, but for the most part, only Master Vos, Commander Cody and maybe Ben…er Master Kenobi knows most of it.”

Rex tensed up a little, his eyes turning a bit sharper as he stared at Luke at the mention of his closest brother. Luke tried to ignore the shielded feelings Rex was hiding. They weren’t exactly the most positive ones and Luke’s heightened ability with the force let him see, even through some of the thickest of shields. It wasn’t something he particularly liked but sometimes it seemed too apparent for him to ignore. And in Rex’s case, he found out that one of his closest brother was keeping secrets from him. “Cody knows all of what you know?”

“I explained some things to him,” Luke confessed, not quite meeting Rex’s eyes. He barely got to know Cody at all in the future; as they were only with one another for an hour or two, but he had heard plenty from both Ben and Boil. “Please don’t get mad at him. It’s my family. I’m sorry. I asked him not to tell you.”

“Why?” Rex replied steadily, keeping his voice completely void of too many feelings that Luke could feel. “You seemed like you trusted me.”

“I do,” Luke insisted quickly and then, embarrassingly enough, his mouth ran off with him. “You aren’t the breach.”

“The breach?” Rex’s brows creased as he stared at the boy. “Who is?”

“If you act strange, Skywalker will know…” Luke drifted off, uneasily as his hands shuffled in his lap his gaze turning down. Speaking of his father was strange, especially when he was very strict on not letting anyone know what Anakin was too him. He still had to wrap his own head around all of this; he didn’t need everyone else’s opinions and thoughts on the matter yet.

“No way. NotGeneral Skywalker,” Fives insisted, nearly moving to stand up to make his point. Both Jesse and Tup pulled him down to keep him sitting but Fives was absolute. “He is loyal to the Republic; whatever happened… it is not his fault.”

Luke ignored him, fiddling with his hands. It wasn’t completely complicated he thought, at least, the line of who should and should not know the future, but it was complicated for Luke. Being in the era with his father, when he is so young and not completely evil and trying to kill him and such, it was strange. It would only be stranger when Ben came to get him, and he had to explain why he wasn’t geekingout over the fact he was getting to meet the man. “Look, a lot happened and a lot more that I don’t know. And then the Chancellor will get wind of things,” he replied, slowly, unsure how this would end up going. It was certainly an intense accusation and not one he was completely sure how others would react to. “He is not someone we can trust.”

There was a brief moment of absolute silence.

And then…

“You can’t be serious?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“This is absolutely ridiculous!”

“He’s the leaderof the Republic.”

“Why don’t you want him to know?”

“How do you know about this?”

“What happened?”

“What did he do?”

“The Chancellor…how bad is it?” Siri asked, her voice rising above the others; something stern but calm and solid. Luke wasn’t entirely sure if it was actually louder or just something he could hear better over the others. She looked over at him, believing and serious. It was hard to wrap his head around. She just…believed him. She didn’t even know who he was. He didn’t know how she had that kind of faith in him or why she did, but he was incredibly grateful.

“The worst you can imagine,” he choked out.

Siri paused and took a seat near him with a few moments of silence to mull this over. Everyone let her have the moment, trying not to stare as she took what time she was given to think about things and come to her own conclusion. “The Sith master,” she guessed, her jaw clenching as she said it and glanced up at him. He nodded. “How do you know this?”

He hesitated and glanced at Waxer, who nodded encouragingly, and then Rex who just stared, ready and knowing. Luke turned back to Siri, eyes glazing over the others while he could vaguely feel Waxer’s presence near him. “Well…” he started, shifting, still uneasy. He sighed and then took another breath, readying himself for actually saying it again and the fallout of what he was about to reveal. “I guess the simplest way to say it is that I am from the future.”

“Now I know you’re kidding,” Fives shook his head as an only partially amused smile stretched on his face, but he turned serious and partially irritated as he continued with a scoff. “That is your big secret? Some sort of sick prank? What was this? Some terrible plan convoluted to try and get Dooku’s attention or something? I have no idea what your plan or goal was but guess what? It didn’t work.”

“He’s not lying,” Waxer insisted, leaning towards Luke and forward towards Fives at the same time, protective and relentless. He calmed himself but continued, just as strong and solid and ready. “Originally,” he glanced over at the boy. “Luke was born a little over a year from now, right when the war ends.”

“We have a year left?” Checkerboard whined.

“Who wins?”

“The Sith win,” Luke pushed out because it was the truth. Everyone else had been losers in this war because even though the jedi and troopers did everything they could to protect people, it was still a trap. Mostly for the jedi of course, but for this, in this, it turned out just as horrible for the troopers as well. “No one really wins but him. Trust me. The galaxy after the war is so much worse.”

“The Jedi….” Waxer sighed and Luke took his hand, squeezing it, gentle and assuring. Luke hadn’t been around at the time; he hadn’t been a jedi. But Waxer, even though he was technically around, he had taken it even worse than some of the others. Even the prospect of this happening, to them, to anyone, was horrifying. But it was something that it appeared he needed to get through. “The Jedi are killed, virtually all of them. And we do it. There are…some kind of chips in our brains that make us practically droids and we kill all of them.”

The silence was palpable.

No one could even completely imagine the implications of what he was saying.

“It’s gotta come out,” Rex said suddenly, shuddering out of his stupor. Fives reached out for him, but Rex jerked out of the way, and he stood up, as if that would make some kind of difference. “I work closely with Commander Tano! She’s fifteen!”

“We have to wait until we get back to the ship,” Waxer answered instead, looking up kindly and understanding. “We can’t do it now.”

“I need it out,” Rex muttered.

“Can’t you just use your jedi magic to get it out?” Checkerboard asked.

“I…” Luke shifted. “No. I can’t. I have the power but not the precision. Me and Ben, we had to do it together when we didn’t have medical equipment. I did it by accident with Boil.”

“How did you do it with him?”

“I uh…kind of slammed him into a wall,” Luke replied with a sheepish look.

“If you and General Kenobi were able to do that, can’t you and General Tachi do the same thing?”

Luke winced. “No. Not that she isn’t capable, but we don’t know each other, not like that. It’s hard to explain.”

“General Kenobi will be here quickly,” Waxer assured. “And when he does, we can get out of here and you can get the chip out.” Afterwards, Luke got himself around to talking a bit more on what was going on, although not giving quite enough as he did in the first time around with those in the 212th that Commander Cody had brought with him. The troopers popped in with questions that Luke tried to answer the best he could, but Master Tachi stayed quiet, waiting and listening quietly.

“He lived through it,” Siri says, near inaudibly, shaking her head. The troopers were talking amongst one another, although he wasn’t entirely sure what they were talking about; he just stared at the master. This was kind of amazing, he thought, getting to meet so many people that he had never thought he would be able to. His father, Master Vos, Master freaking Siri Tachi. “The genocide and devastation of the jedi; our people. Of course he did. As if he hadn’t gone through enough.”

Their gazes met and he tried to shoot her a small smile.

The door opened and Iyah brought them a few trays of food. Luke recognized the meal; he had seen it once in a while when Aunt Beru helped out fleeing or freed slaves back on Tatooine when he was a child. He accepted it gratefully with a quiet thank you in another tongue and they ate for a moment in quiet and peace, although the knowledge about the chips were still hanging over their heads. Every time someone tried to say something, they were shut down within moments.

By the time they were done with the meal, Master Tachi politely excused herself and Luke as well, to his surprise and pulled him out of the room. It was a flimsy excuse that Luke thought sounded rather ridiculous, but the troopers seemed to buy. Maybe this was a jedi thing. He hoped he would get to learn. She took the first aid kit with her and sat him down at a table away from the others.

“Come on, take off the armor,” she said.

Luke blinked but did what he was told.

“Dooku gave you some nice robes,” she murmured but barely waited a second for an answer. “Take them off please. I know you have a wound underneath there. You want to tell me how you got it?”

Luke continued to do as he was told and tried to wrangle himself out of the dark robes, after he carefully set aside the armor pieces in a pile nearby. “A lightsaber. He wanted to watch me fight Krell again.”

Her eyebrows creased. “Krell? As in Pong Krell?”

“He’s a traitor,” Luke muttered.

“Why were you with him?”

“We fought on Umbara. I…we almost won,” Luke replied, as she started to clean and disinfect the area around the wound. It hurt to move, most of the time, and he hated looking at it. Vaguely, he wondered if it would scar. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He explained how Krell had set up the troops during the campaign and how Luke had just barely stopped it in time, although not early enough it seemed.

“You were alone?” she noted with a frown.

“Ask. I know you want to,” Luke just smiled, faintly.

“You know who I was,” she continued, barely sparing him a glance.

“Yes. Ben…uhm… Obi-Wan talked about you,” he nearly ducked with the embarrassment. No one knew him as Ben around here, no one but him. He would have to get used to calling him by his given name. Or, if he was really lucky, perhaps Master Kenobi. Or something of the sort. Long had Luke wanted to be a padawan – Ben’s padawan – but things were doing so fast and so far, he tried not to cling to that type of hope.

“You can call him Ben,” Siri shrugged, lightly as she smiled gently at him. “I understand who you refer to.”

The conversation wasn’t exactly light at all times, but it bounced around a lot. Neither of them had a particular direction they were going through, although, of course, it would mostly be about Obi-wan. He was really the only thing they both had in common. What Luke knew about her wasn’t a whole ton as a person, as Ben tended to tell him the best and most amazing things about the people he loved, but Luke was not against getting to know her now, while he still could. He had no idea how long he would be able to stay in the past; if this was his present now or if he would have to return to his own. “He carried around your warming crystal every day,” Luke said instead, trying to catch Siri’s eyes. He did and she looked down at her necklace, a thin rope that wrapped around a near pulsing and slightly luminescent crystal.

She looked back up at him and stopped for a moment to stare.

Luke didn’t know what it meant but he knew what to say. “He loves you.”

Ben was full of love. It was something that Luke had known for a long time. How different it must be, as Ben in this time and place had so many people to love that were still alive. The entirety of the Jedi Order, the troops he had befriended, his other friends across the galaxy, those he had loved in a slightly different way… it was no longer the kind nostalgia and memory type of love that Luke knew.

These people were alive now; at the very least, some of them. This would change so much. And he couldn’t wait to feel that type of love in Ben for this time. He was kind, of course, even when they were on the run. Luke could feel it when they met people, especially those Luke knew. Any troopers they came across, Cody and Boil and Bail Organa. And Master Vos; oh, Luke had remembered how happy Obi-Wan had felt; the love he had projected. Luke rarely questioned Ben’s love: he tried to show it in many ways that may have not always been the most apparent.

“I’ve known that for a very long time,” Siri replied, her voice quiet and kind. She hesitated and smiled to herself, as if remembering something amusing but important. “He loves so many, so much. It often brings him so much pain.”

No matter what Obi-Wan lost, he still kept being himself, in the light, was still giving out his kindness. “He told me about you,” Luke confessed, his chest warming. He never really got to talk about this, as Ben was almost always the only person he could talk to. It just wasn’t the same.

“What did he say?” She couldn’t help her curiosity, looking up at him with an amused but cautious glance, her lips curling up just enough.

He matched her expression. “I can’t imagine you being unable to guess.”

She grinned, her smile widening into something more mischievous. “Indulge me.”

“He knew you well, the longest I suppose. At least, it seemed like it, out of the people he loved in that way,” he explained, his smile softening as he thought back to the things he had learned from Ben over the years and what he could pull out of the older jedi. There was times Ben was easier to get answers from and other times Luke had to beg for something; anything. He didn’t like to guilt trip, but it was easy sometimes, there was very little else to do when they were in hyperspace, stuck in the tiny little space that was their ship for so many years. “You knew him, well, perhaps better than most, I think. He seemed to think so. He’s sad a lot of things. How talented you were with a lightsaber, strong willed and independent; determined and so focused. He said you were beautiful and had short blonde hair and liked jumpsuits. And you know, the obvious, that you were amazing.”

Siri choked down a laugh.

Luke didn’t give her enough time to answer and continued, glancing down at his hands and stripped his gloves from them. “I asked him about those he had fell in love with after I asked about my mother,” he explained quietly. “I don’t think it was easy for him to talk about that, considering his past, but I was young. I didn’t understand and I…I wanted to know.”

“Who is your mother?”

He shifted around, suddenly uneasy. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Master Tachi because of course he did. Even if he didn’t trust her just from what Ben had told him and such, she had helped him, had gotten him out of Dooku’s clutches and helped him rescue the troopers. But this was a whole different level and honestly, Luke had never had to deal with this before. His parents, they were alive, and he had to deal with that, eventually. “It’s complicated.”

“It’s someone Obi-Wan knew,” she mused, unfazed by his inability to give a straight answer. “Rather well, if he had such answers for you. If he could describe her and tell you about her in a way that would make you ask.”

“Master Tachi,” Luke warned, swallowing heavily.

“Senator Padme Amidala.”

Oh wow, she was good.

“How did you know?”

“I am rather observant,” she shrugged. “Comes with the job, I suppose. One has to be in my line of work. I’ve met her a couple of times. Obi-Wan has talked about her too, as he often is around her and working with her. At least, more than some others. Between those things and when you saw collars on the clones…” she drifted off, pointedly. He swallowed nervously, glancing down.

“Your initial anger was Skywalker. Something almost personal and hot; I could feel it through the Force; it burned through my shields, even though we do not have a bond. It was easy to know, and I know it well, as I have trained around Skywalker plenty of times before. The cold fury, however, was Obi-Wan. You didn’t scream and hit something; you weren’t exactly calm, but you weren’t crazy either; just furious. It is something I have seen him do to hide his anger when he was older and it is very cold. But how you handled it? With the righteous fury and reckless abandon, with making a snap choice with little plan? To free the slaves, you could and get them out of there? I’ve seen that kind of thing before when I have been in Senate meetings or hearing about them even. I’ve seen it before. That is all Padme Amidala.”

Luke looked up to stare at her in some kind of awe because he had barely told her anything about his parents. He had barely told anyone anything about his parents. Cody knew simply from knowing Obi-Wan and remembering a holo he had shown. Master Vos knew it from Luke’s own memories. But Siri, she simply deduced. Ben wasn’t kidding when he said she was amazing. It made the boy wonder about the others Ben had known as amazing and how great they were in their respective talents. “I…you are as good as Ben says,” he confessed.

“That’s nothing,” she shrugged, and Luke had to believe it. Or, at the very least, Siri herself believed it wasn’t that impressive. Luke couldn’t quite tell if it was confidence or ego or simple honesty; he didn’t know her or anyone else for that matter, like that. “Obi-Wan and I…our padawans were around the same age,” she explained, and brought back up bacta patches to put on his wound to help it heal up quicker and cleaner. “We did missions together. Trained together. I’ve known Skywalker as a teenager. You have his sandy blonde hair and unstoppable drive.”

He really hoped that was a good thing. He had only ever really had Ben’s perspective and thoughts on his father which were a bit skewed. It wasn’t that they were wrong, but Luke knew for certain that he didn’t tell him whole truths, not nearly as much about the faults. It had taken Luke quite some time to understand exactly why. The fact of the matter was Ben had wanted Luke to love his father, to know him as his best self rather than the faults and monster that he eventually became. It had been hard to swallow for some time and Luke still wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about it; it was something he continuously had to work through and was. “Wow…you really figured that out quick.”

“With your whole-time travel thing,” she leaned back a bit to get a better look at his wound and brought out the bandages to keep the bacta on, as well as clean alongside the wound itself. “And Obi-Wan knowing your parents so well to tell you about them….I was just open to any possibility. That is hardly the craziest option.”

“I’m not my father.”

She glanced at him, certainly a form of understanding in her gaze. He wondered what that meant. How she could understand such a thing, from which he was feeling. It was something he had to tell himself since he had learned what his father had become. Before that, he wanted nothing more to be like his father. Ben had told Luke some of the most fantastical things about Anakin Skywalker and how much Luke would have been loved by him. How much he was loved. Ben didn’t generally make comparisons between them like that; it was rather a seldom occurrence. But after learning Anakin Skywalker was Darth Vader, the beast that was constantly chasing and trying to kill them; it had taken Luke a length of time to come to terms with several different things that were connected to that. Whether or not Anakin Skywalker was evil or not, Luke wasn’t him. He shouldn’t be him. Luke should be Luke.

He was still trying to figure out who that was.

“Of course not,” Master Tachi assured readily. “You are Luke.”

“No, I mean…” he sighed. She was right, of course, but that wasn’t quite the point he was trying to make. But, as the moment passed, she seemed to understand still.

“I understand,” Siri nodded. “You are not Anakin Skywalker and similarities or comparisons between the two of you doesn’t mean you do or say the same things. Blood is not everything.”

He nodded and glanced away as she got up to start wrapping around his shoulder and torso, weaving between his appendage to get the best available lock for the bandages with the best range of motion. For some reason, the conversation skipped over again. He didn’t really want to talk about his father; he knew that would certainly be coming in the future. “I hope he came back with me.”

“A coma was mentioned,” she hummed but he could feel and hear the under currents of concern shifting through her voice.

“Yeah. He was in some kind of unexplainable coma when I…. left,” he said carefully. If she noticed his hesitation, she did not seem to be inclined to mention it or point it out. “I’m pretty sure he is awake now. I just don’t know if he came back with me.”

“He won’t abandon you.”

Oh, she sounded so sure.

“Perhaps,” he choked out instead.

“I will not either,” she nudged him, his good shoulder, from the back. He caught a glimpse of a ready and determined smile. “Would you like a partner?”

He chuckled, his chest softening as the conversation turned a little gentler. He quite enjoyed and appreciated the change of pace. “I think Waxer might get offended,” he pointed out. It was a joke, because of course it was. He didn’t know how Waxer felt, not exactly. But he did seem rather inclined to stay by Luke’s side and that was also something he could appreciate. He had plenty of experience with other clones, but it had always been so short, save for Boil’s time with them in the future…past? Luke’s past. But Boil hadn’t been allowed to stay. Luke had been rather upset with Ben for quite some time after that.

She laughed, completely unbothered and unoffended by the notion. “We can make a squad. How does that sound?” she asked, tightening the bandages a little. It was uncomfortable but he knew the pressure would be better in the end.

He grinned, trying to turn his head towards her. “Save Galaxy and Destroy Sith Squad.”

If anyone could help him destroy the Sith, he couldn’t be surprised if she ended up being one of them. Of course, there were others he would like on that squad too.

“SGaDSS,” she snickered as she finished up and came back to his front to tie it off. It was some kind of silent and mutual agreement and they high fived. Both of their hands were sweaty, from the heat and warmth of the planet but his heart was soaring that it hardly mattered. She was a jedi and he got to meet her. He got to meet another of Ben’s friends, loved ones. “You talk kind of like him,” she said after they stopped laughing and sat down, settling against the wall. She had brought over some pillows and blankets from closet in the corner so they could lean against them instead of just the hard floor and wall.

“Who? Anakin?”

“No,” she chuckled, waving her hand. “Obi-Wan. He could be so sarcastic, so quippy. He could verbally keep up with anyone. The way he jokes with and about his troopers. The way he follows those he cares about into the fires of Hell,” she glanced away and shook her head, once again almost lost in thoughts and memories. “Just… part of the reason he is a good person to be around, to be friends with.”

He and Ben had talked a lot about love and compassion and kindness. The different types and the roles they could play in life. But love was still love, in any form. No one was higher or more important than another. It was a lesson that Luke had found solace in. “He always told me that loving someone was enough. Time and distance don’t exist when it comes to love.”

“Apparently he is very wise in the future,” Siri hummed and suddenly he was leaning against her. He was tired, because of course he was, but this was easier, just leaning on her and almost ready to fall asleep or something. He had been tired a lot lately. He wondered if it was because of the time travel. At least he hadn’t been in a coma, like Ben.

“He doesn’t…” Luke drifted off, trying to find the words but his mind was starting to get heavy. “Always make sense but he tries.”

“That’s Obi-Wan for ya,” Siri chuckled and scooted a little closer to him, possibly to make things more comfortable for either of them, or both.

“This will be the longest I have been around a jedi that wasn’t Ben,” Luke muttered.

“It hasn’t even been a day.”

Well, considering he had only met one jedi before and that was for a very short time, it wasn’t exactly hard to compete. “I have met one other jedi and it was barely for an hour,” Luke replied with a huff. “I was in a galaxy so dark, so few jedi. But here, in this time, here I have been around Skywalker, Ahsoka, Master Tiin, Master Vos… I…”

“Quinlan was there?” Siri asked, suddenly interrupting and a bit surprised.

“He came to help Ben, I’m pretty sure,” Luke replied, his heart catching pace and moving a little quicker than normal. He liked Master Vos; he was very interesting and was the only other real jedi he had met in his own past. And Ben seemed to really care about and love him too. But if he was a danger to Ben… Why? Is that…bad?”

“No, not at all,” she shook her head, blonde hair swaying a bit. “They just haven’t hung around each other for a while.”

“They’re friends.”

“Yes. Very much so,” she paused and studied him, glancing down at her shoulder where he was resting near her. “You should take a nap.”

“What? Why?” he snorted but even he knew it was obvious. He was tired.

“You heal when you sleep,” she replied bluntly and then paused before continuing, like she needed to have some sort of explanation and clarification. “We have a medic friend.”

“Bant,” he hummed. Another person Ben knew and loved and talked about. He wondered if she was still alive; he didn’t remember when she died. If she was still around; he would like to meet her. They could probably exchange notes on their caring regiments for Ben.

“Yes.”

“She’s right,” a new yet soft and familiar voice creeps into Luke’s ability to hear. Both of them glance up in the door way where Waxer was standing, partially void of armor with his arms crossed against his chest, frowning disappointedly. He shook his head and was very clear about expressing how he felt. “And I’m not happy you didn’t say something about being hurt.” He barely gave them a moment before he walked over and asked for permission to sit next to them. Luke practically took his arm and dragged the trooper down to their level. He was so warm, and kind and his presence just curled around his. Even though there were only half a dozen troopers, it was an overwhelming sense of good feelings and warmth that Luke wasn’t used to.

Luke didn’t talk much, his brain becoming heavy and tired as the moments passed on until he was barely conscious. At some point, another trooper came in, but Luke’s eyes had already been closed as his mind started to move towards sleep mode. There was talking and footsteps. Luke tried to reach out into the force, towards that warm something that had entered, and he heard a door shut. A few chuckles.

By that time, he is sound asleep and knows nothing.

Fives

The second part of the explosion was what woke them as it was very audible and even shook the ground what they were laid upon. It shook them awake for certain, even before one of the former slaves – the woman that made them a meal before – ran in started spouting hurried exclamations in a language that Fives didn’t actually understand.

The younger jedi, Luke, was practically draped across any trooper he could get close to, as well as the other, older jedi, practically clinging to them. He was embarrassed when he awoke, tucked near Lieutenant Waxer but no one said a word. Only silently untangled themselves from the boy and got up as the woman continued to babble.

They were on their feet within moments, although Jesse’s legs were tangled in the scratchy blankets, and he fell over himself. Tup couldn’t help but chuckle as he and Checkerboard, from the 212th, helped untangle him and get him up.

“What’s happened?” Captain Rex asked.

The woman continued to speak but the Captain just glanced around helplessly. He, like the rest of them, didn’t know the language that she was speaking and apparently, she didn’t have a translator either; hand held or implant.

General – Master – Something Tachi stared at the woman intently and nodded. “She said that something has exploded; she is fairly certain that it was the palace.”

“Did you explode the structure?” Checkerboard choked out.

Master Tachi just scoffed. “No. The devices that Luke and I planted were of the smoke variety and they have long gone off. There is not a way that ours could have brought even part of that building down,” she insisted.

“Do you think it was the Republic?” Jesse asked, catching his breath after his battle with the blankets and pillows.

The jedi frowned but thought about this for a moment. “I doubt it. It isn’t generally the jedi way to just explode entire government buildings, even if they are the headquarters to a slaver queen,” she paused and said a few things to the woman. After an exchange, the woman left, although Fives wasn’t entirely sure what was said. “Get ready and get dressed. We have to figure out what is going on and how to get out of here. Or, at the very least, contact someone.”

Everyone nodded, readily. She had nothing to get ready about herself and said a few things to Luke, quiet and under her breath. He started to grab his robes and armor pieces and started to put them together as she strode out of the room.

Lieutenant Waxer glanced at the boy, curious with a silent question. “She’s going to try to see if she can get contact,” Luke replied as he worked with surprising efficiency. He did stumble over some pieces of the armor, not quite used to such things, but the 212th Checkerboard, quickly moved to help him.

After a few minutes, they were all ready to move and they excited the room towards the door in the front of the building. Master – General – ugh something (Fives had no idea what to call her) Tachi was messing with some radio, working intently. He didn’t dare to ask if she was having any progress with it.

Luke stopped at the door, keeping it closed, and reached out, with his eyes shut and taking a deep breath. After a long moment, something sparked, and the boy started to bounce on his feet. “He’s here!” he cheered, chattering excitedly as he continued to repeat the phrase.

“What are you talking about?”

The boy’s eyes were shining so bright, Fives almost felt like he was blinding but he bounced around the room, nearly flying outside of the door before holding himself back and spinning around towards them again. “He is here! I can feel him! Ben! Ben is here!”

“General…Kenobi…” Lieutenant Waxer tried slowly.

Luke nodded, vigorously. “Master Tachi! Siri! Ben…Obi-Wan is here!” he called out. The jedi glanced at him with a blink.

“I’ve got some lines,” General Tachi said, instead although she smiled faintly at him. “There are reports of slavers getting injured and stealing slaves. Someone with a light saber.”

Luke paused and frowned. “But I have his saber.”

“I’m sure he borrowed someone else’s,” General Tachi assured as she stepped closer to him. “You did say Quinlan was with him and well, Quinlan works just fine with a blaster too. So, I’m sure you are right, and it is Kenobi.”

He nodded. “We have to go.”

“Luke…”

“No! We have to get back to him!” Luke insisted as he started to move again. “We have to get to him as soon as possible. There is so much to do, and danger and I have to help him!”

“Iyah said it is chaos out there, we need to be careful,” General Tachi tried to reason carefully.

“I can’t wait,” Luke shook his head and before any of them knew it, he was out the door.

General Tachi cursed in a language Fives didn’t know but both the 212th boys had raced after Luke without a moment’s notice. The general groaned. “I have to get my equipment and pack it up. Can you…”

“We’ve got it sir,” Captain Rex nodded, curtly and glanced at the others left. “Let’s move boys. Cover the padawan commander’s back. Jesse, stay here with the general…”

“Not a general!” the jedi called back.

“Give her any help and protection that she needs,” the captain finished. Fives clasped his hand with his brother before Jesse tailed after General Tachi and the other ran off after the runaway jedi padawan youngling person.

It was chaos in the streets. So many were fighting. There were pieces of debris that had fallen even as far as they had gotten and some, slower, still falling yet. Ash and dust billowed everywhere, obscuring the skies. Luke and the 212thboys were already a bit far ahead, but they were rather easily noticeable to the eye in the off white and battered armor of the troops.

“He’s just as bad as Skywalker,” the captain muttered under his breath and ran full speed through the crowds in attempt to catch up.

Fives just grinned at Tup and pulled on his helmet before following.

Oh but those were the best kind.

*

Fives didn’t know when it happened but eventually droids started showing up. Getting through towards the palace is more difficult than expected and eventually, they even get a chance to catch their breath when they run into alley ways and abandoned houses and structures. Everyone seems to be fighting everyone, from droids fighting slavers to slavers fighting slaves to slaves fighting droids and slavers. It is a whole mess, and it is easy to get off track.

Which they do.

They end up out of the way of the palace which made Luke very frustrated. They could all feel it. Perhaps it was a jedi thing, Fives thought. He trusted Skywalker with a lot; he was a good man. There were times, however, Fives felt as though he could feel his emotions in any given situation. Well, he shouldn’t say that. In any high stakes or near-death situations. Or anything that involved Senator Amidala.

Luke’s frustrations are practically palpable, and it nearly makes Fives feel that way too. He is fairly certain it must be a jedi thing because no way is he normally feeling like this, even with the situation that they are embroiled in. He’s panicked and scared and desperate.

It is a lot more chaotic than even Umbara and often times, the group keeps losing one another for moments or even near hour at a time. There is no battlefield, no ground to take. There are no real sides. It is just unbridled and intense chaos.

Rumors begin to swirl around about lightsabers and the jedi. Some slaves from the palace running with panic, screaming about several men in light sabers fighting one another and the death of the queen. Fives didn’t think Luke could get anymore worried and desperate.

He was very wrong.

Fives wouldn’t blame Luke for what was to come next.

Brothers died in battle no matter where they were. It was a fact of their lives, and he knew that the jedi did their best. They just couldn’t save everyone and even then, sometimes they could – and did – lose their own lives in the process. This was a battlefield of a different breed, Fives thought. He almost thought they would survive this.

He should have known better.

Fives didn’t really know Check but that didn’t mean his death didn’t hurt.

And he knew it had hit Luke pretty hard too.

The moment he saw the trooper go down; they both knew it was over. There was no way the soldier could have survived that shot. But even though Luke had fought in the battle on Umbara with Lieutenant Waxer’s platoon, a group of soldiers that included Check, his reaction was not something any soldier should have advised.

He stopped and stared, frozen in place. Shocked and unmoving, as if unable to comprehend anything going on around him in the world. Captain Rex shouted something, possibly for Luke to get a hold of himself, possibly for one of them to get him out of the line of fire. Fives, of course, couldn’t do anything about the former as of yet, but he could do the latter. Running across the field from his cover, Fives literally tackled Luke down to the ground and behind a stack of crates near a door. Without a word or anything, he practically dragged the boy into the house.

They were lucky, no one was home.

Leaning Luke upright against the wall in a sitting position, Fives closed the door to give them a few minutes and gave the rest of them a short brief on the comms. As of currently, Luke was in no shape to keep moving. He asked for the jedi, perhaps she could help him, but General Tachi was a bit off with Lieutenant Waxer and Jesse. It would be quite a few moments before she could get to them. She simply ordered for them to find cover and stay put. They needed the break, possibly a nap, and for Luke to come back to them before anyone could make another run for the palace. It always seemed so far off; it would still take quite some time.

“Luke,” Fives tried with a frown, pressing a hand against the boy’s shoulder on his pauldron. Tears were starting to come from the boy’s blue eyes, steadily and finally, the first emotion finally came up. It wasn’t much but it was something. “Look, I know this is tough. Losing someone you care about, no matter how long you have known them, it’s…it’s heart breaking. And in war, where people die it’s even worse because you don’t…you don’t have a moment to stop and grieve. You don’t have a moment for burial or saying goodbye. It’s something you try to prepare for but… you can’t.”

He was in front of him before sitting down himself next to the jedi-in-training, or whatever he was, and sighed, taking off his helmet and setting it aside.

“I’m not trying to scold you or anything, but this is war, and we are going to lose people,” Fives tried, unsteadily. “And we don’t… it often happens so fast. There is no time for goodbyes and even less time for grief, in the moment. I lost…I lost my brother really fast. He did something…. something that I would have been the one to do and it just…one moment he was right by me and the next he was gone. Explosion and we had to move, there wasn’t a second to spare.”

Luke’s face started to scrunch up and Fives counted that as a win, although his feelings were mostly tied up in the memories. The boy blinked and stared at him, like he wasn’t completely sure. “Echo?”

Fives stared right back at him, his head whipping around, eyes wide. Because…he hadn’t said his name. “How did you…”

An explosion went off and the glass of the window above them shattered, spraying the contents and other debris into the house and over them. Luke threw himself over Fives in an effort to protect him from the flying debris which Fives, absentmindedly thought was a little amusing and ironic.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” Fives muttered without his permission. The door busted through and both of them startled, soon to be relieved as it was only Tup and Captain Rex that came through.

“You guys good?”

“Yessir,” Fives grumbled as he got out from underneath Luke. The boy responded but Fives’ ears were ringing and he couldn’t quite make out what he had said.

“General Tachi wants us to wait for her, get some rest and so we can regroup,” Tup relayed.

“I heard,” Fives sighed and glanced around. “The place looks pretty abandoned, at least for now.”

“Most people who aren’t fighting are hiding in their homes,” the captain responded, also taking a look around. He gestured to Tup, who went to make sure and secure the perimeter. “So, my guess is that they are still out there fighting or dead. General Tachi shouldn’t be too long, but she also said we don’t have to wait up for her. Take a nap she said.”

Fives scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I guess I’ll find some blankets and pillows and a good large room to hole up in.”

It wasn’t that hard. The place wasn’t very big and eventually he found a living room space where the hard furniture could be moved to the walls, reinforce them and barricade any windows and doors. Unless someone came in with a full tactical team, it should hold out for at least a few hours. By the time General Tachi got to the house, flanked by Lieutenant Waxer and Jesse, Luke was half asleep but tried his best went they came in.

The Lieutenant was holding Check’s helmet and Luke burst into tears again.

They left the two of them alone for a moment. Well, it was a bit longer than a moment. Fives explained a bit on what happened with Check and Luke’s reaction. Luke may have been used to running and fighting and even conflict, but he wasn’t not used to the realities of war. Not like this.

They came back in after quite some time. Luke was already lightly snoring and fast asleep against Waxer’s shoulder, who was half asleep himself. And so, they made a perimeter around one another for moments of rest over the next several hours.

It is barely an hour in and already Luke is tangled up and cuddling with several troopers, as if reaching out and trying to be in contact with as many of them as he could.

“If no one else is gonna say it,” Jesse started, keeping his voice rather quiet as to not awake the young’un. “I ain’t gonna lie, is it strange that he is all…touchy and cuddly? I didn’t think jedi were…really like that.”

Everyone looked over at General Tachi, who frowned and took a breath, her lips twitching. “He is…touch started but not quite either. It is difficult to explain because jedi are very different. But one of the reasons the jedi start so young, adopted young and raised together is so they can form bonds with others like them. It is often necessary for healthy development.”

“But Luke…he wasn’t raised like that,” Waxer realized, glancing down at the child before looking back up at General Tachi. He looked quite worried and concerned. After only a few days of knowing this child, he was already so attached. Fives wondered if that was normal for him. “So he doesn’t have those bonds.”

“Luke’s presence is latching onto other jedi and connected beings,” General Tachi continued. “He has several fledgling bonds which help his… starvation but considering Obi-Wan and him were constantly on the run, Luke probably didn’t get much time with them and so they either faded or remained very thin; barely there. He’s already formed some type of connections with you.”

“All of us?”

“Luke’s presence in the force is starving for connections,” she added, and Fives could tell there was a hint of concern in her voice, although she mostly kept emotions out of it. “It won’t interfere with you or anything and if left unattended, it shouldn’t grow.”

“It helps him?” Waxer asked.

General Tachi nodded, a bit gravely. This was a rather serious topic, Fives realized. “It is partially why he is even more cuddly than normal, even for a jedi.”

Waxer held Luke close, as if that would help. The boy just huffed into his shoulder. “And…if the bond…if it does grow stronger? Is that okay?” he added, looking back up at General Tachi, eyebrows scrunched together as his concern became more and more evident on his physical features.

General Tachi just nodded.

“Even from a clone?”

“Especially from a clone.”

“What does that mean?”

“Obi-Wan could explain it better,” she confessed with a small sigh. Luke’s arm sleepily touched hers and she moved a little closer to him. “I don’t have a clone attachment or much experience with you.”

“Can you try?”

“I’m not sure if anyone, you or anyone really understands how well the clones and the jedi connect with one another, fit together, how easy it is to share bonds with,” she started, making sure to look between all of them. “Your warmth and light in the Force…as Obi-Wan tells it, although different individuals, is clicks very well with our own. This is rather quite unusual for non-force sensitives. Obi-Wan told me once it’s like we were made for you, that we were meant to be together in some way.”

“They used to say on Kamino,” Rex said quietly. He hadn’t been speaking a whole lot as of late, listening quiet and with purpose and the mention of Kamino brought both nostalgia and bitterness to all of the troopers. Their brothers were still there but it was not generally a good place to be. “We were made for the jedi.”

General Tachi thought about this and hummed. Perhaps it was agreement or disagreement or neither, Fives wasn’t sure. She was hard to read and hard to understand, much more so than their own general. “Perhaps. But I don’t think it is one sided,” she swiped Luke’s bangs to the side, gently. He exhaled again. “Many of the jedi will continue to choose you. Obi-Wan continues to choose you. It is a new galaxy and things are changing. If you will have us, we will gladly stay with you.”

“I don’t know anyone except the jedi who have cared anything for us,” Lieutenant Waxer confessed. “And I can’t speak for everyone of course, but I think we would rather be with you than any other people in the galaxy, if we had to choose.”

“You should get some sleep,” General Tachi said instead, glancing over towards the window that Fives and Tup had already blocked.

“We should set up watches for the next few hours,” Rex replied, leaving the previous conversation with ease and picking up the new one just as easily.

“Do not worry. I have it covered.”

“You can’t do it by yourself.”

“Oh yes I can. Just….trust me on this one,” she winked.

Luke

When Luke wakes up, he is drowning in a clone cuddle pile and practically has to claw his way out, his face completely red and flush with embarrassment. He is sputtering by the end of it but tries with all of his skill and work not to wake them up while trying to get himself out of the pile.

Master Tachi glanced at him from the side of the pile, out of the sleeping troopers and smirked at him, amused. “Sleep well?” she snickered.

Luke just blushed and glanced away, moving towards her as quietly and gently as he could.

“It is nothing to be ashamed of, Luke. You are an empath and crave connections naturally,” she pointed out. It wasn’t something that Luke didn’t know, in particular, but it was different here and now. Things were still dark but still so much lighter than the time he was from. There were others to connect to so close and actually around. It was so much. “It just seems so extreme now because you have never had so much before and now, there is much to have.”

“It…it’s been just Ben and me for a long time,” Luke confessed as he sat down next to her, hugging his knees. He glanced over at his armor piled over in the corner and reached for the closest pieces. “Before that it was just Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru but I don’t think they quite…understood.”

“Many do not,” she hummed.

“I love Ben,” he added, quickly. It was the truth; Ben was the only person he had with him, everyone else was gone forever or deceased. “He…he is pretty much all I have. It is hard without him around. I…I just have never been around so much….”

“Light, warmth?” she suggested.

“Hyperspace is cold, and we are not planet side a lot,” he explained. He tried to talk about a bit on their situation, in the future, past, whatever. It was easy to talk to her. Maybe it was because she was a jedi. Perhaps it was because Ben knew her and told him about her. Maybe she just was easy to talk to for him. “Ben is very warm, but this is different.”

“Everyone feels different, especially jedi,” Master Tachi assured. “You have been starved of that. It is why we raise out children in creches, together.”

“Ben told me about creches,” Luke hugged his knees tighter as he clipped the shin guards to his lower legs. He didn’t look at her, rather thinking about so much all at once. “I think I would have liked it.”

She nodded and the outer wall shook a little. They both glanced towards the little window on that side of the room. The conversation was over, Luke thought to himself. It wasn’t long; he wished he could talk more with her, but it was clear. “The fighting is getting close again,” she pointed out with a frown. “We should move.”

Luke nodded. “Any ideas on where to go?”

“I have been working on establishing communications with Obi-Wan’s ship,” Master Tachi explained as she grabbed some of her own gear and began putting it on. Her radio was in the corner, and she glanced at it as some kind of gesture to guide his gaze towards the appliance. “They are being pretty tight lipped, and I don’t have his codes.”

“Probably don’t want Dooku to get any information,” Luke added. Whether or not this was the truth, it made sense anyways. He wondered where the Count was now and if he was making problems for Ben and the troopers. “Do you think they have troops on the ground?”

Master Tachi paused and frowned again. “Not sure. This place isn’t Republic friendly or even wants to be,” she replied as she stood up, finishing putting on her own gear, so different from what Luke and the other troopers were wearing. “The Jedi have taken out the Zygerrian slave empire before but…everything was different then.”

He didn’t know exactly what that meant, in particular but he followed her, putting on his smaller pieces and Master Tachi helping him clip on the gorget. “If they take out the enemy ship, I think they can drive the Separatists away,” Luke said. “I only saw one up there, I don’t think they were planning for an invasion.”

“I think you are right.”

“I have no doubt the palace is in chaos, but I don’t think there is any order for power players. No one seems organized. We might be able to get there. That is probably where Ben would look since he was following Dooku.”

“That level of chaos could mean lack of leadership,” Siri murmured as she messed around a bit with her portable radio. “The queen may be incapacitated or dead, meaning there would be a power vacuum.”

“That would also mean less guards, we could probably slip through. No one is giving orders,” he added.

“Or too many are for any type or organization.”

“Even if Ben is done looking through the palace, he would still be around that area,” Luke said.

“He is not going to just give up,” Master Tachi nodded. “Especially not with Quinlan with him.”

“So, we head towards the palace then.”

“The closer we are, the easier it will be to get communications with the Republic – or better yet – Obi-Wan’s fleet,” Master Tachi added with a grin growing on her face.

“The closer we are, the more likely I will be able to feel Ben better,” Luke added with a matching grin as he brightened up, significantly. He just needed to find Ben. Things would be okay if he could just get to him. “Don’t try to lie to me and say you don’t have a pretty strong bond with him too.”

“He is one of my closest friends,” she admitted.

“Look at you two,” a new voice piped in with a chuckle. Both Luke and Master Tachi glanced around. The troopers were all at least awake with vaguely amused expressions. A few were even moving towards their armor piles to get ready for moving out at a moment’s notice. “Makin plans without us,” Jesse added.

“Thought you could use the extra beauty sleep,” Luke grinned, cheekily.

“You little brat,” Jesse teased.

They talk a little while everyone gets ready and dressed. Master Tachi gave them a short rundown of what they were going to be doing; moving back towards the Palace. There was some apprehension, going back to that horrid place. Luke completely understood, even just thinking about made him rather upset, skin vibrating for the need for justice. If it was his choice, no one would have to go anywhere near it again. But he had to find Ben. They had to find Ben and they needed to get off of this planet.

The little group had left soon after, quiet and out of the back door, away from the chaos outside. The fighting and struggling had not ceased exactly, as there were still slavers, slaves and droids still fighting amongst one another. Luke kept Check’s helmet clipped to his belt and no one said a word about it.

They couldn’t exactly avoid the fighting and conflict and eventually, they had to move towards the more main roads to make their way towards the palace. They avoided them, of course, whenever they could. By the time they had to get to the main road, which was a straight shot to the palace, they were about knee deep in conflict.

It kind of amazed him how easy they worked together. Master Tachi had never really worked with these troopers before barely – if any – either. Luke himself had only fought alongside Waxer and only for a few moments, the other troopers as well. But the five boys they had with him and Master Tachi, they had quickly adapted to the way they moved and the way they worked. Moving with the troopers was easy, even though there weren’t many of them. They didn’t a fairly good job keeping up with him and Master Tachi and although neither of them were actually used to working with troopers, they seemed to blend well together when it came to helping each other out and having each other’s back.

Master Tachi had a blaster on her, and he knew she wouldn’t bring out her lightsaber unless it was absolutely necessary. Ben had been the same way during their travels. It often times brought unwanted attention.

Luke, on the other hand, didn’t have another weapon and he had a much larger and passionate need to fight and protect. He made arcs with Ben’s light saber like he was born for it. Perhaps, in some ways, he was.

The loss of Check was a heavy weight, but they kept moving.

The young boy from the future wouldn’t let anyone die on his account, not with this. There were six others with him – he could keep them alive. He had to keep them alive. He did not leave them and kept them within his sights the best he possibly could. It was hard to keep them together as they seemed to have the same idea about one another. Luke caught a blaster shot with the force that came too close to Jesse’s face for comfort. Tup shot a slaver that was coming up on Luke’s six.

Getting so close to the palace, they stayed tight knit until the courtyard was in place. They paused in an out-of-the-way alley to come up with a plan, right outside of the palace perimeter. “It is absolute and complete chaos out there but I can feel Ben,” Luke said hurriedly, his voice rising in excitement and plenty of eagerness. “I can sneak in and since I can sense him, I’ll be able to find him quicker. I’ll bring him back.”

“I don’t think that’s a good…”

“Look, I got this, okay?” Luke insisted and didn’t wait for an answer. He ran out of the hiding place and leapt on top of the building nearby, racing across the rooftops up and away from the fighting crowds down below. Eventually he had to get back to the ground as he got inside the palace courtyard where the battle started to thin out a little.

He reached out in the Force and tried to concentrate. He could feel Ben. He knew he could feel him.

And then…

“Luke!”

The yell was raw, screeching into the stormy chaos of the battle, as if his voice alone was desperate enough to demand the person of his desire to be returned.

“Luke!” it tried again, near at the top of his lungs.

“Ben?”

Luke couldn’t help but perk at the sound of his name. Oh, how he hoped that it was real, that it was his voice and not his wishful thinking or the screams of another being. The being that he so desperately wanted it to be.

“Luke?” the voice called out tentatively.

It was real! It was Ben’s voice!

The youngster jumped back into the fray of disorder and conflict without a second thought. “Ben!” Luke shouted back as he fought harder against the chaos, clawing his way through anyone and everyone. His saber was off now, clipped to his belt. Because now, he didn’t need it. He fought through the crowd with his hands and the undeniable power of the force, forcing his way through them with enough strength to make others even jump out of the way.

Then he saw him. Because even though it had been fifteen years and Ben’s appearance was so different; not that weathered and oh so greying older man that Luke knew; he could recognize him. It didn’t matter that his hair was a brownish ginger instead of the grey and white. It didn’t matter that his skin was younger and smoother instead of washed out and wrinkled. It didn’t matter that he was in armor pieces and under robes rather than the larger cloaks and well-used clothes. It didn’t even matter that his eyes were bluer now, had more color instead of the tired and older gaze Luke knew.

None of that mattered. Luke would know him anywhere, no matter how much of his physical appearance may have changed. He would never forget. He never could.

Tears were pricking at his eyes then, but they weren’t quite clouding his vision. He choked out the name before charging towards his guardian. Ben may not have known what Luke was going to do but he quickly figured it out. Luke ran and leapt at him with no small amount of abandon, with all the excitement and relief coursing through him and all of the desperation and fear washing away, out from his bones.

He was pretty sure that he was crying, and it did not matter. In that moment, nothing mattered but him. Because Luke was no longer alone. Whether or not everything was real, whatever Ben knew or did not know, it hardly mattered. Luke was no longer alone and all he wanted was to be wrapped up in Ben’s robe in the way he did when he was younger. He wanted to tell Ben of all the things that he had been through and all the things they could do now. Now that they had this chance. This chance to change everything and save so many.

“I know you can catch me, old man! You don’t have any grey hairs!”

And he does; Ben catches him and wraps his arms around Luke so tight, he doesn’t think the older man will ever let go. He doesn’t really want him to. Because in this moment, he doesn’t have to worry about anything. Ben is here. It doesn’t matter if he remembered Luke or not. It doesn’t matter what Ben knew or what he didn’t. He held Luke like he always held Luke, with strength and love and compassion. Like Luke had nothing in the world to worry about ever.

“You remember me.”

He didn’t know if he was right or not. Rather, it was a guess, but Ben just chuckled and curled his arms around Luke, secure and tight. “I could never forget,” he whispered, and Luke held on even snugger, wrapping his limbs around his guardian and locking his face in the crook of his neck, brown ginger hair tickling his face. “Foolish child, running off into war,” Ben mumbled with a fond huff.

“I had to try and save Waxer,” Luke said, exhaling the best he could. He felt out of breath and like he may never get it back. “I’m not sorry.” He wasn’t, he couldn’t quite be. He just wanted to help them in any way he could. He couldn’t save Checkerboard and that was going to haunt him, but he tried to make sure he remembered about all the other ones that he had helped. He had kept Waxer alive. He helped stop Krell’s massacre. He had tried and tried and tried.

“I’m not upset,” Ben assured quietly. Distantly, Luke could hear a small explosion go off. He was glad that he had found his guardian in a spot where there wasn’t blatant battle going on. “You just scared me near to death. I’m an old man, Beacon, my heart can’t take such things.”

“You’re over 15 years in the past you dummy,” Luke choked on near tears, but his chest was bubbling with laughter, something of relief and amusement. “You aren’t even old,” he paused and snuggled just a bit closer, so thankful and unable to let him go at the moment. He would, soon, of course. There was a lot of work to do but he would keep the minute. “I’m so glad you are okay.”

“I will never abandon you.”

Something in his chest loosened which helped him loosen his grip, even if only a little bit. That reminded him, Luke thought as he gave out an actual audible chuckle. “I have the very best present for you,” he murmured with a smile, amusement swelling.

“Oh? How fortuitous,” Ben rumbled, just as entertained as him. Luke didn’t know if anyone was watching or around, but it didn’t matter. Not to him. All there needed to be was Ben and him. Even if only for a minute. “As it so happens, I have a gift for you as well.”

“You got me a present?!” Luke cheered, surprised and excited as he perked up and leaned back to look at him. Luke could see the smirk that was forming underneath Ben’s mustache and beard, a twinkle so apparent in his eye. “What is it?” he asked.

“You will have to wait until we get back to the ship,” Ben chuckled as he let Luke down back to the ground.

“I bet my gift is better!” Luke boasted, his smile sly and knowing as he leaned back on his heels with the slyest grin he could muster. He didn’t think there was anything that could be better than bringing Ben back a loved one and he knew it.

“Oh?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in that way Luke had seen so many times before. “I don’t know…” he drifted off with the shake of his head. He sounded very sure of himself. “My gift is pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.”

Luke’s eyes sparkled and he took Ben’s hand, firm and secure. He was just getting more and more excited. He couldn’t wait to see Ben’s face when he showed him the person that Luke had come across because oh! He had brought back someone Ben cared about; someone he hadn’t seen in over a decade and half. “Come on! I left her with the troopers.”

“Her?” Ben echoed, questioningly, but Luke wrapped his hand tighter and practically dragged him across the courtyard, through some of the sides of the conflict before he brought him back to the little structure that his team was hiding in. He got down the alley and called out to the troopers. Waxer was the first to turn, the others following close behind as they realized who was coming up to them and putting their weapons down.

Waxer tore of his helmet and all Luke could see and feel was near absolute relief. “General!”

“Master!” Luke called out as Ben finally stopped, unable to move forward.

Because he saw.

Ben was staring, Luke noticed. His glanced between the two of them, uncertain about what would happen next, but he couldn’t help but feel excitement nearly overcome him. The female master grinned at the sight of them and walked, firm and with purpose, her face scraped up and dirty from fighting and finding rest in the little, out of the way places they could. As she came up to him, Ben reached up, hesitant and rubbed some of the light layer of dirt from her cheek.

“May I?” he murmured under his breath.

Luke’s own caught.

“Of course.” Even though she was expecting it, Luke could tell she was surprised by Ben’s hug and how tightly he wound around her. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Kenobi?” she hummed as she relaxed a little into the embrace.

“You have no idea.”

“I do. At least a little. Luke told me.”

“Tachi!” a new voice cheered, and Luke glanced around. It was Master Vos, and he was jogging towards them with a couple others, a mix of troopers and jedi. Well, one jedi. He hadn’t even realized that there had been troopers and the jedi master around when he found Ben, much less of them following the two of them. “I knew it had to be you,” he snickered, turning to lean against the wall, as if he needed a brace to prevent himself from falling over with his laughter.

“Vos,” Master Tachi replied in a mock flat tone but even Luke could feel and see that she wasn’t nearly as unimpressed as she made herself out to sound. “At the very least, you kept Obi-Wan alive.”

“Hey! You weren’t there when I was trying to convince him this was time travel and not a Sith trick or torture,” Master Vos shot back, grinning wide. Neither of them was actually upset or mad or anything negative really at one another, but it was rather amusing to watch them all interact. It was funny; Luke had a bit of a hard time seeing them as such close friends with Ben.

“Well, you seemed to do that at the least,” Master Tachi huffed with a smile as the two of them leaned back and she crossed her arms over her chest for some kind of effect.

“Is everyone here?”

“We lost Checkerboard in the fight,” Waxer stepped up for a short report as Luke glanced away, his chest heating up in grief and shame. Ben put a hand on his shoulder, warm and soothing. “The other troops that were taken are accounted for.”

“Commander Cody went back up to the ship to help Sergeant Barlex fight off the Separatist ship and it appears they are doing well,” Master Vos explained, pointing upwards into the sky where they could just make out two ships, mildly obscured by the clouds and atmosphere. There may have been others, but they couldn’t be seen from the ground. Luke didn’t know.

“The Zygerrians are winning the fight with the droids too,” Rex mumbled as he looked between the jedi masters. “But they are an absolute mess. There is no organization; just fighting for fighting’s sake.”

“We have a lot of work to do,” Luke added in, firm and determined. He wasn’t wrong. Beyond this, with their chance, there was so much to do if they were going to save the troopers, the jedi and the galaxy. “We should convene with the Jedi Council, create a plan and get to work on saving the galaxy from the Empire and the Sith.”

Ben chuckled, lightly as he shot Luke a glance, a single eyebrow raised a bit curiously but Luke could feel his shields tightening a little more. “Oh, should we?”

“We do need the help,” Luke pointed out, red with embarrassment as he looked away as he realized what he said and how he said it. “R-Right.”

The jedi master just kept snickering. “Yes,” he glanced back at the others and got a look at the other jedi behind him. Luke hadn’t even noticed him come up and his breath caught in his chest. Ben perked and looked back at Luke, looking so genuinely kind and nice. Luke’s heart fell a bit. “Luke, I’ve heard you met your…”

“Anakin Skywalker,” Luke interrupted, rather loudly, in a rare show of disrespect. He tried not to let much of anything slip past as he tightened his shields as best, he could, staring at his father with his jaw set. He had to figure out how to play this. Honestly, he had to figure out how to deal with this, especially now, in the time and situation that they both were in. Ben didn’t know that Luke knew. Knew who Anakin Skywalker, his father, became. “Yeah. We’ve met.”

Ben turned confused and it was so wounded and genuine that it near physically hurt Luke to see him respond like that. “Luke…you…know who he is,” Ben said, his response slow and measured, deliberate. Cautious.

Luke hated it. “I do,” he nodded, staring just barely at Anakin.

“I am rather, confused, Luke, why…”

“Could we talk about this, later? Perhaps in private?” Luke fidgeted, glancing down at his gloved hands, his voice quieting into something that others, unless standing right by them, wouldn’t be able to hear. Luke never thought he would have this change, to have to be in this type of scenario. Luke never thought that he would meet his father as Anakin Skywalker, not after knowing what Vader had done and how many times, he had chased them, nearly killing the both of them. He had to figure out how to deal with and what to do with the change and knowledge that he had.

Ben’s brows were drawn but he nodded, solemn. “Of course. Later,” he responded, still careful and curious and worried. “But we will talk about it. This is most unlike you.”

Luke sighed, inwardly in relief. This was not the time or the place or in the right company. He couldn’t talk about this with his father actually in the vicinity. He didn’t know how he would react and there was so much more to do. “I know,” he flipped the hilt of Ben’s saber towards its owner. “This is yours. I’m sorry I borrowed it without asking.”

“Keep it for now,” Ben replied, pushing the hilt back towards him. “I’m glad you did. My crystal is willing to work with you, as always. Hopefully, in this time, you will be able to create your own.”

Luke perked subtly.

They all caught it.

“I think it is about time that we got off of this…. planet,” Ben said, carefully, trying to keep the disgust out of his voice.

“Agreed,” came a chorus of voices in near unison.

“Commander Cody can get a ship down here within a few minutes,” Master Vos announced, already messing with his commlink. “But we have to get to a nearby landing platform.”

“Shouldn’t be toohard,” Luke replied. “We’ve got four jedi, a handful of highly competent troopers and a guy who is not half bad with a lightsaber.”

“That…is how you are describing yourself?” Ben said, an eyebrow raising curiously. Luke shrugged as the troopers made a quick perimeter around them, ready to move out whenever given the order. “You know, with where and when we are, the Jedi Order is still around,” he pointed out.

“I want to help you keep it that way.”

“I know,” Ben nodded, solemnly. “I am fairly certain I can convince the Council to let you in the Order, if, of course, we happen to stay here. You’d have some catching up to do but you have been trained quite a bit and I think you have enough training to be picked up as a padawan.”

Luke felt his entire body freeze. “Picked up?” he choked out.

Ben kept his gaze completely void of any telltale emotions or thoughts; his shields as tight as they could be. “Of course. You are very talented, Luke. Kind, compassionate, determined and so eager to learn. If this is still what you want.”

He just stared back at him because…because he inferred that he wouldn’t be Ben’s padawan. That just…he wanted to be Ben’s padawan. Luke remembered the vision and trial he went through in the Lothal Temple. This was…it was always supposed to be them.

He would just have to prove himself. “I still want it,” he stated, firmly.

Ben nodded.

“We should get going,” Master Tachi popped in, speaking slowly, glancing between them with a varying range of emotions screaming across her face. They agreed and without another turn of phrase, they ran off.

Getting to the landing pad was easy. There was Luke, four incredibly talented jedi and a handful of insanely amazing troopers that could practically carve a path without hardly breaking a sweat. And it was right in time. The gunship landed just at the moment they came into view. They jumped in and off they went up towards the flagship which was beating down at the lone Separatist ship it was battling.

Commander Cody was waiting for them, along with a few others, most of which Luke recognized. There was Kix and Helix and…

“Boil!” Luke grinned with all the happiness and eagerness and relief he could project into the name. The trooper always looked surprised when Luke said his name like that and sure, this Boil didn’t have the same experiences with and without Luke that the older one did but he was still Boil. It didn’t matter.

He smiled though, warmer than most would expect with his shoulders sagging just a bit. “Hey kid. Sportin’ the armor pretty good.”

“I’m sorry I took it, but I had to sneak onto a gunship,” Luke shrugged before practically bowling the trooper over, Waxer hot on his heels. He was laughing and clasped Boil’s shoulder in greeting as the latter tried to get a handle on the squid-like hug that Luke gave. “I had to keep Waxer alive.”

When he got back to the ground and stood back, Boil’s brows were furrowed, and he frowned in realization. He glanced at Waxer, and they exchanged looks. Luke wasn’t entirely sure what they meant.

“All of you are going to need a check up and scan,” Helix butted in, Kix right at his side. They looked almost like twins. Well, really only for the fact that they had the same displeased expression on their faces. Luke tried to hush down his laugh.

“I will hand them all over to your capable care,” Ben assured as he walked closer to the group. Master Vos was whispering to Master Tachi which ended in them both snickering, almost uncontrollably. “But I do have a gift for Luke, if you don’t mind waiting a moment to take him.”

Helix shrugged. “Fine.”

Ben glanced around at the other troopers. “Did Gearshift come with you?” he asked as he got closer to Luke and wrapped a thin cloth around his eyes, making sure he could see a thing. Luke just scoffed good naturedly.

“Gearshift!” someone called out.

There were footsteps from a human and…something else. A clacking noise. A lot of them actually. It stopped and there were a few other quiet noises. “Can I loooooook??” Luke’s voice came out in a near whine. A few chuckles erupted from those around him.

Ben was standing next to him as someone untied and took off the blindfold. And in front of Luke, in Ben’s hands, was the cutest little BD explorer type droid Luke thinks he had ever seen. Washed in grey and gold, it’s little head looked up at him and squeaked in a binary Luke wasn’t entirely sure he understood but the meaning was clear. Plenty of curiosity.

His heart practically stopped. Could it be? No way.

No way.

“Is this…” he drifted off, unable to form words. He glanced at Ben, eyes wide and near pleading. “Are you serious?”

“I happened to have found her on the ship that we hijacked on our way here,” Ben explained with one of the fondest smiles Luke had ever seen up on him. “I helped fix her up, Anakin helped fix her up and she needs a bit more tweaking and probably a program update, but I thought you might like her. We talked a bit and she claimed she will give you a chance. She’s had a bit of a difficult time and would like a memory wipe, but I think you two will get along.”

“You got me a droid?!”

“I’m not sure if I would say got. I didn’t exactly pay for her or anything. Rather…liberated, in a way,” Ben pointed out.

Luke reached out his hands to let the little droid hop into his palms. He nearly felt like crying. “She’s so cute,” he whispered as she beeped at him, quick and excited. “I…can’t understand what she is saying though. Not fully.”

“It’s coded binary. Don’t worry, that can be changed in the programming.”

“Can we keep both?”

“Yes? But why?”

“I’d like to learn it. I think it would be fun. What’s her name?”

“Her designation is BD-42, but she claims to be amendable for changes.”

Luke hummed and stared at his new little droid friend. This was just… a dream. There was no other explanation. “Hmmm. We will have to brainstorm, won’t we, girl? I’m sure we can come up with something fantastic that is very you.” He looked up at Ben and he knew his eyes were sparkling because, well, they had to be. “Thank you, Ben.”

“I did promise you a droid at some point.”

“I think…. I think we might be a good team,” Luke agreed. “And we have a lot to do with an uncertain amount of time to do it.”

[nikkialena]

A Clone’s Desire

You were a rookie padawan who’d finally been selected after a long waiting period at the jedi temple; you were more than a bit excited to finally be out in the field, not like you didn’t enjoy master Yoda’s company and his wise teaching but you couldn’t help but tremble at the idea of being with your very own master and a trooper squadron. Which is why you were superstitiously checking your reflection in the mirror; you wanted everything to be perfect because apparently there were going to be a few 501st clones in you’re squadron, your heart raced a mile a minute as you began scouring your features in the mirror for any kind of flaws. 

A knock at the door made goosebumps spread across your skin; you were both nervous and afraid and about two seconds from puking but you pulled yourself together, swallowing the lump in your throat you reached for the bathroom handle with trembling fingertips.

 “Your a secret weapon, your going to help the jedi and end the war you are amazing” you muttered to to yourself trying to hype yourself up; you side eyed yourself in the mirror taking one last glance over you’re general appearance, you were dressed in a sleeveless black crop top with a little patch in the middle revealing a bit of cleavage.  

A leather utility belt sat lopsided on your waist right above a pair of baggy black camo pants with about fifteen pockets; you had a dozen different varieties of trinkets shoved in your many pockets, Yoda loathed when you did that, always saying how it would anker you down. But you always brushed him off mumbling something along the lines of I got this; taking a deep breath you tried to make yourself stand tall as you opened the door to your room, you glanced around your room making sure everything looked right. Sniffing the air you sighed thankful it smelt decent; another knock on the door made shivers dance down your spine but you slapped your cheeks and put on your tough face, “one minute” you called out as you stood in front of your bedroom mirror trying to decide if you looked presentable. You checked your dark skin in the reflection and tugged the scrunchy from your lucious {h/c} allowing your beautiful curls to spill down your back and along your shoulders, after tearing your eyes away from the mirror you briskly walked towards the door and ripped it open before you could second guess yourself for the fifth time. Standing in front of your door frame was an auburn  haired man with a small beard dressed in nearly all white robes; the only color on him being his reddish shoes and brownish undergarments and piercing blue eyes.  

“Ah I see you’ve finally decided to join us [Y/N]; well I hope you're ready for your first mission because we leave in fifteen minutes, but first I’d like you to rendezvou with the troopers and introduce yourself. We’ll be holding a mission debriefing in ten minutes in the cockpit; please do try and make sure every detail is crucial on the battlefield. Oh and uh welcome to the team padawan I look forward to working with you. Lets hope you turn out better than Anakin”, he muttered that last part more so to himself you weren’t exactly sure what to do so you bowed and mumbled a soft “yes sensei”.  

He gave you a cheeky smile before walking down the corridor and disappearing down a hall, casting one last glance to the mirror you sighed and forced yourself out the room, you weren’t exactly sure where the clones were. So you kinda wandered aimlessly until you bumped into one dressed in a bulky white suit with the occasional splashes of orange decorating his helmet and armor, at first he didn’t notice you no one ever did. When you were designed you were significantly shorter than most of the clones; standing at a measly five feet and four inches but what you lacked in height you made up for in curves.  Finally noticing you the trooper took off his helmet and saluted you giving you just enough time to scope him out; he had tanned skin rich brown eyes and a short raven colored buzz cut, a strange marking sat just above his right eye and you held back the urge to trace it with your fingers. “Hello, I’m Sergeant Cody but most people just call me CC-2224, you must be General Kenobi’s news padawan..um [Y/N] was it?” 

 As his eyes shifted to you, you felt yourself shrink under the intensity of his gaze. The way his chocolate eyes bore deep into your soul almost made you feel naked, “uh yea that’s me” you managed to squeak cursing yourself for sounding so cowardly. For a second his brows lowered as he looked and took in your features but it vanished as quick as it came, however you noticed this and grumbled softly you knew that look all too well. It was that aren’t you a bit young to be a padawan? Which you despised, “I’ll have you know Sergeant Cody I’m twenty” you spat venom creeping into your tone, the look of shock on his face was equally annoying but just like before it melted away so quickly if you hadn’t been paying attention you wouldn’t have noticed. Yet another gift from your makers; most people mistook you for a fifteen or sixteen year old and it was fun at first, but it quickly got annoying. You both just stood in awkward silence, you glaring at him while he avoided eye contact; it wasn’t until another person came up to you that you stopped your death stare and he seemed to sigh in relief. 

The approaching male was tall with cream colored skin, short brown wavy hair swept backwards and soft blue eyes, he had a tiny little scratch on his left eyebrow and a cocky looking smirk etched on his features. Unlike the other males you’ve seen he was almost completely dressed in black, or at least a very dark brown you weren’t exactly sure but you weren’t given much time to dwell on it due to him swinging one arm around your neck and pulling you in for a nuggie. 

“Hey, squirt look at you all grown up and ready to become a jedi it pleases me that you’re my replacement” he hummed while deliberately ruffling your hair, at first you were dumbfounded and very pissed off that this random douchebag not only forcibly hugged you but also messed up your hair you worked so hard to neaten. But your anger quickly fizzled out as realization settled in and your frowned only deepened, “oh Anakin it’s you how ya been?” You asked, trying to readjust your hair as he let you go and began walking making you and Cody follow, “well you know squirt the usual” he said motioning with a flick of wrist into the air.

 “So getting in trouble and causing problems for everyone else” you sang earning a snort from Cody quickly covered by a discrete series of coughs, Anakin’s cheeks turned a soft shade of red for a moment before he brushed your comment off “they call it trouble I call it creative thinking”. “No I can assure you there’s nothing creative about your fighting methods, it's just destructive” a familiar voice interjected into your conversation, you turned to be greeted by the same warm smile from your sensei as he waited leaned up against a wall surrounded by a couple of troopers.

 Anakin just scoffed and slapped you on the shoulder a bit roughly; “this guys a riot you're sure to have an amazing time under his watch” the sarcasm in his words was so thick you could almost feel it. Obi Wan just rolled his eyes at his former pupil and motioned for you to enter the cockpit, the meeting began and you just kinda sunk into the back as the generals and the troopers made plans. It’s not like you weren’t paying attention but you just felt so out of place here amongst all these skilled soldiers; sure you were well trained. 

I mean freaking Yoda supervised you in the temple, but you’d never been on the battlefield before and it was kinda frightening. “First time in the meeting room” a gentle voice voice whispered, snapping you out of your train of thought, shifting your gaze to your right you were met with a Togurta with bright crystal blue eyes, peachy orange skin and beautiful whit markings scattered across her face. 

“How can you tell” you mumbled while letting out a breath you didn’t know you were holding; she smiled and pointed at your fingers drumming against your thighs, ‘oh that’ you thought to yourself of course your body betrayed you it always has. “Yea, I’m fresh out the temple” you whispered and she nodded slowly eyes flickering back to the talking men, “well you don’t have to be so nervous we’re not doing anything to dangerous just pushing back a couple of seppies out of a potential base area” that calms you down just a little bit.”Doesn’t sound to hard” you mused with a soft smile on your face “don’t jinx it” she hissed confusing you, “what?” 

 She looked at you with a quirked brow “haven't you ever seen a movie, whenever someone says oh that was too easy it gets significantly harder so don’t jinx it”, you nodded in understanding just as you both got called on the carpet, “I’m sorry are we boring you ladies or do you have something to add to the battle plans?” You heard the girl next to you swallow thickly as all eyes turned to both of you and you felt slightly responsible, so stepping up you tried your best not to try and sound like an idiot, “Um well actually we’re trying to push our way into separtiest base right?” A soldier dressed in white and blue gave an acute nod all the while glaring at you with his chilling golden eyes, “well I think it would be wise if I was on the frontlines while the troopers distract the seppies I could sneak in and create an opening for them” you added hopefully but were met with hard stares. 

“And just how would you go about that padawan?” The clone in blue growled through his helmet you didn’t need to see his eyes to see the look of doubt written across his face, this annoyed the crap out of you and you allowed a bit of spite to slip into your voice “oh well simple that’s a need to know bais trooper and woulda look at that your not on the list pity”. 

You poked out your bottom lip and faked a tear as everyone kind of stared at you in shock; you swear you saw Obi Wan’s eye twitch as he muttered something like oh great and Anakin just had the cheesiest smile on his face. He wrapped his arm around your neck again and pulled you in for a hug; “did I forget to mention we were best friends at the temple”, everyone in the room seemed to tense at that knowledge and General Kenobi sighed. “Lucky me then; that’s not how you speak to your superiors [Y/N] but we’ll talk about that later, just what do you have in mind miss [Y/N]?”  You smiled confidently and crossed your arms across your chest pushing up your breast a smidge, “well like I said I’m not supposed to go talking about it willy nilly sensei orders from the jedi council, but I can tell you and general skywalker but that’ll have to wait because we have a mission just trust me I got this.”

 The blue clone scoffed a bit watching how intensely General Kenobi was watching you, “you can’t be serious general you're going to leave this to a shiny padawan” he spat a little louder than intended sensei stroked his beard before sighing. “The jedi counsel sent her to aid us even though she’s fresh she must be capable of extraordinary things, I’m trusting you [Y/N] the whole republic is counting on this base can you really accomplish what you're saying?” You felt pride swell in your chest as saluted him “Just leave it to me sir they don’t call me blitz for nothing”, the ride down to the planet was filled with silence as you mentally prepped yourself for the upcoming battle “here goes nothing” you muttered softly as the doors to the dropship creaked open.

[idjitlili]

I, I will be king.(II)

Din Djarin x reader.

Part 1. Masterlist.

Summary:Din Djarins feelings get in the way,  when you reach your master once again.Din finally drops you off with your master, before he leaves for what seems for months. Second part and last part.

Word count:4497

Warnings: confusing? Honestly comparing din to a fridge isn't the best thing I've wrote.

A/n: OH AND this is the finished request for anonymous and @elkhead-art sorry it too so long.

As the sound of nothingness caused your eyes to slowly awake along with your consciousness, dark surrounded you. A small orange light was only to be seen outside. You were warm, and comfortable laying in a bed.  You recognised the texture of the blankets, the outline of the room. This wasn't anyone's room, it was yours.

Almost felt like you had dreamt the past few months, you had never left Luke, and never met the Mandalorian. But that was false, it had all happened, you were now back on Ahch-To. You had made it, you wondered if Mando was still here. 

On Ahch-To you lived in a small hut thing, so did Luke and so would Grogu. The island surrounded by water, no sand not much anyways, thankfully. Blue milk? We do not speak of that.

Soon enough you were wide awake,your feet had carried you outside, the atmosphere pitch black except the glowing orange in the distance where two figures sat.

"Luke?" The outlines of the bodies began to clear, it was clearly Luke and Mando with Grogu sat in his lap. Their heads turned to you, Luke's lips twitching up , he had stood up quickly making his way to you. "Padawan, I have missed you." Pulling you into a tight hug, his arms around your shoulders, you head dug into his chest. "What about no attachments, master?"

Scoffing Luke had placed his hands on your shoulders to look you directly in the eye. "That was very unwise, I told you to stay here for a reason, now you have months worth of teaching to catch up on."

"Sorry? I have learnt many lessons with the Mandalorian, we even met some other Mandalorians and guess what? They had met Anakin Skywalker , Obi-wan, when he was so very handsome, and Ahsoka. Plus, Mando has met Ahsoka , recently as well." You sat beside Mando, in front of the fire, Luke on one side and him on the other.

"Sounds like you had a good time, I hope you didn't have a great time." You weren't sure what Luke was trying to imply but you didn't care, your eyes had caught the green creature in Mando's lap. His hand reaching for you, offering your figure for him , his tiny green hand clutching it, though he could talk to you through the force, you already knew his name and he knew yours. 

Grogu had stood up, shuffling back onto Mando's other thigh, bringing your hand with him. All three of you watched his movements. Mando's hand against his thigh, whilst the his other was behind Grogu in case he fell. His breath hitched when Grogu reached down and gripped his finger. You didn't dare pull your hand from Grogu, as he pulled your hands together. Yours and Mando's finger tips touching, well his gloved finger tips.

Grogu had let go of your hands, looking at each of you, before interlacing his hands together. You didn't even get a chance to think about it, Mando had slid his fingers in between yours, closing them together. The small creature smiled and sat back on Mando's leg. Your hand placed on Mando's leg still locked with his. Luke hadn't said anything, Grogu getting up a second later walking towards him, no doubt that was him.

For what was a couple of hours, your hand stayed against the warmth of the Mandalorians glove. All until the early hours of day, you had stayed up talking with them, assuming he wanted as much time with Grogu as he could.

In which that point he had exuded to leave, following him to his now repaired ship, thanks to the other Mandalorians.

Luke had made you look away, as the Mandalorian removed his helmet, to say goodbye to Grogu. That was their goodbye, Grogu knew that.  Not long after that, Grogu was handed back to Luke, who step away, enabling you somewhat of privacy.

"Goodbye, Mando."

"My name is Din Djarin,"

"Oh wow, so your name isn't Mando? That's actually great, I prefer Din." A nod of his head and he was gone, felt strange, like he didn't care anymore but why would he give you his name?

You hadn't seen him for months, yet your heart-ached for him, it was stupid you weren't supposed to feel like this. Nothing would happen anyways, he was a Mandalorian you a Jedi, it wasn't supposed to be. Figuring Din had moved down on, he knew he couldn't keep Grogu, so he was trying forget. But that was not what he was doing, he wasn't abandoning Grogu no, he was trying to reclaim Mandalore.

147 days since you had last seen Din Djarin, you were shipped off by Luke's request this time.  Alone. For how long you didn't know, an undercover mission that could be quick or could take a long time , just luck.  Where you were sent was all but unfamiliar to you, uncover as bounty Hunter. Made your stomach flip, you'd be working for Boba Fett, who now had complete control of The hurts palace.  Luke had sent you to recover a Jedi that was being hunted.

Instead of your dark pants, long sleeve that you'd wear under your robes. (Yeah, basically Luke got the better outfits, you were fitted into formal Jedi wear.)  Now wearing fitted armour that covered your whole body like Din's, a helmet upon your head, dressed in dark colours. The helmet was confining , making you sweat a lot. How did Din do that all day?

You weren't sure how Luke managed to get you employed by Boba, did he just write up what is the equivalent to a Cv? Wasn't that your job , literally, you aren't supposed to get someone else to do it. 'Oh yes, I y/n am certain excellent at slicing, killing, capturing Bounties.' No, not killing that was the last resort. But, you would be able to capture bounties, so you'd be fine.

As long as you got the first bounty back to him, you would've secured the job. Luke had given you a ship to use, it was small, pre empire. Previously some junk from Tatooine, that Luke had brought to Ahch-too, and eventually you both repaired it.

With a ship and blasters, no lightsaber, you easily caught your first bounty and were in the job. Blasters seemed unpredictable, why does everyone miss? Poor design. 

For the four months you had been with Boba, well working for him, sure he had something going on with Fennec. Not that you could blame her, if Rex or fives was there and young, I'd bone, and I am total virgin. Din had been back to Ahch, Luke making up some excuse about being on supply run. And you were Boba Fett's best bounty hunter.

You were sent to Mandalore, all you was given was the location, and that it was a huge bounty for this creature dead or alive. The location wasn't even pinpoint just a part of the planet.  You knew of this planet, well heard of it.  Oh yes, like you'd see Din there.  Not Surprising Boba wouldn't go himself.

"How will I know I've found them, then?"

"You'll know."  The nod of his helmet, as he held his leg swung over the side of the chair. Not like when other bounty hunters would go in, his posture was always rigid, his hand sat upon his thighs. Fennec was always present as well, but not when you'd arrive. Boba would send her out. A nod from your helmet as you turned on your feet to leave.

"Wait," stopping before you had even taken a step, turning back to Fett. Another glance over him made it clear, he was presenting himself to you, his legs spread like that wasn't for nothing.

"Can I see what you look like?" You didn't even know what Boba looked like, but you had heard of the clones, and Obi-wan had told you about them , and how he was one of the only ones to survive. Yeah, Luke had finally taken you to the place where completely the trials that allowed you to speak to the 'dead'.

Bringing up your gloved hands to your helmet, pulling it off your head slowly. Squinting your eyes slightly as they adjusted to the lighting. Your y/c eyes fluttering to Boba who just sat there nodding at you, your helmet hooked under your arm. 

"See you soon, l/n."

"Goodbye, Fett."

With that you were headed to Mandalore with barely any knowledge of the planet, only with hope that you'd be okay. 'I don't believe in luck we make our own luck." 

Worried that you'd land on the planet and be shot, oh yes just a pre empire ship landing on your planet. Not like Hera almost died for talking. Yet, you thought nothing about someone waiting when you landed on the hot planet with ease. Though, most of the planet was inhospitable there was still some life left. A doom over the city of Sundari, in the distance.

Stepping from your ship into the atmosphere, on the edge of the ramp. Closing your eyes briefly s your stretched your arms over your head, clenching your fists closed at the same time. Satisfaction washed of you for a long moment. Yeah, that didn't last long when the sound of multiple mechanical surrounded you quickly.

Sighing as you opened your eyes again, the shape light of the planet dimmed by the filter on your helmet. Just as Suspected 4 Mandalorians surrounding, upholstering your blaster tossing it into the dirt in front of you. Lifting your eye hands above your head. Could only hope, that they thought you were a man, but you had placed your lightsaber dangerously in the front of your pants. With the plate of armour placed over that to conceal it further.

You dared not speak, maybe you'd pretend you had your tongue cut out, no , that wouldn't work they would check. You heard of Ezra Bridger maybe you'd pretend to be a hutt, no, no you didn't have a tail.

"State your business." You didn't recognise the voice of the Mandalorian definitely wasn't Din's. Lowering your hands slowly to place them on your hips, changing your whole posture.

"Han solo, I'm here looking for my wookie."

"Solo? Where's your ship then?" Scoffing at the Mandalorian, turning around and pointing to your ship.

"No, the Falcon,"

"Oh, so what you're a fan? Ships don't last forever." You were supposed to be trying to conceal your voice, but clearly that wasn't working. Your hands now cuffed behind your back, pushed onto ship and off you went to an unknown destination. Just maybe that Han Solo thing hadn't worked? Two of the Mandalorians stayed in the back of the ship, what you'd describe as the back of a police van sort of thing. Their eyes glued to you , as you sat in front of them.Only the humming from the ship could be heard, you weren't leaving the planet but travelling towards Sundari.

Your helmet still upon your head as they pulled you out of the ship by your underarms , dragging you. The lightsaber slipping in your pants slightly, you hoped that it wouldn't fall into you leg, looking like you had shat yourself. Feet scraping against the stone path , looked as if you on a plaza, the area around built up. Large steps leading to watch you could describe as a palace, it was huge. Covered with cubist murals of Mandalorians.

No, this couldn't be what Luke sent you for? You thought you were in search of Jedi's not more Mandalorians.  You hoped that they weren't taking you to their leader, was that Darth Maul still? No, he's dead? Ugh. If they searched you you'd be dead,  if they took your helmet off you'd be dead. It was no surprise you had been seen with Luke by the empire causing trouble. Depending whether they were still a neutral system.  

One of the Mandalorians from the pair that walked behind you as you were held, had made their way to the front of the group. Speaking into the com link on their right arm, in a language that you could only guess was Mando'a. Stood at the bottom of the steps waiting for a brief moment, before the huge metal doors were opened agonisingly slow. Basically Aragorn walking through those doors at Helms deep without Aragorn or anyone walking through the door.

With that, no one came out of the doors but you were pulled in the stairs and through the doors. Lead into a room with a throne? Right, no more politicians since Satine. Surprising that the room wasn't just made out complete Beskar, more pretty windows carpets , paint, paintings, Chairs  , food. Wow, they must of killed a Pirate, wasn't Mandalore broke?

In the centre of the room, a man stood, in tight fitted clothes, furs, heavy boots, a weapon upon his belt, sorry two bone a blaster the other hidden from your sight. His face aged like wine, squishy, dark brown eyes locked onto yours. If his eyes were to be compared to something, it would be that chocolate river from Willy Wonka. No fat kid in it, but a a handsome man surrounded it. Soft brunette curls on his head, wrinkles at the edges of his eyes.

"This one claims to be 'Han Solo' "  The man only nodded at the Mandalorian dismissing them, the doors shut behind you loudly. Turning to face you completely the man sat upon his Throne . 

"So, you fought with the Rebel Alliance." That voice, it was familiar yet you didn't recognise his face. Maybe he was Luke's friend that he'd often talk to , or just someone who had made a fuss at a bar. Instead of responding verbally you had just nodded too.

"Right, what rank, Han."

"I'm sorry, I would prefer if you called me by my title." Straightening your posture , bulking yourself.

"Oh? And what would that be?"  The smirk upon that mans fave indicated be was having too much fun. You were glad your helmet had a modulator.

"Captain, commander or yours." The smirk had dropped from his face, lips slightly parted, clearly flustered, only for a moment before his face went back to smouldering.

"You clearly are not who you say are. Until you tell me your purpose here I cannot allow you to leave."

You were stuck in some sort of cell, hundreds of other cells surrounding you. It looked like they had put you into the one connected to the wall of the building. Nor had they searched you again. Why? All they did was take your blaster.  He didn't even try , he just shoved you into a cell, not him directly but he didn't like you or was going to sell you off to someone. Bounty hunters didn't sway the hearts of many.

So, what did you do? Grabbed your lightsaber from your pants cut through the wall, and ran for your life.  Why it wasn't made out of beskar you didn't Know. Calling R2 from your com link, oh yes Luke had sent him with you to watch over you. Your breath heavy as you ran through the city that was covered with metal, seemed like no end. But you could t just stop and wait for R2 you weren't even sure of he could get through.

The shooting at your feet as you ran for the doors out of the city, igniting your lightsaber and throwing it the doors switches. Quickly return your lightsaber to your hand before making it to the door. The sound of their jet packs and firing dying down as you turn to face them. Stood in a line face you as you exit slowly. Your light saver back in your belt , your arms up to your shoulders as you walked backwards.

"This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caug-"  Okay, you had miscalculated you weren't planning on being grabbed from behind and pulled into a ship. The bright light of the inside of the side around you as the ramp was quickly slammed shit as you landed on the floor with a thump. This was your ship, but it wasn't R2 who you heard breathing heavily behind you.

Ahsoka Tano on your ship, Boba fett sent for her and she ended up capturing you instead. Not capturing but saving you , just said that for dramatic affect . You weren't sent to Boba for Mandalorians no of course not , if Luke wanted that he'd call Din. 

"Luke skywalker? Is your master?" Her hands on her hips as you sat in the pilots chair. She wasn't particularly fond on going with you but she did , why? That was unsure. The only reason she gave was her ship was destroyed on the planet and would not say why she was there either. Not that it was your business. 

"Yes, yes he is."

"Right."

With that you were heading back to Ahch-too but of course it's never that simple. Instead Boba Fett had taken himself out of Tatooine to personally come meet you with the bounty that he knew you had.  In fact it ended up like the Hobbit the battle of the five armies, all in space just floating. Mandalorians and Boba attached to your ship. 

Both Boba Fett, and the Mandalorians entering the cockpit at the same time, turning around in your chair with a squeak. Sighing.  A mandalorian stepping forward to look at Ahsoka who now stood , her fingers besides her lightsaber eyeing the company.

"Ahsoka?"  Though she did not reply just stood her ground, you didn't dare to move , this was a huge mess.  The mandalorian that you assumed was king now in armour that seemed familiar but all of them looked alike to be honest. At least the clones had more style, and they didn't look alike.

"What are doing with Han Solo?"

Fett scoffed looking at you briefly before turning to Mandalorian in blue. "That's not solo, I would know he tried to kill me."

"I would kill you too, Clone."  Glaring at the Mandalorian it seemed that their was something you were missing, their guns were all lowered, yet Ahsoka still stood her ground. Like she would trust anyone after what she had been through.

"As I was saying, that is not Solo. This my best bounty Hunter, l/n. She caught a Je- why is she  not in carbonite?"

"Uhm, about that Boba..." Though your explanation was cut short again, Boba's eyes did not leave yours, your cheeks felt hot under your helmet, this was R2 he allowed them to board.

"Did you not know? Your best bounty Hunter is a Jedi."   These Mandalorians we're really sucky, they just wouldn't piss off, maybe if Mando was here he'd kill them, no , he wouldn't kill his own kind. Ugh, if you had been alive when Ahsoka was young, she'd cut their heads of with no hesitation, oh but not clones.

"Yeah, that wasn't hard to see, my lightsaber was shoved down my pants, you Mandalorians suck, didn't know I was Jedi until you saw me waving around a lightsaber. Ironic."   It seemed like Ahsoka had enough, and began the engine again, on your way back to Ahch."Down your trousers, really?"

"No, my underwear." Did that sound sarcastic?

You hadn't meant to bring a party with you to Luke but here you were on the way ack home with some Mandalorians and Boba Fett. Everyone had calmed down, waiting to arrive somewhere, with no discussion about it. Was this a horrible choice endangering Grogu probably.  So, you had gotten Bobas attention bringing him out of the cockpit and into a room. Well, the only over rooms were the bathroom and your small sleeping area.

"Well, what is it?"

"Uhm, just that I am no longer working for you, sorry and yeah I don't think you should stay."

"Oh,  just lovely you are. Though, I am not sure you ar- were my best bounty hunt, you'll have to take the helmet off." What was with this guy and wanting to see your facc. Sighing you pulled your helmet from your face slowly, the cold air slapping you as your hair fell from the helmet messy. (If you have no hair then your head was looking polished and hot like Dwayne Johnson.)

Though yet again, you could not see his face, well until he pulled his off too. A deep laugh erupted from his lips as he smiled at you, placing a hand on your shoulder.

"It is you."

Neither of you had notice Bo-Katan walking by after doing her business, seriously in your ship? Not that you'd notice it was her without seeing she got new armour. Oh, you know she went straight to tell her king.

So, after your short interaction with Boba, who decided he'd leave but not yet to much of your dislike. Soon as you stepped into the cockpit , the bigger framed Mandalorian was in front you, he wanted something. Looking passed him for Ahsoka who was busy with the control panel. Everyone talking to each other. Your throat itchy, this was not pleasant.

"You know you remind me of a fridge."

His visor stuck upon your face no, the silence from him, even his breathing did not stop you you. You were uncomfortable but when he wasn't speaking what were you supposed to do?

"Well, maybe a broken one because you hold yogurt but it's warm."  Again, he did not respond just stared you down.

"Beca-"

"Yes, I understand." The same modified voice as you remembered, yet you still felt intimidated still.

"Oh, not funny not then?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"That I'm not Han Solo?" Grabbing your upper arm as he scoffed pulling you towards his empty ship connected to yours. You'd only hope that if you were murdered right now, that Luke would have this surge of anger like his father and kill this man. 'Kenobi!' Okay, it just felt like it needed to be Maul rage not a 'oh no, I strangled my wife pretty much and wondered how she died and now I am mad.' Too bad Mail didn't run Anakin over when he had the chance.

"Take the helmet off."

"No."

"Take it off." His feet travelling closer to you as his voice got sterner and slower. Wishing Din was here to tell this man about boundaries.

"Get lost, why are you even here? Chasing someone that didn't do anything wrong. You're a dick for king , go home and fix your ugly planet , sperm bank." You bad went to push passed him, his frame was sturdy, and before you could he had your wrists  in his hands.  Not fighting him, even though you could easily break free his hold was gentle. Looking up to the t of his visor.

"Do you not recognise me?"  You wanted to say yeah you kidnapped me. But it was clear from the soft tone in his voice that wasn't it. You had be oblivious, how could you over look everything.  The voice, the Mandalorians, a king , was this a joke from Ahsoka?  Maybe she was more like than Anakin than you had been lead to think.  His hands dropped from your wrists,  your hands rested on the sides of his helmet. A soft click of his helmet, pulling it up slowly.

But as you had began to lift it up, he had grabbed it from you quickly throwing it behind him with a thud.His cinnamon caramel sand, shiny coconut , beach waved, auburn oven baked curls softly placed upon his head. Stubble littering his jaw like grass, his Willy wonka chocolate fountain eyes glazing on you softly. T-this was the king of Mandalore, b-but no this couldn't be , no he wouldn't take his helmet off in front you? Would he?

Your hands now resting on the sides of your helmet, click , pulling up the helmet just as you had done previously without interruption. A sigh from his mouth as caught a glimpse of your face. Before your helmet dropped the floor , he had pulled you into a tight embrace.

"Don't tell me this whole time , I've been like these Mandalorians suck, I wish Din was here."

Pulling from Din to look at him,  through you shouldn't have , your palm was pressed against his stubbles cheek.

“Oh,”

“Yeah, I had lightsaber as dick how did you not notice? Plus that pick up line, seriously?” Your hand was no longer one Din’s face, partly because it had became sweaty too quick and your arm was aching.

“Hm, if I knew it was you then I would’ve accepted.” Accepted what? The pick up line.. your face was hot, why couldn’t he say he heard Han Solo was a player and didn’t want his heart broken? Instead his hands were interwoven with yours. I feel like this a David Bowie as Jareth moment.

“P-pardon?” Your hands were dropped, Din had turned to pick up his helmet.

“You’re with him.”

“I’m with you?”

“No you are involved with Fett.”

“Sorry? I worked for him as bounty Hunter not a personal hustler.” But Din continued to put his helmet on unamused, walking out the door, but you had decided the best idea . Doesn’t matter if your weight , Din was strong. If he had to he’d be able to carry a ship. Okay maybe.

So, you had jumped on his back, your arms around his neck, legs around his Weiss, he did not budge, not at all.”Tell me what you meant or I-ill be... very annoying and pretend I am this really cool person that gets men and women but I am not but I will pretend I’ll trick them into thinking my lightsaber is big shlong -gosh why did you not stop me. And you should because I am a huge virgin.” Huge nerd more like.

“...I’d accept your offer of you being mine.” Maybe, Din felt better because he didn’t have to directly look at you, you were on his back what were you going to do, jump off and fall over? No, once again you pulled his helmet from his head, pressing a kiss to his stubbled cheek.

“We could be lovers.”

“I , I will be king

and you, you will be queen.”

What you didn’t see was Ahsoka with her com link talking to Luke , basically had a spy camera. 100% accidentally, but Luke knew you’d be safe.

[inkformyblood]

Welcome To The Storm

JangObi Week 2021 Prompt #3 Undercover

Obi-Wan fought the urge to tug at the edge of his shirt yet again, feeling as if the fabric was out of alignment somehow. He hadn’t realised how much he would miss the comforting weight of his Jedi robes — the fabric well-worn and soft as it passed through hundreds of hands before his — until it was gone. He still wrapped his fingers around the woven leather bands around his wrists, the action clear now he lacked the security of his heavy sleeves. 

The entire outfit was new to him: a tight dark undershirt similar enough to the blacks he wore when armour was needed that it wasn’t a discomfort, but the loose shirt over the top was a garish neon green lace with beads twisted through the threads and hiding his lightsaber in plain sight between his shoulder blades. That, coupled with the thin shorts — a harsh breeze blowing past his bared skin making him shiver — allowed him to blend into the teeming crowd that spilled out of the smoky bars and clubs that surrounded them. 

Obi-Wan knew he wasn’t meant to be here, and he could sense the lingering distaste from Qui-Gon in their Force bond — shut tight by the other man the moment Obi-Wan stepped foot outside of their rooms. He just couldn’t stand by and wait, not when the Force pulled at him so insistently, the Code running through his head like a heartbeat. 

The rumors had been circling like vultures throughout their investigation, whispers of a trading ring operating beyond the artifact they were sent to retrieve. That thread had led him here, hands trembling from the cold and goosebumps erupting down the length of his spine, to a small bar, light and music spilling from it’s open door. 

Stepping in, Obi-Wan was hit with the scent of smoke that seemed to cling to every surface, the floor sticking to the ridiculous boots he had picked up at a market stall, and eyes passing over him like trailing hands. Drawing in a deep breath, he moved forward carefully, eyes darting side to side as he searched for— There.

Tucked into a corner, sprawled into the simple leather chair as if it was a throne, was a man who felt familiar to Obi-Wan. His presence in the Force sang out to him — a careful sunset in the midst of darkness, buried yet beautiful — drawing him closer, and Obi-Wan was helpless to try and resist.

“I’m not interested,” the man said the moment Obi-Wan drew nearer, barely glancing at him as he continued to stare down at his datapad. His voice only added to the gnawing sense of familiarity that was growing in Obi-Wan’s chest, a memory that kept slipping away from him like ice water through his fingers. 

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say,” Obi-Wan protested, slipping into the opposite seat with a brazen confidence he only partially felt. The man tensed, his eyes — dark and beautiful, like looking at a black hole in the void of space — darted towards Obi-Wan’s face, a frown creasing his brow and highlighting the curved scars the man possessed. 

The bounty hunter sat back in his seat, raising an eyebrow at Obi-Wan, looking every inch like a predator. Good. That was exactly what he needed. 

“I heard rumors of an underground smuggling ring in the area, operating not only in stolen artifacts but in people.” The man’s eyes went cold, lips curling into a barely restrained snarl, and Obi-Wan rushed to finish speaking. “I want to put a stop to it.”

Obi-Wan wrapped his fingers tightly around the leather bands once more, keeping his hands tucked beneath the table so the man couldn’t see them shake. It was a fine line he was walking, trying to keep his identity secret — offering just enough context clues for the man to pick up on as his eyes raked over Obi-Wan’s face — while needing this deal to go through. Everything he had heard was that this man hated slavers, almost as much as he hated Jedi, and yet they never said his name. 

“Why?”

“Because it is the right thing to do.”

Out of everything, Obi-Wan would have expected the man to do: dismiss him; insult him; bargain with him to even consider this hare-brained scheme, laughter was not one of them. Heads turned towards them, a low whisper flowing round the room and Obi-Wan felt himself flush, the colour travelling down his neck to his bared shoulders. 

“You’re a strange man,” the man said finally, shaking his head once his laughter subsided, shoulders still shaking slightly, “but I don’t think you’re lying.”

“Thank you.”

“If this is legitimate, and I don’t trust you,” the man began, his previous relaxed stance shifting into strict professionalism, “I expect half payment up front as insurance and half after the job is complete.”

Obi-Wan nodded carefully, ducking to pluck the credit chip from his belt, noting out of the corner of his eye that the man tensed and leaned slightly forwards to track his movements. “Will this be enough?”

He barely had time to register the brush of blaster calloused fingers over his own — the touch sending a shiver down his spine as he realised just how long it had been since anyone had touched him — and the man plugged the credit chip into his datapad. Obi-Wan had to trust the money he had managed to scrounge from his own personal savings and the small stipend the Temple gave them would be enough. It was a risk trying to hire anyone, but he knew well enough that trying to take on an unknown number of slavers with their prisoners thrown into the mix, was too many unknowns. 

The man’s eyes darted between the datapad and Obi-Wan’s face, some unknown knowledge settling over his shoulders like a shroud. Obi-Wan couldn’t begin to guess at what he thought about him now. He shifted on the seat, fighting the urge to let his shoulders curl to shield himself further, and saw the man track the movement. 

“This will do fine.” His voice was gentle in sharp contrast to the battered green-painted beskar he wore. “Are you able to go now?”

“Yes.”

The man stood, holding out a hand to Obi-Wan to help him out of his seat, his touch gentle and careful, as if he feared breaking Obi-Wan at any harsh gestures. “We’re going to my ship first.”

“Why?”

“Because you need some armour. It won’t be beskar.” He grinned to himself, the gesture all teeth. “But it’ll keep you more protected than that.”

Obi-Wan shivered as another cold wind whipped past him, feeling like ice shards cut into his bare skin, his teeth clenching in an attempt to keep them from rattling. The man paused, and Obi-Wan could almost see the wheels turning behind his eyes. In one quick motion, he took off his own cloak and threw it around Obi-Wan’s shoulders. He was immediately enveloped in warmth and a clinging scent of sandalwood and smoke and he burrowed his numb fingers into the folds of the fabric. The man nodded once, and began to walk down the street once more, a hand placed carefully on the small of Obi-Wan’s back, the gesture professional even as it set Obi-Wan’s now-covered skin on fire.

“What’s your name?” Obi-Wan asked as they drew closer to the docks. “All the rumors I heard to find you didn’t say.”

The man let out a bark of laughter. “At least some people still hold some sense. The name is Jango Fett. And yours?”

Obi-Wan grinned through the fear that froze in his veins. He knew that name. He knew that face, although the last time he had seen Jango Fett, the man had been half-feral and pinning him to the ground, a blade embedded in Obi-Wan’s shoulder and yet, he hadn’t killed him. Obi-Wan’s heart had broken for the man as he lay there, the scent of pine and blood filling his lungs with every careful breath. Jango Fett was a Jedi killer, but he was still Obi-Wan’s best shot at getting people out alive.

“My name is Ben,” Obi-Wan said. He’d just have to stay undercover for a while longer, and hope that Jango didn’t uncover his lie. 

“Ben,” Jango repeated, pausing his stride to carefully take Obi-Wan’s hand from within the folds of the cloak and raise it to his lips, carefully kissing his knuckle like something out of an old holo film, tucking it back with a wink. 

Obi-Wan felt his cheeks flush once more, heat shooting down his back and chest — hidden now beneath Jango’s cloak — and followed the man’s gentle steering without a word. He was in more trouble than he could have ever imagined.

[val-aquenta]

It’s on time today!! I’m not super happy with this, but here. Take this offering for Jedi June’s prompt: Duty

Here on ao3

It was interesting that changing into Rako Hardeen’s skin hurt less than it did to return to his own. Like the previous… conversion was the best term, Masters Windu and Yoda stood by him. Obi-Wan writhed as his skin became his own, and his bones returned to normal. When the transformation finally finished, Obi-Wan lay gasping painfully, curled slightly over his stomach. He groaned, head falling backwards in the medical bed. 

“There, Master Kenobi. You’re done.” Master Che finished, looking down at her datapad until she seemed satisfied. She smiled grimly and, to some kind of surprise, laid a comforting hand against his shoulder. “The pain should go away soon. However, the experimental nature of this treatment means we’re unsure how long it will last.”

Obi-Wan blinked, shivering as a jolt of pain lanced up his arm. “I… I see.” He managed to breathe out, lifting his hands to stare at them. He flinched again, feeling the disturbing lack of hair on his face. “Oh. This will take a long time to grow out.”

Master Che grinned wryly, “Indeed. You look… 25 still? Force, you haven’t aged a day under there.” Obi-Wan chuckled weakly. A notification pinged on her pager which she picked up and sighed. “Well, I’ll leave you three for now. Duty calls. May the Force be with you three.” The three echoed it back, bowing as the healer left. 

Obi-Wan breathed in deeply, trying to control the rather large mass of throbbing pain that seemed to emanate from his bones. Mace moved closer to the bed, “How are you?”

“Fine…” Mace lifted a disbelieving brow, his hand smoothing the blanket at his feet. Even though they were of equal rank, that particular stare still managed to make Obi-Wan blush in embarrassment as he was caught lying. “Tired, I suppose. It does hurt, but it’s… manageable.” Mace sighed, rubbing tiredly at the bridge of his nose. He unfolded the blanket, offering it to Obi-Wan who nodded, feeling strangely comforted as the older Master laid the blanket on him.

Yoda grumbled and leapt up, sitting by Obi-Wan’s elbow in a light meditation. As the small green troll meditated, his clawed hands brushed against Obi-Wan’s arm. Obi-Wan himself found it strangely comforting. “How feel, do you? In the Force, hurt you are.” Yoda turned and blinked at him, ears tilting up and down. 

Obi-wan sighed, gaze turning up to the ceiling to avoid the deep stares from the other Jedi. “I suppose I wonder if it was the right choice, the one we made.” He began tentatively. He’d harboured doubts in the beginning, but there had seemed to be little alternative. “I feel… well it feels like what I did had no result. Nothing came of it.”

Mace sat at the chair by his bed, smoothing the blanket idly between fingers. There was quite a pause while the man thought, “I had doubts, but I saw no other alternative.” his eyes lifted from his fingers to focus on Obi-Wan, “Perhaps it was not the right path, but it was the only one.” Yoda hummed in agreement, closing his eyes.

Obi-Wan didn’t seem appeased, looking up at the ceiling with a dull gaze, “It did nothing though. I hurt those around me and nothing came from it.” His mind thought back to Naboo and Anakin and the accusation that the younger man had hurled at him. He knew that they would be upset, hurt of course, but the anger he had felt was so vast. Paired with the knowledge that it was him the anger was aimed at was painful. “I just wished there was another choice, a different path we could have taken.” 

Mace’s lips twisted into a grim smile, “Don’t we all?” The older man sighed and leaned back, bruises evident around his eyes, a result of sleepless nights, stress, and difficult visions. “Sometimes we must make the hardest choices to do our duty, no?” Obi-Wan knew, and yet he still wished. 

“Forces sacrifice, our duty to the Republic does. Demands much, it does,” Yoda said. “A life not suited for everyone, it is. No shame there is in that. Know this well, you do.” Obi-Wan did. He had walked away once, almost twice. Life outside of the Order had felt purposeless to him, lacklustre and empty. The Jedi were an order, yes, but they were more than that. They were a family and to abandon them was unthinkable. 

“Yes. I suppose I do.” Obi-Wan’s gaze drifted from the ceiling to settle on Yoda, his thoughts turning to his more recent issue. “I think he hates me,” He admitted softly. “If not hate, he at least despises me for my choice.” Obi-Wan closed his eyes, pulling an arm over them. “I thought that he might understand at least, or… never mind.” He trailed off with a sigh, feeling the familiar fatigue of both his muscles and his heart. 

Mace smiled sympathetically, invisible to Obi-Wan’s closed eyes. He settled a hand against Obi-Wan’s other arm. “You are very important to him. He feels very strongly about… anything really, but you especially.” There was no reproach in his tone, just observation. Anakin was one of their most powerful Jedi, but he struggled much in the other aspects of Jedi life. “He might not understand your choice, but I do not doubt your bond. I’m sure you will reconcile at some point.”

Obi-Wan jolted a bit as his arm twinged painfully. “Force…” He frowned, gently clenching and unclenching his arm. “I knew, to a degree, what would happen when we decided on this path. I still hoped… ah well, what’s done is done.”

****

Master Che had released him from her tender care a day after his transformation into himself with strict instruction to have a break for at least five days and to ‘please spend at least two weeks healthy, Obi-Wan, for my sake as well.’ Taking her advice, Obi-Wan had spent a day in his quarters before it felt too small and he had wandered to the gardens to read some datapads from the Council. It was there where he found Ahsoka watching over some younglings as they played in the fountains. He was glad she was getting some time away from the front while also feeling the familiar anger at the Separatists and the Republic for prolonging the war with stupid laws and regulations. 

“Master Obi-Wan!” She waved him over before turning back to the fountain, “Hey! No diving into the fountain, even you Ret.” The nautolan in question blushed a deeper purple before sliding into the fountain slowly. “Hey, Master!” Even with her happy face, there was that undercurrent of hurt awkwardness underneath. “Ugh… your face. Don’t ever shave again,” she remarked after a while.

That was the third time this day alone and he shrugged it off with a heatless glare. “Hello, Ahsoka.” He settled down beside her, arranging his robes to be more comfortable. “Ah… how have you been?” He opened after the pause went on just too long. 

She looked to her hands before leaning back, her arms spread behind her, “Alright. I mean, it was a shock of course, with you dying and… coming back, but… I’m happy you’re back.” Her honesty had always been refreshing after years of Anakin’s careful suspicion when the boy had grown older. “Anakin is… ah I’m sure he’s happy, but…” She trailed off, unable to truly explain her Master’s hurt anger.

“No worries, I understand,” Obi-Wan said, watching as a tholothian youngling swam laps around the fountain against a mon calamari, seemingly unaware that the other had lapped him at least twice. “I am sorry that you had to experience my death. I didn’t want to hurt you, any of you, but there seemed to be no other path.” The datapad shuffled awkwardly in his arms. “We contemplated telling you, but it was too dangerous already. Even now it didn’t work.” Obi-Wan sighs, seeming smaller than he was. “It’s not that I don’t trust you and Anakin, or anything like that. It was just… too dangerous.” Obi-Wan turned to Ahsoka, meeting her eyes. “I’m not asking for forgiveness. I just wanted to… explain, I guess.”

“I appreciate it,” Ahsoka began cautiously, thinking carefully on what to say. “I’m not mad, not really. I think I’m still just shocked and hurt.” She leaned back up, folding her arms on her knees, “And… I don’t think Anakin will be mad for long.” She seemed to want to say more, but she had no idea how to explain it.

Obi-Wan smiled wryly, “I hope not.” Obi-Wan shared a look with her before he took out his datapad and began to work once more, a quiet peacefulness enveloping their little section of the gardens.

[kenobis-kyber]

From the Stars

Well here we go again! Once again thank you for all the likes, reblogs and comments you guys are the life blood! Anyway here is Part 3!

Rated: M for injury, language, smut in later chapters.

Chapter 3

His mind lingered through darkness, not sure where he was, nor sure whatever space this was. He tried to center himself to see if there was a way out. Closing his eyes and breathing deeply he sensed something, a small ripple in the force calling to him. Opening his eyes he began to walk towards the direction he assumed it was coming from. The area around him started to turn grey, and as he walked forward it began to get lighter and lighter. He continued on not sure exactly where he was going but followed nonetheless. Before he knew it his being was consumed in light, the same light he saw before he died? Passed out? He wasn't sure.

Soon he felt a wetness on his face and strained to open his eyes. His vision was blurry at first but as it came to focus, he saw a large brown dog staring and panting at him. As he became more awake, a sharp pain shot through his body. He groaned loudly as he tried to sit up. The dog took off and Obi-wan laid back down feeling defeated. He looked at his surroundings trying to focus to see if he was in any danger. He couldn't sense any. He saw he was in some humble living quarters, with dark wood furniture and blue decor. There was some trinkets decorating the room giving it a feeling of comfort.

The dog came back wagging its tail, but he wasn’t alone. A woman stood there with concern in her oakey eyes. She was dressed in clothes that he wasn’t familiar with. His blue eyes filled with worry not knowing where he was or what happened. All he knew is pain and confusion. The woman kneeled down to be level with him.

“How are you feeling?,” she spoke in an accent he wasn’t familiar with but he understood all the same.

“Like I got ran over by bantha.” he said hoarsely.

She quirked an eyebrow “Bantha huh?” She cleared her throat. “My name is Vanessa and my dog, Hershey and I found you injured in the woods right behind my home there,” as she pointed out the door. He looked to where she was pointing at, seeing trees swaying in the distance. He tried to trigger any memory but alas none conjured. He looked back at the woman.

“Where am I? What planet?” he said his voice clearing up.

She drew back slightly confused. “Ummmm….Earth”

“Earth? What system is that in? Sorry I am not familiar with it,” his face came into contemplation seeing if it would come up.

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He probably hit his head too hard and would probably need a shrink, however she couldn’t shake the feeling that she should believe him. He realized he had forgotten his manners.

“I am sorry. I’ve been terribly rude. My name is Obi-wan Kenobi.” He said with a slight smile.

“Nice to meet you,” she said returning the smile. “Are you hungry? I made some breakfast. It’s nothing fancy, just some bacon, eggs and toast.”

His stomach growled giving the answer. “That would be great and it smells delicious”

“Alright I will be back.” She got up and made her way to the kitchen. He tried to sit him again and finally succeeded. Looking down he realized he was in his underwear and a shirt. Luckily there was a blanket protecting his modesty. He looked at the floor and saw the dog laying down just examining him. He quirked a smile. He had heard of such creatures, they weren’t common but had heard of their fierce loyalty. Before he knew it Vanessa came back with 2 plates, and sat them down on the coffee table before disappearing again. He stared at the plate and was about to eat. But he thought it would be rude and waited for her to return.

She returned with what he had assumed was some type of juice in 2 glasses. He waited until she sat down and gave her a small smile of gratitude.

“You didn't have to wait for me. I know you are starving.”

“Well I thought it would be improper to do so.”

“Go ahead.”

He picked up his fork and scooped some eggs to bring to his mouth. Not realizing how hungry he was he groaned at the taste and started shoveling food in his mouth, very un-jedi like. After he finished his plate he took a large drink of his orange juice.

“Thank you. That was delicious”

“Would you like some more?”

“If its not too much trouble, please?” he said holding his plate up to her.

She grabbed it and walked over to the kitchen. Next thing he knew the dog had walked over and began to lick his hand. Obi let out a chuckle and scratched the dogs head. Vanessa came back and saw the scene and smiled.

“Hershey, no begging go lay down you silly boy.” She placed the plate in front of the man. “Sorry he usually doesn't bug. But he seems to like you which is interesting. He is usually leery of strangers,” she said quirking an eyebrow in slight confusion.

“Well I will consider an honor.” he flashed a smile at her before he began to eat.

After they finished Vanessa cleaned up and came back into the living room.

“We should probably take a look at your wounds and make sure they are healing. Its been a few days.”

“I have been out that long?”

“Yes. I was worried you wouldn't wake up.” She said as she kneeled next to him and gripped the blanket. “May I?” she asked

“Well….I….how much have you seen of me?” He asked feeling a slight blush of embarrassment on his face.

“Nothing I haven't seen on a man before. I used to be a nurse…..” realizing that he had a worried expression, she corrected herself. “Except your most private areas.”

He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he wasn't that exposed. He nodded at her to silently give her permission. She moved the blanked down to his hips so as to not expose him too much. She lifted his shirt and began slowly removing the dressings to check. As she set to work he got to study her more closely. Her dark hair was a contrast to her pale skin giving her a dark glow. Her dark eyes attentive while she scanned his body. He admired her look of concentration and felt a warmth about her. Reaching out with the force he could sense an air of sadness about her, also some nervousness.

“They aren't looking too bad. You should be able to take a proper shower to wash away the grime.” She looked up at him meeting his bright blue eyes. They reminded her of a clear sky after a rain, refreshing and beautiful. He was her age but definitely looked wise beyond his ears, but there was also a bit off innocence as well. He smiled at her.

“Thank you for helping me. I know it isn't easy bring strange injured men into your house. Especially one who doesn't know which planet he is on.”

She chuckled a bit. “Cmon I will show you the bathroom where you can freshen up.”

Standing she extended her hand to help him off the couch. Slowly he got to his feet with a small grunt. He stood as his full height and realized he was a good 4 inches taller than her. He walked slowly behind her, she stopped the at the linen closet and grabbed a fresh towel. She handed it to him and showed him the restroom.

“Give me a minute so I can find some clothes that you can wear.”

“Ummm...out of curiosity. What happened to my robes?” he said grabbing her hand before she could walk away.

She let out a sigh, “I am so sorry but I had to throw them out they were too badly damaged and I had to cut them away to get to your injuries. I hope you understand.” Looking at him with concern as to what he would say.

“It is OK. I completely understand. I just have a bit of attachment to them. But no matter what’s done is done.” he replied while giving her hand a squeeze to reassure her that she did the right thing.

He let go of her hand and she gave him a warm smile. Walking away to her room, she went rummaging through her closet where she produced one of her larger pair of sweats and another t shirt that was too big for her but looked like it could fit him. She walked back to the bathroom and saw him patiently waiting for her.

“Here. This is the best I can do.” she said with a shrug.

“I am grateful.” he answered his blue eyes twinkling

“Alright Ill leave you to it. Ill be in the living room waiting to find out more about you”

He nodded in response and shut the door. He looked around the bathroom studying it. Definitely more primitive than he was used to. He turned on the shower and stripped before getting in the water. It stung his injuries but soothed them at the same time. He let out a groan enjoying the feeling of getting clean.

Vanessa sat in the living room thinking to herself. What kind of name is Obi-Wan? And how could he not know what planet he was on? And those strange clothes. But he seems nice enough, but so were other men. She shook her head at the last thought, for some reason she trusted him. She looked down at her dog.

“What do you think boy? Should I trust him?” He began to wag his tail. “I guess that means yes?” she said with a slight laugh. Her thoughts were interrupted a few moments later by the bathroom door opening. She looked up and saw him looking fresh and clean. The injuries were still visible but more subdued.

“You look a lot better.”

“Thank you. I appreciate every thing you have done.”

She nodded. “You’re welcome.” She stared at him for a bit more before clearing her throat. “Why don't we go out to the porch to talk. Its a beautiful day.”

He smiled in agreement and followed her outside. They sat and talked about their lives stopping only when she got up to make some lunch for the both of them and continued. He told her everything from his childhood to being a Jedi to how he got here. She told him things too, but he could sense that she was holding back on some things. He could have easily probed her mind to figure it out but he didn't want to, it didn’t seem right. Towards the end of the talk he felt the dog put his head on his leg. Vanessa giggled.

“He likes you.” he chuckled

“I guess so.” he said with a smile and scratched the dogs head. Hershey’s tail wagging rapidly as he did so.

“Listen I don't know how we are going to get you back or how long you are going to be here, but I think it is a good idea to go to the store and get you some basics.”

“I couldn't ask you to do that. You have already been kind enough as it is.” he said while shaking his head

She put her hand on his knee and laughed. “What are you going to do? Walk around naked?”

He blushed. “I suppose I will take you up on that offer.”

“Good.” she said removing her hand from his knee. They both sat back and looked at the stars in silence. Obi looked up to the stars trying to see if he knew any of them. He sighed realizing he didn't. Who knows if he will ever go back. In the meantime he better make the best of what he has here.

An hour or so later she yawned. She stretched her limbs and turned her attention to Obi. “I guess I better turn in. Let me show you to your room. It'll be much more comfortable than the sofa.”

He followed her into the house and to the bedroom she spoke of. It was cozy looking. He turned to her.

“Thank you once again and sleep well.”

“You’re very welcome. Help yourself to anything you may need. Mi Casa es su casa.”

“come again?” he said a bit confused.

“It’s Spanish for my house is your house.”

“Ah OK. Thank you. Good night.”

“Good night.” she turned and left down the hallway. He heard her door close. He settled into the bed and before he knew it sleep overtook him. And he fell into a dreamless slumber.

Tagging: @princessxkenobi @supermoschi @ayamenimthiriel @blondekel77

[nimsajlove]

The new ones

Brothers-AU  Ao3

Hug resisted the urge to tap nervously with one foot. He had trained so hard to get this under control! Crick next to him suppressed a smile every time he looked over at him, the two had only known each other for a few hours. "Welcome home.", the pilot called from the front and the two shinys felt how they were leaving hyperspace and looked curiously through the cockpit outside. In front of them lay the cruiser, quiet and sublime.

"General! The shuttle just left hyperspace.” Ahsoka nodded and climbed off the fighter she was working on, some of the skills Anakin Skywalker had taught her were really useful! And it had its own charm when you could patch the ships back together yourself. She was just putting the tools together a little and was still looking around for her jedi robe when Rex came into the hangar and pressed a rag into her hands. "Ah, thank you.", she smiled and wiped her hands clean, her brown robe lay over his arm and she took it with clean fingers. "It was still on the bridge.", the clone smiled and a little confused, the young Jedi pushed the toolbox closer to the fighter. "Yet again? I'm sorry.” She really was sorry, she had rarely worn her robe during the beginning of the war and since she tried to at least have it with her, she left it everywhere and looked for it practically all the time. Usually it was Rex or Jesse who then picked it up and brought it to her. Rex was about to reply, when the hangar opened and the shuttle floated inside. Immediately his eyebrows drew together. "Do you really think it's a good idea, to bring these kids in here?", he muttered and Ahsoka shrugged her shoulders a little, he was kinda right. Somehow she would have to explain the story with the chips to the two new clones, and she had no idea how! Still, it was good that they were here. She had spent many years with her brothers and at some point picked up the one or other story. Of accidents, victories, losses and cadets who disappeared. The men weren't stupid, and neither was she. “Shaak Ti thinks they would fit in well. Give them a chance!", she encouraged him and pushed her shoulder against his, grinning even that she didn't really feel like laughing, that she swallowed quickly. She had read the reports about the two new clones and Master Shaak Ti was right, the two men were better off with her than in the great mass of the other battalions.

A small favor, requested from Plo Koon, had been enough to sort out clones in Kamino for them that did not quite meet the standard. That only suited her, the clones who had already had to fight their way through on Kamino had mostly proven to be extremely clever and she loved to see how the individual personalities blossomed. The shuttle shut down the drive and fell silent, then the ramp came down and at first the pilots came towards her. "General.", greeted one of the two and she returned the greeting. The other glanced at the fighter instead and shook his head. "You can't fix that anymore." Ahsoka raised her eyebrows and grinned, arms crossed over her chest and with a challenging look, with that she looked much younger than she was and not like a Jedi at all. "Give me 5 hours.", she challenged him snippily and he laughed. "Good, one more dessert for me.", he laughed and nodded to her again before hurrying after his brother. Ahsoka was happy, most of the men had known her for a long time and it was good to just be treated like everyone else from time to time. When she turned her gaze to the front again, the two shinys had already got out and were standing near the shuttle, unsure of where to go without a supervisor. Immediately she came over to them, Rex right behind her and still thoughtful. She had already internalized the names, Hug had a fine burn scar on his chin. After years of dealing with the clones, Ahsoka couldn't miss it!

 Hug saw the two figures as soon as they started moving. Suddenly his nervousness reached a new high and his fingertips were tapping restlessly on the helmet under his arm. Crick rolled his eyes but remained silent. However, he too seemed tense. Except for the jedi master Shaak Ti, they didn't knew any of the generals, but the clone in front of them was nothing new to them. Anyone who had ever caught a glimpse of the reports on the 501st remembered the captain. There was only one thing, this wasn't the battalion in blue... Only at second glance did Hug understand, that the rich bronze reflected the skin of the Togruta in front of them. "Crick and Hug, right?", asked the young woman, almost still a girl, and smiled openly. Both nodded. "Yes Sir.", they answered and the two superiors exchanged a quick look, Hug didn't knew exactly what it was but they seemed to agree on something, because the captain nodded and disappeared. The new general stayed behind. "I'm Ahsoka Tano, I hope Master Ti didn't tear you out of somewhere.", the slim figure smiled and turned her full attention back to them, her face slightly contracted in concern. Hug's fingers tingled, it was more than uncomfortable to stand so still. Crick glanced over at him briefly and took over speaking, Hug didn't knew if it would do any better. "No Sir, we are happy to be with you.", he explained and General Tano's face suddenly lit up, making her look even younger in an incredible way. "Good, the 332nd is happy to have you." Although the words were warm, the realization made Hug cold. He hadn't heard of Ahsoka Tano yet, but the older clones in Kamino, who were in regular contact with their brothers at the front, spoke of the 332nd very often in the last few months. Nothing particularly bad, but little good either.

“Come on, I'll show you where you're staying. It's important to know your home well.”, the Jedi smiled, then she led the way and they followed her out of the hangar. Apparently the cruisers were no less busy than Kamino, soldiers were everywhere in the corridors and greeted their general. It just wasn't really like they where supposed to do with the way they laughed, nodded or patted the woman on the back. Woman? Girl? Hug couldn't really make up his mind, the Jedi was a little smaller than the clones, but not that small either! The wide robe obscured her figure and Hug did not yet know exactly, what to think of such a young leader. When they passed the canteen and General Tano gave them a brief overview, he caught his fingers again as they nervously drummed on his helmet and forced them to remain still. His mind was so focused on the things he'd heard about the 332nd that he couldn't keep a word from the general. That started well! Only at the quarters did he get a grip on himself and listened a little more closely. "Home sweet home.", she smiled and instructed the two men to go ahead. All berths appeared occupied, except for the last two in the back. As the two men went to their bunks, the general suddenly bent down and sighed and picked up something, a helmet. Shaking her head, she laid it on a bunk by the door, the small smile on her lips made no sense! Leave a helmet on the floor, nobody smiled about it on Kamino!

She looked up and met his confused gaze before he could lower it. "Don't blame Mad.", she said and just sat on the floor between Cricks and Hug's bunks. Jedi, a general, on the floor... Crick gave him a doubtful look, good. Then at least he wasn't the only one.

"Do you two still have questions?", she asked and seemed to lean back, relaxed, supporting herself on her hands. Hug hesitated; his strange questions were never well received! Crick seemed to have less inhibitions and started. "Captain Rex is no longer with the 501st?" Hug rolled his eyes, of course that was Crick's biggest concern! General Tano let out her breath in amusement, but didn't seem surprised. “No, he was so free to join my command. Which I really appreciate!“, she emphasized and Crick sank into thought, now Hug would probably have to ask his questions himself. "Don't worry Hug, just ask.", she suddenly demanded and Hug looked up, was he that obvious? "Your head is quite loud.", she grinned and it looked so oddly out of place compared to General Ti. "I heard things on Kamino..." He broke off when the Jedi's face darkened and she straightened up again, arms crossed over her chest and eyes directed downwards. "Of course you heard things...", she muttered and looked up again, she seemed more sad than angry. "Go on.", she asked when Hug hesitated further. The request loosened his tongue again, even if he would mess it up with his general on the first day. “Well, some of the men said the 332nd would be a bad deal. A unit for those who can no longer fight. Who is too weak, ends up here.", he confessed to her the rumors that wandered among the clones on Kamino. Ahsoka Tano's face didn't relax, but she tried a smile. “I can guess where that came from. What is the best place to start for you... We'll fight like any battalion. I have brought in very capable and experienced men, each of whom is able to fight a battle without me. Unfortunately, I don't like to hang around the back and just hand out commands. I also take care of my men, but I don't want puppets that never say anything. The rumors probably broke out after the trouble with Fives.", she mumbled softly and Hug perked up. He'd heard the name a couple of times. "The traitor who defied General Ti?", Crick asked, Hug was glad that the other clone had quickly made the right connection too. His stomach felt queasy when General Tano nodded. “Yes, I brought Fives over here. He's saved my life time and time again, so it's only fair if I do the same for him. He's part of the family.“, she explained openly and there was a deep passion in her voice, Hug believed her every word. Though Shaak Ti had never spoken of the clones like that. For a moment everyone was quiet, Crick seemed to weigh the general's words and Hug tried to rearrange his thoughts. "But officially he is defective.", he followed up, General Tano nodded and now her face no longer looked sad. She seemed angry, he immediately closed his mouth again. But when she spoke there was so much calm in her voice that the contrast to her gaze was almost painful. “Yes, it was rated that way on Kamino and in the Senate. I judge differently. Droids have defects, living things don't.” Something in Hug's head finally snapped into the empty space, the question of why he had been sent here. “We weren't just divided up. You requested us?", he asked carefully and her face smoothed again, she nodded. “Yes, Master Shaak Ti shares part of my view and thought that you have a better chance here. Without someone to report every little thing.” Now she smiled again and seemed very pleased with herself.

 Crick scratched his neck, so was it a collection of faulty soldiers? He knew that it had not been easy for him and Hug on Kamino, he learned this pretty fast about the other. Hug could never sit still, his fingers were constantly moving! Even now he could see it out of the corner of his eye. Himself... numbers just didn't made sense to him! Without one of his brothers he would not have survived longer than the age of 4 or 5, he knew exactly how sorting out worked on Kamino, especially at a young age. "And what faults do the others have here?", he snapped, briefly forgetting that the girl in front of him was his new general. He wanted to take the words back immediately, but she seemed to be thinking seriously. “Nobody here has faults, after all, each of the men is very good at what he does. Hevy has a hard time holding back his strength, but that's okay. Mad leaves everything scattered around, but never in his life would he simply forget something important. And Tilt…” She nodded to a bunk in the upper row, a datapad was there. “He's got a bet with Kix, who'll get the stupidest injury during the week. But hey, that's how they both are.” A gentle smile made her face shine and Crick wondered briefly what she had seen to enjoy this simple life so much. "Then why are we here?", Hug asked and Crick nodded. All the men here were experienced, what did the general want with two newcomers now? Because he had to give her one thing, her casualty figures were among the lowest in the last few battles. “Hug, stop cramping your fingers like that. That makes me nervous.", was her first answer and Crick swung his head around, in fact Hug had clasped his helmet unnecessarily tight and now loosened his grip, immediately his fingers returned to the soft clatter on the helmet and the clone looked everything else than happy about it. "Hey, it's okay. I know that Master Shaak Ti noticed that you have problems with all the sitting and standing still. But I heard that you didn't make a single mistake deciphering codes. I think it's good, I can use someone who can concentrate on one thing that way.", she smiled and Hug visibly breathed a sigh of relief, Crick wondered what he was worried about.

“And that you, Crick, can't read anything out of the whole tangle of numbers is okay too, there is a reason why I avoid decoding. I can't, so I prefer to leave it. But! I saw how well you did with the whole mess of cables!” The first praise in what felt like an eternity caused a warm feeling in his chest, suddenly it didn't matter how young the general in front of him was! She had seen what he could do!

 Hug was infinitely relieved that there was someone who didn’t ask him to sit quietly! He and Crick just smiled briefly at each other, until a fine squeak was audible. General Tanos comlink. "Sir, I need to get Hevy and Cutup to the medbay. They tried Hardcase's special stunt.", came an unfamiliar voice, but it seemed familiar to the general and she froze for a moment before grimacing. "Of course they have..." Then she hesitated and rubbed her face once, Hug put the expression somewhere between tired and restless. "How long has it been since the shuttle arrived?", she then asked and now the other clone laughed. Hug was not quite sure how one could laugh so openly at his general, but he thought he was slowly understanding. "It’s about the bet with Gut, right? Good luck, you still have exactly three hours.” Cursing and laughing at the same time, the girl got to her feet and cut the connection. Then she grinned. "Come with me."

It was harder than expected to quickly follow a Jedi down the hallways. How was he supposed to keep pace in a battle? They way led them back to the hangar, now that he already knew it, the fighter, not from the republic, could not be overlooked. “We picked something up and it would be a shame to just let it rot. Besides, the data is encrypted, so it can only be interesting.” While she spoke, she took off the wide robe and simply hung it over one of the wings of the ship. Hug had to smile. Then a datapad was shoved into his hands. She crawled onto the ship and put her hands in one of the open flaps. Crick stood next to him, a little surprised. "Come on, we don't have much time left to save my dessert.", the girl grinned down at the two of them and for the first time in his life, Hug had the feeling that he belonged.

[nevertheless-moving]

Star Wars Time Travel AU #27 Part Two - Suicidal Misunderstanding AU

Continuation of this 

By the time the hovercar finally pulled into the temple, Obi-Wan’s tremors had mostly quieted. Cody awkwardly manhandled him out the vehicle door. Obi-Wan didn’t resist; he mostly seemed to be dealing with the overwhelming situation by refusing to open his eyes. 

“Master?” Cody absently noticed that Anakin’s robe was tied modestly, with no other layers peaking out underneath; wherever he was before Cody called, he had left half-dressed and in a hurry.

Obi-Wan started shaking again, burying his face into Cody’s pauldron.

“Yeesh- you’re really a wreck,” Anakin observed bluntly but not without sympathy. “Honestly, you’re taking all the fun out of the situation. What’s the point of getting drunk if you act so pathetic that your smug padawan can’t even mock you afterwards?” Anakin hesitantly laid a hand on his master’s shoulder.

It was uncertain whether it was the words or the touch that succeeding in garnering a positive response, but finally Kenobi seemed to pull himself together. With a deep breath, the high general straightened up, opening his eyes to look Skywalker square in the face. He continued to hold eye-contact, expression gradually shifting from steely resolve to open faced delight.

“ANAKIN!” Obi-Wan flung himself at his former padawan with obvious joy. “OH ANAKIN! IT’S YOU! IT’S REALLY YOU!” They staggered with the force of Obi-Wan’s enthusiastic bear hug.

“Were you expecting someone else?” Anakin managed to get out, shocked by his Master’s uncharacteristically loud and emotional greeting, as well as slightly breathless from the intense grip. Obi-Wan didn’t answer; he just held Anakin tighter. 

“Man, what did you drink?” he tried to ask instead, deciding to return the hug fully and deal with any later consequences later.

Obi-Wan shifted back enough to make eye-contact again. His brow furrowed in thought. “Just some Jawa beer to wash down the spice doses.”

“SPICE DOSES?!?” Cody and Anakin both shouted in alarm. Anakin grabbed at Obi-Wan’s face, examining the man’s pupils before pulling back his lip to look at his gums. “You don’t look like you’re dosed up. And the only thing you smell like is middling quality alcohol.” he concluded doubtfully. “Are you sure that’s what you took?”

Obi-Wan stopped to think again “The Jawas that sold it seemed pretty confident. I would be more likely to entertain the possibility that I was ripped off were you not standing here with me.”

“I- Wwhere- When would you have even bought spice from Jawas?” Anakin asked, exchanging bewildered looks with Commander Cody. 

“They seem to like stopping by my hut, even when I don’t have anything to steal or buy. I suppose there’s not many opportunities for sentient contact out on in the wastes,” He mused.

Anakin only looked more confused, reasonably confident that he would have known if Obi-Wan owed a home on Tatooine. 

“Heart rate was slightly elevated to normal on the ride over, sir.” Cody added dutifully. “Well within average human normal, and not consistent with spice use or alcohol poisoning.”

“His presence in the force is... strange,” Anakin said while patting Obi-Wan soothingly on the back. “I’d have to take him to the healers to confirm, but my best guess is he's having a bad reaction to something he drank. There are certain alcohols that can cause side-effects and unexpected reactions in force-sensitives. Though I can’t believe that after all the lectures he���s given me, he would be stupid enough to drink one.”

“He...did have an unknown mixed drink a bartender gave him on the house,” Cody said with a sinking sense of failure. “Could this have been a targeted attack?”

Skywalker clearly looked pissed at the idea “If it was, then that bartender committed an act of treason.” Only the fact that he was still supporting Ob-Wan’s weight (in what was rapidly approaching the second-longest hug they had ever shared) kept him from taking command of the troopers to interrogate a bartender. 

“Sir, do you want me to accompany you to medical and make a report?” Cody asked.

Anakin hesitated, thinking while Obi-Wan rested his chin on his former padawan’s shoulder. As amusing as the idea was in theory, he didn’t really want to humiliate a vulnerable, emotional Obi-Wan by dragging him through the heart of the temple to be gawked at and judged.

“No.” He finally decided, “Even if he somehow managed to miss the fact that he was being poisoned in a civilian bar, he’s more than capable of processing toxins on his own, and I’m more than capable of monitoring him overnight. We’ve got a full field med-kit in our quarters- I can take a blood sample tonight, and ask him what he wants to do with it once he sobers up in the morning.”

Obi-Wan readjusted slightly as Anakin shrugged, “It’s also possible that he just, you know, overdid it drinking, which isn’t anyone’s business but his own. I mean, he hasn’t exactly had the opportunity to cut loose when he’s a High General all the time; his tolerance might not have been where he was expecting.”

Cody saluted in acknowledgement of the command decision. He ruthlessly quashed any doubts, reminding himself that General Kenobi had, in fact, asked for General Skywalker by name, and Skywalker was likely to better informed on Jedi responses to alcohol. 

“Master, let’s get you to our quarters so you can sleep this off,” Anakin reluctantly pulled back from was now officially the longest hug Obi-Wan had ever given him. “Can you walk by yourself, or do you want me to help?”

The unusually peaceful smile Obi-Wan was wearing started to slide away. “Our quarters? Our quarters were destroyed. There’s nothing to find there now but ash,” he stated, as if gently reminding Anakin of a known tragedy.

Cody, still standing by, sucked in a breath.

“Besides,” he continued mater of factly, “You were barely ever in them at this point anyway. Even for a dream, it would be a lot more realistic for me to go to my quarters and sit in the dark trying to memorize casualty lists, while you’re out somewhere unknown, carousing with Padme presumably.”

“Carousing with Padme?! I - why would you- Master!” Anakin fumbled out, addressing the last point first before processing the rest.

“And is that seriously what you do when you have time off? Just sit and memorize the names of everyone who died during the war? That’s - that’s seriously sad Obi-Wan, we are talking about that when you sober up.” Not giving Obi-Wan the chance to defend his extremely sad hobby, Anakin plowed on. 

“And our quarters are fine, I know that- uh- I know I haven’t been around a lot, but I was just in there earlier today, they look practically the same as they did when I was a padawan. Whatever you saw, here and now - I promise you - here and now the temple is fine. We’ll talk about your vision or your hallucination once you sober up, I promise.” Anakin ended emphatically, gripping Obi-Wans shoulders and staring directly into his eyes.

The miniature rant seemed to work. 

“That sounds nice,” Obi-Wan said smiling, “I would love to see our old rooms- I know it didn’t really matter either way to you, but I always took comfort in the fact that you never bothered with requesting a new room after you were knighted. I know, I know that between how rarely we were temple based and Padme, it probably just didn’t cross your mind, but it was nice to have some tangible reminder of our connection, even as the war and the growing darkness stole everything else.”

Anakin truly didn’t know how to respond, the raw emotional honesty somehow even more painful than the crushing hug. Obi-Wan reached up to smooth back his hair like he was still a child. He then walked a few steps to face the extremely out-of-depth Commander Cody.

Not hesitating, Obi-Wan pulled Cody into a tender hug which he couldn’t help but lean into. The commander brought his arms up and around but hesitated to actually make contact, instead ghosting his hands along the general’s back.

“I always wanted to do that,” Obi-Wan whispers into Cody’s ear. “I can never thank you enough for all you’ve done; I never would have gotten through the war without you. I wish...I wish I could tell you that I consider you one of the best of men, and one of the best of friends. But... I can’t. Even if I abandoned my last mission to search you out, even if I succeeded in finding you, you would never allow me close enough to do this.”

Cody’s heart is racing, trying to decode the General’s words over the ringing white noise in his ears. He stops breathing entirely as Obi-Wan shifts to press their foreheads together, allowing him to focus entirely on the feel of the general’s breath, the sight of tears trickling again from red-rimmed eyes. “Goodbye, Cody.” he finally exhales.

And with that he turned and walked away, not looking back.

Next (Part Three)

[disneydreamlights]

Across the Stars: Chapter 5

AO3 | FFN

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Summary: Tensions between the Separatists and the Republic are climbing as the Senate debates whether there is need for an army. Anakin Skywalker, Senator of Tatooine, has recently returned to Coruscant to speak against its formation, resulting in an assassination attempt that forces him to reunite with long time friends Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and the newly knighted Padme Naberrie for his own protection. [Anidala]

(Or, an Attack of the Clones Roleswap AU)

Having left Mos Espa and Beru behind, Anakin had taken Padmé to the small moisture farm that the Lars family stayed at. It was a small underground building in the middle of the desert, surrounded by multiple machines. Anakin was certainly right about one thing. Nobody would be looking for them here. "I know it's not much, but I figured it'd be as good a place to hide out as any."

"Don't worry, Ani, it doesn't have to be much. It's your home." She knew that much. She'd only briefly looked around, but there were all sorts of holos of Anakin, Shmi, and their step family on the walls.

"I don't know if I'd say that." He rubbed the back of his head. "I don't have a problem with my step family, but it doesn't really feel like home." Padmé waited for him to elaborate. He didn't.

"What's stopping it?" Padmé asked after a moment more of silence. "Everywhere you look, there are tiny hints of you everywhere."

"We've only lived with them a couple of years, even if we've known Cliegg and Owen for a lot longer," Anakin answered, though it was clear it was at least a bit of a deflection from what he really wanted to say. "It makes it hard to adjust at times."

"Where did you stay then?" Padmé asked.

"On Coruscant. Sometimes with my mom, sometimes with whatever Senator was supposed to be watching over and teaching me." Anakin gave a weak laugh. "I'm amazed Bail still tolerates me. We didn't have the best of starts."

"You didn't? What happened?"

"I'm not telling you anything about that unless you tell me about Yoda's robes." It was clear Anakin was teasing, but Padmé pouted.

"Senator Skywalker–"

"I only deal in even exchanges, Knight Naberrie." Anakin smiled. But she still wasn't ready to embarrass herself in front of Anakin quite like that yet. "Thought so. What do I have to do to get that story out of you?"

"You can't." Padmé crossed her arms smugly. "No story is worth trading that knowledge for."

"Can't blame a guy for trying?"

Padmé laughed. "I absolutely can, Senator." She watched as Anakin stood up, walking over to a small fridge in the corner. "Looking for something?"

"I figure we should have something to drink while we're catching up, officially this time." Anakin brought over two cups of some kind of blue liquid. "Blue milk, it's popular on Tatooine since water can be hard to come by."

Padmé smiled, taking the glass. "Thank you." She took a sip, enjoying the refreshing, light, sweet flavor of the milk. Different than she was used to, but far from bad. "I'd imagine that's what the water farms are for?"

Anakin nodded. "They produce water for the people who can't afford it. We're looking to set up moisture farms much more widespread, as part of an effort to clean up Tatooine. It won't be easy, but certainly worthwhile."

She nodded. "It sounds like you've got a lot of plans."

"Somebody has to make life better around this dust bowl. Freeing the slaves and removing Hutt control was just the first step of many, and hopefully if a war does start, it won't stop us from continuing our efforts to improve the planet." He pulled up a chair next to her, facing her rather than the table. "But that's not the only thing I have plans for?"

"Oh?" Padmé asked, more than a little curious at where the Senator was going with this.

Anakin smiled. "I've been making plans for years for exactly what I want for my life after I'm done as Senator. Ever since I was a kid if I'm honest." His hand found hers, and Padmé closed hers around it in a squeeze, hoping he'd take it as an invitation to continue. "I want to do what I can to help clean the planet, but then once Tatooine is fixed, I want to retire with the people I love most, so I can always be with them."

Padmé found herself smiling. "A noble goal, Ani." His nickname fell from her tongue easily. "Who are these people you want to retire with?"

"My mom, Cliegg, Owen, Beru, Obi-Wan if he can be persuaded to ever leave the Jedi." He named her master so casually, it shocked her. She hadn't realized they were that close. "There's one more person who's more important than all of them though, who I'd give anything for if she chose to join me." His hand danced along her arm, taunting her with the answer that a part of her wanted more than anything and a part of her did not want to hear.

Padmé watched waiting for him to elaborate, to tell her it was somebody from Tatooine, Coruscant, anybody really besides his true answer. When he didn't continue, she asked. "Who?"

Rather than answer, Anakin leaned in, hesitant and unsure, and for a moment, Padmé found that same, uncomfortable tension building in her heart, urging her forward. She leaned in on instinct, following his lead as her eyes closed and their lips met. Her heart beat rapidly, and she felt nothing short of elated at the kiss. It was chaste, sweet, and so very Anakin that she couldn't help but be lost in the sensation for a moment.

But the world kept turning, and it wasn't long before her sense returned and she turned away, unable to look at Anakin. "I shouldn't have done that." She was a Jedi. Returning his kiss, his affections, it was doing nothing more than leading him on. Anakin deserved better than that.

"Sorry." She looked up to see the torn, yet sad look on Anakin's face. There were no signs of regret, but at the fact that he'd been kissed and then rejected, he did look pretty embarrassed. "I'll uh...take you to your room, so you can settle in. Assuming you don't have to look after me the entire time."

"I-I don't, no." She couldn't believe herself. Except she absolutely could. This was Anakin she was talking about. He was so easy to let herself go with, to love.

He led the way out of the room and down to another one, opening the door. "Maybe we can find something to do tomorrow?"

"Yeah. We'll figure it out." Whereas conversation both on the trip and earlier had gone so easily between them, now it was hesitant and uncomfortable. Padmé definitely wasn't happy with herself for causing that. "Good night, Anakin."

"I'll see you tomorrow." He closed the door, leaving Padmé to settle in as she buried her face in the pillow.

That night, she dreamed of Anakin, and the kiss they shared.

-x-

"You want to hear about the inner workings of the Senate?" Anakin asked, looking at her surprised as he was working on the mechanisms inside the vaporator. Aside from the slight awkwardness, both of them were attempting to forget about the kiss they'd shared upon arrival at the moisture farm, or at least Padmé was, and so she was scrambling to find any topic of conversation she could for them to discuss. "Why?"

"I suppose I'm just curious. I've always wanted to know, and while the Chancellor teaches me some things, having different perspectives is always good." She knew the Chancellor had some ideals that she didn't fully agree with, and she wanted to see if Anakin's were perhaps ones she agreed with more, or if a similar partial agreement would come between them as well.

Anakin smiled, glad to talk about his job for a change. "Well, as Senator of Tatooine, I have to make sure that the Senate attempts to listen to what would be best for us here." His smile changed into a smirk quickly. "Sometimes it's easy, sometimes I have to use...aggressive negotiations to get what I want."

"Anakin!"

"None of the Senators have been seriously injured...I have been arrested twice though over it." Padmé stared at him for a moment, trying to take in that last bit.

"You what?"

"I'm joking, I promise." Anakin smiled. "Well...about the arrested part."

"Has anybody told you you make a terrible senator." Padmé couldn't help but laugh. Even the idea of him as a senator seemed a little strange. "I know you care about Tatooine, but…"

"But it's hard to imagine a senator from somebody as rash as me, right?" There was a twinkle of amusement in the senator's eyes, almost as though he was pleased that she was poking fun at him. "Truth be told, if I was from anywhere other than Tatooine, somebody probably would have voted me out, or at least insisted that my mom take back over. But the people here love that about me, no matter what, I'll get results."

"That's not how it's supposed to work." Or at least she was pretty sure that was not how any government was supposed to work.

"It doesn't matter if it's not how it's supposed to work, what matters is that Tatooine's a better place because of it. I'm sure the Republic is too." He smiled. "I'm sure you've heard all about it from the Chancellor. He wanted to take me under his wing and teach me all about politics. I'm pretty sure now he's glad he didn't so he doesn't have to be responsible for me."

Padmé frowned slightly, actually, the Chancellor hadn't mentioned that. Then again, why would he? Palpatine knew that Padmé and Anakin were friends. Talking bad about one of her closest friends outside of the Jedi because he was causing a bit of chaos in the senate wasn't likely. "He hasn't, but probably out of respect, he knows I care about you. He's the one who told me about your request for Jedi help."

"Guess I owe the old man some thanks." Anakin smiled. "Even if he and I don't always get along."

"Of course."

They fell into an easy silence, enjoying the other's company as Anakin continued his work. She found her eyes occasionally straying towards him, finding it difficult to look away despite knowing she should.

"Can you tell me about your missions?" It was both a command, and a request, one that took Padmé a moment to process.

"Huh?"

"Not all your missions are spent protecting cranky senators who want to do their job, right?" Anakin smiled, indicating he was mostly joking. "I'm not saying you have to tell me the specifics, just give me an idea of what they're like."

Padmé couldn't help but smile at that. "You're right about that, Ani. A lot of times we'll be sent to various planets just to do what we can to keep the peace. Obi-Wan and I are sent out most of the time when they want to keep things peaceful. We have a reputation for finding trouble at the temple, but both of us are good at helping others find peace without having to pull out a weapon."

"You mean you don't just whip out your lightsabers whenever you want something?"

"Of course not, we're peacekeepers, lightsabers aren't f–" She watched him smirk only to come to the realization that he was teasing. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Me? Never my lady. If you were to ever find out I was teasing you, I'd end up much better acquainted with the sword end of a lightsaber than I'd ever asked." It was hard to take him seriously as it became clear he was trying to keep himself from laughing at her reaction.

"You are, aren't you?" But she found herself grinning too, easily brought up by his joking tone and attitude.

Anakin smirked and didn't respond, and she threw her lightsaber hilt at him, watching as he caught it easily. "I was right, you tried to kill me."

"It wasn't even on, Anakin. A lightsaber isn't dangerous if you don't have the blade out. It's just a piece of metal." And a Kyber Crystal, but the existence of the crystal inside the lightsaber was a secret that if Anakin didn't know, she didn't want him to. The idea of him in the Senate with a lightsaber was definitely not one she wanted to see become a reality.

"So you say, maybe I could've gotten killed." Despite his joke, the saber did seem to have captured his attention as he looked it over and pressed the button, watching as the beam part of the saber appeared from the hilt. "I can't compliment the execution with knowledge, but I can say it's perfect, just like everything you do."

Padmé wasn't quite sure how to respond when he handed the sword back to her.

-x-

"Obi-Wan's a gifted negotiator, he could talk down anybody into doing what he says if he was asked." Despite the awkward pause in the conversation they had found earlier with Anakin's flirts, they'd quickly resumed the easy banter from earlier in the day for Padmé to tell Anakin about her missions like he'd asked. Which was proving a good idea as things started to calm down for the night.

"And he passed those methods onto you?" Anakin asked. Padmé nodded. "I'm guessing that's helped out with more than a few missions?"

"It's probably a huge part of why the galaxy isn't involved in all out war." Maybe she was being a little praise heavy for her master, but Obi-Wan was her brother, the one who taught her everything she knew, her idol. "He and I have been offworld so often trying to negotiate with the Separatists ever since I got knighted."

Anakin frowned as soon as she said that. "You don't think something like having you guys out of the way could contribute to starting the war sooner?"

Padmé paused. It...was a possibility, even if it wasn't one she'd want to acknowledge, but no. That couldn't be right. The Chancellor chose her and Obi-Wan because they already had a relationship with Anakin. "I don't think so. The Senate should still be in negotiations on their own right now, and we don't have an army. The other Jedi should be enough to keep everything under control. Obi-Wan and I might be the best, but we're not the only ones."

"Right, of course." Anakin sighed, but she wasn't sure if he was reassured.

"Ani…"

"I know, everything will be fine. I should have more faith in Mon and Bail and my mom. It's just...hard not being there." He shook his head, resolving himself. "I'll try not to think about it." Padmé looked at him, doubtful. "Care to be my distraction for now?" She must have looked confused, because he elaborated moments later. "Teach me how to use a Lightsaber."

"Anakin, they're sacred weapons to the Jedi, not toys." She shook her head. Sure, when they were all Younglings and Padawans doing exercises there would be competitions for fun, but those were a part of training. It didn't make her weapon a tool for a game.

Anakin frowned. "I'm not treating it like one. I'm not asking you to give me your lightsaber, I'm asking to know how to use the basic forms. They can be applied to other weapons with a similar structure. It wouldn't hurt for me to know."

He had a point, and it was likely to keep his mind off of the goings of the Senate if he was exhausted from learning the different forms. "We'll start with Form I." Anakin's eyes widened, as though he hadn't expected his request to work, but didn't say anything. Padmé looked around for a moment before tossing Anakin a walking stick, which he caught easily. It'd be long enough. "The first form is simple, and almost all others are based on it. If you can't learn this, you won't be able to learn the others."

"And you use it?" Anakin asked.

"On occasion. I favor Forms III and IV." She smiled. "If I do keep teaching you, you won't learn those for a while. And definitely not IV while we're in here." Ataru required too much movement, and the idea of Anakin learning something like that in such a small area sounded like a terrible idea.

Anakin laughed. "I get the idea, too advanced. So, Master Naberrie, show me the basics." And she did, running through the poses and positions, watching Anakin try to emulate them himself and move fluidly beneath each position.

If she was honest, he wasn't bad. Considering it was his first time learning any of the forms, he was picking up on it with surprising ease. She made note of any mistakes before stepping up to him. "Your third pose has your 'lightsaber' pointed too low." She had him re-enter the pose and stood behind him, before she got to work at adjusting the pose. When she touched him the first time, Anakin stiffened at the contact, and though she went to pull his shoulders back, she couldn't find it in her to move. The world was still, and for a moment it felt like nothing mattered besides the brief point where they touched. The staff she'd found dropped from his hands, and the clatter it made as it hit the floor pulled her out of the moment, and away from whatever Anakin had been planning to do. She backed away, unable to face him after their moment.

"Padmé, I can't..." He seemed frustrated with his wording. "I can't keep dancing around what I feel like this." At that, she looked up, almost startled. "We have a connection, and I know you feel it too. Whenever I see you it's...it's difficult to even breathe. I can't stop thinking about you, or the kiss we've shared... You're the only person I have ever loved in this way."

"Ani...Anakin." She amended herself from the nickname to his full name. "I can't...you're a Senator, and I'm a Jedi…"

"That doesn't matter." Anakin looked at her. "I don't care that you're a Jedi or anything else. I don't care what we have to do, if I have to spend the rest of my life loving you in shadows, I would do it. I know you feel the same way…"

"Anakin, what I feel in this case doesn't matter. I have duties. So do you." She watched him for a moment, and the burst of courage he'd seemingly had earlier died down, and her heart hurt. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her, and both of them knew it. "If we admitted our feelings, fell in love...We'd be living a lie, and it would destroy us both."

"...I know." He finally relented, looking away and giving up in a way he hadn't earlier. "I know that more than anybody, but Padmé-."

"I'm sorry Anakin." Her hand grabbed his, and he winced, though didn't make a move to pull his away. "Maybe in another life, we'd have a chance to be together, but as it stands, we can't. Not in this one."

He remained silent, and so did she. "I'm going to clear my head." Anakin stood up, leaving Padmé there to watch after him, her heart aching just as much as his was.

She buried her face in her hands. Why did Anakin have to make all of this so difficult.

-x-

She hadn't seen Anakin for the rest of the night, and had found him gone for most of the morning. Fearing the worst, she had been about to sound some alarms and call in the other Jedi when she watched the senator appear at the entrance to the small house. "Anakin?"

Had this been before yesterday, she would've run to hug him. Right now, she knew that would just make things worse for him. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." His voice was tired, it was clear he hadn't slept. "I'm…" He rubbed his hand through his hair, unsure of himself. "I'm sorry for running off last night, I just needed some time. Not everyday your crush for ten years turns you down."

She understood all too well, maybe not the ten year long crush part, but the idea that after what had happened, he needed some space. "It's alright, you don't have to apologize. Just please don't do it again, I thought that all those assassination attempts might have finally succeeded."

Anakin nodded. "They won't, I'm not that easy to get rid of." A fact that she was thankful for. He sat down on the couch for a moment, looking at her as though trying to figure out what he was trying to say. "I think we need to get off of Tatooine."

Padmé looked at Anakin in confusion. "What?"

"We can't stay trapped on this world alone, doing nothing." Anakin explained. "You're…" He sighed. "Look, we both agreed we're not falling in love, right? Well staying here on a small farm where we're the only company the other has besides a couple of droids and all we're doing is finding ways to kill time together isn't going to help. I know it's for my protection, but we can't keep staying."

"We're not going back to Coruscant Anakin. You'll be in danger."

"It doesn't have to be Coruscant. Just...not here."

As much as she hated to admit it, Anakin was right. It couldn't be easy for him, staying trapped on the planet with just her while he was dealing with her rejection. She could understand his desire to get away as well. "I can call for another Jedi to take my place."

"No!" Anakin protested almost immediately too fast. "No, sorry, I just…"

It was frustrating to say the least for both of them. She knew there was nobody Anakin would trust more with the job aside from Obi-Wan (truthfully she wasn't sure she trusted anybody else with Anakin's safety besides herself and him either) yet so long as they stayed like this, it wouldn't be easy for either of them to continue to dodge and ignore any feelings they'd managed to catch.

"I'll…" Padmé frowned. There had to be something she could come up with. Some way to manage this and keep Anakin on the world without… "Get some rest. I'll come up with something."

Anakin nodded, and went towards his room. "At least consider the idea."

Truthfully, there wasn't a lot else she could do.

-x-

The sound of a door opening pulled Padmé out of her meditation, and she turned to see Anakin. "Thinking on ideas looks like sleeping?"

"Meditating Anakin." Padmé smiled. Anakin tilted his head, as though asking for elaboration. "It's something all Jedi do to help them feel more balanced in the Force, more connected. Obi-Wan and I tried to teach it to you, remember?"

"Nope." Anakin sat down next to her. "I remember how to use the Force, how to make shields to keep any Sith from detecting me, but meditation? Don't seem to recall that one at all."

Padmé rolled her eyes. Of course he wouldn't. Trying to get Anakin to sit down for ten seconds to meditate was a harder ordeal than anything else they'd had to try. She couldn't be surprised that he didn't remember when he'd probably purposefully tried to forget. "It's meant to help me figure out what's the best way to go about things."

"What did it help you figure out, Master Jedi?" Anakin smiled, and Padmé couldn't help but be relieved that they'd found a return to the easy conversation from before.

Padmé shook her head. "It didn't, but I could show you how to do it, if you'd like."

Anakin seemed to be taking that under consideration. "You sure it'll stick this time?"

"Well, my Padawan," she teased, chastising herself moments later in case he took it as flirting after they had just resolved not to do so. "You'll be the judge of that."

Following her lead, Anakin sat down on his knees and closed his eyes, looking over to Padmé as he closed his eyes. She watched him, interested in how he took it, though unsurprised when he started to wiggle, unable to sit skill. "You need to focus on your breathing, just keep your mind clear and reach out. Stretch out your senses until you can feel the Force around you."

"That's...vague."

Padmé laughed. "It is, but I trust you to figure it out."

"You'd make a terrible master if that's how you plan on training any padawans you get."

"I thought you were done making fun of me."

"You won't kill me, I'll be fine." Anakin opened one eye, giving her a smirk.

"I could take you out and blame it on whoever's after you."

"Would you though?"

She wouldn't, but Anakin didn't need to know that. "Are you questioning me, Padawan?"

At that, he sighed. "No Master Jedi, I'm not." And he closed his eyes, taking deep breaths in and out, although still clearly struggling with staying focused entirely on the meditation. Deciding it would keep Anakin out of her hair at least for a few more minutes, Padmé closed her eyes, hoping the Force would send her a clear answer. What could she do to keep Anakin entertained until they were able to leave this desert planet behind.

Before she could continue meditating, a loud beep grabbed both hers and Anakin's attention. "Artoo?"

"What is it buddy?" Anakin asked, patting the droid on his blue domed head. The droid beeped at them a few more times, causing Anakin's face to darken as he looked towards Padmé. "Meditation practice is going to have to wait."

"I'm guessing he didn't come with good news?" Padmé asked. Anakin shook his head.

"It's Obi-Wan. He left a message for you." Padmé felt her heart drop almost immediately, as though it plummeted right to her stomach the moment Anakin spoke again. "He's in trouble."

"Artoo, relay the message." The droid let out a few more beeps before running out of the room to lead them to the comms.

Looked like their vacation away from the world was over.

[Next Part]

[jadejedi]

Anakin, Ahsoka, and Padmé (3/?)

Summary: Anakin, Padmé, and their adopted daughter- I mean Padawan Learner- throughout the war.

Chapter summary: Padmé grows closer to Anakin’s new padawan. A mother’s day fic.

A/N: This one is mostly Ahsoka & Padmé, a little Mother’s Day fic for one of my favorite SW dynamics. Title from the Lion King’s Circle of Life, because apparently this fic just wants Disney lyrics as titles. The first half is set right before chapter one, the second half a bit later, whenever it is that Ahsoka turns fifteen Maybe early to mid season 2? Who knows. And do the Jedi celebrate birthdays? I’m going to hazard a guess and say no.

ao3 link here.

Padmé had been delighted when Anakin had told her that he had a padawan, now. His slightly disgruntled tone as he relayed this information during one of their comms amused her. Anakin had so much love in his heart to give, she knew, and any student of his would benefit from that. And he would, as well. 

Although their first meeting, if it could even be called that, hadn’t happened in the best of circumstances, what with Padmé being captured by General Grievous, she had been suitably impressed by Ahsoka’s handling of herself in such a stressful  situation. 

Their second meeting had been under even worse circumstances, both nearly dying of a deadly virus on Naboo. 

Padmé could tell that after that whole incident, Ahsoka may have started suspecting something was going on between herself and Anakin. Which wasn’t the worst thing. She was young and impressionable, and hadn’t thought to take any action yet, so Padmé didn’t see any problem there. 

Anakin started bringing Ahsoka along from time to time when he visited her in the Senate, and really any time he could find an excuse to, which also delighted Padmé. She liked Ahsoka. Not just as a student to Anakin, but as a person. 

“She’s a good kid,” he told her one day, after the Battle of Ryloth and Ahsoka’s failure. “Reckless, and over confident, sometimes, but she’s smart and talented.” 

She smiled internally at his description. They really were so much alike. “So much command is a lot for someone her age,” she commented, instead.

Anakin’s blue form nodded with a knowing smile. “I don’t suppose you’d know anything about that, would you, Senator?”

She huffed a small laugh. “A thing or two. Do you want me to talk to her?” 

“I might bring her over to your place, if that’s okay with you,” he said, his expression shifting into one of worry. “She’s beating herself up over it.”

Padmé sighed. Just as she now realized that she’d been too young to be Queen at fourteen, she thought that fourteen was much too young to fight in a war, let alone be given a command. Any failure on Ahsoka’s part was just as much the Jedi Council’s responsibility as it was Ahsoka’s herself. 

“I think that’s a good idea,” she told him. “Maybe I’ll have Threepio make some snacks and you two can stay a while. Take your minds off of things.”

He grinned. “Thanks, Angel. I’ll go and see if I can’t drag her out of her quarters.” He looked like he was about to end the call when he remembered something. “Oh! Don’t forget, if you’re making food, Togrutas are obligate carnivores. Definitely go heavy on the meat.”

Padmé nodded. “Alright, I’ll make sure Threepio knows.” She smiled a bit as he ended the call. It was definitely a good thing to give him someone to care for. Maybe it hadn’t been the Council’s intention when they’d given him a padawan, but Anakin was good at caring for people. 

--

Sometime after that, Padmé offhandedly asked Anakin when Ahsoka’s birthday was. The 501st was on Coruscant for a few days, so Anakin was spending a few hours in their apartment in 500 Republica before he had to get back to his duties at the Temple. He was showing her to cook a stew that his mother used to make.

“Hm,” he said, forehead creased in thought as he stirred the sizzling pot of root vegetables that were a rough approximation of what they’d apparently had on Tatooine. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “The Jedi don’t really do birthdays,” he said. “It wasn’t really a thing on Tatooine, either. I know it’s a fairly big deal on Naboo,” he said, continuing to stir. 

Padmé frowned as she chopped the herbs that he had instructed her to. Cooking was really not her thing, but she could mince a few herbs. “Not only that, but it is on Shili, as well. Especially for children of her age, who are starting to come of age.”

Anakin paused his stirring, considering. “Well, she certainly is having to grow up fast.” He looked over at her and smiled fondly. “I guess I can probably figure out when her next birthday is without her getting suspicious. I have access to most of her personal health records, after all.”

She returned the smile. “Thank you.”

--

Unfortunately, it turned out, Anakin and Ahsoka ended up being deployed right before Ahsoka’s fifteenth birthday, a couple of months after she’d asked about it. 

Padmé had had to give her gifts to Anakin, a new pair of boots, as she’d noticed Ahsoka’s current pair was getting worn out. The boots the Temple provided were perfectly fine, in Padmé’s opinion, but they weren’t super high quality. They were simple and frugal, as most Jedi things were. But simple and frugal, when it came to boots, didn’t tend to last long. She also included a pre recorded message on a holo recorder, wishing her a happy birthday, and instructions to stay safe. 

The next time Padmé saw her, a month or so later, Ahsoka had darted towards her, giving her a quick hug, before stepping back before she even had time to respond. “Thanks for the boots,” she said with a small smile. “And the message.”

Padmé had felt her heart melt, just a little. “You’re more than welcome, Ahsoka.” She wished she could have given her something more, something more meaningful than a pair of boots, but with the Jedi swearing off possessions, that was tricky. 

She told this to Anakin, later, and he gave her a strange look. “What?” she asked.

“You’ve always given her way more than just boots,” Anakin said, stepping forwards to pull her into his arms. She stepped into his embrace easily, wrapping her arms around his chest, cheek pressed against his robes. “You’ve given her what you’ve always given me,” he said, tilting her head up to meet her eyes. “A family.”

[peterpumpkinparker]

Could you do a part two to the Halloween Costume thing you wrote I just read it and it’s so good!!

I’ve gotten somd requests to finish the Halloween story- which I am seriosuly so surprised by because I really thought that story SUCKED- but thank you guys for enjoying it! It gave me a lot of excitement to actually finish it, so I hope you like it!!

~•~

A Very Nerdy Halloween (Part 2)- Peter Parker x Reader

Word Count: 3026

Warnings:

Genre: the softest fluff around ☁️

AU: Halloween, mentions of Star Wars, the TINIEST mentions of Hamilton

~•~

(Part One)

Your feet pounded the pavement as you ran desperately to try and reach the coffee shop you were supposed to be at 30 minutes ago. The sun was just setting over the city, the fiery, golden hues turning the buildings into warm shades of brown and red.

Being out in the open in this costume, it was really strange. People were looking at you left and right, either giving you a smile or a look of confusion. Some college kid even yelled from his truck, “Padme!” as you crossed the street- it was really nerve wracking to get all that unwanted attention, and you couldn’t help but feel self conscious. All you wanted to do at that point was get to your supportive friends and have fun.

Peter was fidgeting in his seat, his toy lightsaber on the seat next to him, holding your chair from anyone sitting in it.

He had actually gone through a lot trying to make sure his costume was as accurate as possible. He scoured the internet for costume pieces, making some pieces himself- he even put a clip in braid like Anakin did in the movie in his hair. He didn’t know why he was nervous- he just knew how excited you were to do these costumes, and he didn’t want to let you down. Peter had liked you for a super long time, ever since you slept over at Neds house with him to help build his new Millenium Falcon set he got. He didn’t think you liked him back, but he still wanted to make you happy.

Peter looked back at his phone for the thousandth time it seemed for a text from you, but to no avail.

“Do you think she’s still coming?” Ned asked, his mask perched on his head as he sipped at his coffee, his black robes covering all of his body. MJ was slumped in her chair, her boots pecking out of her pink dress as she rested her feet on a chair, her curly hair pinned back slightly.

“She’s still coming Ned,” MJ answered, crossing her arms over her chest.

Peter sneaked a look at his phone again.

“You know, your phone gives off radiation when you use it, which can give you brain cancer,”MJ stayed, a small smirk on her face.

Peter jumped, not expecting her to say anything.

“Who said I was on my phone?” Peter smiled nonchalantly, trying to play off that he got caught.

“No one,” MJ replied seriously, raising her chin slightly, “I just said something interesting about phones.” She gave a smirk, knowing she had gotten Peter when his cheeks turned red. She looked over at the door, nudging Ned to look.

“Told ya.”

A breath of relief released from your lips as you saw the coffee shop. You walked through the door, a soft chime going throughout the store.

Ned was the first one you saw, a black robe wrapped around his shoulders. He waved frantically at you, you giving him a small smile as you walked over.

“Hey guys I’m sorry I’m late!” You smiled apologetically, looking at the group.

Peter turned around, and was in complete shock. You looked nothing short of amazing. You looked as if you were wearing the costume from the movie. Your makeup and hair was perfect, and he was just hoping his costume looked as good as yours. It was a completely different experience to see you in a costume- and you looked really good to him. The costume hugged your curves, and he didn’t want to stare- but at the same time, he did. He was seeing you in a new light, a new perspective, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of you.

Ned nudged Peter, snapping him out of his daze. He shook his head slightly, and realizing he was staring, began to blush deeply. He instantly moved the lightsaber on your seat, wishing he didn’t bring it- now he felt like a child with it sitting next to you.

You slide down onto the chair, just happy to be with the group. You didn’t see any disappoint on Peters face when you walked in, so you were a little happy that he didn’t think anything bad of you and your costume.

“You brought your lightsaber?” You smiled, pointing at the toy.

Peter nodded feverishly, still flustered.

“Yeah-Yeah,” he repeated, “I just thought- um- it’d be cool, to have it….” he drawled out, not knowing what to say, so he grabbed his coffee and began to chug it.

“Your costume looks great y/n,” Ned complimented, “it looks almost like the movie!”

You sighed in relief.

“Ahh thank god!” You exclaimed, “I was scared it would look weird to you guys- but you guys look awesome too! Especially you MJ.”

“I’m actually hating this Angelica costume,” MJ revealed, “dresses are definitely not my thing.”

You grinned, “I’d figure.”

You and MJ were very close, and you knew her really well- you figured she wouldn’t care for the dress.

“But hey, look on the bright side,” you laughed, “if a random dude decides to act rude, you can cuss him out while rapping!”

“Is that really a thing she does?” Ned asked, slight confusion on his face.

“ not really, more just the rap part. But its still cool,” you answered.

Peter turned to you, his empty coffee cup in his hand. “Did you I want anything, Y/n?” He asked.

“Oh no it’s okay I can get myself something, I brought my- !” You searched your body for your wallet, remembering-you didn’t have pockets.

You sighed in exasperation, shaking your head.

“No wallet?” He asked, a slight grin on his face.

“Nada.”

“It’s okay I’ll get something for you.”

You smirked at Peter, sizing him up. You didn’t want him to get you something- but you knew he wouldn’t let you, even if you said No.

You sighed, giving him a defeated smile. “I owe you one Parker.”

He smiled, his grin contagious. “What do you want?”

“Surprise me,” you winked at him, making Peter’s face turn red.

Ned and MJ gave a knowing smirk to each other, making you confused.

“What?” You laughed, perplexed.

Ned shook his head, laughing, as MJ pretended to inspect her finger nails.

“It’s nothing.” She smiled, the lie very obvious.

“You guys are hiding something,” you interrogated, “what is it?”

Ned shook his head, afraid MJ or you would say something that would lead to his friend’s secrets to come out.

He had stayed up countless nights for the last few months, reading Peter’s lovesick texts about how much he liked you and how much he wished he could tell you his feelings. He had dat through countless conversations between him and Peter where Peter planned elaborate plans to ask you out to the movies, the park, the new ice cream place you wanted to eat at-but never came to fruition because of how nervous he was to ask. Ned has told him countless times to just do it, the worst you could say was no, but Peter was always too worried he’d ruin the friendship between him and you if he asked you out. Ned already let MJ in the loop by accident a few weeks ago, and she had been making his life so frustrating around you because she liked to drop hints. He knew his friend would one day tell you-on his own time. He didn’t want to intervene with Peter.

“It’s-it’s nothing y/n,”Ned shook his head vigorously, “you don’t have to worry about it.”

You raised an eyebrow, not believing Ned.

“Are you sure?” You asked, “Because you guys are acting super weird the past few weeks- is it about Peter or something?”

“No no no!” Ned frantically said as MJ silently chuckled. “It’s nothing! Nothing-it’s just uh-“

Right as Ned was searching for a little white lie to tell you, Peter walked up to the table, holding out a coffee. You gave one last look, one that said “I’m going to figure it out.”

“Thanks Pete,” you smiled, taking a sip, “You’re costume is cool by the way.”

“Ah thanks y/n, but really,” Peter stuttered, “yours is way better.”

You scoffed.

“No way! I got this off of-Amazon!” You laughed, “you even got the Jedi braid, the lightsaber-hey Ned, you gotta lightsaber?”

“As a matter of fact,” Ned fumbled in his cloak, “I do!”

He proudly pulled out a saber, making the whole group laugh, happy to have a distraction from the heavy topic before Peter came.

You smiled, taking a sip of coffee, “let’s go get some gear for the night at Delmars, how about it?”

The sun was just setting now, the sky more blue than fiery red. Families were just emerging from their houses, the kids all dressed up in assortment of scary monsters, princesses, and of course, superheroes.

You all ran over to Delmars, acting completely free and goofy-you guys were excited for the night ahead. Of course, you couldn’t buy anything without your wallet, but being the gentleman Peter was, he bought you some candy even though you told him not to.

You all began to walk around the neighborhood, snacking on sweets and watching the trick-or-treaters. You were loving the atmosphere of this Halloween-it was spooky but almost in a kiddish way. It really wasn’t that scary, but nostalgic. The air was chilly, the moon was bright and shining, the sound of people laughing and screaming from delighted fright could be heard from every corner, pumpkin spice and sweets filled the air. You were with your friends, your crush, you were all bonding and having fun, and you never wanted to leave.

But before you knew it, the candy was all eaten, the families were beginning to slowly disappear back to their homes, and everyone was tired from the night.

“You guys wanna start heading back?” Ned ask, his mask in his hand

You sighed, wishing the night wouldn’t end.

“I guess…”

You all began to walk back, joking around and talking about the best costumes you saw. You first dropped off Ned, then began to walk to MJs house, saying bye once she got to her doorstep. You noticed her give Peter a smirk, his eyes avoiding contact as she closed the door.

You definitely knew something was up, but didn’t know what-and you were determined to figure it out. You hated having secrets kept from you, especially when they were blatantly obvious that it was about something revolving around you..

You both began to walk in silence, the street having a few more families than the last one. You and Peter were feeling nervous, being by yourselves. You still liked Peter a lot, and it worried you that your friends and Peter were acting strange. A pit in your stomach grew, scared that maybe Peter found out you liked him, or maybe he liked someone else.

Peter was feeling really awkward, knowing how close he was to you, and how alone you two were. He knew he needed to tell you something soon about how felt, but it almost felt he couldn’t do it. Ned has told him countless times to tell you, MJ was giving him mental signs to just do it-but he just couldn’t. He didn’t want to ruin the friendship he had with you if you didn’t feel the same. While both of you were thinking in silence, a little kid ran up completely dressed in a Trooper costume. Their head bobbed, the huge helmet making them look like a bobble head toy.

“Are you Anakin and Padme?” They asked loudly, making you both come back to your senses abruptly.

You smiled, blinking a few times from breaking out of your senses so quickly. “Actually we are! And you are…”

“Their Boba Fett,” Peter stated, grinning at the kid.

“I’m Jango!” The kid yelled accusingly, making sure he got it right.

“Right,right, sorry!” Peter chuckled.

A woman ran up, panting as she reached her child.

“Sammy! You can’t run away like that!” She scolded.

“But Mommy it’s Anakin and Padme!”

The mom turned to you and Peter, smiling apologetically.

“I’m sorry if she bothered you in any way, it’s just she really loves Star Wars, so seeing you two made her very happy. Not many girls her age are into what she likes, so seeing someone your age dressed up as characters she loves got her super excited.”

The little girl took off her mask, giving you both a toothy smile, her braid messy from the helmet.

You smiled warmly at the little girl, bending down to her level.

“You costume is awesome- I think you might be the coolest little girl I’ve ever met!”

“Is it alright if I get a picture with you two and her?” The mom asked, pulling out her phone.

“Of course!” You grinned. You both got a picture with the little girl, all of you posing in ridiculous poses ready for a movie poster.

“Got it!” The mom smiled, looking down at her phone. She looked at Peter and you, grinning.

“You guys are an adorable couple.”

Peter’s and your face instantly turned red, you both chucking from embarrassment.

“Um, were actually not-“ you tried to say.

“Of course you are!” The little girl interrupted, “your Anakin and Padme!”

You had no idea how to respond to the unexpected turn of events, so to your relief, Peter recovered first.

“Well, we can’t say anything, because the Jedi Order says I can’t be with Padme. So…I’m not.”

Peter winked at the little girl, and she giggled.

“Okay!” She giggled. “Your not boyfriend and girlfriend.” She put bunny ears around “not” with her hands, Peter letting her think you two were to not dampen her spirits.

Before she put her helmet back on, she gave you a hug, melting your heart. Peter held out his hand for a high five, and she gave him a hard slap on his hand, grabbing her Mom’s hand and heading

down the street.

You both looked at each other, the redness on your faces still there.

“Well,that-“ you breathed out, “was interesting.”

Peter rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling nervously.

“Yeah, it kinda was.”

“Thanks for that save.”

“Yeah, of course…”

Each of you wanted the same thing-wanted to be a “thing”,, but didn’t want to say the truth to each other. You were both terrified of the answer.You both stood there in awkward silence, not knowing what to do.

“We should probably start walking,” you said abruptly, laughing nervously.

“Uh, uh yeah! Sure,” Peter smiled, his hands fidgeting.

Each step to your house was cautious and full of nervousness. After that comment, there was an electricity between the two of you you both felt. As if you body’s were drawn to each other, yet you both were holding back.

You were making small talk, talking about anything you could think of to bring some normalcy back. It was a normal conversation and nothing out of the norm for you and Peter, but it felt different somehow. Your mind was racing, wondering if Peter felt the same way and why he was acting so strange. His mannerisms, his nervous ticks, in your mind either meant he was totally into you or he was so desperate to get away from you he wasn’t functioning right.

Peter was feeling like a nervous wreck, not wanting to act like such a dork around you. He was hyper aware of his body, each movement he was making, praying he didn’t do things that would make you uncomfortable or notice how nervous he was around you. You were talking as if nothing happened, and your confidence was making him even more nervous because it reminded him why he liked you so much. You were headstrong, funny, you weren’t afraid to be yourself, kind, and beautiful in his eyes. Being around someone that made him the best version of himself was exhilarating and made him feel alive, even if he turned into a nervous love sick puppy around them.

Your hands would accidentally brush on each other, and your heart would race, and Peter’s body would feel as if shocked with electricity. But you still kept up the conversation, even though both of you wanted nothing more for your skin to touch again.

You finally got back to your house, you giggling at a funny story Peter was telling you.

You smiled sadly, not wanting to go. The breeze was softly filtering through your hair, bringing butterflies in your stomach as you looked into Peter’s chocolate brown eye.

“This was…fun,” you smiled, looking down from nervousness.

“Yeah, it was,” Peter swallowed, terrified by what he was going to ask you.

He had been thinking of it all through the walk back to your house. If he didn’t ask, someone was going to, and it would eat him up inside if he’d never knew the answer. He wanted to be with you, and only you, and it ate up his body inside not knowing if you felt the same way.

“I was wondering if maybe…you wanted to do this again? Without-MJ…or Ned?”

You looked up abruptly, happy confusion on your face. Peter Parker…was asking you out?

“Like on a date?” You asked, a smile forming on your lips.

“Yeah!” Peter chuckled nervously,”you don’t have to if you don’t want to-I was only asking because I-I really like you-for a really long time-and I just wanted to-“

You stopped Peter, giving him a big hug.

“Of course Parker, why wouldn’t I?” You exclaimed, all the fears and doubts in your head dissipating, only leaving you with a feeling of ecstasy.

You gave Peter on a kiss on his cheek, a cheesy grin on your face.

“I guess Anakin and Padme are actually gonna be dating,huh?” You joked, smiling at Peter’s happily shocked face, a faint imprint of lipstick on his check.

“I-I guess so,” he smiled lazily, relieved that everything was working out in the best way possible.

~•~

Taggings:

@acciopeter @petersshirts @just4muggles @acciopeter @anxieteandbiscuits @fratboievans @flying-roomba @grandmascottlang @hollandroos @hollandsosterfield @honeymoonparker @naturallytom @starksparker @underoosstark @uglypastels @galaxy-parker @gayuwuenergy @revengingbarnes @underoos-shield @revengingbarnes

~•~

Requests open!

I hope you are having an amazing day (or night) and I’ll see you all later! ❤️❤️

~•~

[chubbyooo]

Blurred Lines: Cursed Past Chapter 41 - Sacrifices

hey hey hey it’s writing time and am feeling the funk, anyway here’s a Terri chapter (warning sad chapter inbound :P)

Terri and ‘Lusari’ finally escape and have some time to talk and Terri has a shocking realisation

The blue lines extended as the transport ship jumped into hyperspace and Terri finally breathed a sigh of relief, they had escaped she could put this whole Yavin incident behind her and move on. Lusari was handling something in the back she hadn’t really explained what it was but it was nice to have a moment to herself after all the exploring and rituals, she finally had a chance to just rest. She did wonder where the Lady was maybe Terri had been wrong about them summoning a physical form for her Lusari said she would explain soon enough anyway so no need stressing over it. Still something had seemed weird about Lusari when she caught up to her, she had seemingly beaten the commander which in of itself was impressive and looked like she was in a bit of a frenzy. Terri assumed it had something to do with that residual force energy from the temple she’d been talking about, clearly Terri had missed the actual ritual while fighting the togruta. She had properly injured that togruta slicing her head thingy, she hadn’t meant to but she was only trying to save her friend why couldn’t the togruta understand that. But she had let out such power to stop her, she had no idea she had that in her maybe she wasn’t as weak as she thought. Whatever the case she never wanted to be in a fight like that again one was enough for her now she could move on from all this.

Terri thought she should probably go find out what Lusari was talking about with the Lady, she got up and made her way to the living area where she saw Lusari meditating.

She cleared her throat “um Lusi you got a minute” Lusari turned around slightly startled 

Lusari relaxed quickly “sorry I was somewhere else entirely” Lusari frowned “what can I do for you Terri?” so formal maybe the ritual had some residual effects on her head too she had been acting weird ever since.

Terri looked away “well uh you said you’d explain you know where the Lady has gone and stuff” Lusari frowned looking rather sad was something wrong?

Lusari sighed folding her arms “I guess I couldn’t put it off forever” Terri frowned Lusi had definitely said the ritual had been successful was she lying? Lusari put an arm on Terri’s shoulder “The Lady is here” Terri frowned looking around for another person like a ghost or something?

Terri cocked her head “what do you mean the Lady is here I only see you” she felt awfully confused the force had a habit of being confusing

Lusari swallowed hard “yeah exactly” she gestured to herself “the Lady is here” Terri frowned like inside Lusari like a second personality or something? “I am the Lady” Terri’s eyes widened wait what? like always or like now?

Terri started feeling very uncomfortable “so like you are sharing Lusari’s form can I talk to her?” Lusari’s face dropped into a solemn frown, no no no no please no

Lusari let out a long sigh “no uh Lusari isn’t here anymore” Terri felt tears begin to well up in her eyes “that’s what she meant when she said ‘it’s gonna hurt me’ she knew giving me a form was an exchange and that it would kill her” Terri began shaking no she couldn’t be gone why would she do that? they had a plan 

Terri’s lip quivered “bu-bu-but w-why?” she felt tears begin to stream down her face as she breathed heavily

The Lady let out a sigh “she thought you would talk her out of it and well she thought you could succeed so she didn’t tell you” Terri covered her face with her hand trembling as she did “I told her she should tell you believe me I did it seemd so wrong to deny you the information but she was adamant it would be a mistake. She said bringing me back was too important and she was willing to sacrifice herself for it but I promised I’d look after you don’t worry.” damn it Lusi why did you have to be so noble Terri began to sob loudly looking at Lusari’s form but knowing it wasn’t really her standing there.

Terri tried her best to talk “s-s-she wanted t-this?” the Lady nodded Terri couldn’t believe Lusi had done this and she hadn’t told her. Terri began to sob as the Lady pulled her into a tight hug

She held the back of Terri’s hair “hey hey it’s ok it’s ok I’m here I promise her sacrifice won’t be in vain” Terri felt her tears well up against Lusari or rather the Lady’s hair tears obscuring Terri’s vision as she sobbed loudly “she wanted us to prosper Terr she saw the power in both of us right?” Terri didn’t say anything just continued sobbing “she saw the power within you and I think you’ve seen it now too I promise we’ll do great things to honour her memory” Terri was breathing heavily as she suddenly pulled away from the hug.

she didn’t make eye contact with The Lady “I-I-I’m s-sorry I j-just need some a-alone time s-seeing you i-is j-just too weird” the Lady nodded.

The Lady seemed to be tearing up a little too “I understand Terr take all the time you need” Terri quickly made her way to her bedroom curling up on the bed as she began to sob again. She covered her face with a pillow as her sobbing got more and more out of control, she just couldn’t believe it Lusari was gone and she didn’t even get to say goodbye. Lusari had been her best friend and the only thing that got her through the sith academy and now she was just gone what was she supposed to do now. She’d always led the way and she’d always followed how was she supposed to find her way now. They were gonna get something simple and easy like a farm or a little shop or something but the point was no sith or jedi would bother them they could just live a simple life and earn a simple living. Maybe then she would’ve been able to sum up the courage to ask her out but now it was all gone just like that. Lusari knew this was gonna happen and she didn’t tell her, were the plans only in her head then did Lusari ever want that as bad as she did. She was right about Terri being able to talk her out of it though there was no way Terri would’ve let her, was she even right to feel bad Lusari had done the noble thing sacrificed herself for the Lady if only she’d been a bit less noble they’d be fine now. She continued to think like this for about an hour sobbing until her pillow was soaked with tears, she just couldn’t believe it but no matter how she spun it Lusari had done the noble thing. Eventually she calmed down coming to the realisation that no mater what Lusari did what was right and she had to respect her decision, the Lady said Lusi wanted Terri and her to prosper the least she could do was respect that. 

Terri sat up wiping the last of the tears from her eyes and took a few deep breaths, she got up and made her way back to the living area. She was shocked when she saw the Lady curling her hair and looking quite different, Lusari’s signature bangs were missing, her hair was cut to just under the shoulder and it was insanely curly at least that which she had managed. She was wearing a red and black long robe and much different makeup to before opting for red lipstick rather than Lusari’s classic dark blue. 

Terri was startled hardly recognising her “um hey” The Lady looked up looking a little shocked but then sympathetic she put down the curler causing Terri to lightly chuckle seeing a half curled Lusari hair

The Lady gave a reassuring smile “feeling any better Terri?” that was a difficult question to answer

Terri frowned “uh not really but I’m uh coming to terms with it” The Lady nodded “you uh certainly look different” Terri had to admit she kinda liked it 

The Lady laughed awkwardly “yeah I uh thought It’d be best if I tried to look as different as possible ya know to help you cope” Terri smiled she did appreciate that the Lady seemed much friendlier now she was ‘alive’ as it were maybe there was still a bit of Lusi in her. The Lady gestured to the curler “can uh you help me with this I’ve never really used one before” Terri smiled glad to at least have someone to talk to.

Terri picked up the curler “sure can do” she moved behind The Lady and began to curl her hair. That was a point actually she must have an actual name right “hey uh now that you’re out of the holocron do you have a uh proper name?” Terri couldn’t see the Lady’s face but assumed she was nodding

“yes I do think now I’m back I may as well use my real name again, you can call me Zash” there was a pep in her voice as she responded Terri could imagine after so long trapped in a holocron forced to lie it felt quite good to be able to be genuine again, even given the circumstances

Terri tried her best to stay positive and avoid thinking about it “nice to properly meet you Zash” Terri paused unsure if she should ask “so uh now that you are free what is your plan?” Terri heard Zash chuckle there was a very thick imperial accent to Lusari’s old voice which was very strange Terri hoped she’d get used to this soon

“well now that I’m back I need to amass some power and followers which I believe should come in tandem.” Terri thought that was fair given who was currently in charge of the sith military Zash would need more than just Lusari’s admittedly high power to stand a chance. Terri sighed trying her best to keep it together as thoughts of Lusari entered her mind again

Terri collected herself “what uh sorts of power” she hoped it wasn’t anything weird

Zash rubbed her chin “well I’m not entirely sure but the hope is that it’s something that will enhance existing powers” Terri could probably do with a bit of that “but that is yet to be seen I need to meditate to find out” wow she could sense that sort of thing?

Terri finished curling Zash’s hair “there we are finished I hope you liked it” Zash turned around looking bizarrely different

Zash beamed at her “I love it Terri” she paused putting a hand on Terri’s shoulder “I’m gonna need some help to achieve my goals though Terri someone like you could be very valuable” Terri was taken aback she wasn’t that useful and she’d been wanting to get out of this life

Terri held her neck “I don’t know Zash this is all so weird” she gestured to Zash’s form she was still having a hard time looking at her.

Zash nodded “come on Terri Lusari wanted us to prosper don’t let her sacrifice be in vain” Terri took a long moment Zash had a point if she walked away Lusari would’ve died for nothing she couldn’t allow that

Terri took a deep breath “ok sure for Lusari” Zash grinned, Terri guessed she wouldn’t mind changing things a bit then people like her wouldn't have to go through the same thing she had.

Zash smiled “I’m so glad you’re on board Terri I can’t wait to get started” maybe this wouldn’t be so bad she just hoped it helped for Lusari’s sake...