Benja

Twisting a few wires, Anakin’s tired eyes remained fixated on the broken engine in front of him, exhaustion weighing heavily on his expression as he rubbed at one of his eyes with the back of his hand. The line of his lips remained straight, tension lingering across his features. Fixing things brought Anakin a sense of calm and control, which was a welcome relief from the frustration he often felt with people. Machines made sense; people unsettled him, leaving him anxious and uncertain.

Anakin kept his gaze fixed on the scraps he had found with his irritation simmering beneath his focus. When a wire jabbed his finger, a small stream of blood stained his skin. “Ah man, not again,” he muttered tiredly. Then, with the Force, he sensed a presence approaching. Lifting his head, Anakin braced himself for whoever had entered.

"I know you better than anyone, Anakin. I stood by you throughout the Clone Wars. And you still believe I chose Obi-Wan that day, but I didn't choose him. You never gave me a chance to explain myself that night before you chose to choke me. I didn't know Obi-Wan followed me that night; he did come to see me before that at the penthouse, going on about what you did. I didn't want to believe him, and that is why I went to look for you."

Padme shook her head slightly, doing her best to avoid the sorrow she felt deep down. "You never lost me, Anakin. We may not have seen eye to eye, but you never lost me. I will never believe in the dark side, and I can't begin to tell you everything I appreciated you did for me. One thing that I will say, though, is that Palpatine lied to you about me dying because I am still here, and I want you back more than anything else in this world. I love you, Ani, no matter what," she said.

"The twins are your kids, and I want them to know their father, but not when they risk being taken away by Palpatine," she said.

Anakin recognized her skill as a politician and the way she inspired belief that things could improve; even now, he almost wanted to embrace that idea. He felt torn between wanting to reconnect with Padme and the painful reality of his choices or just letting her go, which he knew he wasn't strong enough for. It was then that his eyes shifted to blue — a rare sight since Mustafar. It was the color of the man he used to be, showing that for a moment, he wasn't completely consumed by the darkness that had taken hold of him since the night he helped kill Master Mace Windu. Anakin looked at her, his body trembling and unmoving, caught between his need for her and the sadness over his actions.

Anger, rage, and regret stabbed at his heart like a lightsaber, yet this pain ran deeper than any physical wound he had ever felt. He could feel the anger burning like fire inside him and the regret gnawing at his memories as he mourned for the life he had lost. When Padmé said, "I love you, Ani, no matter what. The twins are your kids, and I want them to know their father," those feelings of love and sorrow finally overwhelmed him completely. He tried to speak, his voice a broken whisper of, “I…,” but the tears fell quickly before he could even finish. His eyes reflected the total loss of his family and the unbearable pain of the choices that had led him to this moment. Anakin slowly turned his head, looking away.

Padme could see the change in his eye color, and that was something she had not seen in a long time. The way he was trembling was all the emotion she had assumed. Despite what he had said, he had done it, never scared her, because deep down she knew it was not his fault. The only person who was to blame was Lord Sidious; he had manipulated Anakin so much that she was just hoping she could pull him away from the manipulation.

When Padme saw the tears fall down his face, for a moment she hesitated before she moved to close the distance between them. She reached out for his hand and rested her other arm on his arm a moment before she stood in front of him, tilting his head to face him. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him, holding them back for a moment.

"Anakin, I'm always here for you, no matter what. I need you, and so do your kids. Come back with me, and we can run away like we said we would, away from everything," she said, wiping some of his tears away from his cheek.

The female shook her head at his words. "No, I wasn't. I never have lied to you once, in all the time we were together. I did not know he climbed onto my ship that night. I know what you saw but I was just as shocked as you when he revealed himself" she said pleading the truth to him at this point. She didn't move as he stepped closer, his presence had changed so much, and yet their son still reminded her of him all the time, looked similar to him so much which was hard for her some days. "Yes, I am telling you that it was a lie. Palpatine manipulated his way into the Senate and ruined so many lives. I begged you that night to run away with me and raise our kids. As I said before I would never lie to you. I don't have reason to lie to you either Anakin. I love you Anakin, I always did and never stopped loving you even when you turned. I know there is good in you. There has to be good in you still" she said stepping closer to him with no hesitation in her steps. "After everything that happened that night, I still will love you no matter what."

"Do you really think you know what I’ve been through?” he snapped, his voice low but laced with fury. Even though Padmé insisted she had never lied to him, those words felt like sabers to his chest. He couldn't trust her. “Everything I did was for you and our child, and yet I still lost you both.” His heart twisted at the thought of Obi-Wan, his former mentor and brother, becoming a symbol of his pain. Deep down, Anakin knew why she hid their children from him. He wasn't good; all that remained was the power he had grasped through the darkness, a constant reminder that he was beyond redemption and that the light had abandoned him.

As she stepped closer, Anakin felt a mix of longing and resentment. She spoke of raising their children together, of the life they could have had but all he could think of were the shattered pieces of his past. “You talk of love and hope, but what good are they to me now?” The words left his lips in a lower tone. The memories of their time together ran through his mind, both comforting and agonizing. A part of Anakin wanted to reach out and embrace her to feel that connection again, but the rage coursing through his veins was much stronger. At that moment, he realized that the battle for his soul was over; all that was left was a Sith — Darth Vader.

"I know you better than anyone, Anakin. I stood by you throughout the Clone Wars. And you still believe I chose Obi-Wan that day, but I didn't choose him. You never gave me a chance to explain myself that night before you chose to choke me. I didn't know Obi-Wan followed me that night; he did come to see me before that at the penthouse, going on about what you did. I didn't want to believe him, and that is why I went to look for you."

Padme shook her head slightly, doing her best to avoid the sorrow she felt deep down. "You never lost me, Anakin. We may not have seen eye to eye, but you never lost me. I will never believe in the dark side, and I can't begin to tell you everything I appreciated you did for me. One thing that I will say, though, is that Palpatine lied to you about me dying because I am still here, and I want you back more than anything else in this world. I love you, Ani, no matter what," she said.

"The twins are your kids, and I want them to know their father, but not when they risk being taken away by Palpatine," she said.

As she approached she saw him standing there and for a moment she didn't speak. He hated her even though she had not even fully got the explain the situation that night. She was wondering if she would even get to explain her side of the situation instead of him accusing her without getting a say. "Anakin" she said softly as she stepped forward.

"I am not the one who lied to you. If anyone lied to you it was Palpatine. I was in hiding em because she assumed that I betrayed you. I didn't choose Obi-Wan that night. I didn't know he showed up until he made himself known" she said calmly. She only spoke of such because she had to have him know the truth and she couldn't keep it from him any longer. It was clear that Palpatine was feeding him lies as he had been doing for a long time now. But maybe she could convince like she should of done on Mustafar.

The Sith had loved Padmé since he was a boy and still did, but her betrayal had been unforgivable. Anakin had given her everything and offered her a place by his side to rule the galaxy, yet she chose to stand against him. Even now, despite his anger, he ached to hear her out, though he would never admit it.

When she spoke his name, Anakin's jaw clenched. The sound of her voice still had the power to awaken emotions he thought were gone. Her explanation felt like all the other lies and deceptions he had been fed. Palpatine had shown him the truth that led him away from the Jedi. In a way, Palpatine had saved him from corruption and was the only one Anakin could trust. But now, as Padmé claimed innocence, doubt tried to surface. No. He couldn’t allow it. He had been betrayed too many times — by the Jedi, by Obi-Wan and now by her.

"You were with him." Anakin finally spoke, his voice low and filled with bitterness. "You brought him to me. I saw it. You should have been with me, Padmé." He stepped closer as his presence was dark and imposing. "Everything I did, I did for us… for you. And now, you’re telling me it was all a lie? That I’ve been deceived? Why should I believe anything you say now?" His voice trembled with pain, though beneath it, a longing for the truth he was too afraid to face.

The female shook her head at his words. "No, I wasn't. I never have lied to you once, in all the time we were together. I did not know he climbed onto my ship that night. I know what you saw but I was just as shocked as you when he revealed himself" she said pleading the truth to him at this point. She didn't move as he stepped closer, his presence had changed so much, and yet their son still reminded her of him all the time, looked similar to him so much which was hard for her some days. "Yes, I am telling you that it was a lie. Palpatine manipulated his way into the Senate and ruined so many lives. I begged you that night to run away with me and raise our kids. As I said before I would never lie to you. I don't have reason to lie to you either Anakin. I love you Anakin, I always did and never stopped loving you even when you turned. I know there is good in you. There has to be good in you still" she said stepping closer to him with no hesitation in her steps. "After everything that happened that night, I still will love you no matter what."

The former senator had left the kids with her parents on Naboo and had contacted Anakin in hopes of meeting on another planet, that of which she hoped she could try and turn him back to the light side. She moved to her ship and headed off, she had hoped to be back in a few days mostly cause she didn’t want to be gone for too long from the twins. She trusted the others but she cared for the twins so much and she hoped she would be successful in bringing their father home as well.

@flawedxshatteredxsouls

If there was one thing Anakin was certain of, it was that Padmé had deceived him just as the Jedi and Obi-Wan had. But what hurt the most was that everything he had done was for her, yet it didn't matter. Darth Sidious had shown him the truth: the enemy was the Jedi. He had been taught to fear the dark side, but Anakin did not. Instead, they should fear him. Anakin was uncertain who to be angrier at — his master for implying she was dead or Padmé for choosing Obi-Wan over him and hiding their children. Anger and rage fumed through his veins as his piercing gaze remained stagnant.

The sith closed his eyes for a moment in an attempt to calm his nerves, reopening them seconds later. It didn't do much. His long black robe dragged at his feet as he took a fluid step forward, standing tall and stark over her. The bottom brim of his mouth curled into a grimace as a scowl etched across his features. "Padmé." He said, her name stumbling off his lips as if it were new. His eyes looked at her, now no more than a stranger. Anakin often wondered how he had managed to win Padmé years ago, but perhaps he never did — perhaps Obi-Wan was right; all politicians were the same. His voice held no emotion other than animosity. "You lied to me and kept them from me!" Anakin's voice rose, cracking slightly.

As she approached she saw him standing there and for a moment she didn't speak. He hated her even though she had not even fully got the explain the situation that night. She was wondering if she would even get to explain her side of the situation instead of him accusing her without getting a say. "Anakin" she said softly as she stepped forward.

"I am not the one who lied to you. If anyone lied to you it was Palpatine. I was in hiding em because she assumed that I betrayed you. I didn't choose Obi-Wan that night. I didn't know he showed up until he made himself known" she said calmly. She only spoke of such because she had to have him know the truth and she couldn't keep it from him any longer. It was clear that Palpatine was feeding him lies as he had been doing for a long time now. But maybe she could convince like she should of done on Mustafar.

Bellamy replayed their last conversation on the cliff over and over in his mind. Clarke had begged him to leave her behind and save himself. He had even given her an indication that he understood, but leaving Clarke wasn't an option for him. They had been through too much together. The thought of her facing the end alone was unbearable, especially if she needed him and he couldn't get to her because they would have been miles apart. His survival wasn't worth that. Bellamy had chosen to stay — the only thing he could do.

Clarke's anger had begun to make Bellamy doubt his actions. He had stayed to protect and be with her until the end, even if it meant his death. Bellamy kept hoping she would see his choice for what it was — a testament to their bond. The deep connection he felt to Clarke was something more than he was even ready to admit to himself, an unspoken truth about his feelings for her. Perhaps that was the real reason he wasn't willing to leave. "Clarke. Talk to me. I stayed because I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. We're in this together. The heart and the head, remember?" His tone was unsteady, and the words fell from his lips as they sat in the dim light of the bunker.

@bajanbacca

"I can't lose you either Bellamy. That's why I wanted you to leave with the others when it meant you would live and be able to come back to earth and be with the others" she said regretting treating him the way she had been but also because those feelings she felt were only showing more. @flawedxshatteredxsouls

francis had been walking around the party, when he noticed the ambassidor from england talking to his wife mary. of course being queen of both france and scotland, mary could not ignore the ambassador but he had a way of making her feel uncomfortable. of course the situation between their two countries is not a secret, but francis would never allow anyone to make mary feel awful. ❝mary, come i believe your uncle has just arrived, let us go say hello❞ the truth was the duke had arrived before this, and they had already greeted him. however he was hoping that it wouldn’t be noticed. once far enough away, francis asked  ❝are you alright? what did he say?❞

"I'd be lost without you. Meeting you made me a better person" she said softly. Marcos was the first person she had ever truly cared about and now she would do anything to protect him. "I wouldn't be able to handle it either. I would be a mess" she said. She was a strong woman but Marcos kept her together despite her not always being easy to handle. "I don't want to think of a life without you," she said.

“Part of me regrets leaving them after everything that happened. After everything I thought I was doing right. And I know we said many times that it wasn’t my fault but I can’t help but feel the slightest of guilty. I should of seen it sooner” she said. She had been thinking of it more times then she wanted and was trying to fight the thought by herself, even with the reassurance she got when she first came back it didn’t help stop the guilty feeling of it all.

The change of topic was a nice change, “Ever since you left the cartel you’ve changed. Besides fighting for was right you fought for the others just as I did. When we ran the underground we didn’t really get a chance to live for ourselves because we had to defend people and do what was right. But we can change that now, for us and our daughter.”

“I know,” he said softly. “And…maybe I don’t have the experience like you do, but I’ve seen enough people go through things like this to know that…thinking you were doing the right thing and being told it wasn’t your fault…doesn’t always help. But, you know…” here he paused, nudging his shoulder against hers, “I’m gonna be around to tell you as many times as you need.” She had just done what she’d thought was best. It had hurt, but he didn’t want to dwell on it anymore. It was time they lived their lives for themselves.

Lorna shifted to look over at Marcos, “You have enough experience. I know I can’t change the past as much as I wish I could. But there were things I know did wrong like keeping you away from Dawn. But I plan to make up for that” she said with a small smile. The thought of her daughter was the reason she had continued with what she was doing prior and now her daughter was the reason why she had stepped away as much as she wanted to go out and help her friends recover from the aftermath.

She nudged his shoulder back and nodded. She was always grateful for Marcos especially with how he had forgiven her for what she did. He had every right like the rest of her friends to hate her and not forgive her and she would accept it. 

“It’s bad when I feel good to be here just our family but I also hate the idea that the others are now fighting for mutants and the rest of the underground and we aren’t helping them. Ever since I got out that’s all I did was help people and now it’s different” she said.