Mini Nano Day 17

[morgynleri]

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Star Wars: Ashes and Hope

"Did you know?"

Anakin opens his eyes, settling back into the waking world from his meditation when he hears Padmé speak, looking up to meet her gaze. He can feel her fear and worry in the Force, tinged with anger, though he isn't certain of the source.

"Did you know what Obi-Wan came to tell me earlier? That Anakin - my Anakin - had murdered younglings in the Temple? That he'd turned to the Dark Side?"

"That he'd knelt to Sidious, to the Sith, yes. It was hard to miss." Anakin grimaces at that first memory of this twisted universe. "I didn't know he had led the assault on the Temple, though I'm not surprised. Some of the bodies - the dead Jedi - had lightsaber wounds on them, not blaster marks."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Padmé reaches out for the pilot's seat, dropping heavily into it. "Why?"

Anakin looks down, studying the boots on Padmé's feet for a long moment. "I told you he would kill Master Windu, and Zett, if he found us. I didn't think I needed to say more, not then." He looks up again, a self-depricating smile on his face. "What good would it have done, anyway? You have a baby to look out for, and I don't know what your Anakin might do if you confront him about what he's done."

"But you're Anakin, too."

"I'm not him. I have Maul, as well as Obi-Wan to teach me. Qui-Gon is still alive. And I have Commander Amidala as a dear friend, but never..." He shakes his head, gesturing at her helplessly. "She has Sabé. They don't need a third, and they've never expressed a desire for one.

"I don't know what he'll do. I don't know who he has to rely on, but I doubt he trusts very many people, not if Sidious could get in his head and sway him."

Padmé bites her lip, shaking her head. "He can trust me, and he should be able to trust Obi-Wan."

"But would he?" Anakin runs a hand through his hair. "Why are you here, anyway? I thought you were going to stay on Coruscant until your Anakin returned."

"I can't." Padmé shakes her head again. "I can't just wait for him to come back. I have to make sure he's safe."

"Safe from who?" Anakin pushes to his feet as Padmé turns to the controls, moving to take the co-pilot's seat. "Why do you need to go to him, my lady?"

"Obi-Wan is hunting him."

Padmé starts the ship easily, and Anakin looks over his shoulder as he hears the lift again, C-3PO giving every impression of surprise when he sees Anakin in the seat next to Padmé.

"Here, I can let Threepio take the co-pilot's seat. I should make sure Zett and Master Windu know we're not going directly to Naboo. Or at least, I assume not, unless your Anakin intended to go there?"

"No. He's not there." Padmé looks up at him a moment, giving him a small smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Please, just stay inside when we land. All of you. Stay here, where he can't see you."

"There are ways of hiding in plain sight. He wouldn't see me at all. And if there's any worry for your safety, I'd rather be close enough to do something."

"He wouldn't hurt me." Padmé shakes her head. "I know he wouldn't."

Comments

[thedeadcat]

Oh, THAT isn't going to end well. *wince*

[morgynleri]

Yeah... and I already know exactly where it's going to end, and that's going to be painful all around, but at least she doesn't actually end up dead in this one? :D Mostly because some people learn very fast exactly how to hide, so the person who has the best chance of keeping everything else from going to hell can chase after the fight.