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jedimordsith · 3 years ago

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Fic Scraps

I’ve got nothing to post for Trivia Tues or WIP Wed, but have another scrap from the never-going-to-be-finished pile.

When Luke started to feel other beings awake and moving about, he gave up his futile efforts too sleep. Rising, he took a quick shower and dressed. His Jedi blacks felt wrong and he slipped instead into a pair of casual cargo pants and a long-sleeved, close-cut black thermal top. He ran his fingers through his hair, but didn’t bother with actually trying to tame it — he looked about as haggard and restless as he felt, and there was no point in trying to hide it. Not here.

In the mess, he helped himself to a cup of caf. As he stirred in sucra, he couldn’t help but feel the turmoil churning off of Mara. She’d wanted to space, but he couldn’t ignore her pain. Not any more. Following the feel of her, he wound his way toward the observation deck overlooking a broad, empty hangar bay. Stepping just inside the door, he stopped, suddenly uncertain.

Mara stood at the broad railing, her body bowed, her forearms leaning on the rail, her shoulders hunched. Talon stood beside her, one hand resting gentle on the back of her head. Whatever he said, it made her head drop further forward, a stab of something painful and hot lancing through the Force.

Before Luke could excuse himself, Talon stepped away. He strode purposefully toward the door, pausing long enough to reach out and squeeze Luke’s shoulder. Then, with a distinct nudge, he pushed Luke in Mara’s direction and left, the large door sliding shut behind him.

His boots felt loud on the durasteel as he approached, and Luke steeled himself for Mara to lash out, send him away.

She didn’t. Instead, her chin lifted as he took Talon’s place beside her and set his caf mug on the rail.

“You didn’t sleep.” Her voice was raw, her eyes red.

Luke’s heart ached. “Neither did you.”

Mara pushed herself a little more upright, her palms flattening against the rail. “Did he tell you anything? Your other self. About Ben.”

He gripped his caf mug with both hands, fighting the urge to brush the stray lock of hair from her cheek. “No.” He wanted to wait, to give her room and time, but he had to know. “The other Mara, she told you something didn’t she?”

She nodded, then swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on a distant point. “She said it’s not the med stats that will stop me from having my own Skycrawler.”

In spite of everything, Luke smiled faintly at the nickname.

“She said…” Mara took a deep breath. “She said I have to trust that I’m enough.” Her voice cracked and a fresh tear streaked down her cheek. “That you wouldn’t regret choosing me even if Ben never comes. But I know what you want.” The words rushed out, like blood from a wound. “I saw you hold him. I felt you. If I can’t give you that again —”

Luke abandoned his caf, catching Mara’s arm and turning her to face him, then cupping her face in his hands. Leaning in, he kissed her, all his feelings pouring out into the space between them. His memories — her, asleep on her bunk, a blaster beside her pillow and Ben snoring softly on her chest; her, using her Master Trader skills and ruthless determination to manipulate the quarreling delegates into signing a peace treaty, not because she gave a damn about them but because her baby needed time with his daddy; her, letting her head drop against his chest and his arms slide around her because she was exhausted and scared and so, so overwhelmed by the little boy neither of them had ever dreamed they could have.

Breaking the kiss, Luke pulled her against him, his arms tight around her and his eyes burning with unshed tears. “I do want him, Mara. Or whatever version of him our universe will give us. But even if we can’t, if we never get a Ben of our own, I will always want you.”

#luke x mara #Luke Skywalker #Mara Jade #scraps

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