#sorry i have a lot of saber thoughts but i tried to keep it brief
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t-u-i-t-c · 1 year ago
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kamen rider zero one and kamen rider saber for the ask game?
Kamen Rider 01:
Favorite Male: Fuwa - One of my favorite Kamen Rider guys. Filled with anger and very determined, but also out here taking energy shots when he's on the brink of bleeding out.
Favorite Female: Izu - When her memories returned in RealXTime we cheered. Just an overall fun character who had a lot of devotion and I just love her.
Favorite Pairing: Horobi & Fuwa - I just really like their dynamic
Least Favorite Character: Tatsumi Arayashiki - He treated Smile so horribly and I think they should've given him worse repercussions for his behavior, like losing his career and his reputation being ruined. Enough with forgiveness, he doesn't deserve it.
Who’s most like me: Aruto - I too like to believe I'm the funniest person in the room
Most attractive: Horobi
Three more characters that I like: Raiden, Jin, and Naki
I'll give three Humagears, that were minor characters, that I liked too: Bengoshi Bingo, Enmusubi Match, and Smile Sumida
Kamen Rider Saber:
Favorite Male: Kento & Storious - I can't choose between them, but I did talk extensively about them in my lb tags. In short, Kento is extremely devoted and is willing to do anything for Touma's sake, but is also just a really sweet guy who likes to play characters and takes his responsibilities quite seriously. Storious is a man who lost his hopes of creating something unique so long ago and harbors so much resentment over it that it festers and grows to consume him. It's really interesting to see it all play out and for him to come to realizations he wasn't privy to before.
Favorite Female: Mei - Is the only one who can get everyone into gear when hope seems lost, and is really the sunshine after a storm.
Favorite Pairing: Kento & Touma - They are very much ride or die for each other. There have been so many instances in which they have done things only for the sake of each other and in some instances that has been risking their lives. They are driven by each other's very existence and keep going for each other. It's an incredible bond that I have so many thoughts on that you can read in my lb tags as well, also here's their tag that I use when I miss them. Shout out to Mei & Rintaro too, bc they're right behind Kento & Touma. Mei is the air he breathes and the light of his life that showed him what it was to live.
Least Favorite Character: Ren - I do like him, but he was the most underdeveloped from the initial group of swordsmen, so if I have to choose it'd probably be him.
Who’s most like me: Touma - I too will say something is done when it is only done in my mind
Most attractive: Kento
Three more characters that I like: Yuri, Ryo, & Ryoga
Give me a series & I'll tell you...
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crumbledcastle28 · 4 years ago
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Chapter 6: A Jedi
Warnings: traumaaaa, lots of anxiety, like lots of anxiety, the reader really hates herself in this one, minor minor violence, references to violence, mostly just anxiety and hate.
Author’s Note: This is where the series starts to pick up, so I executed it as best as I could! I also went a little off canon with this one, so I hope it makes sense with the story. Thank you for any support!
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Your journey to Sorgan was pretty smooth… but Mando was tense.
You tried your best to reassure him multiple times that this was the best choice for the kid and that you could help him with any challenge thrown at him, but he would just respond with a sigh and a solemn nod. So, you decided not to push it.
He had done even riskier missions on his own, so he can handle this one.
Once you arrived, you walked into the common house and met a woman named Cara Dune.
She introduced herself to you and she seemed very friendly, but when Mando mentioned that she was an ex shock trooper for the Republic, that is when you tensed up.
You had done things in your past that you knew would offend her. Not even offend her, but provoke her to strangle you alive. The fact that she was from Alderaan made it obvious enough that the Empire had hurt her deeply.
The only way to protect yourself was to hide who you really were, and your heart sank.
You felt like you had finally broken away from that way of life. The hiding, the anxiety, the fear. You felt like you could be yourself with Mando and the kid and not have to worry about that anymore. But the galaxy was cruel like that.
After the brief introduction, Mando proceeded to outline the plan and everything that the man on the recording (who you later found out to go by the name Greef Karga) had said, and Cara looked far from impressed.
“I don’t know, I’ve been advised to lay low,” she said, “If anyone identifies me, I’ll rot in a cell for the rest of my life.”
That makes two of us, you think.
“I thought you were a veteran,” Mando mumbled.
“I’ve been a lot of things,” Cara replied. “If I so much as book a passage on a ship registered to the New Republic-”
“I have a ship,” Mando replied, “I can bring you there and back with a handsome reward. You can live free of worry.”
“I’m already free of worry,” she said, “and I’m not in the mood to play soldier anymore. Especially fighting a local warlord.”
“He’s not a local warlord,” Mando replied, “He’s Imperial.”
You could see how Cara visibly tensed up at the word “Imperial.” If you weren’t scared of her before, you sure as hell were now.
“I’m in,” she responded, and you smiled at her.
She grinned back to you and asked, “Where do you fit in in this plan?”
You looked at the child in your arms and said, “My job is to keep the child safe. So I will protect him until he is used as the bait, and I will adapt to where he goes from there.”
“She can defend herself plenty,” Mando says, and Cara nods at you.
“I believe you,” she says, and you give her another smile.
I really hope I don’t let her down, you think.
~~*~~
Within the next hour, the four of you had arrived back at the Razor Crest.
Mando started the ship on track to Nevarro while Cara took a look at the weapon arsenal.
You watched as her eyes scanned over the array of options, and you couldn’t help but feel deep sorrow for her.
Her life was torn apart by the Empire, and now she was getting thrown right back into a fight. The fact that she wasn’t even going to join the mission before Mando mentioned that the client was Imperial made you nervous. She was not a woman you wanted to mess with, so you hoped and prayed you would stay on her good side.
The kid had somehow managed to make it to the controls and grab hold of the throttle, which made the ship veer abruptly side to side.
You ran to the child and lifted him away from the throttle while Mando stabilized the ship.
“Are you sure one set of hands is enough to watch that little beast? Worst case scenario, we made need y/n to fight with us. Maybe an extra set of hands could help,” Cara said, trying to catch her breath from running all around the ship.
Mando looked back at you and you nodded.
“She’s right. I can watch the kid as long as you need, but if you guys need me in a fight I can’t keep him with me. He could get hurt.”
Mando nodded and sat back down in the pilot’s chair.
“Looks like we are making a pit stop,” he said.
~~*~~
The Razor Crest landed on the property of a man named Kuiil. Mando said that he had helped him greatly in the past and he trusted him, and if Mando trusted somebody, you did too.
He greeted you with open arms and was incredibly nice. He led the four of you inside his humble home, and you never realized how long it had been since you stayed in an actual home.
Kuiil studied the child in your arms and said, “it hasn’t grown much.”
“What is your name,” he asked you.
“I am y/n. It is nice to meet you Kuiil,” you said and he nodded reverently to you.
“What about this one? Does she have a name,” he said, gesturing to Cara.
“This is Cara. She was a shock trooper,” Mando said.
“You were a dropper,” Kuiil said, and Cara nodded.
“Did you serve,” she asked.
“On the other side, I’m afraid. But I’m proud to say that I paid out my clan’s debt, and now I serve no one but myself,” Kuiil said.
The other side, you think. Kuiil served the Empire? And Mando had worked with him before?
You couldn’t deny the fact that this got your hopes up. Mando… working with the enemy.
If only he knew, you thought.
All of a sudden, the door behind Kuiil opened, and an IG droid stepped inside with a tray in his hands.
Mando immediately sprang to his feet and pointed his blaster at the droid. Cara joined him, and you blocked the pram the child was in with your whole body.
“Would anyone care for some tea,” the droid asked, and your eyebrows knit in confusion.
Weren’t these droids normally hunters?
“Please, lower your blasters. He will not harm you,” Kuiil said, obviously trying to diffuse the situation.
Mando, however, didn’t seem to want to go that route.
He kept his blaster pointed directly at the droid’s head and said, “That thing is programmed to kill the baby.”
You straightened your back at his words, blocking as much of the pram as you could, until Kuiil shook his head and said, “Not anymore.”
He then explained how he found the droid at a battle site and brought it back to his workshop. He decided to repair it, and then spent many days teaching the droid everything from scratch. It developed a personality, Kuiil mentioned, and it’s experiences helped the personality become unique to the droid.
“Is it still a hunter,” Mando asked.
“No, but it will protect,” he said, and Mando finally lowered his blaster.
There was no way Mando was going to let that robot anywhere near the child.
~~*~~
Later that night, you and Cara were sitting in Kuiil’s house while Mando was outside speaking with him, no doubt trying to convince him to protect the child.
“So what’s your story,” Cara asked, taking a sip of tea.
“Oh.. well… Mando picked me up on Tattooine. I worked there as a mechanic for a woman named Peli. It was a good job, but I wanted to get off that planet. I had lived there for a long time, and I wanted to explore the galaxy for once. It sounds cheesy, but I’ve always wanted to do that at some point. Mando agreed to take me with him on his missions in exchange for the child’s safety,” you say, and Cara nods.
“Nice. You made a living for yourself, and were brave enough to walk away when you knew the time was right. Most people never leave their home planet,” she says, and you nod.
“Yeah… I tried my best,” you say, and you try not to let your eyes darken. You didn’t like talking about your past. All it did was stir up old memories that you had worked to push down for years. You hated your past, and you didn’t know how well you could hide it much longer. Especially when you were being questioned by someone like Cara.
“The Empire… hurt me a lot. So, I am excited to hurt it back,” you say, and a big grin shows on Cara’s face.
She takes another sip of her tea, and looks up to find Mando walking through the door.
“Any luck,” she says to him, and he shakes his head no.
“Kuiil said that the droid can protect the child, but I don’t trust it,” he says and Cara chuckles.
“Yeah.. I think we got that,” Cara says and you smile.
Mando goes to sit down next to Cara, so she scoots over a bit to make some room for him.
You heard something hit the floor, and you realize Cara had knocked over your bag on accident. You had brought it into Kuiil’s house because you used it to store snacks for the child.
You stored other things in there too, and under no circumstance was anyone allowed to see them.
That was going pretty well, until Cara knocked the entire thing over.
“Whoops. Sorry,” she says and goes to start putting the items back in.
Your body is frozen in place and you feel like your lungs are being squeezed. Your limbs have turned to putty, and you cannot take your eyes off her hands.
If she sees it, I and dead. I am so dead
“It’s- It’s ok Cara. I’ve got it,” you say and start to stand up.
“No no it’s ok, I can-” she says, before her eyes widen.
She picks up an item and starts raising it to eye level, and you are just about ready to vomit.
Your saber.
You feel like your entire body is crumbling before her and she can’t even tell. Your breathing has become almost erratic and the sweat on your forehead starts to drip down to your eyes.
This whole experience, this whole journey with Mando and the kid could be completely undone right now. Everything you have hidden, everything you’ve buried, and everything you hoped you left behind on sandy Tattooine is staring you right in the face.
And Cara is….smiling?
“No way,” she yells excitedly, before laughing and smiling at you. 
“No wonder you were so secretive about your past! You’re a Jedi,” she says.
You take a glance at Mando, who is staring at the saber, looking confused as ever.
Ok, maybe this is good, you think to yourself, trying to relax.
I can pretend I was a Jedi. Sure. I have basically the same training as them.
But who were you kidding. You knew that wasn’t going to cut it.
“A Jedi?” Mando says, and Cara goes into a whole tangent about how amazing the Jedi were. How they fought the Empire till their dying breaths and defended the galaxy. They had been betrayed by their own clone groups, and most of them died in Order 66.
“But you didn’t!” she said and smiled at you.
You managed a smile back, but you had to have looked like a psycho. You were in so much physical and emotional pain from the amount of anxiety flowing through you. You had felt out of control before, but this was more dangerous than you knew.
You were such an idiot getting your hopes up. Thinking that a Mandalorian actually cared for someone like you. How could you have been so stupid.
“Even the colors of the sabers are legendary,” Cara said. “Aren’t they y/n?”
You nod back, but you know what’s coming.
Your truth was about to shine throughout the entire house, reflecting back at you like some sick joke. And you were screwed. You were so screwed.
“Well, let’s see it then,” Cara said and ignited the saber with both hands wrapped around the handle.
“Wait” you scream, but it was too late.
The tears hit your eyes before she even ignited the weapon.
The deep, burning red saber was ignited, and there was no going back.
It’s burning, fire like glow illuminated Cara’s face, and a sunset like tint was shining on Mando’s armor.
He always looked so beautiful when light would reflect off of him, but not like this.
The red from the saber was vibrant, but you had never seen a glow as red as the anger in Cara’s eyes.
She knew what this color meant, and your identity was revealed in all its glory.
A Sith
Tag list:
@leahkenobi @pinkninja200 @bookloverfilmoholic @farfromjustordinary
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fanfic-cave · 4 years ago
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The Reveal Pt. 2
Rating: SFW/PG-13
Word Count: 1.6k (nearly 1.7k)
Pairing: Hunter x Fem Jedi!OC
Warnings: Swearing (im too lazy to write the star wars swear words so its our kind of swears), trauma/fear situation, lightsaber/jedi things, mushy hug/romance, its supposed to be kinda intense and dramatic
Summary: You’ve exposed yourself as a Jedi to the Bad Batch, and not intentionally. Now its out in the open, and this ex-jedi needs to escape before things get messy. Will these rogue clones attack? Will you have to defend yourself? How will this end without someones blood getting spilled?
Authors note: Check out part 1 linked below, theres links to a few other fics i'd reccomend reading as well along this these! Theres like a tiniest bit of fluff here. I have a few other fluff/short things I want to post soon, and I have some ideas for giving the other TBB memebers some love since all I've been posting is Hunter stuff lately
Please enjoy!
Part 1 here
“Isn’t it obvious? Sera is a Jedi.”
RIP
Tech's words flipped the switch and you took action. You used the force and ripped your lightsaber out of your bag, ignited it, and took a defensive stance.
“Stay back boys” You wish your voice wasn’t shaking. The green glow of your lightsaber reflected on their surprised faces.
“Omega, stay inside.” You heard Hunter's voice, and saw him push her in, her eyes wide when seeing your weapon ignited. Wrecker took a step back, a look of shock on his face. Tech raised his hands. Crosshair eyed you suspiciously, he stood just behind Tech. You couldn’t see Echo.
“Hmm. Looks like I was right.” Tech said nonchalantly, like he had just proved a scientific theory. Well, I guess he did, in a manner of speaking.
You held your lightsaber with two hands, squeezing tight and ready to use it at a moment's notice. You started taking a step back. “Nobody moves. I walk away, and nobody gets hurt-” you sensed something in the force, and heard a minuscule movement, a blaster. You pointed your saber to Echo, who had just appeared at the top exit ramp “Drop it!”
“Easy Sera,” Echo spoke. “We’re all removing our weapons.” He looked at the rest of the boys and nodded. “See?” You watched Echo lift his blaster pistol, careful not to touch the trigger, and throw it. Crosshair dropped his rifle. Wrecker raised his hands up. “You’re a Jedi?” Wreckers face looked shocked and confused.
You tried to ignore the emotions you were feeling. You didn’t want to leave, you had happy times with them. But you were too afraid to take the risk of staying and finding out if you would survive. “I don’t want to hurt any of you” You took another step back. “Just let me go and I won’t…”
“We won’t hurt you Sera.” It was Hunter's voice this time. He stepped forward out of the Havoc, and walked past the boys. His knife and blaster were gone, left on the ship maybe. He held his hands out in front of him, slightly raised. He had a slight crouch as he came towards you, like he was approaching a wounded animal. His expression was hard to read still, but he had a slight frown on his face. You looked into his eyes and couldn’t look away. He held your gaze intensely, like he was trying to send a message to you through his eyes.
“Please,” you said, desperation in your voice. You tried to move your feet. You couldn’t, you were frozen by his look, held by him. You felt the same electric current drawing you to him, keeping you from leaving.
“We don’t have inhibitor chips, not that they worked too well anyways.” He lifted his headband and shifted his hair, pointing to a small scar. The rest of the boys did so similarly, showing they all had an identical scar on the right side of their skull.
You looked at them confused. Inhibitor chips? All you knew was that the clones executed the Jedi. Every Jedi. You didn’t know how, or even why, other than the Empire saying the Jedi committed treason.
Hunter had been taking small steps forward the whole time. Your eyes stayed locked onto his. Then, you felt something you hadn't in a long time, something you shut out.
You recognized the feeling of the force, it moved through you, awakening your force sensitivity. Maybe you reignited a severed connection by touching your saber again, maybe the strong emotions in you and everyone else caused the resurgence. Whatever the reason, you felt it move through you, connecting you to your surroundings.
After the battles on Umbara, with a lot of effort, you closed yourself off from the force. You realized now that it was never truly gone, and you had still been seeing your surroundings with your instinctual force sensitivity.
You hesitated and broke eye contact from Hunter, shocked at what was happening. You took a breath, and closed your eyes. You concentrated on the force, focusing on the feelings you felt now. Fear, love, sadness, anxiety, all of it. You quieted them, and then reached out. You felt a surge of more emotions. Worry. Fear again. But not a selfish fear. They were scared you would leave. You could sense the intentions of each of them, seeing a bit into their mind. You sensed no malice, no intention to take life.
You sensed Hunter step closer. He was maybe a foot away now. He reached out and touched your forearm. You took another deep breath, then opened your eyes, watching him. He reached his hand up to your face slowly, reaching for your mask. You made no movement to stop him, and he slipped it off of you, tossing it aside. Beneath it revealed your face, and he calmly looked into your eyes.
You realized he was trying to reassure you, comfort you. He wasn’t scared of you, despite the legendary weapon you held. You felt more hopeful, now that you saw nobody had tried to attack you. You turned off your lightsaber, never breaking away from his gaze, and dropped the saber to the ground. Everyone relaxed.
“What are inhibitor chips?” You asked. Tech launched into an explanation. The Kaminoans created the clones with chips in their brain, to inhibit the clones' cognitive functions and allow them to follow any order. Theirs were not functioning, save for Crosshair. Crosshairs face darkened as he mentioned this, he looked like he would rather avoid the memories all together. They retrieved him from the empire and removed all their chips.
The clones were forced to kill the Jedi. Thinking about it left a bitter taste in your mouth. The clones would’ve stood by the Jedi, their commanders, generals, and friends. The Jedi only wanted to protect the Republic. They were forced to murder them. They were all tricked.
But, the bad batch… your friends. You sighed. You’re safe. You don’t have to leave. “So none of you feel an overwhelming urge to execute me for holding a lightsaber? Or making a 40ft jump?”
“More like 45 feet, and no. We never were known for being rule followers.” Hunter said. He smiled a bit when he said it, and watched you process his words. You blinked back tears, and a smile spread on your face. You couldn’t believe that you were all going to be okay. A horror you felt sure of was now averted.
You felt the electrical current run through your body again as Hunters hand retreated from your arm. You looked up at him, tears threatening to roll out of your eyes. The current dragged you in. You walked towards Hunter, the heat of the moment sweeping you up. You slammed into him and wrapped your arms around his torso. You squeezed tight, and shut your eyes, tears rolling down. “You’re not going to kill me.” You spoke half laughing, half crying.
You felt his arms wrap around your shoulders, and return the hug, squeezing you back. He was warm. Compared to moments ago feeling terrified of death, the feeling of being hugged and cared for was euphoric.
Hunter pressed his face into your hair, and you felt lips press to top of your head for a brief moment. He bent down a bit and whispered in your ear “Never. You’ve protected us, and we are going to protect you.” A few more tears rolled down as he spoke, and you pressed your face against his chest. He made circles with his thumb on your back, seemingly to comfort you. The world around you just disappeared. It was just you and him. You could feel him take deep breaths, while yours were a bit more shallow and sporadic.
A minute or two passed, and suddenly you heard awkward coughing. You withdrew from the hug, looking to the rest of the boys. Hunters left hand remained on your right shoulder.
You normally might’ve felt embarrassed, but right now you were still just happy to be alive. You faced the rest of the group, feeling a little guilty. “I’m sorry everyone. I really thought you were going to kill me. I didn’t mean to frighten any of you.”
Wrecker laughed. “Don’t worry about it General, we don’t scare easy!” Your eyebrows knit together when he called you General.
“If we really wanted to kill you, it would’ve happened already.” Crosshair said. Hunter looked at him disapprovingly. You just laughed. “Thanks Cross.” He made a short nod, and walked off the ramp.
“To be honest, I’ve suspected it for quite some time. Your reflexes, agility, weapon skill with a blade, and extensive experience with alien culture and language all pointed to you being a Jedi.” You raised an eyebrow at Tech after he spoke.
“How long have you known?” You inquired. “Several months.” He replied. You sighed. “You didn’t tell anyone?” You asked. “No. I thought it was obvious.” He stated simply. He walked past you and typed into his data pad. “See you Sera.” He waved without looking up.
“Echo-“ You called up to him. “Don’t worry about it.” He waved off your apology quickly. You just nodded at him. He walked back into the ship.
You turned to Hunter. “Please don’t start calling me General…” He patted your back. “I’ll talk to them, don’t worry about it.” You breathed out a sigh in relief. You relaxed more and looked at your surroundings for a minute. Your eyes found the horizon and you saw a beautiful sunset beginning. “Thank you, Hunter.” The words escaped your mouth as you watched the sunset.
He squeezed your shoulder, which brought your attention to him. “You can breathe easy now.” The corner of his lips turned up a little. You returned the smile and nodded. He patted your shoulder, and it seemed like he didn’t want to let go. He eventually released your shoulder and walked back to the ship, you assumed it was to go to Omega.
You smiled to yourself as you stood alone. This changes everything. You felt more hopeful than you had in years.
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the-lady-of-stars · 4 years ago
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In Another Life
Fives x Jedi ! Reader
Requested by: @marvel-starwars-nerd​ and an anon (I combined your prompts, hope thats okay!)  “I don’t want this to end” and “Whatever you do don’t cry, because if you cry I’ll start crying too”
A/N: Sorry in advance, troopers.
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A traitor to the Republic. That’s what they’d called him. They had said that Fives was conspiring against them, accusing the Kaminoans of planting chips in the clones’ brains to control them.
The chip, which Fives had broken protocol to remove from Tup, was called an ‘inhibitor chip’ by the Kaminoans. Something to keep them from adopting Fett’s strong will and violence. Fives insisted otherwise, leading you to this very moment on the lower levels of Coruscant.
With Anakin and Rex by your side you slowly edged into the darkened warehouse, calling out for Fives as you went. The lightsaber ignited in your hands was merely standard protocol. You knew that Fives would never hurt you, but the Republic branding him as a dangerous individual meant you had to keep up the act. The excuse of Fives being your boyfriend wasn’t exactly something that could be put on the reports.
The deeper you went into the building, the more you could sense him. The force signiature coming off of Fives was something you would normally bask in and draw peace from, but not today. He radiated nothing but fear, anger and mistrust, still not showing himself to you and your companions. The boys all knew about the relationship between you and Fives. He wasn’t quite the most secretive man in the galaxy, and had the tendency to brag.
Anakin, clearly sensing the pure worry and unease radiating from you, sent you a reasurring look, although it never met his eyes.
“Fives,” you called out, trying to pinpoint his location. “It’s okay, we’re not here to hurt you. Just come out, everything will be okay.”
“Thank you, thank you for trusting me,” Fives’ voice echoed through the crate-filled warehouse, making it hard to figure out where it had come from. The three of you span slowly, trying to catch a glimpse of the rogue trooper. His voice was shaky, the notes wavering in his throat. “Have you come without troops?” He insisted, too nervous to keep his fear hidden.
“We have,” Anakin reassured, voice steady so as not to startle Fives.
“Put down your weapons then!” Fives sounded frantic, like a loth cat cornered by hungry varactyls. You felt your heart twist at the notion that your own boyfriend felt the need to defend himself against you, his brother and his friend.
Anakin, casting aside emotion to stick to military protocol, denied Fives’ request, still slightly on edge about his accusations about the Jedi and the chips.
“Please sir, please- I’m unarmed,” Fives pleaded. You turned to find Rex and Anakin both with expressions of sorrow that matched your own.
With a nod, Anakin sheathed his saber, and Rex set his pistols down on a nearby crate. You copied them, attaching your saber to its hilt at your belt.
“What are we here for, Fives?” Anakin pressed, knowing that every moment they wasted was a moment the Coruscant Guard gained on them, and he knew they wouldn’t be as willing to accomodate.
“I need your help,” he called, desperation thick in his words.
Anakin reassured the trooper that he was here to help, telling Fives that he understood he ‘wasn’t well.’ Clearly, this was the wrong thing to say, as Fives suddenly became upset, voice raising.
“I’m not crazy! Please- just hear what I have to say,” he begged, voice growing clearer, allowing you to pinpoint him behind two stacks of crates.
With one last shared look, the three of you drew closer to Fives’ location. Before you could reach him, Fives entrapped you all in a ray shield, then finally emerged once he knew you couldn’t harm him.
Anakin, knowing this wouldn’t do Fives any good once the Coruscant Guard arrived, slammed his fist against the shield in anger. He already knew how low the chances were for his friend, the Kaminoans were fond of reconditioning for even the slightest misbehaviour, but this would only serve to make things ten times worse.
“I just need you to listen to me,” Fives reassured, raising his empty hands to show that he meant no harm. “Please!” he cried out.
“I’m not really sure we have any other choice!” Anakin snapped, worry for Fives turning into anger due to his lack of control in the situation.
Fives’ voice broke, almost whimpering as he yelled “I was framed- because I know the truth! The truth about a plot- a massive deception!”
Fives’ body was shaking, arms restless as he panicked, pacing fearfully, clutching his head and tensing his fists. He looked wildly overwhelmed, almost in pain at how he couldn’t get anyone to believe him.
“There’s a sinister plot,” he shouted, “in the works, against the Jedi! I have proof of it! I can prove- that everything that I know is true beyond a shadow of a doubt!”
“Fives, please-” you tried to speak calmly but you were nearly in tears over seeing your Fives like this, your voice trembling. His eyes raced from side to side, peeled wide in terror, desperation in every breath he took.
Anakin interrupted you, voice stern. “Show me the evidence.”
Fives dug his fingers back into his head, as though he were trying to rip the thoughts out of his brain. Pink marks crowned his head from the way he was scratching into it.
“The evidence- it’s- it’s in here-” Fives pointed aggressively at his brain, fully aware that the Kaminoans had injected him with something to make him lose his memories before he could speak to the Chancellor. His eyes held nothing but devastation, gleaming with unshed tears and pain. “It’s in all of us!” he recalled, desperately trying to explain, “every clone!”
“What is it?” Rex pushed, trying to extract clear words from his brother.
“Organic chips- built into our genetic code,” Fives said, defeat swallowing up his voice. He leaned exhausted to rest on a stack of crates, pressing his arm and forehead against them. “To make us do whatever someone wants.” Fives felt powerless in that moment. The Republic had always made him feel like a pawn, but this was the first time Fives truly understood what his older brothers meant when they spoke about being nothing but property. What difference could one clone make, especially one who had the entire coruscant guard and a Jedi on the hunt for him. “Even kill the Jedi. It’s all in here-” he repeated in a frenzy, poking his head again and again.
Anakin scowled, not believing Fives’ words. You turned to look at Rex, seeing how upset he looked. He ran his hand over his hair in stress, sending you a dejected look when he caught your gaze.
“Let’s just get you some help first then we can review everything,” Anakin spoke, trying to deescalate the situation. “It’ll be okay, Fives, we’ll sort this out.” Anakin said the words as though nothing major were happening, as if everything was fine.
Fives finally reached his limit, feeling shattered at the lack of understanding.
“You don’t believe me!” he howled.
“Fives,” Rex tried to soothe him, brotherly instinct overwhelming him. “We are listening to you. We only want to help.”
“How do I know you’re not tricking me?” Fives asked rapidly. “How do I know it won’t be a trap?”
You couldn’t stand back and listen any more.
“Fives, please, look at me. You know for a fact that not one of us would lay a finger on you. We all care about you Fives, and we want to hear everything you have to say. I mean it. We’ll listen,” you pleaded with him, pressing one hand up against the ray shield.
Fives shakily stumbled forward, lifting a trembling hand to press it against where yours lay on the other side of the shield. He looked deep into your eyes, the look he gave you making you want to sweep him away and hold him for the rest of your life. You wished more than anything that you could take him away from all of this. Why did it have to be your Fives getting caught up in this mess. If only you could take him to some outer-rim planet where you would never be found, and soothe all of his worries with tender kisses and soft spoken words.
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“Princess?”
“Yeah, Fives?”
“You ever thought about after the war?”
“What about it?”
You lay secure on Fives’ chest in your bed, resting your eyes as he swept patterns into the skin of your back.
“What you’d like life to be like, I mean. Like, I d’uno, a family maybe?”
Maybe you were just tired, but you were sure you could detect a hint of hopefulness in his words.
“A family, huh? Yeah, I s’pose have. Is that something you’d like?”
“Y-yeah,” Fives felt himself flush. Get it together, trooper. “W-with you, I mean. Maybe a kid or two if you want. We could have a little house out on Naboo. It could be in the countryside. We could go swimming in the waterfalls. I’m sure General Skywalker could set us up with a place. Get- get married maybe?” Fives subtly wiped his sweaty palms on the sheets, hoping you wouldn’t notice how nervous the proposition made him.
“I’d like that.”
He let out a sigh.
“I’d like that a lot.”
If you had secretly been awake when Fives had whispered “gn’a make you my wife,” he didn’t need to find out.
----------------------------
Fives gasped, thinking about what would happen if the clones were ordered to take out the Jedi. Even the brief thought of him mindlessly shooting you caused him to jolt back. He began to explain how he thought everything linked back to the Chancellor, how every part of his intuition told him to believe it.
“He’s capable of it, I swear to you, General,” he tried to reason with Anakin, but before he could get another word in the Coruscant Guard leapt out from behind some crates, pointing their blasters at Fives.
Calls of “stand down, trooper” and “get on your knees” rang through the building. You watched in horror as Fives turned his gaze to Rex’s abandoned pistols.
“Fives, no- stop!” you screamed, but it was too late.
He lunged for the pistols, clutching one with a yell of “get away from me!”
Then silence, deafening silence. Your vision turned to slow-motion as Commander Fox fired a shot square into Fives’ chest. You felt a cry escape your throat but never heard it, feeling like you were about to faint.
Fives collapsed, hitting the ground in a position which allowed you to see the large short-range blaster shot staining the pure white duraplast of his armour. Rex beat his hands against the barrier, desperatley trying to break through to hold his brother. The second a member of the Guard shot the shield down you fell to your knees at his side, Rex at your side.
“Fives,” you sobbed, tears flowing freely. You reached over to cup his cheek, bringing his gaze to look at you. Fives was dazed, feeling the life force drain from him as he bled out on the duracrete floor. The blood loss began to make him dizzy, his thoughts no longer focused on the conspiracy, turning to you instead. You were crying. His girl was crying and he wasn’t doing anything about it. He’d always hated seeing you cry.
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“Hey, Princess, I’m hom- woah, woah, woah-” Fives froze, startled by the image of you curled up in a ball on the floor leaning against your bed while crying your eyes out. He immediately ran over, sliding to his knees by your side. “Hey, what’s the matter?” he cooed, reaching to pull your hands from your eyes. He felt his heart tighten at the sight of your reddened eyes, the tears clinging to your eyelashes. “Oh, shhh,” he soothed, bringing you into his chest as you sobbed wildly. Fives sat and rocked you gently in his arms until your sobs slowed into hiccups and gasps, murmuring sweet nothings tenderly into your ear.
“Feelin’ better?” he spoke softly, punctuating his question with a kiss to your cheek.
“Mmhmm,” you nodded, leaning into his touch as he wiped away your tears.
“That’s my girl. You’re okay, Princess. I’ve got you. I’ll always take care of you I swear. Now, make a promise for me?”
You hummed in agreement, waiting for him to state his promise.
“I need you to promise me that you won’t cry alone ever again. Next time you need to cry, come find me or send me a quick comm and I swear I’ll be right there to hold you. Promise?”
You smiled lovingly, “promise.”
“Thas’ my girl.”
-------------------------------------------------
“H-hey- hey, don’t you go crying on me now, pretty thing. ‘Cos if you cry I’ll start cryin’, you hear me?”
This only made you weep harder, clutching at his shoulder.
“Fives, no, no- don’t do this. Don’t. You’re gonna be okay, you’re gonna be fine. I’m here, Rex is here, we’ve got you,” your voice shook heavily as you barely managed to get the words out between choked sobs.
Fives chuckled after a gasp, shooting a beaming smile in your direction.
“C’mon, you’re a clever girl. You and I both know this is the end of the line for me. I’m not gonna be here too much longer, Princess, but you remember that promise you made me, yeah? When I’m gone, you’re not gonna spend your time cryin’ over me. You’re gonna go find a friend, someone you trust, and cry it out with them so they can look after you. Okay?”
You burst into tears again, unable to respond to him.
“I’ll look after her, vod. I swear it, you have my word. We’ll look after eachother,” Rex choked, tears flowing down his face. He reached over and grasped his brother’s hand tightly, squeezing it in reassurance.
Fives smiled, a look of peace overcoming him at the thought of his girl and his brother looking out for eachother when he wasn’t there to do it himself.
“Thas’ good. Mmm. Good.” Fives blinked, finding the idea of sinking into the darkness more and more tempting every second.
“Fives, no, don’t go. Please- I don’t want this to end. I love you, I love you so much Fives, please don’t leave me!”
Fives mustered up all the energy he had left to grin at you, the cheeky grin that showed off his teeth he’d always give you when he’d make fun of you.
“I love you too, Princess. I always will. I’m sorry I have to go, but I promise I’ll see you again some day. Even in another life, I’ll find you. You’ll always be my girl.”
And with that, Fives slipped away, succumbing to the peace that was sinking into his heart. He’d find you again. In another life.
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ahsoka-lives · 4 years ago
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Apprentice pt. 4
Inquisitor!Cal Soulmate AU
A/N: Umm, I’m sorry!!! My life is very hectic and will probably stay that way for a long time :/ I still want to update my fics and talk to you guys when I can. Thank you for almost 200 followers already!! I hope this part will have been worth the wait, I rewrote it like three times!!! Please feel free to leave a comment or an ask in my box and I hope to update again soon!! 
P.S. I will either write a part 6 and continue Iris or write an epilogue, feel free to let me know what you guys prefer! It will take quite a while but it will come! As will updates to my other fics! <3
Warnings: Canon-typical violence
Word Count: 1671
Songs I listened to: A Guide to Live By by Remo Drive, Delilah by Florence+the machine, Misfit Love by QOTSA
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Cal Kestis
“How much longer is this going to take?”
“Just another moment, Master Kestis.” The medical droid replied as it finished taping up Cal’s broken ribs. 
Cal was in a hurry, you could hear it in his voice and see it on his stress-ridden face. He woke up on that table, he guessed it’d been about 12 hours since you’d left him in that field of grass. A lot could happen in 12 hours.
The second that droid finished, Cal was on his feet and briefing the squadron. They rarely saw him like this. For the most part, he was playfully arrogant, his missions were always successful and he didn’t need much help from the troopers. Today, he was stern and to the point, only a flicker of excitement could be seen by those looking for it. 
“As you all know, this is not our usual manhunt. The target is one of ours, they are armed and force sensitive. The symptoms of withdrawal will render them unstable which will only feed into the effects of their conditioning, I don’t need to explain how vital it is that they be put back under supervision. Unfortunately for all of you, I will not be- ”
“Sir, s-sorry to interrupt...” Panted a very worn out officer. The officer clutched a datapad tightly to his chest and blinked rapidly as he tried to collect himself in front of his superior. “...we’ve gotten word that the target is on a nearby moon in the mid-rim but they’re on the move, sir. Intel says they’re scouting out a ship.” 
“A ship? They can fly?” Cal grit his teeth, his eyebrows drawn together in clear frustration. 
You’d think that was something worth mentioning. Cal was relying on your helplessness to get this job done faster.
“I-ntel d-doesn’t suggest they were looking for a p-pilot.” The man winced as Cal towered over him.  
With a deep breath, Cal stepped away from the officer and turned to the troopers. They stood stock-still, afraid that the simplest movement would finally set him off. 
“I want them on this ship alive by the end of the rotation, don’t disappoint me.” 
-Reader
Your teeth ground together as you gave one last tug on the robe that lay beneath the unconscious man. Your first choice was to buy one but that just wasn’t an option. This patron was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The uniform of the inquisition was drawing too much attention in the outskirts of the city you’ve found yourself in. Your eyes stared back at you in the mirror while you gave yourself one last pep talk. 
Once you left the refresher of this cantina it would be a few miles to the heart of the city. You needed to find a shipyard, any shipyard. Living on Bracca taught you the inner workings of a variety of ships, it was just time to put the theory into practice.
Eyes seemed to follow you as you left the refresher but it felt like that ever since you’d gotten off of Trilla’s ship. She was gracious enough to drop you here after you held the point of your saber close enough to your throat. A symphony of pleas from ‘Let me help you’ to ‘You don’t know what you’re getting into’ fell from her lips. Every one of them made the itch to do something a bit more drastic to grow stronger. 
There was something about you that was different, you couldn’t quite grasp it but your thoughts seemed to get away from you. It felt primal like you were being controlled more by instincts than morals. As you walked down the rainy dirt path, the question of what changed had already left. Too focused on the task at hand, you decided it was a problem for another time. 
So focused, in fact, that you didn’t notice the surveillance droid that was following close behind you. 
Your boots splashed into the puddles on the concrete. The populous streets were providing much-needed cover, the business filled the air with the sound of tapping shoes and mild chatter. The streets were lined with troopers, there wasn’t a corner left unguarded. It seemed excessive for a supposedly unsuspecting city.
Eyes remained fixed on the ground in front of you. As you reached the end of the street you caught a glimpse of a ship, then another and another. Jackpot. Within moments your feet had carried you just in front of the fence surrounding it. 
As your eyes flickered over the ships closest to the fence you caught onto how suspicious you must have looked. Immediately, you looked around and to your surprise the street was empty. Gone was the chatter that filled your ears, only the slight whistle of the wind moving through the skyscrapers.
Panic struck you, this isn’t right.
Your heartbeat quickened and you started away from the fence, a strong sense of urgency pulling you back. Somehow you knew something was waiting in that shipyard for you. Someone or many someones if Cal stuck to any kind of pattern.
You secured the hood over your head once more and tried to cross the street as casually as possible, not that it mattered if what you feared was true. The safety of a crowed street felt all too far away. As you neared a skyscraper on the corner of the street you froze in place. Was that...
Your head swung around, looking to confirm your suspicion. Troopers wore heavy armor that clacked together ever so slightly at the knee, it was a distinct sound if you knew what to listen for. But there wasn’t a soul in sight. 
The atmosphere was feeling oddly artificial without the others walking about. It made the hairs on the back of your neck stand, your ears were buzzing all too loudly. It felt like the world was crashing into your chest without a single warning. Your hand reached for the saber on your belt and your feet took hesitant steps away from the corner of the building. 
Eyes fixed on the reflective glass that met the concrete floors, trying desperately to see beyond it. You were so certain that any moment a stormtrooper would emerge and blast you. 
In your moment of concentration you failed to notice the wall behind you. Your back hit the sturdy concrete sending a shock through your system. 
“Well, that was easy.” The deep, modulated voice spoke.
You frantically pushed away from the voice and tried to turn to face him. Cal moved too quickly for you, he threw you up and over his shoulder before you could even get a word out. 
“How did you even find me!” You grunted and fought against him. 
“Don’t tell me you’re not happy to see me, not that you can see much from up here.” He chuckled sarcastically.
You stopped your useless struggle and played along for a moment, there had to be something..
“You know, if anyone should be mad, it’s me. You broke my ribs, and let that irritatingly little padawan go. I will say, I am proud of how..” 
You were paying almost no attention to his rambling. Instead, you were fumbling with the only other weapon on your person. A switchblade securely strapped to your waist, a little too secure. Your heart jumped with excitement when you felt the button snap open. 
You quickly sank the small blade into his calf. Cal groaned and his grip faltered enough for you to push off of him and to drop to the floor. Without wasting a second, you took off running down the road. A quick glance over your shoulder showed Cal knelt on the ground speaking into his comlink. His wrist held just below his chin while the other hand crudely ripped the knife from his skin. 
He won’t be down for long. 
You were surprised to see he stopped at all.
You couldn’t stop for a second, you had to keep going, but where? The shipyard was behind him and the shipyard was your way out. You didn’t have much time to think as you heard footsteps picking up behind you. Just as you reached an intersection at the end of the street, troopers pulled out in front of you. They formed a blockade around you on their speeders and fixed their blasters on you. At least thirteen laser scopes pointed directly at your heart. 
You whipped hoping to go back down the street only to find an Inquisitor standing in your way. 
“Their weapons are set to stun but it’ll still hurt. Of course, they won’t have to shoot you if you come quietly.” His tone was completely different. In place of the somewhat welcoming voice he had moments ago, he presented as the negotiator, calm and emotionless.
You stayed silent, your eyes looked passed him to the shipyard that was barely in sight. 
“Really? That’s how this is gonna be?” He rolled his eyes and shook his head, clearly annoyed. “Watch the face, everyone, I quite like it the way it is.” 
The next few seconds seemed to move by painstakingly slow. Cal gave the signal for the men to open fire and stepped back with his hands crossed behind his back. Without conscious thought, your hands quickly found the crimson lightsaber at your waist. You wished you’d had more practice with this thing. The troopers fire relentlessly and you weren’t able to keep up.
A stun got past your defenses then another, and another. Your ears rang loudly and the world spun around you as your back hit the floor. The firing ceased and the world around you grew quiet. Black leather boots took quick strides over to you and you felt a gloved hand cup the side of your face. Gently, you were made to look at Cal who had at some point removed the helmet. His eyes examined your face, turning it from side to side with a smirk. Even in your dazed state you couldn’t help but think he still had the face of an angel. 
“Mm, not a scratch. Great work, everyone.” 
Some angel.
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EPISODE IX PREDICTIONS, HOPES, & DISCUSSION
This is a deep dive into the thoughts and questions I’ve been accumulating in regards to what might happen in Episode IX. (Sorry, it’s quite a long post).
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My character predictions:
KYLO/BEN: My beautiful boy Ben is going to get redemption first and foremost. FACT. I’m so excited to see how it will go down though, so many possibilities. What’s going to be that final catalyst for Ben to finally stop resisting the Light? When we left Kylo/Ben in TLJ he had gained all the power he once sought, and yet he was utterly miserable. But, importantly Luke showing up on Crait offered Kylo that critical cathartic release he needs for the next step in his redemption journey. Looking back, TFA started with Kylo ordering a village massacre, and finished with him killing his father. We see progress in TLJ, as the act of committing patricide has been eating Kylo/Ben alive with regret and guilt, he then later cannot kill his mother, and instead he kills his tormentor, Snoke, to save Rey. So following this pattern of reversal, I predict in IX he’ll selflessly save a large group of people (the direct opposite of the original village massacre). It’s going to be so interesting to see how will he go with being The Supreme Leader of The First Order, as the evidence shows his ideology doesn’t really align with the Order. I feel like he’ll simply keep using The First Order for the sole purpose of destroying his mother’s Resistance, in a fruitless attempt to ‘kill his past’. Ultimately though, this story is about achieving balance between the Light and the Dark, not just in the force or the galaxy but also in oneself. Ben will need to accept the Light and the Dark sides in himself, and will have to come to this conclusion completely via his own initiative. Han (via Leia’s push), Luke, and Rey have all tried to convince him to the Light so far, to no avail.
REY: Strong Rey has been through a hell of a lot with Kylo/Ben in both films, and Luke in TLJ. She’s had to face her deepest fear that she’s ‘nobody’ and that her parents ‘aren’t coming back for her’. But despite this she has actually found belonging and empowerment along the way. Her self identity is in fact stronger than ever now (while Kylo/Ben is the opposite, he’s still having an identity crisis). I predict that in IX, Rey will be just as fearless and resilient as ever, but also more mature, less naive. Her relationship with the Resistance is interesting because in TFA Finn was lying to her about him belonging to the Resistance, so she was never actively apart of it, and then she was kidnapped by Kylo. Similarly, she sought Luke out for Leia (and the Resistance) in TLJ, but this was mostly a personal journey she undertook. She pursued turning Kylo/Ben to the Light, ‘for the Resistance’s sake’, but it was ultimately for her own sake. So I think that she might not completely feel like she belongs in the Resistance. It’s a sure thing, that she’ll still try to help them out how she can, but I predict it’ll once again be on her own ‘force’ related solo mission (because this fits her film narrative formula). This may be how she crosses paths with Kylo again? Also related to the Resistance, I have this gut feeling that she may clash heads with Poe over his decision making (IDK why, I just do). In terms of other predictions, it seems to be a given that she’ll repair the legacy Skywalker lightsaber, this is what Rey has done her whole life, salvage and repair. In regards to Ben, she’s learnt her lesson, and I truly believe she hasn’t given up on him, she just now knows that it has to be HIS decision to join the Light Side, she can’t ask him again – it won’t work. Like the TLJ novel states, she’s good at waiting, so deep down she’ll be waiting for him to eventually make the right decision. Also another prediction for Rey, is that the arm scar she got during the Throne Room fight will feature prominently in at least one on screen moment. I imagine it will go something like, she’s getting ready putting her satchel on etc, and looks down at her arm and remembers Ben/Kylo and that epic moment they fought together. Now Rey has a scar to remember him, and he too has one to remember her. ~swoons~ The recent costume leak (re: arm band) seem to support this scar’s significance further, but I initially thought that the scar would be important because LF chose to feature it on the damn TLJ poster.
THE WAR/THE BALANCE: This is the final film in the sequel trilogy, and this series is called “Star Wars” so I’m predicting more war, duh. However, we’ve already seen the Light side win over the Dark in the original trilogy, but it didn’t work – the Dark still rose back up. That’s why, this time round something’s got to be different. The Resistance can’t just defeat The First Order, I don’t think that’s going to cut it. TLJ expressed the nuisances of war, with the Resistance bombers and members dying, and also the large First Order crew who would’ve died on the dreadnaught. It really stuck with me what DJ said to Finn, “They blow you up today, you can blow them up tomorrow”. Maybe this wasn’t a precursor for IX, and was just Rian being Rian. But I still predict that Rey and Ben will team up again in this movie, but stay together this time, and they will initiate something like a ceasefire between the two sides, ending the vicious endless cycle of war that has plagued the galaxy for decades now. Ben and Rey are ‘the chosen one’ who will finally bring balance to the Force. It will be very interesting to see how this balance will be portrayed in a larger galactic scale.
FINN: Don’t get me wrong, I love my boy Finn, but to be honest on paper he is quite a one dimension character in regards to how he’s treated in these films. LF could’ve focused on his traumatic upbringing in The First Order and his emotions towards his ex-fellow troopers. Instead they have brushed past it, having Finn gunning down Storm Troopers with no second thought. (I guess they have the traumatic childhoods of Rey and Kylo to focus on instead). So the only prediction I have for him is that he will truly earn the title of ‘Resistance Hero’ in IX. Because in both the TFA and TLJ, he either left or tried leaving to save himself or save Rey, but by the end of TLJ he was finally committed to fighting for the Resistance’s cause (due largely to Rose’s influence).
POE: Poe was originally supposed to die in TFA, and in that movie he was really just a pilot (‘the best one in the Resistance’ though). In TLJ, he was still a pilot, but also shown to be cocky and impulsive, so the aim of TLJ was to teach him how to become a better leader, like Leia etc. So no doubt, in IX he’ll be making much better leadership calls, and assessing the risks more wisely. HOWEVER, it has been pointed out before how Poe, somewhat corrupts Holdo’s line of “We are the spark that will ignite the fire that will restore the Republic”, into “We are the spark that will light the fire that will burn the First Order down” this leads me to the juicy personal prediction (that probably won’t happen but...) maybe Poe in IX will turn into a ‘Coin’ like character, from the Hunger Games. Where Poe makes some very destructive calls, because he takes the war waaaay too far. I’m imagining this being Poe vs Hux, and it just keeps escalating and escalating in bloodshed. Hey, like I said, this probably won’t eventuate.
HUX: It seems obvious at this point that Hux is going to fail spectacularly again, for the third and final time. In TFA, his precious Starkiller Base was blown up. In TLJ, a dreadnought was destroyed under his watch, and then he lost his chance to become Supreme Leader as quickly as the opportunity arose. I predict that once he’s surrendered he’ll either sit there hilariously glaring everyone down, or pull the weasel move and beg/plead for his life. Regardless, it’ll be entertaining. Some might think that Hux is a serious military threat, and maybe in this film he might finally rise to the occasion. But throughout TLJ in particular, he was a laughing stock, and being completely honest Hux poses no serious threat to Kylo Ren. Kylo could end Hux’s life with the force or his saber, or both, within a mere second. WATCH YA BACK HUX. In all seriousness though, Hux will probably take every opportunity to undermine Kylo’s leadership – I know that. Man, do love their hate-hate colleague working relationship. 
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I’m looking forward to:
More Reylo scenes – need I say more?
More Force Bond sessions, because we damn well know it ain’t gone
Seeing Kylo Ren The Supreme Leader, acting as such, sitting in his throne, and ya know just generally running The First Order (eeeeep!)
Simply seeing more Kylo scenes in general, because let's be real, Kylo/Rey/Finn are the true trio, and this is the final movie so this is our chance to finally see more of his POV. This will also be crucial to the redemption story too, as the general audience will probably need a lot more information about him to be onboard for his redemption
My favourite comedy duo Poe and Finn will be back together again at last! I cannot wait for the new banter and shenanigans with these two
John Williams’ amazing final SW score
All the new costumes/hair styles (It’s very wishful thinking but I would low-key love if the characters changed costumes at Padmé's rate)
I know the sequel trilogy hasn’t had the largest scale of cityscape world-building, but ya never know!
I’m one of those people that fell in love with the Knights of Ren during that brief rainy flashback in TFA, so hopefully they make an appearance, after all what’s a ‘Master’ of Ren without those he masters?
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I’m curious to see:
What kind of leader will Kylo be of the First Order? And how is his leadership in general is tracking, is it threatened (i.e. Hux)?
How will Finn and the rest of the Resistance react to Rey being a ‘Jedi’? in TFA everyone except Kylo (and the FO, I guess) were ignorant to the fact that Rey was Force Sensitive. Obviously the resistance noticed Rey force lifting rocks at the end of TLJ, so now they’re all in the loop. Will Finn think she’s ‘changed’? (This is specifically discussed by Finn and Rose in the TLJ novel actually)
Similarly, how will the resistance react to Rey being connection to Kylo, both emotionally and via the force? (They are undeniably connected now thanks to TLJ). How will they react if they ever find out about the Throne Room? ~This is so juicy to consider~
How romantic will Reylo actually be on screen? Will there be an epic kiss? (God, I hope so)
Will Leia survive this trilogy? Han and Luke haven’t, so there’s that...
Will we get the “return to mother” moment (re: reverse Anidala), of Kylo and Leia? If she doesn’t die, this seems like a no brainer
Will the Jedi teachings (the ancient texts) even be a big deal in IX? Luke wasn’t their biggest fan after all. What opinion will Rey take?
What role will Rose play within the resistance this time round? I think it’s going be more prominent; e.g. she’ll be at the decisions making table alongside Poe, Finn, and Leia
Will there be any tie-back to the ‘original’ chosen one, Anakin, to bring this story full circle? Anakin was supposed to ‘bring balance to the Force’ after-all (even though we know Ben and Rey are going to do this)
If the KoR are in IX, will they be Kylo’s blindly pledged allies, and then during his redemption journey will they turn into foes?
With Snoke, the ‘man behind the curtain’ puppeteer style villain being gone, does there need to be a new threat/villain? Is there room for that in the story this late in the game?
Will there be more Force Ghosts in IX, now that Yoda has set a precedent by appearing in TLJ?
If/when Rey and Ben team up again, how will this be possible this time round with Kylo being Supreme Leader of The First Order? Will he chose to leave the Order, or be forced to leave early on in the film?
With Rey and Ben united, will we see some new awesome powerful Force moments? Like how Leia rescued herself in TLJ, or how Kylo froze Poe’s blaster fire, or hell, how Force Ghost Yoda conducted lighting?!
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damn-stark · 5 years ago
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Dark Hope ch.6
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A/N- it’s a long one im sorry! But I really enjoyed writing this chapter so I hope you guys like it!
Warning- violence and talking about phyiscal abuse
Pairing- Kylo Ren x reader
Tagged- @angelmarie823
(Let me know if you want to be tagged)
~
It was a cold and dark you could feel fear and anger but you also felt power. A lot of power. It felt tempting to go towards it. But on the other side it was bright you could feel peaceful, calm but the power you felt was in the way of the dark and not the light. You did what you thought was right and went towards the light even if you could feel the darkness call to you. A voice you recoginzed was calling you towards that side.
“Y/N” the voice sounded deep like that of a man’s. You recognized the voice and you tried to place a face to the voice put you couldn’t it came out blank. “Y/N” the voice called out again. You looked towards the light and the dark . The light side didn’t call to you like the dark side did. You kept ignoring the voice but it was tempting your legs wanted to move that way but you couldn’t you wouldn’t.
When you got close to the light side you could see glimpses of something. Like a vision. But none of it scared you. You saw someone hold a purple lightsaber. It was a man and he looked like a Jedi. But the vision of him quickly vanished as you tried to touch it. You saw another man and yourself. Their was a smile on both of your faces. But once again it was gone. You felt warm and happy and calm but the other side still called to you. The voice is more demanding and the need to recognize it was killing you.
“Hey little star.” You heard the voice say. You instantly recognized it. Your eyes got watery and your lips parted to say something but you couldn’t say it. Your fingers inches from the light vanished. You were now moving towards the dark.
“Dad?” You felt yourself running towards the dark side. When you reached it he was gone. You were some place else. Some place you didn’t recognize. It was cold and wet from the rain. You looked around and didn’t see anything. Your clothes were soaked from the pouring rain. You heard something and your head snapped towards the sound. It was a red lightsaber. Their was a lot of people with their faces covered all holding a weapon. But the one that was holding the red lightsaber was in the middle in front of all the covered faces. He had a helmet on and he seemed to be looking at you. The sight of all them should’ve scared you but it didn’t. He extended his hand out for you to grab it but as you were about too it disappeared.
The rain was gone now but you could still feel everything else. But what most called out to you was the power. You now saw a hooded figure not like the man with violet lightsaber this one was different. His hood was black unlike the Jedis who’s was tan.You could feel fear but as you wanted to look more of this hooded figure it was gone and then you saw your dad.
“Hey little star.... I’m going away okay? Just for a little I’m coming back though okay?” He said and you saw your past self. So little with no scars or marking on your arm that you had now. You looked at your arm and your fingers ghosted over the black markings. Like lines from a circuit board. It helped the people that had you as a slave identify where you were best at. You sighed at painful memories and looked back at your young self. Tears in your eyes crying for someone who left you to fend for yourself. Who let you be a slave. You closed your eyes for a brief moment and when you opened them again you saw your father in front of you.
His eyes were glossy. He had his hand on your shoulder and he kissed your cheek. You looked down at the ground not wanting to see him.
“Okay I’m leaving now. I’ll be back okay?” He said again. You nodded and finally looked up at him. His brown eyes watery now. He moved and had a sad look on his dark complexion. He moved to his ship and as he was closing the door you ran towards him.
“No! Please don’t leave me! Please! Dad! No!” You ran towards him but he was gone. You felt yourself being pulled back. And now everything was different. You were where you hated most. The place you were alone in where you suffered so much. A women came with a whip that had electricity all around it and as it hit you again and again you screamed and saw flashes of everything. Of your past and new things. They all felt painful and alone except for one. A flash of a man the same man with the red lightsaber. That vision felt warm but it was gone and you felt pain again.
You screamed at the top of your lungs until you were shaken awake. In an instant you jumped up covered in sweat. You were shaking and Breathing heavy. You felt arms on your shoulders and you gasped and flinched in response. You looked over and saw a worried Han.
“Hey kid you okay? It was dreams okay? Look I’m real. You’re alright.” Han said as he wrapped you into a comforting hug.
“Please don’t leave me alone please.” You whispered your voice hoarse from screaming with tears going down your cheeks.
“I won’t. I’m right here I’m not leaving you alone.”
~
You storm your way through the first order base trying to go after Kylo Ren. Letting the anger within you control you not letting you think clearly. Kylo Ren sends storm troopers after you to stop you but you slice through them easily. The sight of Han dying flashes through your head making it the only thing you can think of and only causing you to get angrier.
A group of storm troopers surrounds you with their blasters aiming at you. You can see some of them shaking scared of what you have done to their peers. You raise your saber and look around at all of them. You smirk and put your saber down on the ground. You raise your hands up and kneel down as if you were about to surrender. You look around at all of them and you lower your head and look at the ground your smirk not disappearing. You finally snap your head back up and you put your hand out and all the storm troopers start floating up. They’re confused at first and start shooting at you but you stop their blasts midway. The blast are in a circle making it a beautiful sight really. All the red around you.
The stormtroopers trying to struggle to be let go but you make it hard for them to move. You then close your first and they are gasping for air, you move your fist slightly to the side and all their necks snap and you drop them to the ground. You bring your saber to your hand and then pick your self up to your feet. You send the blast that are still frozen around you the opposite way and they crash into the walls. You then start going after Kylo Ren again.
When you make it outside it’s snowing and cold. It’s hard to see in the darkness but the only thing you see is a red saber. You turn on your purple double sided saber and he turns around. You glare at him as you bring your saber over head and do twirl it in your fingers while doing so.
“You’re going to regret what you did.” You spat at him. He stays quiet and brings his hand up to you.
“You’re untrained you’ll never beat me.” He says in return. You scoff and slowly walk towards him.
“We’ll see about that.” You say with a scowl. You swing at him but he stops you and makes you go up. Your feet swing midair and you put your hand out but he stops all your movements making you fly back and hit a wall and then everything goes black.
-
“Noooo!!” You scream awake. You lift your head and feel a pounding headache coming from the back of your head. You’re a little a dazed but that doesn’t stop you. You stand up and you you wobble a bit as you do but you keep moving. It’s only colder causing you to shiver. You keep walking with no direction really but you just walk where you feel is right. You hear distant sounds of sabers crashing into one another and you quicken your step to get their faster. When you get to the location where you kept hearing the lightsabers you see Finn fall to the ground. You hear him say your name before he falls.
Kylo Ren stands apart from Finn as he sees you go down to check on him. When you feel him breath you sigh in relief. You press a light kiss on his head and stand up again. In the distance you see Rey on the ground too. You know she’s alive. They’re both alive. You look over at Kylo Ren and he looks at you. You see the same brown eyes as his dad’s. His seem softer and seem sad even if his face says something different. Eyes never lie. He seems to be reaching for something. You look towards the direction his hand is reaching for and see a lightsaber on the ground. It’s halfway to his hand but you stop it and you’re both fighting for it but you win and send it flying some place else.
“I’m back you thought you took me down but you didn’t.” You spat at him your voice full of posion as you feel the rage within you. You get your lightsaber out and turn it on. The purple blades making whiz sound as they come out. He does the same thing with his saber. “How could you kill your own father?” You shout to him as you take a step closer to him.
“It was necessary I had to do it.” He says as he takes a step himself. “But look at you. You’re so consumed by your own rage that you don’t see the bigger picture.” He says as he brings his saber up.
“And what is that? That I shouldn’t kill you? Because I am.” You bring your own saber up making the purple color from your saber brighten your facial features. And brightening your scowl.
“That you’re untrained and that you can lose yourself if not trained. That anger can consume you completely. You need me. I can train you. let me.” He says to you but you only roll your eyes and scoff.
“You killed Han and are trying to kill my friends why would I let you do that? You’re the thing I’m promising to destroy.” You take a step closer and so does he.
“You have untamed power but with me you can be more powerful than you already are. With me, you can tap into that power you don’t know you have.” He says making every word tempting but you can’t let yourself you won’t let yourself.
“Why? Why do you want me? Rey. She’s powerful I can feel it.” You say sounding almost sad but it quickly disappears.
“Because I see something in you. Something I can’t define but I see something.” He says and your face softens at what he says and you remember glimpses of what you’ve dreamed of so many times. And it’s him he’s the man you see in both sides.
“no no no he killed han. He killed han he’s trying to trick you.” You say to yourself. That makes you come back from what ever you were feeling. You swallow hard and the scowl returns. “No.”
“Fine. Let it be that way but you won’t be able to beat me.”
You both bring your sabers up and swing them at eachother causing them to clash into one another. As the purple and red clash into one another they make a magenta color. You both are trying to push one another as the sabers are clashed into one another, you plant your heels but he’s stronger than you so he pushes you back. You then you use the force and push him back. He falls to the ground but jumps back to his feet immediately. He goes to you and swings his saber at you but you swing back and avoid the swing. The red illumaniates your face making Kylo admire the way your eyes stand out by the light but pushes that feeling down.
You swing back up and swing your saber and it hits him on the shoulder. As he moves back it only makes your saber hurt him more and the scratch trail down to his chest. You kick him back and he grunts in pain. He swings at you again but your saber clashes into his again and again. Neither of you getting a hit.
“You killed your own father! He loved you and you killed him!” You yell at him. He doesn’t say anything but try to swing at you but you avoid his swing. You’ve finally had enough of neither you beating one another so you take your double bladed saber apart and it turns into a twin lightsabers. You twirl them around your fingers and get them into a fighting position.
You jump and swing at him but he sends you back hitting the ground into the snow. You pick yourself and go towards him and you swing at him with one saber but he swings back and they clash together. You smirk at him and he looks at you confused until you bring your other saber up and trap his saber in between the both of yours. You turn your hands to the side making his do the same. He tries to get saber free but as he’s about to turn it off you disarm him and throw his saber aside. He looks at it and then at you with a surprised expression on his face. You connect your sabers back and he’s reaching for his saber but you send him back making him hit a tree. You stop him from moving and have your saber inches from his neck.
You don’t say anything but look at him with the same scowl. “You said I wouldn’t beat you and yet here I am. An untrained girl.” He just looks into your eyes and you look away.
“I can see it you know. Your anger but yet you don’t want to kill me. You try to repeat Hans death in your head. You trying to blame me.But yet you can’t kill me.” He tells you. You look at the ground trying to deny the truth he says. You shake your head and bring the saber closer to his neck making him feel the heat. You see what he does to Han and you try to repeat the scene in your head. “But go ahead do it! kill me! Let the anger consume you and turn into the thing you’re trying to avoid.”
“Shut up!” You yell and you see it in his eyes the fear. You use the force and see what he feels. It was mistake on your part because your eyes soften and your shoulders drop. Your eyes get watery and you meet his gaze. The purple saber illumanites his features. But his eyes stand out to you the most. You both remain quiet. You two looking at one another. Something in the both of you clicks.
“Do it y/n!” You hear Rey shout. You snap your head her way and as you do Kylo catches you off guard and sends you back hitting the tree hard. Everything goes black once again.
Your eyes flutter open and your eyesight is blurry. You feel yourself moving but you’re not the one moving. You look up and see him.
“Ben?” You whisper. He looks at you and he seems suprised by the way you said his name. “Ben?” You whisper again but you go unconscious again.
.
.
.
.
.
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Days at the Hunter Base, CHAPTER 2: A Good Night's Rest (Originally from my Quotev account)
Zero put his Z-Saber away, he had spent all day in the training room facing off against virtual copies of past Mavericks, while subjecting yourself to a whole day of training sounded like pain to anyone else, to Zero it was just a daily routine. 
After all, to him, there was nothing else to do with all this time on his hands, leisurely activities were just a waste of time in his eyes, even if it sounded so distant, so far away, he needed to stay alert at all times in case of the next big Maverick incident, he couldn't let his skills go dull.
Of course, this concerned a lot of people at HQ, especially X, despite Zero always forcing himself to perform at 100%, it was obvious that he needed rest.
He was dispatched on a lot of big missions and always volunteered to be on patrol duty, coupled with the fact that he spent ages in the training room leaves little to no room for rest, but to Zero, it didn't matter.
X was always telling him to rest, but Zero always refused to do so, he insisted to keep on training, even if it was increasingly obvious that he needed rest, first he started zoning out in meetings, zoning out slowly turned into struggling to keep his eyes open, that slowly turned into falling asleep in meetings itself, then he began moving sluggishly around base.
No-one ever figured out how he managed to push all of that tiredness away during training and missions, however, as the symptoms of sleep deprivation started to become clearer, it also became harder to mask his exhaustion.
"Zero, I'm telling you, you need to rest, look at you! You're always walking aimlessly around HQ, Always falling asleep during briefings...I'm just worried about you." X told him, placing an arm around his friend.
"X, you're just spouting nonsense." Zero mumbled groggily, "I'm fine, you don't need to worry so much, y'know?" He tried to force a convincing smile on his face, but there was no fooling X.
"Zero, look at yourself, you've got eyebags and you can't even walk steadily, it's a miracle that you still score well in training, you need to rest. Period."
Zero looked away, breaks, rest, it didn't matter, he thought.
It doesn't matter, no matter what, I can't...let...my guard...down...
There was a thud on the ground.
_______________________________________________
When Zero came to, he felt like he was lying down, on something... soft?
His eyes opened wide, he sat up immediately to analyze his surroundings, when suddenly, a voice caught his attention.
X's voice, to be precise.
"I see that you've finally woken up, I was getting really worried." Zero turned his head to the side to see his best friend sitting beside him.
"X?" 
"Yup, the one and only," he laughed, "Sorry you had to use my bed, I panicked when you passed out and I immediately brought you to my room, I knew that rechargers were more efficient but I thought a bed would be more comfortable and-"
Zero cut him short, "It's alright, thanks for looking out for me, now if you excuse me, I need to go back to training." Just as he was about to step get off of the bed, X grabbed him by the arm, "Nope, not on my watch, I've told you numerous times, you need to rest, Zero, so you're staying here, until your energy's fully restored."
Zero forced a smile on his face, "Thanks, I appreciate the concern, but I think that I've rested for long enough."
X was determined to get Zero to rest, he firmed his grip on Zero's arm and begged him, "Zero, please, I don't want anything like this to happen ever again."
Zero looked at X with a stern face, "Listen, X, I understand that you're concerned about me, but I can't let my guard down, who knows when the next war is going to happen, while everyone's sitting back and relaxing, I have to be the one to be prepared."
X paused for a while, then he said, "Then consider this, Zero, if you don't continue to rest and keep on training nonstop like this, then eventually, when the real fight comes along, you'll be too tired and sluggish to fight properly, which could cost you a lot, so rest is also essential if you want to put up a better fight, so just relax for a while, alright?"
Zero sighed, "X, unfortunately, you make a good point," he smiled, for real this time, "alright, I'll take a break, but you've got to spar with me later, deal?"
"Deal."
And with that, Zero closed his eyes again, and when he woke up, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Energized.
_______________________________________________
(Author's note): I probably wrote Zero too OOC here, and I'm sorry about that, I know that this chapter is basically XZero all over, but it wasn't meant to be like that, as much as I ship XZero, believe me when I say that this chapter isn't supposed to be an XZero fic.
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purrincess-chat · 7 years ago
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More Than Just a Friend CH 2
This one is longer. Like almost 4k long, but a lot happens! This chapter covers Fencing (pt 2), Dinner with Parents, Comfort, and Admiration! Days 3-6 respectively. It’s kind of cracky and then angsty and fluffy toward the end. Hopefully you enjoy it!
Read on AO3
Chapter 2
“Whoa!” Adrien cried out as he stumbled backwards onto his back, and Kagami poked his chest with her saber before lifting her helmet and giving him a questioning look.
“That’s the third time I’ve knocked you over this morning, Adrien. If you’re going to perform this badly, I’ll look for another partner to practice with,” She teased, offering a hand to help him up. “You’re distracted today.”
“Sorry, Kagami. I’ve just got a lot on my mind,” He said, bending his saber and rolling his shoulders.
“Like what?” She asked as they resumed their positions. “En garde.”
“It’s nothing…” He insisted, shrinking a little.
“Pret…Allez!” Kagami surged forward, seizing the opportunity to score another touch, not that they were having an actual bout, but she always liked to keep score anyways. “I’m not so convinced if you’re performing this badly. C’mon. What’s on your mind?”
“It’s Marinette…” He said after a moment of hesitation.
“Your girlfriend?” She removed her helmet and shook out her hair.
“She’s not my girlfriend.” He rolled his eyes.
“Oh, right, sorry. Your ‘very good friend’ who you also happen to smile at a lot,” She chuckled with a smirk, crossing her arms over her chest, and Adrien suddenly felt very hot inside his lamé.
“I don’t smile at her that much,” He grunted stubbornly. “Do I?”
Kagami gave him a look, and he shifted his weight guiltily. Marinette was just a good friend, and he wasn’t sure how to convince people otherwise. It’s not like he could tell them that he was in love with Ladybug. He’d be absolutely mortified if she ever found out; plus it could give away his identity.
“You certainly seem sweeter on her than with other people. That’s all I’m saying.” Kagami shrugged, and Adrien pursed his lips.
“That’s just because she gets overwhelmed easily,” He defended indignantly.
“Hey, hey, don’t get your briefs in a twist. I just think there might be a reason that she gets so easily worked up around you, but what do I know? I only just moved here.” She took some practice swings with her saber then resumed her ready stance. “Now fence me seriously before I start growing gray hairs.”
* * *
Marinette opened her locker, humming cheerfully to herself as she unpacked her books and sorted her supplies for her first class. After spending the afternoon with Adrien the day before, her head was in the clouds, and she was in high spirits. Finally, she’d gotten to spend an afternoon alone with Adrien, uninterrupted by akumas or crazed fans. Just the two of them. Alone. She couldn’t wait to tell Alya the scoop.
“Good morning, Marinette,” Kagami greeted as she opened her locker across the way and tucked away her gym bag.
“Hi, Kagami.” She waved with a smile. “How was fencing this morning?”
“Terrible. Adrien’s in another dimension today. He wouldn’t shut up about you, ya know,” She said, casting Marinette a knowing smirk.
“Wha- Him? Talking about me? Wh-Why? What did he say?” Kagami suppressed a snicker at how transparent Marinette was when it came to Adrien. It was especially difficult, especially knowing how oblivious Adrien was to her feelings.
“Oh, nothing really…” She replied with a coy lilt, and Marinette was at her side in an instant. “He just thinks very highly of you, that’s all.”
“Adrien…thinks highly of me.” She perked up, eyes glittering excitedly. “What about me? Did he say?”
Kagami pursed her lips to hide her grin before shutting her locker and turning to face her. “I don’t really remember all of it, but he said he likes spending time with you.”
“He does?” She clasped her hands together in front of her chest with a squeal.
“Yeah, something about how amazing and kind you are.” She waved it away nonchalantly, but Marinette erupted into a fit of giggles. “Anyway, I’m gonna be late for class. See you around, Marinette.”
She scurried off, leaving Marinette starry-eyed and rosy cheeked. Honestly, how Adrien couldn’t see it was beyond her. Boys were so dense sometimes. Oh well, perhaps if she prodded them enough something would happen. She hadn’t joined the secret society to get them together that Alya and the girls set up for nothing.
After all, Marinette and Adrien were the first friends she made there, and without them pleading with Mr. D’Argencourt, she wouldn’t have been admitted to the fencing academy. In a way, she felt obligated to help them now. Plus it was fun to watch them squirm, and it was only a matter of time before Adrien came around. He was already smitten; he just didn’t know it yet.
* * *
Adrien peeked around the row of lockers later that day to catch a glimpse of Marinette chatting casually with Alya and Myléne. He wanted to thank her properly for hiding him yesterday, but he wasn’t exactly sure how to do it. Should he buy her flowers? Or chocolates? Girls liked those things, right? Maybe he could have his dad make her a custom-designed necklace, or would that be too gauche?
“Do you normally spy on your friends?” He jumped at the sound of Kagami’s voice in his ear and turned to find her standing behind him with an amused glint in her eyes.
“I’m not spying…” She gave him a stern look, and he sighed in begrudging admittance. “Okay, so I am spying a little, but only because I’m trying to figure out how to properly thank her for yesterday.”
“Have you tried walking up and saying ‘thank you’ by any chance?” She said pointedly with a chortle.
“Ha-ha, but I want her to know how much I appreciate her.” He rubbed the back of his neck with a wince. “Do you think flowers would be too much?”
“Don’t you think that flowers might send a bit of a different message?” She asked, folding her arms over her chest and cocking a hip to the side.
“What do you mean?” His eyebrows furrowed, and Kagami leaned her head back with a sigh.
“When a boy gives a girl flowers it means that he likes her.” Adrien stared at her blankly, so she rolled her eyes and continued, “As more than a friend.”
“Oh…I guess you’re right,” He said, shifting his gaze to his shoes.
“Unless of course that’s the message you’re going for then by all means, flowers would be lovely.” She shrugged, brushing past him and swaying her hips a little as she walked.
Adrien leaned back against the lockers with a conflicted moan. Maybe he was way overthinking this, but Marinette was so kind and thoughtful. He just wanted her to get the appreciation she deserved; that didn’t mean he had a crush on her or anything. Marinette was talented and brave and extremely selfless and smart, and Adrien admired her very deeply…as a friend. Which is why his thank you gift had to be perfect!
Juleka and Rose exited the bathroom, engrossed in whatever conversation they were having, and Adrien saw the perfect opportunity. Perhaps it was time he did a little research, and who better to seek intel from than Marinette’s friends.
“Hey, Juleka, Rose!” He waved casually, and they paused their chatter to focus on him.
“Oh, hello, Adrien!” Rose said with a cheerful grin while Juleka mumbled what he could only suspect was some sort of greeting.
“So, listen I kind of want to give Marinette a gift to let her know that I appreciate her, and I’m having a bit of trouble figuring out what to get her. Do you have any suggestions? I want it to be something really thoughtful.” He asked, tapping his fingers together.
“For Marinette? Hmmm, let’s see…” Rose tapped her chin in thought. “She really likes pink and fashion, so maybe you could make her a nice hand-knit scarf.”
“That’s a good idea, except I’m not good at knitting.” He grinned sheepishly.
“You could get her some flowers,” Juleka suggested.
“Oh! Flowers, how romantic,” Rose squealed, pressing her hands against her cheeks, and Adrien sighed once more.
“I’ll keep thinking. Thanks anyway.” He waved as they continued on, and once the coast was clear a black set of ears poked out of his shirt.
“I think your scary friend is right. You sure are giving a lot of special attention to this one girl,” Plagg said pointedly. “I wonder what Ladybug would think.”
“Not you too. Marinette is just a friend. I’d do the same thing for Nino,” He insisted, but Plagg wasn’t convinced.
“I seem to recall that you only spent 10 minutes in the electronics store picking out Nino’s birthday gift.” Plagg crossed his arms over his chest, a gesture Adrien was beginning to recognize as goading disbelief.
“Well, he’s my best friend, and I know what he likes.” Adrien shrugged indifferently.
“Didn’t you spend hours in the craft store picking out beads to make her birthday gift? And then several more hours deciding among those?” Adrien felt his cheeks flush as a flare of annoyance rippled up his spine.
“So? It doesn’t mean anything! I love Ladybug, okay?” He pushed his kwami back into his shirt and stormed out of the locker room.
His other efforts came up fruitless as well, much to his annoyance. Everyone thought he wanted to express romantic interest, so he was always met with more suggestions for jewelry and flowers, though Chloe did suggest a paper bag to put over her head, but he’d already scolded her for that. The only people he hadn’t asked were Ivan and Myléne, but they were a couple, so he didn’t have high hopes.
“Hey, Adrien,” Myléne said with a smile as he approached, shoulders slumped. “Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s just that I’ve been trying to figure out a way to thank Marinette without it seeming like I have a crush on her,” He sighed. “Any ideas?”
“Marinette really loves Andre’s ice cream. Maybe you could take her there?” Myléne offered.
“The ice cream of lovers?” He cocked a skeptical brow.
“You can go as friends too,” She said with a sheepish grin, shrugging her shoulders.
“Doesn’t she really like your dad?” Ivan said, tapping his chin. “You got her his design book for her birthday, remember, Myléne?”
“Oh. Yeahh, I did, but I think that she’d probably like-”
“Of course!” Adrien gasped in realization. “I just thought of the perfect idea. Thanks, Ivan!”
“Uh, you’re welcome.” Ivan waved as Adrien dashed off, and Myléne gave him a scolding look. “What?”
He was so dumb! All this time he’d been thinking of material things, but that wasn’t the way to go about this at all. Why hadn’t he thought of it sooner? Marinette wanted to be a fashion designer, and she really looked up to his father, so naturally she had to meet him in person.
“Marinette.” She startled a little as he leaned against the locker next to hers, so he dialed back the enthusiasm just a smidge.
“A-Adrien! Hi, what is, uh, you’re here. What can I do you for? For you. I- um, how’s it doing?” She stammered, and he placed his hands over hers reassuringly.
“I just wanted to thank you for yesterday. I didn’t mean to drag you into that mess again, but it really means a lot that you’re always willing to help me out when I need it,” He said with a warm smile, and she glanced between their hands and his face a few times before a blush settled over her cheeks.
“Oh, uh, it was no problem. I like to hang about- hang out with you,” She enunciated.
“Yeah, I really like hanging out with you too.” She seemed pleased by that response, and he felt a sense of accomplishment. “So, to repay you for your hospitality, how would you like to have dinner at my place tomorrow night? I can ask my father to eat with us so you can talk to him about fashion and stuff.”
“Really? You want me to have dinner at your house? With your father? That’d be awesome!” She said with a wide grin that faltered after a moment. “But, wait, don’t you normally eat dinner with your dad? Why would you have to ask him to eat with us?”
“Uh, sometimes he gets busy, but I’m sure if I schedule it with him today he’ll be able to come.” Or so he hoped. “So, you’ll come then?”
“Yeah, totally! I will be there,” She affirmed with an enthusiastic nod, and he felt a weight lifting from his shoulders.
“Awesome! See you tomorrow then.”
On his way out, he shot Kagami a triumphant grin, and she rolled her eyes at him. He’d gloat later, but right now he had to get home to beg his father to eat dinner with them tomorrow. He wanted everything to be perfect so that Marinette knew just how much her friendship meant to him.
* * *
“Can you ask him again? Just so he remembers,” Adrien requested, pressing his palms together pleadingly, and Nathalie straightened her glasses, glancing up from her computer briefly to reply.
“I’ve already penciled it into his schedule, Adrien. There’s not much more I can do,” She said flatly, returning to her work.
“Okay, but can you make sure he knows it’s really important?” She gave him a stern look, so he backed out of the office with an apologetic wince.
He spent the next several hours pacing his bedroom, the foyer, the courtyard, anywhere he could, plagued with worry over whether or not his father would show. What if he didn’t? Then Marinette wouldn’t get to meet her idol, and she’d probably be so disappointed. He was certain that she’d understand, but he didn’t want her to have to. For once, he just wished that his father would keep his promise.
When dinner was almost ready, he sat in his chair, nervously shaking his leg, tapping his ring on the table, fidgeting. There was no sign of his father anywhere, and Marinette would be arriving any minute. He suddenly felt sick to his stomach, and when the doorbell rang, he nearly jumped out of his skin, standing up when Nathalie led her in.
“Hey, Marinette.” He stooped to exchange greeting kisses then gestured to the chair adjacent to his. “Have a seat. I’m sure my father will be joining us soon.”
He shot Nathalie a questioning look, and she gave him the typical ‘I’ll go check’ nod before retreating back across the foyer. Adrien pulled out her chair and helped her get settled before taking his own seat and trying his hardest not to fidget.
“Thanks again for inviting me,” She said, folding her hands neatly in her lap.
“Of course!” He perked up a little. “I just hope my father shows up.”
“He stays busy, huh?” He averted his gaze, tracing the rim of his glass with the tip of his finger.
“Yeah, usually,” He grumbled, glancing over when Nathalie’s footsteps clacked against the tile, eyebrows raising hopefully. When she squared her shoulders, he slumped back in his chair. “Let me guess. He’s not coming.”
“Your father has a lot of work to do before the show next weekend, so he’ll be dining in his office,” Nathalie reported, and he felt his eyes sting, so he pressed his lips together in a firm line to compose himself. “I’m sorry, Adrien.”
“It’s fine.” His response was more clipped than he intended, but Nathalie was used to it just as he was.
“Enjoy your meal,” She said in passing before closing the door on her way out, and Adrien let out a sigh.
“It’s okay, Adrien,” Marinette insisted, waving her hands reassuringly.
“No, it’s not. He always does this, and you came all the way here for nothing now, and I feel really bad. I shouldn’t have promised you that he’d be here.” He glanced up to meet her gaze, hoping to convey the sincerity of his apology. “I’m really sorry to disappoint you, Marinette.”
She eyed him a moment with a curious expression before her face softened, and she placed a hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“I didn’t come tonight just to meet your father, Adrien,” She said, and he blinked in confusion.
“But I thought that you really admired him?” His eyebrows furrowed.
“I do, but I understand that he’s always busy, so I was prepared for the possibility that he wouldn’t show up,” She explained, and he sank in his chair again.
“Oh.” He said dryly. “Well, I guess his reputation precedes him then.”
“Hey.” She squeezed his hand again, and he looked up to meet her kind gaze. “Let’s not let it ruin our night, okay? We can still enjoy each other’s company.”
He searched her expression, filled with understanding and empathy, and felt his heart stir in his chest. No matter what the circumstance, Marinette always found a way to stay positive, and in that moment, he needed that gentle reminder more than ever. She truly was amazing, and as they talked and laughed for the duration of the meal, he felt his admiration for her growing even more. He supposed that he’d just have to find another way to express his deep appreciation for her, but for now, he was content with this.
“Everything was delicious, thank you,” Marinette said after dessert, clasping her hands together in her lap.
“No, thank you. It was nice to have company for once. I haven’t enjoyed a dinner that much since…” His voice trailed off, and he glanced up at the portrait of his family hanging above the fireplace. “My mom and I used to goof off during dinner, and it always annoyed my father whenever he’d eat with us. She and I used to laugh like this all the time.”
Marinette shifted to face the painting as well. “It’s beautiful. The portrait.”
“My father likes them. Personally, I think they’re a little depressing, but that one’s my favorite.” A sad smile curled on his lips, and he lowered his gaze back on Marinette. “I wish you could have met her. You’re kind and honest, and she would have loved you.”
Her cheeks flushed at that, and she tucked a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. Of course he’d always thought it in the back of his mind, but Marinette was really pretty. Her presence was calming and warm, and Adrien had always felt a little drawn to her.
“I think that she’s been here with us all night, in spirit, that is,” She stated, and Adrien’s eyebrows raised a little in surprise. “Her aura is what helped lighten the mood, as if she were here with us…” She registered Adrien’s somber expression and curled her shoulders. “Sorry, I-I didn’t mean to say something to upset you.”
“No, it’s alright. I think you’re right,” He said, shaking his head. “My father has always insisted that she just disappeared, and maybe that was true in the beginning, but after this long…I’ve come to terms with it, even if a small part of me still hopes.”
Marinette eyed him a moment before offering out a hand, and he took it without hesitance, lacing his fingers through hers and giving them a squeeze. It was a small gesture, but one that brought him great comfort, knowing that someone was there.
“You miss her a lot, huh?”
The question was one that crossed his mind every day. Every meal he ate in that dining room under the static gaze of her portrait, every picture of her he kept in his phone to carry with him everywhere he went. To say he missed her was an understatement, but he didn’t want to burden her with his problems any more than he already had. She seemed to sense his unease because before he could process, her arm curved around his neck, the other hand still holding tightly to his. He hadn’t realized how firm his grip had become, but she never complained and never let go.
“I just spend every day alone, and I don’t want to burden my friends with this, so I try to push through it, but-” He bit his lip and buried his face in her shoulder.
It had been a while since he cried. Most days he didn’t feel it was worth the effort; besides, he didn’t like to dwell on those things too much, but he’d forgotten how freeing it could be to cry. And at least, this time, he had a shoulder to cry on.
“Sorry,” He sniffled when he’d finished, leaning back and running a hand across his nose. “I’m the worst dinner host ever.”
“No, no, it’s okay.” She said sincerely, wiping a tear from his cheek with her thumb and trailing the back of her fingers along his skin.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you,” He said with a breathy laugh, and she placed her other hand on top of the two still twined, cradling them against her cheek with that warm smile of hers.
“You don’t have to be alone. If ever you need someone…you can call me, okay?” She murmured, and Adrien nodded, leaning forward to press a soft kiss against her cheek.
“Thank you,” He whispered in her ear. “I feel like I’m always in your debt.”
“There’s no debt among friends,” She giggled, taking both of his hands in hers. “All we can do is be there for each other when we need it. So, I mean it. If ever you don’t want to eat alone, you can call me. I care about you, and you’re not a burden.”
“I’ll take you up on that. It was nice having someone to talk to, and I’m really glad that someone was you, Marinette.” Her cheeks flushed at that, and he felt his burning too. “Come on. I’ll walk you out.”
“Maybe next time you can come have dinner with us. I’m sure Mama and Papa would love to have you over,” She said on the walk to the door, and Adrien opened it for her with a gracious bow.
“I’d love that.” He perked up, feeling a bit of his usual enthusiasm returning.
“How about tomorrow then?” She offered, and Adrien felt his heart skip when her eyes met his again.
“Tomorrow sounds great.” He nodded, and she held out her arms to him which he entered willingly. “Thanks again, Marinette.”
“You’re welcome. What are friends for, right?” She gave him a tight squeeze before pulling away and stepping out onto the porch. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” He said, watching her go with a dreamy smile. “See you tomorrow.”
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ephemeralfuture · 7 years ago
Text
In Which The Paladin Bond and The Force are The Same [Part Two]
Days pass since Lance's discovery of the Force. It's old. Older than Voltron and Altea and Zarkon's empire.  It seems similar to the thing that drives the Lions and Voltron, an energy. Lance sits completely still in his room and allows himself to sink into the buzzing field of the force, despite the screaming and the pain.  
While the Force is scalding and demanding, he realizes that it was not like that before.  In the time of Jedi and Sith and the time when being Force sensitive was a mystical aether like power it was less of a swirling substance and more of a crackling field.  Not evil, nor good , thriving in neutrality.   Now the force swims and swirls, in Lances mind and on his skin and the skins of his teammates. Time simply changed it.   Lance and Hunk meditate together now, holding onto each other as they explore the howling stream of the force.   "Whoa- how did you do that?" Hunk and Lance agreed that they were going to set aside a date to guide the rest of team Voltron into the Force.  Now, a water packet is hovering in the air and Lance can see it turning slowly before Hunk.     "I think you can use it to lift things up for you." Hunk says and the pack wobbles over to him and drops onto his lap.   "Sweet!" Lance sits next to him and takes a deep breath before diving into the stream.  He sits, fighting the howling currents and Hunk pulls him out of his reverie, tapping him on the bicep. "Dude." He says, "Breathe." Lance exhales and suddenly his head is clearer. "Try keeping your awareness on all the time.  Like the Paladin Bond, but louder." Hunk says and Lance decides to extend his arm out to the water pouch from across the couch and a split second later the thing smacks him in the head.   "Ho ho-! What a move!" Hunk laughs and Lance chuckles with him.  The Lions and the castle always Vibrate now.  It's less pulsating madness and more of a norm between Hunk and Lance.   "Do you know what this means?" Lance says, "we can do so much more with this.  Just imagine!" "I'll bet." Hunk hums.   Lance and Hunk go before the team the next day, ready.  They're all on the Bridge that morning. "Guys, Lance found something more to the Paladin Bond." Hunk announces and Lance smiles dazzlingly at them. "Aw shucks Hunk, I didn't find it, some lady on a planet did. But I did feel it." "There's more to the bond?" Pidge asks, eyes glimmering in interest, "what is it?" Lance realizes that convincing the rest of the team to simply feel beyond the Bond would take more convincing.  Hunk swoops in to the rescue. "Find the Paladin Bond." He says, "and we'll guide you." "An impromptu training sequence!" Allura looks quite happy, proud of Hunk, even for bringing it up, and suddenly everyone's suiting up and going down to the training deck.   Keith, Allura and Pidge sit in a circle with Hunk and Lance and Lance feels something off. "Shiro." He says suddenly and Shiro looks up from his place on the Observation deck, surprised.   "We need you too." Allura and Keith both give him a strange looks. "Didn't Shiro loose his connection with the Black Lion?" Allura says. "He still shares a bond with us." Hunk says, "it's all he'll need for this." So Shiro sits with the five of them in a circle, sheepish. "Okay, now- find the bond." Lance easily clamps onto the steadying glimmers of Hunk and Allura.  Pidge and Keith are harder to find but he pulls them in. They're hesitant but willing.  Shiro's shimmer is faintest and the most hesitant and Lance has to tug and tug to make it stronger.   "Okay..." Hunk's voice is far away, he's holding onto the other's links with him.  Lance wants to simply dive in, to allow the screaming to sting him, but Hunk keeps him held back. Slowly.... Hunk's voice seems to murmur.  It'll be rough.   "Just let it guide you..." When Lance sinks into the Force,  the Castle vibrating powerfully.  He can hear the heartbeats of five instead of one- the brief flashes of the Plasma sabers and floating stones swimming across his eyes.  The Force is life, but full of pained gaps.  Something mangled parts of it beyond repair.   When he pulls his mind back into his body, Hunk's light pulse holds and comforts him.  Hunk is gripping his arm. "That... Was a lot." He says, "it'll still take time to accept it I think." Lance glances at the others, they're sweating and mostly pale . Lance wishes there's another way to show it to them.  He wishes he can repair it back to being  serene and whole, but the gaps are raw and dripping. It's all they have.   "What- was that?" Keith's voice is haggard and freaked out, Lance wants to reach out with the Bond and hold him.   "The Force." Allura whispers, awed, "The force is more than twenty thousand years old. A mere myth amongst my people. I didn't know it still lived under the idea of quintessence." "Sorry." Hunk says, "Lance and I are still figuring out how to introduce it without making people feel terrible." "Good Job Hunk." Shiro says. His voice is wrecked and his eyes are rimmed red.  He must've received the brunt of the pain associated with the force.   "Why was it screaming?" Pidge demands, her voice is shaky and her eyes are shimmering with tears, "there's so many thoughts- it's so bad-" Lance kneels scoots over to Pidge and holds her cheeks in his hands.   "Breathe." He commands, "It's okay.  The disturbance is Zarkon.  All Zarkon, and the planets he killed.  The force is alive.  It's in you and me and Hunk and Voltron. It runs through everything.  Concentrate." Pidge's heartbeat slows in Lance's head.  He places his hands in his lap. Shiro gets up, antsy.   "Hunk, how do you turn it off?" He asks suddenly, "What if you don't want this?" "Can't." Hunk says, "Lance already said it, the Force is in us and everything that lives." Lance feels Shiro's wild panicked sparking- he gets up and walks over to Shiro, who's taken to pacing and places a hand on his shoulder.   "The force is calling to you.  To all of us." Lance says seriously, "All you have to do is let it in." Shiro looks uncharacteristically ruffled by what Lance says and he nods mutely.   Lance is glad that the raw ripped up gaps in the force is just as disturbing to him as the others.  They can feel it and see it's result but it pulses and thrums with vibrant life despite the loss.   "Allura." Lance says, and she's still in the floor, contemplative.  She looks up, detached.   "Will you be okay?" She stand, wobbling and nods.  Lance doesn't want to push this new training any harder, she seems to be more aware of its presence than anything.   Lance and Hunk still meditate and practice together and regularly dip into the full encompassing nature of the Force, hoping to quell its screaming and animalistic scrabbling.   Allura summons her teammates to the training deck and Shiro and Coran stand in the Observation deck.  Lance realizes that this will be the first time he'll be using the force to his advantage in a fight.  It became Hunk's idea.   Keith and Allura are on the front taking on Gladiators full on and Lance and Hunk are doing damage control while defending Pidge.  The session is going well until a Gladiator gets close to Lance and and slams into his stomach, throwing him into Hunk.  His bayard clatters to the floor and slides across the room and Hunk stumbles with him, thrown off guard.   It's now or never. Lance glances at his bayard and sees the Gladiator advancing toward him.   Trust in the force.  Let it in. He whips his hand out to his bayard and in a second the thing clanks against the Gladiator's head and into Lance's outstretched hand.   Lance shoots the Gladiator and that becomes the last of them.and the training session is over.   "Wow Lance!" Hunk gushes, "you used it perfectly! what should we call that move?" "Dunno." Lance says with a grin, "Force pull?" "How about a force push?" Hunk says and they both chuckle.   "How did you even do that?" Pidge demands and Lance wiggles his fingers at her. "I trusted in the force." He says, "just trust it and it'll give."
He wipes sweat from his brow, ignoring her doubtful look and turns to Keith who’s expression turns increasingly sullen.  
“Keith my man, jealous of my smooth moves?” Lance smirks at him and Keith frowns.  
“I don’t think you truly understand what you’re playing with.”
His smile drops and his stomach twists.  He glances at Hunk and he looks just as nervous.  
“What do you mean my man?”
He thinks of the scalding, the screaming- the sith and the darkness.  He thinks of the insanity and the gaping wounds in the force’s field.  It hurts, yes- but it’s not the Force’s fault.  
“That thing fucked us up the moment we tried to touch it.  If it’s letting you use it now, what if it wants something in return?”
“Keith.” Hunk says, “The force isn’t hiding or anything, and what Lance just did was him trusting it.  I also gotta remind you that your Lion is made of the Force.”  
Keith flushes a little, and Hunk smiles softly.  
“Lance and I meditate with the force every other day.  We want you to come.”
“He’ll mess with my mojo.  But I’m agreeing because Hunk said so.” Lance pats Keith on the shoulder and walks out of the training deck.  
Pidge and Keith appear at the entrance to the common room on Lance and Hunk’s Force meditation day and Lance couldn’t be anymore happier.
They have snacks and poke and prod into the stream in silence, pulling away when the Force gets too grabby.  Lance can see that Pidge’s stream pulses and glimmers in curiosity with every interaction and in turn the Force gives a thrum of a memory, a woman of wit and brightness with bright green sabers.  
“What happened to her? Her race?”   Pidge asks suddenly and Lance is pulled out of his reverie, out of the stream.  He sees her staring at him, eyes shimmering with that demanding glint.  She wants to know.  He glances at Hunk, clueless and Hunk shrugs at him.  
“Don’t know Pidge.” Lance says, “Maybe you can ask.”
“How can you ask the Force what happened to the Woman’s race?” Keith asks, he’s been quiet the whole time, allowing his pulse to steadily be gripped along the stream.  Lance worries that if he lets go he’ll be carried off and lost to the Force.  
“I’m guessing the Force knows.” Hunk says, “Give it a try Pidge.”
Pidge looks hesitant, Lance can tell that she doesn’t want to go in alone.  
“Pidge.” Lance says, “Try keeping your awareness on all the time, like with the Paladin Bond but not one thousand percent.”  
Pidge sighs, “Helpful Lance, very helpful.  But I’ll try.” She takes a deep breath.  
Lance finds that her light pulse threads out a little farther than normal.  What happened to the Togruta woman?
Hunk reaches out from across Lance’s lap and pushes Pidge’s shoulder, reminding her to breathe.  
“Gone.” She finally says softly, “All gone.  Died out three thousand years after she died.  Planet destroyed five thousand years after they died.”  
Pidge’s eyes are rimmed red, her eyes tired.  Lance’s stomach whirls with disgust at himself. This is a consequence of asking things of the force.   
Torn.  It’s torn up and beating not unlike a heart.  Lance reaches out with his light pulse, tendrils delicate and careful and finds hers within the safety of the paladin bond.  Strange how this form of the Force is a calm pond while the rest of the Universe is tidal wave of agony.  
I’m sorry Pidge.  
“It’s not your fault.” She says immediately, and she wipes her eyes and glasses, “The Force is old, I should’ve expected there to be generations of dead races.  It was just trying to make me happy.”  
Lance checks up on Keith’s light pulse, safely within his grasp.  He glances at Keith who gives him a puzzled look.  
“You haven’t said anything this entire session.” Lance says, “What’s up?”
“Nothing.”  
Keith’s light pulse wriggles uncomfortably in his grasp and it sends a kick in Lance’s chest.  
“Keith you’ve been with us in the Force this entire time and haven’t said a word.  You’ve been pretty steady too- up until now.  What’s up?”
Keith doesn’t answer.  Lance then decides to pluck a tendril from Keith’s light pulse- to see what’s up.  
What he doesn’t expect is an onslaught of worry upon worry.  Keith is worried.  Worried about his friends, about Voltron, about Lance and Shiro and the Blade and himself and the force.  Keith worries so much that it makes Lance reel.
He also doesn’t expect Keith to fall over from his cross-legged sitting style onto the floor screaming.  
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thedeviltohisangel · 7 years ago
Text
The Lion of the Stars//1//I Was Wondering
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A/N: hope you guys enjoy! send me any plot ideas you have!
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Fire was burning all around her. The heat was building inside of her as well. Waging a war on all of her senses.
She was overwhelmed. She felt the pain radiating from her brother, dangerously mixed with anger as he surveyed the carnage before him. The carnage that he had brought about.
“Stop this madness!” she called as she felt blood trickle down her face from where her cheek had been cut from flying debris. His gaze turned to her mechanically. She was unsure that he was even really seeing her. Perhaps only looking in her direction.
“Help me, Mara. Or I’ll have no choice but to kill you.” He used the Force to hurl a boulder towards her, her adrenaline giving her just enough to duck and roll out of the way. “Get up and fight, sister. Don’t show weakness.” Another boulder came in her direction. She called her lightsaber to her from where it had been flung a few feet away. The golden crystal came to life, her arm moving fast enough to cut through the rock before it could hit its target.
Mara stood on shaking legs to stare down her brother and the darkness that had consumed him. It wasn’t her brother before her anymore. It was something else. His saber glowed red, the color of corruption, betrayal, disappointment.
“Ben.” She was pleading with him. She knew what she had to do. Luke had warned her of what might come the moment her brother had confided his nightmares. Now it was a matter of bringing herself to do it.
The saber trembled in her hand but it remained glowing; sure and strong. Her eyes slipped closed as she thought to center herself within the Force. Ben’s presence grew stronger as he stalked his way towards her; assessing her as if she was potential prey. He lunged and she whipped her weapon up to meet him. Her muscles held strong as he pushed down on her, her other hand slipping away to Force push him off balance. She spun and met his counterattack perfectly, the new angle giving her a slight upperhand. He was taller and stronger but she was faster.
“Do you think you’ll be able to do it? Do you think you’ll be able to kill your brother?” He was taunting her. Using his newfound freedom through anger to say what he knew to be her weakness, her breaking point. She should. She knew that was the only way to prevent further suffering.
She saw the light of a transport coming in the distance. No doubt someone was coming to collect her brother after his awakening. Mara watched as his resolve faltered for a moment, sensing the ship coming closer. His destiny coming closer. Now was her chance to strike, her chance to complete her destiny.
“I couldn’t kill him when I had the chance and now...now…” She felt another wave of anger and despair ripple through her. Poe had been without contact for longer than usual prompting Mara to reach out for him in the universe. She had barely been able to latch on to the fraying edges of his mind but she had pushed through the pain he had been emitting in order to speak with him.
She rushed forward as his bloodied and limp body came into view. He was lying in a heap in what looked like a cell. His name came out of her mouth as she reached him, her fingers shaking as she tried fruitlessly to wipe some of his blood from his face. But, as always, Mara felt nothing but air as she made contact with his skin. Poe startled awake and tried to push at her image.
“Mara! You can’t be here! He’ll find you!”
“Who? Tell me who did this to you, Poe. Let me come save you!” She wished she could jolt some sense into him. Somewhere down the hallway there were footsteps, Poe looking towards them with a wide eyed fear.
“Go! Leave! I love you, Mara. Let me save you.” And then she had felt him. Mara had felt her brother’s presence as he got closer to the cell.
Her mother shook her out of her glazed over reverie.
“Mara there might be nothing we can do for, Poe. He is a very capable member of our team. We can only hope he keeps his own wits about him and finds his way back to us. Back to you.” Mara swallowed as she looked into her mother’s kind eyes.
“We have so many things left to do,” she whispered. Knowing no words could soothe the ache of her daughter, Leia settled for a gentle kiss against her forehead.
“Do not let the sadness or anger consume you, my dear. Let Poe’s sacrifice propel you into greater and better things.” Mara nodded once with a weak smile, for her mother’s sake, before she watched the General be called off into another direction.
“You’re going after him, aren’t you?” Mara turned to see her old friend Ari leaning against the side of the building.
“Of course. Are you coming with me?”
“Only if you name your baby after me.” Mara smirked and pulled her friend into a tight hug.
“When he makes it back from this I promise we will be having lots of babies.”
“We have a new member of the rebellion starting today.” Mara hummed from her place at the table as her mother placed a kiss on the top of her head.
“You seem particularly excited about this one.” Leia was always excited when beings felt the call to her side, it made her feel she was doing something right in the galaxy. Mara had noticed a glimmer to her mother’s eyes when she delivered the news of the newest recruit.
“His parents were old friends of mine.” Her interest was piqued.
“Were they on Endor?” For as long as she could remember Mara had always had an interest in the old dealings of the Empire. As a little girl she would sit on her father’s lap as he recounted the tales of him and Chewie, her mother and her uncle, fighting against the bad guys. It had always been so cut and clear to Mara which side was right and which side was wrong. It made the defection of her brother that much harder to swallow.
“They were. His name is Poe. He comes to us as an expert pilot.” Mara nodded along with her mother’s words, excited to meet this new addition.
“The Force is telling me he will be useful here,” she laughed.
“I am sure he will shake things up quite a bit.”
As soon as Mara lay down that night she searched the universe for Poe. It was easiest for her to try and make a connection from their shared quarters. His lingering scent and discarded clothes helping to strengthen exactly what she was looking for. From her previous visit to him she could his mind was on the verge of shattering. Mara would have to be strong enough to reach one of the shards and anchor to it with all of her might.
“Come on, Poe. Please meet me halfway.” If she was unable to find him then she wasn’t sure what she would do.
“I see the pilot was successful in bringing you out of hiding.” Mara stayed within her mind, turning to see a masked man in all black.
“I won’t speak to you while you wear that mask.” She locked her facial features into place. She wasn’t willing to even give him a glimpse of any effect he might have on her.
“Are you sure you wish to see what is under it?”
“I know what I’ll see. My brother.” Her mother still had trouble coming to terms with what her brother had become, Mara had accepted it that day at the temple. An ominous laugh came from behind the metal obscuration.
“Love makes you weak. I would’ve let your pilot go so long ago had you not been in his memory.” Something flickered behind her eyes at the idea that the monster in front of her had seen the moments so pure she had shared with Poe.
“Poe doesn’t belong to anyone.”
“Oh but he is yours, Mara. Those were the last words he said to you before he left, wasn’t it? The last words you’ll ever hear from him.” She swallowed, quelling the red rage building inside of her.
“You’re lying.”
“Don’t you wish I was.” Mara felt energy build in the palm of her hand but before she could release it there was an alarm from her brother’s side of the vision.
“Looks like you’re the one with the breach.” He flickered into smoke without sparing her a second thought. It was then that she heard a new voice in her mind.
“Mara? Mara! I’m in a tie fighter. I’m going to Jakku to get BB8 then I’m coming back to you.”
“Poe, listen to me! Come back now. We can go find BB8 together. You need medical attention.” Her heart was beating uncontrollably with the knowledge that Poe was alive and speaking to her.
“Mara he holds everything we’ve been working for. I can’t abandon my mission.”
“I would never ask you to,” she whispered.
“I love you, Mara. I’ll reach out to you when I can.” He disappeared out of her grasp before she could even say it back to him.
She was thrown back into her room, the area feeling hotter than it had earlier. The vase across from her shook then shattered as her mind loss a brief moment of control to her anger. It was happening to her more and more lately. A sense of red anger clouding her vision for only fleeting moments but still enough that she was concerned.
“One with the Force,” she murmured in an attempt to center herself. Mara knew the Dark Side was in her blood and she had watched it overcome her brother right in front of her. “Please keep Poe safe until we are reunited once again.”
Poe had been stricken the moment he saw her across the launch pad looking as ethereal as legend had stated. She had barely spared him a glance in his short time on the base. His first chance at talking to her had been a little while after his first mission. Poe was whistling down the hall as he was one his way to eat dinner when he heard a sound that had been long forgotten by his ear. A light saber.
He followed the sound to the doorway of the training room to see the Princess Mara working steadily through her combat motions. Poe’s eyes light up with astonishment as he watched her gold blade slice through the air with precision and grace he thought only possible in nature.
“Dameron.” She acknowledged him before she even turned around, startling Poe out of his trance her grace had put him in.
“Princess. Sorry for my intrusion.” Mara hooked the handle to her belt and finally brought her gaze to his face with a soft smile.
“You were a calming presence. No burden or intrusion to apologize for.” She had meant it. The Force had felt him come upon her and focus on her movements but she hadn’t been startled but rather streamlined. He had centered her away from the flickering red glow that was at the edge of her mind. “Were you heading to eat?” Poe’s tongue got caught in his mouth as she turned her piercing eyes to look directly into his.
“I was. Would you...would you like to join me?”
“Lead the way.”
“I wanted to come and say goodbye.” Mara stood in the doorway of her mother’s private room. “I’ve been in contact with Poe. I’m off to try and find him.” Leia gave her daughter a soft smile.
“I couldn’t keep you from going even if I tried. You are missing your most vital piece without him.” Mara kissed the top of her mother’s head softly, sending a soft Force gently into her. “May the Force be with you, Mara.”
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