#but also anakin would not stand for one word of obi-wan hate

[tennessoui]

Kit I hope you feel better! I was recently ill and read through all your tumblr aus to feel better. The one where Anakin leaves the jedi was the only time I laughed when I was sick because I kept picturing their neighbours looking them up on space book when they moved to the big city because they were so nice and they wanted to update them on the loth cat they convinced them to adopt then seeing them in a relationship like 😐😬🤨😶😵😢😠🤔😭😡

Anakin suggests going back to visit their old house and neighbourhood and Obi-Wan, who has had to block so many old neighbours trying to connect to send him caps lock messages about seducing his ward is like...how about skiing?

thank you!!! my head's hurting like crazy on and off and i still have a cough but for the most part i am back to pre covid state but also i haven't tried walking around or standing for long periods of time so tomorrow is gonna be a gr8 time

ANYWAY

aw the anakin leaves the order au

ok but maybe anakin respects obi-wan's need privacy and also his paranoia that everyone will hate him because he caved and fucked his ward (no one will care about the TIMELINE ok fine its ok its whatever) so he doesn't post anything on his space social media

but their old neighbor finds out because she gets bored and decides to do a deep dive on anakin and gets onto his friend's space instagram page and there are a few pics of anakin and obi-wan staring very intensely at each other in the background of other pics and that's sorta normal for them but then uh there's one from the holidays and is?? obi-wan groping anakin??? is the next picture them kissing in the background?? anakin is pressing obi-wan up against the kitchen doorway and their faces are indistinct but it's not NOT kissing.....

so you just know that one person gets deeply invested and they become like this one man army to try and prove obi-wan is sleeping with anakin

what im saying is i think it would also be funny/funnier if only one person--maybe their old nosey next door neighbor--gets super attached a la the teacher in fairly odd parents and no one really believes him because come on thats not a grope & theyve always looked at each other like that sorta, justine, im sorry, nothing looks out of sorts here?

meanwhile obi-wan and anakin are fucking nasty like every night anakin gets away from university and don't realize anyone's onto them

[neonmoonster]

“Of course I didn’t want you!”

Anakin recoiled like he had been slapped.

The anger he had felt only moments before towards the man in front of him dissipated and reformed into the keenest hurt he had ever experienced.

He had known this, of course—had known it forever, and he had prepared himself for the day the truth finally came out, building walls around his heart and forcing distance between himself and Obi-Wan for this very inevitability—but actually hearing it, actually hearing Obi-Wan say those words aloud? 

Nothing could have prepared Anakin for this moment.

I didn’t want you. 

Obi-Wan was still talking, ranting, but his words seemed far away, distant, like he was standing at the end of a tunnel, miles away from Anakin, who felt lightheaded, unsteady on his feet.

“—ster had just died, the Sith were back, and here was this boy,” Obi-Wan’s voice, tight and forceful, floated in and out of the air, “This boy for whom my master discarded me without a second thought, this boy, who was now my responsibility to raise and train.”

Anakin couldn’t look at him. Didn’t want to see the resentment in the set of his mouth, the long-buried hatred in the furrow of his brow. 

“My responsibility—me, a barely knighted Jedi, practically a padawan myself.”

Obi-Wan let out a bark of disbelieving laughter, a sharp edge to it that sliced Anakin to his core.

“I could barely take care of myself in the days after Qui-Gon died, let alone another human being. And now I had the duty to fulfill my master’s dying wish to train this boy on the off-chance that he would save the galaxy.” 

Do not cry.

Anakin willed himself to keep looking down, to stay impassive, to not raise Obi-Wan’s ire higher than it already was. If he betrayed how much these words cut him, how deep a wound they inflicted on his heart, then the magnitude of his attachment would be revealed, and that would only make Obi-Wan hate him more. 

And Anakin didn’t think he could take any more of Obi-Wan’s hate.

Do not cry.

He heard Obi-Wan take a steadying breath, audibly reigning himself in. When he spoke next, his voice was softer, yet reverberated through Anakin's mind as if he had screamed them.

“So, no. I did not want you.” 

He sensed Obi-Wan, his accursed, beloved former master, take a step towards him. Anakin stilled, a horrible thought overtaking him.

Would he strike him? Obi-Wan had never—would never—but he had also never said anything like this out loud to Anakin before. He had finally crossed the line.

Done the un-take-back-able.

Anakin had always walked a thin line with Obi-Wan, pushing and prodding, bringing out Obi-Wan’s frustration, his rolled eyes, dry jabs, and sometimes disappointed frown, but he had somehow avoided tipping the scales all the way over—at least, not until now.

Now, when he had finally pushed too far. 

Fuck. 

Do not cry. Do not cry—

A hand fell on his shoulder. It took everything in Anakin not to flinch.

“But don’t you ever think,” Obi-Wan said, the fierce passion back in his voice and Anakin’s stomach sank, sank sank. “Not even for one second, that you were not the best thing to ever happen to me.” 

Anakin’s head snapped up in shock. The very thing he had wanted to avoid doing at all costs, but surely he had misheard, surely Obi-Wan had not just said what he just said—

“You are the best friend I have ever had,” Obi-Wan said, and there was still that hard edge to his words, but now that Anakin was looking at him, he saw that his master's eyes were not filled with anger-hate-bitterness like he had feared, but simple determination.

A serious expression, but one that was interlaced with a gentleness that Anakin could only describe as fond.

“It has been… the honor and delight of my life to teach you,” Obi-Wan said, and Anakin couldn’t move because the truth of it was ringing in the Force, unmistakable and passionate and firm. “And now to fight and live beside you as equals.”

Was Anakin dreaming?

A flicker of a smile crossed Obi-Wan’s face, like he was lost in remembrance and, oh, Anakin’s heart couldn’t take it, couldn’t handle this emotional whiplash, his greatest fear and most secret hope come to life over the course of a single conversation.

“It only took you about a day and a half to win me over. I was petrified every day that I would mess you up, leave you worse than I found you, let you down, Qui-Gon down, the galaxy down—but not once did I regret you. Not once would I have traded you away from anything.”

Obi-Wan squeezed Anakin’s shoulder and Anakin shuddered, letting out a choked whimper that he immediately wished he could take back, but Obi-Wan’s eyes softened, and through their bond Anakin could only feel kindness, affection, maybe even—

Obi-Wan's expression shifted once more, for the first time his steadiness in the force wavering, and he swallowed, appearing nervous, if Anakin didn't know any better.

"I do not always find it easy to express myself with words, like this. It is... difficult for me. But it appears that it is necessary today."

Anakin stared at him helplessly.

“I am unbearably sorry that I have ever made you believe otherwise. That you could ever think that you are not my favorite person in the world.”

Anakin could not stop the tear from falling down his cheek. And Obi-Wan Kenobi, high general of the Republic Army, one of the strongest, most respected masters in the Jedi Order, and Anakin's former teacher, gently caught it with the pad of his thumb and wiped it away.

"You are," Obi-Wan's voice came out rough and tinged with something that made Anakin's breath catch in his throat. But then just as quickly, Obi-Wan gave him a small smile, his voice clear once more, even dry and teasing.

“I hope that's alright with you.”

Anakin's answering smile was watery, but it could have lit up the entire galaxy anyhow.

[poppysunderthestars]

➷ heartless ➷

"tryna find the one that can fix me"

⟡ fuckboy!ani and fem!reader

⟡ warning: slight sexual concepts, kissing, +18 content, degradation, sexual tension. (if i'm missing any, please let me know!) minors do not interact!

⟡ summary; fuckboy jedi ani loves going all in with the female padawans. yet the only one who does not fall into his claws is the girl with a secret life and that drives him insane. will he have his ways with you?

⟡ word count; 1,8k

author's notice: happy late birthday dear hayden! you will have to forgive me, i'm very rusty, it's been a while since i wrote like this. what do you all think for a part 2 with way more smutty content? let me know your opinions! (english is not my first language, if you find any details, lmk)

you can read pt ii. here -> heartless pt. ii

‧₊˚ ⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.‧₊˚ ⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.‧₊˚ ⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.‧₊˚ ⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.‧₊˚ ⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.‧₊˚ ⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

'the hot jedi from tatooine' 

that's what everyone called him, including you. 

yes, while anakin was a very special padawan, you were an even better one. he had slept with almost all the female padawans available in the temple yet you seemed to be the only one not falling for his troubling reputation, and charming smirk when someone says a quick remark about his abilities or his silky and soft brunette mane. 

since his hormones began revolting and his hands couldn´t keep to himself, all he thought about from dusk 'till dawn, was fucking.

he spent most of his hours, daydreaming about which next little innocent padawan to corrupt. what position he would put them in, how slow or fast he would pump them. he could cum and stain his black pants from just thinking how slutty they were all for him. all putting their asses up just for him to go feral on their small cunts.

he enchanted everyone, but you. you could not seem to understand how incredible everyone thought he was. he was nothing but a heartless stupid fuckboy jerk . 'he is not even that smart' you thought. 

however you could not exclude the biggest and most important fact of all, he was h o t. and not 'one-night stand' hot. but  ‘i want him to make me some babies' hot.

no matter how hard you tried to resist him, your private time in your chambers always ended up with you breathlessly murmuring his name and enveloping your digits with your fluids wishing it was him caressing your insides.

it was normal to feel this way, you hated him but at the same time you desired him. he always ignored you and the only time he even looked at you was when he wanted some nighty company. you could never lower yourself to him, cause he would never treat you right.

right?

well, it depends on what you mean with right. cause lately you've been craving a nice and pleasing time with someone and you did find yourself wetting your panties to his thought. 

you were one exemplary padawan to the rest, always paying attention to your master, leaving to your room early, never hostile or worse, a whore.

that´s what people reasoned about you, the perfect padawan. you used to be that, always getting up early to prepare for training, spending time in the library, being curious but not much to seem nosy, caring, empathetic, and overall nice.

once you finally started to rebel against your origins, you became more confident, experienced, and fun. some nights you secretly left your room and escaped to low coruscant in search of what could be interpreted as a sluty night. you know, a few drinks in an unknown bar, a bit of harmless flirting, and ending the night in a stranger´s apartment getting your brains shaken, once and twice and...

too many times to count.

no one seemed to look past the "teacher´s pet quiet girl" façade, except mr. fuck-it-all also known as fellow anakin skywalker. master obi wan kenobi´s padawan.

he just knew you were too good to be true. you had to have a secret that you guard with your life or something. he couldn't wrap his head on why he viewed you as interesting, you were pretty, yes. and you were smart, decisive, and down-to-earth. still, he just deducted it was because you´re mysterious, know how to put a person in their place, and keep your inner thoughts to yourself, something he somehow found fascinating.

before, he had tried to use the force to read your thoughts ( he was very powerful he could manipulate most people to do so), the only thing is that he could not. you were not that easily undermined. 

you were very strong-minded and even more powerful than skywalker himself, he just did not realize that. however, you did know he tried to subdue you several times with no success. you were the last trophy on his "fuck" collection and he desired you like you desired him, or even worse. 

he was determined to have you either way, he was going to have you. he was so cocky thinking he could effortlessly make you fall into his trap. 

it was a very nice day, to say the least, your master had congratulated you for the improvement in your fighting skills. you also received a letter from one of your night men asking to see you again, which grew your ego.

nothing was stopping you today

until there was...

again, mr. anakin skywalker. it was not the first time you had sensed his impetuous sexual need, you felt it whenever you were close to him. it was a very present sensation. your mind just knew he was desperate and tensed for release. still, you did not understand why he wanted you, when he could have had any other woman.

'why?' you questioned.

it was sincerely driving you insane. it was like he purposely tried to make you desire him in hopes of you letting get fucked by him. it was a very complicated situation for you. you wanted him but you did not want to seem influenced by the sexual need of him inside of you.

that night you schemed your plan you were going to dominate him like he had never been before. you were going to have him under your spell. he was not going to be able to resist one more day after you let him taste you and devour you as he should.

you spent most of the night visualizing the penetration that was going to take place. the flavor of his skin against your mouth and the roughness of his hand stroking your thighs with such excitement. in between those thoughts, you fucked yourself several times with him on your mind.

it all came down to the decisive moment the next day, you arrived to his persona chilling in the garden and you sat beside him.

“now, i knew you would come,” he said confidently, grinning against his hand to hide the fact he was ecstatic about your presence. it was finally coming through

“such a cheeky man, are you not?” you responded when you noticed he could not stop smiling. “you never rose interest in me, you always looked mediocre to me ”

he didn’t feel compelled into your game, it was like a tug of war, and the last one to give in was going to look weak. he was putting up with your sassy introduction and you were putting with his jerkily overbold personality. the feeling you could not outrun was finally here. 

while you wished for his death right then, you also desired his tongue on your wet pussy ready to take all of him. 

“i would say, on the contrary, you look like one touch from me would send you to heaven”

 did he just say that? what an arrogant dude. 

“what makes you so sure about that?” 

“the word is out that you are such a slut” he dropped it, it was such an irreverent comment. he was not sure if it was true, however, he did not give a fuck about his reputation, and whatever it took he was going to figure out what the hell was your little secret.

you pierced his eyes with your own, perceiving his lips licking themselves and looking up and down at you. like analyzing the effect he had on you.

“well, i heard something else” you took your finger to your lip in a naive look, and you spoke softly and slowly giving you the rest of the power and making him doubt his previous wording. “you are not better than i am, that’s what’s up”.

he did not care at all, he knew he was no better than anyone else. yet he was losing his mind over that little interaction between the two of you.

“i never said i was, you just assumed i was. whoever told you otherwise is looking for trouble” it was a play of words, so much tension in that little bench. your bodies became closer with each phrase dropped in the air. it was so dirty how your breaths were almost mixed up, how he was resisting throwing himself at you. you could not stop looking at his fleshy and almost lubricated lips. you were close enough to explode right there.

“then i am one for deep trouble” you responded still not taking your sight from his breathless mouth, too close to be sane and too far from a full kiss. some parts of your lips were touching his by now, yet it was nowhere close to what you both were wanting.

“oh, yeah you are, whore” 

you found yourself in a trance by just a few millimeters and a deprecating ruse. it was intoxicating his presence by his short and gasping breathing.  

“you would never care to think miss perfect here likes being treated like the sluttiest thing around here, right?” while he spoke, you rose your eyes to his, nonetheless you found him admiring your facial elements in the warm afternoon illumination. 

“could you look more ruined than this?” you lowly spoke with a peal of mocking soft laughter, splashing all over your face. 

“tryna find the one that can fix me" understanding that no miracle was happening there, he gradually tried to separate from you. the slow-motion effect made an evident effect on you, or well your panties. you were a full ocean down there, you felt the humid ambient growing with each progressing moment. you’d had enough

“think that could be you?” 

without the right amount of time to think fully through, you went right to it and connected your lips to his. tugging his hair to enclose the remaining space between you. 

he was so proud he did not fall first, and that showed when the kiss was complemented by a shameless smirk that decorated his chiseled visage.

the little obstinate man was not letting his emotions show and you sensed that. he cut the kiss observing closely your iris filling with a black tint. felt like a rush you’d never felt before, not even back in low coruscant. never felt like that before.

he confidently stepped up and bent over to your ear, humming delicately causing a tickling sensation like just a few minutes before.

“you could never fix me, even if you tried” he spoke. breaking your burning daze.

just like if he had not felt a single thing, he left the room hiding his frenzy. he wanted to go deeper on you, go harder and faster. you did not deserve it. you were such a tease.

leaving you all alone while you were all ready to take his hard throbbing dick, what a heartless man…

[jazlynriddle-starwars]

Master Will Protect You Ch 1:

Summary:

Two months after Mustafar, Darth Vader meets his demise at the feet of a Kyber Crystal. Faced with the truth—that Obi-Wan never left him. That his Master still hasn’t. Seeking to be Anakin Skywalker again, he turns on Sidious, who curses him with his dying breath. Now Anakin is crippled, broken, haunted, and utterly dependent on Obi-Wan’s care. And Obi-Wan... Obi-Wan is struggling to balance being a good Jedi, doing his duty and taking care of Anakin. Because Anakin's trust is just so addictive, the word Master has too many meanings, and Obi-Wan no longer feels like a hero. He feels like he's becoming the one monster Anakin can’t see coming.

Warnings/Tags: Mild gore, erotic horror, psychological, trauma/character study, slow burn, angst with a happy ending!

You can also read on AO3! (chapter specific warnings below)

Notes:

Warnings: Gore, like, descriptive and medically accurate gore. It's not slasher-type gore, but it's descriptive enough to get across how the character is feeling. And it's enough that my dearly beloved partner has to skip sections while beta-ing. So, reader's discretion is advised. I did a butt ton of medical research and recovery from very specific types of injuries to write this shit lol

This work was inspired by sleep deprivation, my own grief for my dearly departed animal companion of almost 15 years, and some really really good art.

Honestly, I've been wanting to write a fic on the premise of; what-if Anakin had taken the Kyber Crystal's offer in the comic Darth Vader Issue #5 and turned on Sidious post-Mustafar and went to find Obi-Wan like the crystal showed, but I couldn't think of a way to swing it with Canon's setup. Darth Vader was just feeling too hurt and betrayed by Obi-Wan, too busy self-flagellating and self-hating to do what he wants to.

Then I saw one of @deliquesaint's incredible artworks and my brain immediately started churning the necessary alternative conditions and changes to Canon's events required to push Anakin into trusting and accepting the Kyber Crystal's promise that Obi-Wan would forgive him despite everything he's done. It was beautiful.

What's less beautiful is how fucked I'm making Obi-Wan. Look, after Mustafar, dude has every excuse to go loopy. The only thing standing between this guy and gothic horror insanity is the PG rating on the Star Wars franchise.

The track for this fic is Arcane's Wasteland by Royal & the Serpent. Ugh, the music from that series is just too perfect for any damn tragedy pair lol

This fic even kinda follows the lyrics of that song's arc, complete with the turn from the despair in the first half to the last stanza's hope, from “I know it's my fault that I'm here all alone” to “If it weren't for you, I'd be here all alone” and from “I used to have strength, but I ran out of hope” to “There's a beauty in changes. And I wanna try.”

But anyway, sorry, I yap too much–

I hereby present a tale of two broken souls and the ugly, unpleasant reality that sometimes, the only way to save someone... is to risk yourself, fall into the pit with them.

And climb out together.

“Anakin.”

His eyes open, when had he closed them? Obi-Wan? He'd heard the voice of his Maste– his...

He groans and shakes his head, no... his Master isn't Obi-Wan anymore. He's not Anakin. He's Vader. Darth... Vader...

“Anakin.”

Pain. It's... good. It is what gives him power.

“Anakin.”

“Stop!” Vader screams, clutching at his head. He can feel himself fracturing inside, the pain hurts. Grief, betrayal, regret, anger, bitter hate, and sorrow. But under it all, there's still something achingly sweet. Something soft, gentle, calling, longing, yearning.

He glares at the Kyber Crystal, the little green shard floating on the pedestal. The heart of the blade, the soul of a lightsaber, its soft yet powerful glow dancing off the cavern walls.

After everything he'd done, it dared tempt him back to his M– to Obi-Wan's side!? Dared give him this poisonous lie, that Obi-Wan would lower his blade, and call him Anakin. After Obi-Wan tried to kill him on Mustafar, after turning Padme against him. That Obi-Wan would forgive him for everything he's done. Take him back like some pathetic snivelling weak creature crawling on its knees for mercy!?

Vader wants to smash the crystal. Forget his mission to bleed a Jedi's Kyber Crystal, to pour his hate into it and break it, turn its green glow into the bloody broken red of the Sith. Kark the mission. He wants to destroy it. To shatter it, let it lie broken in the remains of its pathetic attempts to protect itself, to use his emotions to control him. Nobody controls Darth Vader.

This path he's on is all there is, all that's left to him. This is all the universe has ever seen fit to grant him. Suffering, pain, loss, betrayal, and misery.

Vader raises a hand towards it and a powerful pulse ripples through the Force, throbs through him.

“Anakin.”

“Aaaaarrrrhhhh!” He tears at his own hair, images flash through his mind without his permission. He feels a pull from the Kyber Crystal, as though it is dragging out the memories from the depths of his soul. He sees them, even though he doesn't want to look.

His Mast– Obi-Wan standing above him.

“It's over, Anakin. I have the high ground.”

“You underestimate my power.”

“Don't try it.”

He remembers jumping, seeing his former Master's blade, realising in that split second that he'd made a mistake. The blade cuts through his legs, a familiar pain. He remembers losing his arm. He was beside Obi-Wan when he lost it. He was defending Obi-Wan when he lost it.

What irony, that he would lose everything else to his former Master, the one who was always meant to be by his side. Obi-Wan's eyes widen, as though hearing his thoughts, and before the saber can slash through his left arm, he feels a push in the Force. It throws him to the side and he slams into one of the nearby structures.

Through the pain lancing through his skull and the sticky wetness trickling into one eye, he sees his former Master raise his blade over him. His memories had blurred after that. In the two months since, he could never make anything out.

After Mustafar, he'd awoken in a medical centre. Darth Sidious had told him that he had been found near death, and near enough to the rising lava that he'd have been on fire if he hadn't been rescued in time. That he had been in a coma for several days from a concussion and broken ribs. That his legs had been replaced with prosthetics. He now bears a burn scar on his neck that had clearly been left by a lightsaber.

Had his Ma– Obi-Wan not gotten a chance to finish him off before Sidious arrived?

Then he'd been caught in his grief over Padme and forgot about how strange that was. Never questioned his belief that Sidious had saved him from his former Master, simply felt hate and betrayal burn through him. But now, now... he sees—no, remembers—remembers what his concussion had buried.

He sees through hazy eyes, his Master's hand trembling, bringing his lightsaber down with a shout and stopping just an inch from his neck. He raises the blade again and takes a deep breath, steadies his grip and swings once more, only to halt midway. There's tears running down his face now, and Obi-Wan cries out in frustration, brings the blade up and swings again.

Once more it stops an inch away. He feels the heat bite into his flesh, sear the skin of his neck. Sees his Master pull his blade back up to hit himself in the head with its hilt, before bringing his saber down again, his eyes frenzied and teeth clenched like a beast.

It stops.

Again and again.

His Master keeps trying to cut through his neck, failing every single time, as though there is a ray shield over his throat. He understands now why there is a deep burn across his flesh, but nothing more.

He watches, helpless, unable to move as his Master's face becomes more of a mess, blood runs down his neat beard as he tears into his lip with his teeth. Obi-Wan cries out in agony when his saber halts again at Anakin's throat, but goes no further. The air hums with his swings and mournful cries.

When his Master finally gives up, Anakin feels relief. Not for himself, but for Obi-Wan. His Master kneels beside him, eyes blank and empty with defeat.

“I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I've... I failed you.” His voice is hoarse from screaming and Anakin's heart hurts. “I can't... I can't even release you...”

His Master cradles his face gently, wipes the blood from his cheek with painful tenderness. Then he looks at the rising lava near them, the dismembered limbs that lay closer to the liquid fire as they ignite, the way Anakin's clothes are starting to blacken from the heat.

“It... it will be over soon...” Obi-Wan mutters and places a hand over his eyes, darkness envelops him. “Sleep. Sleep and feel no pain. I'm sorry...”

“Anakin.”

He gasps, eyes flying open again. Obi-Wan...

He drags his gaze up, and the disappointment he feels when he sees a stone pedestal is deeper than any he's ever felt before. He looks at the green Kyber Crystal hovering over the stone. It sings and pulses with light. Calm and beautiful. Quiet in its call. Haunting.

He stands shakily, pushes himself to his mechanical feet, strides over to the unbled crystal.

And closes the saber hilt around it.

The Crystal hadn't lied.

He'd managed to kill Darth Sidious. It had been easier than he thought it would be. His Ma– Palpatine, Sidious, had always felt bigger than life to him. Chancellor of the Senate, power even above the Jedi, the one who saved Naboo, protected Padme's home. The dark lord that had puppeteered both sides of the war, the man who'd been there for him for so many years, a confident and mentor he'd trusted.

The man who promised him everything he loved, yet delivered nothing but power.

He's gone now. That God-like man is gone.

Or... at least the Sith's body.

He groans with pain, has to stop to hack gastric juices into the desert sand. It hurts, in his head. Screams of rage ringing endlessly within his skull, shaking his teeth and making his eyes ache.

When he confronted Sidious, the dark lord had tried to take his body when he cut the man down. Tried to force himself inside him. He can still feel the man's mind swirling and writhing in his insides. The Crystal hadn't warned him of this. It's nauseating, like having a snake inside him. Strangling him, snapping at the edges of his mind. The cage he'd locked the dark lord in.

He needs Obi-Wan. His Master would know what to do. It hurts. He can barely hold his mind together, barely see.

Master! He calls out into the Force, follows his instincts, his senses. He's always been able to find his Master when he needs him. There's something relieved in his chest when he finds that this is still true. Searching for Obi-Wan to kill him had never worked. Not when he wanted to kill him.

Now, longing for him, aching for him, needing his Master in his soul. He finds the thinnest red thread still clinging to them and follows it.

His ship had crashed into the desert of Tatooine.

Kriffing Tatooine.

It's always Tatooine. Of course his Master would choose to hide here. The one place he would sooner see swallowed by a black hole than return to. He hates this place. The desert only takes.

‘If he were willing to welcome you, he wouldn't have chosen a place you would never go to.’

He shakes his head. No, it's... it's because this is safe. Outer... outer rim. Neutral territory. Free of clone troopers. The Empire.

He groans in pain and stumbles, falling into the sand. It's so hard to think. He drags himself up, feet sinking into the grit. Master, he needs to find his Master. He struggles to breathe through the cloth covering his face. There's grains in his nose, caught in the hairs, in his mouth, gumming his saliva into mud. It's probably in his lungs too and definitely in his servos. He hates sand.

Then he hears the sound of an animal, he raises his head, his vision blurry. Lifting his leaden legs is one of the hardest things he's ever done, and he thinks his lungs will soon give out.

He can feel him close by. His Master. It's been months since he's felt Obi-Wan's presence. It feels warm. Safe. Right. He hears footsteps and then the familiar sound of a saber being lit. He drags his hazy eyes up to the figure before him.

It's the same. Completely the same as the vision he'd been given. Relief weakens his knees, though he'd always planned to kneel.

‘Fool! He'll kill us!’

Sidious screams in anger and fear in his mind. It's deafening, loud and terrible.

“Obi-Wan...” He wheezes. “Please...”

He's not sure if he's begging for forgiveness, or mercy, or even death. Anything. He will take whatever Obi-Wan is willing to give.

Then the saber dims and lowers.

“Anakin.”

Anakin feels, for the first time in years.

Peace.

The desert doesn't care who you used to be. Obi-Wan had learnt that quickly. Under its twin suns, all were equal. All had to fight to survive. Not live. Survive. Purpose? Meaning? There was none out here. Only the desperation to protect oneself or—if you're unlucky enough to have them—loved ones.

It's a lesson he'd never really had to learn. He was always meant to be something more, like his brethren, blessed by the Force. He was born a Jedi, taken into the Order before he even got to know his parents. Who he was, who he is, who he will be. He's always had meaning and purpose. He has doubted himself, his capabilities, but never his path. That has always been clear.

It's still clear.

Sort of.

His path is at his feet. Luke. He has a new child to watch over. The child of his.

But for the first time, he walks his path looking back.

He's never done this before. Not really. He'd felt sadness and pain. He'd felt longing and grief. He's glanced back. Stolen mournful glimpses and then taken a deep breath, and looked forward again. Set his eyes on the path and held them there through pure force of will.

Now, he walks with his eyes fixed behind him. He can't look away. He searches for the path with his toes, backs along it slowly. He might as well be a blind man, for he cannot see the path. His eyes are enraptured, fixed to him. Like he will vanish if Obi-Wan blinks. Like even his memory will be taken from him.

Those playful blue eyes, gradually replaced by bright yellow orbs that burned like the lava around them that day as he swung his blade down on his child.

“You brought him here to kill me.”

Not convince, kill. His boy had jumped to that. It hurt. It hurt like nothing before. That Anakin could think so little of his love after betraying him, bending the knee to another man. Calling him —their enemy, the one who ultimately took Master Qui-Gon from them—calling that evil man Master.

It hurt because Anakin was correct.

Obi-Wan had been tasked to kill him.

Obi-Wan had been angry and hurt. He’d let that bleed into his words, unable to hide or suppress his grief. Even though he'd wanted nothing more than to be Anakin's guide again. Yet how could he guide Anakin, in so pivotal a moment, when he himself could barely see through his tears?

The blind leading the blind.

He never knew what he was doing with Anakin. Raising him, training him. There were no instructions for a Padawan this young, this old. Nine. A Padawan that had never been an initiate. Had grown up in the outer rims. As a slave no less. He'd been afraid of Anakin, afraid for Anakin, and helplessly in awe of him. His boy learnt so fast, fought so hard.

Most students needed encouragement to try hard. His boy needed encouragement to try less hard. To be more gentle, softer. Obi-Wan hadn't been taught how to tame a wild beast. He had learnt how to love from Master Qui-Gon, but his Master never taught him how to stop loving. To slow his love and tamper it. There must have been a way.

He never found it.

He'd felt loss before. So many times. But these last few months have felt like nothing that had come before. The result of a love he couldn't restrain. It wasn't like losing something cherished, it wasn't like losing Satine, it wasn't like losing Master Qui-Gon, it wasn't even like losing a lightsaber. It was like losing his connection to the Force and all his limbs at the same time.

Made worse by actually having to cut off his connection to the Force, lest he make a ripple in it and draw the attention of the Sith. He would bury his lightsaber soon, alongside An... he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

For now, he needs it, as protection against Sand People. They still hadn't quite recognised his territory yet, small as it was, a simple cave cut into the underside of the mountain. He couldn't let anyone who attacked him and forced him to use his lightsaber live to tell the tale. So, establishing his claim on this space was slow and would require many lives to stake.

These... these were the rules and fears that Anakin had grown up with. The law of Power. Paid in blood.

He understands a bit better now. The humiliation and disgrace of being powerless. He's only been here for two months and it's already wearing at him. He's nobody now. This isn't an undercover mission where he pretends to be nobody. It's real. He no longer has a home to go back to. People he can trust. Laws to believe in.

He must stand by, and watch injustice occur. It bites. It was bearable when he was a Jedi, at least they were preventing what injustice they could. He could trust in the system, in procedures carved out by those wiser than he. It's another thing to be preventing nothing at all.

To have power and lose it. It’s really something he never thought he'd come to understand this well.

How must it have felt for his boy? To come from this and then suddenly taste power, more power than even the greatest warriors in the galaxy. It probably felt like nothing was impossible. A terrifying prospect, he now sees. It means that anything that goes wrong, must be your own fault then. Didn't it? Every injustice you see, you must fix.

His poor Anakin...

Master...

He flinches when he feels something familiar, a tender caress. Obi-Wan smothers his Force signature more carefully, though he knows that isn't possible. His boy was dead. And even if he wasn't, he wouldn't call out to Obi-Wan like that ever again.

He shoves his thoughts aside and checks the vaporator humming outside his cave in the light of the evening suns. Collects the two or three cans it had gathered and goes inside to store them away carefully. Water is precious here, on Tatooine.

He misses being able to shower. Even a sonic would be a blessing right about now. He now understands why Anakin had been so crazy about water for their first five years together. His boy had loved baths as a nine-year-old child. He would rub his squeaky-clean fingers against Obi-Wan's back in delight, squealed with happiness when Obi-Wan washed his hair in crystal clear water.

Those fond memories are just pain now. He thinks about Anakin, murmuring sleepily into his collar as the boy cuddled up to him in the night, saying he would love to die drowning. He hadn't understood then, as a twenty-five year old. Death was such a close companion to all here, young and old, that there was nothing morbid or horrifying about a child musing on their death.

Nothing strange or scary at all, for little Anakin to say something like that to the person he trusted most.

Obi-Wan sits by his workshop pile and starts fixing his backup vaporator, an old model he'd managed to trade for from a Jawa clan. It should be serviceable, the sensor array was just so badly misaligned that it was unable to detect when to operate to collect water, so it simply never moved.

Like him, fully operational, but rendered useless by blind ignorance.

He thinks about granting the boy his wish. Considering everything that had happened to Anakin and because of him. Perhaps it would have been a kindness, if he had just pushed the boy under the water of their baths with gentle hands. Let him burble, happy and playful, until the water flooded his narrow throat and filled his soft little lungs.

Drowning in the gentle cool water he loved, instead of boiling lava.

A low farting sound comes from the cave entrance, most likely from Akkani, his eopie. Obi-Wan stands and leaves his cave to go to his faithful mount.

“What is it, Akkani?” He asks, brushing the soft fur on its side and it gives him another farty sound from its snout. “Oh, is that what you think? Well, I wouldn't say you smell like a bed of roses either.”

Obi-Wan smiles, recalling the day he'd purchased it. The eopie had gotten excited and almost threw him off. Perhaps his brain had misfired and pulled the wrong file, but it had reminded him of Anakin's terrifying flying. So, by pure force of habit, he'd yelped, “ack Ani–”

He'd cut himself off halfway through his boy's name, but ever since then, the mount refused to respond to anything besides that sound. So, its name was thus, Akkani. A sad smile curls his mouth, his boy would have been tickled for years if he heard this story, he can almost hear his teasing.

Tears come to his eyes, and he scoffs bitterly. After how spectacularly he'd failed to command his thoughts today. That he would be brought to tears by this, is pathetic. No wonder he hadn't been able to commune with Master Qui-Gon. He's a mess. Still a mess.

Then he hears movement a short distance away. The sound of heavy footsteps, sand grating against rock, and he stiffens. Obi-Wan rushes back inside to grab his lightsaber, and comes back out quickly, ready to defend Akkani if necessary. He watches warily, hiding his saber hilt behind his back.

A hooded figure emerges up the rise. Lumbering slowly over the sand, it stumbles and totters towards him. Even though he has closed himself off to the Force, at this distance, Obi-Wan can feel the faintest yet undeniable whisp of the Dark Side. Panic seizes him and he raises his saber, lighting it immediately. How did they find him!?

Then he hears a voice he never thought would grace his ears again.

“Obi-Wan...” It sounds like him. The man raises his face and the hood drops away. There are tears spilling down his cheeks as he falls to his knees. “Please...”

Obi-Wan cannot believe it. He's afraid to believe it, but a trembling hand reaches out to him. He knows that face, worn and tired. He's alive. He's here. Calling for him, begging for him. Obi-Wan can't believe it, but his body can. Has rehearsed this in his sleep, night after night, for the last two months since Mustafar. The saber dims without his notice, and he steps forward.

“Anakin...” It's a plea, a question, and a prayer all in one.

The moment he's within reach, the boy latches onto his pant leg. Obi-Wan feels fear in his heart, fear that this is a trick, a trap. But the sob in Anakin's throat has Obi-Wan crouching and placing a gentle hand on his cheek.

“Master...” Anakin gasps, raising a hand to cling to his shirt. Obi-Wan brushes the tears from his boy's eyes, lifts his chin to better see him in the evening light.

His eyes are yellow.

Obi-Wan recoils.

Stumbles upright and reaches for his saber again.

“Help me... Master...” The boy begs, dropped back to the floor by his withdrawal. He looks pathetic, curled up on the floor like a worm. Pain and revulsion flare in Obi-Wan's heart again. How many times must this boy break it?

“It hurts... Master...” Such a pitiful whine. Calling him Master, when those eyes mark him as another's. Anger spikes within him. “Master... don't leave me...”

Obi-Wan swallows, steels himself to run, to take Luke and flee. The clone troopers would surely not be far behind, but it sounds too much like Anakin. Like he did as a child, sick with a cold, begging for comfort, for relief.

“Where's your new Master?” He can't help but ask, some part of Obi-Wan is praying that he is wrong. Praying he's right. Because he doesn't know which is scarier, that this is real or that it is a trick.

The boy shakes his head sluggishly, like he's drunk. That masochistic piece of himself remembers the first time he found his foolish boy drunk after they had a fight. He was fifteen, still a child. Still a child, his child, Obi-Wan had had to remind himself, over and over, when the boy grabbed him by the robes and pressed their lips together.

It was sloppy and terrible, as only a drunk child who had never kissed anything in his life could, but it had made every alarm in his body go off. Every warning siren wailed loudly and painfully as he struggled to put out the fire that it had ignited. He'd pulled the boy off him, forced the child's hands from his body and wrapped him in his robe. To halt his reaching hands.

And his own that itched to follow.

“I... I killed him...” He freezes as the boy reaches his hand out again. “For... for you... Master...”

He stares at that trembling hand, limp and tired. Anakin killed Sidious? Is this real?

A muffled moan slips out from Anakin's lips and the hand begins to fall. Obi-Wan catches it without thinking. The moment their skin touches, tears spring to his eyes. His boy's hand is warm, fingers rough and calloused from hours spent training with Obi-Wan and fighting beside him. He kneels, cupping the boy's jaw and helping him back onto his knees.

“What hurts?” Obi-Wan asks softly, flinching when Anakin's yellow eyes meet his own.

Nausea roils in his stomach at the sight, love and hate warring in him. Those eyes. Those disgusting yellow things. A symbol of everything he's lost. All his failures and regrets. They don't belong on his boy's beautiful face.

“He– Sidious... he's inside me...” Anakin whimpers in pain. “My head...”

The statement is so bewildering that, for a moment, Obi-Wan wonders if this is some horrifyingly broken way of saying he had been raped and tortured. Nausea hits him again. Had he– he had left Anakin there. Had he left Anakin to a fate worse than death? Was that how the evil creature broke his boy?

How long? Before? During the war? While he was a child? All those times Palpatine had taken Anakin from him, abused his authority over the Jedi to secret Anakin—his Padawan—away from Obi-Wan. The idea makes him want to vomit.

“In my mind... I– I managed to fight... his control...” Anakin chokes out, like the words pain him. “But I can't– can't get him... out...”

“Shh, let me see. Look at me.” Obi-Wan murmurs, takes Anakin by the sides of his face, cups his soft cheeks and presses their foreheads together. He forces himself to meet those ugly yellow orbs and opens himself to the Force for the first time in what feels like forever.

The first thing he feels is Anakin's signature, that majestic presence that always felt like the warmth of the sun and equally as blinding. The connection between them that feels like home. Like comfort and fire, like quiet rest and boundless passion. It's almost nostalgic now, and it brings tears to his eyes, to feel his gaping loneliness finally appeased.

Obi-Wan hears Anakin take a shuddering breath and feels the heat of it fan across his lips. It's difficult to remind himself that he's not here to bask in Anakin's presence, that he's looking for the source of his pain.

For better or for worse, he doesn't have to look very hard.

‘KENOBI!’

He flinches at the familiar voice of the Chancellor. Rage and darkness leak from the boy's mind, enshrouding Anakin's radiant and melodic signature, and his boy wails in pain. It's terrifying in its intensity.

Okay, so he had meant that quite literally.

Obi-Wan grips Anakin tighter, sweat beading on his brow as he tries to help his boy wrangle the foul creature from his mind. He wrenches and pulls at it with all his might, only to hear a scream from Anakin and feel his boy's presence in the Force flicker. Alarm shoots through him, watching in horror as that parasitical thing constricts around his boy.

Anakin is too drained, his signature too weak for Obi-Wan to remove Sidious without killing him.

The evil thing living inside his boy laughs maniacally, ‘will you do it? Kill your Padawan? Like you so desperately tried to before?’

Obi-Wan snarls in anger, this man had taken everything from him, and now, when his boy is ready to repent, Sidious is once again in-between them. He glares into those glazed over yellow eyes, he hates them so much. Hates that they are on Anakin's face, sitting there like they're natural. Like they were meant to be there. 

Like the blue he'd loved had always been an illusion.

Obi-Wan's anger is dark and overpowering, the kind that wants to hurt, rip, and tear. Then, he feels a barely noticeable tug on that Dark anger, cold creeping along it. Flinches when he feels Sidious attempt to latch onto it and travel into him.

He withdraws in alarm. Feels Anakin's presence in the Force buckle under the weight that had been dropped back onto his shoulders. Obi-Wan stares in horror at his boy. This new threat is even more dangerous. That the Sith might use his own anger to take over Obi-Wan's body instead.

Is killing Anakin the only way? Pain lances through him.

He can't.

Not again.

Anakin is here, on his knees for him. Anakin came to him. Killed Sidious for him. He can't kill Anakin now. Not like this.

But he can feel Anakin losing the battle of wills against the Sith Lord by the second.

If he lets Anakin live... that thing could take over, become the most powerful Sith in all history. There would be no hope. It's too early, Luke and Leia are too young. If this creature took Anakin's body or Obi-Wan's, the child would not be able to fight them off. Obi-Wan tries again to look at those yellow eyes, but the Dark anger within him comes rushing back and he averts his gaze.

It's too soon for him too. The wound is too raw.

Then an idea comes to him. A compromise. A small price to pay, surely. After everything Anakin had done. For his life. To buy them time. A safety net for the galaxy as well. In case he fails again. Obi-Wan is no longer so arrogant as to think he can hold back the end of the universe with half measures. For Anakin's own good, for the good of the galaxy.

For his own sanity.

“Anakin.” Obi-Wan breathes, cradles Anakin's chin in his hand.

The boy moans, his eyes squeezed closed in pain and Obi-Wan feels dizzy. A strange, unsettling heat throbs through his veins at the sound. He takes a deep breath and steels himself for what he must do. Then takes a moment to slip two fingers into his own mouth, cleaning the sand from them. This is the best they will get on such short notice.

There isn't time.

“You did well, coming to me.” Obi-Wan then murmurs, traces his thumb over the boy's chin, cups his face like he's always wanted to, like a lover. “Anakin...”

Those long lashes flutter open and, even through the yellow, the way Anakin looks at him, leans into his palm, is beautiful. Trusting, loving, serene despite the agony he must be in. Obi-Wan savours this moment, as poisoned as it is by yellow. Wishes and longs for the blue he will never see again. The windows to the soul.

He tells himself that he's just doing what is necessary, but his fingers twitch and itch for it.

“Master will...” Obi-Wan swallows, bringing his hand up with a reassuring smile. He holds two fingers out as though to brush the scar that goes across Anakin's eye. While he tightens his grip on the boy's jaw with the other, which finally seems to alert Anakin to the fact that something is off. “...protect you.”

With that promise, he stabs his fingers into the boy's eye.

Anakin shrieks.

His hands leave the floor to scrabble madly at Obi-Wan's wrist and forearm. His nails tear into Obi-Wan's skin, drawing blood, but he holds Anakin's entire upper body weight by his jaw, refusing to relinquish his grip.

Obi-Wan digs his fingers past that disgusting glowing yellow orb. Watches white fluids and viscera ooze out from the entry point as they sink into his skull's cavity. The boy's hot flesh swallows his digits, soft and squishy. Flesh and veins lodge themselves under his fingernails.

It's horrible. Crippling his child even further like this, so brutally, without even painkillers or the merciful swiftness of a saber. But his breath is heavier than it should be, as he viciously curls his fingers. Anakin's body jolts like he's been electrocuted. He'd stopped screeching a while ago. The boy simply trembles uncontrollably, his jaw hanging open in a silent scream, choked noises gurgling in his throat.

There's something about this moment. With the boy's neck in his grip, his fingers inside his skull, just inches from Anakin's brain. He's never done anything this grotesque before, with his own bare hands. It feels almost... intimate.

Obi-Wan swallows thickly and struggles to focus. Carefully coils his fingers around the slippery sphere resting in the mess of sticky goo, uses the Force to find the right angle to catch it securely. He doesn't want to have to stick his fingers inside again and put his boy through this pain more than necessary. He makes sure that it is firmly in his grip.

And pulls.

There's a wet pop as the squishy orb is ripped from Anakin's skull and his body goes limp. Passed out from the pain no doubt. Good. Better that, than to feel all the anguish he must be in... especially when Obi-Wan repeats the process with Anakin's other eye. He can't afford to not finish the job this time. Not when that would risk having to kill Anakin.

Again.

His brow is damp with sweat by the time he's done, it trickles down his neck and makes him shiver in the rapidly cooling desert night air.

Obi-Wan cradles the two slimy spheres in one hand, while the other manoeuvres the boy over his shoulder with the aid of the Force. Then he carries Anakin into the small cave he'd made his home for the last two months. He's ashamed to admit that a part of him is enjoying being free to reconnect with the Force once more.

No doubt the Empire is in havoc after the death of the Emperor, and the disappearance of his second in command. It will be some time before anyone has the time or inclination to search the outer rim for Force signatures.

He lowers Anakin onto his sad excuse of a bed, props him partially upright to reduce blood flow to the open wounds. His limbs are still twitching and spasming. Obi-Wan had felt strangely calm during the whole process, but now, watching his boy's unconscious body continue to react to what he has put it through. Seeing the tears of blood running down Anakin's face makes the guilt, horror, and nausea that he seemed to have misplaced come flooding back.

A sob forces its way out of his throat, choking him with it, the hand holding his boy's eyes trembles. His breathing is no longer heavy. It's short and panicked, clear tears run down his own face. What has he done? His boy, Anakin. He'd had to. Sidious was winning. He had to do something. He knows. But this was his child. The boy he was supposed to protect and care for.

A mournful sob shakes his shoulders, and when his grip tightens, he remembers the springy slimy orbs in it. Obi-Wan's own eyes gravitate slowly to the two in his hand and with stiff movements, he opens his trembling fist to see them.

His heart stops.

They're... blue.

Under the blood that is sliding off the glossy glass-like surface. Under smooth clear jelly, two perfect, beautiful blue irises. A shuddering breath leaves his lips. He raises them up, in the light of the lamp, and stares at them, glistening in the palm of his hand. He wets his lips and swallows thickly.

Beautiful crystal clear blue.

A hysterical laugh wheezes through Obi-Wan's throat, he cradles them to his chest tenderly, adoringly. Gazes into those precious gems, and breathes. “Anakin.”

Notes:

Well, that wasn't the penetration you were expecting ey? xP

Poor Ani, getting Essence Transferred into and fingers in his skull, all in the same day.

Please show @deliquesaint some love for letting me use the artwork that gave me a great starting place for a story I've been wanting to write for ages!

I think for Anakin, when you grow up in a world where might makes right, thinking “if only I had more power, I could protect my mom, my friends.” And then you get the type of pure Force power he had, plus Palps pushing him into the media spotlight to give him the illusion of political power. It makes you feel responsible to act. You HAVE to stop injustices and evil, because if you don't, then you were just lying to yourself when you said, “I would if I had the power”.

You go, “well now I do, so why isn't everything getting fixed?”

As kids we learn limits from our own failures and from the people around us. Our wisers caution us, “don't do that” and we do it and when it goes badly we say, “you were right about my limits” but in Anakin's case, most of the time his ‘limits’ were not due to a lack of power but a lack of maturity, experience, and a trauma-free nine year old brain.

For a kid who grew up with ‘might makes right’, it's confusing. Makes him feel, “if it's not because I wasn't strong enough, maybe it's because there's something wrong with me. Others can do more with less power/opportunity. Maybe I'm the problem. Maybe I'm just wrong.” and that HURTS. Because that's a grave. A dead end, not a lesson. No room for growth or improvement. That's despair.

That is the conclusion drawn from the conflicting world belief of ‘might makes right’ and his lack of limitations when he left Tatooine, the seemingly unreliable advice/predictions from the Jedi, since so many simply do not apply or work or come true in regards to him. “I'm exceptional, predicated beliefs held by most people, don't apply to me. Then... what do I do? Who can possibly guide me? I'm alone.” Exceptional doesn't mean better, it means isolated.

Especially with the whole Chosen One prophecy and Paperplane's brainwashing.

(Not to mention the Jedi's rules and distant stoic expressions of love are so different from what he grew up with.)

So he clings to what kept him alive for his first nine years, because it's easier, less depressing, less complicated or vast. “If things are still going wrong, I just need more power. It just means I'm not powerful enough. Nothing more. There's nothing wrong with me.”

His desperation for more power comes from this. The problem is, that's tiring. If you pin everything on the hope of getting more power, every indicator that you're not there yet is anxiety inducing because “if I don't have enough power, I'll lose everything”. Being so desperate is draining.

Like a gambler with all his chips on a weather roulette, reading the clouds anxiously.

So he tries to continuously check if he's reached ‘powerful enough to not need to keep looking at clouds’ because his neck hurts. Does more reckless and crazy things, tries to prove to himself that he's become powerful enough to not have to fear losing all his chips if it rains.

That's why he's so desperately and performatively arrogant and looking for approval. He's looking for someone to tell him he can stop being anxious. That he can stop trying so hard, stop feeling responsible for everything that goes wrong, every injustice he sees. That he doesn't have his entire identity on the line every damn day.

The sad thing is, he doesn't get that, because the Jedi are too insulated to understand what he needs. Instead he gets told he shouldn't feel that way to begin with. Great, where's the off switch then? Does that mean there's something wrong with me then?

No child should have to feel responsible for the suffering they see and that's not his fault. It's the failure of adults that is responsible, when a child sees or experiences suffering. The Chosen One was never a burden a nine-year-old should have to carry.

That's why it's important for us as a society to keep trying to make the world a better place, because children like Anakin grow into Darth Vader, and that just makes more Anakins.

A never ending ouroboros.

Also, if you're confused about Obi-Wan's reasons for performing such an eye-popping surgery, don't worry, he explains next chapter xP

Next Chapter

[roobylavender]

i've been off tumblr for a bit so i just saw your response to my last ask and your sw stuff rn and i KNEW you would hate the padme books. esp the wife scene in the last book. i feel like that tumblr post that's like "yes i deserve an A+ in tumblr multual-in-lawship which is a normal thing to want" 😂

to go back to what you were saying about the books and shows "correcting mistakes from the movie" i agree, but also not? cause sw has always been a multimedia franchise. there have been radio shows, novelizations, non novelization books, etc since it came out in the 70s. they were mostly used as a way to keep fans engaged while gl was making the other movies. this just bleed into sw after disney bought it as well. bc the other tie in material (from the shows to the books to the audiobooks) were always created to "fill in the gaps". that's how they were promoted especially in the beginning, but not all of them do that, which is the problem. some of them were created just fix the mistakes of the movies or it was created to fill in the gaps but then they had to deal with some corrections or to actually fill in the gap. for example, rebels was created to fill int he gap between revenge and hope and it does as amazing job of doing just that, and i think that's the reason why the show is as strong as it is and why it's so beloved by the fandom. an example of the second type would be the bad batch. the point of the show was about the individuality of the clones and them learning to life after the fall of the republic and during the empire, but there were multiple arcs about the cloning of force sensitive people to help support the sequels. and an example of the first is def the padme books. (psa avoid anything by ekj. she usually only writes books about female characters who got the short end of the stick in the movies/ shows and the higher ups realized that was a problem and they needed to fix it later on. hence books. BUT she's a horrible author, and she needs to stop writing for the good of the universe or at least get better editors)

i actually think the best example how sw as a multimedia franchise should work is its high republic books. there's a mix of books, audiobooks, comics, and manga that help tell the story WITHOUT having to correct anything. so sw writers can do it- they just choose not to.

yeah omg i should have worded things differently but i totally agree with you like stuff like rebels and rogue one / andor i don't mind at all because they're still able to stand independently and aren't inherently trying to explain away any sort of plot hole left by the movies. like we don't know exactly how the rebel alliance comes to be but it's not necessary for us to know for the original trilogy to function as a well-written, holistic narrative. instead these shows / movie address independent events that enhance the value of that narrative rather than try to explain away every failing of it. i think that's why i'm comparatively so averse to the idea of getting into the clone wars (2008) (aside from my issues with how anakin and padme and obi wan seem to be written) because the holes in the writing and editing of the prequels are glaringly obv so it feels like a bit of a lazy failsafe to fall back on. like why not just write and edit good movies to begin with.. and i wonder why they felt like supplementing the three-year time period between attack of the clones and revenge of the sith via an extensive tv show was necessary but not the ten-year time period in between the phantom menace and attack of the clones, which would likely have been way more ripe for developing anakin's struggles upon becoming a padawan. esp since clone wars (2003) did a pretty good job of bridging the former gap anyway. i may still watch the (2008) show but i will probably complain a lot because it feels like i am being marketed the equivalent of fix-it fanfic 😭

[mcrdvcks]

Down Bad - Chapter 24

Chapter Summary: Amina's body set's itself back on track, which gives Amellia the chance to give Amina surgery. While helping Omega for a school project, Amina and Hunter come across a rare flower.

Word Count: 13.1k+

Pairing: Hunter x fem!Jedi Original Character

Notes: hi again!!

i totally forgot when i was going to post this yesterday that it had a looong smut scene (all hail the mighty sex pollen trope!), so i wanted to review and edit it before posting it. please be kind, because it's my first time doing a sex pollen scene

so, if anyone has any requests they'd like to see for hunter, amina, or anyone else in the story, don't be afraid to comment! i'd love to hear y'all's ideas!

TW: periods, cramping, mention of blood, surgery, sex pollen, overstimulation, unprotected piv, mulitple orgasms

(also can we talk about this gif!?)

Series Masterlist - Chapter 23 → Chapter 25

AO3 Link For Chapter

Amina groaned, feeling the stabbing, pulsating pain in her lower body. She wanted nothing more than to stay in this uncomfortable bed on the starship, because getting up meant she’d have to deal with a whole other world of problems.

She curled up in bed, bringing her knees to her chest. A few moments later, her comm started dinging, so using the Force she brought it to her.

Anakin popped up in the hologram, “hey, Lucky. Just thought I would check in.”

“Hey.” Amina rasped.

She watched as Anakin furrowed his brows before speaking again, “it’s back? The Red Wave?”

Amina let out a small chuckle before wincing in pain, “it’s supposed to happen every month, you know. But I get lucky enough for it to happen so randomly it could happen every 4 months, or every 2 weeks.”

He kept his expression before looking around whatever room he was in, “I could come and help you. I’m sure Obi-Wan and our battalions can handle it.”

“Ani, you can’t keep leaving whatever mission you are doing just to help me.”

His eyes flashed with frustration before he masked it with a more controlled demeanor. “The Council isn’t going to let you have a day off. This is the best we can do. Ahsoka can come along with me.”

Amina sighed before giving in. She was in a lot of pain, and it would be a while before she would even stand up to go to the bathroom. “Okay. Fine.”

Anakin’s relief was visible, and he gave her a small smile. “We’ll be there soon. Just hang in there, Lucky.”

The hologram flickered off, and Amina let out a long breath. She hated feeling this way, so helpless and dependent on others. But Anakin always seemed to know when she needed him, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

---

Amina walked into the kitchen pouring herself a cup of caf as she leaned against the counter. Her stomach was hurting, and she felt like bantha fodder.

Hunter was out at work helping Shep, and Omega was at school. Amina grabbed three fruit pastries and sat on the couch.

Amina took a bite of one of the pastries, the sweet tang of fruit filling her mouth as she chewed. She glanced around the room, the familiar sights and sounds of their home offering a small measure of comfort in the midst of her physical turmoil.

After she finished eating the pastries and her caf, she quickly went to the bathroom coming across a harrowing discovery. Blood.

At first, she thought she was dying, but that thought lasted only a half a second. She had been on hormone therapy for 3 months now, been through the mood swings, lost appetite, and nausea.

But now, she entered her least favorite part of womanhood once again after over 2 years. She put on an absorption pad and washed her hands.

As she sank onto the couch, Amina couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. She picked up one of the datapads lying on the coffee table, trying to distract herself from her racing thoughts.

But no matter how hard she tried to focus on the datapad, her mind kept wandering back to the pool of blood in the bathroom. She felt a knot forming in her stomach as she thought about what it could mean for her and Hunter's dreams of starting a family.

She wanted a baby, but a small part of her couldn’t help but feel scared for how Hunter would react. Would he act like the Council and be angry at her pain? Or would he be more like Anakin and actually care about her pain?

Amina knew it would be the latter, but a small part of her wouldn’t let her believe it.

Just then, the front door opened, and Hunter stepped inside with Omega, his expression tired but warm as he caught sight of Amina on the couch. "Hey, sweetheart," he greeted, crossing the room to wrap her in a gentle hug. "How was your day?"

“I’m gonna kill myself.” She mumbled into the pillow.

Amina's words hung heavy in the air, her voice muffled by the pillow pressed against her face. Hunter's heart clenched at the sight of his wife in distress, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow as he knelt down beside her.

"What's wrong, Amina?" Hunter's voice was soft, filled with worry as he reached out to gently brush her hair away from her face.

“The Red Wave.” She said, lifting her head from the pillow, “that’s what Anakin called it at least.”

Omega’s eyes widened in understanding as she nodded while Hunter looked from Amina to Omega.

Hunter's brow furrowed in concern as he took in the scene before him. He could see the distress etched on Amina's face, the lines of worry deepening with each passing moment. Without hesitation, he moved closer to her, kneeling down beside the couch to offer his support.

"What's the Red Wave?" Hunter asked, his voice gentle yet filled with urgency. He reached out to gently place a comforting hand on Amina's shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring.

Omega sighed, “maybe Amellia needs to give you a lesson too.” She told Hunter.

"Amina," Hunter began, his voice gentle yet filled with urgency, "what's going on? What's the Red Wave?"

Amina took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she struggled to find the right words to explain. She glanced at Omega, silently pleading for her support as she prepared to share something deeply personal with Hunter.

"The Red Wave," Amina started, her voice soft yet tinged with sadness, "it's what Anakin used to call it. It's... it's my period."

Hunter's brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to process Amina's words. "Your period?" he repeated. “But… that’s good, isn’t it? The hormone treatment is working.”

Amina wanted to slap him, “no, I hate my period.”

Omega hummed in agreement, “I can get you a heating pad and some muja fruit.”

“No, not muja fruit. Haroun bread.” Amina said.

As Amina reclined on the couch, her discomfort palpable, Hunter's concern deepened. He couldn't fathom why his wife, whom he loved dearly, would despise something that indicated her health was improving. But he also knew better than to push her too hard. Instead, he opted for a more supportive approach.

"Alright, no muja fruit," Hunter conceded, his voice soft and understanding. "Haroun bread it is. Omega, could you fetch some for Amina?"

Omega nodded eagerly, her youthful energy propelling her off the couch and into the kitchen in a flash. She returned moments later with a warm loaf of Haroun bread, some pain killers, and a glass of water.

"Here you go, Amina," Omega said, offering her the bread with a gentle smile. "I hope this helps."

“Thank you, honey.” Amina replied, eating a piece of the bread before taking the painkillers.

As Amina sat on the couch, nibbling on a piece of Haroun bread and taking the painkillers Omega had brought her, Hunter couldn't shake the feeling of concern gnawing at him. He watched his wife closely, his heart heavy with worry as he saw the discomfort etched on her face.

"Feeling any better, sweetheart?" Hunter asked, his voice soft with concern as he reached out to gently squeeze Amina's hand.

Amina managed a weak smile, her eyes flickering with gratitude as she met Hunter's gaze. "A little," she admitted, her voice soft and tired.

“Are you in a lot of pain? Is that normal?” he asked worriedly.

“Yeah.” Amina stated.

Hunter thought she was going to continue but she didn’t. “Is there something else?”

Amina turned her head away from him, “it’s stupid.” She murmured.

"It's not stupid, Amina," Hunter said softly, his voice filled with reassurance as he reached out to gently cup her cheek, urging her to look at him. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. I'm here for you, always."

Amina's heart ached at the warmth and sincerity in Hunter's voice, the love and concern evident in his eyes. She knew she could trust him with anything, yet the fear of burdening him with her troubles still lingered in the back of her mind.

"It's just..." Amina began, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the right words to convey her thoughts. "I don’t like having my period because it reminds me of before the war and during it.” She looked over at him as he nodded at her to continue.

“I always had painful periods, and before the war it was fine. Me and my Master would just stay on Coruscant and meditate. But when the war started it was hard for me during that time of the month. I was in pain and Anakin would come up with excuses on my he needed me to work with him on missions just so I could rest for a day instead of being yelled at by the Council.”

Amina looked down, “I guess… a part of me thought you would be mad at me too.” She whispered.

As Amina whispered her fears to Hunter, his heart ached with empathy. He reached out, gently brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek, his touch tender and reassuring.

"Amina, sweetheart," Hunter began, his voice soft and comforting. "I could never be mad at you for something like this. It’s a normal part of your life.”

Amina's eyes flickered with relief at Hunter's words, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She leaned into his touch, her heart swelling with gratitude for his unwavering support.

"I know it's silly," Amina admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I just... I didn't want you to think less of me because of it."

Hunter's heart clenched at the vulnerability in Amina's voice, the raw honesty of her words piercing through his defenses. He reached out, gently brushing away a stray tear that glistened in the corner of her eye.

"Amina, look at me," Hunter urged, his voice filled with tenderness as he locked eyes with her. "I could never think less of you, not in a million lifetimes. You are the strongest person I know, and I admire you more than words can express."

Amina's breath caught in her throat at Hunter's words, the warmth of his love washing over her like a soothing balm. She felt a sense of peace settle over her, the weight of her worries lifting ever so slightly in the presence of his unwavering support.

"Thank you, Hunter," Amina murmured, her voice choked with emotion as she reached out to clasp his hand in hers. "Thank you for always being there for me, for loving me despite my flaws."

Hunter's heart swelled with love as he squeezed Amina's hand gently, his eyes shining with adoration as he gazed at her.

"I will always be here for you, Amina," Hunter vowed, his voice filled with conviction. "No matter what challenges we face, no matter how dark the road ahead may seem, I will stand by your side, now and forever."

Amina felt her heart flutter at Hunter's words, the depth of his love washing over her like a tidal wave. She leaned in, pressing her forehead against his, their breaths mingling in the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"I love you, Hunter," Amina whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "More than words can say."

Hunter's heart swelled with love as he gazed into Amina's eyes, his own filled with a depth of emotion that words could never fully express.

"I love you too, Amina," Hunter replied, his voice a soft murmur that resonated with the echoes of their shared love.

---

After 3 days of Amina’s period, and only being able to curl up on the couch or the bed, Hunter told her they were going to see Amellia about it.

“Well, it’s a good thing that you have your period, since it means the hormone therapy worked, but there are a lot of cases where having scar tissue can make your period more painful than normal. But the good news is, now we can look at getting a Hysteroscopic surgery to remove the scar tissue," Amellia explained, her tone hopeful yet cautious. "It's a minimally invasive procedure that can help alleviate your symptoms and improve your chances of conceiving."

Amina's breath caught in her throat at the mention of surgery, her mind whirling with a mix of fear and hope. She glanced at Hunter, her eyes searching his for reassurance as she tried to process the news.

“When could we do it?” Amina asked.

“Well, I don’t have all the things I need here, so I’d need to order them off world. And I would prefer to perform the surgery when you are not on your period since it provides better visibility. Give me at least a week, I should have the materials and your cycle should be over by then.”

Amina sat on the chair, her mind buzzing with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation as she absorbed Amellia's words. The prospect of surgery was daunting, but if it meant finally finding relief from the debilitating pain of her periods and increasing her chances of starting a family with Hunter, it was a risk she was willing to take.

"Okay," Amina replied, her voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling inside her. "Let's do it."

Hunter squeezed Amina's hand in silent support, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination. He knew how much this surgery meant to Amina, and he would do anything to ease her pain and help her achieve her dreams of motherhood.

Amellia nodded, a small smile of encouragement gracing her lips. "Alright then. I'll start gathering the necessary materials and prepare for the surgery. We'll schedule it for next week, once your cycle has ended."

Amina let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, a sense of relief washing over her at the thought of finally taking action to address her condition. She glanced at Hunter, her heart swelling with gratitude for his unwavering support.

"Thank you, Amellia," Amina said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "For everything."

Amellia waved off Amina's gratitude with a dismissive gesture, her focus already shifting to the task ahead. "Don't mention it," she replied, her tone brisk yet kind. "I'll see you both next week for the surgery."

Amellia stepped out of the room before poking her head back in, “actually, I’ll see you for dinner, right? The whole group? I’m going to make smoked kaadu ribs.”

Amina nodded with a smile. "Sounds great, Amellia," she replied, her voice warm with gratitude.

As Amellia left, Amina turned to Hunter, her heart fluttering with excitement at the prospect of spending time with their friends. "What do you think? Smoked kaadu ribs sound delicious, don't they?" she asked, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Hunter chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he nodded in agreement. "They do indeed. I can't wait to taste them," he replied, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm.

---

They started to set the table while Hunter made a Berbersian crab salad. Amina handed Omega 6 cups to put on the table as she put down the plates.

“What’s Amellia bringing?” Omega asked Amina.

“She’s bringing smoked kaadu ribs. It’s kaadu meat with a sauce, cabbage slaw, and a berry muffin. It originated from Naboo.” Amina answered.

Omega grinned eagerly as she placed the last cup on the table, her youthful energy palpable in the air. "I can't wait to try those smoked kaadu ribs," she exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Amina chuckled softly, "I'm sure they'll be amazing," she replied, her voice warm with reassurance. "Amellia is an excellent cook."

As they finished setting the table, the front door swung open, and Amellia stepped inside, a large tray of smoked kaadu ribs in hand. Her eyes lit up with a warm smile as she caught sight of Amina and Omega in the kitchen.

"Hey, everyone!" Amellia greeted, her voice bright with cheer as she made her way into the kitchen. "I brought the smoked kaadu ribs. They're all ready to go."

Amina smiled warmly at Amellia, her heart lifting at the sight of their friend. "Thanks, Amellia," she said, gratitude shining in her eyes. "They smell delicious."

Amellia beamed at the compliment, setting the tray of ribs down on the table with care. "I hope you all enjoy them," she replied, her tone sincere. She looked around the house, “where’s Crosshair and Wrecker?”

“I’ll go get them!” Omega said, as she walked out the front door.

Amina nudged Amellia with her shoulder, “have you talked to him again?”

Amellia blushed, “no. I’m not usually a nervous person but…”

“Maybe today will give you the little push you need to talk to Crosshair again.” Amina said.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Amellia replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She glanced at Amina, her gaze searching for reassurance as she tried to gather her courage. "I'll talk to him tonight."

Amina smiled warmly at Amellia, her eyes shining with encouragement. "You've got this," she said, her voice filled with confidence. "And if you need backup, just let me know."

---

Amina finished her daily lesson with the children of the island as she walked over to Amellia who was waiting at the edge of the grassy field. “So?” She asked.

Amellia groaned, “I couldn’t do it. I have asked out so many guys, and out of the 6 guys I’ve dated, I was always the one who cut it off. But I can’t ask out one guy? Old age is getting to me.”

Amina chuckled, "you're 28, Ames. You've still got plenty of time."

Amellia sighed, her shoulders slumping with defeat. "I know, I know," she replied, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "But it's just... I don't know why I can't seem to do it."

Amina reached out and gently squeezed her friend's shoulder. "It's okay, Ames. Maybe you just haven't found the right moment yet."

Amellia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, maybe you're right," she said, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Amina."

Amina smiled warmly at her friend. "Anytime, Ames. You know I'm always here for you."

They walked over to their houses, Amellia’s right next to Amina and Hunter’s as Amellia glanced over at Amina, “you know- now, this may be weird of me to ask, but… is there any way you could ask Crosshair if he…”

“Likes you?”

“Or anyone.” Amellia said, raising her hands in a placating manner.

Amina hummed, “I don’t know if he would tell me that- ”

“Well, what about Hunter? He’s his brother. Or even Omega, Crosshair seems to do whatever Omega wants.”

“Are you talking about Crosshair?”

Amina and Amellia turned towards the voice, which was Omega standing behind them.

“Yeah- no, I mean no.” Amellia quickly said.

“He looks at you.” Omega spoke softly. “It kind of reminds me of how Hunter and Amina looked at each other before they got together.”

Amina narrowed her eyes at Omega, a hint of amusement flickering in her gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about," she repeated, her tone laced with playful defiance.

Omega raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of her lips. "Sure, Amina," she said, her voice teasing. "Keep telling yourself that." She walked in between the two women as she turned her head upwards towards Amellia, “when we go on our morning walks, sometimes he looks up the mountain in the direction of your house.”

Amellia's cheeks flushed a light pink. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Omega nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! I've noticed it a few times. He tries to be subtle, but I'm pretty good at noticing things."

Amina chuckled softly, shaking her head at Omega’s perceptiveness. "Well, there you have it, Amellia. Straight from Omega’s observant eyes."

Amellia bit her lip, a mixture of hope and nervousness swirling within her. "Maybe...maybe I should talk to him," she said, almost as if trying to convince herself.

Amina placed a reassuring hand on her friend’s shoulder. "You should. You never know until you try."

Omega nodded in agreement, her youthful enthusiasm infectious. "Exactly! And if you need any help, you know where to find us."

Amellia smiled, feeling a bit more confident with her friends' support. "Thanks, you two. I’ll give it a shot."

They continued towards their houses, almost to Hunter and Amina’s house when they saw Hunter and Crosshair walking towards the house in front of them.

Omega gently pushed Amellia forward as Hunter ruffled Omega’s hair, “how was school?”

“It was good! I was going to ask Amellia to help me with some math homework.” Omega looked up at Amellia expectantly, trying to get her to go along with her story.

“Y- actually I have s- some papers that need signing.” Amellia said quickly, “good night.” She patted Amina’s arm before turning around and walking back to her house.

Hunter raised an eyebrow as he watched Amellia retreat back to her house, then turned his gaze to Amina, clearly seeking answers. Amina sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"It's complicated," she said finally, giving him a small smile.

“Complicated?” Crosshair asked, his toothpick in his hand.

Amina hummed, “yep, complicated.” She opened the door and looked back at Omega, “want some juice?”

Omega nodded eagerly. “Yes, please!”

Hunter chuckled, shaking his head as he followed Amina inside. Crosshair lingered for a moment, his gaze drifting in the direction of Amellia's house before he stepped in behind them.

As they settled inside, Amina poured juice for Omega and herself. She turned to Hunter with a warm smile. “Want some juice too?”

Hunter nodded, giving her a grateful smile. “Sure, thanks.”

As Hunter settled into his seat at the kitchen table, Amina joined him, placing a glass of juice in front of him with a gentle smile as Omega sat between them.

"So, what's on the agenda for tonight?" Hunter asked, breaking the silence that had settled over the room.

Amina glanced at him, her expression softening with affection. "I was thinking we could watch a holo-movie," she suggested, her voice warm with anticipation. "We haven't had a movie night in a while."

Hunter nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "That sounds good," he replied, reaching for his glass of juice. "Any preferences?"

Amina shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "Surprise me," she said, a hint of mischief dancing in her tone. "As long as it's not one of those sappy romance dramas."

Hunter chuckled, shaking his head. "Noted," he said, amusement coloring his voice. "I'll find something action-packed for us."

Omega perked up at the mention of a movie night, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Can I pick the snacks?" she asked, her voice eager.

Amina and Hunter exchanged a knowing glance, both of them smiling at Omega's enthusiasm. "Of course, kiddo," Amina replied, her voice warm with affection. "Just try not to eat all the popcorn before the movie starts."

Omega grinned, her eyes shining with mischief. "No promises," she said, her tone teasing as she reached for her glass of juice.

Eventually, the time came for them to head to the living room and choose a movie. Omega eagerly led the way, her excitement palpable as she perused their collection of holo-movies, carefully selecting the perfect one for their movie night.

Once they were all settled on the couch, popcorn in hand and movie ready to play, Amina couldn't help but steal a glance at Hunter. Despite the challenges they had faced in recent months, she felt a deep sense of gratitude for the man sitting beside her, his presence a source of strength and comfort in her life.

Hunter caught her gaze and offered her a warm smile, his eyes soft with affection. In that moment, surrounded by the ones she loved most, Amina felt a sense of peace wash over her, the worries of the outside world fading into the background as they lost themselves in the holo-movie playing on the screen.

As the credits rolled and the movie came to an end, Amina stretched her arms above her head, feeling a sense of contentment settle over her. "That was fun," she said, her voice filled with satisfaction.

Hunter nodded in agreement, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, it was," he replied, his tone warm with affection. "Thanks for picking such a great movie, Omega."

Omega beamed at the praise, her eyes shining with happiness. "You're welcome!" she exclaimed, her excitement infectious as she glanced between Amina and Hunter. "Can we do this again tomorrow night?"

Amina chuckled softly, ruffling Omega's hair affectionately. "We'll see," she replied, her voice gentle. "But for now, I think it's time for bed."

Omega's expression fell slightly at the mention of bedtime, but she nodded in resignation. "Okay," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. "Goodnight, Amina. Goodnight, Hunter."

"Goodnight, Omega," Amina replied, her voice warm with affection. "Sleep well."

---

One of the nurses at the medical center gave Amina anesthetic through her iv as Amellia walked in. “Alright, I’m going to let that settle into your system before performing the hysteroscopic surgery to remove your scar tissue.” Amellia said, looking up from her datapad.

Amellia smiled reassuringly at Amina, her expression gentle and comforting. "You're doing great, Amina," she said, her voice calm and soothing. "Just try to relax and let the medication do its job."

Amina nodded, her eyelids growing heavy as she fought against the urge to succumb to sleep. "I trust you, Amellia," she murmured, her words slurred slightly by the effects of the anesthesia.

Amellia's smile widened at Amina's words, a sense of pride swelling within her chest. "Thank you, Amina," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "I won't let you down."

With that, Amellia turned her attention back to her datapad, her focus shifting to the task at hand as she prepared for the hysteroscopic surgery. She double-checked her equipment and reviewed Amina's medical history, ensuring that everything was in order before proceeding.

Meanwhile, Hunter sat by Amina's side, his hand clasped firmly in hers as he watched over her with concern. Despite his outward calm, his mind was racing with worry for his wife, the thought of her undergoing surgery filling him with apprehension.

"You'll be okay, Amina," Hunter murmured, his voice low and reassuring. "I'm right here with you."

Amina squeezed his hand gently, her gaze meeting his with a look of gratitude and love. "I know, Hunter," she replied, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "I trust you."

Hunter smiled at her words, a sense of warmth spreading through his chest. He leaned in closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before settling back into his seat, his presence a source of comfort and strength for Amina.

As the minutes passed, Amina could feel the effects of the anesthesia intensifying, her eyelids growing heavier with each passing moment. She fought against the urge to drift off to sleep, wanting to stay conscious for as long as possible before the surgery began.

Amellia glanced up from her datapad, noticing the change in Amina's demeanor. She walked over to her patient, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's time, Amina," she said gently, her voice calm and steady. "I'm going to start the procedure now."

Amina nodded, her eyelids fluttering as she struggled to keep them open. "Okay," she murmured, her words barely audible as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.

---

She blinked the fogginess away from her eyes before closing them due to the bright white lights above her.

“Amina?”

She looked to her side to see her brother, Ahsoka, and Blu standing by her bed. “Huh?”

Anakin grabbed her hand, “you scared me- all of us. Two pieces of metal to the gut?”

"To be fair, it wasn't my fault Separatists shot us down," Amina replied with a small smirk, her memories from the past flooding back as she spoke.

"You were supposed to wait for backup," Anakin chided gently.

"I was waiting for backup when we got shot down," Amina replied, her tone playful despite the seriousness of their situation. She remembered the chaos of the battlefield, the blaster fire raining down around them as they fought to survive.

Anakin squeezed her hand tightly, his expression filled with a mixture of relief and worry. "We're just glad you're alive," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you."

“Aw, come on Ani. You know that won’t happen. My middle name is Lucky.”

He chuckled, “only because I gave it to you.”

“Well, too late now. It’s permanent.” She flicked his nose playfully.

---

Hunter watched anxiously from his seat, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for any sign of trouble. He trusted Amellia implicitly, but the thought of anything going wrong filled him with dread.

Minutes turned into hours as the surgery progressed, each moment feeling like an eternity to Hunter as he waited for news of Amina's condition. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Amellia emerged from the operating room, her expression weary but relieved.

"It went well," Amellia said, her voice soft but tinged with exhaustion. "I was able to remove the scar tissue without any complications."

Hunter let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging with the weight of his anxiety. "Thank you, Amellia," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "You've done a great job."

Amellia smiled tiredly at Hunter's words, a sense of satisfaction washing over her despite her fatigue. "It was my pleasure, Hunter," she replied, her voice warm with appreciation. "I'm just glad everything went smoothly."

With that, Amellia excused herself to update the medical records and check on her other patients, leaving Hunter alone with Amina as she began to stir from her anesthesia-induced slumber.

Amina blinked groggily, her gaze unfocused as she struggled to regain her bearings. She reached out for Hunter, her hand searching for his with a sense of urgency.

Hunter took her hand in his, squeezing it gently as he leaned in closer. "I'm here, Amina," he murmured, his voice filled with tenderness. "Everything's okay."

Amina let out a sigh of relief, her tense muscles relaxing as she felt the reassuring presence of her husband beside her. Hunter gently stroked her hand, his touch grounding her as she began to fully wake from the anesthesia.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice a comforting balm. "How are you feeling?"

Amina blinked a few times, her vision slowly clearing. "Groggy," she admitted, her voice hoarse. "But okay. How did it go?"

"It went well," Hunter replied, a smile tugging at his lips. "Amellia was able to remove the scar tissue without any complications. You're going to be just fine."

Amina managed a small smile, relief washing over her. "That's good to hear," she murmured, her eyes beginning to drift closed again.

Hunter squeezed her hand gently. "Get some rest," he said softly. "I'll be right here."

Amina nodded weakly, her exhaustion pulling her back into a light sleep. Hunter watched over her, his heart filled with a mix of relief and love.

---

The next morning, Amina woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the windows. She stretched carefully, mindful of her still-healing body, and turned to see Hunter dozing in a chair beside her bed.

"Good morning," she said softly, her voice gentle.

Hunter stirred, blinking sleep from his eyes as he sat up. "Morning," he replied, a sleepy smile spreading across his face. "How are you feeling?"

"A little sore, but better," Amina said, giving him a reassuring smile.

Hunter reached out and took her hand, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. "I'm glad to hear that," he said warmly. "Amellia will be in soon to check on you."

As if on cue, the door opened and Amellia stepped inside, her expression brightening when she saw Amina awake. "Good morning," she greeted, her tone cheerful. "How are you feeling today?"

"A bit sore, but better," Amina repeated, giving Amellia a smile.

"That's to be expected," Amellia replied, glancing at her datapad as she approached. "But everything looks good. You should be able to go home later today."

Amina nodded, feeling a sense of relief at the prospect of returning home. "Thank you, Amellia," she said sincerely. "For everything."

Amellia smiled warmly. "It's my job," she replied. "But I'm glad I could help."

Hunter stood and stretched, his muscles stiff from a night spent in the chair. "We'll take it easy today," he said, his tone firm. "No pushing yourself."

Amina rolled her eyes playfully. "I know, I know," she said, her voice light. "I'll take it easy."

Amellia chuckled, giving them both a knowing look. “Before I let you two get ready, I just need to go over your recovery. It’s normal to have light bleeding for up to two weeks after the procedure, as well as cramping pain for a few days. And I would advise you to not have sex for a week. If you develop a fever, you will need to come back to the medical center.”

Hunter nodded, his expression serious. “We’ll keep an eye on everything.”

Amina smiled, feeling reassured by Amellia’s thoroughness. “Thanks, Amellia. I appreciate it.”

Amellia gave them a warm smile. “You’re welcome. Now, take it easy and let me know if you need anything.”

As Amellia left the room, Hunter helped Amina get dressed, his movements gentle and careful. “You heard the doctor. We’re going to take it slow.”

Amina rolled her eyes playfully. “I know, Hunter. I’ll be good.”

Hunter chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’m just making sure. Let’s get you home.”

They made their way back to their house on Pabu, the warm sun and gentle breeze providing a comforting backdrop. Hunter kept a steady hand on Amina’s back, guiding her carefully.

Omega was waiting for them at the house, her face lighting up with relief when she saw Amina. “Amina! Are you okay?”

Amina smiled, hugging Omega gently. “I’m fine, Omega. The surgery went well.”

Omega sighed in relief. “I’m so glad. I was worried.”

Hunter ruffled Omega’s hair affectionately. “Amellia did a great job. Amina just needs to rest for a while.”

Omega nodded, her expression serious. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything she’s not supposed to.”

Amina laughed softly. “Looks like I’ve got two people looking out for me.”

Hunter and Omega shared a look, both of them determined to ensure Amina’s recovery went smoothly. They spent the rest of the day relaxing, Hunter and Omega taking care of everything while Amina rested on the couch.

---

A few days later, Amina was feeling stronger, the initial soreness from the surgery beginning to fade. She was careful to follow Amellia’s instructions, taking it easy and allowing her body to heal.

One afternoon, while Hunter was out running errands, Amina and Omega were sitting on the porch, enjoying the warm Pabu weather. Omega was working on her homework, her brow furrowed in concentration.

“Need any help?” Amina asked, glancing over at Omega’s datapad.

Omega looked up, her expression relieved. “Actually, yes. I’m having trouble with this math problem.”

Amina scooted closer, looking at the problem. “Let’s see. Ah, okay. You need to use this formula here.”

They spent the next hour working through Omega’s math homework, Amina patiently explaining each step. Omega’s face lit up as she began to understand, her confidence growing.

“Thanks, Amina,” Omega said, her voice filled with gratitude. “You’re really good at explaining things.”

Amina smiled warmly. “I’m glad I could help. You’re a quick learner, Omega.”

Omega beamed at the compliment, her eyes shining with happiness. They continued to chat, their conversation light and easy.

Later, as the sun began to set, Hunter returned home, his arms laden with groceries. “I’m back,” he called, his voice carrying through the house.

Omega jumped up, rushing to help him. “Do you need any help?”

Hunter smiled, handing her a bag. “Thanks, Omega. How was your afternoon?”

“It was good! Amina helped me with my homework,” Omega replied, her tone cheerful.

Hunter glanced at Amina, his expression softening. “How are you feeling?”

Amina smiled, feeling a sense of warmth at his concern. “Better. Just taking it one day at a time.”

Hunter nodded, setting the groceries down. “Good. We’ll keep taking it slow.”

---

The next morning, Amina and Omega were up early, ready for their morning walk. Amina had been cautious about not overexerting herself, but the gentle walks had been a good way to keep moving without pushing too hard.

As they walked along the path, the island’s beauty surrounding them, Omega glanced up at Amina. “Do you think Amellia will talk to Crosshair today?”

Amina smiled, the memory of their conversation with Amellia coming to mind. “I hope so. She just needs a little push.”

Omega nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe we could help somehow?”

Amina chuckled. “I think we’ve done enough pushing for now. Let’s see if Amellia can find the courage on her own.”

They continued their walk, enjoying the peaceful morning. The island was a sanctuary, a place of healing and renewal, and Amina was grateful for every moment they had here.

When they returned home, Hunter was waiting for them, breakfast ready on the table. “Perfect timing,” he said, his smile warm and welcoming.

Amina returned Hunter's smile, feeling a rush of affection for her husband as she took in the sight of him standing in their cozy kitchen. It was moments like these, simple and mundane yet filled with love, that made her grateful for the life they had built together on Pabu.

Omega practically skipped over to the table, her enthusiasm contagious as she eagerly pulled out a chair and settled into her seat. "Thanks for making breakfast, Hunter," she chirped, her eyes shining with excitement.

Hunter chuckled, a fond look in his eyes as he ruffled Omega's hair affectionately. "You're welcome, kiddo," he replied, his voice warm with affection. "What's on the agenda for today?"

Amina took a seat beside Omega, feeling a sense of contentment wash over her as she looked around the kitchen. "Well, I need to tend to the garden in the front," she said, reaching for a slice of toast. "There’s some weeds that need to be pulled out.”

Hunter nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at Amina. "I'll help you with that after breakfast," he offered, his voice gentle. "We can get it done together."

Omega perked up at the idea. "Can I help too?" she asked eagerly, her youthful enthusiasm shining through.

Amina smiled warmly at Omega. "Of course, sweetie. The more, the merrier," she replied, her tone filled with affection.

As they finished their breakfast, the sense of togetherness and love filled the room, creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. Afterward, they all headed outside, ready to tackle the garden as a team.

The morning sunbathed the island in a golden glow, the air fresh and invigorating. Amina knelt by the flower beds, her hands moving methodically as she pulled out weeds and tended to the plants. Hunter worked alongside her, his strong presence a comforting constant. Omega darted between them, her laughter ringing out as she helped with smaller tasks.

It wasn't long before the garden looked tidy and well-maintained, the flowers standing tall and proud in their beds. Amina sat back on her heels, wiping a stray strand of hair from her forehead as she surveyed their work with satisfaction.

"Great job, everyone," she said, her voice filled with pride. "The garden looks beautiful."

Hunter straightened up, stretching his back as he smiled down at Amina. "We make a good team," he said, his tone warm and affectionate.

Omega beamed, her eyes shining with happiness. "It was fun," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "Can we do it again sometime?"

Amina chuckled softly. "Of course, Omega," she replied, her tone gentle. "There's always something to do in the garden."

They spent the rest of the morning relaxing on the porch, enjoying the peacefulness of the island. Hunter and Amina shared a quiet moment, their hands intertwined as they watched Omega play with Lyana and Jynna.

Even Wrecker ended up coming over, and him and the kids played with water guns on the grass.

---

A few weeks later, Amellia arrived at their house for a follow-up appointment. She greeted them with a warm smile, her expression bright and reassuring.

"How are you feeling, Amina?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Amina smiled warmly at her friend. "Much better," she replied, her tone cheerful. "I've been taking it easy and following your instructions."

Amellia nodded, her eyes scanning Amina for any signs of discomfort. "That's good to hear," she said, her tone professional yet friendly. "Let's do a quick check-up to make sure everything is healing properly."

Amina nodded, feeling reassured by Amellia's presence. She knew she was in good hands with her friend and trusted her implicitly.

As Amellia conducted the check-up, Hunter stood by Amina's side, his presence a comforting constant. Omega watched with wide eyes, her curiosity evident.

"Everything looks great," Amellia said finally, her tone filled with satisfaction. "You're healing beautifully, Amina. I would say things could go back to normal, but continue to take your hormone medication.”

Amina sighed in relief, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Amellia," she said sincerely. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you've done."

Amellia smiled warmly at her friend's words, a sense of pride swelling within her. "It's my pleasure," she replied, her voice filled with genuine affection. "I'm just glad I could help."

As Amellia prepared to leave, Amina and Hunter walked her to the door, their hearts filled with gratitude for their friend's care and support.

"Thank you again, Amellia," Hunter said, his voice warm with appreciation. "We couldn't have done this without you."

Amellia smiled, her eyes shining with warmth. "You're welcome," she replied, her tone gentle. "And remember, I'm always here if you need anything."

With that, she left, leaving Amina and Hunter feeling a renewed sense of hope and gratitude.

---

Amina, Hunter, and Omega walked along the shore looking at the different plants. Omega had a school project where she had to choose one plant native to Pabu and write a short paper on it.

Since Tech was no longer around, they had to do it the hard way. Walking around the entire island.

“Is this one native?” Omega asked again, holding up a pink leaf as Hunter scanned it with his datapad.

“No.” He replied simply.

Omega groaned, “ugh, this is taking forever!”

"It's okay, Omega," Amina said, her tone gentle. "We'll find the right plant soon enough."

Omega sighed, her shoulders slumping with defeat. "I just want to finish this project already," she muttered, her frustration evident.

Hunter looked up from his datapad, a reassuring smile on his lips. "We'll get there, Omega," he said, his voice calm and steady. "We just need to keep looking."

With renewed determination, they continued their search along the shore, the warm sun overhead and the gentle sound of the waves lapping against the shore providing a soothing backdrop.

Omega stopped walking and turned around to face Amina and Hunter, “maybe we should split up?”

Hunter nodded, “alright, find some various plants and bring back leaves or petals and meet back here in 10.”

Omega ran off going South, before going up the mountainside as Hunter and Amina walked West before doing the same.

Amina would pick up leaves on the ground or pick petals off of flowers before handing them over to Hunter as he scanned them.

"I'm starting to think this assignment is a scam," Amina huffed, her voice tinged with exasperation as she picked up yet another leaf and held it out to Hunter.

"We already have tried that leaf," Hunter said calmly, his tone patient as he glanced at the leaf Amina was holding out to him. He could sense her frustration, but he also knew they couldn't afford to give up just yet.

Amina groaned in response, letting the leaf fall from her hand as she cast her gaze out over the shore. They continued walking up the mountainside as Hunter bent down and picked up a small leaf.

Amina walked a few paces away from him and bent down over a white flower with a gold center. She brushed her fingers on the gold center as some of the pollen flew into the air, as well as some on her finger.

Hunter bent down beside her, tearing the flower from its stem and holding it up to scan it. “Nope, still not native.” He said, as the wind blew some of the pollen into the air and Hunter dropped the flower. “Come on, Omega’s probably waiting for us.”

Amina placed her hand in Hunter’s as they went back to the spot where they split up to see Omega walking towards them with her hand full of various leaves and petals.

“I think I found 12 different ones. I hope one of them works.”

Amina smiled warmly at Omega, "I'm sure one of them will work perfectly," she said, her voice filled with reassurance.

Hunter nodded in agreement, a proud smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You did a great job, Omega," he said, his voice warm with pride. "Let's see if one of them is native.”

Omega would hand Hunter one leaf or petal at a time as he scanned it. Once they got to the 9th one, Omega was hoping that this one, or the other 3 she had would be right.

He scanned it and looked at the information, “seems like this one is a native flower. It’s called a Cantri flower.”

Omega let out a squeal of delight, her excitement bubbling over. "Yes! I knew we could do it!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with happiness. She grabbed the petal from Hunter’s hand, dropping the other 11 leaves and petals. “Come on, let’s go home! I want something to eat.”

Amina and Hunter chuckled as Omega led the way back up the side of the mountain to their house. Amina pulled on her dress’ collar, billowing air into her chest.

It was suddenly uncomfortably hot outside to her, but everyone else seemed fine. Hunter pulled off his jacket, draping it over his arm that was holding the datapad as his other arm draped around her shoulder.

His touch was electric, and it heated her in a completely different way. But she couldn’t tell what was making her so uncomfortable.

Once they turned off the walkway of the mountain and down the brick walkway, Omega turned around to face them as her smile dropped. “Are you guys, okay? You seem kind of… off.”

Amina exchanged a quick glance with Hunter, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to suppress the discomfort coursing through her body. "Yeah, we're fine, Omega," she replied, forcing a smile onto her lips despite the unease swirling within her. "Just a little tired from all the walking, that's all."

Hunter nodded in agreement, his expression mirroring Amina's attempt at reassurance. "Exactly," he said, his voice steady but lacking its usual warmth. "We'll be back to our usual selves once we get some rest."

Omega studied them for a moment, her brow furrowing in concern before she finally nodded. "Alright, if you say so," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Let's get back home then."

As they continued down the path, Amina couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort that had settled in her stomach like a heavy stone. She stole a glance at Hunter, who walked beside her with his usual calm demeanor, but she could sense the tension thrumming beneath the surface.

They passed by Amellia’s house when she walked out, holding a small tote bag. “Oh, hey you guys! I was just about to go shopping at the market- Maker, why do you two look…” Amellia trailed off. She tsked before opening her door, “come in, come in.”

“We’re fine Amellia, just tired- ” Amina started as Amellia cut her off.

“In the house. Now.” Amellia stated, as Amina and Hunter shared a look and begrudgingly gave in, walking into Amellia’s house with Omega behind them. Amellia pulled out her datapad, “what symptoms are you feeling?”

“Hot, and… just off.” Hunter said as Amina nodded in agreement.

"Hmm," Amellia murmured, her brow furrowing in concern as she tapped away on her datapad. "Hot and feeling off... Those symptoms could indicate a variety of things." She glanced up at Amina and Hunter, her expression grave. "Given your recent history, Amina, I think it would be wise to run some tests, just to be safe."

Amina exchanged a worried glance with Hunter before nodding in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," she said, her voice tinged with apprehension. "Better to be safe than sorry."

Hunter placed a comforting hand on Amina's shoulder, his touch grounding her as they waited for Amellia to finish her assessment. He could sense Amina's anxiety, mirroring his own, but he knew they had to remain calm for Omega's sake.

“But it is weird that Hunter is also feeling this way. Have either of you come into contact with someone who was sick?”

“No.” Amina and Hunter replied at the same time.

“Okay…” Amellia tapped on her datapad, looking at a flower petal in Omega’s hand. “Oh, were you guys outside?”

“We were helping Omega find a plant native to Pabu.” Hunter answered.

Amellia hummed, “it could be dehydration or heat exhaustion, or you came into contact with a poisonous plant, or something bit the two of you. I’ll take some blood tests and me and Omega will go over to the medical center to process them.”

She grabbed the pen and grabbed a blood sample from the tops of their hands, “okay, go home and drink some water. If you feel any pain, maybe take low dose pain medication until I figure what’s wrong.”

Omega and Amellia walked out first as Hunter and Amina followed, walking a few seconds to their house and entering.

Once inside, Amina sank onto the couch, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of worry and fear. She glanced over at Hunter, who was pacing back and forth across the living room, his brow furrowed in deep concentration.

It was hot, even hotter than before it seemed, and there was a burning sensation slowly building up in her body. And Hunter pacing around wasn’t making it much better, especially now that he was twirling his comm in his fingers.

She reached behind her and untied her dress’ strings, before pulling her arms out of the short puff sleeves. A short sense of relief washed over her before the discomfort came back.

Hunter, still pacing back and forth, glanced over at her, concern etched into his features. "Are you feeling any better?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

Amina shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips as she sank further into the couch cushions. "Not really," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "If anything, it's getting worse."

Hunter stopped pacing and approached her, kneeling down in front of her with a furrowed brow. "We'll figure this out, Amina," he said, his tone firm yet gentle. "Amellia will run some tests, and we'll know what's going on soon."

His hands on her knees didn’t add any comfort, in fact it made the burning sensation worse. She looked at his face, noticing sweat building up on his forehead as she brushed it away.

Hunter didn’t seem to be any better than her as he took his hands off her knees and slipped off his shirt, throwing it to the side.

As Hunter discarded his shirt, the air seemed to crackle with tension, the heat of the moment mirroring the rising temperature in the room. Amina's gaze lingered on him, the muscles of his chest rippling with every movement, and she felt the urge to trace the skeletal tattoo of his ribs with her fingers and tongue.

Amina swallowed hard, her throat dry as she struggled to find the words to break the suffocating silence that enveloped them. "Hunter," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "I... I’m going to get us some water.”

As Amina spoke, her voice quivered with uncertainty, her thoughts tangled in a web of emotions she couldn't quite unravel. She rose from the couch, her movements slow and deliberate, as if weighed down by an invisible burden.

Amina made her way to the kitchen, her steps heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unaddressed fears. She filled a glass with water, her hands trembling slightly as she brought it to her lips and took a sip, the cool liquid offering a brief respite from the suffocating heat that seemed to engulf her.

But it didn’t help much. So, without thinking, she slipped completely out of her dress, leaving her in only her brassiere and underwear. Amina tossed her dress on the kitchen table behind her.

She grabbed another glass and filled it with water, walking into the living room where Hunter moved himself to sit on the couch. She placed her glass of water on the caf table and reached her other hand out with his glass.

Instead of taking the glass he grabbed her by the wrist, the cup falling to the floor, rolling underneath the table as water soaked the rug.

Hunter pulled her onto his lap, his rough hands slowly moving up her back as she let out a low breathy moan. His hands tangled in her hair at the base of her neck as he tilted her head downwards to face him. The heat between them was palpable, a magnetic force drawing them closer as Amina’s breathing grew heavier.

“Hunter...” Amina murmured, her voice a soft plea.

“Shh,” Hunter whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. “Just let it happen.”

His fingers traced the curve of her spine, eliciting a shiver from Amina despite the oppressive heat. She straddled him, feeling the hard muscles of his thighs beneath her. As his hands roamed over her body, the burning sensation inside her seemed to intensify, a fire that could only be quenched by his touch.

“You’re so beautiful,” Hunter said, his voice husky with desire. He slid his hands down to her hips, pulling her closer, pressing her against his growing erection. Amina gasped, the friction sending sparks of pleasure through her already overheated body.

“Hunter, I... I need...” Amina stammered, unable to form coherent thoughts. Her body moved on its own, grinding against him in a desperate attempt to alleviate the burning ache between her legs.

“I know,” Hunter replied, his grip on her tightening. “I’ve got you.”

His hand slipped between them, fingers finding the edge of her underwear. He pushed the fabric aside, his fingers sliding through her slick folds. Amina’s head fell back, a guttural moan escaping her lips as he began to stroke her, each movement sending waves of pleasure coursing through her.

“Kriff, you’re so wet,” Hunter groaned, his own arousal evident in his voice. He circled her clit with his thumb, teasing her until she was panting, her hips bucking against his hand.

“Please, Hunter,” Amina whimpered, her hands clutching at his shoulders. “I need more.”

“Patience,” he murmured, his voice a low growl. He slid two fingers inside her, her walls clenching around him as he began to pump them in and out, his thumb continuing to circle her clit. The sensation was overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and relief that made Amina’s head spin.

“Yes, just like that,” Hunter encouraged, his free hand gripping her hip to steady her as she rode his fingers. “You’re doing so good.”

Amina’s movements became more frantic, her breath coming in short gasps as she chased her release. Hunter’s fingers curled inside her, hitting that perfect spot that made her see stars. She was close, so close.

“Come for me,” Hunter commanded, his voice rough with need. “Let go, Amina.”

With a cry, Amina’s body tensed, her orgasm crashing over her like a tidal wave. Her walls pulsed around his fingers, her juices soaking his hand as she trembled in his arms. Hunter held her through it, his lips pressing gentle kisses to her neck.

“Good girl,” he whispered, his voice full of pride. “You did so well.”

Amina slumped against him, her body boneless from the intensity of her release. But the burning sensation inside her hadn’t completely abated; it was still there, a simmering heat that demanded more.

“Hunter,” she murmured, her voice hoarse. “I still... I need...”

“I know,” he said, his tone gentle yet firm. He shifted her off his lap, grabbing her thighs as he positioned her hips on the armrest of the couch. Amina’s heart raced as he stood, unbuttoning his cargo pants and pushing them down along with his boxers, freeing his erection.

Hunter’s eyes were dark with desire as he stepped between her legs, his hands gripping her hips. “Hold on,” he instructed, his voice a low rumble. “This might be rough.”

Amina braced herself, her hands gripping the couch cushions as Hunter lined himself up with her entrance. He pushed into her in one swift motion, a gasp escaping both their lips as he buried himself to the hilt inside her.

“Kriff,” Hunter groaned, his grip on her hips bruising. He pulled back slightly before thrusting into her again, setting a fast, punishing pace that had Amina crying out in pleasure.

“Yes, Hunter, yes,” she moaned, her nails digging into the fabric of the couch. The heat inside her was almost unbearable, but every thrust, every movement brought her closer to another climax.

“You feel so good,” Hunter panted, his thrusts becoming more erratic. “So kriffing good.”

Amina’s legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper as she met his thrusts. The room was filled with the sound of their bodies slapping together, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.

“Hunter, I’m gonna... I’m gonna come,” Amina gasped, her body tensing as the coil inside her wound tighter and tighter.

“Do it,” Hunter growled, his thrusts becoming harder, faster. “Come for me, Amina. Let me feel you.”

With a scream, Amina’s orgasm hit her like a freight train, her walls clamping down around Hunter’s cock as her entire body convulsed with pleasure. Hunter followed her over the edge, a guttural roar escaping his lips as he emptied himself inside her, his hips jerking with each pulse of his release.

For a few moments, they stayed like that, Hunter still buried deep inside her as they both caught their breath. The heat between them had lessened slightly, but the burning sensation was still there, a lingering reminder of the mysterious flower’s effects.

Hunter gently pulled out of her, helping her sit up. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern despite the lingering haze of desire in his eyes.

Amina nodded, her body still trembling from the intensity of their coupling. “I’m okay,” she said softly, her voice a bit shaky. “But... I think…” She trailed off, as Hunter kneeled down and gripped her thighs, pulling her closer over the armrest.

She could feel his warm breath across her pussy, his hands making marks on her thighs. Hunter’s grip tightened as he spread her legs wider, positioning her legs over his shoulders. Amina’s breath hitched, anticipation coursing through her body.

“Hunter…” she murmured, her voice filled with both desire and uncertainty.

“Trust me,” he replied, his voice low and husky. His tongue flicked out, teasing her folds before delving deeper, lapping at her slickness. Amina gasped, her back arching as pleasure shot through her like a bolt of lightning.

His tongue moved expertly, alternating between slow, deliberate strokes and quick, teasing flicks. Amina’s hands gripped the couch cushions, her knuckles turning white as she struggled to maintain her composure. Hunter’s fingers dug into her thighs, holding her in place as he devoured her, his mouth relentless.

“Hunter, please…” she whimpered, her body trembling.

Hunter’s response was a low growl, his tongue plunging deeper, tasting every inch of her. He found her clit, circling it with his tongue before sucking on it gently, sending waves of pleasure crashing through her. Amina’s moans grew louder, her hips bucking against his mouth.

“You taste so perfect,” he murmured against her, his breath hot and tantalizing.

Amina’s response was a throaty moan, her body writhing with need. She could feel the tension building inside her, a coil winding tighter and tighter. Hunter’s hands moved from her thighs to her hips, pulling her even closer, his tongue driving her closer to the edge.

“Hunter, I’m going to…” she gasped, unable to finish the sentence.

“Do it,” he commanded, his voice rough with desire. “Come for me, Amina.”

With a cry, Amina’s orgasm ripped through her, her body convulsing as pleasure flooded her senses. Hunter didn’t stop, his tongue continuing to work her through her climax, drawing out every last shudder of pleasure. When she finally stilled, he pulled back, his lips glistening with her arousal.

“You’re incredible,” he said, his voice full of admiration.

Amina panted, her body still trembling from the intensity of her release. She barely had time to recover before Hunter stood, his eyes dark with need. He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her towards the bedroom. The urgency in his movements was palpable, a reflection of the burning desire they both felt.

Once in the bedroom, Hunter pressed her against the wall, his hands roaming over her body. He kissed her fiercely, his tongue claiming her mouth as his own. Amina moaned into the kiss, her hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer.

“Turn around,” he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Amina obeyed, turning to face the wall. Hunter’s hands were on her in an instant, pulling her underwear down and tossing it aside. He positioned himself behind her, his body pressing against hers, his erection hard against her ass.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. “I can’t get enough of you.”

Amina shivered at his words, her body alight with desire. Hunter’s hands gripped her hips, lifting her left leg slightly as he positioned himself at her entrance. He pushed into her with one swift motion, a gasp escaping both their lips as he filled her completely.

“Kriff, you feel so good,” Hunter groaned, his grip on her hips tightening.

He set a brutal pace, each thrust hard and fast, driving them both towards the edge. Amina’s hands pressed against the wall for support, her body rocking with each powerful movement. The burning sensation inside her seemed to lessen with each thrust, replaced by waves of pleasure that had her crying out with every breath.

“Hunter, yes,” she moaned, her voice trembling. “Don’t stop.”

“I won’t,” he promised, his voice a low growl. “You feel so good.”

His hands moved to her breasts, squeezing them roughly as he continued to pound into her. Amina’s head fell back against his shoulder, her moans growing louder with each thrust. Hunter’s teeth grazed her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

“Come for me again,” he commanded, his voice full of authority. “I want to feel you come around me.”

Amina’s body responded to his words, the coil inside her winding tighter and tighter. She could feel her orgasm building, a tidal wave of pleasure ready to crash over her. Hunter’s thrusts became more erratic, his own release nearing.

“Yes, Hunter, yes,” she cried, her body tensing.

With a scream, Amina’s orgasm tore through her, her walls clenching around Hunter’s cock. The intensity of her release sent him over the edge, a guttural roar escaping his lips as he emptied himself inside her. They stayed like that for a moment, their bodies pressed together, trembling with the aftershocks of their climaxes.

Hunter slowly pulled out of her, turning her to face him. He kissed her gently, his hands cradling her face. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft.

Amina nodded, her body still tingling with the remnants of pleasure. “I’m okay,” she replied, her voice a bit shaky. “That was…”

“Amazing,” Hunter finished for her, a satisfied smile on his face.

Amina smiled back, leaning into his embrace. The burning sensation inside her had lessened considerably, though it wasn’t completely gone. She looked up at Hunter, her eyes full of love and desire.

“Hunter,” she whispered, her voice still husky from their earlier activities.

He looked down at her, concern mixed with the lingering heat of their passion. “Are you still feeling it?”

She nodded, biting her lip. “Not as bad, but it’s still there.”

Hunter’s hand caressed her cheek, his eyes searching hers. “Then we’ll keep going until it’s gone.”

Amina nodded, her hands sliding down his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles. She dropped to her knees in front of him, looking up at him with a mixture of desire and determination. Hunter’s breath hitched, his hand tangling in her hair as he watched her.

“You don’t have to,” he said, though his voice betrayed his need.

“I want to,” Amina replied, her hands moving to his hips. Hunter’s hand tightened in her hair as she wrapped her lips around the tip, her tongue swirling around the head.

“Kark, Amina,” Hunter groaned, his hips jerking forward involuntarily.

She took him deeper, her mouth working over him with fervor. Hunter’s other hand joined the first in her hair, guiding her movements. His control slipped as the pleasure built, his hips thrusting into her mouth.

“Look at me,” Hunter commanded, his voice rough.

Amina’s eyes met his, her gaze heated and full of want. Hunter’s grip tightened, his thrusts becoming more insistent. She gagged slightly, but the look of determination in her eyes only spurred him on.

“You’re doing so good, sweetheart,” he praised, his voice strained. “Such a good girl.”

Amina’s hands moved to his thighs, steadying herself as he fucked her mouth. Her eyes watered, but she didn’t pull away, her tongue working against him with each thrust. Hunter’s breathing grew ragged, his control slipping further.

“Fuck, Amina,” he groaned, his hips snapping forward. “I’m gonna…”

Before he could finish, his release hit him, his cock pulsing in her mouth. Amina swallowed as much as she could, the rest spilling from the corners of her lips. Hunter’s grip loosened, his body trembling with the force of his climax.

He pulled back, lifting her to her feet. “Are you okay?” he asked, wiping the remnants of his release from her lips as she sucked it off his thumb.

Amina nodded, feeling a rush of affection and desire for Hunter. "I'm okay," she replied, her voice soft but steady. She gazed up at him, her eyes still clouded with need. "But it's not gone yet."

Hunter's expression hardened with determination. "Then we keep going." He scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her to their bed and gently laid her down, his hands caressing her body. He could feel the heat radiating off her, the aphrodisiac flower still wreaking havoc on their systems.

He positioned a pillow under her hips, elevating her slightly. Amina's breath hitched as she felt his intentions, the anticipation building once again. Hunter kissed her deeply, his tongue exploring her mouth as his hands roamed her body, squeezing her breasts through the fabric of her brassiere.

“Hunter…” she moaned against his lips, her body arching towards him.

“Shh, I’ve got you,” he murmured, pulling back to look into her eyes. “You’re my good girl, right?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yes.”

“Good,” he growled, his hands slipping behind her to unclasp her brassiere. He ripped it off her, the sound of fabric tearing filling the room. “I want to see all of you.”

Amina gasped as the cool air hit her bare skin, her nipples hardening instantly. Hunter’s hands moved to her breasts, kneading them roughly before taking one nipple into his mouth, sucking and biting gently.

“Does that feel good, sweetheart?” he asked, his voice husky.

“Yes,” she moaned, her hands threading through his hair. “It feels so good.”

Hunter’s free hand trailed down her body, his fingers slipping between her folds once more. “You’re so wet,” he murmured, his thumb circling her clit. “You like having my come inside you, don’t you cyar’ika?”

Amina’s hips bucked against his hand, her body desperate for more. “Hunter, please…” She whined.

Hunter’s grip tightened on Amina’s hips, feeling her desperation as she moved against his hand. "Patience, sweetheart," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "I’ve got you."

Amina's response was another whimper, her body arching into his touch. "Hunter, I need you," she pleaded, her voice trembling.

Hunter’s fingers moved faster, his thumb pressing harder against her clit. "You like this, don’t you? My sweet girl needs more, doesn’t she?"

"Yes," Amina gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders. "Please, baby. I need you inside me."

Hunter groaned at her words, his own arousal surging. He shifted her, adjusting the pillow under her hips, elevating her just right. He lined himself up with her entrance, pausing to look into her eyes. "You ready for me, sweetheart?"

"Yes, Hunter," Amina replied, her voice breathless. "Please, I need you."

With one swift motion, Hunter thrust into her, a gasp escaping both their lips as he filled her completely. "Oh, Maker," he groaned, his hands gripping her hips.

Amina’s back arched, her body responding to the overwhelming sensation. "Hunter, yes," she moaned, her hands clutching at the sheets.

Hunter set a relentless pace, each thrust deep and powerful. "You feel so good, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice rough. “So good.”

Amina’s breaths came in short gasps, the intensity of their connection driving her wild. "Harder, Hunter," she begged, her hips meeting his thrusts.

Hunter’s grip tightened, his hands moving to pin her wrists above her head. "Like this?" he asked, his voice a low growl as he drove into her harder, his cock hitting deeper with each thrust.

"Yes," Amina cried out, her body trembling. "Oh Maker, Hunter, yes."

Hunter's eyes were dark with desire as he continued to thrust into her, his pace relentless. "You like that, sweetheart?" he growled, his voice rough. "Does that feel good?"

Amina could only nod, her breath coming in short gasps. "Yes, yes, it feels so good," she moaned, her fingers creating a fist as Hunter kept a steady grip on her wrists.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as he spoke. "I want to hear you, Amina. Let me hear how much you need this."

Amina's moans grew louder, her body arching into his touch. "I need it so much, Hunter," she whimpered. "I need you."

Hunter's thrusts became harder, each movement driving him deeper inside her. "You're so perfect," he murmured, his voice full of admiration. "So perfect for me."

Amina's nails dug into her palms, her body quivering with each powerful thrust. "Hunter, I'm so close," she gasped, her eyes meeting his.

Hunter's eyes burned with intensity as his thrusts becoming more forceful. "Come for me, Amina," he commanded. "Let go for me."

With a scream, Amina's body convulsed, her orgasm crashing over her. Her walls clenched around Hunter, pulling him deeper as he continued to pound into her.

"That's it, sweetheart," Hunter growled, his grip on her wrists tightening. "Such a good girl."

He didn't slow down, his own release building as he drove into her over and over again. "You feel so good," he groaned, his voice strained. "So kriffing good."

Amina's body shook with the force of her climax, her moans filling the room. "Hunter, please," she begged, her voice hoarse. "I need more."

Hunter's eyes darkened with desire as let go of her wrists and pulled her closer, his hips slamming into hers. "You want more, sweetheart?" he growled. "I'll give you more."

His hands moved to her hips, lifting them slightly as he angled himself to hit deeper. Amina's breath hitched, the new angle sending waves of pleasure through her body.

"Yes, Hunter," she moaned, her fingers clenching around his biceps. "Just like that."

Hunter's pace was punishing, each thrust harder than the last. "You like it rough, don't you?" he growled, his eyes locked on hers. "You like when I take you like this."

Amina's response was a choked moan, her body trembling. "Yes, Hunter, I love it," she gasped. "I love it when you take me like this."

Hunter's hands moved to her thighs, spreading her legs wider as he drove into her. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice full of admiration. "So kriffing beautiful."

Amina's eyes fluttered closed, her body overwhelmed by the intensity of their connection. "Hunter, I can't," she whimpered, her voice trembling.

"Yes, you can," Hunter growled, his hands gripping her thighs. "You're strong, sweetheart. You can take it."

Amina's body responded to his words, the coil inside her winding tighter and tighter. "Hunter, I'm going to," she gasped, her eyes squeezing shut.

"Do it," Hunter commanded, his voice rough. "Come for me again, Amina. I want to feel you."

With a cry, Amina's orgasm tore through her, her walls clenching around him. Hunter's grip tightened, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he followed her over the edge.

"Kriff, Amina," he groaned, his hips jerking as he emptied himself inside her. "You feel so good."

They stayed like that for a moment, their bodies pressed together, trembling with the aftershocks of their climaxes. Hunter slowly pulled out of her, his eyes searching hers.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

She nodded, letting out a soft sigh, “yeah, much better.”

Amina leaned her head against Hunter's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear. She felt a sense of peace wash over her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. Despite the uncertainty of their situation, she found solace in the arms of the man she loved.

Hunter's fingers gently traced circles on her back, his touch comforting and reassuring. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, his lips lingering against her skin as he savored the moment. For him, there was no greater joy than being with Amina, sharing these intimate moments that bound them together in a way that nothing else could.

His head moved off the pillow as Amina got onto her elbows, “what is it?” She asked.

“Amellia is at the door.” He responded.

Amina hurriedly got off the bed and grabbed a pastel green nightgown and quickly slipped it on going to the front door. “Yes?”

“I ran your blood tests and I found out what is wrong. You probably ran into some sort of flower that contained a strong aphrodisiac, or in simpler terms, a sex pollen. The best course of action would be to- ” Amellia looked up from her datapad, finally looking at Amina and a few of clothes strewn about the living room.

“Oh. It seems you already figured out the antidote.” Amellia said, tucking hair behind her ear.

Amina adjusted her legs, the soreness from her and Hunter’s escapades settling in. “Seems so.”

“Well, that’s good. Because sometimes if you don’t do anything, it can actually lead to death.”

Amina blinked rapidly, sex pollen? It seemed like something out of a cheap holo-drama, not anything that would happen in real life. “W- wait. Sex pollen is real, and it can lead to death?”

“Yes.” Amellia stated, “and masturbation won’t work, you have to really exhaust yourself. It’s quite strenuous actual- ”

Amina cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she struggled to find the right words. "Um, yeah, okay, great. So... we're cured because we... well, you know," she stammered, her gaze flickering nervously to the scattered clothes strewn across the living room floor.

Amellia nodded, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yes, it seems you've stumbled upon the antidote quite effectively," she said, her tone laced with amusement. "Sometimes, nature provides the most unexpected solutions."

Amina shifted uncomfortably, the weight of the situation settling heavily on her shoulders. The idea that something as innocuous as a flower could have such potent effects seemed almost surreal. Yet here they were, living out their own unexpected romance amidst the chaos of their daily lives.

"So, what now?" Amina asked, her voice hesitant. "Do we just... wait for the effects to wear off?"

Amellia nodded, her expression serious once more. "Yes, that's usually the best course of action," she replied, her tone professional. "But if you experience any lingering symptoms or discomfort, don't hesitate to come see me. I'll be here to help."

Amina offered a grateful smile, her heart still racing from the intensity of their encounter. "Thank you, Amellia," she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "For everything."

Amellia returned the smile, her gaze warm with understanding. "Of course, Amina," she said, her tone gentle. "Just take care of yourselves, alright? I’ll have Omega stay overnight with me.”

With a final nod, Amellia bid them farewell, leaving Amina and Hunter alone once more in the quiet confines of their home. Amina turned to face Hunter, her heart fluttering in her chest as she took in the sight of him, shirtless and tousled from their earlier activities.

"I can't believe that actually happened," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hunter chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yeah, me neither," he said, his tone light. "But I'm not complaining."

Amina's cheeks flushed with heat as she met his gaze, her stomach fluttering with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Despite the unexpected turn of events, she couldn't deny the rush of emotion that surged through her at the thought of being with Hunter, intimately and unreservedly.

"I guess we should probably clean up," she said, her voice tinged with reluctance as she glanced at the scattered clothes strewn across the floor.

Hunter nodded in agreement, a playful smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, probably," he said, his tone teasing. "But first, I think we should... take a shower."

Amina's cheeks flushed with heat at his suggestion, but she nodded in agreement. "Yeah, a shower sounds... good," she said, her voice breathless with anticipation.

y'all have no idea how excited i am for the next chapter!! that's where things start to get real interesting…

tags: @callsign-denmark

[mutatiio]

Obi-Wan hates crutches.

As if having a cast considerably obstructing his movements on his left leg– which he's coming to realize is his strong leg because as it turns out, most of the time he's leaning his weight towards that side —makes sense now why he broke THAT leg—, wasn't enough, he has to walk around with crutches. He's never been good with them. For multiple reasons but mostly because he's not good at staying still; he has things to do, he can't just sit down all day, and also because he's always been a little... OAFY, but he'd rather break his other leg than admit that out loud.

Wearing crutches means he's supposed to rest. It's what the healers keep telling him as Obi-Wan hurriedly —or as hurriedly as the stupid crutches allowed him to— makes his way out of the improvised medical tent.

Already not listening to the healer. He's glad Anakin isn't there to watch him.

Making his way from the tent to the ship is TORTURE. The ground is uneven and then there's the ramp, how's he supposed to make it up a ramp in this state? He should have thought this through better but, honestly, he'd been hoping they could just put the bone back in place and be done with it with some bacta. He's dreading the ramp before he even reaches it.

Then, he spots Maul at the top.

"Go ahead," Obi-Wan huffs, frustration and resignation coat his tone. He stops at the foot of the ramp. "Say whatever you've got to say now and then, PLEASE, go back inside."

He almost stumbles to one side when he hand lets go of one of the crutches in an attempt to add a waving away motion to his speech. It stops him mid-motion as he wobbles where he stands and forces him to cling to the crutch again. Shame claws at his stomach. Obi-Wan doesn't want to be seen struggling– enough people had already given him pitiful looks on the way there. He doesn't want to get pity or mockery but the irony of the situation isn't lost on him. The thought of karma has already crossed his mind. But that doesn't mean he's looking forward to having said karma pointed out by Maul, which Kenobi definitely expects.

the mission had been a disaster. 

what should have been a simple intelligence retrieval had gone sideways in the worst way - an ambush, a collapsed structure, and kenobi, ever the martyr, had shoved maul out of the way just in time to take the worst of it himself. maul hadn’t even thought before hauling him out of the rubble, barely sparing time for a sneer as he growled, "that was idiotic, even for you." 

maul had been the one to drag him back to the ship. the one to snarl at the healers when they wasted time fussing instead of treating. and now?? now, after everything, kenobi still insists on making his life difficult, hobbling out of the medical tent against orders, determined to get back on his own. maul had half a mind to turn around and leave him to his misery.

he stands at the top of the ramp, arms crossed, golden eyes locked on kenobi’s struggling form below. he has no real reason to wait, but something keeps him there, arms crossed, gaze sharp as he watches the inevitable unfold. maybe it’s curiosity. maybe it’s lingering frustration from the mission. or maybe - though he would never say it - he wants to make sure the fool actually makes it back. he watches the jedi fumble with his crutches, nearly toppling over in his impatience. stubborn, reckless fool. some things never change. maul should mock him. the words are already forming, sharp and barbed, but something holds him back - almost.

kenobi is looking up at him with that insufferable mix of defiance and exhaustion, as if daring maul to say what they both know is coming. as if he’d rather die than admit he needs help (hypocrite). and that is what makes maul’s lips curl. 

"i was going to say nothing." maul finally says, voice smooth, near lazy. "but since you are so desperate for my opinion, jedi. how could i deny you??"

he steps forward, just enough to look without quite descending the ramp. the position is strategic - should kenobi fall, maul will see it, but not quite be able to catch him before he humiliates himself. 

"you are an idiot," maul continues, tone dripping with something dangerously close to fondness, though the sharpness of his words remain. "that much is obvious. but this??" he gaze flicks down to the crutches, to the way kenobi grips them with white-knuckled determination. "this is pathetic."

a smirk plays at his lips. "should i be impressed by your determination to make this harder for yourself?? or is self-destruction simply in your nature??"

then, with an exasperated sigh, maul steps fully onto the ramp and descends toward him. "move." he orders, tone clipped. "you’re never making it up on your own." maul is already grabbing his arm before a certain protest comes. his grip is firm, but careful - annoyingly so. he could mock kenobi all day, could watch him struggle just for the satisfaction of it, but… the idea of him actually falling?? actually hurting himself more??

no. that is not acceptable.

"swallow your pride." maul mutters, voice low, just for him. "or i will carry you, and neither of us wants that."

unprompted // always accepting!!

[tideswept]

I was tagged by @yourfavoritefridge and am taking a page from @sendpseuds ('s) book and answering this while deeply compromised. Sober, I am not.

You have been warned!

1.) How many works do you have on ao3?

62!

2.) What's your ao3 word count?

800,347! (Ooh, big round number!)

3.) What fandoms do you write for?

Currently: Kingsman & Star Wars. (I really never thought I'd be in either of them but I'm glad I am.)

4.) What are your top five fics by kudos?

gold and pink and glittering: 498, Hartwin, E. I'm still surprised to this day how much people liked it. First smut in several years.

the lean and hungry type: 453, Obikin, E. First time getting to do alpha/beta, and written from around 11pm to 4 am and then another hour proofreading. I was mildly delirious, ngl.

offer a little salt for that wound: 463, Hartwin, E. OOH man I had this one in my head and wouldn't leave me tf alone. My plot bunnies aren't USUALLY visual, but this one was!

cold water on your tongue: 429, Obikin, E. Still surprised this one took off tbh! I had a lot of moments where the fic felt awkward to me and not worth salvaging. But I think it makes people happy, and god, I can't really ask for more than that!

somebody to lie in the dark with: 302, Obikin, E. That's the second time today I've typed something instead of someone in that title. HMM. (Sith-Wan, my darling!)

5.) Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I do when I can! Have a pretty decent streak going, I think? I think I owe a really lovely commenter from like 5 days ago and nnnghh the guilt is heavy.

6.) What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Potentially empty spaces, empty phrases (Obikin) depending on how you decide the ending goes! But objectively: let me stay (TimJon).

7.) What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

oh fuck, who are you, the cops? (me, looking at my fics in despair)

I think the honor goes to cold water on your tongue. Everything else tends to end in a bittersweet or incomplete ("to be continued") kind of way.

8.) Do you get hate on fics?

Not outside of TMA. It's been absolutely lovely being in Kingsman / Obikin fandoms. I genuinely showed up here low-key scared for my life, and I've been shown nothing but kindness and support.

9.) Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Yes, and welcome to the first of the "UH IDK? [awkward shrug/hand wave]" questions because... I have no idea how to answer that. Like, what are the quantifiers here? Level of depth (NO PUN INTENDED) in how explicit it is, or what bits are rubbing against what bits, or like, if I specialize in any particular kind of smut (if there aren't pins for "I WRITE BDSM SMUT", I demand we print them) or— tldr: IDK. Vibe. The vibe kind. oh my god not vibrator vibe brain why are you doing this

10.) Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Nope. I've thought about fusions, though! Like, I feel a fic where Obi-Wan is a Kingsman and picks Anakin as his candidate--maybe it was Qui-Gon's dying request still, and when Obi-Wan became a knight and a seat next opened up, he reluctantly said, FINE.

(Now I'm wondering what knight Obi-Wan would be. Gawain? The original version of him, not the vulgarized mythos of later romances. Which leaves Anakin to be Agravaian, which is pretty perfect tbh. I mean he could also be Mordred since they're all brothers)

11.) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yup! Multiple times. It never stops feeling Not Okay.

12.) Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I know of?

13.) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Nope.

14.) What's your all time favorite ship?

oh fuck you are the cops.

Uh. tbh this is a really hard question until I asked myself: a 100k fic written by an amazing author: what pairing would you be more excited about? And my heart... my heart said Hartwin.

15.) What's a WIP you'd like to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Ahh, sadly the post-Vday canon divergence Hartwin fic. I'm told it stands on its own as is, though. So maybe that counts for something?

16.) What are your writing strengths?

I have no idea. You saw what happened during the smut question, I fell apart like a jenga tower! And that was a simple question!

Honestly though, I don't know. That I manage to carry enough vibes to be entertaining? That's pretty good.

17.) What are your writing weaknesses?

I will not clutch the camera and shove my face into it and whisper everything in a voice ragged with despair I will not clutch th—

18.) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Google Translate, my dearest friend. (Unless it's Spanish, I can handle that on my own.)

Granted, if I have a friend who speaks the language, you can bet I'm knocking down their door like a SWAT squad.

19.) First fandom you wrote for?

UH SO FUNNY STORY. I watched IT (the TV series) when I was like, 7. Was very confused for many reasons (partly because I missed the first hour) but also i was a Weird Child, and also Not American.

But! I didn't know it was based off a book written by a dude, so one day I just... started writing the story down in a notebook when I was 8. Because I figured I liked the movie (I assumed it was a movie at the time) so much, why NOT turn it into something to read?

20.) Favorite fic you've ever written?

Beholding's Own. Lightning-in-a-bottle kind of situation, 10+ year break from writing, and also re-entering fandom after said 10+ year long break. It's really hard to live up to that kind of fondness.

From new fics? the devil is a gentleman. I can't help it, this Obi-Wan and Anakin are hilarious. They are so dumb and yet so smart.

I'm supposed to tag people now for this, so imagine me throwing Your Candy of Choice at @irrationalsense, @veloursdor, @kingdomvel and @howlbrooklyn like a fastball. (And anyone else who'd like to do it!)

[coruscantguard]

OH WAIT ALSO I UPDATED THE TRUTH LIES

[[MORE]]

Just like the first time, the Battle of Bothawui is a roaring success.

And just like the first time, Grievous flees like the coward he is.

Anakin watches it happen for a moment, sees the familiar course Grievous is taking through the asteroid belt, and—

He knows what Grievous is going to do. Force hells, he knows what Grievous is going to do. He could cut him off successfully this time. He could get Grievous off the playing field before he commits so many atrocities.

"I know what to do this time,” Anakin says to Rex over the comms as he guns it. “I’m going in, I know what he's going to do,"

"Sir—"

“He’s gonna power up his hyperdrive, R2, hang on, get us some more speed—”

“Sir!”

Rex, per usual, sounds perfectly professional, so Anakin doesn’t feel too bad ignoring him. He’ll make it up to him by capturing Grievous now and ending his reign of terror years early.

R2 beeps out a message— same message as last time, warrants the same response—

“See what you can do about that, buddy,” he says, right as he goes to dodge the incoming debris he knows is about to hit him, and he does dodge it, it’s fine, but seconds later—

“Oh, fuck.”

Everything goes black.

---

Waking up is slow, blurry, and painful.

Anakin blinks, and blinks again. Oh, no. He remembers this.

“What happened?” he asks wearily, already anticipating the response.

"You owe Rexster your skin, Skyguy," Ahsoka says, just like before. Anakin opens his eyes, ready to see Rex standing behind her, and—

He’s not there.

Shit. Why isn’t Rex there?

“Is Rex okay?” Anakin asks hurriedly, forcing himself upwards into a sitting position, despite the way his head screams at him for it. Rex was here last time. Rex should be here this time. He knows Rex, he knows there’s no way Rex would leave unless something really serious happened—

“Yeah, he’s fine,” Ahsoka says flippantly. “I mean, he’s systematically destroying every training droid on the ship, last I checked— he really was not happy with that stunt there, he introduced me to like seven new words I’d never heard before— but physically, he’s fine.”

… Ah. Right. Rex had been really determined to stop R2 from going missing this time, to stop them from having to lose anyone hunting him down.

Anakin shuts his eyes. Fuck. Fuck. He fucked up. The one thing Rex asked him for, and he couldn't even do that. He can practically hear Obi-Wan’s lecture in his head already.

"R2's missing, isn't he." It's not a question. He opens his eyes again just in time to see Ahsoka wince.

"Yeah, he is. I'm sorry, Master. But Grievous's ships are all now spare parts! And they’ve already delivered your replacement astromech droid!"

"Force fuck a sith," Anakin mutters under his breath, ignoring Ahsoka's sudden giggle at his language. She’ll hear worse from him over the course of her padawanship. "Jetpacks."

"What?"

"We're getting Torrent jetpacks. Rex wants a jetpack, trust me."

"... Okay?" Ahsoka's giggle sounds distinctly more uncertain this time, but Anakin can't find it within himself to care— at least Ahsoka is here. Ahsoka is safe. Ahsoka is where he can make sure she stays that way. And he’ll make sure Rex stays safe too, even if he did mess this one up a little. It’ll all be fine. He’s certain of it.

---

The new replacement astromech droid is a demon.

Within five seconds of meeting him, it’s easy to remember why Anakin hated R3-S6 so much the first time around. And that’s not even including the whole “Separatist spy” aspect.

“I’m not taking him on the mission,” Anakin says, point blank, when Ahsoka tries to get him to.

“Master, you need an astromech droid!” Ahsoka argues back. “The R3s are faster in thinking skills than the R2s, and this little guy here is gold! A gold droid for the Gold Leader of Gold Squadron! It’s practically fated!”

“No, and that’s my final answer,” Anakin snaps in return.

R3 beeps sadly. Anakin glares at him. He knows what that droid is hiding, and there’s no way he’s risking this mission by bringing him along. He’s going to get R2 back from that scavenger successfully this time, and Rex is going to forgive him, and it’s all going to be fine. He’s certain of it.

---

They head straight to the Trandoshan Scavenger this time around. There’s no reason to waste time going back to find his ship when Anakin knows R2 won’t be there, and, well—

He’s not hiding from Rex, he’s just… not finding him. Big difference. If Rex wanted to talk to him, Rex could find him. Anakin is just… respecting Rex’s distance. Yeah. That’s all he’s doing.

To be fair, they didn’t find R2 in the scavenger ship last time, but when Anakin thinks about it, he remembers hearing those beeps, remembers his suspicion. R2 had to get to the listening post somehow after all, and the scavenger was suspicious as the Sith.

Just like last time, Ahsoka immediately complains about the smell. Anakin doesn’t laugh at her, cause he’s a good Master, but it’s just as tempting as it was last time.

She wouldn’t last a day on Tatooine. Probably a good thing, ultimately, he wouldn’t want her to ever be in a position where she would have to last a day there, but it’s still funny as hell.

“We’re looking for an R2 unit,” Anakin says as they meet the owner of the ship. “You happen to pick up any recently?”

“An R series?” the Trandoshan asks, and he looks down, shaking his head. “No, not for a long time.”

Force hells. Anakin doesn’t want to go through this whole song and dance again. The Trandoshan is just as irritating as he remembers.

“I know you’re lying,” Anakin says coldly, and pulls out his lightsaber. "I'm not fucking around."

"Woah," the man says, "woah, woah, woah, hey, there's no need for that—"

"Show me where my kriffing droid is—"

"I told you, I don't have it—"

"Don't lie to me—"

"Master—"

“I’ll go through you if I must—”

“Fine!” the Trandoshan squeaks, “fine, fine, there might be an R2 unit in the hold, you can look around! Go knock yourself out!” He shakes his head, mutters under his breath, “Jedi, so rude.”

Anakin ignores him, instead focusing on striding in the moment the door is open. Ahsoka runs after him.

“Master, come on,” Ahsoka pleads. Anakin keeps going. Thank the kriffing Force R3 isn’t here this time, no one here to set off those Force forsaken Assassin Droids.

“Be careful,” Anakin says shortly as they move. “You don’t want to set off the assassin droids.”

“What assassin droids?”

Anakin points.

“Those ones.”

“Oh.” A pause. “They don’t look too scary to me.”

“Nothing looks scary to you, Snips. Stick close to me.”

“Fineeeeeee.”

They walk further in. Suddenly, the sound of beeping—

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“That was R2!”

“How do you know that?”

Anakin ignores the question. “It came from down here.” He pulls his lightsaber out, and starts carving open the door.

“Master, you can’t just—”

“Watch me.” His tone of voice leaves no room for argument.

“Hey!” a voice comes from the other side of the doors. “Hey, hey, stop carving my doors open you fucking freak—”

“Let us in,” Anakin orders.

“Fine!” The Trandoshan says. “Fine, fine, fine, Maker, if you didn’t have a lightsaber you’d be a dead man.”

“Where’s my droid?”

“Master, R2 isn’t here!”

“Be quiet Ahsoka.” Anakin glares at the man. “Tell me where my droid is, or I’ll find it myself.”

“There’s no R2 droid here—”

“Cut the crap. We both know you’re lying.” Anakin pushes him to the side and stalks past, heading towards the cockpit. “Now tell me where my droid is, or I’ll pilot this ship to the nearest Republic cruiser, and you can spend your next few years ruminating on whether or not an R2 droid was worth a prison sentence.”

Ahsoka makes a squeaking noise behind him. He’s quickly distracted from that by the sudden reappearance of those familiar beeps, this time much louder.

Wordlessly, Anakin takes off towards the sound.

“Hey—”

The Trandoshan reaches for him, and Anakin pulls his lightsaber out. The Trandoshan stops dead in his tracks.

Despite how tempting it is, Anakin does not use his lightsaber to cut the Trandoshan’s head off. Instead, he brings it up to the wall, and starts carving open the paneling near where he heard R2’s beeping. He sees nothing at first, so he switches walls, ignoring the Trandoshan’s offended sputtering, and—

There!

R2 beeps again, and Anakin sighs in relief as his familiar blue shell comes into view. “Knew I’d find you here, buddy,” he says, grinning. “Lemme get that restrictor bolt off you, and we’ll be good to go.”

“Hey!” the Trandoshan says, “you can’t just steal my merchandise—”

His merchandise? R2 isn’t kriffing merchandise. R2 is his friend.

Anakin spins around, lightsaber still in hand, and brings it up to the man’s neck. “You’re lucky I’m not taking your life for lying to me,” he says, voice cool. “Now get the hell out of my way before I decide otherwise.”

---

“I got R2 back!” Anakin crows when he gets back to the ship. Rex is waiting for him, arms crossed, and he feels distinctly unimpressed in the Force.

Still, Rex replies with, “good job, sir,” and it sounds just as sincere as always. Good ol’ Rex. Loyal as ever. “Now we just need to find Skytop Station.”

Anakin waves that off. “Eh, we haven’t even gotten the orders for that yet.”

“We’re also lacking the tracking ability we had originally, sir.”

Ah. Right. That is a solid point.

“Get the men started on scanning the area, and come up with a game plan for what we’ll need to do,” Anakin orders, and Rex nods once, before spinning on his heel and taking back off towards the bridge.

Ahsoka finally disembarks off of the ship, feeling distinctly uncertain in the Force. He gets the sense that she’s dragging her heels a bit. Probably annoyed that she won’t be able to force him to bond with the demon unit now.

If it was up to Anakin, he’d push it out of the airlock, but they still need to figure out what caused it to turn traitor.

“Hey, Snips. Mind bringing R3 to my workshop? I want to check something out.”

[spikybanana]

fic writer tag game

@to-proudly-go thank u for the tag pal <3<3 (I very definitely love your poetic angst & your art)

How many works do you have on ao3?

25 :) 15 for hp and 10 for star wars

What's your ao3 word count?

144,107!

What fandoms do you write for?

hp and star wars, though I've definitely brought the marauders fandom habits (delusional obsession w main character's dad and his best friends) straight to the prequels

What are your top five fics by kudos?

"trust" the inscription said (hp/wolfstar)

then he came home (hp/wolfstar)

don't let's die as heroes (hp/jegulily)

the prophecies spoke of you and I (sw/obikin) (which is also my most recent work, so it's crazy to me that it's up here)

slipped back in (hp/wolfstar)

Do you respond to comments?

I always do eventually!! even if it's the smallest comment I like to send a smiley face in reply. It's just that I might take forever coming up with what to say, especially for the super nice ones ;3;

What's the fic you write with the happiest ending?

hmm I'd say don't let's die as heroes for the marauders (literally turns 3 canonical funerals into a wedding) and Designation for obikin. & I usually write happy endings (minus canon fics) even if they're more "the future is uncertain but bright" rather than happily ever afters

Do you get hate on fics?

none so far! & they better not because if I do get hate I will cry

Do you write smut? What kind?

listen. listen. this is a whole Thing. as your neighbourhood ace, smut is like science fiction/horror to me. which is to say I have written both mlm and wlw sex scenes lol. it happens very rarely, but it has happened before & will happen again.

Do you write cross-overs?

I hope you know that I'm constantly thinking about how sirius/remus and anakin/obi-wan are homomorphic creatures and I really want them to meet. but also, so far, no. except if you count the wolfstar sw au sitting in the docs.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not afaik!

Have you ever had a fic translated?

not afaik either!

Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

I don't think so, but I would absolutely love to try

What's your all time favourite ship?

wolfstar and obikin are the same ship actually, so both. (unserious)

What's your WIP you like to finish, but doubt you ever will?

I read back on What You Will earlier today and scared myself so possibly that. (it's a jegulily parody of Shakespeare's twelfth night, and has already been rewritten from scratch twice, so maybe mayyybe there's a sign)

What are your writing strengths?

errrrr. occasionally poetic-ish description? I like writing pretty vibes. and occasionally punchy-feely stuff. where you stand above & survey a life through tiny poignant snippets far apart. quite a few of my fics are like that

What are your writing weaknesses?

so many. definitely more than I'm aware of too. I feel I'm awful at pacing & easily get bogged down in tiny details, which is why long fics have not worked out for me lol. It's also hard for characters to feel real to me, like I'd just stop in the middle of a story and think "my darling I do not understand you at all"

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I definitely love when I see them, but I've not tried it myself. it feels impossible to merge Mandarin and English in a way that feels natural (or write it down in English characters), even though come to think of it I do it with my brother all the time. huh.

First fandom you wrote for?

drarry! and I still wanna go back sometimes

Favourite fic you've ever written?

awh but I always like them better before they're words on the screen/on ao3. ideas are just pure vibes and potential yk? rather than a dozen annoying imperfections you're not good enough to fix. lol sorry, if I have to pick, Once Upon a Green Haze. it's unfinished & only has 3 chapters for now, but I like them.

I've seen this going around the dash for a while now, so open tag :)

[augustmourn]

Twenty Questions for a Fic Writer

Tagged by @hearthouses and @ladyculebras!

How many works do you have on ao3?

162.

What's your total ao3 word count?

557,449 words.

What fandoms do you write for?

I tend to bounce from fandom to fandom and don't generally return to older ones, so the fandoms I've written for in the past I may not write much or at all in the future. I've written the most works for IT Movies, followed by Star Wars, but more recently I've been writing for The Locked Tomb and Danganronpa. All for the Game is probably my longest-standing fandom I can easily dip back into. I also have a bunch of other fandoms I've tried out writing once or twice for exchanges.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Unexpected - 1,192 kudos. Bojack Horseman, Bojack/Mr. Peanutbutter. Fake dating/accidental marriage. For a long time it was the most kudosed fic in the fandom but has now been surpassed by a couple of megacrossovers. I'm pretty proud of this one--I love any fic where I get to stretch my comedy muscles and I've been told it does pretty well at hitting the canon tone.

you know what they say about assumptions - 865 kudos. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Anakin/Padme/Obi-Wan. Modern AU. Maybe the only modern AU I've ever written? I think it's just had a long time to compile kudos.

Into the Dark - 716 kudos. IT Movies, Richie/Eddie. Time loop.

The Kids Are Alright - 670 kudos. IT Movies, Richie/Eddie. Teen years getting together fic, the only explicit rated fic on this list.

Lights Will Guide You Home - 632 kudos. Star Wars, attempt at plot, eternally unfinished WIP that I started when I was sixteen. I do sometimes think about orphaning it.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I used to. I try to. But I ended up with a backlog that I can never get through and now I mostly just go in bursts and respond to everything on a couple recent fics and leave it at that.

What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

This feels hard to determine! I've written a lot of stories and it's hard to remember all of them, lol. I'm excluding noncon because that's too easy. Scorp's suggestion for this one was quiet birds in circled flight, which is an IT fic where Richie commits suicide. the kind of love (i've been dreaming of) is a Raven Cycle resurrected-and-came-back-wrong fic. an eye for an eye is an All For The Game gore fic where Neil gets his eye taken out and everything is terrible.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Unexpected is an accidental-marriage-turns-real fic that is pretty fluffy. real love is a heart attack is an arranged-marriage-turns-sexy fic. Maybe that's a theme. (Realizing as I go through my fics that I rarely write endings that are really nice or really bad. Usually somewhere in the middle.)

Do you get hate on fics?

I wrote a werewolf porn fic where some people got really mad about the wolf sex in the comments. Other than that, just some unrequested concrit a couple of times.

Do you write smut?

All the time. My nano story from last month ending up gen was the biggest shock of my life.

Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Never have, and I don't know if I ever will. They just don't really appeal to me for some reason.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I think it happened in IT fandom, but by the time I went to look into it it was gone already.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! One of my All for the Game fics was translated into Russian.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Never done it. If I did so, I'd definitely want to ask someone who speaks the language to look it over for me.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, I think I'm too much of a control freak and also slightly uncertain how it would work.

What's your all-time favorite ship?

Whatever I'm currently obsessed with eclipses everything, so I don't know if I have all-timers, but Neil/Riko from All for the Game eats my brain all the time.

What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Anything from prior fandoms, really. But I can't think of any examples right now. I have a million little bits and pieces floating around in my google drive, but I'm not really thinking about them anymore.

What are your writing strengths?

I love writing smut. Apparently I'm good at dialogue, although I find it painful a lot of the time. When I try for comedy, it tends to land. And I love writing horror and I'm always delighted when people tell me I've genuinely disturbed them, lol.

What are your writing weaknesses?

I'm terrible at plot. It's really hard for me to think of things to happen, which seems like an insane problem for a writer to have, but it's true. And I'm not great at doing any kind of heavy editing. 80% of what I type the first time stays on the page.

First fandom you wrote for?

Hunger Games, when I was 11/12.

Favorite fic you've written?

Oh, man, I think I have a recency bias, but Crashing is definitely the fic I'm proudest of. It's 72k and almost five times as long as the previous longest story I'd ever finished. It was a huge accomplishment and I'm still so happy I did it.

Tagging anyone who wants to do it!

[notes-from-sarah]

Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen read-along, hardback edition

Part 1, chapters 1-10

Wherein I react as I read this novel. It's a Star Wars novel, there will be good, bad and ugly. You have been warned. Spoilers below.

Chapter 1

Skip. Explosion happens. Ruug is shocked.

Chapter 2

Pg 10, Opening words are: "Anakin Skywalker stood" where is he standing? Only the Shadow knows.

Pg 11, Now know that he's standing in the Temple courtyard under the Great Tree. I feel like this is a long time to wait before finding out where the POV character is. (this might be a me problem)

Pg 11, The Jedi are called "General" just because it's a convention the clones came up with?

Pg 11, Mentioning Siri Tachi.

Pg 11, Siri is present as a master to a new knight but nary a word about a certain Ferus Olin? For shame.

Pg 11, Jedi are temporarily rotating into an open Council position? Kinda feel like the Council would convene and, using the guidance of the Force, would elect a new member instead of trial a bunch of people, but whatever.

Pg 12, Anakin's emotions come from his...hands?

Pg 13, Anakin thinks he's the only Jedi to feel emotions.

Pg 13, Anakin thinks Mace hates him.

Pg 14, Jedi clap after Mace finishes his speech.

Pg 14, Obi-Wan is flustered when a politician doesn't show up on time. The man who doesn't trust and has distaste for politicians.

Pg 14-15, The Jedi invited politicians to attend the not-knighting, knighting ceremony. Why would they though? It's not a high school graduation, it's an advancement within a closed order.

Pg 15, The Jedi Council take Palpatine's emergency call in the middle of the ceremony, I assume for drama's sake. Then Yoda dismisses the onlookers except for all the random knights instead of taking the meeting private and deciding what to do after hearing the information like they do in the movies...

Pg 15, Obi-Wan has to remind Anakin that he's a knight now, I don't hate it but I'm not loving how it's done here or Anakin's reaction.

Pg 16, This chapter is finally done. I kind of don't know why we needed to even have Chapter 1 if all the information has to be revealed again later on. I also thought we spent way too much time in this chapter catching up on Anakin's backstory and him thinking about his life to this point. Kind of a dull start but let's hope it gets better.

Chapter 3

Pg 17, Obi-Wan reiterates that Anakin is his equal, seems unlikely for him to do that.

Pg 17, Obi-Wan is surprised Anakin might need a period of adjustment to make the transition from Padawan to Knight because he and Obi-Wan had argued so much in the past.

Pg 18, Obi-Wan doubts his own ability to temp as a Council Member.

Pg 18, Neutral systems apparently "Work with all sides" while remaining members of the Republic and Galactic Senate... (In my opinion, neutral systems in a civil war are more like Kansas during the US civil war and less like Switzerland during WWII, but whatever)

Pg 19, What "long, volatile history" does Anakin have with Neimoidians? Is this a reference to The Phantom Menace? Anakin was barely involved in the whole thing.

Pg 21, No one is waiting to see if the Neimoidians are asking for help with investigating this bombing before making plans to do so... And the Jedi apparently need to develop a strategy to propose to be approved by the chancellor and the Council before going into the field and learning about the disaster...

Pg 22, So, the Jedi have knighted everyone already months ago, but they have a post-knighting ceremony where they give pep-talks to the new knights for some reason like it's a high school graduation...

Pg 23, Padmé and her retinue just...come into the Temple? Like, she's just allowed in? Without an escort or anything? So she can attend Jedi High graduation? What? This is a closed monastic order, randos aren't allowed in the cloister!

Pg 25, Padmé calls Obi-Wan "Master Kenobi" but gives him no more personalized greeting even though it seems she hasn't seen him since Geonosis? By Episode III she's much more friendly to him and it seems strange to have her be so distant after all they went through together just a couple months ago.

Pg 25, Now Bail Organa is just...hanging around in the Jedi Temple too?

Chapter 4

Pg 27-29, Anakin takes Padmé on a hot date racing on an illegal track in the underbelly of Coruscant... This is what they decide to do the first time they see each other after getting married...what? (My kingdom for an EU book about Anakin that doesn't involve him getting into illegal races!)

Pg 29, Anakin is wearing a mechanics coat as a disguise but as a 9 year old on the outer rim he saw straight through Qui-Gon's poncho disguise so who does he think he's fooling?

Pg 29-30, Anakin is having some difficulty adjusting to his replacement arm, I like this thoughtfulness.

Pg 31, Padmé: "Let's grab something to eat instead of getting arrested." Good lord, the dialogue here is just...not it. Did the author only watch three episodes of the Clone Wars before writing this book?

Pg 31, Jedi are acting as medics?

Pg 31, I like Anakin reflecting on how his life might be if Qui-Gon hadn't found him.

Pg 32, Anakin and Padmé make fun of Obi-Wan's hair... Obi-Wan has traditional "knight" hair, throw a suit of chain mail on him and he's ready for an Aurthurian round table. Trish Bigger knew what she was about when designing his look for Episode II.

Pg 33, Padmé notices people's destitution, Anakin doesn't unless he really tries because she's so much more compassionate than the Jedi. The boy who grew up destitute and can feel people's emotions through the Force. That boy. Yeah.

Pg 33, "Anakin's own sun-dragon heart" well, that's a line for sure

Chapter 5

Pg 36, Dex was an information broker?

Pg 38, Obi-Wan is so naïve that he can't conceive that someone from "his side" would be behind the bombing, instead he jumps to conclusions instead of letting the Force guide...

Pg 39-40, Obi-Wan seems pretty dim here, he's asking Dex how he should conduct an investigation and how to manage the situation diplomatically, ugh

Pg 39-40, Dex brings up Satine for no real reason just to needle Obi-Wan on having a girlfriend in the past (sidenote: there needs to be a moratorium on giving Obi-Wan girlfriends, please Disney, he has too many!)

Chapter 6

Pg 42-43, Padmé eating space shawarma: "This is really, really, really, good. And, I don't want to know what's in it." What is this dialogue? Padmé is a senator not a valley girl.

Pg 44, Awww, Anakin gives Padmé his Padawan braid just like in the micro-series. ❤️

Pg 44, Why do all these authors keep referring to all children as younglings? In the movies the term was used for children at the Temple, not children in general, why do they keep doing it?

Sometimes this book isn't clear about who is doing what where. More than once I've had to reread a description of someone's actions multiple times to try and parse exactly what's happening. Help me out here Mr. Chen!

I do like that Padmé and Anakin at least seem to like each other unlike in some shows *cough* the Clone Wars *cough* so that's nice.

Chapter 7

Pg 52, Obi-Wan has to rely on thoughts of Qui-Gon to not lose his composure when speaking with Dooku...

Pg 52-54, Obi-Wan maneuvers himself into a terrible diplomatic situation so that highjinks may commence. *sigh*

Pg 55-56, Palpatine is asking for Padawans to be drafted and Mace says well, "We are at war" I swear some people have no respect for that man. Then Yoda says for Obi-Wan not to worry his little head about it and focus on the bombing and Obi-Wan takes it as a sign of faith in his abilities? Why is Obi-Wan so dumb here?

Pg 56, "Even Jedi had interpersonal conflicts" just, what? A monastic order where these knights regularly have to depend on each other for their lives and ya know, it's just like any workplace where people don't get along with the office Karen.

Pg 56, This chapter just won't let me gooooo. "A decade had passed since Obi-Wan handled the responsibility [of teaching younglings]...and he cringed a bit inside. It quickly turned into a grin at the thought of Anakin Skywalker...the Chosen One, the young man who charged headfirst into Count Dooku's lightning attack, now headed toward the biggest challenge of his life." This whole paragraph is just...yikes. If this was supposed to be funny it did not manage that.

Chapter 8

Pg 58-59, Temple droids *sigh* "Professor Huyang" *sigh* Random little girl who we don't even know the age of *sigh* Referencing lots of Padawans dying at Geonosis despite none actually being there *sigh* Female zabrak with horns *sigh*

Chapter 9

Everyone is still at the Temple btw, almost 10 chapters in and we are still not on an adventure.

Pg 63, Anakin reconfigures Temple screens to show podracing... something he never so much as mentions after Episode I.

Pg 63, Referring to the place where the Jedi take their meals as the refectory like in a monastery is good, I like it.

Pg 64, Anakin telling childish lies about changing the screens to show podracing... am I supposed to believe that Anakin is 19/20 here or 13/14? 'Cause that's the vibe I'm getting.

Also, this is chapter 9 and the first chapter where Anakin and Obi-Wan actually talk to each other. What's the deal? Isn't this book about them and their relationship? Shouldn't they at least spend a little time together?

Pg 65, Obi-Wan chooses not to have a heart-to-heart with Anakin because he wants to stay focused on the bombing... you know, work and rules is all Obi-Wan thinks about, no time to think about his closest friend/pseudo son...

Pg 67, Anakin thinks he's too good to train younglings...

Chapter 10

Skip.

[obislittleone]

House Of Memories (4/?)

Obi-Wan Kenobi x Padawan!reader

Warnings: angst, nightmares, non-canon use of the force (idk)

Summary: Obi-Wan is tired, and having two padawans is a struggle. He becomes lucky when one of them is able to help the other in his favor.

A/n: Last episode was one of the greatest episodes in television. Also, someone asked me about the title, and no I was not being creative, this series is being inspired by the song House of Memories by Panic! at the disco... so do with that knowledge what you will ig

Words: 1.9k

As a child who has experienced passed trauma, Anakin often had nightmares. You were young enough not to remember the days of your slavery, having been rescued by Obi-Wan and Qui Gon very early. Anakin, however, struggled with some memories of being treated less than human by beings who thought themselves superior to a slave. He also dealt with visions of his mother, and how poorly she did on her own. He would sometimes have dreams of her crying alone in her room because of how she missed him.

He was getting to be more independent, a young teenager by now, so often he kept it to himself, until one night, he started thrashing in his sleep, unable to control himself for the inner torment his subconscious was going through. He tried his best to fix it, to reach for his mother and make it so that she could escape that planet the way he did. She was always so close and yet unattainable. His arms were reaching out, both in his dreams and in reality. He didn't know if he'd ever conquer the last few inches, it seemed he was struggling against a solid wall to no avail.

You had woken up when you heard him cry his mother's name. You'd grown quite close to Anakin over the past years you've been training with him, and you knew how dearly he held his mother in his heart. Shmi Skywalker, a lovely woman in whom you thought you'd known just by the stories. A loving mother with a kind and gentle soul, a sweet smile with the most genuine meaning behind it always. A woman who wanted what was best for her son at any cost, even leaving her behind. You hated when Anakin had nightmares about her. He always sounded like he was in pain when he cried out in his sleep.

You got up out of your bed, opening the sliding door between your room and the main room of the apartment you all shared together. Anakin was between yours' and Obi-Wan's rooms, though sometimes you wish it wasn't. Not for your sake of course, but for your Master, who awoke practically at the crack of dawn to see where he was needed before your training even began. You knew that some days after dealing with the both of you, he would be running on little to no sleep.

You had been branching out your power recently, trying new things with the force, under the watchful eye of Obi-Wan. His guidance helped you to explore places in your abilities in which you never knew existed. Though you were a tired twelve-year-old, not thinking straight and simply opting to try something for the sake of more restful hours, it didn't seem like such a bad idea in your head.

You went into Anakin, who was nearly about to roll off his bed and onto the floor, his arms out in front of him, reaching for something that was not there. You rubbed your tired eyes before approaching him quietly. It was bad luck to wake a sleepwalker, and though Anakin wasn't standing, you translated the meaning of the phrase that it should apply to him also.

You knelt down, grabbing one of his hands, and closing your eyes to focus. It was hard, since your need for sleep caused your focused mind to wander into an almost restful state. Focus... Just like Master always says, keep your mind tethered.

Soon you had delved into Anakin's nightmare, and it was awful. You saw his mother's face, tears streaming down as she cried out for her son to come back, as she wished to see him one last time. The sorrow and grief you felt coming from the boy in front of you was painful, and it went all through you, hitting your heart the hardest. Is this what he deals with at night? You didn't know how he was able to see these things in his dreams, then pretend like it didn't bother him the day after. It bothered you now, knowing how much emotional stress this brought on.

I'm strong enough, you thought, I can take it for him.

It took more energy out of you, energy that you didn't think you had to spare. Your body became tired, and your mind felt so full. It was quite a task, but sure enough, you were pulling away all the bad things from his dreams, leaving only the good things. The beautiful smile of his mother, the loving embraces and warm feelings from memories not soon lost to him.

_

Obi-Wan had awakened at Anakin's voice as well, though with his state of exhaustion, having dealt with the council grinding down on his schedule lately, it took him longer to reach the boy's room, where you were already tending to your fellow padawan. His brows furrowed as he didn't quite know what he was seeing in the dark of the night. The only thing lighting the scene was the passing by speeders outside the window, the Coruscanti traffic never seemed to stop.

He stood in the doorway a few seconds longer, unsure if he should interrupt you yet. You were so focused, and clearly had a reason for being here.

You were breathing evenly, almost as if meditating to yourself. A moment later you had abruptly pulled away from him, a small jump back to your behind as you fell away from Anakin's subconscious. It worked, or you believed it did, for the boy was sleeping soundly, his arms now wrapped around one of his many pillows, which he swore daily were absolutely necessary. You believed him now.

You stood up, keeping your eyes on Anakin, tiptoeing backwards to make sure he stayed as restful as he was. You were so focused on the boy's newfound comfort, that you neglected the fact that there was another presence in the room. You backed right into your Master, standing with his arms crossed as you dropped to the ground in immediate fear. You covered your mouth, not letting any noise escape after all you went through to keep Anakin resting.

You looked up at Obi-Wan over your shoulder, seeing how he was quite unamused with your reaction to him being there, as if you could help it in the slightest. You sighed softly, lifting yourself to your feet, and followed him out into the main room.

Only once the door to Anakin's room was shut did Obi-Wan begin on what you felt was going to be a lecture of sorts.

"You helped him," He began, tired out of his wits and still trying to collect his thoughts on what he saw. "What did you do?"

You weren't quite sure how to answer exactly. You didn't even know what it was called, and you had only found out it was possible upon doing it for the first time just now. You opened your mouth to speak, but when nothing came out you huffed, raising your shoulders along dramatically. It didn't help that your master was standing opposite you, probably growing grumpy at being kept awake longer than he should have to be.

"I heard him and got up to see what was wrong," you sat down onto the chair in the room, your legs feeling too weak to keep standing on. He followed suit, seemingly very interested in your explanation. "He was having more bad dreams, and I didn't want him to wake you again."

"I very much appreciate the sentiment, little one," he sat back, running a hand over his face before he continued, "but I just want to know what you did to calm him."

Oh.

Oh....

"I took them away."

"You took what away?" He sat forward, now; his eyes wider awake than just seconds before at your confession.

"His nightmares. I took away everything bad and left only the good things. I could feel his pain, master... It was horrible," you finished with a frown. You were much wiser now than you had been, your level of understanding had risen significantly, and Obi-Wan knew that when you could feel someone's emotions like that, you always sympathized. Even when you probably shouldn't. It was the light inside you, the wonderful part that was trying to do good by others even if it meant you would bear the brunt of the pain yourself.

"I didn't know you could do that," he tilted his head, as if you would tell him about your profound discovery and how it came about.

"I didn't either. I just couldn't bear him feeling that way anymore."

Obi-Wan nodded, smiling, before he arose to his feet. He held out a hand to help you to yours, but before you parted ways for the night, he leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

"You are a going to be one of the great Jedi in our time, I know it."

"Thank you, Master."

-

They were about to get out of hand, your nightmares, begun the same night that you drew Anakin's away from his mind and into yours. You thought that maybe you could take it, that perhaps you were strong enough to make them go away. You didn't know that they would culminate into a disastrous combination of your greatest fears and sorrows.

Often you dreamt of those close to you, Obi-Wan, and Anakin. Even Master Yoda made an appearance in your dreams. It was horrible, the way you would almost save them, then they would almost instantly fall to their deaths upon your arrival. Most of the time it was too real to acknowledge as a dream, so you weren't able to wake up like you normally could. You would be screaming their names, over and over, only to be met with silence, and the fact that you were completely and totally alone. Utter devastation was felt in every part of your body, and you would fall to the ground, the last of your strength gone. Your will to keep going never there.

Once you had woken up, it would be a mess of silent tears, and cold sweat running down your back that made your sleeping tunic stick to it in a most uncomfortable way. You would be breathing erratically, as if you hadn't taken an inhale in days. You would always try to be quiet, to calm yourself down enough to think, to tell yourself it was only a dream and that it meant nothing. You only believed yourself the next day, when you saw Obi-Wan in the morning, sitting on his chair and going over his checklist on the holo-pad. You would see Anakin in the hallway and join him down in the communal areas for breakfast and a small conversation.

He knew you had taken his nightmares from him. He told you after the night it happened, he could feel your signature somehow protecting his dreams. He was thankful beyond relief, and so you couldn't possibly share with him about how it affected you. He would want you to give it back. You weren't going to anyways, so you figured it was best not to upset him by it. You kept your conversations natural. Those nightmares were your problem now, and as long as the people you held dear to your heart were alive and well, you would continue to deal with them on your own.

As the weeks passed, they became a dull ache in the back of your mind during the day, only haunting you at night. You began to find a way around them, putting up a block through the force around your mind before bed every night. You only hoped it would continue to work to your advantage.

You were becoming stronger with the force, and with Obi-Wan's training, you would someday help others the way you helped Anakin.

-

Tags: @spencerrxids @sawendel @fandomstanner24 @i-shall-abide @officialjellydoughnut @whatshxrname @darkened-writer @superavengerpotter @cutiepoo16 @hypnoash

[anakinskywalkerog]

My Very Soul (Chapter 14)

Anakin Skywalker x Jedi!Reader

Link to Chapter 13

Warnings: Canon-typical violence, Anakin angst, a rejection tehe and also a happy landing

Summary: Anakin and Henry argue 🥲 You find out some pertinent information about the attacks on the Senate and find yourself in a sticky situation.

Word Count: 4k

Anakin burst into Senator Farr's apartment, followed closely by Master Yuma, their lightsabers lit. Taking in the scene in seconds, Anakin saw that the apartment was a mess of shattered glass and torn-apart pieces of wall. Dead assassin probes lay across the floor, many of which looked as if they had been sliced through by a lightsaber. Master Faer stood up straight, holding his saber up over his head and staring at the door. Upon seeing the faces of Anakin and Master Yuma, Master Faer lowered his blade, but only a little. Senator Farr sat against one of the intact walls, seemingly weeping.

       "It will be all right," Master Yuma said, striding over to the senator, likely intuiting his emotions. "The danger has passed."

       "My...apartment. My things!" the senator wailed. Master Yuma stooped to put a hand on his shoulder, looking back over at Master Faer and Anakin with pursed lips. Anakin watched as Master Faer looked beyond him, back toward the door.

       "Henry," Master Faer said, his voice growing cold. "What's happened?"

       Anakin whirled around, seeing Henry walking into the apartment, white as a ghost. He was closely followed by Obi-Wan, whom, it seemed, had not been able to get his much needed rest.

       "Y/N," Henry said, his voice full of dread. "She's on that ship."

       Anakin felt like the floor was dropping out from under him. It was impossible, it seemed, to complete a mission without something happening that made Anakin fear for your life. And every time you were threatened, Anakin felt his feelings for you grow inside of him, as if the thought of you being taken away from him was increasing his love, making it swell. Soon it would no longer fit within his torso, let alone in this room, or on this planet.

       "What do you mean, she's on that ship?" Anakin asked, his hands shaking.

       "She jumped," Henry said, his eyes shining with anxiety. Anakin felt his fear curdling within him, turning fiery as he watched Henry.  

       "Why didn't you stop her?" Anakin asked, his voice rising in volume and intensity. He glared at Henry, hating every inch of this person standing in front of him, this young man who was so pale, beautiful, and soft-spoken. Henry glared right back.

       "Have you met Y/N? When has anyone been able to stop her from doing anything?" Henry kept his voice steady, but Anakin saw on his face an anger he would have thought beyond this polite Jedi Knight.

       "You should have followed her. You should have done something. Now we have no idea where she is, and—" Anakin was so angry his legs were tingling with tiny pinpricks. His hand hovered over his saber at his belt. "And it's your fault."

       Henry took a step toward Anakin, looking as if he would like to attack him. Both of their Force presences swelled with an anger so intense, Anakin felt it moving through his entire body, moving outside of him. A few shards of glass on the ground around them started to rumble and shake.

       "Anakin," Obi-Wan said, stepping forward to stand in between Anakin and Henry, looking the former in the face. "Now is not the time. We need to think clearly." Obi-Wan put his hand on his Padawan's chest. Anakin's Master sounded worried, which only added to Anakin's prickling fear.

       A beeping noise made everyone in the room jump. Master Yuma looked down at her comm, flashing as it repeated a series of beeps. The beeps echoed on the comms of the other Jedi present. The series of beeps meant "don't signal". Anakin held his breath, waiting for more, but nothing else came.

       "It's Y/N," Master Yuma said breathlessly, relief flooding her voice. This message likely meant that you were hiding within earshot of dangerous people. Anakin took deep breaths, trying to quell his anger, to think clearly.

       "It means she's all right," Obi-Wan reasoned, turning to Anakin.

       "But we have no way of locating her," Anakin said, his jaw setting into a pout, trying to contain his energy. "We can't turn on her locator. It could give her away."

       "We have to trust her," Henry said quietly. "She jumped onto that ship for a reason. Maybe she can discover more about these attacks."

       "You should have gone with her," Anakin repeated, his pout etched onto his face like it would be there forever. Henry looked back at him, his face melting, anger fading away to worry and dread.

       "I know," Henry said quietly.

"He isn’t going to be happy," you heard the gravelly voice utter menacingly.

       "We weren't told there would be Jedi," the other, more weaselly voice replied, sounding as if he were trying to convince himself of something in addition to convincing his companion.

       "That doesn't matter. We're in for it."

       "What should we do? We can't go back to Serenno now."

       "Hold on," the gravelly voice answered. "I need to think."

       You kneeled, keeping as still as possible, inside one of the ship's storage compartments. Your back was starting to grow stiff. You felt the ship moving beneath you, but you knew from the vibrations you'd felt in your hiding place that you couldn't have left Coruscant. You needed to come up with a plan, and fast—you knew you didn't have long before the two men decided to flee, to who knows where, and you didn't want to be their unwilling stowaway as they journeyed as far as the Outer Rim territories. It didn't seem like these men were going to be giving anything more away that would be useful to you. Plus, your back was killing in this position.

       As quietly as you could, you waved the compartment door open with your hand, and crawled out of the space. Creeping along the hallway leading to the cockpit, you passed by a thin viewport, seeing that you were flying somewhere in Coruscant's underbelly. Great, you thought, formulating your next move in your mind.

       Taking a deep breath, you climbed up the walls with your hands and legs, hoisting yourself to hang from the exit hatch on the ceiling of the small ship. Holding your body flat to the ceiling, you used the Force to cause two bins full of supplies in the hull behind you to topple over, resulting in a resounding crash.

       Immediately, on cue, both of the men you'd heard burst out of the cockpit, guns cocked. You held your breath, keeping still.

       "What was that?" the smaller of the two bounty hunters asked, looking around, pointing his gun at the hull.

       "I don't know," the gravelly voiced man said, looking around suspiciously.

       "Those crates fell over," the smaller man said, relaxing his posture and lowering his weapon. The larger man hit him.

       "We aren't going fast enough for our momentum to knock over crates of that size," the gravelly voiced man said, keeping his gun aloft. Slowly and delicately, you lowered yourself from the hatch, landing softly behind the men.

       "Party's over boys," you said coolly, using the Force to cause both men to fly toward the back of the hull. You cringed at the sound of their skulls hitting the wall of the ship, before they crumpled to the floor. You walked over to assess the damage.

       They'll be fine, you thought, grabbing onto the smaller man's legs and dragging his unconscious figure into the same storage compartment you had chosen as a hiding place. Once you had stashed his body in the corner, you turned back for the larger man, grabbing hold of him and pushing his huge body into the compartment. As you let go of his arm, you felt the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

       You whirled around as multiple blasts shot by you, one grazing the side of your arm. You let out a cry of pain, drawing your saber through the searing burn you felt. You watched as a bald man with a tattoo in the shape of lightning on the side of his forehead smiled menacingly at you, holding his gun up and firing again. You blocked his shots with your saber.

       The man lowered his gun, gritting his teeth, signing to you with his hands in an unspoken language you didn't know. Leaping over him, you slashed the man's arm. Both his gun and a few of his fingers fell to the floor. You were hit with a staggering wave of emotion, dread, fear, and agony, as the man crumpled, holding his hand that you had injured. You felt the man's feelings and found yourself overwhelmed by remorse. You realized why you hadn't heard this man in the cockpit. You had just taken away a part of this man's voice.

       Looking at him with wide eyes, you stood for a moment, trying to discern your next move. The man angrily lashed out with his other hand, trying to hit you hard in the stomach, but you ducked, rolling to the side. You quickly aimed a well-placed blow to the side of the man's head with your elbow, knocking him out temporarily.

       As you lifted the man's body through the Force to store in the compartment with the other bounty hunters, you heard a loud beeping sound fill the ship, feeling the engine whirring uncertainly beneath you.

       Why, you thought, does everything always have to go wrong?  You locked the unconscious bounty hunters together in the storage compartment, turning to see the blaster holes on the floor of the hull beneath you revealing burnt wires and broken ship parts. The ship shook underneath your feet as you raced for the cockpit.

Anakin stood on the transport next to Obi-Wan. If he could, he would be pacing the length of the vehicle, but as the large speeder was currently racing through Coruscanti traffic, he knew it was best to keep still. Inside him, though, sounded a cacophony of feelings. He was angry, he was terrified, but most of all, he wanted you back beside him, safe from harm's way, surrounded by those who would be able to protect you. Obi-Wan, Yuma, Anakin and Henry were on their way to address the attack with the council, while Masters Faer and Plo were staying behind to protect the senators. Obi-Wan had assured Anakin that he would speak to the council about an effort to retrieve you. Anakin ran through the options in his head as if it were his mind racing across Coruscant instead of the speeder—could the attackers have discovered your presence? Could they have taken you off world? Or worse—could they have harmed you?

       I will hunt them down, Anakin thought darkly, his fear invading his entire presence, and kill them myself. Anakin felt a hand move to his upper back, a gentle gesture, and he felt Master Yuma stroke his shoulder discreetly with her thumb. Anakin immediately felt remorseful, confronting his murderous thoughts. Still, he couldn't rid his mind of this darkness, this anger at those who would wish to harm you. It wasn't that he didn't think you were capable—it was that he knew you had too much empathy for your own good, knew that you always chose not to kill if you didn't have to. You constantly hesitated, trying to assess the feelings and intentions behind your attackers, and this made you vulnerable.

       And yet, it was these qualities in you that Anakin admired so fervently. You possessed an ability to care in situations where he found himself unable to—it wasn't that Anakin wanted you to change the way you were. But you needed him there beside you, to deal the blows you couldn't stomach, to make the difficult decisions necessary of a warrior. You and Anakin made an excellent team, but without him, you might endanger yourself. Anakin felt his face growing hot with anger, anticipation. He would find a way to reunite with you. No matter what happened, no matter where in the galaxy you were, Anakin would always find you.

       The beeping startled and thrilled him. Anakin pulled out his comm in a flash, as did the other knights.

       "Anyone copy?" Anakin flushed with happiness at the sound of your voice coming out of the comm. He felt tears roll down his cheeks, but he didn't care if anyone saw.

       "Y/N," was all Anakin was able to manage, pressing the button on the comm. You were all right. You were okay.

       "I'm in a bit of a situation," he heard your voice say through the comm, and Anakin's relief soured into unease. Anakin felt it before it appeared, a disturbance in the traffic, the Force around him moving as if electrified. He turned to look out the window of the transport, seeing a ship flying through the air, with the back part of its engine on fire.

       "She's flying the ship?" Master Yuma asked, looking horrified.

       "No," Henry said, his voice rising with terror. "She's crashing the ship."

       Anakin's brain turned on at light speed. Springing immediately to action, Anakin ran forward through the transport, smashing the button to open the door.

       "Fly higher," he shouted to the pilot, who looked alarmed, "that way." The pilot did as Anakin instructed, turning and rising into the air above the ship on fire.

       "Anakin," Obi-Wan yelled from the other end of the transport, the rushing wind from the open door making it difficult to hear. "Think before you act. This is not—"

       But it was too late. Anakin had already jumped from the transport, falling with his arms out to graze the top of the crashing ship. He bumped against the ship's top, sliding down the side, grabbing onto the upper hatch just in time as the ship fell even lower, picking up speed. He used his other hand to open the hatch, quickly and adeptly pulling himself inside.

       Anakin couldn't help but smile amidst the chaos, the fire, and the sounds of the ship breaking apart as he saw your figure in the cockpit, pulling up hard on the ship's controls. Your hair was flying everywhere, your face looking as if you'd been caught mid-shriek. Anakin hurried forward into the cockpit. You acknowledged his presence, through the Force, without looking back. Anakin felt your warmth, and his grin intensified.

       "How," Anakin said, sliding you out of your seat and taking the controls in his hands, "are you so good at fighting and so bad at flying?"

       "It wasn't my fault!" you said angrily. "One of the bounty hunters shot a bunch of holes in the ship, and I could barely get it to upper Coruscant."

       "Bounty hunters?" Anakin asked, his fear and anxiety having faded fully now that you were back in his presence. It was as if the two of you were walking the grounds of the Temple together, your usual banter casual, normal.

       "I took care of them," you said airly, waving your hand and pressing the controls to lower the landing gear. "There," you said, indicating a large and empty landing pad ahead of you. "It's our only shot."

       "You certainly know how to make an entrance, flea," Anakin said, pulling up hard on the ship's controls. Anakin saw you brace yourself, and he coaxed the ship slower, working with the machinery, feeling the ship move through the air around him. Flying, like many things, came easily to him. In the moments before the ship touched down, Anakin looked over to you, feeling time slow along with the ship. Your hair moving around your face made Anakin stop breathing. Even now, in this fiery crash, Anakin was fully content. You were here with him.

       "URGH," you emitted as the ship banged onto the landing pad, sliding across it as the landing gears broke off. Anakin felt out with the Force, making sure the ship would stop in time, before it reached the edge. Slowly but surely, the small ship grinded to a halt. Anakin heard a muffled gasp of pain coming from one of the storage compartments behind him.

       "So, about those bounty hunters..." Anakin asked, turning to you. He felt his face fall at noticing the blaster wound on your arm.

       "They're locked up, don't worry," you said, letting your face relax a little as you took your hands off the ship's controls, where they had been clenched. "They let slip a few useful details, about the attacks on the senators." A hint of cockiness entered your voice. "I'm sure the council will be interested to hear about it." You raised your face in the air with superiority, making Anakin laugh.

       "I'm sure they will be," Anakin said softly, reaching forward tentatively to brush a few strands of hair out of your face. You froze, looking at him, neither of you breathing.

       "Are you two alive?" Obi-Wan asked through the comm, his voice sounding as if he were trying to mask his fear with sarcasm.

       "Affirmative," Anakin responded, beaming at you and lowering his hand.

You walked through the hallways of the Temple quickly. You had just faced the council and recounted what you had heard from the bounty hunters aboard their ship. They were focused on someone, you had said, someone being angry with them. They were afraid to return to him on Serenno. At Master Yuma's request, the council had agreed to reassign you, your Master, and Anakin and Obi-Wan to Serenno to see what you might be able to uncover. But there was someone you needed to speak with, before you left. Nervousness caused your movements to be quick, your steps moving faster that you intended as you walked with determination. You knew that as much as you wanted to avoid having this conversation, you needed to do it now, before you lost your nerve—before the issue was given time to fester, to become bigger, and worse. You knew confronting him now was the only option.

       "Y/N," you heard a soft voice call from behind you, as you strolled through the courtyard gardens. You turned, recognizing the presence, your body filling with dread.

       "Henry," you said, your cheeks growing pink as you took him in. How much affection you felt for this person—how much you didn't want to say what you had prepared yourself to say.

       "Looking for me?" Henry asked, his own cheeks turning pink, his eyes soft with worry. He reached up to graze your blaster wound on your arm, which had been haphazardly bandaged.

       "Maybe," you replied, looking away from him, at the voluminous leaves hanging from a large plant that towered over you.

       "Can we sit?" Henry asked, and you nodded, still looking away from him. The edge of the large planter was hard, and you perched on it, discomfort filling your body.  

       "Y/N, about before," Henry said, and you turned back to look at him. His face was anxious. You wanted to comfort him, and also, you wanted to run from the courtyard. Instead, you took a deep breath, steeling yourself, sitting up straight and looking him in the eye. "I worry I need to apologize," Henry continued. "About what happened, before you jumped—I wanted you to know how I feel, but I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable, or pressured. I shouldn't have been so forward. I got carried away." Henry wrung his hands on his lap, looking down. "I'm sorry."

       You swallowed. The words bubbled inside of you, but you were afraid of setting them free, afraid of the consequences of letting them out into the air.

       "I'm the one who should be sorry," you said, watching him, your face crumpling. "Henry, you mean so much to me. I admire you so much. But it...it isn't in the way you want me to." You heaved a heavy breath. Though saying the words was hard, this speech unlocked something inside of you—a door you had previously kept bolted shut. Though telling the truth about your own feelings was hard, it also felt freeing, as if you were lighter than you had been a moment ago. You looked at Henry, trying to hold back your tears. "I don't want to ever make you feel—"

       Henry placed a hand on your uninjured arm, and held his other hand in the air, trying to cut you off.

       "Please don't apologize to me, Y/N. I'm the one who overstepped my bounds." He pulled a small smile onto his face. "I care about you, too."

       You sat next to him, the silence turning awkward.

       "I don't...I don't know how to feel those kind of feelings," you forced out, feeling embarrassed, your face growing hot. Henry smiled, looking down and shaking his head. You'd seen him do this before, you remembered. Your cheeks felt even hotter.

       "I think you might," Henry said, smiling at the ground. You felt a slight bitterness in his Force presence, but that bitterness was clouded over by his good feelings—his admiration, his humility, his empathy for you. "Or, at least," Henry laughed, "you'll figure it out."

You sat on the cold hard flight bench, leaning your head back against the cool interior wall of the ship, closing your eyes. It had been a very long, trying day. You felt the thoughts, worries, and anxieties moving through you. Your stomach turned. Some emotions were too difficult to face.

       You sighed, sitting up and rubbing your forehead.

       "Will you tell me what's wrong?" Anakin asked, and you looked up into his blue eyes. You were on your way to Serenno, your Masters in the cockpit. Anakin sat across from you, his Force presence betraying nothing but sincerity, no hint of anger or malice. You preferred him this way. Anakin was so easily incensed, so easily set off, that most people didn't realize who he really was, at his core. But you knew.

       "It's nothing," you said, looking away. Anakin was the last person you wanted to have this conversation with.

       "It's not," Anakin said defiantly, and you looked back at him. Though he was always direct, he was usually more deferential with you. You gave him a funny look. "I know you took on three bounty hunters singlehandedly, gathered their intel, arrested them, took blaster fire, and crashed a ship all in the span of a few hours," Anakin said, his tone slightly mocking, "but it's something else." Anakin leaned forward on the flight bench across from yours. "You can tell me."

       Anakin's eyes were so imploring, you realized you were beginning to have a hard time refusing them. You didn't know how to explain it in words. You sighed again, closing your eyes, pushing a certain memory out of yourself with the Force, planting the impression in Anakin's mind. You felt it again as you projected it—looking out over Coruscant, Henry leaning toward you, his hand on yours on the railing, asking you that question that made your whole body freeze up. You pushed these impressions outward. Though this method wasn't foolproof, it would make sure Anakin got the necessary details. You heard his sharp intake of breath, felt his Force presence moving dangerously, jealousy, fear, anger, and something even darker passing through him.

       “What did you say?” Anakin asked, his voice shaking.

       “I told him no." You felt yourself shaking along with Anakin, your Force presence converging with his. You pretended you didn’t feel it, but it was as if the ship itself had swelled in size, rocked by Anakin’s burst of feeling at your words. His joy radiated through your bones, through everything your fingers could touch. His emotions were so overwhelming in the Force that they almost pushed Henry from your mind completely. The intensity of Anakin’s elation threatened to take you over, and you had to fight to stay in your own head, in your own feelings.

       “Why?” Anakin asked sincerely. "Why did you tell him no?"

       “It’s…it’s not the Jedi way.” You spoke these words stoically, looking down at your hands, but even as you did, you knew you were lying. Anakin seemed to sense the uncertainty in your words, but he didn’t push you to explain. Though he sat on the edge of his seat, watching you closely, he said nothing, and this silence—this show of patience, and perhaps empathy—felt out of character for him. Perhaps Master Yuma was right. Perhaps Anakin was growing up.

************************************************************************

CHAPTER 15 IS OUT NOW!!!!

We're so close to Attack of the Clones guys...lemme know if you want to be added to the taglist. Real talk, this chapter was a labor of depression 😂 I hope the sad didn't impede the quality lol.

Bonus Skandar:

divider credit to @racingairplanes

a hopefully complete taglist: @iyoogi @cluelessgurl @layazul @annadastra @graciexmarvel @galaxiasy @organasith @indigoblues1207 @outoftheregular @katsukiswrld @prettyboyrryy @jellydodger @wildflower57 @padmeamidalaslover @em-asian @heavenseraph @iloveinej @leapofblank @sahverah @elsyyie @usuallyunlikelyfox @jadeonce @papadragun @dopejellyfishfury @stxrrielle @lilianashomaresparza @prettylittlecarstairs @deadunicorn159 @atoelicker @arelisskywalker @maythefloorbewithyouanakin @your-local-crzy-lady @dontmindme262 @xenochuguardian @cassiopeiashift @allihavenegativethoughts @hamiltonwc @1-800-nostalgiaaa @heyitsaloy @haydenchristensenluvbot @muthafuckingstargirl @window-to-nothing @shadowhuntyi @jedi-archives

[eykismyfav]

Worse Than the General

Requested: Yes! @mezmatch​

Request: Hello! I saw requests were opened. Might I request Kix with #5? I keep thinking about it and laughing! Fr though a three day walk??? Anyways can't wait to see what you come up with! :)

Prompt: #5 "Where were you?!” “I went for a walk.” “For three fucking days?!" 

Genre: Fluff and Hurt/Comfort

Warnings: Swearing, reader being chaotic as fuck, Kix being low key hopelessly in love with reader.

Pairing: Clone Trooper Kix x Jedi!reader

Characters: Clone Trooper Kix, Captain Rex, Arc Trooper Fives, Arc Trooper Echo, Anakin Skywalker

Authors note: This is my first request using a prompt and I am hella excited. I went with long hair Kix’s because I think he is neat. The tense might be all over the place sorry.

Word Count: 800+

mando'a words: Sarad - Flower

Request Open

The Clone Wars Masterlist

Prompt List

Kix was going to kill you. You just had to go off on your own to explore the unknown planet you were on didn’t you. You had ended up getting a little lost and it took you a while to find your way back. You may have also taken a couple of hard tumbles on the way. So when camp was finally in view you felt a mix of relief and apprehension. You really liked the boys of the 501st and hated that you had most likely worried a few of them half to death, especially their medic Kix.  As you slowly approach the camp Rex is the first to see you and meets you halfway when he notices you limping.

“Heyyyyy... I’m fine.” You try to play it off when you notice his concern. 

“Sure you are, I'm sure Kix would be happy to confirm that that is a lie.” He smirked knowingly at you, earning a groan in response as he drags you to the medic tent they set up. 

“Why do you hate me Rex?” 

“I don’t hate you General, but you do make sure things are never boring.” He pauses at the opening of the tent. “Well I need to call off the search teams looking for you. Good luck!” With that he pushed you into the tent lightly leaving you alone with the one person you did not want to be left with. Having heard the commotion Kix looked up from his data pad and judging by the look on his face you were in for it.

"Where were you?!” Kix asked, rushing over to you and giving you a once over before guiding you to one of the cots.

“I went for a walk.” You mumble.

“For three fucking days?!" Kix shouts, causing you to look down ashamed that you had worried him so much. 

“There was a fuzzy creature I wanted to pet but it kept running away from me...” You all but whisper, as you swing your legs like a small child would. Kix squats in front of you catching your leg before examining your swollen ankle before looking up at you as your words register in his head. You bite the bullet and meet Kix’s eyes which ends up being  a mistake as you can’t hold in your laughter at the look on his face. His face conveyed the message of this bitch can not be serious; they are a Jedi Master. “It was really really cute.” Kix smiled at this and shook his head as he proceeded to work on your ankle. 

“You are worse than the general I swear.” He chuckles lightly.

“You take that back, I am not worse than Anakin!”

“Oh yes you are.” He says looking up, noticing a cut on your cheek. Kix stands up and gets the Bantha cream. “This is gonna sting a little bit but it will feel better soon I promise.” He whispers as he cups your cheek lightly with his thumb and applies the bantha cream to your cheek. 

“Owie...” You whine, it really did sting like a bitch.

“Shhh sarad it will feel better soon I promise.” Kix soothes quietly. His hand remains on your cheek even after his job is complete. You lean your face into his touch enjoying the moment.

“UGH you too are worse than Obi-Wan and Satine quit it with the heart eyes” Anakin makes his presence known along with some fake gagging causing Kix to jump away from you.

“You’re one to talk, you and Padmé are the worst.” You shoot back sarcastically rolling your eyes while Kix awkwardly rubs the back of his neck leaving the tent so you can talk to General Skywalker.

You spent 2 hours talking to - correction being talked at by - Anakin about how reckless and stupid you had been for walking away from your post like you had. Your conversation was cut short by a loud commotion outside.

“Catch that bugger!” One of the troopers yells sending you and Anakin into high alert as you exit the med tent only to discover complete chaos.

“What is going on here?” Anakin shouts getting everyone's attention and the commotion stops. You feel something warm brush against your calf.

“What the...?” You look down to see the fuzzy creature you had spent the last three days chasing cowering behind you. “Awww are you what all this ruckus was about?” You ask the creature before picking it up and petting it in hopes to calm it down. “Poor thing did the scary troopers frighten you?” 

“Hey! We were trying to catch it for you!” cried Fives

“Yeah we didn’t mean to scare it but it’s not used to people.” Echo clarified.

“Oh really? And who’s idea was this?” You say looking at who you knew the culprit to be.

“You were right, they are pretty cute...” Kix mumbles as he approaches patting the creature's head.

“Now who’s worse than the general?” You whisper so Anakin does not hear, 

“You got me there.”

[anatee]

Bloody Skywalker | Pt. 3 | Anakin x Reader

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4

Summary: Obi-Wan knew that putting two young people together would result in too many emotions to handle, yet he just stood there and watched it all unfold for years. The most interesting things, however, are happening right where he can’t see the bloody Skywalker.

Content: Anakin x Female!Padawan!reader, Padme hate club, fluff, some mature content but nothing too explicit, Revenge of the Sith references

Word count: 3.2K

Thank you for all the love on the previous part! If you like this one as well, I’ll add a part 4, too ♥ Tagging as requested @badpvn​ @anhsoka​ @adoringanakin​ @sophiejiro​ @lucyysthings​ @stxrrielle​ @justiceforthomasbarrow​ @annabanana262​ @canvashearts​ @organasith​ @graciexmarvel​

Waiting for Anakin to come back was torture. She kept on hearing rumours about him dying, and although she had official information from the Jedi that he was alright, every time she heard the rumours again, her heart sank.

If fear for his well-being wasn't enough, there was also the elephant in the room: their kiss, and the unspoken confession that came with it.

Y/N wasn't surprised Yoda told her that so many bad emotions were a way to the dark side, because really dark moments came to her indeed. She kept on questioning why she couldn't be happy.... Why was love such a sin? She could have never expected Anakin to reciprocate her feelings and now that he did, she still couldn't do anything about it. This ignited the tiniest flame of hate for the Jedi in her... Or at least for the rules they represented.

She spent most of her waiting time wondering what to say to him when they do meet again. They had to talk about what happened, especially now that the emotions had calmed down - they had to establish what it meant.

However, Y/N herself didn't know what her attitude was. It wasn't the matter of whether she wanted him or not - she knew she did - it was whether they were brave, or irresponsible, enough to break the Jedi code right under the Council's nose.

The day finally came. Anakin was returning to the Jedi temple as a hero - Chancellor Palpatine had been rescued. Y/N felt relieved; he was okay, it was all that mattered, and she had to stop worrying this much. She made sure to be among the people who welcomed him in the Jedi temple, wishing to see if he was alright with her own eyes.

However, moments before his arrival, she saw something that immediately ruined her mood.

Padme. Waiting there behind one of the pillars.

Y/N felt a knot forming in her stomach and for the first time she thought... What if Anakin lied to her?

At that point there was no time for deliberating.  Master Windu was the one to welcome Anakin and Palpatine, and she was standing a bit behind him, yet she could still feel Skywalker's gaze on her. He was smiling, clearly excited about seeing her - he looked as though he might burst from anticipation, wanting to talk to her as soon as possible. She could even sense it through the Force while he was staring into her eyes, her heart fluttering out of both happiness and nervousness.

So what was Padme doing there?

Everyone began walking further into the temple at some point, and this was when Y/N thought she would get to talk to him... Before he stopped to speak with Padme instead. Feeling like a complete loser, she began walking behind Windu again.

And just half a minute later, she heard her name being called.

"Y/N!"

She stopped, then turned to see Anakin running towards her, having left Padme behind the pillar. Before she could react, he embraced her, then stepped back immediately to look at her face.

"I'm so happy to see you," he admitted, breathing heavily. "I've missed you so much."

Y/N wanted to say that to him, too, but couldn't not address "Padme in the room".

"What has just happened?" she asked, indicating her with her head.

Anakin sighed. "I told you. Padme wants me back. And I don't, that's all. She came to persuade me and to ask if I were okay."

"Oh. I see," Y/N replied, still feeling somehow uneasy. "Well, I'm glad you've kept your promise," she added with a smile that made Anakin feel warmer.

"I always keep my promises," he said with a smirk, then turned serious. "Listen, can we talk tonight? On the roof? There's so much I've been thinking about..."

"I do think we should talk, but not there... Someone may hear us."

"Then come to my room, alright?" he added, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "At any time you want."

"I'll be there. Promise," she said as an echo to his promise, making sure he knew he could count on her. "Come on now. They're waiting for you, hero."

"Oh, stop it." He rolled his eyes, but was still smiling as they followed Windu and the others much ahead of them, arm to arm.

That evening, the sunset on Coruscant was exceptionally beautiful. Anakin was watching it with a slight smile on his face, sitting on his bed shirtless, thinking about his successful mission... And, most importantly, about his upcoming meeting with Y/N.

He sensed her immediately when she appeared behind the door and told her to come in. So she did, and the moment she saw him, her heart began fluttering.

"You like to walk around shirtless lately, don't you?" she said more to calm herself down than do anything else.

"I'm just tired," he replied, still sitting on the bed as he watched her close the door behind her. "I wanted to get comfortable in my own bed after a tiring mission... Could I not?"

"Right, you're a hero now." She chuckled. "Should I bow?"

"Oh, come on." He rolled his eyes, then patted the space next to him so she would sit next to him. "It's just... Today I became a member of the Council."

"Really? Congratulations," Y/N said, settling herself next to him, but still keeping her distance. "You deserve it more than anyone else."

"Yes, but... I'm not sure if I'm happy with it. They wouldn't grant me the position of a Master." He looked down, and his words confused Y/N greatly.

"Why? How can you be on the Council without..."

"I told them the same!" Anakin interjected, looking at her in frustration. "I don't know. I'll figure it out later, somehow..." He took a deep breath to compose himself. "But now, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."

This was when the atmosphere between them changed immediately. They both looked away from each other, hearts beating faster, considering their next words. Finally, it was Y/N who couldn't stand the pressure.

"Right... Anakin, I'll put it to you as bluntly as possible because I think that's the best way. Jedi to Jedi. Why... Why did you kiss me?" she asked, then covered her mouth as if not believing she had just said that.

But this was it, this was the question that had been on her mind ever since that night, among a few others.

Anakin took a deep breath, then grabbed her hands to her utter shock. She looked up to look him in the eyes - and he could see how surprised she was.

"Listen, I recently realised how important you are to me. More than I thought," he began, squeezing her hands. "Lately all I've been doing is reminiscing about all the moments we spent together and I realised... How good I feel around you. I have no bad memories with you... Just..."

Y/N was close to shivering. All these words, the emotions flowing through both of them, connecting where they touched, the Force swirling around them, tingling, making them feel much more than they already were.

"Before I split up with Padme, I asked myself what are the reasons why," Anankin continued, still holding her hands. "And it was not only because she didn't understand me... It was also because I found myself thinking about someone else."

He didn't have to say it. They both knew whom he was talking about as Y/N gulped, looking away.

"So my question is... Why did you kiss back?" he asked softly, trying to get her to look at him again.

"Because.... Kriff, I am not supposed to feel this way about anyone, Anakin. Let alone you." She got out of his grip and covered her face with her hands. "But I guess we both know love does not choose. And I fell in love with you, Anakin, a long time ago. That's why I wanted to leave the Order. There you have it, that's it."

After that came a silence, a scary one. Y/N was absolutely frightened and didn't dare look him in the eye after this, not believing she actually confessed her feelings, when this was the last thing she should have done. With hands still on her face, she tried to take a deep breath and prevent herself from crying - mostly out of fear - but it was getting harder.

Anakin, on the other hand, looked like he was about to jump from happiness.

"Y/N... Y/N, look at me." He grabbed her hands to uncover her face. "Y/N, I'm so happy to hear this. I feel the same about you, too. It just took me a bit too long to realise I had the special person right beside me all this time."

She wasn't even able to comprehend his confession, devoured by fear.

"But Anakin, we can't..." She moved away from him.

"Would it really change that much?" he argued, grabbing her hands to pull her closer again. "We see each other every day anyway... And nobody has to know."

Y/N lowered her gaze again, considering everything. Her heart wanted her to jump, to kiss Anakin endlessly, and to not care about the Order at all. And slowly but surely, these thoughts began clouding her mind...

"You know, I've been thinking a lot about how... " she spoke softly, still staring at the floor. "How they want to take away what's most human. Love."

"Not the only thing we don't agree with them on," Anakin said bitterly.

"But they would kick us out if they knew..."

"They would lose two Jedi knights. We would lose nothing."

After a long while of thinking, Y/N felt anger igniting inside her. The Order couldn't control her life... Not when she was about to be the happiest she's ever been in her life.

"Well..." She raised her head finally. "There's not a word about kissing in the code, is there? Oh, kriff, I'm becoming as cheesy as you. Bloody Skywalker."

"We'll handle it somehow," he replied, then used one of his hands to bring her face closer to his... And then closed the distance between them in a chaste, loving kiss.

And this time, the emotions were even stronger than the first time. She stopped thinking, because she knew it would lead her to nowhere. Kissing back with just as much enthusiasm, she gave in, allowing him to do whatever he wanted.

And so he deepened the kiss, gripping her hips firmly as he used the Force to lower her into the mattress, catching her by surprise.

"This is not how our Masters taught us to use the Force, is it?" she said, breaking the kiss.

His face was hovering right over hers, as beautiful as ever, young, fresh, and reddish from the feverish kisses they had already exchanged; he was perfect, and it was naïve of her to ever think she could resist him.

"If you allow me, then that will not be the last time I use the Force inappropriately on you."

Her cheeks flushed red when he said that, and she was glad he came back to kissing her, allowing her to forget about any kind of embarrassment. And yet, she opened her mouth, letting the kiss become less and less innocent, and her heart less and less doubtful.

She raised her hand and buried it in his longish hair, something she had been dreaming of doing for a long time. He loved it, he was getting drunk on the feeling as he used his hands to show her how happy he was, gently massaging the sides of her body, sending shivers of pleasure through her as a result.

After what seemed like an eternity, he broke off the kiss and used one hand to prop himself up while the other cupped her face. They loved looking at each other in this state, cheeks reddened, hair dishevelled, breathing uneven - and at this point they both knew they weren't going to stop just tonight.

"Remember that time..." he began, trying to catch his breath, smiling at her slyly. "That one time we walked in on each other naked?"

His words turned the atmosphere much more intimate in a matter of seconds as memories of that day immediately clouded Y/N's mind. It was years ago, and it was completely accidental - it just so happened they both wanted to use the thermal baths at the same time, and neither of them expected to see anyone else there in the middle of the night. They didn't see much, either, it was quite dark... But enough to ignite each other's imagination.

"How could one forget it?" she whispered, gazing into his eyes. "But we decided not to talk about it ever again, remember?"

Anakin moved his thumb along her wet lips, weighing his words.

"Then I may... Break this promise," he whispered in response. "I read your thoughts back then."

"Anakin!" she yelled, embarrassed even if it were years ago. She remembered what she thought clearly, and it wasn't anything appropriate. But she also thought he couldn't blame her for this; he knew how he looked like.

"Oh, look at me and don't tell me you didn't do the same," he teased and she gulped.

She was guilty, too. And she knew what he thought, too, but she didn't think too much about it back then. He was a maturing boy then, it was normal...

She tried to bite back, although she was defenceless. "At least I never mentioned it as promised." 

"But would you mind... If we saw it all again?"

The answer was all over her face. At this moment, she wouldn't refuse anything he suggested. And yet, she still tried to keep the higher ground.

Using the Force, she pushed him back rapidly so he was the one laying on his back.

"Woah! And who's using the Force wrong now?" he asked, watching her crawl over him.

"I'm following the Jedi who's part of the Council now, aren't I?" She smirked. "If you heard my thoughts, then you know what I want to do."

He gave her even a more confident smirk.

"I certainly do. You don't even know how many times I came back to these..."

"Who knew you were so needy, Anakin?" she asked, pecking him. "I did," she added in a whisper, proud of herself. "But not today. I'm going to test you first, Skywalker. You may be a good Jedi, but can you be a good boyfriend?"

"You know I'll take it as a challenge."

"Please do," she whispered, then lowered herself to begin kissing him again. It was his turn to play with her hair, and it seemed ages before they eventually became too breathless to do anything.

They fell down next to each other in darkness; the sun had already set behind the window, bringing a starry nigh to Coruscant, one they weren't going to ever forget.

Although Y/N was being hugged by him from the side, and she could feel the warmth of his skin on her own cheek, she still couldn't believe it wasn't her dream she found herself in. She kept on raising her head and looking at Anakin's face to make sure it was him beside her. For a while, they just stayed there in silence, enjoying each other's presence and the Force swirling around them, until Y/N let out a loud sigh.

"And now I will have to sneak out to my own room. Good luck to me," she said, already planning the route in her head.

Anakin pulled her closer immediately. "No, please, stay here."

"You're really demoralising me." She smacked his bare chest, looking at him. "What if Obi-Wan comes here? Pays you a little visit?"

"I wanted this for so long I don't even care," he replied, then kissed her on the forehead. "If anyone sees, we'll tell them you were feeling unwell and just came to me seeking help."

"Lying now, are we?" she joked, but then thought again that they weren't doing anything wrong and it was the Order that forced them to lie. "Alright. I'll stay."

"And I promise you won't regret this."

They slept together peacefully, or so it seemed, until they both woke up suddenly. Y/N felt Anakin's arm leave her body as he sat up, worrying her.

"Anakin?" she asked sleepily, unable to see anything in the dark. "What's happening?" she muttered, slowly forcing herself to sit up as well.

"Don't worry, Y/N, I just... I just had a nightmare," he admitted with a sigh. "To be honest, not for the first time."

She immediately opened her arms to embrace him. "Oh, come here..." 

Anakin hesitated, then decided it would be best if he told her the truth.

"It was about you," he whispered. "You were given a lightsaber, you thanked for it and it was red."

"Who gave it to me?" she asked, then wondered why it mattered to her so much.

"I don't know, this person had a hood on. But I... I feel like it's a bad prophecy. I feel like something bad is going to happen to you, I had these nightmares before my mother..."

"Talk to Yoda about it," she cut him off without hesitation, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Don't mention names, of course... But he should know what to do. I assure you."

Anakin considered her words for a moment, then smiled before kissing her on her nose.

"You always know what to say to me. Part of why I fell in love with you."

Her heart fluttered at these words. She was glad he couldn't see her face at the moment and she had time to calm down.

"Now you fall asleep, Skywalker." She fixed his hair for no reason, just to touch him in any way. "And hold me if you have any more nightmares, kiddo."

He didn't need her to repeat it twice.

Next day was full of mixed emotions for Y/N. Guilt and fear were there, because she knew she was breaking the code she swore to obey and lying to Obi-Wan's face after he helped her. At the same time, she couldn't help but smile at any mention, any thought of Anakin slipping into her mind, and that feeling of constant happiness was already becoming addictive. Finally, there was anger, burning even more than the day before - anger that she had to hide with something as pure as love while they expected her to fight to death for the Republic.

She had no idea that while she was thinking about all of this, Anakin was thinking about her, too - even talking about her with Chancellor Palpatine himself.

"You are far too skilled, Anakin. That's why they fear you," the Chancellor said loudly. "If you follow me, however... I also see a way for you to be with the person closest to you."

Anakin looked up at the Chancellor in complete shock.

"Y/N is her name, isn't it?"

"How did you know?" he asked in disbelief.

"I know everything I need to know, Anakin," Palpatine replied in an obvious tone. "Besides, I know her, too."

"Y/N really respects you too, Chancellor."

"Then bring her to me as well if she understands that the Jedi council's decisions are bad for you."

For a moment, Anakin didn't react, then he finally nodded. He decided he would bring her to him. Maybe this will be a chance for them to be together?