Endlessly Determined

Belle glanced up at him from her book before turning her eyes back to it, her smile growing. He reminded her a lot of a spitting cat in a fit of temper at that moment. He was trying so hard to seem as if he was a monster and while she had no way of knowing if it were true or not, if he’d really do as he said if he had the chance, she still didn’t believe he would.

“People usually tend to have reasons to threaten people other than that they just feel like it, you know,” she answered. “Are you bored or something?”

She genuinely wanted to know. He was a famed sorcerer after all and now, even though they were out and about in the palace gardens, he still didn’t have his freedom. That was something she had to remember. He wasn’t there by his own free will.

“You know what, I have an idea..” she said, setting her book aside as inspiration struck her and she looked up at him. “Before you were bound to my family, you were a deal maker right? So how about, you and I make a deal? And just so its fair, I’ll command you only this one time with this. We make a deal that beneficial for both of us, neither of us having more than the other. Sound fair? I still can’t give your full freedom with the threats you’ve made hanging over my head, but I can grant more than you have now.”

She asked if he was threatening her just because he was bored and he scowled at her. He wasn’t bored. He got to be outside, in the gardens. Seeing the sky, feeling the wind, smelling the grass and flowers, those were things he’d gone centuries without. So naturally he wasn’t bored, being outside. He just was waiting for her to realize she’d allowed him outside and take it all back. It was better that it happened sooner rather than later, before he got used to having a modicum of freedom.

But then she said she had an idea, going as far as to put her book down so her full attention was on him. He had to resist the urge to flinch. This was what he’d wanted so he wasn’t going to act afraid now.

Only… she didn’t punish him. Unless this was all some elaborate mental torture. Because asking to make a deal, one that benefited both of them… it was confusing. Why in all the realms would she do that when she could just command him to do anything she wanted?

 Belle only blinked at him at first, but then in spite of herself, a snicker escaped her mouth. It wasn’t to degrade or anything, she just found his sarcastic wit to be a bit funny despite the obvious threat to her he had made. Perhaps she had a bit of a dark side of her own if she found such a thing amusing, but rather than let it bother her, she just returned her focus to her book.

 “And what, may I ask, did I do to warrant that?” she replied as she flipped a page.

@endlesslydetermined​

x

She laughed. She just laughed as though he  hadn’t threatened her at all, and he supposed he wasn’t much of a threat since she had his dagger, but he hadn’t expected that. Especially since it didn’t even sound like she was laughing at him. More like he’d just said a joke she found amusing. She even had the gall to ask what she did to warrant his threat, as if everything wasn’t his fault like it always was.

Obi-Wan stroked his beard in thought as Padme explained what happened. It sounded like some sort of set up, and that fact that Bail was missing now didn’t bode well. “Alright, how hurt are you?” he asked, already reaching for his comm to call for help. He needed to know if she needed him to help her to the hospital or if she could wait for someone else while he started looking for Bail. “And what exactly can you tell me about this contact of yours?”

the missed opportunity

the kiss

you typically wait until the last second to believe the truth--because it would destroy you to believe it, and then find out it was a lie. you are someone who has never wanted to want, but has rarely been able to do anything else. the idea that you might have to break down your walls for the sake of someone else, someone who could easily decide they don't like what is on the other side, is harrowing. why let people get close enough to be rejected? you are enough for yourself. and you will tell yourself that every time you catch yourself staring at their mouth, smirking at their joke, finding a reason to flick their shoulder. until the kiss. that's when the flood of want, want, want bowls over you and you realize that you are torn between two ways of living. Oh, you think. because despite how complicated you have made it, the moment you kiss, somehow, things seem incredibly simple. they won't be once you start thinking again, but for now, for this moment, you live in the quiet peace of revelation. Oh.