#yousa request mesa

[hellothere-generalangsty]

Hi! Love your work! How about this?

Crosshair and Jedi!Reader were together during the Clone Wars. Unfortunately, Order 66 happened. Crosshair was sure that the reader is dead. The reader thought Crosshair was either dead or under the chip influence. Both of them have been through a lot. And then two years later they meet by chance. (Maybe the readee showed up at Cid's?)

Could you write something like that? If not that is totally ok.

Crosshair - The Way Things Were, The Way Things Are

Summary: It’s been two years since Order 66 happened. Two years since you lost each other. Two years before your paths crossed again. And though you both desperately hoped for a reunion, nothing could have really prepared you for the day it would finally happen.

Pairing: Crosshair x Jedi! Reader

Reader description: up to you, no description   

Word Count: 2233 words

CW/ TW: Angst; mention of Order66/ death/ injuries, scars, betrayal, it’s sad but it gets a bit fluffier toward the end

Tags: @allamarisss @loth-wolffe @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @dusk-dawn-and-stars @tacticalsparkles @imalovernotahater @canwestayinthisdream @wakeupjackthisisntfair @namesmox @badbatch-simp24 @lightning-wolffe @maddieskywalker @for-the-love-of-clones @m-e-w-117

@ladykatakuri @firelordillyria @andiebell2023

Notes: Thank you Amallarisss for your ask! it was really fun to write! (and hopefully sad to read hehe) 

Listened to Laura - Bat For Lashes (slowed) while writing it!

They told you to go to Cid. She had information about a prisoner transfer, and the Rebellion needed the details to intervene, so they sent you. They usually did, because you knew how to find your way in and out of complicated situations; and you had a secret advantage; though these days it was more of a curse than a blessing.

You were a Jedi, once. One that fought for the Republic; convinced of its values, of its intentions. You truly believed it stood for freedom, for democracy, for something better. But you believed too much, trusted too much; and it almost killed you. It was the death of your padawan; and a handful of your men. The best troopers you could have asked for, but the worst opponents you had to fight against.

Now, things were different. Your lightsaber weighted too much, and most of the time it was hidden in a pocket against your thigh. You never talked about your life at the Temple, never mentioned their names anywhere else but when you were all alone, too desperate to keep your prayer silent. The Force never felt emptier than the day you lost them. All of them. You saw Jedis and clones getting killed, dying of their injuries; and these soldiers turning against their own generals, shooting without a second thought, repeating that cursed sentence; one that haunted your nights and woke you up more than you would ever dare admit.

“Still with us, Cloak?” Cid’s sharp voice called you back to reality.

“Yes.” You reached for the credits in your pocket, dropping and pushing them on the counter. She went to take them, but your hand didn’t move.

“I see…” she sighed, and she took out a small electronic card from her own pocket, sliding it toward you. “There. Happy?”

You heard the door open and footsteps coming toward you, so you let go of the credits and grabbed the card calmly, bringing it closer to you as you whispered a faint “thank you.” And you were about to leave when you saw it.

You could have recognised that arm plate amongst thousands.

Your heart pumped so violently in your chest it hurt, and as you tried to catch your breath and stop your hands from trembling, you turned the opposite direction. It was a mistake, because it only led you further in the bar; not outside of it like you needed it to be.

“Next time, tell us about the droids.” A voice groaned, and it demanded all of your remaining strength not to lose your balance; but you still flinched, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

“Everything’s alright?” Hunter called you back, and you knew you had to leave. You tried to rely on the Force, breathing in and out to calm you down just enough to hide the card in your bag and run a hand against your thigh.

It was still there, ready to be used.

“Yes,” your voice sounded hoarse, but it wasn’t a bad thing given the circumstances. “Went for the wrong door.”

You turned around, wishing for your hood to cover enough of your face as you walked around the table; trying to keep your distance with the group. And it worked well, until you reached the door. You had no other choice but to tilt your head up a bit to avoid bumping into the figure standing there, arms crossed. You recognised his face, though he looked a bit older, more wrinkles running around his nose and forehead, but always that same cold façade.

You guessed he was about to say something to you, but his jaw froze and his eyes opened wider than ever before he could even let out a word, and you knew it was your only chance to get away from here. You were lucky, back then, to resist the clone troopers; but here it was the Bad Batch, it was…

You pushed him against the wall using the Force and ran outside as fast as you could. But you didn’t stand a chance against a trained, enhanced sniper. You had to get off the ground, hide somewhere higher. You turned in a small street and jumped on the lowest roof around, then kept running higher as Hunter’s voice came to you; ordering to go after you and use plan Omega.

You didn’t know about plan Omega.

You felt something wrapping around your legs, and the next moment you were falling from the roof. You groaned in pain, a burning sensation eating up your arm, and instinctively, you reached for your pocket. The blue blade activated in a swift whistle and cut the rope restraining you, and you barely had the time to get up before a tall figure emerged in front of you.

You spun your lightsaber, coming back to your old habits; and as you aimed straight for his neck, he dropped his rifle on the floor and raised his hands in front of you.

“Stop!” he pleaded, and your blade touched just enough of his armour to make it smoke. “Stop, please, I-“

He let out a choking sound, somewhere between a nervous laugh and a sob. You felt your blood rushing through your veins when you realised the rest of the group could be anywhere around you, setting a trap.

“I won’t fight you, I don’t want to fight you.” He said, desperate, his eyes begging for you to believe him. “Please…It’s me.”

You couldn’t help the trembling of your hand, and your blade obeyed to the shaking movement, lightly bouncing up and down as you pulled it away from his neck. He breathed a sigh of relief. You kept your lightsaber close to you and ready to be used, in case the teary eyes staring right back at you were nothing more but a play.

“It’s me.” he repeated, lowering his hands to take yours, and the light touch of his gloved hands send an electroshock across your body.

“You cannot be alive.” It sounded softer than intended, and though you didn’t feel like letting your guard down just yet, you also couldn’t repress the weight crushing your lungs, choking up your voice.

“I am; and you…” he cupped your face, disbelief painted all over his own. Your heart shattered in millions of pieces as you felt his hand barely reaching for your face. It felt so unreal; too good to be true.

“How can you be here…?”

A loud sob blurted out of his mouth, and it was too late to stop his racing heart and shaky body. Every muscle ached too much, his breath felt so heavy and hot, vision blurred in an instant; and he abandoned yourself to you, to your long lost embrace; unable to overcome the devastating feeling taking over his mind. The memories of two long years, mourning, begging; and to finally reach what you both thought was a desperate, impossible hope.

Two years to feel his arms clutching you so hard and tight against him, to hear his voice break when he called your name like a prayer, again and again; two years to reach that exact moment when your heart died and came back to life all at once.

When he finally found you, Echo slowed his pace until he almost stopped walking. His heart flinched at the sight; Crosshair hanging on to you, his face buried in your neck, your hands holding onto his armoured shoulders; cries and chocked up words echoing all around. Tech and Hunter were quick to arrive, but they froze as well when they saw you both.

Neither Crosshair nor you noticed them. Nothing mattered but the fact that you were both here.

You remembered vividly the day the Force became empty. The pain and the screams burning your throat and lynching your heart. Death wrapping you in its fatal embrace as everything around you stopped existing in a matter of seconds. But what you could feel now was on the opposite spectrum of that dreading, loathed sensation.

A glimpse of life. Faint, but present nonetheless. Maybe there was a little bit of hope left, after all.

.

You accepted to walk the boys back to Cid’s; Crosshair holding your hand, and the silence weighting around you became too unbearable for you, so you tried to break it.

“Where is Wrecker?”

Your question was unsure, and you could tell by the way the Batchers tensed up it was the wrong one to ask. But Crosshair found the way to look at you; pain filling his eyes as he slowly shook his head, negative.

“His chip activated.” He explained, and your heart ached at the silent look Tech shared with him. You knew what he felt – in a way – and thought it was your turn to confess a deep, painful secret. Something you never found the strength to say to someone else, for two whole years.

“Kona didn’t survive the Purge either.”

The four of them looked at you like you had awoken a long lost memory; and Crosshair’s grip tightened around your hand, trying to get his apology across. It didn’t change the fact that you lost them, but it did help to know that someone could relate and understand your loss; and that you could do the same for them.

Cid scolded you when you came back. Told you that you shouldn’t have ran away, that she wasn’t looking for trouble with Imps and that if you were so eager to be noticed you should “light that ‘saber farther from my bar!” and you didn’t feel like answering that because you knew she was right. The last thing you needed was for the Empire to catch you. Which led your thoughts back to the card, and your mission.

“I still have to go. People are waiting for me.”

The question burned Crosshair’s lips; but it was all so new, so unexpected, and so much things changed for you both; between you both. Was there even something left? As far as you were concerned, you both mourned each other; and though meeting again felt…unreal and heart-breaking, you couldn’t deny the fact that you believed each other to be long gone.

You met his gaze, and his worried got to you. You didn’t know how to address them, though you felt the same as he did.

“Do you need a hand?” Hunter offered, trying to find a way to include themselves in your mission.

“I…Maybe.”

You couldn’t tell if it was the right decision. Your memories and emotions were too contrasted, and you couldn’t say which of them you should trust.

You were a Jedi, once. Emotions didn’t get in the way of your actions. Things were logical, done for the greater good, not for your own interests. You thought you were doing the right thing, back then, when you secretly broke the Code for love. For Crosshair.

But now? Now, you could see why attachments were forbidden.

You nodded to confirm your words and got up from the table you were leaning against; inviting the Batchers to follow you. You heard some muttering behind you, but didn’t bother paying attention to them, trying to get focused on your task. You told them where you stationed your speeder, and they offered you a ride back to the Rebel base that was built an hour or so away from the town.

“Look,” you tried as Crosshair helped you get the speeder in the Marauder, “I…I’m happy you’re here; all of you.”

And for a split second, that was all you wanted to say, and you closed your eyes as the speeder stopped against the wall, trying to remember that almost peaceful, almost happy moment.

“Things are different now, and it might take a while to…Adjust.”

You opened your eyes to see Crosshair nod, his face a bit more expressive than what you remembered of him. He looked at you, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“I understand. I’m happy you’re here too.”

You felt bad for being afraid. Afraid of how he leaned closer, probably coming to you for a kiss. It had been so long since your last kiss; it had happened almost a week before the Purge, as you left for another mission far from him. You remembered too vividly the way he smiled, promising you another one for when you would come back to him.

“I’ll be looking out for you!” he loudly promised as you walked away to your ship.

None of you could have guessed. None of you would have left, if you had.

And now that you were coming back to him, he would probably fulfil his promise. And it scared you.

So you jolted a bit when he grabbed your hand instead; gentle in the touch, caring; and brought it to his mouth. He barely brushed his lips against your scarred skin, marked by the battles you had led these last two years, and squeezed it.

One. Two. Three.

Your heart missed a beat, eyes opening wide at the realisation. He didn’t look back at you, focused on your hand, the way your fingers barely intertwined with his. He missed the feeling so much, and you could tell.

You did too.

“Don’t worry,” he confessed in a whisper for you only to hear, “I’ll look out for you. We won’t be alone anymore.”

[acersthings]

Once a Mother, Always a Mother

Anakin Skywalker x Reader

Obi-Wan Kenobi x Reader (Platonic)

Leia and Luke Skywalker (Mother!Reader)

Request: Instead of a Jedi, can she have Scarlet Witch’s powers? She was a friend of Padmé and Anakin fell for her when they first met. They still get together, (y/n) used her powers when she saved some young Jedi from Anakin’s genocide? In the end, she still gives birth to Leia, and Luke then got separated. She faked her and their children’s death so that they would be safe. She’s like Wanda from M.o.M with Obi-wan at her side, she wanted to bring her daughter back to a safe place. When Leia first met (y/n) she could immediately see the resemblance but kept it a secret since she could sense that she shouldn’t know about it. They still were able to save Leia and Luke, (y/n) nearly killed Reva when she thought she harmed Luke.

Request sent by: @oyasumimosura - I hope this is what you wanted!! I made some minor changes but I hope you enjoy it :)

A/N: I actually started crying at the end so grab some tissues.

Warnings: Angst and a little bit of gore (if you squint)

Word Count: > 10k (don't ask)

“Y/n,” Padme cheered, “I’m so glad you could make it.”

The Senator walked over and gave you a quick hug. You hugged back lightly and smiled softly. You and Padme have been good friends for a while. With your unique powers, you’ve always been an outcast. Padme saw this and took you under her wing. She’s always been your best friend and even, a big sister.

“Hey, you called, said you needed help, I’m here.”

She laughed softly and guided you to the sitting area. You arrived here on Coruscant on the count of someone trying to kill Senator Amidala. She was granted protection with Jedis but she wanted you too.

“The Jedi will be here soon,” Padme explained, “I’ll be talking with Captain Typho.”

Padme walked towards the balcony, overviewing the beautiful city of Coruscant. You, on the other hand, took a seat on one of the nearest couches. You watched as the Gungan, Jar Jar Binks, walked out of the room, towards the elevator.

“Obi? Obi! Mesa so smilen to seein yousa!” You heard Jar Jar yell.

You stood, knowing that the Jedi personnel had arrived. You brushed off the robes you were wearing. You wanted to look professional, even if you weren’t at the Jedi level experience. Sure, you’ve been training at the Temple. But, you had different powers than everyone else. You could use a lightsaber and the Force, but you rather would use your…powers.

“Good to see you again, Jar Jar.”

“Senator Padme! Y/n,” Jar Jar walked in with his two Jedi friends, “Mesa palos here! Lookie, lookie, Senator. Desa Jedi arriven.”

Padme turned around, smiling at the now older Jedi. She hasn’t seen them since the droid's attack on Naboo. She was grateful they had accepted to come back to her aid again, even if she didn’t need protection.

You followed her pursuit, standing next to the Senator.

“It’s a great pleasure to see you again, milady,” the bearded Jedi bowed.

“It has been far too long, Master Kenobi,” Padme shook his head.

Padme looked over the Master’s shoulders to be faced with a surprise.

“Ani? My goodness, you’ve grown.”

You looked to where your dearest friend was looking. It had felt as if your breath was sucked out of your body. That…Ani….he was handsome. He seemed too starstruck over Padme to notice you.

“So have you. Grown more beautiful. I mean. Well, f-for a senator, I mean.”

Padme nodded her head and smiled, “Ani, you’ll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine.”

Ouch, you thought. You knew that would hurt.

Padme turned to look at you, “This is my good friend, Y/n L/n. She has been training at the Temple. She is a wonderful knight.”

The two Jedi turned their attention towards you. You nodded your head at Kenobi and held out your hand.

“Obi-Wan Kenobi. I’ve never heard of you,” the Master added, “who was your Master?”

“I’ve been tossed back and forth,” you explained, shaking his hand.

You held out your hand for the Ani, who was staring at you in awe.

“I’m A-Anakin Skywalker, Master Kenobi’s padawan. As I, have never heard of you and I apologize.”

The Chosen One. You’ve heard stories about the Chosen One and how they would bring balance to the two Forces. You’ve never expected it to be this young, handsome, Padawan.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you,” you smirked, “Anakin.”

You two shared eye contact for a moment and you both knew that this is where the fun would begin.

………………………………………………………………………………………

"And you're sure you'll be safe?" You were worried about Padme going back to Naboo. Sure, Anakin and Captain Typho's crew will be there with her. But, after the bounty hunter almost killed her with estranged worms, you never knew what could happen.

"Yes, Y/n, everything will be alright. I'll be safe while you are with the Jedis. Must I say," Padme looked behind you, "Anakin seems very fond of you."

You turned around to see the Padawan, staring right at you. You gave him a small wave and smiled. He realized he was staring at you and looked at his Master.

"Fond of me? You broke that poor boy's heart when you greeted him and said that 'he'll always be the same boy you met on Tatooine," you laughed.

Padme shared a laugh as well, "Why don't you come with us?"

You pondered on the suggestion. If you went, you could become a closer acquaintance with Anakin. Master Kenobi would be alone, though. You felt bad, for leaving him alone, but you knew he could handle himself.

"What about Master Kenobi?"

"I've already talked to him about it. He said it was okay with him and that you would be the one to keep his Padawan aligned."

You nodded and allowed her to step on the transport. You walked towards Anakin and told him the slight changes. You helped him with Padme's luggage, grabbing onto a small suitcase.

"Knight Y/n, I-"

"Please, just call me Y/n," you looked up at Anakin, smiling.

"Of course, Y/n, but I want to know your story."

You titled your head in confusion, "What about my story?"

You two began walking towards the Senator, who was waiting in the transport.

"Why is it that you've been trained at the Temple, but I've never seen you? When did you come to be a Jedi Knight?"

You shrugged, "It's more complicated than that and it's a very long story."

"Well," Anakin held out his hand for you while getting on the transport, "we have all the time. I'd love to hear it. I-I mean, only if you want to. That's your business and I don't want to-"

"Anakin!" You laughed, interfering with his rambling, "I'd love to share it with you. We have a couple of days to get to know each other."

"Yes," he lowered his head in embarrassment, "of course."

He couldn't help his rambling. His mouth always moved first, while his mind was trailing behind.

"Hey," you noticed his embarrassment, "it's okay. I ramble sometimes too. It's like my mouth-"

"Moves first, right? Then, your brain is a second behind."

You turned your head and faced him, "Yeah, exactly."

The two of you shared a moment of comfort, but then remembered about the Senator. You began walking towards her again, while she smiled sweetly at the two of you. She could tell there would be something between the two of you and she couldn't help but be supportive of you.

..........................................................................................................................

"Goodnight," you brushed your hair off your shoulder, "Padme. I'll be down the hall if anything seems to be a problem."

She nodded, "Don't have too much fun."

You scoffed and shook your head. Leaving the Senator's room, you walked down the Villa's hallway. It was a very beautiful building with delicate architecture. It was accompanied by a lakeside. You walked outside to the terrace. It overviewed the lake. Resting your elbows on the stone railing, you gazed at the stars.

"May I join you?"

Anakin's voice filled the void and you wave your arm towards you, "Of course."

Anakin slowly walked towards you. You quickly glanced over at him. He was in his robes, with no shirt on, and his long brown locks were sticking to his forehead.

"Are you okay?" You asked.

"Hm?" He hummed sleepily, "Oh, yeah. Just bad nightmares."

You nodded your head, understanding what it felt like.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Anakin looked down at you and then back to the view of the lake, "I'd rather not."

You looked back at the stars. You wish you could look at every single one, but you know there are so many more out there. The stars were like stories. Each one had a different story to tell. You loved to gaze upon them. "They're beautiful," you said out loud, in awe.

"Yeah," Anakin agreed, "they are."

What you didn't realize was that Anakin wasn't gazing at the stars. His half-lidded stare was directed towards you. He loved seeing your eyes fill up in awe and your excitement when a star twinkled.

You looked down at your hands and picked at your fingernails, "My connection with the Force, it's one that I can't explain."

"How so?"

You sighed and lifted your palm. A dark red filled your hand. You've never shown anyone this, except for Padme and your Master. You threaded the mystical red around your fingers. You rested your hand back down and looked at Anakin. He was shocked. But, he was awed as well.

"When I was receiving my lightsaber, I needed to connect to a Kyber crystal. I did, and well," you paused, "it turned red. Something that only happens with a Dark Force user. I had and have no intentions of the Dark Side. Alas, the crystal didn't connect to my saber. It connected fully to me. My Master, well, he was shocked. He had never seen anything like it."

"Who's your Master?" Anakin had so many questions but decided to start small.

"Yoda. He kept me a secret, afraid of what the council would think."

You bowed your head in shame, "I've always been shameful of it. I've always been different from the rest. I don't have a lightsaber. I don't have the Force connection as everyone else does. Padme and Master Yoda have been the only people not to be afraid of my powers."

Anakin allowed his thumb to grip your chin, making you look up at him.

"Well, you can add another person to that list. I think...it's really beautiful, Y/n. You shouldn't be ashamed. That's one of the coolest things I have ever kriffing seen!"

You laughed, tearing up. Anakin took notice of this and wrapped his arms around you.

"Did I say something?"

"No," you fell right into his arms, "you said everything perfectly right. I've just never had someone so accepting in my life."

Anakin rested his chin on your head, feeling as if you were the one comforting him from his nightmares.

You fell right into his warmth, feeling a comfort you've never had before. You stayed, wrapped in his arms until he let go.

"You better head to bed," Anakin kept his hands on your shoulders, "I'll be up, watching the Senator."

You raised your hand to rest upon his cheek, "May I try something? It won't hurt. It's for the nightmares."

Anakin hesitated at first but slowly nodded. He leaned into your touch. You lifted your other hand, floating it next to his temple. With the wave of your hand, you slowly let your power connect with his mind. You closed your eyes and saw all the nightmares. Ones about his mom. Ones about the Dark Side. Ones about failing his Master.

Opening your eyes back up, you saw the look of relaxation on Anakin's face. He slowly connected his eyes with your eyes. You let your hand fall on his chest. He let out a shaky breath while leaning forward. You follow his pursuit, leaning in. You met halfway, eyes closed, letting his soft lips connect with yours.

The kiss felt like a missing puzzle piece that's been hiding under a table. The relief to have found the piece flooded your body. You've never felt so alive before.

You slowly let go of the kiss, your eyes still closed. Anakin was smiling. He felt the same way. He felt your power seep throughout his mind, finding all the dark. You filled his mind with light. Something he has been needing for so long.

.......................................................................................................................

Covering your face with a piece of cloth, you blocked off the blowing sand. Anakin's nightmares have been getting worse. The ones you tried to ease just kept coming back. Anakin cried in your arms. The nightmares felt real, and he couldn't rest.

Padme had allowed the two of you to go to Anakin's home planet, Tatooine, to see if his mother was alright. Your heart ached for Anakin.

You walked towards the small dwelling, to be greeted by a droid.

"Oh, uh! Hello! How might I be of service? I am C-"

"3PO?" Anakin finished the droid's sentence.

"Oh, the maker! Oh, Master Ani! I knew you would return. I knew it!" C-3PO looked your way, "I don't believe we have met!"

"I am Y/n L/n. I'm a Jedi Knight, and I-

"She's my partner," Anakin squinted his eyes at 3PO.

"It's lovely to meet your partner, Y/n. Bless my circuits! I'm so pleased to see you again, Anakin."

"I've come to see my mother," Anakin explained.

"Oh. Um, I think perhaps we'd better go indoors," C-3PO guided you to the front door. He walked down the stairs and greeted, "Master Owen, might I present two most important visitors."

"I'm Anakin Skywalker."

The man introduced, "Owen Lars. Uh, this is my girlfriend, Beru."

"Hello," Beru nodded.

"I'm Y/n L/n. Anakin's partner," you smiled at the title. It was much better, and preferred, than Jedi Knight.

"I guess I'm your stepbrother. I had a feeling you might show up someday."

Anakin backed up and looked around, "Is my mother here?"

"No, she's not," a new voice sounded and a man in a wheelchair appeared, "Cliegg Lars. Shmi is my wife."

Anakin shook his hand.

"We should go inside. We have a lot to talk about."

You, Beru, Owen, and Anakin followed Cliegg into a small dining room. Beru fetched a pitcher of tea, while the rest of you sat down.

"It was just before dawn. They came out of nowhere. A hunting party of Tusken Raiders. Your mother had gone out early, like she always did, to pick mushrooms that grow on the vaporators. From the tracks, she was about halfway home when they took her, " Cliegg sighed.

You watched as Anakin looked down. You rested your hand on his knee, getting no reaction from him.

"Those Tuskens walk like men, but they're vicious, mindless monsters. Thirty of us went out after her. Four of us come back. I'd be out there with them, but after I lost my leg, I just couldn't ride anymore un-until I heal."

Anakin nodded, while still looking down. You knew he was trying to be strong, but you also knew that he was a human too. He was trying to hide his emotions. All you wanted to do was say, "It's okay," but you didn't even know that it was going to be.

"I don't want to give up on her, but she's been gone a month. There's little hope she's lasted this long."

Anakin stood abruptly, swallowing his tears.

"Where are you going?" Owen asked.

"To find my mother," the Padawan answered coldly.

"Your mother's dead, son. Accept it," Cliegg argued.

Anakin walked out of the room, needing to catch some air. He knew his mother was still alive. She had to be. If she wasn't, why was he still getting nightmares?

You followed him, thanking the Lars family, and walked outside. He was wrapped in his dark cloak, staring at the two suns. He felt your presence and turned around. You stopped in front of him.

"You're gonna have to stay here. These are good people, Y/n. You'll be safe," he suggested.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, letting him fall into your comfort, "Anakin."

He wrapped his long arms around your torso. His cloak fell around you and breathed in his comforting scent.

"I'm coming with you, I can help."

Anakin backed out of the hug and sighed, "I don't want you getting hurt."

"I can take care of myself."

His shoulders fell in defeat and lead you to his speeder. You sat on the back, wrapping your arms around the young Skywalker. He started the speeder up and you were off to find Shmi Skywalker.

.......................................................................................................................

Anakin wanted you to stay back to keep watch. So you could warn him. You kept watching the tent he had entered. Suddenly, you felt your heart shatter. Oh no, you thought. You felt Anakin's heartbreak from across the land. But, then you felt anger. Revenge. Pain. Suffering. Death.

You watched as Anakin killed the two Tuskens, while the others surrounded him. You saw a look in his eyes that terrified you. It was an anger that you have never seen in somebody before. You used your powers to float down, helping Anakin to stop.

"Anakin!" You shouted, allowing some Raiders to pay attention to you.

You quickly sent them all into a daze with your power, letting them be stuck in their own mind. You ran towards Anakin, who was breathing heavily. He had just slain the last standing Raider. The thing that scared you was that he had no remorse.

"Anakin," you breathed, resting your hand upon your shoulder.

His head snapped towards you. His eyes were dark with rage. They softened when he saw you and your warm eyes. He diminished his lightsaber and looked around. His mouth dropped in shock.

"I-I don't, I killed them, my mom-"

You waved your hand, letting your powers calm him down before he had a panic attack. He broke, letting the tears he has been holding back for a while fall. He fell into your arms, clutching onto you for dear life. You didn't say anything. You let him sob and sob. He knew he had to protect you. He couldn't lose you. You were the only love he had left.

...........................................................................................................................

It had been revealed that Viceroy Gunray was the one behind the assassination attempts on the Senator and that Count Dooku was the one leading this all.

The Battle of Genosis was still going on. You and Anakin had arrived but got captured, trying to save Master Kenobi. You fought with a blaster, knowing you could do so much more. Your Master arrived, saving the Jedi from the arena. The three of you were on a jet, racing out of the arena.

The clones had joined the Jedi in the battle, making it impossible for the Separatists to fight back.

"Look over there," Obi-Wan pointed out. There were three escape speeders trying to, well, escape.

"It's Dooku, shoot him down!" Anakin commanded.

"We're out of rocket fuel," the pilot informed.

"Follow him!"

"We're gonna need some help!" You shouted over the winds and blaster shots.

"There isn't time! Anakin and I can handle this!" Obi-Wan answered.

"No," Anakin argued, "she comes with me. She can help us, she's a talented Jedi knight. She can-"

All of a sudden, the transport you were on got shot, throwing you off the transport. You felt on a sand hill, rolling down. You groaned in pain, stopping yourself from rolling.

"Y/N!" You heard Anakin yell.

You watched as he got farther and farther until he was out of your sight. You rested on your elbows. Kriffing great, you thought. You were stuck in the middle of the desert. You couldn't help but think that Anakin was getting hurt right now. You surpassed the pain in your back and used your powers, making sure no one saw you, traveling the way Anakin's transport went.

.........................................................................................................................

You arrived at the transport only to see Obi-Wan on the floor while Anakin dueled with Count Dooku. You hid behind a pillar while Anakin fought.

You watched as they battled in the dark. You started getting worried for Anakin, as he broke his lightsaber, using his Master's. You looked for any possible option of a weapon, but you couldn't find one.

You felt a burn in your arm, confused that you didn't get shot at. You looked at Anakin, to his right arm severed from his body. He passed out from the sudden pain. You felt the rage take over. The anger. You allowed yourself to be seen by Obi-Wan.

"Y/n! Get out of here!"

Count Dooku turned around to face you.

"Who dares to challenge me?"

"Me," you raised off the ground, your power surrounding you, flowing through your veins, "you snarking son of a bitch."

You used all your might to rip off rocks from the wall, machinery, anything to throw at Dooku. Dooku was caught by surprise, allowing him to fall back in pain. He quickly got off, throwing his electric powers at you. You used your powers to deflect it back to him, resting your feet on the ground. Your eyes glowed a bright red as you began throwing the power at him. He tried throwing the same things you threw, only to be stopped with your other hand.

He quickly swung his red lightsaber at you, hitting you in the arm. You groaned in pain, looking down at your arm. You looked back slowly at Count Dooku. He was astounded. He had never seen anything like you before.

"Who is your Master?" He asked, very curious.

You didn't answer as anger filled your veins. Using your power, you lifted him into the air. He screamed in pain as your power slowly started to rip him apart.

"Y/n! No!"

Your head turned to the sound of your Master's voice. You quickly looked back at Dooku, letting him fall to the ground harshly.

Count Dooku groaned in pain as you stood there, breathing heavily. Your eyes still shining their bright red. You hadn't calmed down from your high yet. You haven't used your powers that heavily before. Blinking, you calmed down, but only a little amount. You couldn't catch your breath and you fell to the ground. Your body was exhausted and you fell into a deep sleep.

..........................................................................................................................

Waking up, your vision was blurred. You checked your surroundings and saw that you were in the medbay at the Temple. You breathed in deeply and groaned. You were in pain. Your back felt like an Eeopie had stepped on it, and your head was pounding. You felt something holding your hand. Looking down, you saw a sleeping Anakin. You looked at his right arm to see a robotic hand there. If he had already been fixed, how long have you been out for?

"Anakin," your voice was hoarse and your throat was dry.

Anakin woke up quickly, looking at you. He knew what you wanted without you even asking him. He grabbed you a small plastic cup of water and you drank it with no hesitation.

"Oh my stars," Anakin brushed your hair with his hand, "I was so scared you weren't going to wake up."

"How long have I been out for?" You asked, scared to hear the answer.

"A couple of weeks."

You sighed in defeat. It wasn't a perfect amount of time, but it wasn't the worst.

"How's your arm?"

Anakin chuckled, showing it to you, "I'm getting used to it. It feels really weird."

You smiled, glad to see him laughing.

"Did Count Dooku escape?"

"Yeah, Master Yoda fought him when you passed out."

You gasped, "Oh stars above. Master Yoda, he-"

"He was concerned for you. He didn't like seeing you use your powers like that, for sure, but he was more concerned for your well-being. He talked with Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan knows to keep it a secret. The only thing is is that-"

"Dooku knows," you finished your sentence for him.

He saw the worry flash through your eyes.

"Don't worry," he kissed your knuckles, "no one is going to hurt you under my watch. I'll protect you, just like you did for me."

"You saw me? At the transport?"

"I was up for the last of it. I saw your eyes."

"Are you scared?" You looked anywhere but his face.

"Of course not," Anakin gushed, "your powers don't make you, you. It's your personality. I fell for you before I even knew about your powers."

Anakin realized what he said and started blushing, "Ah-I mean-"

"Y/n!"

Padme's voice alerted you to look at the door.

"Padme!"

She came running through the door, careful to give you a light hug. Anakin stood up and backed up, allowing Padme to have her talk with you.

"I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Yeah, me too," you joked, smiling at the Senator, "I'm sorry we couldn't capture Count Dooku. I tried my best."

"Y/n, they told me what happened. You overworked yourself to save Master Kenobi and Anakin. I'm just glad to see you okay."

You and her talked for a little longer but she retired so she could talk with Chancellor.

"Have you gotten any sleep?" You asked Anakin, noticing the bags under his eyes. He took his spot back, sitting next to you.

"The first time was before you woke up."

"Ani!"

"I wanted to make sure you were okay."

You smiled at his stubbornness.

"Does Master Obi-Wan and Master Yoda know about us?" You asked quietly.

"No," Anakin stated, "but I'm pretty sure my Master has his suspicions."

You looked out the window to be faced with the beautiful Coruscant.

"Speaking of us," you turned your head towards Anakin, who seemed nervous, "I was wondering something."

"What's wrong?" You grabbed his hand and held it in yours.

"I want to protect you. I want to do you right. I want to be able to wake up with you beside me. No matter the consequences with the Council. Maker, I would leave the Order for you. When I first met you, I knew that you were going to be my partner. The one person I could trust and find comfort in. With that being said," his tired eyes looked into your teary-eyed eyes, "would you do me the honor of becoming Y/n Skywalker?"

You gasped in excitement and cheered, "Yes! Of course!"

You leaned up, the best you could, and hugged your newly-to-be husband. The tears were flowing from the both of you and you couldn't be happier to spend the rest of your life with Anakin, the boy who changed your life.

...........................................................................................................................

The ceremony you held was small. The marriage officiant, Padme, and the two of you. You and Anakin had decided to tell Padme since the wedding was held on the terrace of the Villa you had stayed in many moons ago. The terrace where you and Anakin had your first kiss at. You were flooded with emotions on your wedding day and you couldn't be more relieved to spend it with your one true love, Anakin.

...........................................................................................................................

It's been three years since you and Anakin had gotten married. The two of you stayed together during the Clone Wars. He was so happy when the war finally calmed down and he could return home to you. The two of you have kept your relationship a secret, it was only Padme who knew. You continued your study at the Temple, under your Master Yoda. You learned how to do more talents with your power and you learned how to control them.

Anakin had just returned home from rescuing the kidnapped Chancellor. You waited behind a pillar as you watched him and Obi-Wan discuss. You could have sworn you saw Obi-Wan's eyes flicker towards you but you decided to ignore it. Anakin began walking with Bail Organa until he saw you.

He excused himself and ran to you, picking you up and spinning you.

"Oh, Ani," you sighed, "I'm so happy to see you're okay."

"I've missed you, Y/n," Anakin smiled.

"There were rumors that you were killed and I-"

"I'm all right," he rested a hand on the back of your neck, "It feels like we've been apart for a lifetime. And it might have been, if the chancellor hadn't been kidnapped, I don't think they would have ever brought us back from the outer rim sieges."

He bowed his head to kiss you and you happily answered by kissing him back.

"I'm tired of all this deception. I don't care if they know we're married."

"Me too, Anakin," you hugged him again, "me too."

You started shaking in fear and excitement. How were you going to tell him?

"Are you alright? You're shaking," Anakin pulled out of the hug and looked down at you.

"Anakin," you looked down, "I'm pregnant."

Anakin breathed out in excitement, "Wow, that's-that's wonderful."

You smiled slightly, "What are we going to do?"

"We're not going to worry about anything right now. All right? This is a happy moment. The happiest moment of my life."

The two of you shared a kiss and hugged. Your life had finally felt complete, knowing that Anakin was excited to start a family. You were head over heels for him and would do anything for him and the baby.

........................................................................................................................

You were walking peacefully down the hallway. You were looking for Anakin to see if he had returned. Turning your head, you heard blaster shots going off. You walked briskly through the hall and met with a sight that you couldn't watch. You saw the clones killing the Jedi. Covering your mouth, you ran as fast as you could towards your room. The smell of charred flesh and your pregnant stomach were not mixing well together. You slowly passed a youngling learning room and walked in. The younglings were laying on the floor, with no movement.

You started crying at the sight. You saw that they were slashed with lightsaber burns. What monster could have done this?

You heard shuffling to your left and you looked to see a clone about to shoot a small girl youngling.

Using your powers, you pushed the clone back. Throwing your power at him, he was knocked out. You ran over to check on the youngling. "Are you okay?" You asked, kneeling before her.

"Master Skywalker," the youngling explained to you what had happened. You couldn't believe what you were hearing. All this time, it was your husband that was doing this crime.

The youngling was scared, you could tell. Resting a hand on her small shoulder, you comforted him, "Be strong, young one. Trust in the Force. The escape pods are open, I can see them down the hall. Run there and go anywhere. Anywhere but here."

The youngling nodded, "What about you?"

"I'll be okay here. Don't worry about me. May the Force be with you," you nodded your head at the shaking youngling. You made sure she made it to the pod. She gave you a small wave and you smiled, with tears flowing down your eyes.

You hid until you heard nothing left. That's what scared you. You quietly made your way back to your room. You could have sworn you saw Anakin but didn't want to approach him. You closed the door when you heard footsteps approaching. You quickly pressed your back against the door and covered your mouth.

"There is no one here, Lord Vader," a clone spoke.

You listened closely, "Alright. Continuing checking, then we can leave."

You heard the footsteps quietly go farther. You let out a shaky breath and cried.

"Y/n."

You stopped. He knew you were in here.

"Please," his voice sounded like he wanted to burst out in tears, "let me in. I can feel you."

You didn't answer back. You slowly slid down on the floor and started crying again.

"You weren't meant to see th-" he cut himself off, not wanting to bring it up, "I love you. I did this for you. I can protect you with my new powers. We can live a happy life with our baby. If you can understand, please meet me on Mustafar. I'll be waiting."

You heard him walk away, as you sat there crying.

You couldn't help but think that this was your fault. Had you done something to make him turn to the Dark Side? Your thoughts went to Padme. You hadn't seen her in a while and you doubted she survived. You assumed she was dead and that made you cry even harder.

You were torn.

..........................................................................................................................

Resting in your corridor, you heard a knock at the door. Holding your, now, bigger belly, you walked to the door to be greeted by Obi-Wan.

"Master Obi-Wan. What can I do for you?"

Obi-Wan spoke quietly, "May I come in?"

You heard a hint of worry and unsettlement in his voice but decided not to question it.

"Of course," you moved to the side so he could walk in.

"When was the last time you saw Anakin?"

"Yesterday," you walked back towards the couch and sat down slowly. You weren't lying. The last time you did physically see him was before he left. Obi-Wan walked behind you and sat opposite you.

"And do you know where he is now?"

"No," you answered quickly. You did know. But, he trusted you. You couldn't help but feel guilty, for lying to Obi-Wan.

"Y/n, I need your help. He is in grave danger," Obi-Wan begged.

"From who?" You gasped, looking straight at Obi-Wan.

"From himself."

Obi-Wan couldn't maintain eye contact with you so something was up and you could sense it in the air. You knew exactly what he was going to say.

"Y/n," Obi-Wan took your hand and held it, "Anakin has turned to the Dark Side."

You sighed, grasping onto Obi-Wan's hand, "I know."

This was now or never. You were going to tell Obi-Wan the truth. About everything. You couldn't hold back anymore.

Obi-Wan's head turned in confusion as he moved to sit next to you. You told him everything. Your relationship, the marriage, the babies, the incident yesterday.

"And," you started crying, "I can't help but feel like this is all my fault. If I talked to him, maybe I could have stopped him. If he talked to me."

Obi-Wan looked away, trying to obtain this new information.

"He was deceived by a lie. We all were. It appears that the chancellor is behind everything, including the war," Obi-Wan looked back at you, "Palpatine is the Sith Lord we've been looking for. After the death of Count Dooku, Anakin became his new apprentice."

You blinked tears away and you turned your head away, "Are you upset for us lying to you?"

Obi-Wan grabbed your hand again and slightly smiled, "I've known for a long time, Y/n. I could sense there was someone with my Padawan. I knew it was you. He cared for you. I'm sorry you have to be going through this. I understand why the two of you lied."

"Thank you," you hugged Obi-Wan. He was the only person you could talk to right now.

"I need to know where he is," Obi-Wan whispered, looking at you.

You let go of the hug to look at Obi-Wan, "You're going to kill him, aren't you?"

"He has become a very dangerous threat."

You shook your head, "I can't."

Obi-Wan's stare lingered for a while but he stood up, walking towards the landing pad.

"Are you sure you don't know?"

You looked down at your glowing red hands. Tell him, your thoughts were yelling at you. You couldn't. But, the younglings he had slaughtered. You couldn't help but think about the negatives.

"I'm so sorry," Obi-Wan walked off to the Jet but you stopped him. "Obi-Wan!"

He turned around to see you running towards him.

Crying, you admitted, "He is at Mustafar. But, promise me you won't kill him."

Obi-Wan looked down at you and couldn't help but tear up. You were going to be all alone if Anakin was killed.

"I can't promise you anything. I dearly wish I could, Y/n. I promise you that if anything happens," Obi-Wan kissed your forehead to comfort you, "we will keep your baby safe."

You stood there as you watched Obi-Wan fly off.

"Please, come back to me," you whispered, hoping that Anakin could hear you.

..........................................................................................................................

The contraction pains that were rushing through your stomach were terrible. You were transported by Captain Typho to a safe medbay to give birth. You saw your Master and Bail Organa waiting at the medbay. They helped you get escorted to a private room so they could scan and see if the baby was ready to come out.

Laying down in the metal cot, you groaned in pain as you felt the baby pushing to be let out. You turned your head and saw a burnt-out Obi-Wan talking to a medical droid and the two men who were already here.

The only thought you had in your head was, where's Anakin?

"Miss Skywalker," the droid walked in, "you are ready to give birth. Obi-Wan has agreed to accompany you during the birth."

You made eye contact with Obi-Wan and saw the broken look in his eyes. He made his way next to you and held your frail hand.

"Where is he?" You asked, sternly.

"Y/n, he-"

You screamed out in pain as the baby was starting to come out. You grasped tightly onto Obi-Wan, who brushed the hair off your forehead.

You screamed and screamed until the baby came out. You were breathing heavily, tearing up as you saw the crying baby being held in the nurse's arms.

"It's a boy."

Obi-Wan held the small, crying child in his hands, looking at you sweetly.

"Oh, Luke," you brushed Luke's cheek with your finger and smiled.

Suddenly, you felt another baby start to come out. Crying out in pain, you grasped Obi-Wan's arm again. You were confused but excited that you were having twins.

"It's a girl."

You held the baby girl in your arms and smiled, "Leia."

The nurse gave them small blankets to cover up their small bodies.

You let Obi-Wan take the babies out of your arms, the tiredness getting to you.

"Where is he?" You breathed out.

Obi-Wan's blue eyes connected with your stressed ones and you knew exactly what had happened.

"I tried to help him. I failed him, Y/n. I'm sorry."

You silently turned your head to face the ceiling. Your whole body was numb with heartbreak. You knew that Anakin dying had a chance of happening. You just couldn't believe it actually did happen. Your lover, husband, soulmate. He was gone. You closed your eyes as the tears trickled down your cheeks. Obi-Wan let you rest, carrying the babies to rest in their cots.

Before Obi-Wan stepped out, you stopped him.

"I can't take care of the babies alone. With Anakin gone," you cried, "they need to be separated. Away from the Sith. I'll fake my death and go into hiding. We can fake their deaths as well. They can be safe without me."

Obi-Wan nodded, "That's a brave choice. I admire it. But, where shall they go?"

Bail Organa stepped into the conversation, "I'll take the girl. My wife and I always dreamed of adopting a baby girl. She can be safe with us on Alderaan."

You looked at Leia. Her peaceful sleeping. Looking at Luke, you smiled. You could already tell he would be just like his father.

"What about Luke?" You asked, turning your head towards Obi-Wan.

"I'll take him to his family in Tatooine and watch over him. Master Yoda and I already talked about it," he ran a hand over his face.

You hummed in agreement, too exhausted to answer. You let the sleepiness take over and you rested.

Soon, the nightmares that were once fixed, would return. But this time, much worse.

.......................................................................................................................

"I'm looking for a ship. I was tracking its signature," the much older Obi-Wan, who now goes by Ben, asked a bystander.

It has been a couple of years since the downfall of Order 66. You had joined Ben on Tatooine, feeling safer with another person around. The two of you had gotten much closer and he was like your brother.

The two of you had just arrived on Daiyu, trying to find Leia, your daughter. She was 10 years old now. Bail Organa had contacted Ben, informing him that Leia had been captured. As soon as you heard that, you knew you had one mission.

To find your daughter. No matter who or what you had to hurt.

"You're in Daiyu now. All signals in or out are blocked. People like their secrets out here," the bystander explained, walking off.

Ben shrugged at you, walking towards the city. You pulled the cloak hood over your head as you followed the ex-Jedi Master.

Ben was looking at a Clone Veteran while you traversed into your own world. You looked at the environment in Daiyu. It was a very bright, but chaotic planet. You could never imagine someone living here.

"Alright, clear the path," you heard. You didn't look behind your shoulder, knowing that it was Stormtroopers. Knowing they were here meant that some precious cargo was here. To them, Leia was only praise. Praise so they could get a promotion.

"You want some spice?" A young girl came up to you.

"I got Kessel pure, glitterstim, and Felucian. What do you need?"

Your eyes flashed red, "I need information. I'm looking for my daughter. She was taken, and she's on this planet."

The girl scoffed, "Well if she's here, you're never gonna see her again. Nobody leaves this place. I was someone's daughter once, too."

You glared at the girl, your hands shaking with rage. They were flooded with a powerful red while your eyes shared that red.

"Listen, I-"

"Please do excuse my sister," Ben pulled your hand into his, trying to calm you down, "she does miss her daughter."

"Here," the girl dropped a small canister in Ben's pocket," this one is free."

The girl looked at you, "Couple more of those and you'll forget she ever existed."

Breathing heavily, you titled your head in anger.

"Y/n," the accented voice went in one ear and through the other.

"We need to find her," you snarled, "now."

..................................................................................................................

"Hey," a lab worker followed you and Ben into the hallway. You stopped with Obi-Wan as the worker approached you.

"What are you doing back here?" The worker stood in front of you.

"Oh, it seems we have lost our-"

Ben wasn't able to finish his sentence, as you used your power, shooting at the one worker. He got pushed back into a wall, knocking him out cold. Using your power, you surrounded the other worker.

"Where's the girl?" You whispered, pulling the worker to be faced in front of you.

The worker didn't respond.

"We can do this the easy way," you started pulling the man apart, "or the hard way."

"I-It doesn't matter! I'm dead anyway!"

You laughed, as your eyes glowed a dark red, "Just remember, this was me being reasonable."

You wrapped a leg of red around the worker's neck, making him lose air.

"Y/n! Stop!"

You ignored Ben's pleas as you watched the man lose his breath slowly. The man made pleading eye contact with you and whispered where Leia was. You dropped the man on the floor.

"Th-thank you! I-"

The man's body dropped as you snapped his neck.

"Really?" Ben's judging voice startled you, as you forgot where you were.

"Don't act like you weren't about to knock him out."

"Knock him out," he whisper-yelled, "not kill him! For the sake of the stars, you must learn how to control your anger."

You rolled your eyes and you quietly walked towards the cell Leia was held at. Ben stood in front, checking his surroundings.

Ben opened the door to the cell. There was a small body covered in a sheet.

"Leia," you breathed, walking briskly. You uncovered her, to be faced with a dummy.

You gasped when a strong pair of arms slammed you against the metal wall.

A man walked in, facing Ben first. Two creatures held Ben while two held you.

"I didn't know that Jedi could bleed."

While the man did his villainous dialogue, you closed your eyes and focused on the minds next to you. Invading their head, you leaned in and whispered, "Sleep."

The one guard had done what you asked, slumping against the wall. The other guard looked confused. He didn't know what had just happened. He looked at you and he saw that you didn't do anything. Your astral body image floated behind him, warning him, "Run."

The man yelled in fear and darted out of the room. The three that were left faced their attention to you.

"Well, everybody bleeds," Ben smashed the canister he got earlier on the floor, grabbing you, and pushing you out of the room. He closed the door while the fumes closed in on the guards.

"What did you do to that guard?" Obi-Wan pulled his mask down.

"Just gave him a little scare," you smirked.

Ben nodded at you, not wanting to know what that meant.

"Stop," you held out your hand to a cell door, "she's in this one. I can feel her."

Ben stepped towards the door and opened it. You walked in first, not seeing Leia. Suddenly, a small girl ran at you, kicking you in the leg. She tried running away but Ben grabbed her.

"Let go of me!" She yelled.

"Wait!"

"Let go!"

Ben put her back down on the floor and backed up. Your eyes started tearing up. This was your daughter. Your Leia Skywalker.

"Who are you?" She defensively asked.

"Y-Your father sent us. We are here to help you," Obi-Wan had his attention on you, to see how you were holding up.

"Where's the army?"

You kneeled to her level and breathed, "I promise you, Leia, we will get you out of here. We will get you home. You have to trust m-us."

You shakily cried as her brown orbs looked at you. She was a spitting image of you.

Leia looked at you, noticing how she looked so much like you. She decided not to say anything, dealing with the mess of the problem already.

"Come," you held out your hand, "we are gonna get you out of here."

Her small hand grabbed onto yours and you almost broke down. Here you are with your daughter, ten years later, and she had no memory of you. You and Ben led her out of the room. Ben noticed your state and placed a hand on your shoulder. You smiled at him.

Only if you knew that Leia did have a small memory of you. The forehead kiss when you had just named her. Leia held onto it like it was going to slip away.

.........................................................................................................................

Anakin was alive. Leia hadn't figured it out yet, that you were her mother. Reva had been a youngling during Order 66. Tala had sacrificed herself. And now, here Ben was going to face Anakin alone.

"Are you serious?" You yelled at him, on a private part of the ship.

"I have to, Y/n. I need to see him for myself. I need to face him, alone."

"I need to see him too! He was my husband, Ben, he was my best friend."

"He doesn't know that you are alive. It's best to keep it that way. It will keep you safe. Leia safe. Even Luke safe."

Your eyes glowed red as you stepped into Ben's face, "Don't you dare bring up my children. It is not their fault."

Ben saw the hurt in your eyes and wrapped his arms around your shoulders.

"I need to see him, please, I need closure," you didn't mean for it to come out as a beg, but it did.

"Stay here with Leia. She needs you."

You sighed and let go of the hug, "Be safe, Ben. Please. I can't lose anyone anymore."

He smiled softly, "May the Force be with you, Y/n."

"May the Force be with you, Ben."

He walked off to the dropship and waved goodbye.

"Are you okay?" Leia walked behind you.

You wiped off the stained tears, "Yes, I'll be okay."

Leia sighed, knowing it was time to bring it up, "Are you my mother?"

You sighed in defeat, turning around. You faced her and saw that she had your old blaster holster wrapped around her. You knelt as she walked towards you.

"Where did you get this?" You picked up the holster in your hand, smiling at the memories.

"Ben gave it to me before he left to talk to you. He said it was my mother's and judging by your reaction," Leia placed her small hand on top of yours, "it was yours."

You chuckled, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving you when you were younger. I've regretted it for the past ten years. You weren't supposed to know."

"It's okay," Leia comforted, "I understand. You wanted to keep me safe."

"I can't make up for the ten years I have missed," you kissed her hand, "but I know I will get you back home."

"I've never felt like that was my home. It never has been. I don't want to be a princess. I want to be a fighter."

"Just like me," you teared up.

"Just like you," Leia smiled, "mom."

You gasped as she called you that. You've longed to have your children in your arms again and here was one of them, calling you mom. You pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Is Ben my dad?"

You laughed, "No. Ben is your...uncle. Ben was there for me when I lost your father. He would make a great father figure."

"Who is my dad?"

You let go of the hug, "That's another story for another time."

Leia looked into your eyes, "Go. Ben needs you."

You blinked, "Are you sure? I don't want to leave you after just getting you again."

"I know you'll come back for me."

You rested her forehead against your own.

"I love you, Leia," you closed your eyes, "don't ever forget that."

"I love you, too."

You kissed her hairline and raced to the escape pod the ship had. You tapped into Ben's presence and headed to him.

...........................................................................................................................

You heard the rumbling of rocks being thrown at something. No, someone. You ran and hid behind a pile of rocks. You peered to see Ben throwing rocks at him. Your Anakin. Darth Vader. You watched as Ben and Anakin battled. It ended with Ben slashing Anakin's mask open. You gasped as you saw him.

"Anakin is gone," his voice was distorted. You could hear a hint of Anakin, but all of Vader, "I am what remains."

You saw Ben start to tear up.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Anakin. For all of it."

"I am not your failure, Obi-Wan. You didn't kill Anakin Skywalker. I did," this was Anakin saying this. You heard his voice clearly and loudly. You fell onto your knees, clutching your stomach, sobbing quietly.

"The same way, I will destroy you!" Vader had returned, wanting his revenge.

Ben whispered, "Then my friend is truly dead."

"Goodbye," Ben turned around, "Darth."

Ben walked away but saw you. He ran towards you and whispered, "You can't be here."

"I-please. Let me see him. I can erase his memory of him ever seeing me. Please," you begged, sobbing.

Ben nodded, "I'll be waiting for you."

Ben walked off.

This was it. After all these years, you would be facing him. You knew it wasn't him but you couldn't care less. Calming yourself down, you snuck behind him.

"Obi-Wan!" He yelled, wheezing.

"Anakin," you softly cried.

His six-foot-tall body was hunched over but straightened as soon as you said his name. He turned around and titled his head.

"Y-Y/n?"

You walked towards him, crying as hard as you ever had. You slowly placed a hand on his masked cheek.

"It's me."

You knew it was the last hint of Anakin talking to you when he threw his lightsaber to the ground. He leaned into your touch and collapsed into your arms.

"I thought you were dead. They told me you were dead."

"I know. It was for the best."

He cried. Yeah, the Darth Vader was crying in your arms. But, it wasn't Darth. It was Anakin Skywalker. The scared boy from Tatooine who had fallen in love with you.

"My love," you whispered, "don't cry."

"I failed you. I left you," he looked up at you, "the baby?"

You couldn't resist yourself. He wasn't going to remember anyway.

"Babies. Twins. A boy and a girl. Luke and Leia."

Anakin smiled, "Are they safe?"

"They will be," you backed away from the hug, sobbing, "but, you can't remember this."

"W-What?"

"You can't know I'm alive. You can't know about our babies."

"No," he stood the best he could, gripping onto your arms, "we-we can pretend! Like we did many moons ago. We can sneak around. I won't be with the Dark Side. I'll be with you."

You laughed, while the tears slipped down your cheeks, "We can't, Anakin. It would ruin everything."

Anakin cried, lifting his hands on his mask. He took it off and revealed his look to you.

"I need you to see me," he lifted your hand to his cheek, "before we say goodbye."

You cried even harder at the sight of him, "I love you, Anakin Skywalker. I'll love you even when your Darth Vader. I'll be there for you, even when I'm not. Your bad times. I'll be there. I always will be."

Anakin kissed your forehead, "I love you, Y/n Skywalker. Even when I become him again, I'll remember our forbidden times. The times when I was able to love you. I'll love you always. I love you in every universe."

The two of you were sobbing as you shared the final kiss. Your lips connected and it was the most closure you have ever gotten. His rough lips, which had once been soft, had given you the sense of comfort they had all that time ago on Naboo.

"Close your eyes, please," you pleaded, "this won't hurt."

"I love you."

With those final words, you placed your hand next to his temple and let your power flood his brain. You replaced the memory of your meeting with the memory of him and Ben fighting. Letting go, you watched as his body slumped to the ground. You knelt down to his body and kissed his forehead. You grabbed his broken mask and placed it back on his head.

"Goodbye, my love."

........................................................................................................................

You and Ben had arrived on Tatooine. After everything that has happened, you wanted to see if Luke was okay. You arrived only to hear Beru and Owen calling out for Luke.

"No," you mumbled, the tears still falling from the conversation with Anakin.

"Where is he?" Ben asked, supporting you with his arm.

"He is gone."

"I'll look in the Dune Sea. We search until we find him," Ben grabbed your hand and led you to start walking.

"Ben! Y/n!" Beru called out.

You turned around to see the Inquisitor Reva, carrying Luke's body.

"No!" You shuddered, seeing your son's dead body.

You stood in front of Ben, Beru, and Owen. Your body filled with the emotions you have been feeling for the past years.

"You killed him!" You screamed, floating in the air. Your eyes had glowed a darker red than ever before.

"No, I-"

You lifted Reva, making her yell out in pain. You made sure your power made her body burn and boil. You choked her. And choked her. And choked her. You summoned her lightsaber in your hand and ignited it.

"This is for my-"

"Y/n!"

You snapped your fuming head to see Luke, waking up. You gasped and shot the both of you down. Reva was writhing in pain. Ben ran to check on her as you watched Luke crawl into Beru's arms.

"Luke," you whispered, walking towards him. Beru allowed you to hold his frail body. You whispered your gratitude and held him tightly. You have been watching him for the past ten years. You saw him pretending to pilot. Just like his father.

He still wasn't fully awake, so you decided to place peaceful dreams into his mind.

"Luke Skywalker," you brushed his hair to the side, "you will become one of the greatest pilots and Jedi the galaxy has ever seen. Just like your father. Your father and I are so proud of you. I will always be with you, even when you can't see me. May the Force be with you, Luke."

You kissed his forehead and gave him back to Beru, who smiled at you.

You looked towards Reva and Ben. Walking towards her, you kneeled in front of her.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, looking down shamefully.

"It's okay."

"It's not. I almost killed you, Reva."

"I understand your pain. You thought I killed him. It was okay."

You couldn't control your emotions anymore so you cried and leaned into Ben.

"I wanted to thank you," Reva coughed, "for all those years ago."

"What?" You whispered.

"I was the youngling you saved. During the Genocide. You gave me hope. I've never forgotten about you," Reva explained.

You leaned toward her and hugged her. One that both of you needed.

........................................................................................................................

"You okay?" Ben asked you, he rubbed your shoulder.

"Better than I'll ever be," you slightly smiled.

The transport jet's door opened. It revealed a surprised Leia. Her droid, Lola, floated behind the two of you.

"Lola!" She exclaimed, running towards her droid.

"Who are we to separate a young girl from her droid?" Ben joked.

The two of you walked towards Bail, who welcomed you in a hug.

"Obi-Wan. Y/n."

You accepted the hug and then hugged the Queen.

"We can never repay you two. Thank you," the Queen expressed her gratitude.

"Well," Ben turned around, "she has already done that."

"I fear for her future. The Empire grows stronger and bolder."

"Well, if you ever need our help again," you added, "you know where to find us."

"Let's hope that day never comes," Bail shook yours and Ben's hands.

Ben walked over to Leia to talk to her.

"Bail, I'm sorry but I-"

"We know. She told us," the Queen answered.

"I could erase her memory, if you would like," you suggested, looking at her laughing with Ben.

"Actually," the Queen stepped forward, "we would love it if you could stay with us."

Your eyes widened in shock, "W-What?"

"We can't separate her from her mother, who she wants to know so much about. You can protect her here."

You smiled the widest you have in a long time, "Thank you so much!"

You hugged both of them and ran towards the other two. You watched as they shared a hug.

"Goodbye, Princess. May the Force be with you," Ben finished.

He stood up and waited to the side for you. You faced him, holding Leia's hand.

"Ben, the Queen and the King allowed me to stay here and protect Leia. I hope that is alright."

You felt Leia's hand squeeze your hand in excitement, not knowing about this surprise.

Ben smiled and crossed his arms, "Of course, Y/n. You deserve to live in happiness with your daughter after everything you've been through."

You teared up and let go of Leia's hand, hugging Ben tightly. "Thank you, Obi-Wan Ben Kenobi. For everything you have done for me and Anakin. For my family. You have been the greatest brother I could have ever asked for," you whispered.

Ben started to tear up, as well, "And thank you, Y/n Skywalker. For being the greatest younger sister I could ever ask for. You deserve the world. You will always be, and have always been, a wonderful mother."

You allowed Ben to say his farewell and to board the jet.

"May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan."

"May the Force be with you, Y/n."

You watched as his jet flew away. You knew you were going to miss him. You've been with him for the past ten years.

"He'll always be here, in spirit," Leia grabbed your hand again.

You knelt to her height and clasped her face with your hand, "Leia, I want you to know about your father. He was a passionate, fearless, and forthright boy. You share those qualities with him. He was a wonderful man. A leader. He loved me until the day he died. He still loves me. Us. He is watching us from up there in the stars. I do wish I could tell you more," you looked at the sky.

"It's okay, Mom."

You stood up and clasped her hand. You walked towards the Queen and King, who welcomed you into their palace. You knew that this was your new home. You wished it was your new home with Anakin, Luke, and Leia. But, you couldn't complain. Ben was watching over Luke. You had Leia. You were once their mother, and you were always going to be their mother.

The End.

[wild-karrde]

Guarded - Part 34

Master List | Previous Part | Next Part

A/N: As always, thank you so much to the wonderful @teletraan-meets-jarvis for beta-reading this chapter for me! :)

Tech stood at the back of the room, staying out of view as Kestia discussed options with Boss Riis. The Gungan was more amenable to the situation than any of them could have anticipated and was being incredibly cooperative. Kestia was once more in her regalia, or at least as much as could be pulled together from around the safehouse. Em had managed to get the mud stains out of the battle dress she’d worn with Tech during the first broadcast and Sabé had done a wonderful job braiding and weaving her hair into an intricate updo. The Scar of Remembrance divided her lower lip, and her posture had changed from the slumped form Tech had cradled the night before, straightening back into that of a monarch. As condescending as it felt to say so, he was proud of her.

The Gungans were a proud people, but they were not so proud as to not recognize the danger that they were in. Boss Riis had agreed that evacuating the city would be their best course of action and had already instructed his advisors to begin coordinating the evacuation effort along with the dismantling and salvage of the nearby holy sites. That part had pained Kestia the most to request, but the Gungan leader had been incredibly gracious.

“Sacred places isa only sacred if wesa daree to see dem. To worship dem. Wesa gon maken new places. Surviving and saving Gungans more important,” Boss Riis declared, and Tech could see some of the weight lift off of Kestia’s shoulders.

“I’m terribly sorry we were unable to defend the planet and keep you safe, Boss Riis. My hope was that we would be able to deter the Imperials. However, with our recent defeats, I fear it will only be a matter of time before they find where the Bandorium is, and based on recent events, I do not believe your wellbeing will be taken into account. If there were any other way, I’d pursue it without hesitation.”

The Gungan leader bowed his head in understanding. “Wesa grateful for yousa doin’ yous best. Wes forever in yous debt.” A figure appeared behind him, and Boss Riis paused to converse quietly for a few moments before turning back to Kestia. “My must besa goin.’ Maken much preparations. Tank you, my lady. Mesa hope yous able to leave disa place safely. May wesa spake again.”

Kestia bowed her head as the holo flickered into darkness before turning to Tech, heaving a deep sigh. “Well, I suppose that’s that.”

Gregar Typho gave Kestia a tight smile. “You’ve done everything you can, Kes. I know it’s hard, but it truly is the best thing for them.”

She sighed deeply. “I know, but even knowing that doesn’t make me feel any better.” The captain stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder, and she reached up, giving it a squeeze.

“You did everything you could, more than many would,” Typho tried again. Kes turned and gave him a sad smile.

“I’m grateful for your words, Gregar. Truly.”

Tech watched the interaction, not wishing to intrude. He admired the relationship Kestia had with the captain and was glad to see that it had been somewhat mended after their spat the other day. He’s like a brother to her, and arguably, he knows her better than anyone. The last point made him slightly envious, but he knew that would come to him with time. Just have to get off this planet first.

A knock at the door caused them all to turn. Hunter entered, helmet tucked under one arm. “Sorry to interrupt, m’lady, but Senna’s returned.”

The queen smiled. “Excellent. One less thing to worry about.”

Senna had left the day after they’d arrived to head back to Fellen and retrieve the two Force users. Tech had been shocked so few had showed up, and even more so at their ages. Senna and Kestia had quickly agreed it was best to remove them from Naboo to protect them from the Inquisitors. It would of course ultimately have to be their decision, something Senna had been clearly nervous about, but the two women were hopeful that they’d come along. Glancing at Kestia, he could see the question lingering in her mind, which Hunter quickly answered without prompting.

“Only one of them came with her.”

Kestia’s face fell slightly. “And the other?”

“Didn’t feel like he could leave his family.”

Nuule. Tech recalled the boy’s name from the conversation with Senna. The young farm boy. He supposed it made sense. Tanelly, the girl. She did come. He pondered what had been different in her decision, but he supposed fear must have been a large factor.

Kestia nodded. “Very well. We could not pull the boy from his family against his will. I am glad at least one will come with us.” She smoothed her skirts. “I’m going to go take this ridiculous thing off before I meet them. I’m not exactly a queen anymore.”

“To her, you are,” Hunter said quietly, and Kestia’s eyes shone for a moment before she gathered herself.

“Give me just a few minutes. Please ensure they get food and whatever they need. I have to imagine it was an arduous journey.” With that, she exited the room quickly, leaving Hunter, Typho, and Tech behind.

“She going to be alright?” Hunter asked to no one in particular, and Typho and Tech exchanged a look.

“I believe you’re more qualified to answer that question, Captain,” Tech said quietly.

Gregar gave him a small smirk before shrugging. “I don’t know if any of us are. Kes has never given up on anything in her life, so I can’t imagine what’s going through her mind right now. We’re in uncharted waters for her.”

Tech suppressed a small smile, nodding at the captain’s speculation. Kestia had been dealing with her grief when it was just the two of them at night, Tech listening while she vented her frustrations or cradling her as she sobbed when it all became too much. She was terribly conflicted about leaving but was determined to not allow anyone to see her falter. He was happy he could at least provide the emotional support she needed behind closed doors.

The two clones strode out of the room with the captain, turning down the hall towards the kitchen area. They found Senna and a young woman seated at a table, scarfing down some food. Tech grinned at the Jedi, who nodded at him. I’ve never known her to slow down while eating, he thought. The young woman turned to look at them, wide eyed as she took in her surroundings and the people that inhabited them. This must all be a lot to adjust to rather quickly.

The young girl was still looking around until her eyes focused on something behind them, widening slightly. Tech turned to see Kestia striding towards them, muttering something at Em as the droid puttered along next to her. When she finally reached the kitchen, the queen smiled gently, coming to sit next to the young girl.

“You must be Tanelly.”

The girl quickly swallowed a mouthful of noodle soup before nodding wordlessly. Then, seemingly remembering that she was addressing the planet’s monarch, she tried to bow rather ungracefully. Kestia laughed lightly. “It’s alright, my dear. You don’t have to be formal with me. Not here. You may call me Kes.”

The young woman opened her mouth to speak, her speech stilted and shaky from her nerves. “If…if that’s what you’d prefer…m’lady…sorry, Kes.”

Kestia took her hands, giving them a light squeeze. “I understand you’re like me. You have special gifts.”

Tech was surprised Tanelly’s eyeballs didn’t pop right out of her skull with how wide they became. Senna must not have told her.The young woman’s mouth fell open slightly. “You…you’re…you’re a…you…”

“I’m Force sensitive like you, yes.”

Tanelly took a few moments to process this information, her eyes wandering until they fell on the lightsaber hilts resting on Kestia’s belt. Her jaw dropped.

“You…you have lightsabers?”

The queen laughed. “I do, and I’m sure one day you will as well, should you continue your training.” She glanced at Senna, who shrugged.

“I’ve put the offer out there, but she’d like to consider it. As she should.”

Tech raised an eyebrow at Senna. “You’d take a Padawan?”

Senna rolled her eyes. “What, you think I can’t?”

“No, I just wasn’t aware that was something you desired.”

The grin on Senna’s face faltered slightly. “I didn’t think I’d need to.”

The implication of the statement hit Tech like a punch to the gut. She didn’t think she’d need to because there’d be plenty of other Jedi Masters around to train them. Now, it’s just her and perhaps a handful that survived. She’s doing what she can to carry on the ways of the Jedi.His heart broke a little, but when he met Senna’s gaze again, she had recovered, giving him a wink.

“I may not be all that good at it, though. I’ve warned her adequately,” she teased.

Kestia turned to face the Jedi. “You’re a wonderful teacher and she’d be fortunate to have you.” Senna bobbed her head in gratitude at the statement.

Tech’s eyes flicked up towards the far entrance of the kitchen as Echo entered, striding towards their table.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, m’lady, but we’re ready.”

Kestia nodded at him. “Very well. Let’s go talk through how we’re getting out of here.”

---

Wrecker stood at the back of the room, taking in those around him. The few rotations of rest had done a lot of good for the soldiers that had escaped Keren, but he could still see some hesitancy in their expressions. They don’t want to leave either. He knew it was the right thing to do, and secretly, he was a little relieved. They’d done as much as they could here, and he agreed with Captain Typho that there weren’t many other options that wouldn’t just lead to more death and destruction at the hands of the Empire. Also, he missed Omega and was ready to see her again.

Typho, Hunter, Tech, Senna, and the queen entered the room with Echo close behind, and the doors hissed shut behind them. The room was full to the brim as all of the soldiers had crowded in to hear what the plan was. Wrecker knew Echo, Iden, and Typho had spent the last few days weighing their options carefully, and knowing Echo, this would be the least risky plan that would get them out safely. Wrecker quietly lamented the fact that meant there would be nothing for him to blow up.

Echo tapped a few keys on the map, bringing up a map of the planet and zooming in on what appeared to be an airbase relatively close to Theed. The room fell silent as Captain Typho stepped forward to begin the briefing.

“Tomorrow, we leave our homeworld to continue the fight against the Empire. This is of course, not the outcome many of us hoped for, but we have done good here. The Gungans have successfully evacuated Gunga City thanks to our warning, and they are in the process of salvaging many of their sacred sites. We have protected some of Naboo’s most vulnerable and given them their best chance at survival. It should also not go unnoted that we stood against the greatest military power in the galaxy with what resources we have, and we won. We may be leaving, but our fight against the Empire has served as a loud rebuke to their authoritarianism. That is not for nothing, and I hope everyone in this room realizes it.” He allowed his gaze to drift around the crowd, searching out eyes, ensuring understanding. Wrecker liked that about the captain, that he understood the need for human connection among those he led. Typho turned back to the holotable.

“We’ve already reached out to our brethren around the planet, and they too are planning their evacuation efforts. We will lead the charge here, in Harte Secur,” he said, pointing at the airbase on the map. “If we are able to capture the airbase, we’ll have plenty of fighters and transports to get our people offworld. The blockade is spread somewhat thin, so our plan will be to choose a fairly separated star destroyer, and then our fighters will engage it as the transports escape. Once we have taken Harte Secur, we will signal the evacuation to begin planetwide, converging on the location of the selected star destroyer. By focusing on the one point, they shouldn’t have enough bandwidth in their tractor beam to capture us. The fighters will need to focus their run on the tractor frequency dome on the underside of the destroyer. If you can take that out in advance, then that’s a massive breach in the blockade for us to slip through.”

“What about TIEs?” one young woman piped up.

“Our intelligence suggests that most of the destroyers are minimally crewed, and only some are equipped with TIE squadrons. We’re gathering intelligence now on which ones might be carrying fighters, and we’ll use that list to select the destroyer to focus on.”

The captain zoomed back out, focusing instead on a location Wrecker recognized as the place they’d hidden the Marauder. “While the main attack is happening in Harte Secur, I want Tech and the queen to head to where we hid their gunship. Our spies report that they haven’t seen any activity in the area recently, so they suspect that the Marauder is still hidden in the hangar below this field. The Marauder’smaneuverability and speed make it a prime candidate to get the queen out of here. Tech, I want you to take her to the hangar, and then await our confirmation of victory at Harte Secur. Once that’s occurred and we’ve begun our attack run on the designated destroyer, you and the queen will make your escape. We will head to your base of operations.”

“And where exactly is that?” another one of the soldiers piped up.

“Coordinates will be provided once you break atmosphere. We don’t want to divulge too soon in case someone is captured. We cannot put the rebellion at risk.”

There was a small murmur around the room, which quickly subsided when Iden shot them a glare. Wrecker liked her. He understood why she and Crosshair had gravitated towards one another. And she won’t take his shit. He chuckled quietly at the thought.

“Any questions?” she asked sharply, and no one dared raise a hand. “Good.”

The captain gave her a look, and she shrugged, stepping back. “Alright. We leave first thing tomorrow.”

---

The base was quiet as Tech strode through the hallways, unable to sleep. I should try again to see if I can finally doze off. He’d snuck out of Kestia’s arms an hour ago to try and calm his racing mind, but it had been little help. Now, he knew there were only a few hours left before dawn broke and the day of their escape began.

He punched the code to Kestia’s room and the door slid open with a quiet hiss. He slipped his boots and shirt back off before quietly tiptoeing towards the bed.

“I’m awake,” came Kestia’s voice in the dark. The room suddenly flooded with dim lighting as she tapped the lamp on the nightstand on to its lowest setting. Her hair hung in her face, but her smile was radiant as her eyes found Tech’s behind his goggles.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to wake you,” he apologized.

“You didn’t. I was awake when you left.” She lifted the sheets and he slid in underneath them. Kestia snuggled closer, wrapping her arm around his bare waist. “What’s troubling you tonight, my love?” she asked quietly.

He placed his lips against her hair and hummed. “Plenty. If the intelligence is correct on the star destroyer that’s been selected. The Imperials could always shift their formation, and then we’ll potentially be contending with a fleet of TIE fighters, which are significantly more nimble than any Naboo fighters currently in use. What if they are unable to take Harte Secur? So much of our plan hinges on it, a single point of failure so to speak. I don’t like plans that have little to no redundancy, and yet-“

Kestia silenced him with a deep kiss, her fingers grazing over his cheek bones gently. Tech melted into her, his hand slipping into her hair to cradle the back of her head as he tipped her back onto her pillow, hovering over her. Kestia gently slipped her fingers under the strap of his goggles, carefully taking them off and placing them on the nightstand next to the bed. As he pulled back from the kiss, she slowly ran her thumbs over the red indentations around his eyes and across the bridge of his nose. “I’m worried too, Tech. You’re right, the plan does hinge on a very linear sequence of things going correctly, but I have faith in my people and your brothers. They’ve never failed us before. And most of all, I have faith in you and that brilliant mind of yours.” She tapped her finger on his forehead and he huffed a laugh.

“I fear my mind will have little to do with our success tomorrow. All I have to do is get you to the Marauder and then pilot us out of here. A fairly simple endeavor.”

She grinned. “We both know nothing is that simple.”

Tech ran his fingers through her hair once more as he propped himself up on his elbow. “I don’t know. I find this all, very simple.”

“All this?” she asked playfully.

Tech captured her hand and drew it to his lips. “You and I. This is very simple to me. It’s easy.”

She rolled her eyes. “Tech, we’ve certainly had our ups and downs. I was sure you’d never speak to me again after you found out I’d lied to you, and I could have hardly faulted you for it.”

“Perhaps.” He intertwined his fingers with hers. “But I think I always knew deep down that we’d find our way back to one another. As angry as I was, I understood you, and you make me feel understood in ways no one has. You allow me to speak about things I’m passionate about and engage with me. The things that I do that other people don’t understand, you’ve never questioned.”

Kestia reached up with her unoccupied hand to gently take his chin between her fingers. “Those are things that draw me to you, Tech. They’re things I love about you.”

The word startled him, and she noted it. “Does that surprise you?” she asked.

Tech mulled it over. “It’s just not something I’d ever considered.”

“Well, perhaps you should start considering it more.”

He smiled as he leaned down, resting his lips against hers. “Perhaps I shall.”

An hour later, with their limbs tangled together and their clothes thrown to the far reaches of the room, Tech and Kestia finally drifted off, the three words they’d whispered to one another still hanging in the air.

---

Hunter sheathed his knife in the holster on his forearm as the morning breeze blew in from the falls that shielded the cave entrance. He’d slept alright, but had woken an hour before the sun was up, the adrenaline beginning to seep into his veins. He was ready.

The sound of footsteps behind him echoed throughout the cavern, but he didn’t need to turn to identify who it was. He’d come to known Gregar’s heavy deliberate steps from their time together, just as he’d learned Kestia’s, and he grinned as he felt the captain come to stand next to him.

“Early morning for you too, I see,” Gregar observed.

“Normally is the day of a fight,” Hunter replied. “Although it’ll be a struggle to get Wrecker out of bed. Always is.”

The captain laughed. “I’d hate to be the person to have to wake him up.”

“We normally draw straws for it,” Hunter chuckled.

The two men stood silently for a few moments, watching the early morning sky shift from golden to blue.

“I’m going to miss this place,” Gregar said quietly. “I’m not well traveled aside from my work with the Senator, but I have to believe there are few places like it.”

Hunter smiled again. “As someone that has been to many places in this galaxy, I can confirm there are few like it, but,” he said turning and placing a hand on the captain’s shoulder, “sometimes that’s the thrill. Seeing places unlike any you’ve ever seen.”

Typho returned his smile. “I suppose. This is just my home.”

“Leaving won’t change that.”

“Very true.” The captain’s eyes lingered on the hand on his shoulder. “Do you think we’re doing the right thing, Hunter? Leaving it like this? I know I told Kes it was the correct move, but I still have this nagging feeling that something’s not right.”

Hunter squeezed his shoulder. “In my experience, you’ll never feel totally confident in your decisions. There’s always at least a little bit of a lingering ‘what if’, but making decisions is part of being a leader, and you don’t get to where you are without making a series of correct decisions. I trust your judgement Gregar, as does Kestia. This is the call, and we’ll do our best to make sure it’s the right one.”

The captain placed his hand on top of Hunter’s, giving it a squeeze. “I suppose you have a point. And I appreciate your confidence in my abilities. I doubt myself sometimes, more so after Senator Amidala’s death.”

Hunter nodded. “That doubt is another good quality. It can keep your ego in check. Just ensure it doesn’t inhibit your leadership.” Giving his shoulder a final squeeze, he let his hand fall to his side. “Now, let’s go rally the troops.”

---

Tech and Kestia were the first to depart, taking the bongo and exiting the cave. They’d all exchanged farewells and ‘good lucks’ before they left, Kestia hugging everyone. Echo had noted how she’d lingered with Gregar, and he had been glad to see it. The tension between the two of them seemed to have abated, and she spoke quietly to him off to the side before throwing her arms around his neck. The captain had stood for a moment before throwing decorum to the wind and hugging her back tightly. She had clasped Echo’s hand tightly before hugging him as well, and he’d grinned. Tech was punching away on his datapad as Echo approached him, pausing when Echo extended his right arm. Tech clasped the cybernetic, and Echo gave his arm a light squeeze.

“Be safe.”

“You too.”

“We’ll see you back at base.”

Now, Echo was zooming along the treelines outside of Theed as the group made their way towards Harte Secur. They’d managed to stay off the main roads with the speeders, keeping out of sight of Imperial patrols.

Sabé was seated next to him with D-4 resting in her lap. Senna, Tanelly, and Tarren sat in the back, dozing on and off as he drove. He could see Sabé was thinking, her gaze distant as she chewed on one of her fingernails. Finally, he reached over, taking her hand from her mouth and slipping his fingers in between hers.

“That’s bad for your teeth, you know,” he teased.

She rolled her eyes, but she rubbed her thumb over the back of his gloved hand.

“Nervous?” she asked.

“Always, but it keeps me on my toes. You?”

“Surprisingly, no. I feel like with all of the adversity we’ve faced, this is the simple part. Leaving. I know it was the hardest step to take, but I think it should be the simplest to pull off.”

“A lot has to go right.”

“We’re due for things to go right.”

He sighed as they finally cleared the treeline, the towers of the Harte Secur airbase glinting in the sunlight as they maneuvered the speeders to park them out of sight. “I hope you’re right.”

Quietly, the soldiers moved through the tall grass of the field south of the airbase. It was a clear day, warm with a slight breeze that whispered through the greenery around them. Echo wished for the fiftieth time that there was more cover surrounding the base, but this had been their best path of approach. Some trees. Rock outcroppings. Anything would have been nice. But, they’d been forced to cross over the grassland. Fortunately, it reached above most of their heads. Iden had informed them that this was the tallest it got before it died off in the winter months, so they’d lucked out on that front at least. Wrecker had to walk stooped low to keep his enormous frame obscured, and Echo was glad his helmet was on to hide his grin as his brother grumbled about having to keep his head down.

The group finally made it to a hill that overlooked the tarmac, and Typho, Hunter, Echo, and Crosshair crawled to the top of it. Crosshair pulled his scope out as Typho and Hunter scanned the tarmac through their binocs.

“Two turrets, one on each side of the runway. Crosshair should be able to pick their operators off fairly easily,” Hunter said quietly. “I’m not seeing any additional armaments, but-“

“Hunter.” Crosshair’s voice was low but urgent, and the three others swiveled their heads to look at him.

“East edge of the tarmac, back in the shadows.”

Echo pulled his binocs from his hip, squinting through the viewfinder as he panned across the tarmac until he found the object Crosshair mentioned. His heart leapt into his throat.

It was tucked under a tarp, but the silhouette was unmistakable, especially with the wings tucked upwards. All hope he had that his eyes were deceiving him vanished when an especially strong gust of wind pulled a corner of the tarp up, exposing the ship underneath.

The Havoc Marauder glinted when the sun caught its hull.

Echo’s mouth fell open. “Tech and Kes are walking into a trap.”

---

Tech eased the bongo into the weeds along the shore of the river, powering down the vehicle. Punching off the rayshields, he clambered out of it before reaching behind him to help Kestia down. Together, the two of them jogged into the treeline, shielding them from view. Typho had given them the coordinates of the entrance to the hangar, and Tech quickly navigated them there, finding the false tree trunk that housed an access panel. Punching in the keycode, he stepped back for Kestia to speak the Naboo code phrase, granting them access. A chunk of grass slid backwards, exposing a dark stairway that led below the ground.

Kes ignited one of her sabers, leading the way down as the panel closed behind them, plunging them into darkness. Quickly, they descended down to the main level, which opened up into the hangar that the Marauder had disappeared into when they’d first arrived.

“I’ve been so excited to see your ship,” Kestia whispered. “I know how proud of it you are. With the time we have to kill, you should walk me through the modifications you’ve made.” She strode out towards the middle of the hangar, eager to lay eyes on the Marauder.

“Gladly as soon as I find the lights,” Tech replied, feeling along the wall until his fingers bumped against another panel. His fingers brushed the switches, and he threw them upwards, but the hall remained dark, only the empty clicks of the switches echoing off the walls around them. “That’s odd,” he muttered.

“Tech.” There was something urgent in Kes’s voice that made goosebumps break out across the back of his neck. Turning, he saw her standing in the middle of the floor, her lightsaber raised above her head as she turned. “It…it’s not here,” she said.

He heard the scuffle of boots just as the first flash of a blue stun bolt struck him in his leg.

“KES, RUN!” Her other saber ignited as the bolts began flying. Tech tried his commlink, but got no response. We’re being jammed. Tech ripped his blaster from its holster, prying his torch loose with his other hand. He clicked on the light and began firing wildly, but his heart sank as he realized the room was filled with stormtroopers.

It was a trap.

Another stun bolt struck him in the back, and he toppled, falling forward onto his hands and knees. He turned his head, watching as Kestia deflected stun blasts valiantly, but she was quickly overwhelmed, swearing loudly as one struck her right in the chest. Her sabers deactivated as she collapsed to the ground.

“No,” Tech rasped just as the trooper nearest him unleashed one more stun bolt, and Tech’s world went dark.

Tag List: @imalovernotahater @canesjedi31

[dindjarins04]

CHAPTER TWO

I AM NO JEDI MASTERLIST

You yawned and stretched as the sunlight seeped into your room. Groaning, you sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. You waited for your eyes to adjust before slipping out of your nightwear and into your Jedi robes.

You attached your two lightsabers to your hip before walking out to be greeted with Padme. You gasped at the sight of her suddenly being right in front of you.

"Morning!" She exclaimed excitedly.

"Morning...aren't you supposed to be at the Senate?" You ask tiredly as she loops her arm around yours.

"Yes, but I'm here today to be with my best friend!"

"Really?" You raise a brow as she leads you into the cantine where you pick up a tray of assorted foods.

"Okay...well...I actually need a Jedi for protection and I really want you to be there instead of some random Jedi," You chuckled and shake your head as you find a seat as she takes the opposite one.

"Padme, I highly doubt my Master will let me protect you. We have a lot of training to do-"

"Exactly, this can be a part of your training! Look, I really don't want to have protection but they are insisting it happens," She sighs and rubs her temples. "Please, I'll even have another Jedi there if it makes Qui-Gon happy," You chew on your food while tapping your foot, thinking about it before sighing.

"I suppose Qui-Gon has a lot of paperwork to do and if I say this will help with my training...he may let me do it,"

"Yay!" She squeals with joy as more Jedi come into the cantine for their breakfast.

"So what's the threat anyway?" You ask, drinking from your cup.

"Oh, someone is just trying to kill me," You choke on your drink and look at her with a confused expression.

"You say that like it's just another Tuesday," She nods at your statement.

"It was expected,"

"Expected?"

"In my position, many people would want me dead, it was only a matter of time before someone attempted to do so," You nod and then see Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan enter the room. Following behind them is a young boy who looks familiar. He has a long braid and short fuzzy hair. You smile at him, he was fairly attractive. "Someone caught your eye?" Padme's voice says as she looks in your direction. "Staring at someone in particular? Let me guess...him!" She points at Obi-Wan and you shake your head.

"Padme, firstly, he is my Master's former padawan and secondly, I'm not looking at anyone," She rolls her eyes and turns back around to face you.

"Please convince him to let you protect me," She begs, her hand reaching out for yours. "I'll even stay to add my opinion,"

"I'll do it," You say as Obi-Wan and the cute boy sit at another table while Qui-Gon comes to you. "Master,"

"(Y/N)," He sits next to you and nods his head at Padme. "Senator," She smiles fondly.

"Padme is here to ask me to protect her from the threats," You begin.

"Obi-Wan and Anakin have already been assigned to that job," Padme sighs and her head drops while you try to remember the name Anakin. It sounds so familiar. "We have training,"

"Please Master, this will be a big part of my training! And Padme came to me...I'll even work with Obi-Wan and Anakin so you can get all that paperwork finished!" Qui-Gon sighs.

"She's right, I would rather have three Jedi protecting me than two...and I already know and trust (Y/N)...I would feel much more comfortable if she was here to protect me," She says in her politician's voice. Qui-Gon chews on his food thoughtfully before nodding.

"I suppose if the Senator wishes for this, I will have to accept," You smile widely and so does Padme. "(Y/N)...if you do this, the Jedi Council may see you in a better light," He says and you beam.

"Yes, Master," You grab your empty tray and Padme walks with you as you discard it.

"I now have a meeting with the Chancellor, it will be about the vote. Pack your things and meet me back at the Senate, I will inform them of you becoming my protector too," She kisses your cheek before running off. You sigh before walking to your room to pack some belongings you may need while being at the Senate.

‡★•~~~•★‡

You finish packing when a knock at your door startles you. You walk over and open the door to see Obi-Wan and the boy you saw earlier there.

"Hello, Master Kenobi and..."

"This my padawan, Anakin," He says as you step aside to let them in. Obi-Wan walks to your window while Anakin hangs back at the door. "We have been informed that you will be protecting Senator Amidala with us," You nod your head in agreement.

"She requested that I was there, she would feel more comfortable with someone she knows," You say as you finish zipping up your bag.

"Well, Anakin and I are about to head down to the Senate, do you wish to join us?" He asks.

"Sure," You respond before picking up your bag and following them out of the Temple.

‡★•~~~•★‡

It is evening when you exit the Temple with Obi-Wan and his padawan Anakin Skywalker. You drop back to walk next to Anakin.

"So, Anakin Skywalker...name sounds familiar," You begin.

"Of course it is, I'm the Chosen One," He says with a smug grin as you follow Obi-Wan to the speeder.

"Really now?" You say with a small giggle.

"Yep, I am said to bring balance to the force," He says with a smirk that you find attractive.

"Wait..." You stop in your tracks. "You're Obi-Wan's padawan...which makes you that little boy I met after Luminara died," You said, finally realising who he was; the boy who helped you recover from the death of your Master.

"So that would make you...(Y/N)?" He says and you nod. "Wow...it's been what...9 years?"

"10 years," You say and he nods.

"Wonder why we never saw each other," He mutters so you can't hear.

"You've grown...I like your hair," You comment.

"You've grown too..." He says as you climb onto the speeder next to Obi-Wan. "Um..."

"I've got the front seat," You say smugly.

"Exactly-"

"Anakin, just sit at the back," Obi-Wan said tiredly. You giggled as he grunted and moved to sit in the back.

‡★•~~~•★‡

You finally reach the Senate apartment blocks after half an hour of driving through the traffic of Coruscant. Anakin's string of complaints coming to an end as he jumps out and walks inside. You slowly get out and follow him. You see him waiting in an elevator and your heart flutters when he smiles. You don't know why but you cool yourself down before following him, Obi-Wan right behind you.

"So, (Y/N), how's training going?" Anakin asks as the elevator slowly moves.

"Very well, I just hope the council sees it," You say, sighing slightly.

"Don't worry, you're not the only one the council doesn't like," You raise a brow and turn to face him.

"You think the council doesn't like me?" Anakin laughs, shaking his head.

"The council doesn't like anyone who lost their Master at a young age or started their training too old," He points to himself. "I apparently started my training when I was too old and you lost your master when you were too young-"

"Anakin, that's not how the council works," Obi-Wan interjects.

"That's because you don't see what we do," He mumbles just so you hear. The elevator doors finally slide open and you are instantly greeted by a Gungan.

"Obi! Obi! Obi! Mesa sooo smilen to see'en yousa. Wahoooooo!" The Gungan says enthusiastically when seeing Obi-wan and he smiles in response as you all exit the elevator.

"It's Good to see you, too, Jar Jar," He responds politely and the Gungan then slaps his head.

"Oops! Wheresa mesa manners? Excuse me, Master Obi-Wan. I completely forgot myself for a moment there. I have had to learn Diplodiaclect... speak it like a native now. Don't really see the point, actually, but members of the Senate seem to prefer it..." You giggled and he finally notices you and Anakin, but his bulging eyes land on Anakin. "...and this, I take it, is your apprentice... Nooooooooo! Annie? Noooooooo! Little Bitty Annie?" He stares at Anakin. "Nooooooo! Yousa so biggen! Yiyiyiyyi! Annie!! Mesa no believen!"

"Hi Jar-Jar," He then looks at you.

"Nosa! litta(Y/N/N)! Me rememberen when yousa were a small child wit Lumarina trainen yousa! Yousa have grown tup so mui!" You smile, vaguely remembering this Gungan, he was probably the one who travelled to Tatooine with you, your master, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. It's all coming back to you now. You've tried so long to forget that painful time.

"Jar Jar Binks...I remember you...you were the one who kept saying my robes were too big for me,"

"Yousa were such a small Jedi!" He exclaims and you giggled.

"I'm perfectly average height," You then feel someone leaning against you. You cock your head to see Anakin resting his arm on your shoulder.

"No, Jar Jar is right, you're so small," He teases and you hit his arm causing him to laugh. Suddenly, Jar Jar pulls you both in a large hug.

"Mesa missed yous so mui," He exclaims. He then begins to lead you to where Padme is. You brush down your robes and Anakin looks at you oddly.

"What?" You ask.

"Getting cold feet in front of the politicians?"

"I want to look professional," He scoffs and waves his hand. "At least I don't look like a stray Loth Cat," He turns and sticks his tongue out before following Obi-Wan. You roll your eyes before entering, Captain Typho nodding in respect when seeing you while Padme beams at you, ending her conversation with Obi-Wan. She hikes up her skirts and pulls you into a bone-crushing hug.

"I'm so glad you came! I was beginning to worry it was just these two," She mumbles and you laugh, playfully pushing her off you. "I still believe all this protection is unnecessary,"

"I'm sure the Jedi council have their reasons," Obi-Wan negotiates. She sighs and then locks eyes with Anakin.

"Annie??" She stares "My goodness you've grown," You look down. So they have history. You keep your cool as they look at each other for a long moment. Anakin smirks and tries to play smooth.

"So have you... grown more beautiful, I mean... and much shorter... for a Senator, I mean," Obi-Wan looks disapprovingly at his apprentice. You narrow your eyes at Anakin's poor attempt at small talk. However, Padme laughs and shakes her head.

"Oh Annie, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine," You remember again. Everything begins to come back. The time you spent on Tatooine. You didn't spend much time out though. You were on the ship with Obi-Wan for most of it. But then the images of Darth Maul slaughtering your Master comes back. Her dull eyes, her blood-smeared hand caressing your face as she whispers her final words, telling you to trust in the Force. You release a shaky breath. You always tried to block out that part of your life. It makes you vulnerable, it makes you have feelings; fear of losing Qui-Gon, fear of losing Padme. Overall fear. Something that leads to anger that leads to revenge that leads to the dark side. You finally refocus on your group.

"I don't need more security, I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me," Obi-Wan and Anakin proceed to talk to her while Typhoo pulls you to the side.

"It's been a long time, (Y/N)," He says with a smile.

"It has, I barely remember anyone here, Typhoo,"

"I'm still sorry for what happened to your Master...all of this...all of these people must give you bitter memories," You look around at everyone; Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padme, Jar-Jar and the other Senators.

"Call it bittersweet," You say.

"Two sabers?" He notices and you nod.

"I'm glad you can count," He laughs fondly at that and you smile.

"I see your attitude did not perish," Your attention is then drawn back to the room.

"Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security... not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate," Anakin says with impatience.

"We will do as the council has instructed, and you will learn your place, young one," Obi-Wan scolds.

"Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed. Now if you will excuse me I will retire," She turns to you. "Come, (Y/N),"

"Yes, Senator," Everyone gives Padme a bow as you follow her out. Once in her room, she sighs angrily.

"Honestly, Obi-Wan doesn't even want to start an investigation," She rants, going behind a changing curtain to slip into her nightwear.

"The council did grant us permission to protect you, not to investigate," You say.

"Really, (Y/N), you too?"

"I...I really want the council to see me in a different light. Perhaps if I listen to them...maybe they'll like me," You say as you sit on her bed. She sighs and comes out in her nightclothes and brushing her hair.

"I understand,"

"But..." You smirk. "Maybe Anakin was right. To protect you...we need to know who we are going up against to know the best way to protect you," She too smirks.

"I like your thinking," She says.

"I'll bring in R2, he'll set out lasers on the floor so if any assassins come through, they'll trip the alarm," You say and she nods.

‡★•~~~•★‡

You and Anakin sit quietly in the living room. You are on a holopad while he looks at you.

"Why do you have two lightsabers?" He suddenly asks.

"I work better with two," You answer, responding to messages Qui-Gon sent you.

"The council allowed you to train with two?"

"No, Qui-Gon allowed me to train with two," You finally look up and you watch Anakin's face flush as you catch him staring at you. "See something you like?" You tease and he laughs, embarrassed.

"Shut up," You shake your head, laughing before looking down at your holopad.

Dammint. You think. Now is not the time to catch feelings!

[supermarvelgirl15]

Is There a Problem Here?

Summary: Din helps you when you're confronted by two men in the cantina that make you uncomfortable.

Pairing: Din Djarin (The Mandalorian) × f!reader

Word Count: 1,130

Warnings: Some scumbags hit on the reader and make her uncomfortable

A/N: I saw a prompt and it inspired me to write this! I don't usually write much, but I couldn't get it out of my head! Let me know if I should write more, or send in requests! This is also my first time writing for Din or anything Star Wars so...

Main Masterlist

××××××

The Mandalorian and his companion walk into the cantina on Atzerri, his eyes scanning the room from under his helmet. The Child peeps his head out from within the satchel that seems to almost be on the Mandalorian at all times.

Y/N scans the room as well, noticing how their entrance to the cantina has gained the attention of most of the other patrons. She makes brief eye contact with a scruffy-looking man who was accompanied by a Gotal.

“Is your contact here yet?” She says to the Mandalorian, her eyes still surveying their surroundings.

Din nods towards a booth, which was being occupied by a Gungan. He hears a groan from the woman beside him. “A Gungan, really?”

“I'm not ecstatic about it either, but we won't be able to fix the Crest without the credits he's offering,” Din grumbles, the Child in his satchel cooing.

“It better be worth it,” she murmurs as she follows him towards where the Gungan was seated. She tries to ignore the scruffy man that was gesturing to her as he talked with the Gotal.

The Mandalorian sits across from the Gungan, setting the Child in between him and his partner. The Gungan looks at all three of them, his gaze lingering on Y/N before it lands back on Din nervously. She gives the creature a questioning look at his sudden nervousness.

The Gungan started shaking his head. “Yousa didn't spake of palos,” he says as he gestures to her.

“She's with me,” Din states, nodding in her direction. The Gungan shook his head again.

“Mesa only spake with yu if yousa want mula,” he says, which causes Din to sigh in annoyance. Din looks at Y/N and nods towards the bar. She rolls her eyes, but complies as she gets up and makes her way to the bar.

She leans against the bar, ordering a drink from the bartender. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the scruffy-looking man from earlier staring at her. Y/N ignores him as the bartender comes back with her drink. She takes a sip from it, her gaze on the deal going on between her partner and the Gungan. She really hoped the credits was really worth the trouble the Gungan was going to put them through. She trusted Din's judgement though.

“What's it like traveling with a Mandalorian?”

Y/N's hand immediately went to her blaster as she whips her head to face the owner of the voice, only to find that it belonged to the scruffy man. She glances behind him, seeing that the Gotal was a few feet behind him.

The man holds his hands up, chuckling slightly. “Easy there, just trying to strike up a conversation with ya,” he says with a sly smile. Y/N's hand does not drift too far from her blaster as she turns from him, going back to her drink.

He clearly does not get the hint as he leans against the bar beside her. “Rehan,” he introduces himself, placing his shoulder against hers.

She pushes herself away from him. “I don't care,” she mutters, setting her now empty drink on the bar. Y/N looks back towards where Din is still talking with the Gungan, the Child messing with his cape from beside him. She sees Din look towards her briefly before her attention goes back to Rehan as he runs his hand down her arm.

“Ya see, sweetheart, you're going to care about me and my friend here,” he says as his eyes look her up and down, undressing her in his twisted mind.

Y/N swallows uncomfortably, looking at where he now has a grip on her bicep. She yanks it from him, taking a step away from him. “No, I don't think I will, Rehan,” she says as she glares at him.

The Gotal walks up beside Rehan now as it too begins to look her up and down. Y/N wanted so badly to shoot those disgusted looks off their faces, but she did not want to cause a scene, especially when they did not need the attention.

“What do you think, Jotun? We can get at least 300 credits off her,” Rehan says to the Gotal over his shoulder. It speaks in a language Y/N does not understand, but she gathers that it's not something pleasant judging by how Rehan chuckles as he looks over her once again. “Yeah, we should keep her for ourselves.”

She feels small under their lustful gazes, her hand back on her blaster at her hip. Whether she wanted the attention or not, she was prepared to protect herself from the nerf herders. The two took a couple steps closer to her, causing her grip to tighten on the blaster.

The Mandalorian suddenly slides in front of her, staring down Rehan and Jotun through the visor of his helmet. They both back up some, seeing that the Mandalorian's hand is placed on his blaster.

“Is there a problem here?” Din asks gruffly, looking between the human and the Gotal.

Rehan looks over the Mandalorian, obviously intimidated by him. He slowly begins to shake his head. “No, sir,” he answers glancing at his friend.

Din continues to stare them down until they leave the cantina altogether. It is only then that he turns to Y/N, his head tilting up and down as he gave her a once over, except this one felt more comforting coming from him. She let's out a breath she did not realize she was holding in.

“You all right?” He asks sincerely. Y/N nods as she feels tugging at her leg, looking down to see the Child looking up at her. She bends down to pick him up, caressing his ear lightly.

Din watches her actions carefully as the Child coos at her. “Did they hurt you?”

She shakes her head. “No, I'm good,” she says as she continues to look at the Child. “I was prepared to blast their faces off if need be,” she adds.

The Mandalorian nods his head reluctantly. “The Gungan gave me the tracking fob for the bounty. We should head out before dark,” he informs her. Y/N nods as she hands the Child over to Din, so he can place him in his satchel.

They begin to head out of the cantina, Y/N following behind Din as he leads the way. She bites her lip before grabbing his arm gently once they get outside. “Din,” she says quietly.

He stops and turns towards her, giving her his full attention. She licks her lips, glancing around until she finally makes eye contact with him.

“Thank you. For doing what you did back there,” she says, nodding back to the cantina.

Din smiles under his helmet as he nods. “You're welcome, Cyar'ika.”

××××××

[wingletblackbird]

PadMay: Day 11--Indigo

A Historic Friendship

Padmé  is enjoying this swim far, far more than the ones previous. This time she is swimming at night with the light of the three moons leaving criss-cross reflections across the indigo water. It’s beautiful and tranquil, and not merely because it is nighttime, cool and refreshing, but because only her handmaidens are watching her from afar: There are no mutters, no comments, no whispers about Padmé consorting with a Gungan.

“Jar Jar,” she calls out, “I’m going to need you to slow down!”

She propels her arms through the water trying to keep up with him, but smiles to herself as she realises it is wholly impossible: You cannot match a creature who was born to live in water.

“Oopsey day,” he says popping his head out of the water. “Mesa is forgetting yousa no swim so good.” Padmé has to stifle a laugh. There’s no point explaining to Jar Jar that as humans go, she’s one of the better swimmers. Besides, compared to him, she really doesn’t swim “so good.” 

“I’ll be there in a moment.” She shouts, and dives back under the water.

She and Jar Jar agreed to this swim after a difficult diplomatic endeavour to form friendships between her people and his. With a common enemy to unite them, and a grand victory achieved, making peace with the Gungans had been relatively easy, but making it last was proving to be another thing entirely. Now that things had settled down, it seems both her people and his were grumbling, resentful that they might owe the other anything. It marvelled Padmé  how little they were capable of seeing past old wrongs, of seeing the good that lay in both races, and in supporting one another.

“Yousa worry too much, mesa thinks.” Jar Jar had told her after. “Theysa not forget everything so quick. Thesya have longo memories, but yousa is showing them new ones mesa thinks. Soon theysa be more’n good memories than bad memories.”

Hopefully it would be enough, but the situation is volatile. Jar Jar is very sweet, of course. He’s brave, and kind, and earnest, and loyal. She admires him for the risks he took in bringing Qui-Gon to his people knowing the price he could pay, and doing the same for her when she’d requested it. He’d done it all simply because he’d believed it right. Would that more people could be like him. For all his generosity though, she wonders if he realises people were saying their friendship was influencing her rule, (as if that were necessarily a bad thing, like Jar Jar was some horrible villain, like more unity could be something horrible.) Naturally, of course, his people say the opposite: That he's her sycophant. Naturally, neither can seem to accept the truth of they simply respect each other. Does Jar Jar realise how easily this could become a political disaster if not navigated properly and delicately?

“Wesa friends!” He would say to her. “Wesa friends, and theysa realise one day it better to be friends than enemies. Wesa show them!” She hopes so. She knows it takes time to build trust especially with the obstacles they face. For one thing, no one speaks Gungan, so while Jar Jar is a good ambassador for his people, she’s got nobody really qualified to send over to Boss Nass in return--even if they were willing. Fostering good ties, and encouraging the children to be taught differently was bound to take time too. Perhaps, she’s just being impatient. It’ll take time, but it can be done. If she can take back her throne; she can manage this too.

“Mesa show you someting on the bottom,” Jar Jar interrupts her thoughts, “but yousa canno hold your air so long.” He turns his head sharply and his ears flap behind him. “Yousa grab mesa shoulders now, okiday?”

Padmé grins in anticipation and latches on.

“Yahoo!” Jar Jar shouts and Padmé laughs quickly, but stops to catch her breath as they dive down towards a cave. She decides to forget it all.

Right now, she feels fifteen years old. She feels hopeful and happy. Maybe Jar Jar’s right. Maybe their future of peace and cooperation could start with their one friendship. In fact, perhaps, it already had. They can teach their children, and their children’s children, and inspire others towards friendship too. It might take time, but they’d get there. All those naysayers were probably just jealous anyway. After all, Padmé’s never had more fun in the water than when a native deemed to show it to her in all its glory. The best thing about her friendship with Jar Jar really is that he is her friend.

[crystal-siren]

A Bright Beginning (Obi-Wan x Reader) Pt.3 /3

Requested by the ever lovely @dovies666 :)

Part 1  Part 2

Author’s Note: This marks the end of the first of three stories. Disclaimer: I take no credit for the characters other than any OC’s that may appear.

“You get me. There’s no other way to put it. When I am a whirlwind of a person, a mess of bad moods and even worse ideas, you move in slow, wrap each of those arms around me and in an instant, I am understood. When I am blind of all else, I see the way through you.” ~ Beau Taplin || The Way

“For the last time Y/N, the answer is no.”

“But why?” She tried hard not sound like a youngling that wasn’t getting their way.

“Because it is not our mission, that’s why.” Tahl gave her apprentice a look that would have caused any other person to back down.

“What if something happens and they need our help?” Y/N knew she was clutching at straws.

Master Tahl put down the datapads she had been carrying and turned to her apprentice. “Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi are more than capable. They will be able to handle any trouble that may or may not come their way.”

Y/N said nothing. It was unfair. Unfair that she was stuck at the Temple while her friend got to go off-planet for the second time that month.

~ ~ ~

“I don’t understand Master,” Obi-Wan said as he and Qui-Gon went to meet the Nubian Queen. “Why does she want to go back? She’s walking into a death trap.”

“It is not for us to question the Queen’s motives. We are to protect her, not fight a war for her.”

“Yes Master. Forgive me.”

Qui-Gon smiled down at his apprentice. He would make a fine Jedi knight and dare he hope, a Master. His attention was diverted when their transport docked where the Queen’s cruiser waited, with the Queen herself.

“Your Majesty,” Qui-Gon addressed the Queen and he and Obi-Wan bowed respectfully.

Any conversation between the Queen and his Master was blurred out when a flash of familiar brown fabric caught Obi-Wan’s attention. Not wanting to appear rude and inattentive, he stayed beside his Master and wondered if he had imagined it.

Bringing his attention back to the present, Obi-Wan saw Anakin standing a little off to the side and looking a bit unsure. Before he even thought of doing anything, Qui-Gon approached the boy and crouched down so that he was at the boy’s eye-level.

“I’m not allowed to train you, so I want you watch me and be mindful. Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” Qui-Gon spoke gently to the boy.

“Qui-Gon sir,” Anakin twisted his hands together and looked up at the Jedi Master. “I don’t want to be a problem.”

Standing up, Qui-Gon smiled down at the boy, “you won’t Ani. Just stick by me and I’ll make sure you’re alright. Ok?” Anakin nodded, smiling.

~ ~ ~

The flight to Naboo was a short one. The sight of the blockade made everyone nervous. Anakin, ever the curious one, spent the entire journey in the cockpit.

“Why hasn’t anyone tried to stop us?”

One of the pilots, a young woman, smiled at Anakin. “No doubt they know the Queen is on board. They need her alive. Down on the planet.”

Anakin nodded thoughtfully. “Then why is she going there? It sounds very dangerous.”

The pilot nodded. “It is very dangerous. But the Queen wants to help her people.”

“Her people are very lucky.”

The young woman smiled slightly and nodded, “indeed they are.” Anakin watched closely as her slender fingers flew over the control panel in front of her. They had begun to enter the atmosphere.

Having landed in one of Naboo’s numerous grass plains, the Queen and her entourage, as well as the two Jedi, disembarked.

As they waited for Jar-Jar to return from speaking with his superiors, Obi-Wan approached Qui-Gon. “Jar-Jar is on his way to the Gungan city, Master.”

Qui-Gon did not respond right away. Silence hung between them like a heavy curtain, they had not spoken since they had left the Capital. He sounded a little distracted when he answered with one word, “good.”

“Do you think the Queen’s idea will work ?” Obi-Wan crossed his arms in the wide sleeves of his robe.

“The Gungans will not be easily swayed,” Qui-Gon answered, referencing the plan the Queen had proposed before they had landed. “And we cannot use our power to help her.”

Obi-Wan said nothing for a short while. But when he did, he did not meet his Master’s eye. “I apologise for my behaviour Master. It is not my place to disagree with you about the boy. And I am grateful,” he looked up and smiled slightly, “that you think I am ready to take the trials.”

Qui-Gon turned to face him and smiled. “You have been a good apprentice Obi-Wan. I foresee that you shall become a great Jedi knight.”

Obi-Wan nodded in acknowledgement of the compliment.

Their conversation came to an end when Jar-Jar returned with news that the underwater Gungan city was deserted.

“Any idea where they might have gone ?” Qui-Gon asked.

The gungan shook his head before quickly nodding as he seemed to remember something. “When in trouble, Gunguns go to sacred place.”

“Will you take us there?” The Queen spoke up. Her handmaidens and pilots standing close behind her.

Jar-Jar seemed to think for a short before sighing heavily and nodding. He gestured for everyone to follow him.

The group soon came to a glade and true to his word, Jar-Jar’s people were there. Peering at the newcomers in suspicion and thinly veiled hostility.

On the fallen head of a statue stood the chieftain of the Gungans, Boss Nass.

The Queen stepped forward and began to speak, “I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo, we come before you in peace.” Her words caused Boss Nass to laugh, he clearly did not take her seriously.

One of the handmaidens stepped forward and glanced briefly at the Queen before looking up at the Gungans. “I am Queen Amidala.” Shocked whispers echoed around the glade. “This is my decoy,” she gestured to the young woman beside her. “My loyal bodyguard. I apologise for the deception, but it was necessary.”

Silence followed her statement. Obi-Wan glanced at his Master, did he know about this ? A slight movement to the right of his Master caught his eye. One of the Queen’s pilots had stepped forward and stood beside one of the handmaidens. It was clear that the pilot was female but this was nothing unusual. What was unusual was the sense of familiarity that Obi-Wan got from her.

“Although we do not always agree, Your Honor, our two great societies have always lived in peace. The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build.” Amidala’s voice broke his train of thought and diverted his attention back to her. “If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever. I ask you to help us... no, I beg you to help us.” With those words, she dropped to her knees, everyone following suit.

“We are your humble servants.” The young Queen bowed her head. “Our fate is in your hands.”

There was a pause before the Gungan replied. “Hmmmm.” He seemed to think for a moment before continuing. “Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans? Mesa like dis. Maybe wesa... bein' friends.” His words were met with cheers from both sides.

~ ~ ~

Near where they had landed, Queen Amidala and her party now planned their retake of Theed Palace. A holographic model of the palace allowed the Queen to clearly illustrate her strategies.

Obi-Wan stood to the side with his Master and did his best memorise their part in the plan. He briefly wondered if that young pilot was near, she seemed so familiar, he had yet to find out why.

Having explained to Gungans their part in the overall plan, the Queen and her group made their way to the transports that would take them to Theed.

~ ~ ~

Theed was crawling with Trade Federation droids. Staying out of sight, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, along with Anakin, accompanied the Queen.

Receiving a coded signal from their counterpart across the street, Amidala and her team all but mowed down a group of droids headed their way. Gesturing for everyone to follow her, Amidala led the way to the main hanger bay.

They had scarcely set one foot in the hanger when more than five Droidekas intercepted them. Shots were fired from both sides, with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon deflecting what they could.

“Get to your ships,” Amidala commanded the pilots, who immediately ran to their respective crafts. Some made it, some did not. One did not go at all.

The remaining pilot stood beside the Queen. Her holster was empty, from her belt hung another weapon. Obi-Wan’s eyes widened as he noticed this and they narrowed when she reached for it and activated it. Without hesitation, she proceeded to block the Destroyer’s deadly bolts before they could harm the Queen.

With the help of Anakin who now sat in the cockpit of a Nubian starfighter, the young woman destroyed the droids.

Making to follow the Queen to the hanger’s exit, the young woman felt a gentle yet firm hand on her arm. She smirked beneath her helmet when she saw who it belonged to.

“Who are you ?” Qui-Gon asked the young pilot. He had his suspicions but he prayed he was wrong.

Choosing not to say anything, the young woman took off her helmet and let her H/L H/C hair tumble out.

“Y/N ?”

Nodding, she tossed the helmet to the side. “The one and only.” She winked at the stunned Obi-Wan.

“What in the name of the Force do you think you are doing here?” Qui-Gon’s usually calm voice held an undercurrent of anger.

With a look in her eyes that reminded them both of her Master, Y/N spoke. “I figured the both of you could use some help,” looking around the hanger, she smirked. “And it seems I was right.”

“Does your Master know of you being here?”

Qui-Gon’s fears were realised when she shook her head.

“You could be expelled for this,” it was not Qui-Gon who spoke, but Obi-Wan. He approached her slowly, as if he didn’t really believe she was there.

“It would have been worth it though,” Y/N said with a slight smile. “The Queen is safe. You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

Obi-Wan made to speak when Qui-Gon beat him to it. “You will remain here, where it is safe.” He held up a hand to stop her protests. “You have broken enough rules already. You’ll be lucky to even be considered for the trials when Master Tahl hears of this.”

Anyone else would have looked down, ashamed. Y/N simply looked Qui-Gon in the eye and lifted her chin. “I do not wish to appear disrespectful Master. But, knowing what I do, I cannot leave you or your Padawan to face the danger we all know is coming.”

Silence met her statement. Obi-Wan glanced between her and his Master, she was right and knowing her, she would blame herself if anything happened.

“Very well,” Qui-Gon relented and Obi-Wan sent a small smile her way. “But you stay with me at all times, is that understood?”

Y/N nodded and grinned, “of course Master.”

Amidala, as though sensing the ease of tension, announced that it was time for them to leave. As they reached the hanger’s doors however, the doors opened to reveal a hooded figure and Y/N felt the temperature in the hanger drop.

Y/N took an involuntary step back, her heart hammering in her chest.

“Y/N? What is it?” Obi-Wan sounded far away.

She shook her head and whispered, “Sith.” What she said was confirmed when the figure lowered it’s hood and revealed it to be a horned Zabrak. It’s yellow eyes seemed to pinpoint everyone at the same time.

“We’ll handle this,” Qui-Gon said to Amidala, who led her team back the way they had come.

Y/N remained frozen to the spot, even when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan ignited their lightsabers. Her eyes followed their every movement, yet her muscles refused to move.

It was only when the Sith all but threw Obi-Wan to the side, that her instincts took over. Igniting her own weapon, she launched herself at the Zabrak. She became a whirlwind of blue light, interrupted only when Qui-Gon struck their opponent.

Soon it became three against one. Two Padawans. One Master. One Sith Lord. At times it looked as though the Jedi had the upper-hand, but then the Sith would throw them off with aggressive yet highly skilled strikes and parries.

It was only when they entered the palace’s power generator complex, that Y/N suddenly became very aware of her surroundings; narrow bridges that were built high above each other and a thick column of electrical energy that pulsed in the centre.

Not being too fond of heights, Y/N tried to stay away from the edges and tried not to look down. She kept her attacks as central as she could and prayed she wouldn’t go tumbling over the side. She became so focused on her own safety that she failed to notice that her attacks were leaving her open in many places.

The Sith, Darth Maul by name, noticed this however and took full advantage. The young woman had proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with, her attacks were fluid and almost elegant. Impressive for a mere Padawan learner. While defending himself from the other two Jedi, Maul noticed her technique beginning to fail. The fluidity vanished and he could see in her eyes that something had shifted. Taking advantage of the many openings she now unwittingly presented, he struck.

Obi-Wan watched in horror as she tumbled from the bridge, her severed right leg following her. “Y/N!” He screamed her name, not caring who or what heard him. His best friend now lay unmoving on the bridge below, her severed limb and weapon were nowhere to be seen.

His heart hammering, he struggled to control the emotions now running rampant through him. Tightening his grip on his lightsaber, Obi-Wan launched himself at the gloating Sith. He and Qui-Gon drove him further and further into the generator complex.

It was only when they entered a sectioned-off area that Master and Padawan were separated. A short passageway that was sectioned off with lethal energy shields. Obi-Wan remained trapped in the last one as his Master took on the Sith alone. Unable to keep still, his eyes followed every movement the Sith made and tried to find any weaknesses. The image of Y/N lying unmoving and injured flashed before his eyes. White-hot anger flared up and rushed through him.

His sea-shaded eyes followed his Master as he struck and parried and struck again. Obi-Wan hated this, not being able to help his Master.

A second scream tore from his lips as he watched the Sith mortally wound Qui-Gon. “NO.” The scream echoed through the chamber and grief flowed through him and anger soon followed. He watched helplessly as his Master collapsed, his lightsaber rolling away from him.

Tearing his eyes away from his fallen Master, Obi-Wan clenched his jaw and glared at his opponent, who prowled and gloated before him.

When at last the timed barrier gave way, Obi-Wan all but threw himself at the Sith. His anger and grief fueled him. Lashing out, he launched a lethal series of attacks and skillfully dodged the Sith Lord’s strikes. His emotions soon began to cloud his judgement. With a swift kick from the Sith, Obi-Wan lost his balance and fell backwards.

Grabbing onto the first thing, Obi-Wan prevented himself from falling down into the incineration pit. Taking a series of deep breaths to calm himself, Obi-Wan brought his rebellious emotions under control. Hanging on for dear life, Obi-Wan began to think of ways for him to rectify his current situation. Maul hadn’t left the chamber, he lurked at the edge of the pit, pacing back and forth, striking at the edge with his lightsaber.

Gritting his teeth, Obi-Wan looked over in the direction where his Master lay, and his lightsaber close by. Narrowing his eyes in concentration, he called on the Force for help as he pulled Qui-Gon’s lightsaber toward him. Hope surged through him as the weapon moved closer and closer until, once again calling on the Force, he launched himself out of the pit and caught the lightsaber and ignited it. Without warning he struck, and watched with grim satisfaction as the Sith tumbled backwards, his severed torso following him down.

Without second thought, he hurried over to his Master and knelt by him, gently resting his head in the crook of his arm.

“It’s too late,” Qui-Gon breathed out.

Obi-Wan refused to believe this, “no!” He shook his head to emphasis his point.

“Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon swallowed hard, almost painfully, “Obi-Wan, promise... Promise me you will train the boy.” He knew of his Padawan’s reservations, but this had to be done.

Not bothering to hide his tears, Obi-Wan nodded, “yes, Master.”

Qui-Gon reached up and gently wiped away a tear, “he is the chosen one. He will bring balance. Train him.”

Obi-Wan nodded a second time and cried out when he felt his Master go limp. Letting his emotions run free, he held Qui-Gon close and let the tears come.

~ ~ ~

The Council came to Naboo once they had received the news. Master Tahl had come with them, having learned of her apprentice’s involvement and of course, Qui-Gon’s sudden death.

Obi-Wan had relayed his Master’s last request to Master Yoda, who now paced before him. “Confer on you the level of Jedi knight, the Council does.” Obi-Wan suppressed a small smile, one that soon vanished when Yoda turned to face him and continued speaking. “But, agree with you taking this boy as your Padawan learner, I do not.”

Obi-Wan knew this was coming. His Master’s request was bound to be met with skepticism. “Qui-Gon believed in him.” For now, that was good enough for him.

Yoda let out a resigned sigh, “the Chosen One, the boy may be. Nevertheless, grave danger I fear in his training.”

Obi-Wan was in no mood to take ‘no’ for an answer. “Master Yoda. I gave Qui-Gon my word. I will train Anakin. Without the approval of the Council if I must.”

“Qui-Gon’s defiance I sense in you,” Yoda shook his head, “need that, you do not.” He paused briefly and took a deep breath before continuing, “agree with you, the Council does. Your apprentice, Skywalker will be.”

Obi-Wan didn’t know whether to be relieved or surprised. Maybe both. He didn’t know if he was ready for such a task. Bowing in respect to the Jedi Master, Obi-Wan left the room. Worry for Y/N shot through him and he hated not knowing if she was alright, or if she even survived.

Finding his way to the palace’s medical wing, he found Master Tahl. She sat silently by her Padawan’s bed. Y/N lay still on the white bed, the extent of her injury was hidden by starched sheets.

Most likely feeling the waves of worry radiating off of him, Tahl looked up and smiled sadly at the young knight. “Come in Obi-Wan.” She gestured for him to join her.

“How is she?” He struggled to keep his voice calm. His eyes wandered over Y/N’s sleeping features.

“They say she will pull through.” Tahl’s words were music to his ears. “Her body went into shock, that and she hit her head rather hard when she fell.”

“That’s why she’s not awake,” Obi-Wan asked, “because of that ?”

Tahl nodded, “I’m afraid so. They don’t know when she’ll wake up.”

Obi-Wan let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. “But she will wake up, won’t she, Master?”

Tahl sighed and stood up, “there is no reason why she shouldn’t.” In passing him, she lay a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I am so very sorry for your loss Obi-Wan, I cannot imagine how you must be feeling.”

He simply nodded in acknowledgement, not trusting himself to speak with a steady voice where his Master was concerned.

Obi-Wan waited until she had left before going to Y/N’s bedside. “I need you to listen to me very carefully,” he spoke to her as though she wasn’t in some coma. “You made me a promise some while ago. I know we were only children but I have never known you to break a promise.” He took a deep shuddering breath. “You promised me that should you ever go anywhere that I did not, that you would always come back.” He swallowed hard as unexpected tears came, “I need you to fulfill that promise Y/N. You can’t go, you simply cannot. Not after everything that’s happened.”

She lay still as he spoke, the light of the setting sun casting a soft glow into the room. She lay still as he lent forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. She didn’t move a muscle.

~ ~ ~

That night, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Queen Amidala and the Council stood beside Qui-Gon’s funeral pyre.

Anakin was, understandably confused and saddened. Looking into the flames, he asked Obi-Wan in a forlorn voice, “what will happen to me now?”

Turning his attention to the boy, Obi-Wan spoke in a low, reassuring tone. “The Council has granted me permission to train you. You will be a Jedi. I promise.” This seemed to reassure Anakin somewhat.

Not far behind them, Master Windu spoke with Yoda, “there’s no doubt that the mysterious warrior was a Sith.”

Yoda nodded in agreement. “Always two there are, no more, no less. A Master and an Apprentice.”

“But which was killed?” Master Windu turned to look at the pyre, “the Master or the Apprentice.”

~ ~ ~

The next day proved to be beautiful. The streets of Theed were alive with celebration as the Gungan procession made their way to the palace where Amidala waited.

Beside her stood Obi-Wan with his new Padawan learner by his side. She was further flanked by the Jedi Council, her handmaidens and her advisors.

Waiting until Boss Nass and Jar-Jar had dismounted, Amidala accepted the Globe of Peace from her Governor. When the Gungan chieftain finally stood beside her, she passed him the Globe and the crowd erupted into cheers.

As this was happening, Obi-Wan felt something behind him, a wave of relief, one so strong that he turned to see who it came from.

There she stood, leaning on both her Master and a crutch for support. Her prosthetic leg shimmered in the late morning sun. Her smile was brighter than the twin suns of Tatooine. 

His joy and relief at seeing her awake made him smile back. She had kept her promise. She had come back.

See you all for Story #2 :) Which will roughly follow the story-line of ‘Attack of the Clones’.

[hellothere-generalangsty]

I've seen your best and worse/ And at your worse you're still the best/ But at my best I am the worse - Lydia

i forgot to add ‘x crosshair’ please sorry i’m tired

Crosshair - Marksman

Summary: Crosshair is filled with doubts as you pay him a visit to the shooting range.

Pairing: Crosshair x reader

Reader description: can be read as any gender, no physical description

Word Count: 1537 words

CW/ TW: Angst, but also a bit of fluff toward the end; guns/ shooting (not people, just training), mention of killing/ hurting people, mention of the war, marks of affection

Tags: @allamarisss @loth-wolffe @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @dusk-dawn-and-stars @tacticalsparkles @imalovernotahater @canwestayinthisdream @wakeupjackthisisntfair @namesmox @ladykatakuri

If you want to be added/ removed to the raglist, please fill this short taglist form!

Notes: So here’s for my very first request! Thank you anon 💗 and listen to me, the sleep-deprived writer: get some rest. Rest is important. Hope you’ll enjoy it!

Crosshair was cleaning his rifle when you entered the shooting range. He seemed so focused on the task that for a moment you wondered if he realised everyone else left. He probably didn’t care that much, he enjoyed these quiet moments at the end of his trainings. That’s why you didn’t feel offended when he barely greeted you with a “hi”, his eyes still following the movement of his hand against the handle.

You pecked your fingers, pressing them gently against his cheeks. That was your way of being affectionate in public spaces, something sweet and subtle, and it worked well for him.

“How long have you been cleaning it?”

“Not enough,” he groaned, scrubbing a bit harder. “Why are you here?”

You didn’t expect his tone to be that cold, but didn’t say anything about it and settled down on the chair next to his.

“I just wanted to see you before heading back to work.”

He barely shrugged, whispering curses when he slipped away from the barrel.

“But I see you’re quite busy, so I won’t be long.”

“You shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t come and see me every time you have a chance.” He mumbled, frowning a bit as he stopped the cleaning and tightened his grip around his rifle.

“You don’t like it, when I come here to see you?”

Your question was genuine; you knew how personal space and time was important to him. He tensed up a bit, his shoulders slightly rolling as he straightened his back. He let out a long sigh, unsure about what to tell you next.

“That’s not…I don’t know.”

Now it was your turn to feel uneasy. You tried to catch his eyes, but he avoided them at all costs, keeping all of his attention on his gun and the dirty towel rolled around his hand.

“What is it?” you softly asked, your hand burning to reach his, to hold him even for a split second.

“I- We shouldn’t be a thing.” He hissed, a bit more abruptly than he initially wanted to; but maybe it was for the best. Maybe if he could push you away from him, hurt you to keep you safe from him…

But you would have none of that.

“Why do you say that?”

He looked at you, wondering whether you were joking or not. He almost rolled his eyes.

“Isn’t it obvious? Do I really have to show you?”

He wished you didn’t nod. He wished, more than anything else, for you to get up, slap him in the face, and leave. He couldn’t tell you the truth. He couldn’t say that you were everything he thought he could never be; soft to the touch, sweet to the taste, so capable of caring and loving and understanding. He couldn’t accept how he was cold through his actions and sharp with his words, and how he carried the weight of his rifle, his armour, his missions, and the faint silhouettes of all the bodies he forever pinned down with a pull of the trigger. He couldn’t bear the idea of your beauty, your kindness; of you being stained by the blood he couldn’t scrub off of his hands.

“Yes, show me. Give me a good reason to listen to you.”

He hated the way your words stung his heart, but felt grateful for them too. If your voice was getting sharper, and your face colder, then maybe he could for once save someone from himself.

He got up, dropping the towel he was using on the floor and shifting his rifle steadily against his shoulder. It took him barely a few seconds to aim for a target and shoot straight in the head, then between its eyes, then in his throat; ending the shooting by blasting where the heart was supposed to be. He could have stopped there, but he didn’t.

He moved to the next target, aimed; exploded its head. The next one would have lost both of its arm and an ear. He was incredibly focused, his left eye shut, his right one aligned with the scope; his hands confidently holding his rifle, and his shoulder perfectly withstanding the recoil. He knew how to kill, how to make it quick, or slow, or terribly painful. He knew about the softest spots, the weakest angles, and he didn’t think twice about using that knowledge to do his job the best way he could.

When he lowered his gun – once the last target fell to the ground in a crumpling sound – he turned to you. He was holding himself straight, his face too hard, and his eyes too sharp.

“I’m a soldier. I kill and hurt people, because that’s what I was made for. And if you think I will never hurt you, then you’re wrong.”

His words were blunt and supposed to cut you deep, but he couldn’t hide the pain in his look, not from you. He had to dive into his reasoning and convince himself he was doing the right thing. He had to believe you hated him so he could let you go.

“I know who you are. I know what you do. If I cared so much about that,” you pointed to his rifle, then the targets covered in holes, “I wouldn’t be here. And, for the record, you’re not the only one with blood on his hands.”

He knew what you were referring to.

“It was different; you walked out of that life. Look…I’ve seen your best and worst. And at your worst, you’re still the best.”

He put down his rifle, resting it against the wall and got closer to you. His words were merely perceptible; only for you to hear.

“But at my best, I am the worst.”

His voice slightly broke, and he tried to clear his throat to brush it off. He couldn’t take his eyes off of you, because he needed to see your reaction. He needed to know if you were going to leave.

You glanced over his gloved hands, gently grabbing them, pulling him a bit closer to you. You could feel them barely shaking between your fingers.

“Then I’ll take your worst and find the best in it. But you have to stop trying to push me away, because I won’t let you down; no matter how hard you try.”

You kissed the back of his hand, gently rubbing the textile covering it.

“I know how you feel, trust me, I do more than you could imagine.” And even if your voice was but a whisper, he could hear each word so distinctly, taking over his mind to make him realise that you were right. You knew.

“I don’t know if…” he tried to articulate, but the words were stuck in his throat, and his heart was pumping way too hard in his chest for him to concentrate on anything else.

Count. One, two, three…breathe. Slow. Steady.

One. Two. Three.

Focus, breathe.

“I don’t know if I can trust myself,” he finally confessed, his words slowly slipping out of his mouth. “and I…I am scared. For you.”

You knew how much it meant for him to say it out loud, you could read how uncomfortable he was. His shoulders were tensed and visibly arched, he struggled to keep the eye contact with you, and he mechanically went to his pocket to grab a toothpick, rolling it between his fingers for a moment.

“I never walked out of that life, Crosshair. I stopped the shooting, but I never stopped the war.” You put a hand on his arm, rubbing it gently. “And it never stops being scary, even when you put the rifle down. But it doesn’t mean I will sacrifice my life, and you don’t have to sacrifice yours either.”

“How…Did you rehearse it?”

“Every single morning, in front of my mirror. Yes.”

You smiled and he relaxed a bit. He couldn’t quite say if you were telling the truth, or just messing a bit with him to show that everything was okay; and he didn’t really wanted to know.

“So…what do we do?”

“Well,” you checked your watch, “I’m not needed before a little hour, so we could grab something to eat, and tonight we could watch a movie or something. You know, stuff couples usually do.”

He lightly smiled at this last remark. You were so casual, calling yourself a couple. He needed a bit of normalcy today, as much as he needed a break from the cold metal of his rifle, and the cold way of life that came with it.

“Sounds good to me.”

You nodded in approval, quickly scanned the room to confirm no one else was there, and pushed on your feet to get closer to his face. Your lips brushed against his, leaving there a tender proof of your affection for him. He came back for another one when you pulled away; a longer, deeper kiss, allowing a hand on your neck to keep you against him.

And when he felt intoxicated enough by your smell, and your warmth; when he knew it was just the both of you, he softly confessed his deepest thought on your lips.

“I care about you too.”

[hellothere-generalangsty]

Okay I can't physically take anymore sadness today-

Can I request Bliss #19 with Fives??

Ty :D

Fives – Purple Anemone  

Summary: After being called on Naboo by Senator Amidala because she received threats, Anakin Skywalker and his men from the 501st are to keep an eye on the politician. Their rounds are becoming a habit for you, and you always look forward to seeing the friendly ARC Trooper called Fives…

From the promptlist: 19. “I’m gonna tickle you if you don’t come over here.”

Pairing: Fives x gardener!reader

Reader description: none, it’s up to you!

Word Count: 2400 words

CW/ TW: Fluff, tickles, a little bit of swearing because you don’t control your words under the tickles; the context is a bit sad bUT I PROMISE IT GETS BETTER

Tags: @maddieskywalker @allamarisss @loth-wolffe   @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @dusk-dawn-and-stars @tacticalsparkles @imalovernotahater @canwestayinthisdream @wakeupjackthisisntfair @namesmox @badbatch-simp24 @lightning-wolffe @for-the-love-of-clones @m-e-w-117 @99squad

@ladykatakuri @firelordillyria @andiebell2023

Notes: I love Fives. I love tickles. So of course this is a good ask. Thank you Maddie for sending that request! I hope you’ll enjoy it ^^ (and I hope you love double-meanings AND puns)

Listened to Dust In The Wind - Kansas while writing!

(Look at how pretty he is omg)

The faint footsteps coming your way caught your attention, and you couldn’t help a smile as you recognised the ARC Trooper’s armour. You got up from the floor, dropping your secateurs – which bounced a bit before settling at your feet – and brushed your thick, dirty gloves against each other to clean them out a little.

You noticed how the trooper’s pace got a bit slower, maybe even a bit less cheerful, as he approached you.

“Fives! I was expecting you.” you turned more to face him, and he stopped in his track, his helmet locked in your direction. He remained silent for a second.

“We’re leaving tomorrow.” His voice, though muffled by his helmet, betrayed his disappointment. “General Skywalker was asked to participate to a campaign away from here.”

“Do you know where?” you asked as your smile turned into a faint look of worry.

“Not yet; the captain is meeting with him as we speak, so we’re still waiting for our orders.”

You nodded in a sigh, looking around as you tried to find something nice and comforting to say, but he spoke first.

“Mind if we walk for a bit?” he asked, “I still have to do my round, and I…I want to see your garden again.”

“Sure. After you.” You pointed to the paved way, and followed him as he started walking again. You were about to ask about the senator, or a possible replacement for their battalion, but he was quicker.

“I think Senator Amidala will be okay. Those Seppies, the more they talk the less they act. It’s when they shut it that you have to be careful.”

“And I don’t think any other division could replace you.”

He was about to protest, defending the hard work his brothers were doing; but when he turned his head and saw your smile, he understood what you meant. You two grew into each other’s hearts, but none of you ever dared pushing it further than this sort of friendship you had. After all, he was a trooper, supposed to be “expandable”; and you were a gardener; you couldn’t follow him on the battlefield.

You both knew that day would come. The day were you’d have to say goodbye to each other; yet you had never fully prepared for it. You looked at the ARC Trooper, fully covered by his white and blue armour, and tried to guess his features, what made him him.

Though you never asked, you wished he showed you his face. He was always wearing his helmet during his rounds, and not once did he took it off, not even to greet you. Of course, you knew what clones looked like, you had seen some before; his captain for example. But you never saw Fives’ face.

“Stop staring, it’s impolite,” he joked, and you gave him a smile as you gently pushed him with your elbow. “Maybe you should hang out less with me and more with the Senator’s maid, they’d teach you some manners.”

“Or maybe you could stop pretending you have manners in the first place,” you turned around, facing him as you were now walking backward, a grin painted over your face. “We take the helmets off when we talk to someone, keeping it is…impolite.” You mimicked his voice, and you imagined him rolling his eyes, or frowning a bit.

“I’m on duty, I can’t take it off, even for you little camellia.”

It was your turn to roll your eyes, amused by the nickname. Every time he was assigned to the garden, he would come to you and ask about your flowers, your plants. He learned which one were your favourite, smelled the best, were the worst to take care of; he learned what they meant too, and never failed to use that knowledge to his advantage.

“Then I don’t want to talk with you anymore.” You pouted, dramatically turning away to walk a few steps in front of him. You dived your gloved hands in the pockets of your dirty overalls, feet dragging the dust of the ground.

“Don’t leave me alone; come back here.” He called out to you, and you smiled but he couldn’t see, so he took a half-serious, half-playful tone to make his threat.

“I’m gonna tickle you if you don’t come over here.”

The temptation was too strong. It probably was the last time you saw each other, so you were going to enjoy it as much as possible. You took your hands out of your pockets, barely looked over your shoulder, your grin visible to him.

“You’ll have to catch me first.”

You didn’t give him the time to think of a comeback, or move to your direction; you were already running away from him, cutting through the little paths you knew by heart, turning left, left, right, straight, until you reached a little fountain spitting water above your head, graciously falling back on the white marble. You turned around to see no one, and tried to find the armour between the green bushes and pink-shaded flowers surrounding the place.

You waited a few seconds, and almost felt disappointed to see no one coming after you. He is a soldier, he doesn’t have time to play, you scolded yourself, turning around to hide from the shame slowly taking over your body.

To say you jolted at the sight of an armoured man quickly yet silently coming your way was a terrible understatement. You let out a scream, mixing fear and surprise, and your breath was cut short as he gripped your hips with his gloved hands, pressing them playfully as he let out a proud “Gotcha.”; his laugh piercing through his helmet.

“You shouldn’t have run!” he laughed at you as you bended and twisted under his ticklish touch, teasing your hips and your ribs, blocking you between the wet marble and his own body; and he clearly enjoyed having the upper hand.

“I- Fives! “You barely managed through chocked up giggles, lungs burning for air, belly filled with knots. “Kriff!”

“Watch your tongue, this is not” –he followed your movement as you lost your balance and fell on the edge of the fountain, bringing his tickling under your arms – “very polite of you!”

“G-Get lost you bast-ha!” you burst out laughing, a high-pitched sound coming out of your mouth, and you flinched even more, almost falling backward in the cold water. Two strong arms held you back just in time, a muffled chuckle getting to you like the sweetest melody you had ever heard.

“Don’t fall for me,” his voice teased you.

“I’m afraid it’s... too late,” you breathed heavily, your arms wrapped around his waist to pull him close to you as you tried to fall backward again; but you only managed to make him stumble.

“You should know I’m stronger, little moss.” He looked down at you, and you could guess the smile in his voice as you pushed him away in a long sigh. Tears were still blurring your vision a bit, and a slow blink made one of them fall on your cheek.

“That’s not fair.” You pouted, brushing the droplets of water away from your thighs and behind as you got up. You looked around the garden, and before another long, awkward silence could settle, you turned to him with a smile.

“Again.”

You could only imagine his expression; maybe he was surprised, and his eyes were wide open at your boldness. Or maybe he was low-key annoyed; he had a job to do and you were trying to play tickles with him. Maybe he was happy; a smile painted over his face as he was already thinking on how merciless the next tickling session would be.

What you knew for sure was that he wanted to see the garden, so you were going to show him your favourite place. You had always told him “next time” when he asked you about it; wishing the day would never come because it would mean goodbye.

But now, you wanted him to see it. You stuck out your tongue to provoke him and ran away as he pushed on his legs to catch you; leading him off the path you both usually took during his round and to a farther park he hadn’t see much of until now. There weren’t that much trees nor bushes, but instead hedges circling the place, covered in purple flowers gently moving under the light breeze and the buzzing of insects.

He couldn’t help but slow down his pace when he noticed where you were; and from the movement of his helmet and body you could tell he was amazed. He got closer to the flowers, so close they could brush against his chest plate, and he stood there; observing the black and orange butterflies flying around, the way they would sometimes settle for a second on a petal before leaving again.

You reached for your belt and frowned a bit as you followed the band, your secateurs nowhere to be found. You took advantage of him being distracted to reach for his pocket knife in his belt. He noticed, and by instinct flinched a bit, but quickly stopped when he realised it was you.

You carefully handled the knife between the stems, pinching one between your fingers to cut it. The flower delicately fell in your hand, and you gave him back his knife as you blocked your free hand between your thighs to take of your glove.

“Take yours off too.” You asked him, wiggling your fingers from the thick, dirty tissue. He turned to you and observed for an instant before he decided to copy your movements. You couldn’t explain how or why you felt this way, but the sight of his bare skin made your heart skip a beat. You took the flower and gently handed it to him, and the light brush of his naked fingertips against yours – lasting a second more than necessary – sent an electroshock through your arm and straight to your chest.

“I don’t know that one,” he murmured, his visor tilting to your face. “What is it called?”

“It’s a purple anemone,” you answered, your voice softer than a minute ago. “They don’t normally grow here, but I guess I loved them too much not to try.”

His helmet didn’t move, and you didn’t know what he was thinking; you couldn’t even tell from his expressions. But you knew your cheeks were heating up and your heart was racing out of your chest as you spoke.

“Usually, we give them to-”

“Don’t tell me.” He gently stopped you; his free hand reaching for yours, unsure but needy. “I like the meaning I gave them.”

You tried, almost desperately, to find his eyes behind the smoky visor. The grip of if hand felt tighter, sliding from the tip of your fingers to your palm, until the edge of his black covering his wrist brushed against your skin. He settled there for a second, etching the delicacy of your touch in his mind before he had to leave again.

“It will probably fade away and die,” you looked down at the flower and its colourful petals, “but I wanted it to go with you anyway. So you could remember…”

“What if I keep it close to my heart?”

His question surprised you. You looked at him- his helmet; and the thought of the man hidden under it, asking oh so softly about flowers and how to keep them alive even when everything was supposed to make them fade away gave you hope.

“Then maybe it will survive.”

He nodded, opening his pocket to delicately put the flower into safety. He tapped on it twice, as a confirmation, and you felt his stare on you.

“What is it?” you tried.

“I realize you taught me a lot about flowers, but I never taught you anything about me. So if you let me…”

He waited a second, and as your eyes gave him the permission to do whatever he intended to do, he reached for his helmet. Your heart pumped faster, excited yet afraid of what could happen, of the effect putting a face – his face – on this voice, this armour, would do to you.

A cracked voice rose from his commlink before he could push the helmet up and reveal himself.

“Fives, the captain wants us back to the palace; we’re leaving.”

He froze, and the brief sigh coming out of his mouth didn’t go unnoticed. He let go of his grasp to mutter a “coming back”, and you tried not to imagine his features twisted in disappointment.

“Let’s get back,” you invited him, but he didn’t move – not the way he was supposed to, at least.

His bare hands reached for your face, cupping it tenderly as he brought it closer to him and tilted his head toward you. The hard, plastoid material pressed against your forehead and nose and he held you there, unable to do more than barely brush your cheek with his thumbs.

You closed your eyes, and for a moment nothing else existed; nothing but this.

“Thank you for the flower,” he whispered, struggling to let you go. “And for the laugh.”

“What laugh?”

“Well, whe-Kriffing maker!” he jolted as your hands pinched his exposed waist, and you couldn’t hold back a loud chuckle.

“What a flowery language!”

“That was…” he tried to catch his breath, flinching away as you tickled him more, another curse leaving his lips.

“I guess it’s my turn to run after you?” you playfully asked, fingers already waving close to him, and he shrugged as he took a step back, opening his hand toward you and folding two fingers to make you come closer.

“Gotta catch me first, little moss!”

You couldn’t help a genuine smile as he burst out laughing when you grabbed his hips from behind, pressing twice; and him trying to reach for your underarms to get the upper hand made you giggle even more.

You chased him around; and though you couldn’t see it, he never smiled wider; never felt happier than when you tried so desperately to trap him between bushes to tickle him. There was something in the way your hands grabbed him, your laugh breaking the tranquil atmosphere, turning it into something so warm and familiar; a something that made him realise why he was fighting this war, why it was worth the pain and the struggles.

Fight it to see the anemones thrive.

[hellothere-generalangsty]

hEY LOVEEE,,,,, for a req could i get prompt 9 or 10 with echo???? really in the mood for some hurt/comfort with my husband

Echo - Phoenix

Summary: It’s hard to celebrate when memories of happier times fill your head; Echo notices that.

From the sentence prompts:

9. I miss your laugh.

10. You used to laugh so much.

Pairing: Echo x reader

Reader description: None, no pronouns or description used so it’s up to you!

Word Count: 1579 words

CW/ TW: Angst; implicit mention of the Citadel, hurt/comfort, some tears are being shed; ending is fluffier (gotta put the comfort in “hurt/ comfort”, right?)

Tags: @murdertoothpick @allamarisss @loth-wolffe @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @dusk-dawn-and-stars @tacticalsparkles @imalovernotahater @canwestayinthisdream @wakeupjackthisisntfair @namesmox @badbatch-simp24 @lightning-wolffe @maddieskywalker @for-the-love-of-clones @m-e-w-117

@ladykatakuri @firelordillyria @andiebell2023

Notes: Thank you so much for the request Anna my dear 💗! I’m still not over your kind words from last time I hope you’ll like it; Echo is a handsome boy who deserves all the love in the world and a big hug. Like- very big. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Written with Remember That Night – Sara Kays as background music (thank u Moony for the rec <3)

“Hey there.”

Echo’s voice resonated behind you, and you guessed he sat next to you from the rustling on your right.

The team had just finished a mission and took the night off before heading back to Kamino the next morning. They wanted to enjoy the sun and the grass, given that none of it was present on their native planet. Everything was fine – the job was done, no one had been hurt, and you could eat something tastier than the rations bars they gave you before you left – but yet something prevented you from fully enjoying the night.

So when you had finished eating, you left the boys to their celebrations and sat farther away in the grass, legs loosely spread in front of you, your weight supported by your arms, stretched on each side of your body. You tried to enjoy the wind lightly licking your face, the weeds brushing against your skin, making you shiver every once in a while. Everything started to feel better, until he came.

“Hey.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Echo had a thing; a sixth sense which always told him when something was wrong with you. It was already the case when he was still in the 501st. At the time things were different; easier, in a way.

He bent his legs, resting his arms on his knees as he watched the sunset with you. You couldn’t take your eyes off the colourful shades; light yellows and warm oranges embracing each other, slowly becoming one as the sun got lower. You noticed a few darker sparkles here and there, and for a moment you felt like someone was staring at your soul. The colours were warm and familiar; as much as the wind, as much as the laughs next to the Marauder; but your heart remained trap behind the cold white walls, covered in rain and tears.

You couldn’t even bring yourself to answer. The words already weighted too much in your mind, and you couldn’t risk for their coldness to break the delicacy of the scenery around you.

“Or we can stay there in silence.” Echo whispered, glancing in your direction to catch a little something; but you were not really there anymore. You mind was wandering to older times; times were your friends had become ARC Troopers, and found a way to sneak out of the barracks and celebrate with you on the roof of the base. You didn’t needed to close your eyes to see their faces; noses wrinkled and eyes almost shut as they giggled to one of your terrible joke; and if you focused a bit, you could almost hear it.

Echo. The echo of a laugh, faint and lost in time; but somehow wrapping your heart with the same melancholy you felt every time you tried to remember it. It felt so strange now. That was the last memory you had of an innocent man, joyful and naïve about his fate, dreaming out loud of explorations and travels, of higher ranks and peace for his brothers.

And though the man survived, you knew a part of him died back there, and nothing could ever bring it back to him, or to you.

“Cyar’ika…” a voice called you back to the present moment, and you looked in its direction, realising the face you were staring at was less visible under the purplish rays of lights.

“What is it?” Echo asked softly, reaching for your shoulder.

“You used to laugh…so much. I guess I-” another tear rolled down your cheek, and you realised he had called you back because he had noticed you were crying, even before you took notice of it. Each word heavily weighted on your tongue as you confessed your thought, dreading whatever would come next.

“…I just miss your laugh.”

You tried to smile, but your bottom lip started shaking along with your chin, and you broke the eye contact to repress the sob threatening to come out of your throat. You missed the warm colours of the sky. Now it looked colder, the deep shades of blue haunting you the way your memories did.

You bent your legs and crossed them closer to you, copying the pose the Jedis were using during their meditation, hoping for it to bring you some sort of peace of mind. You took a deep breath, freezing for a second when you felt a pressure against your shoulder.

“I miss it too.” He barely spoke, his throat filled with that painful melancholy you wanted gone. “I wished things were how they used to be, I-”

He stopped, remaining silent for a minute, but you didn’t dare look at him until you heard him sniffing, his head lightly rolling against you as he did so. The voices far away played as a reminder and a contrast with that night on the roof.

Your sob broke out, silent but harrowing. You couldn’t understand how heavy it was for him, though you tried every single day since you learned he was back, alive and coming back to you. And you didn’t wanted him to carry your own chains, your regrets and your bitterness for everything he lost- everything they ripped away from him.

You straightened enough to do without the support of your arms, wrapping them around his back, bringing him closer to you. He gently broke free, long enough to slide closer to you and dive straight back into your embrace, his face buried in the crook of your neck. You felt a tear fall against your skin, brushed away by his breath, and something happened.

You thought it was a sobbing hiccup at first, him sighing because of the sadness. But when he whispered your name, his tone oh so gentle, so delicate, you realised he wasn’t really crying.

“D-Did you…?” was all you could articulate, your throat still burning from all the weeping you tried to hold back.

“Look at us,” he told you, his voice a bit more joyful than you expected; and as the wind blew on the wet trails against your neck, he tried to look at you in the growing darkness. “We’re supposed to celebrate.”

“Well,” you cleared your throat, a tear falling down your chin, “to be fair, we are a bit rusty.”

“Speak for yourself, I wasn’t Fives’ best friend for nothing.”

You couldn’t tell what was going on in his mind, but you followed his lead when he got up and pulled you with him. He wiped away your tears, leaving a light kiss under your eye, and, as he reached for your hand, threw a look back at the campfire the Batchers had made.

“Let’s go before they notice.”

“What?”

It came out a bit louder, a bit more unsettled than you wanted it to, and your heart dropped at your feet when he repeated the same words he used that night, so many years ago.

“Let’s go. We got things to celebrate, and the night is ours.”

And like you did, so many years ago, you squeezed his hand firmly.

“Don’t stop until the light’s gone.”

And in a second, you were back to your early years; you and your best friend running away from the base, feet brushing over the hard floor turned into grass, the faint light of the moon guiding your way to the end of the hill. The echoes of your laughs broke the steady silence settled around you as you sprinted down the slope, holding onto each other’s hand like the first time, determined to never let go again.

You lungs filled with the warmth of the air, and your heart with the magnificent sounds coming out of Echo’s mouth; so spontaneous, so real. You both almost fell, trying to catch each other with big steps and arms crushing against your chests, but you ended up on your knees anyway, giggling so much you slowly ran out of air. It didn’t stop you from breaking free of the weights and the chains, turning the melancholy into something new; something worth suffering for, worth being happy for.

You calmed down first, mostly because you wanted- because you needed to hear him.

“I missed you so much,” you blurted out in a chuckle, and the remark caught his attention, turning his laugh into a grin. “I’m so glad you came back.”

And you promised yourself not to cry again, but the way he bent closer to you, resting his forehead and nose against yours, barely letting out the confession; I’m so glad you’re still here with me; it stole a teary giggle from you.

“Let’s never leave each other again.” You dreamed out loud, reaching for your long lost innocence and naivety, for a time where things were different, maybe easier.

“Let’s always find our way back to each other.” He offered. “No matter what. I’ll always come back to you.”

His breath tickled your face, and you held his hand firmly, bringing it closer to kiss it.

“I’ll always come back to you. No matter what.” You repeated in a hushed tone.

He didn’t give you the time to talk more, wrapping his arms around you and dragging you to the ground with him, a chuckle escaping from his lips. And you knew; under the moon of a foreign planet, laying on the grass, noses touching and hearts beating as one; that a part of him came back to life that night.

[hellothere-generalangsty]

Hello doll, it's Minty! 💚 I saw your requests are open and I simply had to dance into your inbox! I would adore a Bad Batch Western AU fix with Crosshair and the sentence prompt "If that wound doesn't kill you, then I will". I love you friend! 💚💛💚💛💚

Crosshair – Dust and Blood (TBB Western AU)

Summary: Every story need a beginning, a middle, and an end. This is the beginning, and it starts with a man who calls himself Crosshair.

From the sentence prompts:

22. “If that wound doesn’t kill you, then I will.”

Word Count: ≈1535 words

CW/ TW: Angst? Idk if you could say it’s angsty - it’s not happy that’s for sure but angsty? Idk anyway; western stuff, wounds/ injuries, (death) threats, pain, scars, blood

Tags: @mintywriteswritings @chaoticvampirejedi @loth-wolffe @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s (thank you again for the help!) @dusk-dawn-and-stars @tacticalsparkles @imalovernotahater @canwestayinthisdream @wakeupjackthisisntfair @namesmox @badbatch-simp24 @lightning-wolffe @maddieskywalker @for-the-love-of-clones @m-e-w-117 @99squad @equalityforcats

@ladykatakuri @firelordillyria @andiebell2023

Notes: This is so exciting for me you can’t even imagine; thank you Minty for the request! I’m really happy to dive a bit more into the stories of the boys, and Crosshair’s arc is one I’m really happy to explore ^^

Also feel free to check Little One – Highly Suspect (you’ll find out a lot of their songs help me dive into that AU)

Dust.

This is how everything started, and how everything would end. He knew it the moment he jumped down his horse, a grimace of pain twisting his face as the dry coat of blood on his ribs ripped open once again. He tried to take a deep breath but stopped halfway, the pumping in his head becoming too strong to focus on anything else. He almost tripped on his feet, grabbing the beige mane of his companion to keep himself up; which made the horse neigh.

“Sorry, pal.” He barely muttered, unable to do more than loosen up his grip a bit.

Above him, an old sign falling into pieces, and a barely readable inscription on it; bleached by the constant exposure to the sun and the occasional rains.

Marauder Valley.

He walked through the entrance of the abandoned village – if one could call it a village – and wandered next to his horse, looking for shelter and a new shirt. His was tainted with red; dark and dried, smelling like iron and sweat. His wound wasn't bleeding too much anymore, but he could still feel a thin dash dripping against his skin when he was turning around or raising his arm.

It took him a few minutes to find the abandoned saloon, and the sight made him hum in a mixture of disgust and relief. A thick coat of dust was laying on the floor, and most of the bottles and tables were left to be; frozen in the middle of their usual occupations. A deck of cards was spread on one of them, and he came closer to take a better look.

Poker. And it was a good hand. Whoever played it knew what they were doing.

The wooden floor was lightly creaking under his feet as he walked around; and hadn’t it be for the few footsteps he was leaving behind, no one could have guessed he came here. He took a small hallway, leading to a few unsanitary rooms – barely big enough for a bed and a chair for most of them – and looked under the beds for a medical wallet or something he could use to patch himself up. His head was spinning a bit, but the clicking of a gun’s chamber and the cold metal tickling the back of his neck felt more important in the moment.

“If that wound doesn’t kill you, then I will.”

He slowly turned around, hands barely raised to show he intended no harm, and came face to face with a lady; probably in her mid-forties, small and chubby, and visibly determined to fulfil her promise.

“I need a doctor.”

“You won’t find any ‘round here.”

“Then a drink will do.” he shrugged, unimpressed.

“We’re going out and get you a drink then.”

She moved the cannon of her gun toward the main room, letting him open the way. He went in with the hope of getting some rest and medicine, and got back outside empty-handed and under the threat of an armed lady; bathed by the burning sunrays of a hot afternoon, in the middle of nowhere.

Nothing had changed during his little visit in the saloon but his state. He tripped on his feet, unable to focus on the stairs and the figure next to him, and fell on his knees next to his horse. The pain was getting worse; stinging and burning, the sensation of warm blood dripping from his open wound and straining his shirt even more; and the headache, the heat, the shivers-

“Alright, sit down.”

He dropped his weight on his behind, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Stay here. And don’t faint!” the woman warned as she walked away from him, disappearing behind the horse. His head felt too heavy, his veins pumping too hard to let him think straight. He let himself lay back against the dusty wooden floor, closing his eyes under the bright light burning above him.

He woke up when cold water splashed his face, making him jolt and grimace in pain.

“ Told you not to faint.”

“I didn’t.” he groaned, trying to sit again, the coat of blood ripping itself a bit as he did.

“Feel like y’can walk?” she looked down at him with a sort of irritated worry. He nodded, grabbing the guardrail to get up, slowly. “Good. Follow me.”

He stumbled a bit, trying to catch up with the woman. He thought he could handle it; he had gone through a lot to get here, and it couldn’t be worse than what he had left behind.

Or maybe it could be.

The loud thud of a body falling on the ground caught the woman’s attention, and as she turned around, a sigh escaped from between her lips.

“Great… Now I have to get the big guy.”

.

Waking up was painful, sudden. His ribs were on fire, his eye stinging – though the light was filtering through old curtains – and the remaining of his headache was still blurring his vision. He didn’t noticed the comfort of the mattress right away, neither the voices filling the room he was in.

“Ha, coming back to us. Told ya ‘t would work.” A deep voice commented in a smile.

“And that?” the woman’s voice asked, and he guessed she was pointing at his wounded ribs. He brushed the tips of his fingers against his own torso, realizing he was bare skin and wrapped in a bandage.

“Can’t do miracles. ‘Have to rest for a few days, go easy with manual tasks for a while.”

He let out a groan when he heard the recommendation, and tried to move his arms to push himself up and sit in the bed.

“I wouldn’t do that,” the voice advised in a laugh, “Unless ya want to open that wound ‘gain.”

He blinked a few times, and managed to see who was talking to him; a man, tall and visibly strong, dressed with dirty clothes and a squared shirt – probably a farmer. A scar was covering the side of his bald head and reached his left eye. The man was neither scary nor impressive, and seemed friendly enough.

He abandoned the idea of sitting, letting go of the light pressure he had put on his elbows and falling down against the mattress. His head gently buried itself in the pillow, and he let out a long, tired sigh.

“Who’re you?” he muttered in his breath, turning his head their way to look at them.

“’Name’s Cid,” the woman told him, “and he’s the big guy.”

“You know that’s not my name.” the man chuckled, and his voice filled the room with warmth and amusement as he looked at Cid.

“Don’t know your name, and couldn’t care less about it.” she shrugged.

“And you are?” the big guy asked, shifting his attention back to him.

He had expected the question, and he knew the simple answer would be to give his name. But he couldn’t stand the sound of it anymore, and his spite told him to go for that one instead. After all, it was “made for him”.

“Crosshair.”

 “Well then, welcome to Marauder Valley Crosshair.” The man smiled at him.

He didn’t feel like returning the gesture, but nodded nonetheless, out of respect and gratitude for their help. He scanned the room, bringing a hand to his face; a light grimace twisting his mouth as he felt the skin stretching on the side of his body.

His fingers ran against his scar around his eye, trying to sooth the stinging pain. It was still recent, bright red, not quite blending in with his warm skintone.

“Well, ‘gotta leave now,” the big guy smiled, grabbing his hat in hand as he walked toward the door, “but if you need anything, I won’t be far.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Cid pushed him out of the room, following his steps, “we know. You,” she pointed to Crosshair, “don’t play stupid, stay in bed.”

And on these words, she dragged the door behind her, slamming it before her heeled steps hit the apparent stairs outside the room. Crosshair stared at the door for a moment, contemplating once again getting up, but he was tired, and the bed was comfortable; and these people didn’t seem to want him any harm.

He didn’t seem to want any harm either, right, “Crosshair”?

He groaned faintly at the thought, and his hand dropped from his face to his chest, barely grabbing the thin blanket above him. He was far from him; from them, and now he just needed to sleep the pain away.

Sleep the pain away. Sleep.

Don’t let them get to you. Because they will get to you.

He will find you, you know he will.

They did this to you. They will do worse.

You know that, don’t you, Crosshair?

He let out a frustrated sigh at the thoughts, and slowly turned his head to look at the window. The sun was shining bright behind the curtains, and he could see the dust floating in the rays of light filtering through. It was peaceful.

For now he was safe, far away in a lost, abandoned town, in the middle of nowhere.

For now.

[hellothere-generalangsty]

Meda's SW Masterlist

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DISCLAIMER: I decided to not post anything Bad Batch related anymore, but I won't take down the fics already posted here. As for StarWars as a whole, well... Assume I won't post any fics about it either.

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[Requests are closed]

My tags: #mesa shitposts #tbb western au #mesa answers #yousa request mesa #mesa writes #soft hours for fives #fives friday #Meda's sw ocs

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You'll find:

Stories focusing only on SW characters

Short Stories with "x reader"

The "tbb Western AU" !

Few short stories in an "Order 66 Never Happened" AU

and requests (indlicated with a ~ )

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🌸 Fluff 😭 angst 👀 +18/nsfw

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The Bad Batch:

Squad

Quart d'Heure Américain - 🌸, The Batchers slow dancing with you (batch x reader), 5 separate stories (1 per boy)

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Crosshair

Gloved Hand - 😭, Crosshair and the aftermath of getting rid of his chip

Night Terror - 😭🌸, Crosshair having a night terror from being under too much stress/ too sleep-deprived

~ Marksman - 😭🌸, Crosshair being filled with doubts around his relationship with [reader]

~ The Way Things Were, The Way Things Are - 😭 and a bit 🌸, Crosshair and [Jedi reader]' paths crossing again two years after Order 66 happened

~ Venus Flytrap - 😭, Crosshair is losing himself after his accident

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Echo

Don't let go - 😭😭, (I cried while writing this) A Mission going wrong for Echo and Crosshair

~ Phœnix - 😭🌸, Echo and [reader] reflecting on the past, and trying to reach the future

It's one of these days - 🌸👀, Echo trying to cheer [reader] up (kinda +18)

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Hunter

~ Rescue Mission - 🌸, Hunter helping Omega finding something she lost, and getting some help on the way (Hunter x reader)

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TBB Western AU (#tbb western au)

Link to all the posts

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Clones (regs):

Squad (mostly the 501St)

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Fives

Home (Clean Version) - 🌸, a day in the life of Fives; in the NoOrder66au

Home (NSFW Version) - 🌸👀, a day in the life of Fives; in the NoOrder66au

~ Purple Anemone - 🌸, Fives and gardener reader growing into each other's hearts (yes, the pun was intended)

Anchor - 😭, letter about loss and grief

Soft Headcanons - 🌸, Fives and a bit of who he is, NoOrder6au

Tired drabble - 🌸, Fives tucking a very sleepy reader to bed

Midnight drabble - 🌸, reader talking about their love for Fives in a high on love kinda way

~ Shooting Star - 🌸, Fives and reader sneaking out for a night in Coruscant (platonic)

Jukebox love - 🌸, Fives and reader enjoying a little lovely dance

Fives doesn't care...- 🌸, Fives actually does care

Baking - 🌸, Fives baking with you

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Echo

Game of Love - 🌸👀, Echo flirting back and forth until it's more than just a silly game (Echo x reader)

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Rex

Fallen Brothers - 😭, about the trauma caused by the war and how Rex has to deal with it

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Jesse

Jesse's girl - 🌸, Jesse celebrating the end of a mission with some good company at the 79's (Jesse x reader)

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Cody

~ Holy - 🌸👀, Cody and how he and [reader] make each other feel (+18)

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Star Wars Characters:

Maul

Majesty - Drabble about Maul training his new personal guard as he became the ruler of Mandalore

Lord and Master - Drabble about Maul and the only person openly opposing him being the new ruler of Mandalore

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Drabble from a rainy day - For any clone