Anakin Skywalker

@scarredbookworm

Anakin tried desperately to hold onto the person he once was. Palpitine wanted him to be Vader. But he hated the persona and all that came with it. Anakin was good, dammit. But he was trapped.

Never would he ever have believed that the Jedi denying him would lead him to this point. He had wanted to just go back to his life and take it as it comes. But then Palpatine had come for him. And all had been lost from then.

He can’t always be there to keep her out of trouble. But he wouldn’t say that out loud.

Anakin lingered at the edge of the balcony, a breath outside the lantern’s glow. He told himself he was watching the crowd—keeping an eye on senators and their cautious alliances, scanning for threats like a good Jedi should. But his eyes kept returning to Kate.

Her laughter rose above the soft music drifting from the gala, bright enough to make something tighten low in his chest. She moved through the sea of dignitaries with practiced ease, every turn of her head catching candlelight in her hair.

He shouldn’t be thinking about how it might feel to brush his hand along that curve of her neck, or how his name might sound on her lips if they were alone. Duty was supposed to come first. Attachment was forbidden.

But Force, the way she smiled when she caught him looking—it sent heat crawling under his skin, made it hard to breathe.

When she stepped away from her circle of ministers, drawing closer, Anakin straightened instinctively. His pulse stumbled, and for a moment he wondered if she could hear it, hammering traitorously loud in the quiet space between them.

He opened his mouth, searching for something clever or careful—anything to hide how badly he wanted to be closer to her—and then waited for her to speak first.

He frowned as he thought about it.

Anakin lingered at the edge of the balcony, a breath outside the lantern’s glow. He told himself he was watching the crowd—keeping an eye on senators and their cautious alliances, scanning for threats like a good Jedi should. But his eyes kept returning to Kate.

Her laughter rose above the soft music drifting from the gala, bright enough to make something tighten low in his chest. She moved through the sea of dignitaries with practiced ease, every turn of her head catching candlelight in her hair.

He shouldn’t be thinking about how it might feel to brush his hand along that curve of her neck, or how his name might sound on her lips if they were alone. Duty was supposed to come first. Attachment was forbidden.

But Force, the way she smiled when she caught him looking—it sent heat crawling under his skin, made it hard to breathe.

When she stepped away from her circle of ministers, drawing closer, Anakin straightened instinctively. His pulse stumbled, and for a moment he wondered if she could hear it, hammering traitorously loud in the quiet space between them.

He opened his mouth, searching for something clever or careful—anything to hide how badly he wanted to be closer to her—and then waited for her to speak first.

@scarredbookworm

Anakin tried desperately to hold onto the person he once was. Palpitine wanted him to be Vader. But he hated the persona and all that came with it. Anakin was good, dammit. But he was trapped.

Never would he ever have believed that the Jedi denying him would lead him to this point. He had wanted to just go back to his life and take it as it comes. But then Palpatine had come for him. And all had been lost from then.

Anakin lingered at the edge of the balcony, a breath outside the lantern’s glow. He told himself he was watching the crowd—keeping an eye on senators and their cautious alliances, scanning for threats like a good Jedi should. But his eyes kept returning to Kate.

Her laughter rose above the soft music drifting from the gala, bright enough to make something tighten low in his chest. She moved through the sea of dignitaries with practiced ease, every turn of her head catching candlelight in her hair.

He shouldn’t be thinking about how it might feel to brush his hand along that curve of her neck, or how his name might sound on her lips if they were alone. Duty was supposed to come first. Attachment was forbidden.

But Force, the way she smiled when she caught him looking—it sent heat crawling under his skin, made it hard to breathe.

When she stepped away from her circle of ministers, drawing closer, Anakin straightened instinctively. His pulse stumbled, and for a moment he wondered if she could hear it, hammering traitorously loud in the quiet space between them.

He opened his mouth, searching for something clever or careful—anything to hide how badly he wanted to be closer to her—and then waited for her to speak first.

@scarredbookworm

Anakin tried desperately to hold onto the person he once was. Palpitine wanted him to be Vader. But he hated the persona and all that came with it. Anakin was good, dammit. But he was trapped.

Never would he ever have believed that the Jedi denying him would lead him to this point. He had wanted to just go back to his life and take it as it comes. But then Palpatine had come for him. And all had been lost from then.

@scarredbookworm

Anakin tried desperately to hold onto the person he once was. Palpitine wanted him to be Vader. But he hated the persona and all that came with it. Anakin was good, dammit. But he was trapped.

Never would he ever have believed that the Jedi denying him would lead him to this point. He had wanted to just go back to his life and take it as it comes. But then Palpatine had come for him. And all had been lost from then.

He didn’t use the droid’s name, knowing that doing so may give him away.

"Thank you. Again," she said, and slipped by him, registering that he smelled very familiar.

That was strange. That was what Vader smelled like whenever she was close enough to smell him (which wasn't often, but it had been memorable enough).

"Threepio!" Kate called as she spotted the droid, who was looking behind a curtain at one of the stalls.

"I gave you the slip, you didn't allow anything," Kate argued. "If he's mad at anyone it should be me."

"Hello," she said, setting her bag down.

Before he could answer, Threepio was already tattling.

"Master, I must let you know that Miss Kate and I were separated in the market and I lost sight of her," he said. "It was for ten minutes at least, and I looked everywhere I could think of--"

He glanced at her as he said that, not that she’d really realize it. His hood covered much.

@scarredbookworm

Jim moved through the back garden quietly, avoiding being directly in main sight. This wasn’t the first time he had done this, but hopefully it would be the last.

His face throbbed from the beating he had taken earlier from the cadets, but he felt like a fire had finally ignited beneath him. Starfleet had much to offer, no matter how much he hated them.

And Kate hated them too.

Then she added, "In case it takes you a few years to become captain, I hope they let officers' wives come along on the trips. Especially if I'm not accepted into the academy."

“I’m sure they will….i mean, my parents went together. Granted they’re both Starfleet…but I’ve never heard of families being truly separated.”

Anakin lingered at the edge of the balcony, a breath outside the lantern’s glow. He told himself he was watching the crowd—keeping an eye on senators and their cautious alliances, scanning for threats like a good Jedi should. But his eyes kept returning to Kate.

Her laughter rose above the soft music drifting from the gala, bright enough to make something tighten low in his chest. She moved through the sea of dignitaries with practiced ease, every turn of her head catching candlelight in her hair.

He shouldn’t be thinking about how it might feel to brush his hand along that curve of her neck, or how his name might sound on her lips if they were alone. Duty was supposed to come first. Attachment was forbidden.

But Force, the way she smiled when she caught him looking—it sent heat crawling under his skin, made it hard to breathe.

When she stepped away from her circle of ministers, drawing closer, Anakin straightened instinctively. His pulse stumbled, and for a moment he wondered if she could hear it, hammering traitorously loud in the quiet space between them.

He opened his mouth, searching for something clever or careful—anything to hide how badly he wanted to be closer to her—and then waited for her to speak first.

@scarredbookworm

Anakin tried desperately to hold onto the person he once was. Palpitine wanted him to be Vader. But he hated the persona and all that came with it. Anakin was good, dammit. But he was trapped.

Never would he ever have believed that the Jedi denying him would lead him to this point. He had wanted to just go back to his life and take it as it comes. But then Palpatine had come for him. And all had been lost from then.

He didn’t use the droid’s name, knowing that doing so may give him away.

"Thank you. Again," she said, and slipped by him, registering that he smelled very familiar.

That was strange. That was what Vader smelled like whenever she was close enough to smell him (which wasn't often, but it had been memorable enough).

"Threepio!" Kate called as she spotted the droid, who was looking behind a curtain at one of the stalls.

"I gave you the slip, you didn't allow anything," Kate argued. "If he's mad at anyone it should be me."

Anakin lingered at the edge of the balcony, a breath outside the lantern’s glow. He told himself he was watching the crowd—keeping an eye on senators and their cautious alliances, scanning for threats like a good Jedi should. But his eyes kept returning to Kate.

Her laughter rose above the soft music drifting from the gala, bright enough to make something tighten low in his chest. She moved through the sea of dignitaries with practiced ease, every turn of her head catching candlelight in her hair.

He shouldn’t be thinking about how it might feel to brush his hand along that curve of her neck, or how his name might sound on her lips if they were alone. Duty was supposed to come first. Attachment was forbidden.

But Force, the way she smiled when she caught him looking—it sent heat crawling under his skin, made it hard to breathe.

When she stepped away from her circle of ministers, drawing closer, Anakin straightened instinctively. His pulse stumbled, and for a moment he wondered if she could hear it, hammering traitorously loud in the quiet space between them.

He opened his mouth, searching for something clever or careful—anything to hide how badly he wanted to be closer to her—and then waited for her to speak first.

@scarredbookworm

Anakin tried desperately to hold onto the person he once was. Palpitine wanted him to be Vader. But he hated the persona and all that came with it. Anakin was good, dammit. But he was trapped.

Never would he ever have believed that the Jedi denying him would lead him to this point. He had wanted to just go back to his life and take it as it comes. But then Palpatine had come for him. And all had been lost from then.

He didn’t use the droid’s name, knowing that doing so may give him away.

"Thank you. Again," she said, and slipped by him, registering that he smelled very familiar.

That was strange. That was what Vader smelled like whenever she was close enough to smell him (which wasn't often, but it had been memorable enough).

"Threepio!" Kate called as she spotted the droid, who was looking behind a curtain at one of the stalls.

Anakin lingered at the edge of the balcony, a breath outside the lantern’s glow. He told himself he was watching the crowd—keeping an eye on senators and their cautious alliances, scanning for threats like a good Jedi should. But his eyes kept returning to Kate.

Her laughter rose above the soft music drifting from the gala, bright enough to make something tighten low in his chest. She moved through the sea of dignitaries with practiced ease, every turn of her head catching candlelight in her hair.

He shouldn’t be thinking about how it might feel to brush his hand along that curve of her neck, or how his name might sound on her lips if they were alone. Duty was supposed to come first. Attachment was forbidden.

But Force, the way she smiled when she caught him looking—it sent heat crawling under his skin, made it hard to breathe.

When she stepped away from her circle of ministers, drawing closer, Anakin straightened instinctively. His pulse stumbled, and for a moment he wondered if she could hear it, hammering traitorously loud in the quiet space between them.

He opened his mouth, searching for something clever or careful—anything to hide how badly he wanted to be closer to her—and then waited for her to speak first.

It was faint—like a thread tugging gently at his soul. Her presence brushed against his, warm and unfamiliar, yet somehow right.

He looked into her eyes, a quiet awe in his voice.

“Did you feel that?” he asked softly. “Like the Force… reached for you through me.”

Anakin lingered at the edge of the balcony, a breath outside the lantern’s glow. He told himself he was watching the crowd—keeping an eye on senators and their cautious alliances, scanning for threats like a good Jedi should. But his eyes kept returning to Kate.

Her laughter rose above the soft music drifting from the gala, bright enough to make something tighten low in his chest. She moved through the sea of dignitaries with practiced ease, every turn of her head catching candlelight in her hair.

He shouldn’t be thinking about how it might feel to brush his hand along that curve of her neck, or how his name might sound on her lips if they were alone. Duty was supposed to come first. Attachment was forbidden.

But Force, the way she smiled when she caught him looking—it sent heat crawling under his skin, made it hard to breathe.

When she stepped away from her circle of ministers, drawing closer, Anakin straightened instinctively. His pulse stumbled, and for a moment he wondered if she could hear it, hammering traitorously loud in the quiet space between them.

He opened his mouth, searching for something clever or careful—anything to hide how badly he wanted to be closer to her—and then waited for her to speak first.

@scarredbookworm

Anakin tried desperately to hold onto the person he once was. Palpitine wanted him to be Vader. But he hated the persona and all that came with it. Anakin was good, dammit. But he was trapped.

Never would he ever have believed that the Jedi denying him would lead him to this point. He had wanted to just go back to his life and take it as it comes. But then Palpatine had come for him. And all had been lost from then.

He didn’t use the droid’s name, knowing that doing so may give him away.