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frost-queen · 3 years ago

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Trembling (Padawan!Reader x Obi Wan Kenobi)

Requested by: anon, Forever tag: @missmelodramatic, @theletterhart, @alex–awesome–22, @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers, @merlieve, @queen-of-books, @glimmering-darling-dolly, @denkisclown, @automaticbakeryfreakshoe, @meyocoko, @bubblybrianna, @october-leaves

“Again!”

Grunting echoed the words through your mind. Again, again and again. Over and over, running in loops. That was what your master demanded of you. His padawan constantly pushing herself to the limit. Closing your eyes for a moment, took you a deep breath. Drops of sweat already forming above your brows and upper lip. Tasting salty when you collected a lost drop of sweat from your tender lips. Opening your eyes again, held you the lightsaber near your face. With an encouraging nod from Obi Wan, gritted you your teeth. Your feet danced over the floor as you moved towards him, flicking your wrists as you guided the lightsaber at him.

A crash with his lightsaber occurred, sending tiny sparks of blue off. You took a step closer to him, bringing your feet together, hearing the buzzing sound close by. It didn’t last long or Obi Wan brought his lightsaber down with yours, making almost a full circle. From there separated your lightsabers for a moment. You gulped, pushing your lightsaber down to where he was aiming. It clashed and again and again as you followed the movement of his actions with your saber. Blocking each turn of him. Obi Wan swung his lightsaber as you hastily ducked down, or you would’ve lost your head.

“Good job.” – complimented he you. Putting pressure on your toes, stretched you, your back in. Moving your saber behind you, blocking one of Obi Wan’s movements. Groaning loud, gripped you tightly on the handle, your knuckles turning white. Flexing your muscles, pushed you his lightsaber away from yours, giving you a bit more breathing area. He stumbled backwards, breathlessly. Wiping quickly more sweat from your forehead, received you an approving nod from him. You could already hear the words chiming in your head before he had spoken them out. – “Again.” – called he out, placing his left foot firmly forwards. He raised his blue lightsaber to you, forcing you to block it.

Hit after hit, blocked you all his attacks with a counterattack. Keeping yourself shielded but not really fighting back. – “Fight back, Y/n!” – ordered Obi Wan, pushing you to the limit. Clenching your jaw, pushed you his lightsaber of yours. Letting your saber twirl once in your hand, readied you mentally to attack him. Attacking your mentor wasn’t easy. He knew all your tricks. All your bests moves because he altered them, shaped them. He knew you inside and out. He knew exactly what you were thinking right now and debating on what to do. He positioned himself out of his practice form, opening his arms.

“Do whatever feels natural. Let the force guide you, Y/n.” – gripping on the handle with both hands again, bend he a bit through his knees. Biting your lip, you felt a bit insecure. You knew you were always going to lose from him, he always outsmarted you. Of course he did, he was your master and you his padawan. His padawan he considered close bounded with. He considered you more than that, a daughter he never had. No, you couldn’t let him down, so you shook your insecurities away. You took on a fighting pose as Obi Wan was impressed by you. Running stealthily over to him, took you a leap. You jumped high, attacking him from above. Obi Wan’s mouth dropped, his eyes wide as he moved his lightsaber hastily up.

His saber crashing into yours. You landed with a loud thud back on your feet, rotating your wrists to choose the direction of where to strike him. Left, right, left down, right up. You tried to not think much about it, just letting your hand muscles work for you. He never broke into a sweat as he easily waved through your attacks. It agitated you that you never had a chance. Going for him with much more intensity, tried you to unbalance him. It started to work as he had to move backwards, escaping your upcoming attacks. He glanced brief over his shoulder to see how much space he had before colliding into the wall. – “Y/n.” – breathed he out.

You wouldn’t hear it, glaring at him as you send your wraith on him. You wanted to win for once. Impress him so that he could be gleaming with pride. You wanted him to gush about your qualities. How much they had improved and that even he had not see you fight like this before. An advantage. That was all you wanted. Obi Wan clenched his jaw, moving his saber swiftly without hesitation in every direction to block your attacks. You kept slashing into him, feeling anger rise up. Obi Wan must have sensed it as for a split second his expression was surprised. – “Y/n!” – called he out loud, twirling his lightsaber, bringing it to shoulder length, pointed at you.

With his other hand, held he two fingers out to you. A strong push of the force blew against your chest, causing you to snap out of the chaos forming in your head. Your hand with the lightsaber dropped, making you lose your grip on your saber. It clattered to the ground, retracting itself. Stumbling backwards were you suddenly aware of your surroundings. That dark cloud vanishing before your eyes. Obi Wan retracted his saber as well, straightening his posture. With one simple glance from him, knew you that he demanded to know what happened.

Sighing deep, bend you down to collect your saber from the ground. Slowly crossing his arms, wasn’t he letting you off the hook so easily. – “I got blinded, alright!” – forced you out, turning a cold shoulder to him. You moved away from him as Obi Wan reached his hand out to you. He kept you in place, his hand laying on your shoulder. – “Y/n…” – said he softly, turning your shoulder more to him. You followed, presenting yourself to him humble and ashamed. – “I got lost under the pressure…” – biting your lip, looked you away. – “I wanted to be like you. Less like me you know…”

Obi Wan couldn’t quite understand what you meant with that. You exhaled deep. – “I wanted you to be surprised by my strength. See that I can be more than the predictable girl you teach. I… I wanted you to be proud of me, but… I…I messed up instead.” – you felt like crying. Blinded by your own gain. – “Oh, Y/n.” – spoke he out, pulling close for a hug. – “I am always proud of you. No need to be different.” – with a smile, hugged you him tightly back. The only father figure in your life. You squeaked when he smothered you in his embrace, squeezing you so tightly, it set your feet dangling in the air.

***

Blaster shots fired all over your head, sending a rush through your body. Obi Wan Kenobi, your mentor fighting beside you. Two clones stormed towards you, forcing you to uphold your only shield of protection, your lightsaber. Swinging the saber around, cut you the blasters out of their hands. Another one that you spotted from near your left shoulder came in vision, shooting at you. You ducked down, grabbing a hold of the fallen blaster. Jumping to your feet, shot you first him. A gaping hole resting in his chest. Then you shot the two defenseless once’s near you.

Since the blaster came a bit in handy, offered you to help out your mentor. Obi Wan raised his lightsaber ready to lash out. His eyes widened as the smell of burned filled his nostrils. The clone standing before him, dropped to the ground, a gaping hole inside of him. Obi Wan gaped at you as you shrugged your shoulders. He lowered his hands, motioning to you to follow him. You did, firing at some clones that came around the corner. It didn’t take long for the blaster to get jammed. Throwing it away, revealed you, your trusty lightsaber again. – “Stay close.” – hissed Obi Wan at you.

You kept low, sneaking through the empty corridors. A maze of corridors. Obi Wan and you worked like an oiled machine, taking down clones on your path. Obi Wan took a sharp right to a large incaving in the wall. A solid door blocking your way through. – “Think you can handle it?” – questioned Obi Wan with a smirk. You nudged his shoulder. – “Go!” – teasingly laughed you out. Obi Wan knelt down, opening the mechanism of the door. Pulling out some tools, trusted he to have his back. For a short period it was silent. Silence before the upcoming storm.

Hearing only your own breathing and the beating of your heart in your throat. – “Brace yourself!” – shouted you loud, letting Obi Wan know clones had arrived. They appeared at the end of the corridor, blasters in the ready. You came standing more before your master, shielding him. – “I trust you.” – heard you him whisper proudly. Red shots came your way. Shifting on your feet, adverted you them all. Swaying your saber in the direction they came. In no case could Obi Wan get hurt. You weren’t going to let that happen.

Unable to move from your position were you forced to block as many attacks as possible with less counterattacks from your own. Holding your hand out, took you advantage of the force. Some clones dropped down, losing their balance. That gave you some breathing area. – “Getting there.” – called Obi Wan out, struggling to get the door to open. – “Work faster!” – bit you back, not losing your focus. At least six clones were firing at you. You managed to divert all their shots. Then. A brush stroke against the side of your stomach, followed by a burning feeling. Obi Wan sensed a slight hesitation, turning his head back to you.

Gritting your teeth, continued you to work like an oiled machine. Blocking off their shots. – “Obi!” – shouted you out, noticing that he had lost focus. – “Right.” – mumbled he to himself, turning his attention back to the panel. The burning feeling increased as you knew you were injured. You just had no time to stand still and reflect on it. Certainly not in the presence of Obi Wan. If he so much as sensed through the mysterious ways of the force that you faltered, he would lose it. Forcing yourself to not think about it, hoped you he would never sense such a thing. Calling it out, were you channeling your anger on the clones.

“Yes.” – breathed Obi Wan out, the door swishing open before him. He took you by the wrist, pulling you inside with him. Pulling you aside and out of sight from the incoming shots. By the side, pressed he a button, the heavy door closing again with a loud thud. The last of the clones disappearing with them. Obi Wan breathed out deep, thinking it was a close call. You lowered your face, trying to catch a glimpse of your side. You sure didn’t want to see any red on your uniform. – “You alright?” – breathed Obi Wan out.

Humming loud, shot you, your head up. – “Sure, why not?” – responded you, seeing him quirk his eyebrow up. Don’t let it show, don’t let it show. Said you to yourself, biting hard on your teeth. Walking past him, kept you, your natural walk, no indications of your injury. – “So, the plan.” – reminded you him, stepping behind a large panel with all sorts of buttons. Obi Wan came walking over as you motioned the stage was ready for him. Chuckling bend he down over the panel to observe the buttons and switches. – “Needing some glasses perhaps?” – teased you out, seeing him glare grumpy at you for a moment.

He straightened his posture, holding one hand over his chest as with the other one he stroke thoughtfully his beard. You swallowed nervously, feeling as if you were about to break in sweat. The pain getting almost unbearable, certainly now that you weren’t occupied. It was getting harder and harder to keep your mind off the pain. – “Are you sure, you are alright Y/n?” – questioned he, turning his head to you. You slowly nodded, keeping your jaw firmly tensed. – “I’m fine.” – laughed you out, trying to sound as natural as possible. His attention got drawn to your forehead where small drops of sweat had formed.

“Shouldn’t you hurry up?” – called you out, poking him in the side. He turned his attention to the panel again. He hesitated a bit but surely pressed confident some buttons. A port opened as he could see it through the large window below. Just what he needed to secure the escape. – “Not bad for an old man right.” – joked he out, punching his elbow in your side with a smirk. The second his elbow hit your side; it send a wave of intense pain through you. A massive wave sending you down. – “Y/n?” – shrieked Obi Wan out, seeing you collapse to the ground. You shivered in pain, pulling your legs closer to your chest.

He knelt down to you a wave of information blowing him off his feet. You had lost all control you had over your pain, revealing your vulnerable self. With shock in his eyes, looked he up to your face. – “Your hurt!” – called he out. He didn’t need a reply from you, seeing the state you were in. He hastily pulled your uniform up, revealing your undershirt that had formed red. Pulling that up as well, inhaled he sharply between his teeth at the sight of your wound. Burnt flesh as it required of him to stay calm. He immediately pulled your shirt down, glaring at you.

“You kept this from me!” – called he out, his voice roaring loud. He couldn’t believe you would keep this silent to him. – “I…” – shivered you out, curling more into a ball. That made him gasp breathlessly, fearing the worst. – “Dammit Y/n.” – grunted he out, moving his finger over his mouth. It took a lot of his strength to not lose his calmness over this. You were special to him, like a daughter. He felt his heart ache with yours. – “You…” – he sighed not being able to finish his sentence. No matter how much he wanted to yell at you in a panic that you had been reckless.

An alarm started to sound, making him panic. – “Just… just leave me here…” – breathed you out, cringing at the pain. – “Leave you?” – squeaked he out, losing it all. How dare you suggest such a matter. He would rather go down with you than leave you behind. – “I…” – he sputtered at the ridiculous thought. With trembling knees, took he a hold of your arm. He placed is over his neck, holding you carefully by the side. One way or another, he was going to leave this place with you by his side. – “Just hold on.” – bit he at you, biting away his own fears. Your breathing got shaky, worrying him more. He pulled you a bit against his back, laying your weight there.

Your feet dragging over the ground, supported he you. Near the heavy door, seated he you down. He needed both his hands to fight those clones. With one press opened the doors, breaking apart in the center to the edge. There were still clones as from the darkness lighted up his lightsaber. In seconds moved he swiftly through the corridor, forcing his way through. Meanwhile had you lost all strength in your body. Your hands laying lifeless on your lap. Your head tilted slightly against the wall. The pain had numbed your body as you hardly felt it. A dangerous sign. – “Master…” – whispered you. – “Obi…” – breathed you out, your fingers twitching a bit.

Obi wan knelt before you, exhaling deep into your face. – “Y/n…” – asked he, touching your shoulder. When you gave no responded, panicked he. – “Y/n come on. Stay with me.” – forced he out, cupping your cheeks, your head moving lifeless. – “Stay with me.” – repeated he, biting a painful sob down his throat. – “Please…” – whimpered he out, forcing his loud sob out as well. You slowly blinked, hearing him sniff loud with a relieved exhale. He brought your head to his collarbone, cherishing you.

Finding a bit of his strength again, picked he you up. Carrying you on his back, ran he as fast as he could back to the ship. He never wanted to feel so close to loss ever again. For a moment, he thought he had lost you. His heart ripped out of his chest with brutal force. Luckily it was still in place, but not an experience he wished to endure any time soon. He managed to get you safely back on the ship, tending to you there. From now on was he going to hold on tighter to you. Not letting you go through such an event ever again. For his heart could not bear it to go through it a second time.

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Read more fics on my Masterlists!

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babybluebex · 4 years ago

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Hi! I just re-watched avengers endgame. Can you do a fluffy fic where Peter babysits Morgan while Peppers away and there just bonding ☺️☺️

absolute [peter parker x stark!reader]

➽ pairing: peter parker x fem!stark!reader (y/n) ➽ word count: 580 ➽ summary: with you out of town and pepper and tony going on a mission, tony recruits your boyfriend to babysit your sister. ➽ warnings: literally none (except canon fuckery and spoilers for revenge of the sith lmao) ➽ a/n: i am SO sorry this took forever to get out i had a Weird Few Days ™ but here it is !! enjoy!!

Peter looked at the little girl, and she looked at him. Peter had always had a soft spot for Morgan, and perhaps a softer spot for her older sister. But you were out of town at a robotics competition, and Tony and Pepper had been called on a mission. And so, Peter was left alone to babysit Morgan.

“So…” Peter began, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. “You hungry? Mr. Stark left some money for pizza.”

Morgan shook her head.

“Right,” Peter mumbled. “Umm, wanna watch TV? Read? Invent a time machine, or whatever it is that you Stark kids do…”

“Can we watch a movie?” Morgan asked, and Peter sighed in relief.

“We sure can, munchkin,” Peter said. “What d’ya feel like?”

Morgan skipped over the couch and settled easily, and she beckoned Peter over. He had been in Mr. Stark’s house before, sure, but never without you or Mr. Stark himself there. It felt… Weird. This house by the river was probably the most technically advanced living space in the world, but there was no way that Peter felt comfortable at all there. “Daddy told me ‘bout this movie,” Morgan started. “About space and stuff. Can we watch that?”

Peter sat down next to Morgan on the couch, and he chuckled dryly. “There’s a lot of movies about space, munch,” he said. “Can you be more specific?”

“There’s a princess, Daddy said,” Morgan remarked. “And these cool sword things.”

Peter nodded slowly, a smile creeping over his face. “Right,” he said. “We can watch Star Wars, No problem.”

You hadn’t told Pepper or Tony that you were coming home. To your dismay, the Midtown robotics team hadn’t advanced to the finals, meaning that you came home a day early. You figured it would be a nice surprise for your parents, at least. Ever since you had come to live with the Starks, you were constantly amazed by their generosity and kindness (even if it meant dealing with Tony’s annoying quips), and you were excited to come home every day to tell Pepper and Tony and Morgan all about your day and what you had learned.

“It’s over, Anakin!” you heard a shout from inside as you slotted your key into the door. That was Peter yelling. Fairly usual for your boyfriend to yell Star Wars quotes. “I have the high ground!”

“You ‘und’a’mestimate’ my power!” you heard your little sister say, and Peter gave a wheezing laugh.

You pushed the door open, and you stared ahead at Peter standing on the couch, holding his fists by his head as if wielding an invisible lightsaber. Morgan was standing in front of him in the same pose, but she immediately forgot everything about the game when she saw you.

“Y/N!” you sister squealed and ran to you, and you hauled her up into your arms with a grunt. “You’re home!”

“Surprise, babe!” you giggled, and you rubbed noses with her. “Where’s Mommy and Daddy?”

“Went on a mission,” Morgan said. “Left me with Pete.”

“Oh, no!” you gasped dramatically. “Not Pete! How could they?”

“Hey!” Peter whined. “That’s not nice.”

“I’m not known for being nice,” you said. “I’m a Stark. Or haven’t you heard?”

“Oh, I’ve heard,” Peter scoffed. “I’ve heard plenty from your dad.”

“So, did you guys just watch Revenge of The Sith, I guess?” you asked.

“Yeah,” Morgan nodded quickly. “But, Peter?”

“Yeah?” Peter asked, stepping closer.

“Why does Queen Padme look like Thor’s girlfriend?”

#request #tom holland #ask #tom holland fic #tom holland fanfiction #tom holland fluff #tom holland x reader #tom holland x reader fluff #peter parker #peter parker fic #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker fluff #peter parker x reader #peter parker x reader fluff #just-a-queen-bee

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ayo-cowbelly · 4 years ago

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when the fire goes out, how do we stay warm? - part 1/?

next part ~ masterlist

welcome to my new series ~ an angst dump of “what if anakin and obi wan’s roles on zygerria were reversed?”

you can blame the New SW Canon discord for this. Their angst-loving asses fueled this fire, and what was supposed to be a snippet spiraled into this.

the yarra root i got from discord- we had a huge discussion about tatooine slave culture, and said yarra root is something tatooine parents will put in their child's tea/drinks, to kill them/"put them to sleep", so the masters won't hurt/kill them (it is seen as an alternative to a brutal, painful death). We also discussed the idea that people on tatooine will take their children (or just themselves) and go out to the sand dunes and "let the Desert decide their fates", so when Anakin mentions being "swallowed", that's what he means. Just to clarify.

Hope you like it!

@youngcreativenerdgoddess @alabasterswriting @ilonga @rynae-reblogs @everything-or-anything @waterrose3 (i love y’all, thanks for the support!)

***

Obi-Wan looks down into the arena from his place beside the Zygerrian queen. He wants nothing more than to jump down there, to yell, to scream, to do something- but he knows he can't. To blow their cover now is to destroy any chance of saving the colonists. But he wishes he could save more than just them. He wishes he could liberate this whole damn planet. He wishes he could get rid of the threat the Zygerrians posed, somehow- even if he had to rip the crown out of the slaver queen's cold, dead hands.

Obi-Wan looks across the arena as the queen speaks, not looking at Ahsoka nearby (in that horrible outfit, that made people leer at his grandpadawan, like she was a mere object. They looked at her the way Obi-Wan had seen people looking at Anakin during his brief time on Tatooine all those years ago).

Oh. Anakin. Where was he?

Obi-Wan was furious that the Council had sent Anakin, of all people, to this slaver planet. The should have remembered Anakin's past, his time as a slave when he was just a child. They should have remembered that Anakin was once considered nothing more than property, an object to be passed around to different Masters. Obi-Wan should have remembered, he should have fought harder.

He hopes Anakin doesn't know of this auction, as Obi-Wan knows that Anakin would tear down this entire planet if he found out. He would scrape tooth and nail to destroy this disgusting empire. For Anakin mostly acted on his emotions, not that it was necessarily a bad thing- but he sometimes forgot to look at the big picture. There was a balance there, one Anakin struggled to find.

Balance always seemed to elude him.

Obi-Wan worried greatly. After this dreadful mission, they'd actually talk, for once. About everything.

He focuses back on the queen's words, as she announces the Togrutan governor. Obi-Wan tries and fails to look away from the man's beaten form.

And then the worst happens.

"My friends, behold! Anakin Skywalker, the Hero With No Fear- on his knees before us!"

Obi-Wan barely registers Ahsoka's horrified gasp, for he is equally as distraught. Below him, on the sandy platform, is Anakin. A shock collar is on his neck and dirt on his face. His clothes are ripped, and his hair is mussed and greasy. Obi-Wan wants so badly to run to his brother before Anakin does something rash and gets them all caught.

But when Obi-Wan looks over Anakin's frail form again, he sees something. Something so much worse.

The fire in Anakin's eyes is... gone. There is no defiance, no opposition, none of that trademark confidence- only the hollow gaze of someone who is dreaming of being anywhere else. All at once, Obi-Wan's previous fears vanish. Before, he had been worried that Anakin would say something sarcastic, signal for his 'saber, fight back; but now, Obi-Wan knows that isn't the problem.

Anakin had been a slave, once. Before he was a General, a hero, a Jedi, a Master, a brother, or a husband (yes, Obi-Wan knew. Anakin had never been subtle, and try as she might, neither was Padmé)- before any of that, he was simply Ani. A slave, a son, a child of a cruel Desert that took more than it gave.

This is who is before them now. It wasn't Anakin down there, it was Ani, and that was so much worse. Obi-Wan Kenobi's (previously unknown, for he had never imagined it to be possible) greatest fear had come true, before his very eyes.

For the first time in over ten years, Anakin Skywalker was not fighting back.

"This Jedi, this watchdog of a petty, corrupt senate, a preacher of freedom and peace though he brings only war and death- is nothing more than a puppet! And now, he will kneel before us," The queen boasts, proudly smiling at the cheering crowd.

At this moment, Obi-Wan wants her life to end. He wants it to be at his own hands. How dare she do this, how dare she make Anakin go through such a thing, how dare she-

Oh. She's speaking to him now. "Show him his true place," She commands. Obi-Wan nods numbly, a pathetic movement of a broken man. Obi-Wan feels broken, he does. He feels crushed, splintered, shattered into a million tiny pieces-

Anakin had broken, and as Obi-Wan is his brother, he will too. Two halves of the same whole, and if one goes down the other surely will as well. They are nothing without the other, and are only something when together.

Some may ask, "What is the galaxy without Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

The real question is, "What is the galaxy when Anakin Skywalker stops fighting?"

Obi-Wan doesn't know the answer to that. He doesn't know what it's like to witness your dearest friend, your son, your brother, your soul, fractured into pieces-

Or maybe he does, now. He doesn't want to think about it.

He remembers things Anakin once said, about his mother and Yarra Root and a saying.

"I would rather my child die than be a slave like me."

But Anakin, Ani (for as much as they are different, they are also the same) had once been a slave. And now, he is again. Or maybe he always had been, and only his title had changed with time.

Has Anakin ever truly been free?

How could Obi-Wan have let this happen?

He approaches his former apprentice (though everyone knows that statement is a half-truth; no Master-Padawan pair had ever stayed so close as they had after Knighthood) and he almost wants to claw his eyes out. Anakin is kneeling on the hard ground, his shoulders are hunched. Obi-Wan has never seen him look so... defeated.

As Obi-Wan nears him, Anakin turns. His eyes are glassy, his cheeks are gaunt, and above all he looks haunted. "Obi?" He says weakly.

Obi-Wan doesn't care about their cover anymore. "Yes, dear one, I'm here."

Anakin shudders, his voice cracking from disuse and the delusions of fear. "I- I wanted to help, I was going to- the Root, Obi, the Root- I'll find it, so they can rest- let them rest, let me rest, please-"

"It's going to be alright, I promise. Just hang on," Obi-Wan whispers, and his younger brother makes an aborted movement, one he guesses was meant to be a nod. Obi-Wan looks up at R2, not able to take anymore of this con.

His and Anakin's lightsabers soar gracefully through the air, and Obi-Wan catches them both. Ignoring the angered roar of the spectators, he pulls with the Force and removes the shock collar, trying not to look too closely at the angry red mark it left on Anakin's neck. When Obi-Wan goes to hand Anakin his lightsaber, his brother flinches, but makes no move to take it. "I don't- I don't want it- I want to rest- I want to rest, like Mom- let the Desert swallow me, Obi, please-"

"Anakin, please just hold on, for me. Sleep, and I will be here when you wake up." Obi-Wan blocks the Zygerrian guards' shots as Anakin closes his eyes, slowly crumpling into a fetal position on the ground. The Jedi Master glances up to the balcony, where Ahsoka is holding the queen, green blade pressed close to her neck.

Obi-Wan grips the two lightsabers (lighsabers that would forever be entwined, just as their souls were. Though Anakin loved Padmé more than anything, with his mother a close second, Obi-Wan was somehow more. He was his other half, and they would be brothers until the end). Blades ignited, he scowls up at the slaver queen. "Your Majesty, I feel it is time for your reign to end."

"Oh?" The queen has the gall to laugh, even with a blade to her throat. "Is this what the Jedi are now, wild beasts that fight wars and threaten royalty?" She's not sending her guards to detain him, not yet. She's waiting for him to move, to break, to fight (fight when Anakin cannot).

Obi-Wan doesn't reply. Instead, he jumps.

He goes for the nearby guards first. Their heads roll onto the ground, cleanly severed. One by one, they fall at the enraged hand of a Jedi- no, this is not the fighting of a Jedi, this is the fighting of a brother, an other half, someone who is seeing red because their sibling has been torn apart. Obi-Wan had felt anger before, but never like this. This is cold, and detached, but it is also hot and painful and so horribly real-

And Obi-Wan is drinking it up, letting it fuel him as he practically flies through the arena.

Rex is taking out the Zygerrian reinforcements, his aim always ringing true. Ahsoka, who now seems to be nearing the Dark path Obi-Wan has started down, has killed the prime minister and is slowly backing away with the queen. Obi-Wan jumps up to them, signing at Rex to meet them outside.

"Get Anakin" He signs to the Captain, who nods once and as gently as possible lifts his General (the clones are much stronger than they look, Obi-Wan has learned) and exits. The Jedi turns to the enslaving, despicable ruler. She smiles cruelly, blood from where she must've bit her tongue starting to coat her teeth. She looks almost primal, exuberant, her eyes flashing with excitement-

She knows Obi-Wan is in pain, and she is reveling in it.

"Kenobi, is it? I must say, I've never seen a Jedi so unhinged. You've surprised me."

"I do like to keep my opponents on their toes," He says roughly, trying to keep his voice steady.

"You and I are similar in that fact." She smirks, making Obi-Wan's blood boil. How dare she compare herself to him (him, who had let Anakin be taken, let him be dragged off to Force knows where, to then be thrown in chains-)

Who was he to act so above this slaver? Yes, she had been the one to do this Anakin, but Obi-Wan hadn't helped at all (never mind the fact that he hadn’t known); and doesn't that make him just as guilty? He had been too preoccupied in the mission, the part he had to play.

That always seemed to happen to them. Obi-Wan was always busy with duties, while Anakin spiraled. Obi-Wan never noticed, never helped. His eyes flutter closed, just for a second, and he is met with the image of his sleeping brother, cheeks sunken and face pale. The guilt eats at him, painfully carving out a place in his heart.

The world fades. Obi-Wan lunges. There is a scream.

However, the scream doesn't come from the queen. It comes from Ahsoka.

"Master, no! It's not- you can't-"

"Ahsoka," Obi-Wan whispers, one blade mere breaths from slicing through the queen. "Anakin-"

"-Wouldn't want you to do this," She interjects. They are both aware of the unspoken truth that hangs in the air; Anakin would do it himself, before either of them could even move. "Master, please, she'll be taken back to Coruscant, but we can't do this." She gestures to his ignited lightsabers.

Obi-Wan looks to his weapons, then to Ahsoka, and back again. The blinding anger slowly melts away, leaving an icy-cold feeling in his bones.

The queen glowers. "Master Kenobi, I grow tired of this. Perhaps we can work up an agreement?"

"I will not barter with slavers, you witch," he snaps. He tries to shrug off Ahsoka's wince, knowing she was surprised at his tone. She had never heard her grandmaster so... outraged. Impatient, tired, disappointed, sure- but not this.

This is almost Dark.

The Zygerrian queen chuckles. "How about this: If you agree to my terms, I will let your friends go, no questions asked."

As much as he doesn't want to listen, Obi-Wan is enthralled by the promise of Anakin's safety. "What do you require?"

"Master, you can't-" Obi-Wan shakes his head, and Ahsoka, upset as she is, quiets.

The conversation resumes. "It seems I'm in need of an attendant, if the girl behind me is a fake. Would you be willing to take up the role?" Her tone and word choice are misleading. There is no option, no room to decline- if he tries, she will have them all killed. She is in control of the situation (Obi-Wan certainly isn't, he lost control when Anakin came out in a shock collar- don't think of it- don't- stop- no- ANAKIN-)

"You will let them go?" Obi-Wan asks quietly.

"They will be free," The queen answers, the irony of her words likely not lost on her. How rare it must be for her to let a person go, let alone three and a droid.

The lightsabers hiss as they turn off. Ahsoka looks horrified, and Obi-Wan's stomach churns at his decision. 'But Anakin will be safe,' He thinks to himself.

The queen grins. She has won.

***

if you want to be tagged in the next part, let me know! also i love comments vv much so please let me know what you thought!

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letsmellowjello · 4 years ago

Text

The Notebook

Pairings: Anakin Skywalker x Jedi!Reader

Warnings: just fluff and a tiny bit of language

Summary: Anakin doesn’t know that you draw him, but then he finds your notebook.

Notes: I absolutely hate how I wrote their little battle, it just seems so slow and not exciting. Just do me a favor and try and use your imagination a bit, okay? Just an fyi that nobody asked for, I honestly think I’m the funniest person ever and I think that the title that I chose is kinda funny (it really isn’t but still). Feedback is appreciated! The gif isn’t mine

Masterlist ~ Prompts/Requests

Some would call it stalkerish, others would call it infatuation, but you called it pure boredom and a good reference. Ever since you met Anakin Skywalker, you had been drawing him. Every spare moment was spent sketching away in your little notebook the lines of his face and the swoops of his hair. When you first started doing it you saw it as purely a way to kill time and hone your own art skills, but over time it became something of a habit and maybe, just maybe you were falling for him a little bit. Whenever you had a moment, you were always itching to take out your little notebook and pencil.

Of course Anakin never knew anything about it, you didn’t intend for him to. All he knew was that you liked to draw at times and that you had a notebook. You had to admit, it was a little creepy, but what else could you do when the pictures drew themselves? Anakin was absolutely gorgeous and a wonderful model even if he didn’t know it. You would never tell him any of these things, it would only boost his ego.

“That was absolutely horrible,” You groaned as you and Anakin left the Jedi Council Chamber. You had both just debriefed the council of what had happened during you mission which was a complete and utter mess to say the least. Nobody had died thank goodness, but so many things went wrong and it had just taken so much longer than necessary.

“I can second that,” Anakin agreed. “I have to go see Obi-Wan real quick, but do you want to go grab something to eat later?”

“Sure, I’ll meet you in the banquet hall. See you later.” You turned and walked down the hall in the opposite direction of Anakin. You always loved your little post-mission dates. They weren’t actual dates of course, but it had become something of a ritual since you were padawans to go get something to eat and just talk and wind down after a mission.

You walked into the banquet hall and chose a seat next to one of the towering windows that overlooked the city of Coruscant. There were very few people in the hall as it was an odd time of the afternoon to be getting food, but you were both off for the rest of the day so you didn’t need to worry about missing a training session or meeting.

As you sat down you sighed tiredly, it felt like you hadn’t gotten the chance to relax in forever, which wasn’t too far from the truth. During the mission, the only time that you had been able to get any amount of relaxation or rest was in between jumps and even then there wasn’t nearly enough time to properly sleep or do a little sketching. All throughout the mission and the debriefing with the council, you had been itching to take out your notebook and start drawing. So now, when you were finally able to sit back, you took out your notebook and began to transfer your creativity to the old and crinkled paper.

As time went on, Anakin’s face began to appear soon followed by his hair, neck, shoulders, and body. You had a really good memory when it came to remembering what things or people looked like so you could draw them later. The boy in your drawing was in a powerful stance with his lightsaber raised above his head to protect against his opposition. It had been when you were on Jedha for just a little bit of reconnaissance. It was supposed to be really easy and just a quick in and out. But Anakin being Anakin and you being you, of course you had gotten into trouble and had drawn some unwanted attention which then caused you to be fending off blasters while trying to escape.

The pages of your notebook were filled with similar sketches; some of him smiling, being angry, sad, thoughtful, you had it all. Anakin was just a very expressive person which made for some very interesting drawings.

Your pencil scratched lightly at the paper to shade in the shadows of his face when you felt a presence approach from behind you.

“Boo!” Whoever it was put their hands on your shoulders to scare you. Even though you knew that someone was there, you still squeaked in surprise. You quickly closed your notebook and turned to see Anakin, but not before he got a glance at your drawing. “Hey, what were you drawing?”

“Anakin! Don’t scare me like that! How did things with Obi-Wan go?” You completely ignored his question and tried to distract him away from your notebook.

“Hey hey hey, don’t change the subject. What were you drawing? Can I see? You’re always doing stuff in that notebook and I never know what it is.” He reached for it but you pulled it away.

“No! It’s none of your business!” You protested, trying to keep it away from him.

“Let me see!” He leaned across the table and tried to pull your arm closer so he could grab the book but you resisted. It soon became an all out battle to try and get the notebook with Anakin basically on top of the table and you leaning very far back in your chair. The few people who were in the hall looked over at the two of you in disdain at the ruckus that you were making. He climbed over the table but you quickly got up and tried to hide the book in your robes but then he was there preventing you from doing such a thing. The two of you fought ruthlessly against each other to obtain the book until you managed to break free of his grip and dart away but he was quick to follow.

“Y/n get back here! I just want to see your drawing!” You were now jumping over tables and chairs to try and get away. Oh how Obi-Wan would not be pleased. The entire time he was on your heals but then he slowed and extended his arm using the Force to pull you back to him.

“Hey! That’s cheating!” You protested as you tried to resist him, your feet slipping on the floor helplessly. Once he had pulled you to him, he wrapped his arms around you to try and stop you from struggling.

“Y/n just- argh stop moving! Just let me see!” Even though you were a powerful Jedi, his physical strength was too much. Realizing that there was nothing that you could do and that he would find out your secret sooner or later, you gave up and stopped squirming in his grasp. You let him take the book with a reluctant and frustrated huff.

“Anakin,” you said before he opened the book, “just know that it’s not as creepy as it looks. I promise, okay?”

“Um... okay?” He gave you a funny look and then directed his attention back to the notebook. He opened it up carefully and was absolutely dumbstruck at what he found. Almost all of the pages were filled with sketches of himself in all sorts of poses and expressions. Your face burned with embarrassment and all of the sudden the floor and your shuffling feet became the most interesting thing around. “Y/n... these are amazing...” he breathed.

You mumbled a “thank you” under your breath.

“So this is what you’ve been doing with every spare second?” He turned the notebook towards you. “You’ve been drawing me? You liiiiiiike meeee” his face scrunched up as he teased you.

“Oh shut up! No I don’t!”

“Yes you do! You like me! You like me! Why else would you only ever be drawing me then, huh?”

“Ugh fine! So what if I do? It’s just a couple of drawings! And besides, who would like a colossal ass such as yourself?”

“You would! Obviously.” He grinned at you as you turned away from him crossing your arms and huffed. “Oh come on y/n!” He took you by the shoulders and turned you to face him. “It’s not that big of a deal, and I don’t really blame you, I am quite amazing.” He wore a smug look on his face and subtly flexed his muscles. You rolled your eyes and began to move away but he pulled you right back, not letting go of your shoulders this time. You were now painfully aware of how close you were and the mere centimeters separating the two of you.

“I um, I have to-” You spluttered in any attempt to leave the situation. You didn’t want to meet his eyes because you knew that if you did you’d just fall for him even harder and this time you might not be able to control yourself.

“Y/n...” Anakin’s voice was soft now and had lost it’s smugness and pride. “It’s okay, you don’t have to be ashamed. Hey, look at me.” He tilted your chin up a little bit and you reluctantly met his gaze. What you saw in his face startled you. You didn’t see that arrogant and prideful boy you knew, there wasn’t even a hint of teasing humor or cockiness in his face. Instead there was something else. Understanding, maybe? Shyness? Care? Who was this boy and what did he do with Anakin?

“It’s not okay though, I’ve broken one of the most prominent rules of the Jedi Code! I’ve fallen for someone, and another Jedi at that!”

“That makes two of us.” His voice came out as almost a whisper. You barely heard it, but when you did it took you a moment to register the gravity of his statement.

“Wait wha-?” And then the centimeters between you disappeared and his lips were on yours. Your eyes widened by then you relaxed and fell into the kiss. It was intoxicating, he was intoxicating. You had never experienced anything like it and weren’t sure you’d ever experience anything like it again. His hands came up to cup your cheeks and yours went to hold the back of his head, pulling him closer. But unfortunately, being human, you needed to breath. You separated reluctantly, but this time the space in between you buzzed with energy.

“So um...”

“Shhh no words. Just enjoy the moment.”

“But-” Anakin placed a finger on your lips to quiet you.

“Shhh...” You obliged and gently rested your forehead on his.

After a moment of comfortable silence, he broke the quiet. “Do you think anyone saw us? What do you think will happen if the Jedi Council finds out?”

“Oh fuck the Jedi Council, what are they going to do? Get rid of their two best and youngest Jedis?” Your own words surprised you. That position was usually reserved for Anakin.

“I’d like to do that again y/n.”

“Me too...” The space began to close again and your eyes fluttered shut until the door to the banquet hall opened. You and Anakin careened away from each other to the other sides of the room.

“Ok, please tell me that wasn’t what I think it was.” Obi-Wan stood in the doorway with his arms crossed and a disapproving but humorous look on his face.

“No nope, not at all Obi-Wan.” Anakin assured him and you nodded in agreement.

“Good, because you both know the repercussions that could follow. Anakin come with me, I need to have a little chat with my young padawan.”

“But I-” He protested.

“No buts! Let's go!” He took a fistful of Anakin’s robes and began dragging him out of the hall. On his way out Anakin gave you a helpless look that you could only laugh at.

Once they left you sank down into the nearest seat hugging the notebook to your chest, still riding out the high that you had gotten from the kiss. You felt like a lovesick little schoolgirl whose crush had just winked at her from across the playground. In all your years of life you never thought you would fall so fast and so hard for anyone, let alone Anakin Skywalker. Yet here you were. And as luck, or the Force, would have it, he felt the same about you. Obviously you couldn’t be together in the conventional way, but just knowing was enough for you.

You did not know what the future held, but what you did know was that Anakin was in it.

~~~

Taglist: @umpoedameron

#star wars #star wars imagine #imagine #Anakin Skywalker #anakin skywalker x reader #anakin-skywalker-imagines #mellow jello imagine #fanfic #star wars fanfiction

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star-whores-a-new-hoe · 4 years ago

Text

Fast Friend//Obi Wan X Reader

Forever series:Part Two

Summary: As you get to know Obi Wan better the situation takes a twist.(Jesus Christ! Thanks for all the support on the last fic! I plan for this to be at least ten parts btw)

word count:1600

Warnings: Angst, Fluff, Like three cuss words, Typos.

You laid on the soft sheets, eyes still closed. You could feel the early morning light shining through the window and warming your skin. You kept replaying the events of yesterday in your mind, still unable to believe them. I’m not really on another planet. You thought. When I open my eyes I’ll be in my room at home. You took a deep breath and opened your eyes. You were still in the strange blue bedroom. You groaned and rolled over, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. This is fucking insane. There was a quick knock on the door. Hugging your pillow tighter, you wondered if you should just pretend that you're asleep so you wouldn’t have to deal with crazy space stuff. It’s probably Obi Wan you thought. you got to your feet and shuffled over to the door. When You opened you immediately jumped back in shock at the creature that stood before you. “Jesus Christ!” You shouted.

“Please do not be alarmed.” The robotic creature said in a monotone voice. “I am medical droid 2-1B, I have come to complete your medical examination.” You calmed down slightly when you remembered that the Window guy had mentioned a medical droid. You nodded and moved out of the doorway for the droid to come through. “Um, yeah come on in.” *** Obi wan watched the city grow smaller through the glass elevator doors as he rode up to the apartment. Early that morning, when he had deemed it safe to leave you, he had left to go consult the only person he felt like he could about this matter. Anakin. “This is quite an unusual situation master but I doubt it’s anything that you and the other Jedi masters can’t handle.” Anakin said. “Yes, I agree yet...” he paused and stroked his beard, as if in deep thought. “There is something very different about y/n.” He recalled locking eyes with you last night. The sense of calm and connection that had washed over him was like nothing he had ever experienced. The elevator reached its destination and Obi Wan walked briskly to the apartment doors. he knocked but there was no answer. He tried again. Nothing. His thoughts immediately turned to danger. He had only left the apartment briefly and had been checking surveillance very diligently. Obi Wan was aware that Windu had sent a medical droid for the examination but besides that, The chances that someone had gotten in the apartment without his knowledge were very slim. His shoulders tense, He unsheathed his lightsaber and slowly opened the door so as to not be heard. When he entered the grand blue living area of the apartment. He could hear the faint sound of your voice coming from the bedroom along with the soft strumming of an instrument. Hearing no panic in your voice or any sound of violence, he put away his lightsaber and walked towards the bedroom. When he reached the doorway, He stood there in utter confusion at the sight before him. You sat on the bed next to the medical droid who was holding your ukulele while you directed it. You looked up when you heard Obi Wan’s footsteps and grinned at him. “Hi!” Obi Wan leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms in front of him. “Di- did you try to teach a droid to play an instrument?” You sat up proudly. “I didn’t try to teach a droid ukulele, I did.” You turned your attention to the droid. “Show him what I taught ya.”both you and Obi Wan watched as the droid strummed a few chords. You took the ukulele back from the droid. “Not bad for a robot with three fingers and a siringe.” Obi Wan looked at you with pure astonishment “Well, that’s a first.” Gently, you laid the instrument down on the bed and stood up. “Did the droid complete the medical examination?” You walked over to where Obi Wan stood and leaned against the opposite door frame, mimicking Obi Wan’s pose. “Yeah like thirty minutes ago, I got bored so I showed him some stuff on the uke.” Obi Wan noticed that your eyes were red and puffy. From lack of sleep or crying he did not know which and frankly, he was too afraid to ask. He nodded. “How long have you been playing that?” “For a good while, I teach kids to play at my local music store on the weekends. Thats where I was walking home from when... this all happened.”

You felt your chest tighten as you talked about home.The thought that you might never get back home had been haunting you, and it was truly terrifing. You leaned your head against the door frame. “You play any kind of space instrument?”

Obi Wan let out a short laugh. “I’m afraid I don’t have time for such hobbies, I have however worked with young ones.”

“Really?”

Obi Wan explained to you what a padawan was, He told you about Anakin and his experience training him.

“Man that Anakin sounds like he was quite the handful.” You laughed

“Ohh believe me, he still is.” He smiled fondly, remembering Anakin as a youngling. “I am lucky enough to help out with the younglings in the jedi temple from time to time. It's very rewarding to see them grow into such fine jedi.”

“Yeah, I have a few kids that i’ve taught since they were like five. It’s really awesome to see how they’ve grown up, how their music taste and skill has changed and stuff.” You stopped for a moment, not sure how to phrase your question. “You know, I was thinking last night, how can I understand you? Like, you’re not speaking English right, it’s some kind of space language so why can I understand you?”

Obi Wan sighed. “There is a lot to this situation that we don’t yet understand young one.”

You turned and walked out into the sitting room. “Any news on the book?” You said plopping down on the couch.

Obi Wan followed and sat down across from you. “We have several dedicated jedi working on it, but we can not decipher the language, I don’t suppose you can?”

You shook your head. “I glanced at it but didn't recognize it.” There was an award pause.

“Might I ask,” Obi Wan said tentatively. “What is Earth like?”

You opened your mouth to say something and then shut it again. “Hold up.” You jumped off the couch and ran into the bedroom. A moment later you came back out holding a small silver rectangle in your hand.

“This is an iPhone.” You sat down next to Obi Wan. “Your entire social status on Earth revolves around whether you have the newest one or not.” Obi Wan could not tell if you were being sarcastic or not.

Turning on the phone, You scrolled through some of your photos. When you finally found what you were looking for, You handed the phone to Obi Wan. “This is my house.” You said referring to the picture that you had pulled up.

soon enough, the sound of conversation filled the beautiful apartment. The two of you talked into the late afternoon, sharing experiences and stories. Obi Wan listened intently as you told him of your life back home, your hobbies, and the stuff you did with friends.

He told you about his training as a padawan and the dumb shit Anakin would do. He even told you about Qui Got Jin but it was clear to you from the sad look in his eyes that his late master was a touchy subject.

You watched the jedi smile at some stupid joke you made. Maybe being stuck in this space place won’t be so bad if I'm with this guy. You thought to yourself.

Obi Wan sighed and stood up. “I’m afraid that I must be going. I have business in the jedi temple that I must attend to.”

You stood up as well. “Of corse.”

“If you need anything you know how to contact me or the droids.” He paused and looked at you thoughtfully for a moment. “Y/n, I understand that this is probably very difficult for you, and if it makes you feel better, I feel that you are handling this remarkably well.”

You beamed at him. “Thanks, that means a lot.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow young one.” He said turning to leave.

“Oh one more question!” Obi Wan turned to you, cocking and eyebrow waiting for you to continue. “Why do you keep calling me young one?”

“He shifted his weight, trying to think of how to answer. “Well, I suppose it’s a term of endearment. And well, You are a tad bit younger.”

“Giving him a sly smirk you said, “Hmm, kinky.” You turned and walked into the bedroom. “See ya!” You called over your shoulder.

Obi Wan could feel a slight blush creeping up the back of his neck. “Umm, yes.” He quickly spun around on his heel and left.

On his way to the temple, Obi Wan thought to himself, If I’m not careful, I could end up getting very close to her.

***

Obi Wan strode into the jedi council chambers where Masters Windu and Yoda stood waiting for him, the expression on their faces grim.

He came to a halt in front of them. “Is there something the matter Masters?” Without a word, Windu took a data pad out and passed it to Obi Wan.

“The medical results from Y/N’s examination have arrived.”

Obi Wan examined it thoroughly. Everything seemed to be in order, that was until his eyes fell on your midichlorian count.

#obi wan x reader #obi wan kenobi #obi wan fic #star wars #star wars fic #star wars x reader

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sarcastic-bubble · 5 years ago

Note

Can I please request 29 with Anakin please?

Prompt: 29. “How is my wife more badass than me?”

A/N: I told myself I was going to keep these under 1000 words. So far we have failed.

Masterlist

Taglist: @psionicsnow @in-the-frap-of-the-gods @wishiwasanavenger @sithmyass

———————————

You groaned as consciousness returned to your body. Your limbs felt stiff and every jointed seemed to creaked as you did your best to stretch. It was difficult since your wrists were bound over your head and stuck to the wall. Your shoulders burned from the awkward position. How long had you been stuck like this? You didn’t know. You didn’t even remember being captured. Your last memories were of a loud crash a flash of searing pain; an attack from an enemy that you never even had the chance to see.

You pulled against your restraints. They were tight and your tugging only caused the cuffs to dig into the skin of your wrists. A small trickle of bright red blood ran down your arms. You looked around the room, you hadn’t been alone when you were attacked. Anakin had been with you, but he wasn’t now. He wasn’t anywhere to be seen. That would pose a bit of a problem. Even if you managed to escape the cuffs you weren’t armed. Hand to hand could only get you so far against assailants with blasters.

But you still couldn’t stay here and wait to be rescued. There was no guarantee of rescue. if Anakin was out there he’d save you, but the fate of your husband was unknown. You couldn’t rely solely on an unknown. You got to your feet and craned your neck, your lips searching a small leather band that sat right below the cuffs. When you found the small pin you had been looking for you pulled it free with your teeth. Getting the pin into your hand was a struggle that involved some creative stretching, but once it was in your grasp it only took you moments to pick the lock. Glancing around the rest of the cell and what you could see outside, all the locks seemed rather primitive. Now that was something to be thankful for. There was an astonishing lack of guards, maybe you would be able to escape this after all.

You reached your arm through the gaps between the thick bars and you hummed with satisfaction when you felt the lock click against you pick. With a gentle push, you opened the door. There was a horrible groan of metal grating against metal; still, no one came down the dark hall to check on you.

You slipped out of the cell and walked slowly down the hall. The deep shadows serving as cover. You passed a room with an open door, peeking inside you were able to make the shapes of three humanoid figures and many different types of blasters. This had to be their weapons room. After listening for a moment you realized they were speaking Basic. You slipped into the room just enough to be able to hear them better. They were talking about another prisoner. One was claiming they were a Jedi, another said that that would be impossible because the Jedi hadn’t been to this star system in years. The first then gestured to a lightsaber just out of your reach, stating that there was no way a normal man would have a weapon like that. It was Anakin’s. That meant he was here too.

That was good. If you could find him and return his lightsaber to him then this prison break would be much easier. You waited until the three humanoids were distracted by their argument. Very carefully you snuck forward until you were able to grab the lightsaber and then a blaster that had been sitting on a rack nearby. So far they hadn’t noticed you. Feeling no need to draw any attention to yourself by attacking you stepped from the room.

You wandered the dim hallways for what felt like forever. Most appeared to be similar; the walls lined with empty primitive cells. You came to a door, unlike all of the others you had seen so far it was much more like the common airlock. You pressed the open key next to the door experimentally. The door quickly opened and on the other side was a bright light and one very confused guard. You reacted faster than him, drawing your blaster and shooting him in the chest at almost point-blank.

You winced at the sound the shot made but relaxed when no indication of someone approaching came. You walked down the hall careful to be quiet. The bright lights made it difficult to hide but the area still seemed empty. You would make out the sound of distant voices to your right. There were so many that it was impossible to make out the individual words. However, one voice did stand out. It had to be Anakin. It sounded like he was trying to use a mind trick to escape. A lock pick wouldn’t work for him as it had for you. All the cells in this area were equipped with electronic card locks.

The closer you got the easier it was to tell that your husband was struggling. You didn’t quite know what race your captors but they had to be one of the few immune to the Jedi mind tricks. You glanced around the corner. It was definitely Anakin in the cell but before you could do anything you’d have to wait for the crowd to thin out.

Keeping yourself out of view you did just that; waiting until only five remained. They had to be the guards. You were quiet up until the very last moment. If you were going to take these guards out without getting hurt you’d need to take them by surprise.

You were able to shoot three before the remaining two were even able to draw their blasters. Thanks to Anakin the blasters were only in their hands for a moment before being flung across the room. With almost perfect aim you were able to incapacitate them.

You could just make out Anakin grinning through the small holes in the durasteel door. It wasn’t hard to find the key card. It had fallen out of one of the guards’ pockets when he had been shot. You pressed it against an electronic panel and the cell door opened quietly.

“You wouldn’t believe how happy I am to see you,” said Anakin walking out of the cell. He immediately noticed his lightsaber clipped to your belt. He held out his cuffed hands, “mind helping me with this?”

You unclipped the lightsaber and turned it on just long enough for it to cut through the metal. You laughed quietly at him as you pushed the weapon into his hand. As he grabbed it his free hand also took hold of your waist. You could tell by the expression on his face that he was relieved to see that you were okay.

“How is my wife more badass than me?” He asked before placing a quick kiss on your lips.

You shrugged and stepped away from him. You still had to escape. “It’s one of the many mysteries of the galaxy we may never be able to solve. Now let’s get out of here before you get caught again.”

Anakin clipped the lightsaber to his belt. “You were captured first. I was only caught because I came to recuse you.”

You looked back over your shoulder, “But I escaped. Now come on. I really don’t want to have to save your ass again today mister Jedi Knight.” You slipped down the hall.

Anakin followed close behind wondering how he ever got lucky enough to marry someone like you.

#anakin skywalker x reader #anakin x reader #anakin skywalker #anakin #star wars #star wars x reader #anakin imagine #star wars imagine #Anonymous

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lilzebub · 4 years ago

Text

Vacations and Vows

Thanks @thegildedquill for the prompt for the Mando’a Challenge! Had a blast writing this one, obviously, since it almost hit 7k LOL. Mando x reader Summary: The Mandalorian meets a ruthless failed Jedi, who somehow manages to navigate the intricacies of the man beneath the beskar. He whisks her away on vacation to pose a very important question that’s been weighing heavy on him.

Prompt: Gett’se (nuts, or brave)

Word count: 6.9K

Warnings: Mandalorian typical violence, minor description of injuries, some season 1 spoilers.

Thanks @thegildedquill for the Mando’a Challenge! Summary: The Mandalorian meets a ruthless failed Jedi, who somehow navigates through the intricacies of the man beneath the beskar.

Prompt: “gett’se”, Mando’a word for ‘courage’, ‘nerve’ or ‘nuts’ (generic) Word count: 6.9K

Warnings: Mandalorian typical violence, light mentions of injuries, season 1 spoilers

“What’s wrong?” The deep voice from the captain’s chair jarred her from her thoughts: not only from the sudden, almost deafening onset of sound in the otherwise silent cockpit, but his sporadic initiation of conversation. She wasn’t entirely sure how long she’d been staring out into the black void of space that laid before the ship. Ten minutes? Maybe twenty? “Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Just thinking, is all.” She relaxed back into the seat, fingers blindly trained on the edges of the domed crib beside her. A sharp intake of air. Was that a laugh? “Don’t hurt yourself.” She cocked her head towards him, incredulously. “What are you thinking about?” He continued, not turning his helmeted head. “Oh, you know. Just everything, I guess. We’ve been on the run for…How many years now?” Pressing the autopilot button, his chair swiveled to face her, expressionless as always. He slumped down, placing his elbows on his beskar clad legs. “Five years? Six?” The subtle tilt of his helmet told her that he hadn’t really considered it until she brought it up. He peered at her through his visor, suddenly glad that she was unable to see his eyes, trained on her petite form.

She was a far cry from the drunken brawler he had met all those years ago, and his lips, hidden behind beskar, tugged into a semblance of a smile at the vivid memory. The newly failed Jedi stood in a darkened back alley of Canto Bight, chest heaving after escaping from a mob of angry gamblers. Her gift with the Force allowed her to cheat her way through a game, winning her a substantial amount of money. Giddy, and moderately tipsy from the free drinks, she shoved credits into the pockets of her long, satin dress, fingers brushing against the lightsaber strapped to her leg. As the young woman navigated her way through the slimy underbelly of the city, blaster shots rang out: her keen senses knew it was only a couple of blocks away, and she stealthily navigated towards the sound. The moment she turned the corner, her heart lurched. Momentary flashes of silver were illuminated in the firefight, and she could see all of the shots were trained on one individual. “I always have to root for the underdog, don’t I,” she whispered under her breath, hiking the skirt of her dress up to remove her lightsaber. With a running start, and a drunken stumble, (Y/n) activated her lightsaber, illuminating the alley in a sunset gold hue, and sized up no less than 8 people nearly surrounding the figure. Slashing through the one that stood directly between her and the figure under attack, she turned, pressing her back towards the cold feeling of what she quickly recognized as beskar. “Who…” the voice called to her, before she quickly cut him off. “We can discuss formalities later, Mandalorian. For now, I’ve got you.” Another round of shots flew directly towards the pair, and she deflected them with ease with the saber. For a moment, the Mandalorian paused and watched the woman in the long dress, admiring the way she fought: she clearly had training, but there was a chaotic element, something unrefined, about the way she took out her enemies. Singlehandedly, the woman took out all but one of them, with the Mandalorian vaporizing the assailant in one swift motion. She sheathed her lightsaber, hiking up her now filthy dress to replace it in its holster. A cocky grin plastered her face, as she reached out towards him. “I’m (Y/n). I’d love to chat more, but seeing as how you’ve clearly made some enemies, we should probably get this show on the road. You got a ship?” The helmet tipped forward, a subtle nod of affirmation. The motion would be the only invitation the woman would receive from him. The Mandalorian turned mumbling quietly to himself about the woman’s apparent mental state, a deathwish, and she followed.

“Definitely closer to six.” The woman hummed, propping her feet on the side of his captain’s chair, wiggling her bare toes. “I’m getting a little….antsy.” “Antsy? About what?” His voice held no indication of what he was feeling. Fear, perhaps? The Mandalorian knew the day would probably come that his traveling companion would grow weary and branch off on her own, leaving him and the Child for good. He could never tell her how badly he wanted her to stay. She had become his best friend, his closest confidante, and a mother figure to the child. “You know….Like maybe we could make a stop for a couple of days. Like a vacation or something. Take the kid and visit Cara or something.” It wasn’t completely lost on her that he exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “I don’t know, Din. I feel like I’ve been staring at the inside of this ship forever. I want to see a sunset, put my feet on solid ground.” She frowned when he didn’t immediately respond. The captain’s chair swiveled back to its original position. “Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin,” her whine drawled, awakening a slew of butterflies in his stomach. “I’ll see what I can do.” He answered succinctly.

The sound of the docking ramp woke her from a peaceful slumber. Stumbling from her cot, she slipped on a loose, knee length dress and boots, scrambling to see where the Mandalorian had taken her. The hulking figure stood poised at the edge of the ramp, cradling the small bundle. “Navarro? This really your idea of a vacation?” She glided to his side. The child cooed at the sight of her, making grabby hands in her direction. Din slid the child into her arms, silently admiring the care with which she held him. She is the perfect dichotomy of deadly and nurturing, he thought to himself as he continued peering down at her out of the corner of his visor. “No, quick pit stop,” he placed his hand behind her elbow, guiding her off the ship, towards the center of the city. The small gesture of physical contact caused a flame in her cheeks, as she quickly adjusted the baby to sit on the swell of her hip. “CARA,” (Y/n) screeched, passing the child to Din to fully engulf her dear friend in a tight embrace. “It’s been so long!” Din joined the pair, and the child gurgled and cooed excitedly. Cara reached down and stroked the child’s long green ear. “Hello there, little one! What do you think about staying with Aunt Cara for a few days while your mom and dad go have some fun?” She peered pointedly at the Mandalorian, knowing full well that he was blushing under his helmet at the implication of their partnership. (Y/n) glanced quickly at Din, mouth fully agape, then back to Cara. “We couldn’t possibly inconvenience you like that!” she protested, “I mean, this guy is getting to be quite a handful, with his….thing. You know. *the Force*” she mouthed silently, knowing that Force users are generally unfavored, sought after by Imps. Cara found purchase under the child’s arms and pulled him gently away from (Y/n). “Look, if I can handle all the weird shit his mom does, I can handle whatever he can do. You two haven’t had any time to yourself in years now. Stay the night here tonight, we’ll catch up, and you can get an early start in the morning after a night of good sleep and a full belly!”

(Y/n) was one of the few women Cara knew that could drink her under the table. Cara narrowed her eyes as the woman giggled, leaning into the shoulder of the heavily armored man. Through heavy wheezing and laughter, she continued her story. “You should have seen the look on Din’s face when I sabered the guy clear through the chest right before the guy pulled the trigger on him. I have saved your ass SO many times.” Cara doubled over in laughter. “Really? ‘The look on his face’??” She tipped the flagon of alcohol towards her mouth, spewing a bit in her fit of laughter. “So you’re telling me you’ve seen his face?” (Y/n) bristled a bit at the comment. “Well, no, of course not. But I know what he’s thinking sometimes, I can feel it. So I can….imagine, I guess?” She peered up at him with big, glossy eyes. “Right, right. So is that part of the ‘Force’, or the fact that you two are clearly hopelessly in love with each other?” (Y/n) shot her gaze towards Cara, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, mind reeling. Would that really be that far beyond the realm of possibility? She knew she would be lying if she tried to deny it, instead opting to lean forward, away from Din, and grab her drink off the table. Certainly, their relationship held a peculiar degree of intimacy: what some would consider a simple gesture, such as revealing their real name, was a huge step in her friendship with the Mandalorian. They sat in the hull of the ship in silence after acquiring a particularly difficult asset, the pair both bleeding from fresh injuries. Through heavy, altered breaths, he finally spoke. “You really don’t have to stick around. Bounty hunting is a dangerous business.” Thuds of beskar hitting the cold floor punctuated his sentences, as he peered over at the woman through his visor. She had hastily stripped out of her minimal armor, revealing a startling amount of bruised and bloodied flesh underneath, a large gaping wound staining red the pale flesh of her upper arm. The Mandalorian quickly averted his gaze down to his own wounds, barely visible through the cloth of his underclothes. “I’m not made of glass, Mando. I was one night away from becoming a Jedi Master…you know. Before I ran.” A hiss escaped her lips as she staunched the bleeding from a deep vibroblade cut. His curiosity was piqued. “Seems like a lot of effort to go through just to run off at the last second.” He slid a medkit across the floor over to her, as she busied herself with the next most severe wound. “Do you know anything about what it means to become a Jedi, Mando?” she asked, no hostility in her voice. “Hm. I imagine it’s similar to my Creed.” Bacta spray coated his split knuckles, his gloves discarded to his side. “Well. Because of my…skills…I was taken away from my family as a child. Told to surrender my entire past, my entire self. And for what? To come of age and be told I can never get married or have a family, can never pursue anything that would fulfill me. I couldn’t have anything. So the night before I swore my oath, I took my lightsaber and ran. I didn’t stop running for what felt like an eternity. Hopping from planet to planet, swindling, fighting, killing if I absolutely had to.” Her wounds tended to, she laid back on the cold floor of the Razor Crest. She exhaled. “Honestly, it’s for the best. I’m having too much fun now. And now, all of my choices are my own.” Turning her head to peer at him. “What about you? What’s your story?” “My uh…parents. Got killed. I became the Mandalorians’ foundling. They raised me, and I adopted their Creed as mine. I owe them everything. It’s why I kept the Child as my own.” Suddenly, she reached across the space between them, taking his bare hand in her own. He was taken aback at first: this marked the first non-violent physical contact he had had with anyone in a long time, especially skin to skin. It felt foreign, but something else. Pleasant. “Mando….I’m so sorry.” He laced his fingers through hers, earning a quiet gasp. “Din…Din Djarin.” His voice through the modulator was breathy, as if the words escaped from him on their own volition. She quickly rolled onto her side and pulled her hand away, much to his chagrin. More confidently, he spoke again. “I would like for you to call me Din.” In one swift motion, he reached towards her, initiating the contact again.

“Oh my gods, (Y/n), are you EMBARASSED?” Cara continued laughing, sloshing her drink. “Your eyebrows are about to disappear into your hairline.” She stumbled to her feet. “I’m going to go check on the baby.” She navigated through Cara’s small lodging towards the room that held the child’s crib.

“Really, Din? REALLY? You haven’t told her yet?” Cara leaned forward, chastising him. His helmet tilted slightly as he stretched his arms across the back length of the seat. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Cara.” “So you’re telling me. That you’ve been traveling together for five-“ “Six,” he interrupted. “SIX years, and you haven’t told her that you love her?” He cleared his throat beneath his helmet. “She is the bravest warrior I know. I show her that I appreciate her service every day. That’s why I’m taking her on a vacation. She fights beside me well, and cares for the child as if he’s her own.” Shifting his weight, he glanced down the hallway she had gone down. “Din Djarin, you are staring down that hallway waiting for her to come back. You love her.” “She left the Jedi order so she could have some sense of normalcy. Marriage. A family. I cannot give that to her.” He husked angrily. Cara paused, blinking at him for a moment. “But you already did. Do you think it’s normal for two people to gallivant around the galaxy together, raising an adopted child together? Honestly, when you told me you were coming to visit, Greef and I made a bet: he said you two would already be married by the time you got here. I said you would announce it when you arrived.” “It is not the Way,” he replied simply. “I happen to know that Mandalorians can get married. The Armorer loaned me some books on the Creed. Maybe you should go talk to her.” “She still here in Navarro?” His interest was piqued. “Yeah, maybe you should go see her before you guys head out.” She stood, stretching her arms above her head. “And on that note, I’m going to bed.”

Din crept down the hallway towards the room with the crib, noting the door was slightly ajar. Peeking inside, he saw the child nestled against (Y/n), both fast asleep. Sighing heavily, he exited the building, in search of the Armorer.

The new covert wasn’t far from the old one. A handful of Mandalorians in their armor spread out in the comfortable common area, a handful of children toddling about. He couldn’t contain the swell of pride in his chest, seeing how the tribe was starting anew, with a fresh generation of foundlings. “Ah, Din. It’s been a long time.” A voice called from behind him. He turned, regarding her warmly. “How is the child? Where is the foundling?” “He’s with his moth-…Uh, with my traveling companion.” He barely caught himself. “Ah, a companion? The woman from the siege of Nevarro?” Her voice lilted in what could only be described as amusement, his near slip up wholly noticed. “Yes,” he replied in short. “A failed Jedi Master.” “A dar’jetti. Interesting. She understands the Force, then. Did you choose her companionship for her to teach the Foundling?” She busies herself with a gauntlet from the forge, not looking in his direction. His shoulders slumped, “She put her life on the line for me. She fiercely protected the child and I. More than once. First time on Canto Bight.” “How long ago was that?” Placing the gauntlet on the armory shelf, she turned, as if to urge the truth out of him. “Six years,” his voice was nearly a whisper. “So you have been traveling together for six years. Has she seen you without your helmet? Have you made her your riduur?” Tilting her helmet inquisitively. “You are raising a foundling together. It is a practical decision; we can extend the protection of the Covert to her. Aliit ori’shya tal’din.” He struggled for words, finally resigning to silently hooking his thumbs into his utility belt, shaking his head ‘no’. The Armorer walked over to him, placing a gloved hand on his shoulder. “If you take her has your riduur it is still within the Resol’nare. To remove your helmet in front of your family...It is the Way. It is right, and just, a clan of three.” With that, he turned on his heels without a word, finding his way back to Cara’s homestead.

Din arguably never slept. Between the Child, piloting duties, and watching over (Y/n), he had learned to rely on as little rest as possible. It was no surprise when Cara rose that morning that the Mandalorian was comfortably reclining in the common space. “Morning, Mando! You find the Armorer?” she plopped down on a tufted cushion beside him. “Mhm” he answered flatly. A silence hung thick over the air, as if Cara was waiting for something more. “I’m taking her to Canto Bight. Called in a couple of favors.” She clapped her gloved hands together. “You’re taking her to the place you first met because you’re going to ask her to marry you. I KNEW it.” “Keep your voice down,” he husked. “I need you to take some of these credits from the last bounty, go with her to buy some clothing before we leave.” The creaking of a door startled the pair. (Y/n) dragged into the room, the Child toddling behind her. “Good morning, Cara, Din.” She stretched, and Din regarded her clothing. Her shoulder was exposed from the loose linen top she wore, her black jodhpurs torn and frayed from numerous falls. Since joining him, her style had become simple and practical, but all he could think about was the long dress she wore when they first met. “Um, good morning.” Din stood awkwardly. “Cara is going to take you shopping before we head out. Is that alright with you?” (Y/n) leaned down and picked up the Child, eyeing Din suspiciously. Glancing over at Cara who by now had a shit eating grin plastered across her face, she nodded slowly. “Sure, that sounds like it could be fun.” “I will take care of the baby until you two get back, cyar’ika.” The Mandalorian closed distance and collected the child from her. Before she could react, he leaned his helmet down, pressing it gently to her forehead. “I will see you soon.”

The two women meandered towards the market, (Y/n)’s face still flushed. “You know what that was, right?” Cara asked when they were out of earshot of her dwelling. “That was like, the equivalent of kissing by Mandalorian standard.” She dragged her hands down her face, “I KNOW what it was, Cara. I just don’t know WHY. What the HELL was that?! Was that MANDO’A? WHAT DOES CYAR’IKA MEAN?” He had only ever spoken to her in his native tongue once before, and the low growl of his words always sent a fire straight to the flesh of her neck and face.

Everything had gone to hell in a handbasket. They were cornered, bruised, and broken, under heavy fire from just beyond the cantina doors. A booming voice had just called the Mandalorian by his name, and the woman clutched her saber so tightly that the skin of her palms began to crack. Despite the debris from the ammunition and explosions digging into her knees from where she crouched behind the bar, his name being revealed to everyone wounded her somewhere deep behind her ribcage. Something sacred that he had gifted to her out of trust and mutual respect, shouted with indifference to the seemingly infinite number of troops as they pinned the group down.

The rag-tag group desperately clamored for some promise of an exit, a path to safety. The medical droid turned child protector had uncovered a small opening that could potentially lead the group to safety, but there wasn’t much time. Cara, Karga, and IG-11 crouched towards the small opening and began moving forward. (Y/n) scrambled towards the hole, turning to make sure Din was close behind, only to see him collapsed on the ground, unmoving. She scrambled over to him, tapping the side of his helmet. “Din! DIN? You have to get up, we have to go NOW.” As she slid her hand behind him to try to assist getting him up, she found that he was covered in something dark and slick. Blood, and lots of it, was seeping from a wound that was concealed by his helmet.

His breath came through the vocorder in slow pants. “(Y/n) I’m not going to make it. You take this, take the child, and get to safety.” He pressed a necklace with the emblem of a Mythosaur into her palm, then reached up to press his gloved hand to her cheek. “The covert. They’ll know…..know I sent you.”

Years of Jedi training had taught her about stoicism. It had taught her about loss, and death, but nothing had prepared her to say goodbye to the Mandalorian. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, as she violently shook her head in protest. “No, Din. I’m not leaving you. I will slaughter every Storm Trooper that comes through this door. I will slay Moff Gideon myself and watch the light leave his eyes. I swear this to you.” She looped the necklace around her neck, and slowly stood up, flicking her golden lightsaber and taking a fighting stance.

“Cuyir gar gett’se?!” The Mandalorian wheezed through his vocoder, struggling to catch his breath. “Don’t do this, the child needs you, you’re his mot-.” He stopped speaking abruptly, and she screamed for IG-11 to assist he Mandalorian.

Several Storm Troopers pressed their way inside, and the only thing she could focus on was holding them off for long enough for IG-11 to get Din to safety. As they fell one by one, a much larger Storm Trooper entered with a flamethrower and began spraying his flames towards her. Her palm pressed forward, as she used everything in the Force to keep the flames at bay. Her strength began to falter, as she peered down to her side. The child had waddled up beside her, and she quietly pleaded for him to get back. “Baby, please. Please, you’re going to get hurt. You’ve got to go back.” He raised his tiny three fingered hand and mirrored her position, and the flames began quickly receding. They soon engulfed the Trooper, and she clamored to scoop the now unconscious baby from the ground, running past IG-11 and the body of the Mandalorian. Cara chuckled to herself, “So now that it’s just the two of us, be honest. You’ve got it bad for him, don’t you?” “No shit, Cara. You can only be stuck with someone on a floating chunk of metal for so long before you start to think they look pretty appealing,” she rolled her eyes. “How long?” Cara guided her into a vendor stall, lined with dresses and garments. (Y/n) traced her fingers absentmindedly over the lush fabrics, deep in thought. “Uh, remember the story when he was getting jumped by the eight dudes in Canto Bight?” She picked up a long black dress with an open back. “….You mean the night you met? Are you insane?” Cara looked at her incredulously. “You’ve kept your shit together for six years, without even giving him a hint that you were feeling something?” Her skin flushed. “NO. I was just gonna say this dress is very similar to what I wore that night. GEEZ, Cara, I didn’t even know him yet.” Cara huffed in frustration. (Y/n) draped the dress over her arm, and placed her hand on Cara’s shoulder. “I can’t describe it. Let me just….show you, okay?”

It all came at once as a flood: everything was suddenly warm, like the heat of the sun on a perfect day, or the way spotchka burned just a little on the way down. It was a small, smoldering pile of cinders, giving way to an unquenchable blaze. The feeling of being surrounded by cool, blue water, and a fearless feeling of sinking all the way to the bottom of the sea. The undeniable sensation of falling from some high distance, unsure of when you’ll reach the bottom.

Cara’s eyes opened. “Damn, (Y/n) could you warn me before putting me through the ringer? I didn’t know that was a thing you could do.” (Y/n) turned towards the dark dress, and shrugged her shoulders. “This is the one.” She gestured to this shopkeep, shoving a handful of credits into their hands. “Let’s get out of here. I need a vacation.”

The Razor Crest docked in Canto Bight, and (Y/n) could barely contain her excitement, a stark contrast to the man behind the beskar. “if you would like to get dressed, I’m going to run an errand. Will you be ready in half an hour?”

(Y/n) peered at herself in the small mirror as she dabbed a deep rouge color to her lips. The dress glided behind her as she strode towards the weapons cabinet and pulled out her lightsaber, still in pristine condition. The high slit of the dress allowed her easy access to strap the weapon to her leg. The loud hissing of the ramp to the Razor Crest alerted her to Din’s arrival, and she stood expectantly awaiting the moment he got to lay eyes on her.

The man in the shiny beskar paused in front of her, his helmet tilting downward to take her all in. “You look….” He paused, seemingly choking, noticing the Mythosaur necklace he had given her during the siege situated on her chest. “Really nice, (Y/n).”

She smirked, enjoying how flustered he seemed to be. “You look pretty nice yourself, Din. Did you shine your beskar up just for me?” He quickly nodded.

“I uh….wanted to look as nice as I could for this. Are you ready to depart?” He gestured towards a speeder at the bottom of the ramp. “I got a speeder with a sidecar so you wouldn’t have to…um….straddle it in a dress.” She broke into a giggle, which swelled into a belly laugh.

“That’s surprisingly thoughtful of you. I really can’t believe you pulled all this together for me. Thank you so much.” “Don’t thank me until you see the rest. There’s a lot more to see tonight.” He held out his arm, chivalrously as they walked towards the speeder. “Do you trust me?” She thought for a moment. “Well, that depends. Are you making this nice for me so it’s an easy let down? You’re dumping me back off here or something?”

He scoffed. “No, never. I’m not sure what I would do without you.” The sincerity in his voice caused her to falter a bit. He regained his stoic composure quickly. “Keep your eyes closed, I’ll tell you when to open them.” The speeder ride felt painfully long, and a bit disorienting. She had absolutely no concept of space, nor any idea where he might be taking her. The whirring of the speeder engine slowed to a halt, and she could vaguely make out the sounds of waves crashing somewhere nearby. The Mandalorian disembarked, and strode around to gently lift her from her seat.

“Okay, you can open your eyes now.” His voice through the vocorder gravelly beside her ear.

The woman wasn’t prepared for what sight was in front of her. A large dock surrounded by blue ocean stretched out before them, leading towards a large yacht. The sky was beginning to display a twinge of orange and pink, reflecting off of the gently rolling waves. (Y/n) looked over at the Mandalorian, speechless for the first time since they had met. “Din, this is really too much. It must have cost a fortune in credits to get this boat. And if I recall correctly, you HATE the water.”

He shook his head. “I had a few favors to call in from some associates here. This is yours to enjoy while we’re here.” She jumped up and down gleefully, and began running towards the boat. It never ceased to amaze him her ability to run in high heeled shoes.

The pair embarked on the yacht, and she watched puzzled as Din entered coordinates into the GPS system. The boat began moving towards some undisclosed location, and she ran towards the front of the boat. She perched herself against the railing, staring down as the waves passed quickly as the boat sped along. Innumerable fish passed by, many species she had never seen before. Din stood back and watched her, arms crossed, an immense amount of hidden enjoyment spreading across his features. The young woman quickly turned back towards him. “So where are we even heading? I saw you input some coordinates.” She kicked off her shoes to the side unceremoniously, enjoying the freedom to move about.

“I know a spot.” He answered plainly.

“Hmmmm, a place where you dump the bodies?” She chided, eyeing him suspiciously.

“No. Just a place I thought you might like to see. I don’t imagine you got to enjoy many spots in Canto Bight during your time here.” She thought for a moment.

“You’re right. Most of the time I was just ducking out in alleyways. I think I only even got to see the coastline twice during the time I was here. And never like this.” The setting sun caused her to squint her eyes a bit as she peered out, and the Mandalorian took that time to really take her in: she was truly beautiful, all pointed features and sharp angles. He very seldom had the luxury to see her this way, without lines of worry across her forehead, or thinking deeply about how they were going to capture the next quarry. She consistently held a brave face for him and the child, so much that it was often easy to forget that she was a living being. For a moment he tried to imagine her other life, one where she was a hardened Jedi master: fierce and unrelenting, but also quiet and solitary. He thought, that life would have never suited her, she was like a wildfire, wild and unquenchable. Her smile when she held the child, or the attitude she so quickly gave the Mandalorian when he agitated her. No, she felt far too much to be confined by the life of a Jedi. She looked back over to him, smiling.

“You know, sometimes I actually can feel what you’re thinking. You try to keep your thoughts quiet, but sometimes you’re so loud in there.” She shook her head, almost embarrassed. “You’re right, though. That was never the life for me. I’m a little bit too erratic for the discipline they expected from me.” He moved towards her, placing his hand tentatively on her shoulder.

“There’s nothing shameful about that. You’re impulsive at times, wild even. But you know, sometimes I’m not sure this is the life I want to live either.” She gazed at his hand for a moment, before turning her attention to the T shaped visor, confused at his confession. He continued, “There are many days when I think maybe it’s time to take off the armor, to give all of this up. Maybe settle down with the kid somewhere and try to have some normalcy.”

“Din, where is this coming from? The Creed is your entire life….” The boat sputtered to a halt, and he gently guided her to turn back around: all that could be seen around them was a beautiful sunset undisturbed and untouched by the Canto Bight skyline. Her mouth hung open in shock. “Din, I’ve never seen anything like this before. Every planet I’ve seen, in all my travels. Nothing this beautiful.”

“Neither have I.” He spoke softly, and she smiled back towards him. She immediately noticed his visor didn’t face the sunset, he was looking down at her. “(Y/n), I want you to do something for me.” He clasped both her hands in his, shocking her at his blatant display of affection.

“After you put all of this together for me? I’ll do literally anything you ask of me.” She winked at him.

He slowly lifted her hands to the edge of the beskar helmet on his head, exhaling shakily. Her fingers traced the cool metal that shielded his face from the world, as he let go of her hands. She felt herself starting to tremble at the immense amount of trust her placed in her, allowing her to touch his helmet. His hands now found purchase at her waist, another action so intimate she felt her heart swell.

“I want—I want you to take it off.” His voice was uneven and gentle, as though he couldn’t believe the words had slipped out to her so easily.

“Din, NO,” she quickly removed her hands and tried to pull herself from his grasp. “Your Creed. I can’t see you without it. Why the kriff would you want to give that up now, after all this time?” His grasp on her waist didn’t falter, instead pulling her in closer to him. She slapped her hands on his cuirass, agitated. “I won’t let you throw away your entire life for me.”

“I don’t have to ‘throw away’ anything for you, cya’rika. All these years you’ve traveled with me…You’ve followed me to the ends of the earth to protect the child…OUR child. You have never betrayed my trust, despite your absolute ruthless nature. I want to give this to you.”

Tears began welling up in her eyes. “You can’t, Din. As much as I wish I could say yes, we can’t. I know what it means to throw away everything you worked for, but I made that choice. Your Creed is everything to you.”

“I don’t have to give up my Creed to show you my face…” He spoke barely above a whisper. “We’re a clan of three. Aliit ori’shya tal’din: Family is more than blood.” He echoed the phrase the Armorer had told him.

“I’m familiar with Mandalorian customs, Din: You can remove your helmet in front of your child.” She grew increasingly more agitated and anxious.

“Or…my riduur.” She shifted her weight nervously.

“Din, I’m familiar with customs, not the language. I don’t even know what that means.”

His hands moved to grasp hers again, placing them on his helmet with more conviction. “Wife. It means, my wife.” “Are you….are you asking me to…?” He nodded. “You’re not just messing with me right now?” He shook his head in response, and she began a combination of laughing and crying all at the same time.

“So will you do it?” He whispered softly, and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly as she lifted the helmet. A quiet hiss echoed around them, as the sun began to dip just beyond the horizon. Din took the helmet from her, and placed it to the side. “Open your eyes, (Y/n).”

She slowly opened her eyes to the man before her. The rays from the finally setting sun settled upon his golden tan skin, framed by loose brown curls. Her hands shot up to her mouth in shock. “Din, you’re…..hot? Like, I knew you had swagger, but you’re….you’re a vision.” He looked at her shyly, and began to laugh. “Stars, and your smile? I can’t believe you never told me how beautiful you were underneath that tin can.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist, and leaned towards her so dangerously close that their lips were almost touching. “I mean, I figured all this time you thought I looked like the child.” She reached up to touch his face with nothing but reverence and adoration.

“You could have been a Mon Calamari under there and I would love you…” She paused, her cheeks flushed with her confession. His gloved hand cupped the side of her face, and she leaned into him, never breaking eye contact. “I love you, (Y/n).” She released his face and threw her arms around his still armor-clad shoulders, pressing into a tentative kiss.

“I will marry you, Din. Under one condition.” She murmured, lips still hovering close to his.

“Anything you want, cyar’ika.”

“You gotta start teaching me Mando’a.” She felt his chest move, as laughter began bubbling up from deep within him. “Hey, it’s not funny! You keep slipping in words and phrases and I’ve been in the dark this whole time!”

He brushed his lips against her forehead. “Okay, anything you want to know.”

“When we were on Nevarro, and you were….um…dying. You said something. What was it?” He pulled back and thought about it for a moment.

“I’m pretty sure I told you that you were nuts.” Her fist connected with his shoulder. “OW, what was that for?”

“All this time, I’ve been sitting here, thinking that you were professing your love with your dying breath. And you were just telling me that I was CRAZY?”

He gently thumbed over the necklace he had given her. “In a way, I was. Gar cuyir gett’se. You’re the bravest, most fearless, insane woman I have ever met. Cyar’ika, my beloved.”

The pair had spent their travel time back to Nevarro, with Din patiently teaching her phrases of Mando’a, particularly phrases for their wedding vows. They had made the decision to have the ceremony performed on Nevarro, with the child, Cara, Greef Karga and the Armorer present, even though Mandalorian weddings were a simple exchanging of words. As they approached the docking bay, (Y/n) seemed to vibrate with excitement. The hatch opened, and the pair could see Cara laughing with the baby settled on her hip, and Greef Karga gesticulating animatedly.

(Y/n) practically skipped off towards the group, Din following slowly behind. He was still tentative; he didn’t know what to expect with their news. As (Y/n) approached, the baby wiggled and writhed away from Cara, and she plopped him down watching him waddle over and clasp onto (Y/n)’s leg.

Cara eyed the pair carefully, cutting between the two of them. “Something’s different, isn’t it? You’ve got an awful lot of spring in your step to just have some vacation afterglow.” (Y/n) turned, smiling at the Mandalorian.

He nervously cleared his throat, and moved to stand by her side, dwarfing her in his height. “I have asked (Y/n) to be my riduur.”

She proudly bounced on the heels of her feet. “Wife. That means wife, everyone. He’s been teaching me Mando’a on the trip back.” Everyone gaped at the pair, the baby cooing and sputtering excitedly. “What’s everyone staring at?” For a brief moment, seemingly suspended in time, everyone was too shocked to speak. Greef Karga broke the silence by stepping forward and clapping the Mandalorian on his pauldron covered shoulder.

“I knew you had it in you, Mando. I’m glad you’re keeping her around. She’s always been crazy enough to get things done.” He shot a quick wink over to the woman, who beamed up at the expressionless helmet.

“She certainly is, which is why she wants to go ahead and do it today.” As if the baby knew what Mando was saying, he began cooing and gurgling excitedly. He reached down and stroked the child’s slightly furry head. “We would like all of you to attend as our witnesses. Mandalorian wedding vows are a simple exchanging of words, but we would like for all of you to be a part of it.”

Later in the day, as the blazing sun hung above the city, the group found themselves in the Mandalorian covert. The Armorer greeted the group warmly and led them to a common space with comfortable seating. Din and (Y/n) stood before them, hand in hand, as they began to recite the vows he had taught her on the flight back to Nevarro.

“Mhi solus tome. Mhi solus dhar’tome. Mhi me’dinui an. Mhi ba’juri verde.” Din clasped his gloves hands on her cheeks, pulling her towards him. Gently, he pressed the forehead of his helmet to her, and she beamed back at him.

“So that’s it? You’re married now?” Karga slapped his hands to his knees. The Armorer nodded.

“Yes. Mandalorian custom dictates a simple exchange of words as a binding marital contact. This is the Way.”

(Y/n) strode towards Cara, collecting the baby. “Well that’s it little guy, I guess I’m officially your mom now.”

The Armorer nodded her head in agreement. “A clan of three. Go forth and raise warriors.” (Y/n) chuckled.

“I think warrior, singular, is about all we can handle right now. I think our little clan is finally complete.” She gazed at his visor adoringly. “Now, we better get back to work. I blew a bunch of our credits at the casino on Canto Bight. Karga, got any pucks for us?” The group stared at her incredulously, as Din wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“I told ner cyar’ika no using the Force to cheat. We didn’t need their security ruining her vacation.” She shrugged under his weight.

Karga grumbled. “Nuttiest bounty hunters in the entire Guild. I swear, they were made for each other.”

The baby cooed happily between them, and (Y/n) felt her chest swell with pride. After all those solitary years, the brutal Jedi training, she finally felt as though she had the entire galaxy within her reach. The things she so outrageously dreamed of, prematurely stolen from her in her youth, restored by a fifty something year old child, and a man clad in armor as impenetrable as his heart: a family all her own. A clan of three.

#mandoachallenge #themandalorian #mando #mandoxreader #dindjarin #din djarin #fluff #romance #themandalorianseason1spoilers #themandalorianxreader #dindjarinxreader

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plutos-moons · 5 years ago

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okay, so i was bored and started to write a head canon i have had in my head for a long time. It basically revolves around the quote: they made you into a weapon and told you to find piece I found on pinterest (so credit to the creator of that quote.)

Also I am really freaking sad about how they ended Ahsoka and Obi-Wan so I wanted to write a fanfic about the two of them:))

(My first language also isn’t english so feel free to correct my mistakes)

A weapon to achieve peace

She sat down heavily. Her knees pulled up into her chest the young knight breathed for the first time in what seemed like forever. Lightsabers were sprawled out in front of her as was the training droid she had demolished almost completely.

She couldn’t, she couldn’t stop.

Eyes filled with tears Ahsoka stared right ahead. Unseeing. Lost. Confused

She had tried, she had tried so hard to put everything behind, the hurt, the lost, the war – but still, everytime she ended up here: the training room of the jedi temple. Ahsoka wanted to be prepared in case there would be an attack, another war.

She simply couldn’t convince herself that it was over. The war has ended.

The war has ended. At least that was what everyone kept telling her.

“It’s over. We have restored the peace.” Ahsoka remembered her master telling her after the both of them – along with several other jedis – defeated the sith-lord, Darth Sidious, who has been posing as the chancellor himself for a long time.

Still Ahsoka couldn’t stop acting like it hasn’t. She was still awfully aware of her surroundings wherever she went. Counting the different escape routes, as well as people she would have to help in case of an attack. She was never able to sleep more that four hours. The temporal rhythm of war still ticking deeply inside of her. She couldn’t help being jumpy whenever someone or something was too loud. Bombs, shouts and shots still too fresh in her memory to be ignored. And the probably worst of all: she was not able to resist the callings of the training room urging her to fight till exhaustion kicked in. Whether it was deeply within the night, early in the morning or sometime around the day. Ahsoka couldn’t stop. She wouldn’t stop.

And it angered her, it angered her a lot. After all everyone seemed to handle the end of the war well. Freedom. Happiness. Even love. It was pumping through the force like a flare, full of energy and light.

The freshly knighted jedi swallowed. Why was it so hard? Why wasn’t she able to keep on going like everyone around her?

Unable to keep holding back the tears, she began to sob. Utterly heartbreaking sobs that echoed off the wall of the training room. Ahsoka cried, it was the first time after years and years of holding back her emotions.

She cried for the friends that died, the people she lost, but most importantly she cried for the loss of herself. She was 14 when she was thrown into the battlefield. She was 14 when she lost the bright spark in her eyes everyone has always prided her for, she was 14 when she witnessed death first hand. The bubbly and unbothered teenage girl fading away as was the life in the troopers eyes. She didn’t know his name and they have never spoken even once but he selflessly gave his life for hers.

Years and years passed and all tough Ahsoka never lost her smile, everyone could see how the war changed her. But it wasn’t just the war, it was the people as well, the order expelling her, her best friend framing her, the lost and lonely months in the underworld of coruscant. Everything had worked out in the end, she was back after all and Anakin had full filled his destiny without turning to the dark side. But at what cost? Her innocence has been taken from her, her childhood has been taken from her and still she would never go back and do it differently.

Unaware of the others person having joined her in her crouched down position on the floor, she cried, cried till there were no tears left. Only then she made out a voice talking to her soothingly. Embarrassed for her outburst Ahsoka looked up and stared right into the eyes of her grandmaster. She wanted to say something, wanted to apologize for her behavior but Obi-Wan beat her to it.

“Don’t apologize, Ahsoka, it is quite alright.”

She shook her head. It was not alright, she was a jedi after all. She was supposed to be strong.

“I knew I would be able to find you here,” Obi-Wan kept on going. “I’ve been thinking about talking to you for quite some time, you know? Master Plo, Anakin and I, we wanted to do it together but we were worried you would feel crowded.”

Rather than embarrassment there was confusion all over Ahsoka’s face now.

“You wanted to talk to me?” Her voice was hollow from crying. “But why?” Panic mixed into her voice, she hasn’t done anything wrong after all. Did she?

Obi-Wan who sensed her uneasiness, gently laid his hand onto hers.

“Do not worry, it is nothing bad. We were simply worried about you.” The Jedi-Master smiled at her carefully. “And seeing you here, makes me realize that we were right to be so.”

Ahsoka swallowed and averted her gaze. They were worried about her. That could simply mean that she hadn’t been able to hide her emotions as well a she thought he had. They shouldn’t worry. She didn’t want them to.

“I’m fine.” The togruta managed to get out, before her voice broke.

“You are not, Ahsoka, and that ist alright. We didn’t want to talk to you for our sake, but yours.” Obi-Wan stopped for a moment, giving Ahsoka time to understand his words. Together with the other two Jedis he had agreed to talk to their protégée once one of them decided it was the right time to do so.

He squeezed Ahsoka hand lightly and kept going. “It was different for me as it was for Anakin and Master Plo. We didn’t become a padawan during a war period, let alone the worst war of them all. But you...” Obi-Wan trailed off. Ahsoka nodded understandingly.

“You feel lost, after all war is everything you have ever known since your were little. And Ahsoka, let me tell you this...” The Grandmaster gently took her chin and turned her head towards him. “It is okay. No one can blame you for feeling weird, even wishing there still would be some kind of war. You have those feelings because you feel like war defines you, made you who you are. And it is true, it had a great impact on you, but you can overcome it.” Tears were glistening in Ahsokas eyes. The hopeful words of her grandmaster finding their way into her heart. “It won’t be easy, but nothing ever is. No one expect you to leave everything behind. They ... we made you into a weapon, a weapon to achieve peace but never the less a weapon and now everyone expects you to find peace.“ Obi-Wan looked at Ahsoka almost helplessly, it hurt him to see her like that, feeling like she had no purpose.

“They made warriors out of children, we made warriors out of children and no one ever questioned it. And there is no excuse for that, there never will be, but what it shows us is that even the jedi make mistakes. Even the people who are supposed to make right out of every wrong do the complete opposite from time to time.” Once again Obi-Wan looked at his grand-padawan lovingly, a girl who has found her way into his heart a long time ago. A sister to Anakin, as niece to himself. Attachment never really was his strong suit after all.

“You will be okay Ahsoka, we’re standing behind you every step of the way.” Ahsoka suppressed a small sob and nodded.

“Good, what about-“ The Jedi-Master wasn’t able to end his sentence because suddenly Ahsokas face was pressed into his shoulder, her slim Arms hugging him tightly.

“Thank you, Master.” She whispered quietly her voice thick with emotions. Obi-Wan who has been in this exact position with Anakin a lot of times, wrapped his arms around the young woman as well. “You will never have to thank me for something like that, my grand-padawan.”

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hailing-stars · 5 years ago

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febuwhump day one: lost -small miracles

read on ao3

A cursed song played.

It screeched out from a plastic wand, and, even more cursed, Tony was singing along to the princess toy. Not out loud, of course, just in his head. He knew all the words. Hell, he even knew all the dance moves, all the steps and swings Elsa took as she belted impossible notes while building her ice castle.

He would’ve blamed Morgan, but Tony suspected most of the blame fell on Peter’s shoulders. Just a day earlier, he’d been singing at the top of his lungs, dancing around in the jet, making Morgan giggle and Tony blast the volume on the classic rock pumping through the plane’s speakers.

He smiled at the memory. It was just a day old, but it didn’t make it any less good.

Tony looked down when Morgan started tugging at the bottom of his shirt. She stared up at him, eyes wide, with a face full of fake innocence, the kind that let Tony know she was about to ask for something, or rather, kept asking for something.

“Please dad.”

“Come on, Mr. Stark,” added Peter. His eyes were also wide, and his brown hair stuck up behind a pair of black Micky ears. “Please.”

“No.”

“But – “

“It’s bad enough that I paid fifty dollars for two pairs of glorified headbands,” said Tony. “I don’t need to make myself look like even more of a fool.”

“Aww, dad, you’re ruining the atmosphere,” Morgan chimed in. She continued yanking at the bottom of his shirt.

Tony resisted the urge to mock the atmosphere. The thousand screaming kids, who carried souvenirs that played even more cursed songs.

“Yeah, Mr. Stark. Have some Disney spirit.”

He looked at the kids. His kids. They were both there, both alive and breathing and well. They both wore ridiculous mistakes of the fashion industry on their heads, and they both were pulling their most convincing puppy dog eyes. He only lasted just a couple seconds longer about caving and handing his credit card to the cashier.

A third pair of Micky ears cost him another twenty-five dollars and a rush of humiliation once he put them on over his head and walked out of the souvenir shop, but the grins on Peter and Morgan’s faces were a memory he’d always have.

“Looks like the weather needs to get in the Disney spirit,” said Tony, looking up and around at the clouds that had rolled in while they were in the shop.

The sky was grey. No trace of sunlight anywhere. A breeze blew through their hair, bring a chill with it, one that made any of the water attractions unthinkable.

The kids didn’t seem to notice, though. If they did, they didn’t care. Morgan was too busy naming all the Disney characters she wanted to meet, and Peter was too busy trying to find their location on the map as she listed them off.

Tony didn’t know if he should be concerned that most of the ones she wanted pictures with were villains. Later, he’d ask Pepper. Some SI emergency had her back in the hotel suit, dulling out her wisdom and orders via Skype.

“Ok, umm,” said Peter, sliding his finger across the map. “If we start here, we should be able to get pictures with all of them.”

“You sure, Pete?” asked Tony. “Meeting them all might take the day. This is your vacation, too.”

“It’s okay,” he said, with a smile. He folded up the map and slid it into his back pocket. “We still have tomorrow to see all the Star Wars stuff and go on rides.”

Morgan gave an excited little jump, and Tony clapped Peter on the shoulder, wondering how he’d gotten lucky enough to have two perfect kids.

They spent the day taking pictures with Disney characters and going on the occasional ride, and ended it with room service in their suite, with Morgan showing off her pictures to Pepper. She painted gold sparkles on Peter’s Micky ears while she told her mom all about how the Evil Queen was really just misunderstood and while Peter texted Michelle.

Or, probably.

He was probably texting Michelle. He had that goofy smile on his face only she could be responsible for.

Tony smiled and put his metal arm around his wife. It didn’t really matter to him he was missing his real arm. After the war, after Thanos was destroyed and the lost were brought back, Tony had never felt so whole, so content.

He should have known it wouldn’t last forever.

Their second day at Disney World started the same as their first, right down to Pepper explaining that she’d be spending the day in the suite, once again, trying to put out fires at SI. She pushed him and the kids out the door, assuring him everything was fine and that he should enjoy the day, that there was nothing he could do.

“Alright,” said Tony, after Pepper pulled the door shut behind them. “What’s the plan today?”

“Star Wars,” was Peter’s immediate answer.

“Star Wars it is.”

“Yes!” Morgan leaped and did fighting poses as she glided down the hallway, towards the elevator. “I’m gonna get a lightsaber!”

“Volume, little miss,” Tony told her, looking around at all the closed hotel room doors. “And no hitting anybody with it, once you have it.”

“We’ll see!” said Morgan, in a sing-song voice. She darted into the elevator as the doors opened.

Peter laughed as he pressed the button to the lobby. “Don’t worry, Mo. We’ll have epic lightsaber battles on the plane ride home.”

“YEAH!”

Tony grunted, hoping to come off like he hated the idea when actually he didn’t mind it. Anything to prevent another sing-along, dance-along, that got yet another Disney song stuck in his head.

Peter’s head was buried behind the Disney map, only the Mickey Ears he still insisted on wearing were visible. He was the very definition of nerd then, at the moment, standing on a crowded path at Disney World, wearing a shirt that described various sounds of the weapons in Star Wars.

Tony hoped he never changed.

He could stay like that forever, seventeen and content to spend a week humoring his little sister, but Tony knew he wouldn’t. Time marched on, even now that everything was perfect, even now that Tony was retired and had nothing to look forward to except living in the moment, every moment, as they happened.

Peter closed the map. “It’s over that way… just let me run to the bathroom real fast, Mr. Stark.”

Come to think of it, that could change.

Peter could drop the formality and start calling him by his first name. It was a fool’s errand to even suggest it.

There were only a handful of occasions Peter slipped up and called him Tony, every one of them were he was distressed, like that time he was delirious with the flu, or the last time, after Tony had snapped Thanos and his army away and Peter had been sure Tony was dying.

Peter disappeared into the bathroom, and Tony grabbed Morgan’s hand and guided her towards a nearby bench, preventing her from running after some other kid who’d already gotten a lightsaber.

Five minutes passed. Tony checked the time on his phone, mentally cursing Peter’s questionable food choices.

Ten minutes passed and Tony’s leg started to bounce. He shouldn’t be worry. There was nothing to worry about, and even if Peter was on the floor of a bathroom stall, getting violently ill from something he ate, he wouldn’t appreciate being checked up on in the bathroom.

He pushed down his paranoid parental instinct, his nagging anxiety that something was wrong, or at least, he held it back as long as he could.

Fifteen minutes passed and Tony no longer cared what a seventeen-year-old would find embarrassing. He stood up from the bench, grabbed Morgan’s hand, and marched off towards the bathroom.

“Eww, no dad,” said Morgan, stopping when saw she was being tugged towards the men’s room. “Boys are gross, and they smell. I can’t go in there.”

A point was made, but Tony couldn’t stand the thought of letting go of one child when he was terrified something had happened to the other. He lifted her into his arms, told her put her head down in his shoulder and close her eyes, then walked into the men’s room, noting that Morgan had been right.

It did smell, despite being soul-crushingly empty, besides a kid standing at the sink washing his hands.

“Peter?” asked Tony, looking around.

There wasn’t a response. He didn’t know why he thought there would be. All the stall doors were open and there weren’t any feet visible under any of them.

“Hey,” said Tony, getting the kid’s attention. He turned off the facet and looked at Tony. “Seen a teenager in here? He had on some nerdy Star Wars shirt and Mickey ears?”

The boy shook his head and hurried out of the bathroom, forgetting to dry his dripping wet hands.

Tony’s heartbeat pumped through his ears. His eyes raced around the small bathroom, as his brain tried and failed to come up with explanations to where Peter could have gone. Panic and paranoia, along with the truth that Peter was too polite and considerate to simply run off without telling him, took over and dread twisted a tight knot his belly.

For the second time, Peter Parker had disappeared into thin air, and Tony had done nothing to prevent it.

Tony sat in a tiny, hot room, between two sweaty men who hadn’t bothered with deodorant. His legs were shoved under a tiny wooden table, his back was hunched forward, and his eyes were glued to the security monitor.

He watched as Peter left him and Morgan by a bench on a pathway and disappeared into the bathroom. After that, there was nothing. No sign of Peter leaving the bathroom, no sign of Peter at all. Tony sped up the footage, rewound and played it again, only to see it play out in the exact same way.

A low shakily breath escaped Tony and both his hands flew up to grip the table. Not again. This couldn’t be happening again. Not to Peter, not to his kid. Thanos was gone. The world was set right, or had been, up until the very Peter had wandered into the bathroom and didn’t come back out.

Tony’s world would never be okay with Peter Parker in it, even if the rest of the world spun on without a blip. That was the thing about saving the world, he supposed, it always needed saving.

There was always someone out there, waiting and watching and wanting to cause harm in one way or another. Whoever it was this time really messed with the wrong retired Avenger. They took the wrong kid.

He’d get him back. Tony couldn’t imagine a future where he didn’t get Peter back. The world, the universe, would simply cease to be.

Tony left the security guards in their sauna and set out to find Peter’s phone. A quick look at the tracking software on his own led him to the opposite side of the park, where he saw Peter’s cellphone in a patch of grass under a sign.

Carefully, he picked it up and rubbed his thumb over the freshly cracked screen.

“Really, kid? Again?” asked Tony. He examined the third phone Peter had ruined that month. “You’d think someone with sticky fingers would have a better grip.”

Peter laughed and shrugged. “Maybe I just like the aesthetic better that way.”

Tony blinked away the memory and shook his head, looking forward to finding Peter so he could buy him another phone and, probably, many more after that.

“Where are you, Pete?” asked Tony, as if he expected the phone might answer.

It didn’t, of course, and as the day wore on, Tony was beginning to worry he might never get his answer, might never had the chance to berate the boy about cellphone responsibility ever again.

At some point, Disney security notified the police, who arrived to take Tony’s statement and start a search party. It yielded nothing, except panic and chaos and concerned parents leaving the park early with fears that someone dangerous might be lurking about.

Pepper called May and Happy, and Tony put out a distress call to the Avengers, though he refused to go back up to the suite with Pepper and Morgan to sit around and wait.

Instead he wandered around the darkened, abandoned Disney pathways, clutching Peter’s broken phone in a tight fist and wishing the day had ended the way it had been supposed to end, with epic lightsaber duels and laughing.

Now all he had were echoes of what was supposed to be.

Disney World was eerie at night.

Tony couldn’t quite pinpoint why, exactly. Most likely it was a combination of things. The silence, the lack of little kids with capes and princess wands running around, screaming, the lack of his own family surrounding him.

It was dark and empty and cold, devoid of any charm or warmth.

It reminded Tony of the way the world looked and felt after he’d made it back from space and witnessed the greater devastation Thanos’ snap had caused. Maybe that was just him, though. Maybe that was just the effect of Peter Parker’s mysterious absence had on his onlook.

That’s what kept him going, kept him searching. Peter had to be out there somewhere. Tony wouldn’t consider any other option.

He shook his head and checked his watch, muttering under his breath about the Avengers being so late. Cap had turned into an old man and suddenly everyone else became slow.

“Mr. Stark.”

Tony startled, and jerked his eyes away from his watch. He looked around but didn’t see anything.

“Mr. Stark! Up h-here!” Peter’s cry was desperate and panicked but filled kindled warmth within Tony’s chest. He found him. He found his boy and he was alive.

He looked up and spotted Peter hanging off the edge of a ride, clinging to its tracks. His legs wiggled around in the air as he struggled to keep his grip.

“Pete,” yelled Tony, frowning. Something was off. “Stop struggling, just stick and climb down.”

“I c-can’t,” said Peter. “Please, Mr. Stark, you have to help me. I don’t know – I don’t know what’s happening, my powers – I lost th – I can’t – “

Tony rushed forward when Peter’s fingers slipped off the metal and he dropped to the ground below. His head smacked against the concrete and blood oozed out from his forehead, matting his hair together

Tony rushed forward, but before he could get there, before he could even think about calling a suit, Peter’s fingers slipped off the metal track and he dropped to the concrete below. Peter’s head smacked against the ground and blood oozed out from his forehead, matting his hair together and stabbing at Tony’s heart.

“Peter, oh god, Pete!” Tony sunk to the ground near Peter’s limp body. He stretched out a hand, needing to provide some sort of comfort, needing to provide his kid with something, but was stopped dead when Peter fixed him with an empty, sad stare.

“Too late, Mr. Stark,” he croaked out. Blood continued to pour out from his head. “Why are you always too late?”

His eyes fluttered close. His chest stopped moving, then, just like that, his lifeless body faded away and nothing was left of Peter Parker. Not ashes, not even his blood. Tony pressed his palm up against the concrete where it had been stained red. His hand came back clean.

He stared at it, flexing his palm, in utter confusion and shock, until the edges of his vision started to blur. The Disney pathways, the rides, all the bright colors, disappeared and it was just Tony, sitting in a sea of blackness.

Slowly and carefully, he stood and looked around at all the nothing, the darkness that stretched as far as he could see.

The sound of Peter screaming broke the silence.

Tony broke into a run. His feet propelled him forward through the black, towards the gut-wrenching sounds of Peter’s pained, desperate cries. Eventually Tony came upon a light, which turned into, once he got closer, a room with a large, glass window.

Inside the room Peter was strapped down on a medical, while men in white coats hovered around him, poking him with needles.

“Hey! Let him go!” Tony yelled. Nobody seemed to hear him. He took a step forward, ready to beat his fist against the glass until it broke, but an eerily familiar voice stopped him.

“Stark.” The man who seemingly appeared out of nowhere sounded like Ross. Though his face was still familiar, Tony couldn’t place it. “No use trying to save him now.”

Tony redirected his attention into the room. Peter had stopped screaming. Whatever they had been injecting him with had killed him.

“Don’t look so shocked,” said the man. “Did you really think you could hide him from me forever?”

He couldn’t take his eyes off Peter’s dead body. He couldn’t make his mouth form words.

“Did you really think this all this would end any other way than his death?”

Tony swung his fist into the glass and it went straight through. The glass dissolved into nothing, into the darkness, at his touch, along with anything else. Gone was Ross-voiced man, gone was the white-coated scientists, gone was Peter’s corpse…

Then, once again, it was just Tony and the black. There was no screaming that time, just silence. No running, now that Tony didn’t have a reason to move.

That didn’t matter, though. The trouble came to him instead.

Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson appeared out of the darkness. In Bucky’s arms, limp and lifeless, was Spider-Man sans mask.

“We’re sorry, man,” Sam told Tony. “There was nothing we could do.”

“That’s bullshit,” the words fell from Tony’s mouth, but it was as if someone else were saying them, as if he were watching from someone else above. “You were supposed to watch out for him! You were supposed to keep him safe!”

“Oh, please, Stark.”

Tony turned and he was in the Parker living room, only dimmer and less inviting. May Parker stood in front of him, glaring at him.

“Like you should talk,” said May. “You killed him the day you walked into his apartment and recruited him for your little war. He’d still be alive if it wasn’t for you dragging him into it. I hope you’re proud of yourself, Mr. Stark.”

She grabbed an ern, Peter’s ern Tony realized, and walked towards him. “Take him. You had no problem taking him from me when he was alive.”

May shoved the ern into Tony’s arms, but at contact, it turned to dust and slipped through his fingers, the same way Peter had slipped through his fingers back on Titan.

May and her apartment faded away and Tony was thrown back into the darkness.

It wasn’t all black that time, at least not for very long, as Tony was assaulted with flashes of his worst nightmare over and over again. Peter in a dark alleyway getting stabbed through the stomach. Peter getting crushed by a building. Peter getting electrocuted until his face was blue and foam bubbled from his mouth.

Peter drowning in a cold lake, pounding on the ice that separated them, and staring up at Tony with pleading eyes, begging for his help. Tony didn’t move. He didn’t stomp on the ice or try getting him out. It didn’t matter what Tony did.

The story ended the same each time, with Peter’s death.

Peter went still, sunk away from the ice and disappeared into the water’s depths. His hand was still, too, but it remained outstretched, as if he were still waiting for Tony to grab onto him and lift him to safety.

Tony watched him float away, until he couldn’t see him anymore, until he was staring at s concrete Disney pathway that had once been red with Peter’s blood.

He breathed hard and looked around, wondering what the hell kind of acid trip he’d just lived through. His brained race with just one thought. Peter. Was he alive, or dead? He needed to see him, touch him.

He needed to know he was still breathing. That he was real.

“Daddy?”

Tony turned and saw Morgan standing still behind him, watching him. Her hair was crumpled and caked with dried blood.

“Morgan?” asked Tony. His voice had a shake. “What happened to you? Where’s mom?”

She didn’t have an answer for him. Just a stare, one Tony had always feared he’d receive from Morgan. She looked at him the same way he’d learned to look at his own father as a boy.

“Why didn’t you save him?” she asked. “Why do you keep letting him die?”

“Morgan – “

“You let Peter die! You killed Peter!” she yelled. She turned, and ran, forcing Tony to run after her.

He followed her off the main pathways and through some grass. She finally stopped her sprint when she got to the edge of a body of water. She turned around and Tony reached out his hand, only for her to turn into dust and blow away with a breeze.

Water from the lake ran over Tony’s shoes, bring with it a pair of Mickey ears he was compelled to pick up. As he examined them and the gold fingernail polish painted onto them, gears turned behind his eyes.

He thought back to the Ross-voiced man with a familiar face, finally realizing how he recognized him. He pulled his phone from his pocket, keeping his eyes on the abandoned building across the lake, and dialed Pepper.

She answered on the first ring.

“Tony – “

“Is Morgan with you?”

“Yeah, of course,” she told him. “Where else would she be?”

Tony felt a warm blanket of relief cover his body. “Tell me what’s going on a SI.”

“Right now?” asked Pepper. She sounded surprised, but went on anyway. “Someone broke in, stole some technology. We’ve been trying to figure out how they breached security and track down what’s missing.”

“What technology?” he asked, though he thought he probably already knew.

“BARF.”

“I’m gonna kill him.”

Tony hang up before Pepper could say anything else. He didn’t have the time to waste. He had a deranged man to bury and a son to rescue.

“Come on, Mr. Stark, hurry up,” muttered Peter, twisting his wrist around in the handcuffs that had them locked together. His skin was red and itchy underneath, and that bothered him more than the glass cage he was locked in.

He stretched out his legs and gave the glass a good, strong kick. It didn’t break. Not even a little bit, not even by a tiny crack. Without thinking, he tried, not for the first time, to pull his hands apart, only to growl in frustration and drop his hands into his lap.

This whole thing, this whole being handcuffed and locked away in a dark, damp building, wasn’t how Peter wanted to spend his day. Plus it was dramatic. It was overkill and a little redundant.

Mysterio – as Peter had nicknamed him – had only rolled his eyes and chuckled a little after he’d told himself, after he’d asked him to either let him out of the glass prison or loosen the handcuffs.

He supposed dramatic and overkill were good ways to describe his captor. He wore a costume as if he were an actor on the set of a CGI heavy movie, and he spoke like there was an audience watching.

Regardless, Peter popped his head up when Mysterio strode back into the room.

“Hey, you’re back,” said Peter. He scrambled to his feet, stumbled around a little bit as the task of standing was made difficult with complete use of his hands, and stood at the edge of his cage. “You didn’t bring me any food? That’s rude.”

A strange, unsettling smirk split Mysterio’s face as he stopped, turned, and slowly approached. “You know, you’re a good kid, Peter. I almost feel bad about this.”

“You know,” said Peter. “I’ve actually heard that one before. It’s a little cliché.”

“It’s just too bad you got mixed up with someone like Tony Stark,” Mysterio told him. His voice squeaked as he struggled to turn an oversized facet.

“Too bad for you, actually,” Peter frowned, both unimpressed by his complete lack of physical strength and trying to figure out what it was he was attempting to do. Peter had a bad feeling, but he also had Mr. Stark’s words of advice floating around in his head, given in case he ever found himself in a situation like this one.

Keep them talking. Distract and stall.

“I feel sorry for you.”

Mysterio stopped his struggle, looked back at Peter, and snorted. “Why? Because the self-destructing cycle of revenge only leads to the dark side?”

A villain making fun of his shirt. That was a first, but Mysterio wasn’t technically wrong.

His vendetta against Mr. Stark was both insane and self-destructive and couldn’t end well for him. It was embarrassing sometimes, the extremes Mr. Stark would go to when someone was threatening his kids, though Peter was thankful for it during times like these.

“No,” said Peter. “Because Mr. Stark’s going to beat the shit out of you.”

“Maybe,” said Mysterio. “But I wouldn’t count on it.”

“You’re pretty confident for a guy who can’t turn… whatever it is you’re trying to turn.”

Mysterio chuckled, his hand still on the oversized facet. “Imagine Peter, seeing your loved die over and over again and not doing anything to stop it. Imagine what it might do to a person and the guilt they’d feel knowing they did nothing to save them… guilt like that, it’d ruin a man, or at least, a man like Tony Stark.”

The facet groaned when Mysterio finally gathered up enough strength to turn it and Peter felt the floor beneath him shake. Water seeped in from the slits on the floor, quickly covering the area of the glass cage and soaking into Peter’s shoes.

A shiver went through him, and Peter was about complain at Mysterio, about to tell him he could’ve at least used room temperature water if he was going to try and drown him, but he was cut off by a deafening boom. Wood shattered on the wall to the left of them, and Mr. Stark stepped into the room.

His regular hand, the one that wasn’t metal, was covered in armor. The gauntlet water, Peter guessed.

“Mr. Stark…” said Peter, his voice both filled with relief and with a tremor. The water was rising fast, so cold that it stabbed at Peter’s legs like knives. “Perfect timing.”

Mr. Stark didn’t acknowledge him. Instead, he stared straight at Mysterio.

“Hi crazy eyes,” greeted Mr. Stark. “Having fun with my tech?”

“It’s – “

Mr. Stark waved a hand at him. “Know what? No. Whatever you have to said isn’t anything we all haven’t heard before. You can cut your villain monologue shit too, just tell me where my kid is so I can blast you into that wall.”

“He’s right there,” said Mysterio. He pointed to the cage, to Peter, but Mr. Stark refused to look.

“Mr. Stark,” said Peter, a second time. It didn’t change anything. Mr. Stark kept his eyes on Mysterio, and for the first time that day, Peter started to worry. His legs were numb, the water had risen to his waist.

“Not falling for it,” said Mr. Stark. “Where’s Peter? Don’t make me ask again. You’ll regret it.” Mr. Stark paused, amended. “Well let’s face you’re going to regret this either way.”

“It’s m-me,” said Peter, quietly, his teeth chattering. Either of the men in the room heard him, and he doubted it would matter if they did.

He wracked his brain for something, anything, like some sort of secret passage word Mr. Stark would understand, would have to realize he wasn’t an imposter. It was hard to think, though, with the water knifing him, with his breath coming so fast.

“Mr. Stark!” Peter shouted that time, he ignored the ache in his wrists and brought both hands up against the glass. It didn’t break. “It’s me, it’s Peter, help!”

Finally, at last, Mr. stark spared him a look, but the relief Peter felt was short-lived. It died out when he saw the look in his eyes. Mr. Stark had never looked at him that way before. Not even during the regrettable ferry incident. Like he was scum. Worse than scum. Like he was Mysterio.

The stare had been colder than the water. Peter went still, went quiet, and Mr. Stark looked back at Mysterio. The water rose up to the bottom of Peter’s neck.

“If that were really Peter,” said Mr. Stark, taking steps closer to Mysterio, who started to back up. “He’d broken that glass to bits.”

“I can’t!” Peter shouted. Mr. Stark ignored him. “I c-can’t! I - I lost my powers!”

“That’s a nice try, Beck. A+ for the dramatics, but word of advice, never try to pull the same trick twice.”

Peter gave the glass a kick as the water hit his chin, kicked it again when his nose went under, and a third time when he was completely submerged.

He opened his eyes under the water. Mr. Stark had a hold of Mysterio’s shirt and punched him across his face with the prosthetic hand. At least Peter had been right about one thing. Mysterio would be very lucky to leave Disney World with all his teeth.

It didn’t seem to matter, though.

Peter was dying, drowning, with Mr. Stark standing just a few feet away, and it didn’t matter how many punches, how badly he beat Mysterio, Peter knew if he died, died this way, it’d be a blow Mr. Stark might never recover from.

He’d be wrecked with guilt, just as Mysterio said, and Peter wasn’t going to let that happen.

He pushed up off the floor, as hard as he could, and thrust his head above the water.

“T-tony!” Peter managed to yell out, water spilling into his mouth as he sunk back down.

Mr. Stark whirled around. His eyes went wide when he looked at him, really looked at him, with warmth and worry. His eyes were completely absent of the previous coldness. He dropped Mysterio, who hit the ground hard, stretched out his arm and pointed his palm at the glass cage.

There was a beam light, then Peter was sliding down to the floor with the water. Shards of glass landed around him and Mr. Stark ran towards him. He immediately pulled Peter up into his arms, covering the side of Peter’s head with his hand and slamming it up against his chest.

Peter relished the warmth he stole from Mr. Stark and the air traveling freely through his lungs.

“God, kid,” said Mr. Stark. He swiped a mop of freezing, wet hair from Peter’s forehead, as he shivered under his arms. “I’m sorry. I – I didn’t think you were real.”

“’t’s ‘kay,” said Peter, still breathing hard as he tried to speak. “You got me, I’m okay.”

He’d hoped his words might comfort him, but Mr. Stark shushed him and told him to focus on getting good breaths. He got a few more breaths in before repeating himself again, attempting to calm Mr. Stark’s heart as it hammered away in his chest.

“It’s alright,” Peter breathed. “I’m real, you got me.”

Tony walked into Peter’s room, carrying a plate full of corndogs and an entire bottle of mustard.

Peter had been standing by the window, but when he turned and saw he was coming, he scurried back to his bed and under the heated blanket, as if he thought doing it quickly would change the fact that Tony saw him at all.

“I had one condition for not taking you straight to the hospital,” Tony told him. “One.”

Peter rolled his eyes. “Mr. Stark, I’m fine.”

It was truer than it wasn’t. Peter was fine. His powers were back. He was breathing and warm and real, but it was Tony’s job to make sure it stayed that way. That Peter stayed under his blankets and fully recovered in time to enjoy Star Wars in the morning.

The same couldn’t be said about Quentin Beck. He’d been carted onto the Quinjet after the Avengers decided to show up and was probably, at least Tony hoped, locked away on the raft.

“We really gotta move past this Mr. Stark business,” said Tony. He sat down on the edge of the bed and watched Peter shift around under the covers, trying to get comfortable.

“But then we’d have to think of another password.”

Tony handed him the plate and the bottle of mustard. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll be easy enough. Something like ‘corndogs are disgusting.’”

“That’s uncalled for,” said Peter. He squeezed an ungodly amount of mustard all over his food, then had the audacity to lift one up by the stick and put it in Tony’s face. “Wanna try one?”

“Absolutely not.”

“You’re missing out,” he told him, as he chomped down on the corndog Tony rejected. “It’s tradition. I always have corndogs after I almost die, or a mission goes wrong.”

Almost dying shouldn’t be normal for him, should not in any way have its own traditions, and yet, it was and it did.

That wasn’t Tony’s fault. He may have recruited him into the Avenger’s, but he hadn’t been there when Peter decided to put on his pajamas and fight crime in his backyard.

All it took for him to realize how ridiculous it was to think Peter would ever do anything than try to world the world, or at least his neighborhood, was a series of illusions from a deranged, pretend wizard.

“We need to get you a more sophisticated palate.”

“What like cheeseburgers?”

“Hey,” said Tony. He gave Peter’s shoulder a little push, needing to feel that he was real, that he was really there. “Don’t knock the classics.”

Peter laughed and threw an empty corndog stick at him.

“I changed my mind,” said Tony. “No Star Wars tomorrow.”

Peter only laughed again in response. He damn well knew Tony would keep his promise and take him to the Star Wars part of the park. That he would take him anywhere if only he asked. He supposed that was his problem now. Two spoiled kids, two miracles, and a long retirement with plenty of time to spoil them.

When morning came, Peter was as good as new and spent their entire breakfaster together fidgeting around, rushing everyone and playing on his phone.

Tony couldn’t say he blamed him for being angsty. One day in a glass cage, missing out on the Star Wars adventure he’d been promised, would make anyone eager to start the day.

They made up for it, though, eventually.

They saw everything, rode every ride. Tony and Pepper were forced to sit behind the kids on most rides, unless they wanted Morgan to loudly call them out when they were being what she considered gross and exchanging kisses.

Tony liked it better that way. He got to watch his kids, watch Morgan smile, laugh, scream and cling to Peter. He got to watch and listen to Peter console her during the few moments she was afraid.

“Don’t worry, Mo,” he told her, as the cart crawled up the hill. “I’m sticky. I can’t let you go.”

When the cart, dropped, sped down the incline, all Tony saw in front of him was Peter’s curls, thicker and wilder in the Florida humidity, blowing through the air.

It was a good day, a perfect day. One to erase all the panic and chaos and anxiety of the day that had come before, as if it’d never happened. As if it was all one big illusion, like a nightmare they woke up from and forgotten by breakfast.

The day ended with buying Morgan a lightsaber and watching her go through the Jedi Academy. Tony stood off to the side, with Peter, and with the other parents, with his phone ready to record Morgan’s duel with Darth Vader, but that wasn’t how it played out.

Instead of hitting Darth Vader with the lightsaber, Morgan kneeled down and declared her allegiance to the dark side of the force. She was meet with a roar laughing and cheering and clapping from the onlookers.

Tony kept his phone steady and pointed at Morgan, but turned his body towards Pepper and asked, “Should we be worried about her?”

“She’s your daughter,” said Pepper. “We should always be worried about her.”

Peter erupted into laughter and bothered Tony the rest of the day to send the video to his phone, so he could text it to MJ and Ned.

That day was supposed to be where the vacation ended, but like everything else, that hadn’t gone according to plan, either. Peter was to blame. He forced them all to watch Harry Potter in the hotel room, and the next thing Tony knew, he was buying tickets to Universal and standing in a Wizard’s clothing store, pretending to be a sorting hat.

“Peter is without a doubt a Hufflepuff,” he said, yanking a pair of Hufflepuff house robes off a rack, and seeing as how there was no other option for a boy like Peter, he accepted with a smile and a nod.

Tony sorted Pepper into Ravenclaw and himself in Gryffindor, leaving just the youngest. His hand hovered between shelves, then moved towards a set of Slytherin children’s robes.

“You went to the dark side,” Tony told Morgan, dropping the robes into her hands. “You’re getting green.”

“Aw, dad,” said Morgan. “I only went to the dark side so Vader would let his guard down around me and then I could wait until he fell asleep and chop him up with my lightsaber.”

Tony, Pepper and Peter paused, the three of them trading looks.

“…ok,” said Tony, after a beat. He clapped his hands together. “You’re still getting the green.”

Morgan shrugged. “MJ always says you gotta keep your enemies close.”

“That doesn’t say great things about your relationship, kid.” Tony clapped Peter on the shoulder and headed towards the check-out counter.

“Guess what dad?” asked Morgan. She did an excited jump and didn’t wait for him to guess. “Peter and MJ kiss!”

“Morgan!” whined Peter.

“Oh really?” asked Tony, giving Peter a smirk, watching his ears go pink.

“Yeah! I saw them during Aunt May and Uncle Happy’s wedding, behind Gerald’s house. They gave me candy to go away and keep it a secret.”

“Which technically you should give back now!”

“Too late,” said Morgan. “Already gone.”

Peter growled under his breath and Tony put his arm around him. “Relax kid, everyone already knows you two kiss. Even Gerald.”

Tony paid for their robes, which they all put on immediately, before heading out of the shop and into the cobblestoned streets of Diagon Alley. Tony stretched his arm around Peter, while he continued to grumble about lack of privacy and snitches while Morgan mocked him.

It was another beautiful day, a perfect day to be dressed like a wizard with his family, and the future stretched on with the promise of many more.

#febuwhump 2020 #Peter Parker whump #irondad #irondad fic #Morgan stark #pepper potts #mysterio #Quentin beck #Disney world #Peter parker #Tony stark #protective Tony stark

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shadowversejc · 5 years ago

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THE DESTINY OF SKYWALKER: The Rise of Skywalker Ending Reimagined

Chapter 1: The Rise of Skywalker

EXEGOL

Ben was running. Running, running, running as the sweat limped off his arms and face. Running through the darkness, which pervaded everywhere. But like many times before, the darkness was almost physical. But unlike those times, its strength was impossibly strong. The Dark Side was truly everywhere in this place, and it crept outward like an unstoppable slug.

He knew she would've known what to do—that Force bond just saved his life. He almost started laughing, but scolded himself for nearly falling for that temptation. Yet, he really couldn't help it—everything she did made him smile. He could barely keep focus each time they had fought before. Even being in her presence made his heart jackhammer to the point he thought faintness overtook him. Except for when she cut off a piece of his face. Not the finest moment by any stretch. He would always hold a grudge for that. Especially when his kids ask, "Dad, who gave you that?"

"Oh, your mother," he mumbled, still sprinting through and towards Rey's location. He was getting way too ahead of himself.

Priorities, Ben, priorities, he thought. Sometimes—well, more like all the time—he wondered why he loved her. And that he did, she just didn't know or hear him say it. Yet. She was a scavenger, truly a nothing from nowhere. Maybe it was the Force. Maybe it was destiny. Maybe it was simpler than that, though. Maybe, just maybe, for the first time in his life, he met someone who was also alone. Someone who needed another to make life bearable. It was all very poetic.

His mind was still reeling from the conflict with his former squad, the Knights of Ren. Those savages had been working behind the scenes for the Emperor this whole time, yet he never even caught a glimpse of their machinations. And now, the end neared as the fate of the Force teetered on the edge of an abyss. If they don't succeed and destroy one of the greatest Sith of them all, those kids won't even exist. If Darth Vader now apparently couldn't kill him, who could? But he had to try. Even if it meant giving up the greatest thing of all—life.

He would have to save the galaxy. When he imagined saving the entire galaxy, though, only one thing came to mind—Rey. She was his galaxy. He hoped she always would be. No matter what ensued, death could never hope to separate them.

I will finish what you started, grandfather.

After an eternity of running and jumping like a madman through the terrain of Exegol, he finally made it to the arena. Sith loyalists were everywhere, filling his ears and eyes with horror. The First Order itself was originated in various forms of evil. But this was different. It was pure evil, unlike anything he'd ever seen.

He looked around and spotted Rey in the center; just standing there, Leia's blue lightsaber blade casting a small pool of light in this dark dungeon. And there...was the Emperor. He was attached to the gigantic apparatus he had seen beforehand, flailing about like a zombie. It scared the crap out of him.

"Every master I have grown beyond is now with me," the Emperor said. "There is no escape. I will not just rule the galaxy. We all will!" His voice now seemed to be a multitude of voices. Darth Nihilus, Vitiate, Maul, Malgus, Bane, Plageuis, Exar Kun—the Dark Lords of the Sith from eons past all sounded their victory.

"The Force is not with you, grandfather!" Rey retorted. He laughed, drawing it out so that it echoed everywhere. "Young fool...good. Come and witness the full power of the Dark Side!"

Ben walked up and stood inside the arena. Rey noticed the commotion and looked. She smiled. Not a big smile, just a slight grin. He was overcome with joy. She had never smiled at him before. And boy, did it feel damn good.

Suddenly, he was hit by a truck of courage. He would kill Sheev Palpatine if it was the last thing he did. If only to see her smile one more time.

Glaring at Sidious, the newly-reborn Ben Solo stepped next to Rey, wielding the lightsaber of legacy, the saber used by Luke Skywalker and his father before him—Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One.

"Your coming together will be your undoing," the Emperor said. "You will not stop me. I spent years planning. I destroyed the Jedi. Now, I will destroy you."

"'You'?" Rey snapped. "You won't kill me. You will have to kill us." Ben glanced at her and smiled. The time was at hand.

Out of nowhere, Palpatine shot his hands forward and ripped a translucent mist from both Ben and Rey's bodies. He had sucked something out of them. Something Ben knew he took. Something that horrified him. Years ago, he read the stories of all the powers the Dark Side lords possessed—one of them being life force manipulation. It's how this very Palpatine kept his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker, alive after a quick dip in the fires of Mustafar. In doing so, he took the life of his grandmother, Padme Amidala.

"The life force..." the Emperor muttered, almost astonished. He sneered with the smile of a devil and repeated the prior motion. Kylo and Rey were frozen by an unparalleled Force power as their very life left them and instead served the Emperor. His face began to brighten, his fingers reform, and soon enough, he fell to a knee. He felt more alive than ever—like he was back in the game. He dropped Rey and Ben to the unforgiving, cold ground.

Ben looked to Rey. She was unconscious. He shifted and glared at the Emperor, who slowly stood up. When they locked eye contact, Ben discovered a terrible truth: His eyes were now reddish-orange. The color of the Sith.

"No!" Ben shouted, mustering every ounce of strength to at least stand up to this monster in the Force. To pose a threat. To do something.

"Vader betrayed me," Palpatine said. "So I will start off by destroying the last Skywalker!" He telekinetically lifted Ben into the air once more. "I am your Emperor." He thrust Ben away and he fell into a pit deemed no bottom.

The reborn Darth Sidious sat on the throne. The ceiling began to part, displaying the vast fleets from everywhere in the galaxy consumed in an absolute spectacle of war. Rey began to awaken and turned over. She groaned and looked to her grandfather, who pointed his fingers upward. What followed was a deep moan from the very Force itself, letting out an expulsion of Force lightning previously undreamed of straight into the sky, where it branched off like a thunderstorm. The fleets shorted out and began to go deadstick.

Horrified but powerless, Rey inched up. "Be with me," she choked. "Be with me."

"There is no one coming to help you," Palpatine growled. "No one will be with you. No one is coming, just like no one came to save your parents. Once more the Sith will rule the galaxy! And we shall have...peace. And this time, there is no Vader, no Skywalker to stop us."

She connected to the Force, her rage rising. The Skywalker lightsaber lifted off the ground in front of her. On one knee, she reached out to grab it. But it flew right past her and into the outstretched hand of someone, or something, else.

A slightly glowing, blurry figure stepped into an iota of light. Igniting the lightsaber, it began to walk forward. She squinted. The figure's features were now apparent. It wore long, Jedi robes and boasted long, wavy hair. Yet, she had no clue who he was.

"I believe you're in need of my assistance," he said. "I will be with you, Rey. Because I am all you need. And it's time I finish this. I will finish what I started."

Just then, Ben Solo crept out of the pit...somehow. He pushed himself up onto the ground that was riddled with energy and a nightmarish cyan glow. His eyes widened when he made out some kind of Force ghost. The ghost turned around and smiled at him.

"This was never your destiny, Ben! This is mine. I will balance the Force forever. One last time. Not as Vader, as Anakin Skywalker...the Chosen One."

***

I hope you enjoyed reading it! I never write fanfics but I was so pissed after what happened in TROS that I had to do something about it.

#the rise of skywalker #reylo #star wars #kylo x rey #kylo ren #ben solo #rey #anakin skywalker #palpatine #reylo shippers #tros #tros spoilers

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megashadowdragon · 4 years ago

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on lukes moment of weakness and how it is fitting for luke among other comments

Personally I TOTALLY believe that George's Luke would have been VERY similarly to Rian's Luke.

And here is the reason why.... Luke has almost always been George's insert (lucas pronunced luke S ) and it makes total sense for Luke to be "exiled" and secluded away just as George became with Star Wars after the backlash of the prequels. But at the end of it, he comes back and stands up for what makes Star Wars what it is. Which is what Luke does for the Jedi and themes of Star Wars by the end of TLJ. He has learned from his mistakes, atoned for them, found redemption, confronted those he has failed, inspired hope, and learned to show compassion once again.

Now while George may have done it differently, I do believe that Luke being in exile was a metaphor for George's own relationship with Star Wars and its fandom.

www . reddit . com/r/StarWars/comments/ebb4f3/lukes_momentaneous_thought_of_killing_ben_solo/

I know I'm stepping on dangerous territory here by talking about The Last Jedi, and I only do this because I think this is an interesting take on a key moment of the movie. Just bear in mind that I do not intend to make my point-of-view the absolute truth of it. After all, this is just my opinion.

We all know very well how divisive Episode VIII was, with many people pationately hating that movie. One of the main reasons of complaint is the fact Luke Skywalker had attempted to kill his apprentice and nephew, Ben Solo, because he sensed the Dark Side to be too strong in the latter. Luke Skywalker, the only person in the entire galaxy that saw there was still light in Darth Vader, tried to kill his relative. When even Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda had lost all hope Anakin could be saved, Luke helped putting him on the path of redemption, helping Vader turn back to the Light and fulfill the prophecy of the Chosen One. It seems to be an insult that this same character gave up on his nephew so easily and tried to kill him.

I believe things must be analyzed more carefully.

I've just finished marathoning the Skywalker Saga (by the way, I STRONGLY recommend the Ersnt Rister order: IV-V-I-II-III-VI) and noticed something very interesting while watching Return Of The Jedi.

During the final moments of Luke and Vader's duel aboard the Death Star II, we see the young Jedi Knight wants to avoid fighting his father so as not to fall in the trecharous web of Palpatine, who wants to turn the young Skywalker to the Dark Side. Luke is hiding beneath the Emperor's throne. Vader chases him and, through the Force, reads Luke's thoughts to lure him into confrontation:

You cannot hide forever, Luke. Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your friends. Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for... sister! So, you have a twin sister!

In this moment, we see Luke's face and he's completely terrified by the idea Darth Vader found out about his sister. It is something new and Luke fears for Leia's well-being. Also, we hear from Vader's words that he cares a lot about his friends, the people he loves. Vader continues:

Your feelings have now betrayed her too. Obi-Wan was wise to hide her from me. Now his failure is complete. If you will not turn to the Dark Side, THEN PERHAPS SHE WILL!

Now we have something different. Since he was brought before the Emperor, Luke had been constatly confronted by Palpatine and Vader with the idea of him turning to the Dark Side. When Vader talks about the possibility of that happening to Leia, it's not a threat directed to him, but to someone he loves. In this moment, Luke loses it completly and attacks Vader viciously, totally enraged. The Sith Lord can't stand the power of his son, fuelled by hate and falls to the ground, defeated. In this moment Luke is prepared to make the final blow, but then he hears Palpatine laughing and clapping. This makes him go back to his senses and realize what he's been doing. He then turns off his lightsaber and refuses to kill his father.

"I'm a Jedi, like my father before me" and so on... we know what happens, so let's fast-forward to The Last Jedi.

When Luke is confronted by Rey, who demands him to tell what had happened between him and Kylo Ren, we learn how things unfolded through Luke's perspective:

I saw darkness. I sensed it building in him. I'd seen it in moments during his training. But then I looked inside, and it was beyond what I ever imagined.

In this moment of the flashback we see Luke's hand reaching out to his lightsaber, almost unconsciously. He then proceeds:

. He would bring destruction and pain and death, AND THE END OF EVERYTHING I LOVE BECAUSE OF WHAT HE WILL BECOME, AND FOR THE BRIEFEST MOMENT OF PURE INSTINCT, I THOUGHT I COULD STOP IT.

Here it is again. Like in Episode VI, we see Luke reacting in a similar way by the notion of something posing a threat not to him, but to the people he loves and cares about. Luke feared Ben would destroy everything he cherished, just like Vader had threatened by turning Leia to the dark. And, just like in the OT, it was a passing shadow:

It passed like a fleeting shadow, and I was left with shame and with consequence. And the last thing I saw were the eyes of a frightened boy whose Master had failed him.

I've already written way more than I expected, so I'll just conclude here. I've realized the act Luke commits in the Sequels is the same (or at least VERY similar) as from the OT: he attempted to kill Vader then his nephew, out of fear of seeing what/who he loved destroyed. He repented and managed to stop himself in the act in both situations. And he was ashamed. So, at least regarding this point of the movie, I see the same Luke Skywalker.

(luke had more to lose now then he did before

another example which I saw dont remember where I saw it but I saved the comments unfortunately I didnt put in the links:

edit: (now I remember www . reddit . com/r/StarWars/comments/9a3hdl/)

Luke considered killing Ben for about two seconds in a vulnerable moment

Sort of like he almost got baited into killing Vader by a few mocking words, and cut the hand off his own father in blind rage.

Luke is still just a person. If we've learned anything in Star Wars it's that the Jedi are not superhuman paragons of virtue and perfection, no matter how they might appear to the unwashed masses in the SW universe. They have the same flaws, temptations, failures, etc as anyone else. Yes the Force can help them overcome some of this, but they're far from perfect. Luke could have, and I agree should have grown in a positive way, but it's not impossible or even unbelievable that he didn't. He just had his life's labor wiped out in front of him and blamed himself for it. All those years of finding lost Jedi knowledge and artifacts, being what he believed to be the last Jedi in the universe with the responsibility to restart the order on his shoulders alone. All those lives that he took under his protection and guidance as the Master of the new order, wiped out in one night. Because of him (at least in his mind). Everything he was working towards for years just totally undone in a few hours and it was all his fault.

So he leaves and says fuck the whole lot of it. He lives by himself, stews in his misery and regret, retreats into himself and rejects the most foundational principle of the whole concept of being a Jedi: to help people. He's the most powerful Force user alive and he's wasting away by himself on some desolate rock, swearing off the rest of the galaxy because he thinks that he's a failure, that he wasn't strong or good enough, that he can't win, that it's not even worth it to try anymore, and that even at the height of his wisdom and power, it was all undone, and by himself no less.

another comment

Stuff has changed, I mean he’s quicker to come to his senses. I wouldn’t call that his flaw though. His flaw is one of his greatest traits, his care for his friends and family. It’s a flaw cause it causes implusive actions, lashing out on Vader, leaving Yoda, a single thought that he could stop a horrible fate in Ben.

I personal struggle with a temptation in my life, a temptation to do something my faith says is wrong to do. I may have overcome it some days, but other days, whether the same circumstances or not, I might fall into it. Temptations are a constant battle, not a one and done thing. Flaws are similar, you don’t just grow past a flaw after one instance.

Because a day may come when you will brought face-to-face with that temptation or flaw again, but the circumstances will be different, and it won’t be so easy to overcome.

You mentioned Toy Story in a post, and that’s a decent example when it comes to one facet. Woody might not get jealous when another flashy toy comes along that gets more attention like Buzz did.

A better example of the nagging of a temptation, like Luke dealt with, is in Lord of the Rings. The Ring is a constant temptation to the bearer and those around them. At least by the film, Frodo may have resisted the urge to use it under the tree, but he still was tempted to use it at other times, and it was a constant battle. Same with Bilbo. Bilbo held the ring for 60 years. And the temptation of it held him greatly. He drops the Ring in Bag End, letting it go. If he was viewed similarly to how people viewed Luke tossing the saber, that’d mean he freed himself from it’s grasp and from the temptation to take and use it. We see in Rivendell that isn’t the case for him. He has a moment of wanting to take it back, and even at the end of his time in Middle Earth, he inquires about it, although more innocently curious.

That would be more similar to Luke’s case. To fall to the dark is a constant temptation that Jedi should always be aware of, and if you get close at one point, there’s the possibility that it’ll happen again, and if you aren’t prepared or it comes in a different form, you’ll either fall or get really close.

That turned out longer than I meant it, but I see this idea and..it’s just not the case.

another comment

Just because you get older doesn't mean you necessarily get wiser and better.

Jedi are still people (and some aliens, but you get the meaning), and the prequels (and even the OT) showed that even the oldest and wisest among the Jedi were capable of mistakes and misjudgments.

I think it's unreasonable to assume Luke should have become incapable of making, or even repeating mistakes and succumbing to emotion.

Right because people only get better as they get older and we grow past our flaws and doubts permanently right?

You guys are weird.

Luke overcame that moment of doubt before he almost struck Vader down and you think what ....... Luke got some kind of videogame like powerup where that character flaw would never come back again?

Some of you have a very black and white (boring) opinion on life and human growth.

Spoiler: People have flaws, we don't all overcome those flaws.Your boy Luke is no exception.

Consider what nearly proved to be his downfall in Return of the Jedi: for all the Emperor's taunting about the Rebel Alliance's imminent demise, it was Darth Vader who finally pushed his Berserk Button by discovering that Leia was his twin sister and suggesting that if Luke didn't change sides, he and his master might have better luck turning her. Then, when Luke went berserk, it totally worked: he curb-stomped Darth Vader and still didn't go evil in the end. His father's killing off the Emperor also put an end to a whole lot of the Empire's evil and birthed the New Republic.

Flash forward thirty years, and once again someone is threatening everyone and everything Luke loves, and killing the guy would surely preempt a whole lot of trouble. In his heart of hearts, he doubtless remembers what Yoda taught him about how easy and seductive the Dark Side is, but he also remembers how Yoda's mistake of hiding the truth about his lineage from him nearly brought his downfall. He also remembers how killing the Emperor solved so many problems the way he'd better not try to solve them this time... Well, what's so tempting about that?

Luke had more to lose at this time. He knew what a relatively free, peaceful Galaxy looked like, and had other students to care for besides Ben. Instinctively, he was acting out of concern for them. Luke makes an important point when he gives Rey the truth: it is a split second. Luke is a hero, but he's human. He was impulsive and acted on instinct in his youth, so the fear of Ben turning is enough to push him to the edge for a second.

hopeforben . tumblr . com/post/623000635980333056/theres-a-significant-portion-of-the-fandom-that/embed

@emeraldspiral

@daughter-of-water

@someoneintheshadow456

#star wars #star wars the last jedi #luke skywalker #star wars meta

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anabe23bookwormstuff · 5 years ago

Text

Voices (Dyad: the force of a new beggining, chapter 9)

The next day after Jannah had a chance to say sorry, the doctor checked Rey and they all had breakfast the king requested Rey for a private meeting.

She was mad and wanted an explanation, fearing even that the king had something to do with what happened to her, so she agreed immediately.

"After I talk to him we can leave" Rey said to Ben and Jannah.

"What about that guy?" Jannah questioned.

"I'm going to question him, you can come if you like... just don't get in the way" Ben told her and Rey shot him a tired gaze. He couldn't be mad at Jannah forever... or he could be stubborn and be it.

"I'll... see you later then" Rey started walking away and Ben couldn't hekp but look at her. It was odd, her using colors and her hair down... even on Naboo her clothes were pretty much the same, but for the kings orders they all had t wear Keetar clothes.

After the bright blue and pink robe of Rey dissapeared he turned away, he would ask a servant where the prisoner was or he would find it. Whatever happened first.

"Your majesty" Rey acknowledged the king but didn't vow nor looked down when she entered the throne room.

"Rey, I was very sorry to hear what happened to you" he said from his throne, not moving an inch. Her hand intuitively reached for her saber, but she calmed down.

"Did you know about any of this?!" she demanded going up the stairs to his throne.

"I had no knowledge about them being agressive, in the many times we visited them before they only asked to speak with you and never harmed anyone" he said.

"Liar! you're helping them" Rey accused him.

"I do not lie! The attack on you and your friend were a terrible terrible mistake and I plan on helping you anyway I can" he rose from his seat.

"The first day I came here, you didn't really want us to do anything and yesterday... you're not even worried or anything, about them dying, about them doing this to me" she was about to show him her arm but then remembered that Ben had already healed her. " Their absence seems to make no difference to you, or even make you happier so... you brought me hre for another reason. What do you want?"

The king stared into Rey's eyes then, sitting back down and tilting his head a little.

She has it in her. Clever, strong, sure... he thought.

"Sit down" he finally spoke.

"Where?"

"On that step if you want" all he cared was he could look at her face.

"I'm okay standing, now. Tell me truth." she crossed her arms.

He sat straight on his seat and intertwined his fingers on a metidating pose.

"Take off his helmet" Ben ordered Jannah now that they were with the prisoner. Ben had him shackled to a wall on his cell.

"Do you know him?" Jannah asked taking it off.

"I don't think so..." he admited. He never payed too much attention to his army, at least not enough to recognize all of their faces.

"Kylo Ren" was all that the groogy's prisoners voice said.

"You're going to answer a lot of questions today" he held out his hand, slightly choking him.

"I won't say a thing unless we're alone" he said, making Ben laugh a little.

"How dare you think that I'm going to listen to any of your requests?" he stepped closer to him tightening his hold.

"She's staying and you're talking." he released him and Jannah looked uncomfortable. She'd heard of the trouble on the galaxy, of Kylo Ren, of his fury, of the first order and managed to get out of it, plus a lot of people at the base had told her horrible stories about Kylo and now... he was standing in front of her.

And she wasn't sure if he was good or he was bad.

"Jannah, record everything here, we'll have to show it to the resistance" he handed her a device with a small antena.

"Now tell me, what did you wanted with the girl?"

He was resisting at first and Kylo gave him the chance to speak freely, but grew tired soon and had to use his power.

"I- I wanted the reward."

"What reward?"

"Whoever is to bring the girls head to... a secret place will be payed with a case of Nove crystals and... a new ship, and a safe place on the new order" this left Ben and Jannah confused, but he went on with the questions.

"Who is offering this reward and where is that place?"

"I don't know"

"Don't you tempt me" Ben warned him.

"I really don't know" he nodded and turned around, then came close to the trooper and took out his lightsaber. The troopers eyes went wide at the sight of the rare color, the heat... it was so close to his face.

"I bet you had fun while hurting her, and I'll show you a little how it feels" in a second he pushed the lightsaber against his armour and liked the feeling of the saber cutting through it until it touched his skin and he started yelling.

"Who is offering this reward?!" he asked again.

"I don't- I really don't know. Captain Phasma asigned someone a long time ago... to keep and eye on the order, and he just came out after the emperors death. I swear!" he said between shouting and squirming, trying to get away from the saber.

Ben weighted his words and decided to believe him.

"Ben... I think the guards are coming" Jannah heard the faint footsteps going down the stairs.

"It's okay. Tell them to not interfere, come on" she nodded not wanting to make him more mad and ran to tell them.

"Kylo... Our Supreme Leader... we're ready for your orders" the trooper said after she left.

"You're delirious" Ben said and his mouth twisted.

"Sir... you haven't changed. Not a bit"

"Shut up!"

"I... I have coordenates of... that place back on the camp, if not everything is destroyed then... you should be able to find it on a box next to our weapons.

"What do you expect from me?" Ben asked.

"We all.... we're all waiting for you to rule sir. Alone"

"That is madness" Rey said clenching her fists.

"Why would it be? You Rey, are so powerful. You need to rule the galaxy, alone."

"First of all, I've never asked to do so and second... there's someone more prepared for this"

"And they really thought getting her killed is the way of getting my attention?!" Ben argued.

"He needs to answer to his actions... and no ruler is okay withhim ever being in control again" the king assured Rey.

"She doesn't belong here sir. She's not part of the order. She makes you weak!" the soldier spat thinking of Rey.

"He is not going to trial! and that's out of the question"

"Who do you think you are to give places to anyone? huh, you're a meaningless man on a white armor, which today, means nothing. She killed most of you alone, and the rest of you, are falling soon" Ben didn't have to hit him or harm him in any other way than talking to him. Although his burned skin was a reminder of his wrath.

"Why not?! are you now siding witht he enemy Rey? we all thought you were smarter than that. Rey... all he senators, queens, kings, we want you."

"When have you decided all of this?! and why didn't they all reached out to me?!"

"We've been preparing... but Rey, you can'd do anything until Kylo Ren has faced-"

"He's not Kylo Ren!" she shouted.

"If you got rid of her... you'll be free of this sir. You don't need her. We don't need her and we don't want her. Sir-" Ben punched the trooper.

"After you tell me all that I need to know, I'm going to kill you and I will make sure that you and the others are an example for anyone who still has this stupid idea on their minds."

"Sir... many times you've been warned of this girl making you weak, the other to kill her is to make you a favor" the soldier managed to say, only making him more mad. Ben wanted to kill the guy, but if he did then he'll lose his information, so he conformed with punching his injury, it was close to his heart and for a split second he enjoyed the pain on his face.

"If you're not willing to listen to us, then I'm afraid I'm gonna have to tell them that you are against us all" the king said in a low voice.

"I'm not against you! I'm trying to help you but I... I need time, I don't know a single thing about ruling a galaxy!"

"And you're not willing to sacrifice the boy..."

"He's not-"

"Like that anymore" the king cut her off.

Ben stepped away in confusion, contemplating the blood on his hand and his bruised knuckles... he hadn't had an outburts in so long...

He reminded himself that he did it for Rey and that he was trying to protect her... and with the information he would end the reamins of the first order and protect the galaxy from anyone who still had a delusional dream of living like that again.

"I'll talk to them... but you'lll have to convince everyone not to try the boy. As for the part of ruling... I can only admit that I'm a little dissapointed Rey"

"I'll do... and if you help me, I'm willing to forget that thaks to you I got ambushed and almost killed"

"I've told you I didn't know about that" the king had stood up and finally walked closer to Rey.

"I guess it's hard to trust sometimes huh?" Rey teased.

"They won't wait long Rey, and you must make a decision" he said ignoring her.

"You can lock his sell again" Ben said quickly walking out and passing some guards near by.

He hurried back to her the bedroom was, rubbing his hand on his shirt trying to get the blood off.

Since he had slept with Rey they didn't really asigned him any other room so he hoped not to find her there. He got in and walked to the bathroom, getting his shirt off and washing his hands, the bruised knuckles would give him away but not too much. He decided he'll change into his regular clothes and throw the other one away but as he was walking out of the bathroom he bumped into Rey.

"Hey why are you...?" Rey examined him and raised her brows inquisitively when she noticed the stained shirt.

"I..."

The words of the king came back to her mind... He's dangerous, he has to answer for his crimes.

All Ben wanted to say was he was sorry again and again, but why was he sorry? he was trying to protect her and it's not like the trooper didn't diserve to go through at least some pain.

"He's not death but... I just couldn't let him... he had to-"

"It's okay.... Ben" she didn't step back even when her body kind of wanted to do it, and he didn't step closer. For a second it seemed to be kilometers and kilometers between them.

She makes you weak. Ben remembered... but shook his head and continued walking.

He tossed the shirt on a garbage bin near him and put on his sand colored shirt again. When he turned around he nervously played with his hands behind his back and when Rey saw him... the small doubt that rose in her died.

How could he be scary? how could he evil when he looked like that? the poor boy was almost sweating.

She shook her head and laughed a little, closing her eyes and sitting on the bed.

She shouldn't let the kings stupid words change her mind.

With her laugh Ben was able to breath again... hoping that it meant that she wasn't mad or scared.

"What did the king wanted to say to you?" he wondered sitting on the other end of the bed. She straightened up a little.

"Well... I'm not really happy with these news... did you get anything out of that guy?"

"Not such good news either..." he admited.

"You first" Rey said.

"And why me?"

"Well I think he told me almost all the bad news before so... it shouldn't be that shocking" Ben rolled his eyes.

"Someone... has put a price to your head... and they are waiting for me to come back and rule the galaxy, with the first order apparently"

"See? he told me"

"Well at least now I know what they're offering and where I can find the rest of them"

"That's great! I hope we don't have to look much for them, do you have a map or something?"

"It's your turn to talk. I won't say anything else" Rey avoided his look.

"The king said that... the queens and senators... they all want me to rule" she didn't go on.

"Well, Poe mentioned it the other day didn't he? I know you don't like it Rey but if th-"

"They want to put you on trial Ben!" Rey exploded and he stopped with his encouraging speach of how he'll help her.

She stood up and walked back and forth around the room.

"They want to judge you by your past... and-"

"I can't say I didn't expected something like that. Rey, they have the right to ask for it" she stopepd walking.

"They don't. It's not fair... you're not that person anymore"

"Rey... if we weren't... like this. Honestly, wouldn't you want me to pay for what I've done?" he took her chin and brushed her cheek, Rey went after his touch, missing the warmth when it left her face.

"I won't allow it... they- they'll kill you Ben" her voice broke a little.

"You didn't answer my question" Ben twitched his mouth, he was reminding her that just because he wanted her to realize that even she would've done the same thing.

"I wouldn't... I-I saw you, Ben and... we can always choose to forgive"

"Forgiving me won't bring back my father... or my mother, or Luke, or the planets that turned into dust" he swallowed hard, realizing just how many times he had done terrible things. When had he started?...

"You have a death wish or something?! damn..." This time tears fell from her eyes and she couldn't fake a smile.

"We have too many things to worry for you to be thinking of this... first, we have to find whoever wants you dead and stop its followers" Ben said hugging Rey, she buried her face on his chest and made fists on his shirt.

"What matters is that you've changed..." she whispered, answering to the thoughts he'd had earlier.

"And that we can go back to the base now... I never thought I'll miss it" Ben admited.

"Yeah, we can go back to the base now. Speaking of it, how did you get here?" Rey asked.

Her question was answered once they were outside and she noticed the millenium falcon next to the ship that she and Jannah had arrived in.

"Chewie is not gonna like you more because of that" Rey said looking at him sideways.

"At least I didn't break it" he shrugged and started walking towards it.

"Rey mmm it's okay if you go with him" Jannah said adjusting her backpack. She still felt guilty when she noticed one of Rey's bruises on her leg.

"But we came together"

"And it's okay if you go back with him, really" she smiled a little.

"Okay... then we'll see you at the base"

"Okay" they waved and Rey ran after Ben who was already getting in the ship.

Without a word she ran past him and got in, she couldn't see him but she heard him laughing behind her.

"So you're driving?" He asked closing the door.

"Nope, I just wanted to sit first" he shook his head but wasn't mad at all.

Back at the base there was a big crowd as always, waiting for whoever had gotten out this time and of course, after hearing that Rey was in danger there were even more people than usual.

"Oh god..." Rey exhaled.

"The faster we get there, the faster it'll be done"

They got down and Finn and Poe went directly to hug Rey, BB-8 and D-0 were near too.

"I'm okay, really. I... managed to get out somehow" she noticed Ben started to walk backwards, giving her space and not talking to the crowd so she took his hand making everyone acknowledge him.

"Guys you're okay!" Kaydel suddenly came and pushed Poe out of the way to wrap her arms around both Rey and Ben.

"This tall man here ran around camp the second he knew you were in danger" Kaydel winked at Rey.

"I..."

"And then he stole the ship" she teased.

"Talking about that, have you seen Chewie?" Rey wondered.

"Mmm no but, he may get here soon"

"You need to tell us what happened Rey" Finn stopped their chatting.

"We have information about people of the first order who are in hiding and... have a plan" Ben said remembering the map and the other things he had gattered at the camp of the troopers.

"And about the kings and queens and all of that" Rey said on a lower tone and Ben squeezed her hand.

They were so distracted that they didn't knew Chewie was coming until he took Ben by his shirt and hit him against the wall.

"Chewie!" Rey shouted.

"Buddie come on, wait" Poe tried to reason with him.

The only one who didn't say a thing was Ben, even if his head was pounding and Chewie's hand was hurting him, he waited.

"Damn you and your death wish!" Rey murmured before getting close to them.

Surprisingly, she noticed, Ben was calm. She could feel it.

Chewie looked into Ben's eyes and when he did he lost all the fury he had before, insread he found the eyes of a resigned child. A child who many many years ago used to play with little ships with him or make him laugh... he was the same kid who murdered his father but at the same time he wasn't.

Chewie let out a little cry and pushed Ben once more before letting him slide down the wall.

"I'm sorry" Ben managed to sah before Chewie was gone.

"You shouldn't have stolen the falcon" Poe said offering Ben his hand.

"Maybe" he said standing up.

"I'll get you guys some food and then you can come and tell us about what happened" Kayldel said.

They went to their usual meeting spot and Poe urged them to talk.

"They want to put Ben on trial and I'm not allowing it"

"There is a reward for Rey's head and we have to stop them"

Ben and Rey talked at the same time making everyone confunsed.

"Poe, you need to promise me you won't let them judge him"

"I've talked to her about this. We must take care of the people who want the reward first and then..."

Poe tried to make sense of them but they kept talking and talking over each other.

"Okay shut up for a moment! Shut up." Rey and Ben mirrored each others actions without noticing.

They both widened their stance a little, crossed their arms and leaned back slightly.

It was kind of scary but powerful, the people around them thought.

They looked like they were in charge.

"Tell me everything from the beggining" Poe sighed resting his palms on the table.

#reylo #adam driver #fanfiction #star wars #ben solo #rey #skywalker

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anghraine · 5 years ago

Text

“the jedi and the sith lord” - chapter fifteen

Last chapter:

“How are you going to find opponents for me?”

“Quite easily,” he replied, and reached for something under his cape, then tossed it at her.

Lucy caught it without thinking—and her hands closed around the hilt of a lightsaber.

This chapter:

The lightsabers hummed together, the familiar sound almost soothing. Despite her weariness and alarm, Lucy felt more comfortable, in a way, than in a long time. The lightsaber felt right in her hand, and the Force sharpening every sense and reflex felt right, and the dodges and parries and sudden attacks felt right.

I was born for this.

chapters: chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, chapter four, chapter five, chapter six, chapter seven, chapter eight, chapter nine, chapter ten, chapter eleven, chapter twelve, chapter thirteen, chapter fourteen

Lucy was so surprised that only muscle memory had her switching the blue lightsaber on and blocking the first strike. Instinctively, her feet moved into place, her knees bent, and her eyes and mind tracked Vader’s lightsaber.

She was already tired when he began the barrage of blows against her lightsaber; it would have put her at a disadvantage even if he hadn’t been over a foot and a half taller and far broader. She had half a mind to give up already, but her pride wouldn’t allow it. She scraped up some energy from only the Force knew where—probably the Force itself—and quickly blocked his next attack, then pushed forwards into the third form, slashing at him.

I was born for this.

“Good,” said Vader, right before shoving her backwards with a blow so powerful she could barely repel it.

Lucy saw it coming and still almost lost her footing, quickly shifting into the defensive sixth form while she re-oriented herself. The fact of the matter was that she couldn’t win a straight-up duel with him. Not in her current state, anyway, unless the Force willed it, and she felt pretty sure that the Force was with him as strongly as her—it only ran through her veins because of him, after all. Even if not, she had a sneaking feeling that the Force didn’t intercede with random practice duels. She had to think about it in some other way.

It might have been different in a more natural kind of place. But the room was large and mostly empty, without structures she could use to her advantage. She kept trying to block his flurries of strikes and forceful downswings, but she knew she couldn’t do it indefinitely. What advantages did she have, small as she was?

Half-distracted by her own desperate thoughts, she slightly lowered her lightsaber and then jumped out of the way of a sideways slice.

Dimly, she wondered if he’d actually have carried the attack all the way through. She wasn’t quite sure. She felt certain he wouldn’t kill her, but who knew what his Dark Side-addled brain would consider a useful reminder?

All right. She was small—but didn’t that mean faster and lighter, too? At least, it could.

Maybe.

Vader felt as impassive as he looked as he raised his lightsaber again. But Lucy turned hers off.

“You are unwise to lower your defenses,” he said sharply.

She smiled. “I’m not.”

With that, she rolled backwards, lightsaber still held loosely in her hand, and took off running at full speed for the familiar refuge of the platforms. For several seconds, she could feel his footsteps behind her, alarmingly near with his lightsaber still activated, but then he stopped.

Lucy, not trusting this, kept going up the ladder and sprang up onto the first platform, breathing heavily. Okay. She could do this.

She didn’t expect him to say anything else. He wasn’t really the kind to yell halfway across a near-empty room. But then, his voice sounded in her head, strong and clear.

You can’t run forever, Lucy.

I’m not, she thought irritably.

Is that so?

All right, this was strange. Really strange. It reminded her of Ben speaking to her in the Death Star trench, and yet felt different. Less spiritual, and more like … just talking. Neither Ben nor Yoda had ever said anything about that. Could any of them do it?

Cautiously, she ignited the lightsaber again as she stood there, recovering her breath and some little amount of energy. Vader didn’t even try to climb after her. She hadn’t really expected it, though she didn’t know what she had expected—certainly, however, it was not for him to stroll over to Ellex. He seemed to be saying something, though Lucy had no idea what.

Then he wheeled around and marched right over to a spot beneath the empty space at the center of the platforms. He tilted his head back to look straight at Lucy.

Prepare yourself!

What? How—

And suddenly, the patch of floor beneath his boots began to rise—and just kept going and going and going, until it was nearly level with the lower hanging platforms.

Oh, no.

Now she remembered Tuvié showing her that when she demonstrated all the controls, but she hadn’t thought of it until this moment. Lucy gulped as Vader easily jumped from the central platform to one hanging several feet above it.

She glanced behind her, considering a return the way she’d come, but that would be just running away and hoping to exhaust him before she exhausted herself. It seemed a particularly improbable hope right now, and anyway, it felt cowardly. She squared her shoulders and lifted her lightsaber, then ran and leapt forwards to meet him.

She’d certainly not anticipated a lightsaber battle in the air today. But that was exactly what happened. Lucy had to rely on every hour of practice up there to evade his attacks when she suspected she couldn’t block them, springing from platform to platform while her father inexorably followed.

Finally, her arm went completely numb and Vader knocked the lightsaber right out of her hand. It clattered somewhere on the floor beneath them, while the red lightsaber hummed at her throat.

Lucy looked at the lightsaber, and then at Vader’s unreadable mask.

“Damn it,” she said.

He seemed—she concentrated—something like amused, or at least entertained. Lucy scowled.

“A worthy effort,” said her father.

“For a failure?”

“Yes,” he said, which wasn’t exactly encouraging. “Consider it instructive.”

“Thanks,” said Lucy.

“Do you acknowledge your defeat?”

She nearly wrinkled her nose. “I guess.”

He waited, the lightsaber still inches from her skin. It was, though not frightening, certainly unsettling.

“Yes,” she grumbled. “I have fallen before your mighty skills, Lord Vader. Can I get down now?”

Finally, he lowered his lightsaber and flicked its switch, the blade disappearing. She breathed a little easier.

“Yes,” he said. “But be better prepared for next time.”

On the face of it, that sounded threatening, and she was pretty sure he meant it to. But it’d make her exercises so much more exciting! And the lightsaber in her hand had felt—it’d felt so good. She wouldn’t do anything to have it back, not by any means, but she was perfectly ready to do this. Lucy smiled again.

“I will, Father.”

With that, she retraced her usual path to the floor, her legs feeling like they’d barely hold her up once she landed. Her fingers twitched as she saw her—saw Anakin’s lightsaber lying on the floor not far away, but she knew better than to try reclaiming it.

Sure enough, when Vader returned to the central platform and it lowered to join the rest of the floor, he summoned his original lightsaber back to his hand, silently hooking it onto his belt. The silence didn’t feel awkward, though, and he slowed his stride enough that Lucy managed to walk beside him without feeling like her legs might give out at any moment.

“I have business elsewhere,” he said. “I trust you can entertain yourself in the meanwhile?”

“Sleep sounds really entertaining right now,” said Lucy. “How long will you be gone?”

“A few hours, in all probability,” he replied.

“See you tomorrow, then,” she said easily, and watched him walk away. When the door closed, she turned to Ellex. “Are you ready to head back?”

“I am ready for everything at all times,” Ellex said without hesitation.

Lucy supposed she should have expected that.

She shrugged and headed off, expecting nothing other than the usual. But halfway along the trek to her bedroom, Ellex gave a whirr that reminded her of Tuvié. Lucy bit her lip, wishing she knew at least what had happened to her. Had she been destroyed or simply punished? Was she suffering, in some droid way, even now? It had become easy to overlook that the face (well, “face”) that Vader presented her to was not the one he showed the rest of the galaxy, even here. That didn’t make either persona false, just—she shouldn’t allow herself to forget.

“Lucy Skywalker,” Ellex pronounced.

“Yes?” said Lucy.

“I am reconsidering you.”

At that, Lucy turned to stare at her, genuinely startled. “You are?”

“Yes.” Ellex gave a decided nod. “Of course, you are little danger without your weapon.”

“I think we’ve already established that.”

“However,” said Ellex, “I am nevertheless inclined to re-evaluate my judgment of what threat you pose. Few people have stood against Lord Vader for so long.”

Lucy felt pretty sure he’d been going easy on her, for a Vader value of “easy.” And she didn’t really want to think about the others Ellex had seen, the ones who hadn’t been able to stand against him, in the end.

“Thank you,” she said. “I think.”

In all the sessions after that, Lucy trained with the familiar blue lightsaber, both in her drills of the forms and the inevitable duels with Vader. She never knew when the duels would actually happen—sometimes the lightsaber came flying at her right away, sometimes in the middle of a stretch, sometimes at the end—but they always did.

Lucy never won, but she could feel herself improving, the duels growing longer and longer as she increasingly fell back on her training rather than haphazard impulses. Despite the losses, she thoroughly enjoyed herself. If she’d known this was what training with Anakin would be like—

But maybe it wouldn’t have been like this, if she hadn’t held out against the Dark Side. He still seemed to have given up talking about it, though she felt pretty suspicious about that. Either way, she couldn’t help but accept that this was training and she knew it. She wasn’t altogether sure what its actual purpose was (beyond ruling the galaxy, which would never happen), but he definitely had some end in mind.

Whatever it was, he seemed pleased with her progress. She could feel it in him, and sometimes he even said something to the effect in his severe way. Lucy tried to keep distrusting him, to remind herself of his plans and the fate he would bring to the galaxy if she surrendered her guard. In some ways she still did, but it was nearly as hard as facing the truth had been. If not for her fears for the Rebellion in general and Leia and Han in particular, and regret over Tuvié—two considerable if-not-fors, in fairness—she would have felt happier than ever before in her life.

If Anakin hadn’t turned to the Dark Side, maybe this was the life she would have had all along, and without the suffocating walls of the castle and constant supervision. But she couldn’t resent him too much for it. Without the Emperor, everyone would have lived different lives and made different choices. If she hated anyone, it was him.

About a month into this, her father said suddenly,

“Have you ever heard of Admiral Varti or Commander Jerjerrod?”

Lucy set down her biscuit with some regret.

“Uh, the names sound familiar,” she said, searching her memory. “I’m not sure—oh! Ellex and … and Tuvié mentioned them once, I think. Ellex thought you should slice their heads off or something.”

“That is, unfortunately, not a possibility,” said Vader.

“Okay,” she said, unsure where this was going.

“One or both are responsible for the attack on Bast Castle,” he went on. “They are close allies.”

“Oh.” Lucy allowed herself another bite of the biscuit, mildly curious about why he’d mention this to her. If she ever made contact with the Rebellion again, she guessed she could mention the names, but it didn’t seem terribly important.

“Moreover,” said Vader, “Jerjerrod was appointed several months ago to the Emperor’s secret project.”

Lucy’s attention sharpened. “It seems like that would be a secret, too. Who told you?”

“The Force,” Vader replied. “Some things have become … clearer to me, in recent months.”

She felt pretty sure that was the Light Side, though she knew better than to say so outright.

“Well, good,” said Lucy. “Does this involve me in some way?”

“It is possible that it will,” he told her. “It is not altogether uncommon for more ambitious figures in the Empire to quietly build up small private fleets. I believe Varti and Jerjerrod are doing so—have done so, in fact, and that this fleet is still growing.”

“The attack on us was the fleet?” she asked.

“A portion of it, undoubtedly,” said Vader. “Jerjerrod is not overburdened with genius; he may have found it entertaining to test his ships here, of all places. The real question, however, is whether he and Varti intend to use the fleet in some way against his enemies in the Empire—or against the Rebellion.”

Lucy’s mouth went dry. “Why wouldn’t they just use Imperial ships to attack the Rebellion?”

“If they manage to personally strike a blow,” said Vader, “their place in the Emperor’s favour would be assured—or so they may think. And consider that their ships were disguised as Rebel ships. They may have some plan that relies on further sabotage.”

Remembering who he was, she hesitated, then lifted her eyes to the mask.

“Father,” she said, “I can trust you with some things, but not the Rebellion. Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I have extended a personal invitation to Admiral Varti to consult with me here,” said Vader. “If he accepts it, he will be here in about a week. For the sake of your Rebellion, you should be very wary when he arrives—and very observant.”

Lucy’s eyes widened. “But why would you—”

“Dità juradiiyad,” he added. “They can guide you in this matter, as in everything.”

That, she thought, was a low blow. She almost invariably used Alsaraic with him; he almost never used it in return. Still, she’d learned to trust her feelings by now. He seemed to be telling the truth, as far as it went. But she felt like he was leaving something out, something important.

“All right,” she said at last. “I’ll be careful.”

The next morning, Lucy did not get up at her usual hour. Instead, a metal hand shook her shoulders until she woke to two red eyes gleaming out of the dimness.

“I haven’t done anything,” said Lucy.

“Yet,” said Ellex darkly. “Get up. Clothe yourself in something of inferior value.”

Lucy climbed out of bed, her mind still foggy. “Inferior …?”

“Whatever you encase your flesh in will likely take damage,” Ellex said.

“Oh.” Lucy blearily made her way over to the wardrobe. “That sounds great.”

Ellex didn’t deign to respond to this, but she clomped to her usual position and light filled the room.

“Hurry up,” she said. “Lord Vader is departing shortly.”

Huh. He hadn’t said anything about that—but then, he didn’t say anything about a great deal. Lucy shrugged and managed to dredge up the grey clothes she’d worn on her ill-fated escape attempt, which had several stains and small tears. Feeling decidedly uneasy with the memory, she followed Ellex out of her room and, it turned out, all the way to the entrance. Vader stood there with his force field generator in hand.

“Lucy,” he said abruptly. “I will be gone for a time—several hours, at shortest, and possibly several days. The droids can look after your needs.”

“All right,” said Lucy. She paused, then figured she might as well ask. “Does it have to do with … with the matter we discussed yesterday?”

“It may,” he said. “Or it may not. The Emperor wishes to speak to me.”

Lucy swallowed.

“Communications across such a distance can be difficult on Vjun,” he added, which seemed positively chatty. “Once I have broken the atmosphere, it should be manageable. It is possible that he will send for me in person, however.”

Fear, long-gone by now, flashed back to life.

“Ellex will oversee you, as usual,” he went on. “I trust you will remain on good behaviour.”

Lucy managed a nod.

He swivelled on his heel and headed for the door, activating the force field as he went. It turned him into a smear of black.

“Father!”

The dark blur paused. “What is it?”

“Be careful,” said Lucy. “And—and mind your feelings.”

A few seconds ticked past. Lucy could sense surprise from him, and confusion, and something almost like—compassion? No, that wasn’t it. But close.

“Of course,” he said.

“You can’t trust him!”

“Yes,” said Anakin, “I’m aware of that. Goodbye, Lucy.”

She folded her arms. “Goodbye.”

After Vader disappeared through the front doors, Ellex ordered Lucy back to the training room. Lucy obeyed, but her thoughts and emotions were racing so wildly that her feet seemed to follow Ellex’s steps of their own accord. What if Palpatine sensed her father’s plans? What if he found out that Vader had stopped trying to turn her to the Dark Side? What if he did something? She wasn’t sure what, but—Force, what if he killed him?

As they arrived in the familiar white room, she looked around as blankly as if she’d never been there before. Her usual exercises seemed impossible.

“What are you waiting for?” said Ellex.

Without thinking, Lucy said in Alsaraic, “I don’t know.”

“I do not comprehend your nonsense babble. Why you insist on using it with Lord Vader—”

“It isn’t babble,” Lucy said indignantly, and missed Tuvié more than ever. “Lord Vader understands me.”

Ellex clicked. “He understands a great many things.”

“Yes,” said Lucy, “including his native language. If you’re quite done insulting us both—”

“I have been instructed to aid your newest exercise,” Ellex said. “Against my better judgment, I might add.”

“You’re moving the platforms? Fine.”

“No,” said Ellex. “Recall that if you even attempt to harm or disable me in any way, I am permitted to stun you into unconsciousness.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” said Lucy impatiently.

I just don’t like you, she thought. But Ellex, she supposed, couldn’t help the way she’d been programmed or how her code had evolved.

“We shall see,” said Ellex. “You should also consider that I am shielded against most forms of attack, including blaster bolts.”

Lucy’s brows knit together. What under the suns was she talking about?

Then Ellex reached behind her and withdrew something that she threw at Lucy. Lucy instinctively snatched it out of the air—and her fingers closed around the hilt of Anakin’s lightsaber. She stared at it, genuinely shocked; she’d never expected to hold it again except when overseen by Anakin himself.

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“That is hardly surprising,” said Ellex. “Even so, I have upgraded the current threat you pose from trivial to significant.”

“Thanks, but—”

Ellex lifted one of her blasters. With that, it all became clear—right before she shot a bolt straight at Lucy. Lucy promptly blocked it, remembering Ben’s training on the Falcon as well as the defensive maneuvers Vader had drilled her in so many times. The memories served her well; she repelled bolt after bolt with the lightsaber, only occasionally forced to dodge out of their way. But the risk of being stunned distracted her enough that she fixed her attention on Ellex, forcing herself to put Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader alike out of her mind.

She couldn’t do anything about that, not right now. She had to focus on becoming as strong and effective as she could be, without giving up who she was—Lucy as well as Skywalker. If that meant deflecting blaster bolts for two hours, so be it.

It did, in fact, mean that. Ellex broke through Lucy’s defenses a few times near the end, numbing one of Lucy’s legs and her off-hand shoulder, but never enough to completely take her down before she ran out of charges on the second of four blasters. Lucy hoped she didn’t mean to deprive herself of the other two, and sure enough, Ellex called a stop to the exercise.

“You deflected the blaster bolts into the wall,” she noted. “An unexpected choice.”

“Your shields would deflect them right back at me,” said Lucy. “And I told you, I don’t want to hurt you.”

Ellex said, “Very well. You may continue with your usual procedures.”

“All right,” said Lucy, bemused by the whole thing. She deactivated the lightsaber and handed the hilt to Ellex.

“What are you doing?” said Ellex.

“Giving it back to you,” Lucy said, puzzled.

“Why?”

Even more baffled, Lucy told her, “It’s Lord Vader’s. Not mine. He’d tell me if he wanted me to have it.”

Ellex tilted her head down to peer at Lucy, some inexplicable process winding through her circuits. Her sensors flickered.

“Very well,” she said finally, and took the lightsaber back, hanging it from the back of her belt.

Lucy’s hand felt painfully empty. So did the room, without her father’s towering presence. She could only launch herself into her exercises with as much force and focus as she could, desperately trying to clear her mind of anything but what was happening above the surface, or perhaps beyond it. At heart, she knew that the galaxy would probably be a better place without Darth Vader.

But not for her.

#anghraine's fic #the jedi and the sith lord #rule 63 #genderbending #/#//#///#////#/////#ellex #anakin skywalker #luke skywalker #lucy skywalker #star wars #long post #wherein the plot (sort of!) arrives

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