#difference between flutter and react native

CHAPTER 2 ─────────────────── This was something entirely new for Y/N.

For the first time, The second princess wasn’t slipping away out of curiosity about a spider spinning its web or to sample a trendy new snack she heard about at some tea party.

This time, she had someone to meet, a scheduled time to exchange words with another person. She was beyond elated, carefully navigating the corridors of her residence, hoping her mother was engrossed in entertaining her circle of friends or, even better, gone out to purchase new gowns.

They arrived earlier than agreed upon, both flustered at the sight of each other, but any awkwardness quickly dissolved as they began to converse. True to his word, Chan proudly presented his favorite dessert, something exotic and unfamiliar to Y/N, even though she was accustomed to the luxuries of palace life.

The dessert, native to Nightshade, was a foreign yet delightful to her palate, and she ate every bite with excitement. As Chan watched her savor the sweet treat, he suddenly wondered if the children of Elysium were also warned to keep away from anything associated with Nightshade. Like he had been taught to be wary of Elysium.

    “What do you think of the Bahng Clan, Princess?” Chan asked with both anxiousness and curiosity.

Y/N looks up in wonder, wiping her fingers with her handkerchief.

    “You mean the beastly people?” She asks.

The term has Chan’s heart drop, momentarily lowering his gaze, wondering how she would react if he revealed his true identity.

    “My teacher said that they love violence and bloodshed. But I’ve read in a book that the realm is sandwiched between forest and the snowy mountains? Wouldn't they be practicing intense self defense tactics?” Y/N continued, surprising Chan with her mature perspective.

The young princess, always curious but lacking someone to share her thoughts with, felt a warmth spread through her as Chan listened so intently. He stared at her in amazement, realizing that despite her young age, and her title as princess, Y/N possessed a wisdom and compassion unlike other kids her age.

    “I’m sure they have their own way of life. It’s just different from ours.” She concluded with a gentle smile.

Y/N had no idea how much relief her words brought to Chan, the Nightshade Prince. He was silently grateful that it was she who had rescued him from the river.

And so, one meeting turned into another, and another, until they began to lose count of how many times they had met. The two young royals giggled and devoured each other’s favorite snacks with gusto, forgetting all about the constraints of etiquette in their budding friendship. Each rendezvous brought them closer, sharing secrets, dreams, and aspirations. Like true friends.

While Han kicked rocks a short distance away, he couldn't help but marvel at the unusual sight before him. It was rare to see his Prince enjoying the company of another child, especially one from outside their usual social circle. Normally, Chris would scowl at the children of his father’s court and council. Children who dared to approach him with forced smiles and honey-dripping words. While the young girls of their nation were too intimidated to even make eye contact with him. Han couldn’t understand why, after all Chris wasn’t even that scary looking.

The aspiring personal guard studied the rocky passageway they had climbed countless times now. It was a narrow path, hidden among overgrown bushes and vines, creating a natural canopy that almost concealed its existence entirely, like a cave almost. One could easily miss it if they were simply passing by. Yet here they were, sneaking past this narrow passage almost daily. Han couldn’t deny that everything about this risky routine scared him senseless. But despite his fears, he always succumbed to the Prince’s pleading gaze, dutifully preparing provisions like bread and snacks for their "walks of fresh air."

Was this what they called loyalty? As they parted ways that evening, arranging to meet again, Chris felt a sense of contentment he hadn’t known before. Whistling a happy tune, he and Han made their way back up the rocky path, the younger boy taking the now-empty sack from him.

    “The princess is much more down-to-earth than I thought.”  Han came to a conclusion after observing, they squeezed past narrow boulders and returned to their side of the forest.

    “She’s also funny.” Chris laughed, recalling the amusing stories Y/N had shared.

Han raised a brow at his master. “When do you plan on returning the necklace?”

Chris stopped in his tracks, groaning. He had completely forgotten about it in the excitement of their meeting today. They hadn’t seen each other since the day after he had presented her with the promised cake for her birthday, four days ago.

    “I’m going to replace the chain. The silver is all mangled from being in your filthy pocket.” Chris shook his head.

    “You’re the one who had it clutched in your fist for dear life!” Han retorted with a scoff, to which Chris rolled his eyes.

    “I’ll return it as soon as I get it to look brand new. He hummed, walking ahead with a bounce in his step. 

    “Now let’s hurry back before dinner.” Meanwhile, in the silence of the dining room of the West Palace in Elysium, the cold tone of Lady Katherine’s voice pierced the tense air.

    “You’ve been missing too many lessons. Let's not make it a habit.” She remarked as she meticulously cut the meat on her plate.

Y/N’s eyes froze at her dinner, her mind racing with worry. Had her mother caught her sneaking under the back wall?

    “Princess Sienna will be traveling to the Melgarde Estate this Autumn to begin prepping for her role as First Princess. I have managed to convince your father to allow you to accompany her this time.”

Y/N’s eyes shot towards her mother, her fists balling up her dress.

    “Must I go mother?” She hesitantly asked, glancing up at Katherine, who paused her knife and fork against the steak to stop working.

    “Such ridiculous questions don’t befit you, the Second Princess of this nation." Her mother replied sharply, throwing a stern glance her way.

    “I have worked very hard to get your father to look at us favorably. Do not ruin it.” The mother continued working her cutlery against her dinner.

    “Besides, you’ve known that one day or another you’d be sent to Melgarde. You too must learn of your royal duties. You are a princess after all...” 

Silence hung heavily between them once again, but Y/N’s appetite had vanished. Just a few weeks ago, she hadn’t cared where she stayed or which estate she roamed, but now, with a friend who didn’t see her as just the Second Princess of Elysium, leaving seemed unbearable. The thought of being separated from Chan, the one who had seen her for who she truly was, weighed heavily on her heart. He had celebrated her birthday with a cake and wishes meant only for her, a gesture that touched her deeply. Her eyes welled tears tears.

Autumn wasn’t even that far off. ─────────────────────── The following meeting of the secret friends had been plenty of joy like the many before. They lounged comfortably, exchanging funny anecdotes and catching up on the gossip they had been eagerly saving up during their brief separation (of just two days). Yet amidst the laughter and stories, Chan couldn’t help but notice a heaviness in Y/N’s demeanor. Her smiles didn’t quite reach her eyes, and it was clear to the observant prince that something was amiss.

    “Are the stories not amusing today, or perhaps the pastries don't suit your taste?” Chan inquired gently, watching as Y/N quickly sat up to deny both concerns.

    “Neither! The pastries are delightful, and the tale of your cousin Felix putting his father in line was genuinely amusing, Chan!” She exclaimed, her attempt to brush off her subdued mood evident.

Chris smiles at the call of the name. Chan. It was a name he hadn’t heard in a long time. A name his mother had given him, a remnant of a time when life felt simpler and less burdened by secrecy and expectation. When the princess used that name, it made him feel oddly liberated. Like the mischievous child he once was, running through the hall of the castle, free from the weight of royal responsibilities.

    “There just seems to be something bothering you." Chan remarked, leaning in attentively. He wanted nothing more than to lend an ear and offer comfort.

For a moment, Y/N was silent, her teeth gnawing at her lower lip as she studied Chan with eyes filled with care.

    “My mother is sending me to Melgarde by the end of this summer. I don’t want to go so far away...especially now that I have…you.” She confessed quietly, her voice tinged with melancholy as she dropped her gaze.

Chan blinks a few times, unsure of what or where Melgarde was. Watching her wrestle with her emotions, her fingers fidgeting with the grass, he felt a pang of guilt for hiding his true identity from her. Especially since she considered him a close friend.

    “Why do you think your mother is sending you to Melgarde?” He asks, his eyes wandered to look at the now pink and orange sky.

    “I’m to learn about my royal duties. But she refuses to listen to what I feel.” Y/N groaned softly.

Chan had a familiarity with those feelings she was holding back. Duties, responsibilities. Things a Crown Prince must do.

    “Maybe your mother is just looking out for you. A princess like yourself must have many responsibilities in the near future. It's only right for her to do so.” Chan replied, his words betraying his own maturity beyond his years. 

She was the Princess’ mother. Of course she cared for her. Just like his own mother had, always striving for what was best. But Chan didn’t know Lady Katherine, yet he did his best to uplift Y/N’s spirits.

    “Your going away to Melgarde or wherever will not change the fact that we are friends. Will it?" He asked with a soft smile.

Inside, Chan felt a pang of sadness at the idea of Y/N leaving. His efforts to console her masked his own unease about their impending separation.

    “No. We will always be friends.” She grumbled, her fingers idly playing with her dress. “But I’m worried you’re going to forget me."

Chan chuckled softly at such a notion, partly because of Y/N's playful pout, which he couldn't resist teasing by poking her cheek with his finger. She blinked up at him, surprised by his sudden playfulness. He quickly withdrew his hand, sheepishly looking down.

Y/N couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Chan's ears turning red. He reminded her of a puppy. But despite the light moment, Chan's conscience weighed heavily on him, evident in the serious expression that replaced his smile.

    “I must confess something.” Chan's expression was tinged with worry.

Y/N tilted her head, sensing a shift in the atmosphere that left her uneasy.

    “What do you think about the Kingdom of Nightshade? Are you not afraid of its people?” His voice was low, a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

Y/N was taken aback by his sudden questions. Chan seemed unusually interested in the Bahng Clan and the Kingdom of Nightshade, this being the second time he had brought them up.

    “I’ve never met anyone from there. Have you?” She asked, genuinely curious.

Chan nodded slowly, meeting her gaze with a hint of hesitation.

    “How? We’re not allowed to cross over. Did you find a way to—” Y/N's words stopped abruptly as realization dawned on her.

Chan could almost see the pieces clicking into place in her mind. He watched as her expression shifted, brows furrowing in concentration.

    “Are you from Nightshade?” Her voice is tinged with surprise.

Chan wanted to disappear at that moment, regretting having brought up the topic at all. He could have continued the charade. The shock in her eyes was something he hadn’t anticipated.

    “I am.” He whispered finally.

Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Chan’s heart raced in his chest, uncertain of what her reaction would be. Would she run away, tell him to stay away? To go back and never return?

    “Are you afraid of me?” He asked tentatively, his vulnerability laid bare before her.

Y/N rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

    “So that’s why that dessert was so unfamiliar.” She mumbled to herself, trying to recall if there were any other dropped hints that she had missed.

    “Hmmm,”  she continued, her mind racing. “And that cape! Is it also something worn only in Nightshade?! Thank goodness I haven’t worn it out yet” She sighed, starting to ramble.

Chan blinked, slightly taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm. He hadn’t realized just how curious the Second Princess could be.

    “So…I don’t scare you?” He ventured cautiously.

Furrowing her brows, Y/N looked at him as if he were being ridiculous.

    “You were moments away from being swept away by the river, and trembling like a leaf the first time we met, Chan. It was far from scary.”

A small snicker came from the bushes where Han was hiding. His voice, though loud in the otherwise quiet exchange, broke the tension.

    “See, even Han agrees.” Y/N teased lightly.

Chan shot a glare towards Han’s designated hiding bush, the younger boy immediately falling silent and attempting to sneak further away.

    “I once thought you were just some very sickly noble child not allowed to attend gatherings, only sneaking out with his servant boy for solace. But it makes sense that you’re from a whole different kingdom. Now that I think about it, some of the stories you’ve told…” Y/N trailed off, lost in thought.

    “You’re taking this very well. I was afraid for no reason.” Chan interjected, cutting off her train of thought before she could delve deeper.

He couldn't begin to express how relieved he felt.

Y/N laughed, sitting up and playfully tugging at the sleeve of his shirt.

    “Aren’t we friends?” She asked with a warm smile.

Her words made Chan smile, his ears flushing red once more. Taking a deep breath, he looked out over the expanse of the Grand Forest, the sun beginning its descent.

    “The closest of friends." He whispered watching her sweet smile.

The older boy takes in a deep breath of the spring breeze, eyes taking in the beautiful scenery of this Grand Forest.

    “Watch, there will come a day when we can meet freely. No sneaking over borders, or jumping in rivers.” His smile was hopeful, but Y/N seemed hesitant.

    “I wish it came before summer ended…” Y/N said sadly, but then shook it off, determination replacing the sorrow on her lips.

    “Let’s meet again after my return from Melgarde. It may take some time, and I’m not sure how much will change. But I promise I will not forget.”

A bittersweet feeling settled in Chan’s heart as he gently cupped her hands with his own, giving them a squeeze.

    “I won’t be able to send you letters, but let’s spend every day until you leave, together. I too promise to think of you every day until our reunion, my one and only lady friend.” He grinned, his dimples showing.

A comfortable silence fell between them as they prepared to say their farewells. Y/N then handed him a small wrapped stack of cookies

    “Let’s meet again in three days. My mother has been keeping a close eye on me lately, so I’ll have to hold back on slipping out.” She said, pushing the cookies into his arms.

    “And this is for Han. I feel sorry that he’s been playing with sticks and stones back there all this time.”

Chan begrudgingly accepted the cookies, promising to pass them along to his friend. Though their playdate had run longer than usual, the prince felt elated. The burden of secrecy was no longer weighing him down now that the truth was out there.

The sun dipped lower, casting elongated shadows across the palace grounds as Han and Chris dashed through the fading light. Han's laughter echoed in the quietening air, mingling with the rustling of leaves as they finally made their way back.

Han’s voice, light and carefree, carried the teasing remark about Chris not revealing his princely status to the princess. It was meant in jest, but Chris's reaction was anything but amused.

    “I would have but what if that’s the reason she pushes me away?” Chris's voice held a hint of uncertainty, his steps faltering as he glanced back at Han.

Han chuckled, his amusement not subsiding. “I doubt it would be, Prince Shivering Leaf.”

Chris sighed, the corners of his lips twitching as he realized Han was right.

He was just overthinking.

Yet before the conversation could settle, his mind tracks back to the “shivering leaf” comment, and he looks at an nonchalant Han now walking ahead. He smiled and muttered a playful command.

    “You better start running.”

The command caught Han off guard, and with a surprised yelp, he hastily stuffed the remaining cookies into his vest pocket and bolted. Chris pursued him with determination, their laughter carrying through the grounds, unaware of how quickly dusk was settling around them.

Han glanced over his shoulder, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. But in that split-second distraction, he collided headlong into what felt like a pole, causing him to crumple to the ground with a sharp “oof”. Chris, caught off guard by Han's sudden fall, skidded to a halt a few steps behind, concerned.

Once he realized that it was not a pole, the younger boy scrambled to his feet, head bowed in an instinctual bow.

    “T-teacher.” He greeted tentatively, his lips tightening in an attempt to hide his shock.

Captain Elliot approached, eyes glanced towards the unexpected direction the boys emerged from before his stern gaze assessed the situation in front. 

    “I’ve been searching for the two of you.” He stated, his voice holding a note of reproach.

Chris hurriedly stepped forward, attempting to explain their escapades. 

    “We-we’re just here and there, practicing and rough-housing, Uncl-teacher.” He stammered, trying to downplay their mischief.

Sir Elliot observed them both, his gaze flickering between Chris and Han. Though aware that they had been up to something, he found solace in the fact that seemed to be getting along, and neither appeared injured or worse for wear. 

His tone softened slightly as he remarked, “As long as you’re not doing anything wrong.”

The relief was palpable as both boys straightened, the tension easing from their shoulders. Perhaps Sir Elliot had his suspicions, but for now, they were spared further scrutiny. With a paternal caution, he added, 

    “Don’t wander off too far. It’s beginning to get darker much quicker these days.”

With a nod of dismissal, Sir Elliot turned to continue on his way, leaving the boys to exhale in unison in relief. Chris reached out, gently tugging at Han's arm to rouse him from his momentarily frozen stance.

As they resumed their path towards the palace, the captain paused, his eyes catching sight of something out of place on the ground.

A stray…cookie?

Picking it up, he narrowed his gaze, then turned to glance back at the retreating figures of the two boys, now engaged in animated conversation as they walked away. The burly king tapped at the wood of his desk, the page of the letter he had received splayed over countless other stacks of paper. His brow furrowed as he absorbed the implications of its contents, his thoughts racing through the strategic decisions ahead.

A knock at the door broke his concentration, followed by the creak of the aged hinges as Elliot entered the room. The captain’s presence brought a sense of grounded reassurance amidst the king’s tumultuous thoughts.

    “You called for me, brother?” Sir Elliot’s gaze was steady, assessing the king’s grim expression as he approached the desk.

Without a word, the king picked up the creased letter and handed it to his younger brother. As Elliot’s eyes scanned the hastily written words, a deep sigh escaped the king’s lips, betraying the weight of his concerns.

A letter from the North.

    “The next warband for the Midnight Order has commenced their training and are ready to swear allegiance to their Master.” The king explained wearily, his voice laced with unease.

Sir Elliot absorbed the information with a furrowed brow, understanding the gravity of Commander Seo’s expectations through his letter. The Seo family’s longstanding stewardship of the kingdom’s military affairs meant that any delay in Prince Christopher’s training was not merely a matter of protocol but a strategic imperative for the nation’s defense. 

The Midnight Order of Nightshade was legendary. An elite, secretive cadre of warriors renowned for their unswerving loyalty and unmatched fighting skills. Trained rigorously under the harshest conditions, they swore allegiance solely to the kings of Nightshade. Operating covertly, as the king’s shadow, they remained unseen and silent, protectors in the dark. Their missions and actions were shrouded in secrecy, acting as the king’s eyes where his presence couldn’t extend. The moment had arrived for Chris to meet his order.

His people.

The next generation of warriors destined to protect the future king.

    “We have delayed sending Prince Christopher to the North for far too long.” Elliot’s voice broke the silence between the two men, resonating with the weight of responsibility. 

    “Commander Seo has shown patience due to the Prince's mourning period, but we cannot afford further delays. You know how crucial this matter is to him.”

The captain’s words were nothing but honest. He could tell that his brother, the wise and dignified king, who would never falter when it came to the best of his nation, was a weak father. Much like himself. Except Felix is not the Crown Prince. He will not take the throne and rule over as a successful king. Christopher had great responsibilities, and he needed to fulfill them. Sir Elliot understood the delicate balance between honoring the late Queen’s wishes and preparing the Prince for his future role. And The King’s decision carried implications that extended beyond familial concerns to the very stability of the kingdom.

    “The late Queen’s wishes allowed the Prince considerable freedom, against all advice.” Sir Elliot remarked gently, meeting his brother's gaze with understanding. 

    “But a year and some time of mourning has passed, and Prince Christopher must move forward. The longer we delay, the more vulnerable he becomes as Crown Prince.”

The king fell silent, his eyes fixed on the letter in Sir Elliot’s hands. He was painfully aware of what the obvious decision should be, but thinking about his only son, tugged at his heart

    “Let us delay a little further.” The King finally conceded with a sigh.         “I fear pressing him now may embitter him.”

    “Knowing the Prince, he will not go quietly.” Sir Elliot agreed with a defeated laugh. 

    “But, he has shown unexpected cooperation as of late. My only concern is his frequent ventures outside of the palace gates.” Elliot recalled the encounter earlier outside.

    “Indeed, quite worrisome.” King Bahng mused, his thoughts drifting to the unpredictable nature of his son’s recent behavior.

    “And what of his training partner?” King Bahng inquired.

    “The Prince wishes to assign him as his personal guard.” Elliot explained, a faint smile touching his lips.

The king chuckled softly at the revelation.

    “A very princely gesture indeed. But he has a long journey ahead to truly find and understand his people.”

The mention of the training partner stirred memories within the king.

    “When I saw him that day, carrying the Prince back, soaked through and on the verge of tears, I knew then that he would pledge his loyalty to the Crown Prince.” the king reminisced, a glimmer of pride in his eyes.

Sir Elliot nodded knowingly, both men contemplated the future that lay ahead for the Crown Prince and the challenges that awaited him on his path to kingship. Yet even amidst the weighty discussions of state, the recent antics of the two young boys had not escaped the King’s notice. ─────────────────────── The changing seasons brought with them a shift in the air, bringing cooler winds from the north that swept through the shared region of the two realms. With these winds came more frequent rain showers, disrupting the almost daily reunions of the two royal friends.

    “Do you think the rain will stop tomorrow?” Chris queried, his hand extended to feel the drops falling outside the library window.

He was supposed to be concentrating on memorizing a book assigned to him, but the young prince was brimming with anticipation. He had finally repaired the necklace’s chain, and the crystal bird now hung more polished than ever. He couldn’t wait to see the expression on the princess’ face when he gave it to her.

Han sighed, observing his prince repeatedly pulling the small box out of his pocket, as if it had transformed in the ten minutes he hadn’t been staring at it.

    “I’m not sure about the rain, but you promised to meet her no matter the weather.” Han reminded him.

Chris emitted a thoughtful “hmm”, his gaze still fixed on the jewelry. The playmate slipped into the seat beside him, also inspecting the delicate piece.

    “It really is quite beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Han remarked.

    “Who does it belong to?” A third voice suddenly interjected with wonder.

    “The Princess, you already know—” Chris started to explain before catching himself, halting mid-sentence as he and Han turned to see Felix leaning in to get a closer look at the necklace.

The boys share a look, surprised by Felix’s unexpected presence. Felix glanced between the two older boys curiously.

    “Who’s the Princess?”

    “F-Felix. What are you doing here?” Chris stammered, while Han did what he does best in these situations.

He froze.

    “It’s raining, so I came to hideout here from lessons.” Felix replied matter-of-factly, then pointed at the crystal bird. 

    “Is the Princess the person who you’ve been sneaking out to see?”

Han’s head snapped up, eyes wide as he anxiously awaited Chris’ response. But the Crown Prince’s mind goes blank, unable to come up with an excuse.

    “Please don’t tell anyone…” Chris pleaded instead, quickly closing the box containing the necklace.

The smaller prince shrugged nonchalantly, taking a seat on one of the benches behind them. 

    “It’s been quite some time since I figured it out. You’re not very good at keeping secrets.” He remarked, displaying a sharpness that his father had always taken pride in.

    “Is she really a princess, or do you just call her that?” Felix inquired, genuinely curious.

The young boy had never met a princess before, their kingdom seemed to lack them. 

Chris smiled fondly, recalling his dear friend. “She is.”

Felix’s eyes lit up with excitement at the confirmation.

    “Really! What's her name?" He asked eagerly, hungering for tales of foreign royalty.

Chris blinked, a realization dawning on him.

He didn’t know her name.

    “You never asked!?” Han exclaimed, astonished at his friend’s oversight.

Felix sat there, eyebrows furrowed in confusion, as he observed the exchange between a mortified Chris and a shocked Han. 

The young prince had always been enthusiastic about meeting his “Princess,” but now it dawned on him that he had never actually asked her name. He felt a pang of guilt and self-reproach.

How!? How could he have overlooked something so basic? The princess had asked for his name, so why hadn't he reciprocated?

Han, who had lost count of how many exasperated sighs he had let out that morning because of Chris, sighed once more.

    “When you meet her again, please ask her name.” Han implored, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and concern. 

He knew how important she was to Chris and his mistake was probably going to weigh on his mind.

Chris nodded earnestly, feeling frustrated by his foolishness.

    “I will. I promise.” He replied earnestly.

And as the three boys left the library, the rain continued to patter softly against the now closed windows, a reminder of the barriers they would have to overcome to see each other again. But Chris was determined, more than ever, to learn his princess’ name and to show her the respect and friendship she deserved before she departed to Melgarde.

But as fate would have it, not everything would go according to his plan.

Chris grunted at the sight of the dark clouds gathering overhead, the sound of raindrops drumming steadily against the windowpane. He had awoken that morning with a sense of excitement, eager for his meeting with the princess. However, after enduring his lessons and searching the training grounds in vain for Han, who seemed to have disappeared, Chris’ mood began to sour.

It had been hours since he last saw his playmate. And in these hours he realized just how much he relied on Han until now.

It was Han who orchestrated their excuses, ensuring their timely exits from the castle grounds, and always kept an eye out even in the forest. Without Han, Chris felt vulnerable and exposed, a sensation he hadn’t experienced in their many adventures together. Han was more than just a friend at this point.

Upon questioning another young trainer, Chris learned that Han was running an errand for Captain Elliot. The news added to Chris’ frustration, on top of the relentless rain that threatened to ruin his plans.

Despite his best efforts to remain optimistic, Chris couldn’t shake the growing anxiety as the time for his meeting with his princess approached. With a heavy sigh, Chris retrieved the box containing the polished crystal bird necklace from his bedside table. His loyal playmate had not returned from his task, and Chris was sure the princess was already waiting for him.

She had always been one to arrive early.

Today, Chris decided, would be the day he ventured out alone.

A mistake on the young prince’s part.

As he approached the secret passage through the forest, his footsteps squelching on the rain-soaked ground, his heart sank at the sight before him. The entrance to the passage was completely obstructed, large boulders strategically placed to seal it shut. There was no way for him to squeeze through or move the rocks at all. Panic gripped his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation.

    “Prince Christopher.” King Bahng’s voice rang out, firm and disapproving even in the downpour.

Chris froze, dread knotting in his stomach as he turned to face his father, standing with Captain Elliot and his Solar guards, the castle's elite protectors. 

Wet and shivering, Chris knew he was finally exposed, unmistakably caught. The steady drip of rain against the wooden floor of the king's study filled the chamber with a somber rhythm, punctuating the tense silence between father and son. Chris stood before his father, head bowed in shame, fully aware of the gravity of his actions. His duties as Crown Prince had been clear, yet he had failed in his responsibility to disclose the discovery of a hidden passage that posed a potential threat to Nightshade's security.

His father’s loyalty to honoring peace agreements was unwavering, but could he say the same about the fickle Elysium King? Should they have discovered the crack between the two realms first…

    “You have broken my trust.” King Bahng’s voice cut through the silence, cold and unforgiving, causing Chris, wet and shivering, to flinch.

Chris struggled to find words, his mouth dry with regret. He usually excelled at making excuses, but his mind raced with regret and the realization of the consequences of his actions. He had risked the stability of their kingdom.

    “Not only have you disregarded your duties as Crown Prince, but you have endangered Nightshade with your reckless adventures beyond our borders.” The king continued, exhaling deeply and closing his eyes in disappointment. 

    “There will be consequences. Firstly, your companion, your accomplice in this reckless act, will be sent away”

Chris’ head snapped up at his father's words, panic and sorrow flooding his expression. He thought of Han, his friend, his loyal training partner, who had always dreamed of becoming a warrior and proving himself. And now, because of Chris, Han’s dreams were going to shatter             “Please, Father...” Chris pleaded, his voice trembling with emotion. 

    “I will accept any punishment you deem fit. But Han... He was only following my lead. Punish me, but spare him.” He implored, falling to his knees, overwhelmed by guilt and desperation

King Bahng turned away, his gaze fixed on the rain-streaked window where the setting sun cast a melancholy glow. The sight of his son on his knees was a painful one, both as a father and as a king. But after a moment of silence, King Bahng turns slowly, seeing the sight he did not enjoy. Yet the urgency in the boy’s blood-red eyes spoke volumes. He was almost impressed at what lengths the Prince was willing to go for his people.

The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder.

    “You will be sent to the White Mountains of the North, kept under the strict supervision of Commander Seo.” He declared, his voice leaving no room for argument. 

    “There will be no special treatment because you are a prince. You will undergo rigorous training and learn the responsibilities that come with your position. It is time you understand the gravity of your role.”

His father’s gaze softened slightly. 

    “Your companion Han, will accompany you. You have started this together, so you will receive your punishment together.” King Bahng added, acknowledging his son's plea.

King Bahng turned to the rain-streaked window once again. The cold silence returned.

    “You will leave tomorrow.” He stated firmly, his eyes fixed outside.

    “Yes your Majesty.” Chris whispered, bowing his head. ─────────────────────── As summer drew to an end, the looming departure of the first princess to Melgarde Estate became inevitable, the departure date set, weighing heavily on Y/N’s heart. The news had set a sudden deadline on her time with Chan, leaving her in tears several times as she grappled with the uncertainty of their future.

She wondered if Chan would share the same sadness, if he would shed tears like she did. His comforting presence, his reassuring hand squeezes, had always been a source of solace for her. They hadn’t seen each other in days, and with each passing day, her yearning for her friend intensified.

Standing at their usual meeting spot amidst the Grand Forest, Y/N tried to hold onto hope despite the relentless downpour and the roar of the river nearby. Perhaps the rain had delayed Chan? They had made a promise, and he was determined to keep it.

But as the first hour slipped by without any sign of Chan, worry crept in. Should she go look for him? Fear gripped her, imagining the dangers of venturing out alone in the eerie forest towards a direction she was not familiar with.

Another hour passed, the forest now slowly cloaking in darkness as the sky dimmed. Panic set in as realization dawned.

Chan was not coming.

Tears welled up in Y/N’s eyes once more, mixing with the raindrops on her cheeks. The weight of their separation and the uncertainty of when, or if, they would see each other again bore down on her, painfully, unsurprisingly.

Alone in the fading light of day, Y/N’s heart ached with longing for Chan, wishing desperately for his comforting presence amid the looming departure that threatened to tear them apart. But Chan had not come as he promised.

And just like that summer came to an end. The Grand Forest underwent a noticeable transformation at the end of that summer. Once a vibrant destination for picnics and joyful gatherings, its charm had seemingly faded following the tragic incident involving the first princess. The forest, once alive with the laughter and footsteps of visitors, was abandoned.

After Y/N and Chan’s last secret meeting, their shared laughter and excitement seemed to disappear along with the warm breeze of the summer. The forest paths they once frequented became untouched and overgrown, as if nature itself respected the absence of their presence.

The end of that summer settled into a stillness, one that seemed to freeze the empty expanse of the Grand Forest.

“Are you feeling okay? You’ve barely touched your food, Nicola.”

My mom’s concerned question cut through my thoughts and I made myself smile, nodding. Taking a bite as I replied through a mouthful, “I’m fine. Was just thinking. That’s all.”

“About?” my mom eyed me expectantly. Hints of an amused smile played at her lips. I hesitated for a moment. If I didn’t know any better, I’d almost swear that somehow she knew something was up.

,, would it be a stretch to think so? One, she is my mom and two, I’ve been acting skittish and just plain out of it all damn day...” the thought came and as quickly as it did, I shoved it down in the depths of my brain.

I shrugged. “ Nothing in particular.” I gave the vaguest answer I could come up with. If she had one tenth of a clue what I’d really been thinking about just now, I’m honestly not sure how she’d react to it.

I’d been replaying last night over and over again in my mind all day. Every single part of me was dying to ask Pietro if it meant anything or not but at the same time, every single part of me was also scared to death to do that very thing. The one or two times we’d been alone with each other today and I did try, the words got stuck in my throat. And he wasn’t behaving any differently than he normally did, so I kind of just… Let it go. Started to convince myself that making the two of us love the night before was just a one time thing. As my best friend Simone would put it, “Sometimes, you just need to scratch that itch.”

The whole problem with her theory is that even now, having scratched this particular itch.. I wanted to do it again. And again.

I wanted so much more than that too. The brief glimpse I’d gotten of Pietro beneath the sarcasm and the flirty swagger the night before completely did me in. I’d gone from trying hard to keep him at arms length to falling head over feet in love with him and knowing this drove me crazy.

I felt someone staring at me.

I looked up just as Pietro was looking down. Pouting to myself a little, I reached out to grab the spoon in the bowl of mashed potatoes to scoop another serving onto my plate. Pietro reached for the spoon at the same time and when our hands brushed, I felt this little jolt.

He moved his hand but not until he’d let it linger against mine for a second or two. His gaze not leaving mine for the entirety of it. Under the table, my thighs clenched tight. I could see his hands all over me again in my head. Feel his cock buried deep inside me.

I went from a little wet to full on soaked between the mental imagery and the brush of his hand against mine. My stomach coiled.

My body tensed a little.

I dropped my gaze first, busying myself with putting more potatoes on my plate. Pietro kept watching me.

My parents were talking at the head of the table as my mom fed Nathaniel some smushed peas and carrots... My little sister scarfed down her food and then shot out of her chair and out the backdoor to go play a game of tag with my brother in the backyard before it got to dark to play and they had to come inside.

I dared to glance up from shoveling food into my mouth and Pietro gave a teasing wink. Biting his lip as he openly fucked me with his eyes.

And there it went.. The lazy flip flop of my stomach. And no matter what I tried, I couldn’t tear my eyes out of the ocean blue depths of his.

I couldn’t take any more of the torture that was being around him and not having the courage to ask what I was dying to know so I stood and grabbed my plate as soon as I finished eating, making my way into the kitchen to put it in the sink.

I went ahead and washed it while I stood there. I was just drying the plate and about to put it away in the cabinet overhead when I felt Pietro’s muscular body press against me from behind. Wordlessly, he took the plate from my hand and sat it on the top of the stack inside. I turned to face him.

This put us body to body.

I swallowed hard. My mouth opened and closed and for about five or six seconds, I willed myself to say something. Do something.

But I couldn’t bring myself to. Because as much as I was dying to know whether last night was a one time thing or if there was really something between us… Parts of me were scared to death that if I asked, I wouldn’t like the answer.

And that kept me quiet.

Pietro’s hand raised. Reaching out. Brushing strands of hair out of my eyes. I barely restrained a whimper at the touch. His eyes flashed a brighter blue and his head tilted slightly as he stared down at me.

Lost in thought.

His hips pressed into mine harder. When I felt the bulge in his jeans, I took a few shaky breaths. His hand rested on my hip, squeezing. Digging the tips of his fingers into it. He leaned down slightly and his mouth grazed the shell of my ear as he asked, “ty chuvstvuyesh', chto ty delayesh' so mnoy, kotenok?” in a breathless whisper.

If I thought I was wet before, hearing him speak to me in his native tongue had me soaked. Absolutely flooded. The only word I could pick out of whatever he’d asked was kitten. And as usual, when he called me kitten, my heart fluttered just a little more in my chest. He rocked himself into me clumsily and I sucked in a breath.

“Pietro.” I muttered. I was right on the verge of asking him what he’d just said. And asking him about what the night before truly was, if he felt anything or if it just kinda… happened. But just as I thought I’d finally be able to get the words out, it’s like my brain froze up all over again. I frowned at myself in frustration and sighed, shaking my head. “Nothing. It’s silly.”

I heard my dad calling my name from the next room, so I stepped away from Pietro reluctantly and went to leave the kitchen. Pietro grabbed hold of my hips, holding me in place for a few seconds. Staring down at me.

“ I need to talk to you later, kotenok. Alone.”

All I could do was nod. Tell him that I was going to go up to my room in a few minutes.

He nodded.

I stepped away and walked into the next room, only barely managing to pull myself together enough to talk to my parents without either one of them seeming to be aware of just how flustered I truly was.

As soon as I got done talking to my dad, I made my way upstairs. Shutting the door to my room and leaning against it just to hopefully pull myself together.

I still couldn’t.

I flopped across my bed, picking up the Anatomy book and my notebook, preparing to start studying again for the final I had coming up soon and just as I settled into it, there were two knocks at my bedroom door.

I slipped off the bed, wandering over to the door. Opening it.

Pietro leaned in the doorway, gazing down at me. That hungry look in his eyes again.

I stepped out of the doorway and let him into my room, shutting the door behind me. When I turned around to face him, we were body to body. Leaning into me, he put a hand against the door, just above my head. I could feel him straining even harder against his jeans. His other hand raised, resting against the side of my face. Cradling my cheek as he closed the distance between our mouths.

I started out with my palm down. Determined to keep distance between us until I finally worked up the courage to ask my question, hear my dreaded answer and be done, but by the time his tongue slipped past my lips and started to trace my teeth, I was clutching at the front of his fitted black shirt instead. He nipped at my bottom lip, tugging until I felt it swelling under pressure. The kiss deepened until I got so lightheaded I thought I’d melt.

He seemed to sense this because he crushed me against him and the hand cupping my face drifted down. Skimming down my side. Stopping at my hip.

The kiss finally broke so we could breathe and we pulled apart; breathless. Staring at each other quietly. Wide-eyed.

“Kotenok…” he muttered softly. Fondly. His voice dying away as he stared down at me like he was lost in thought. Trying to say something.

“What’s up?” I mumbled, my stomach flipping and flopping lazily.

“Last night was..” he went quiet on me again and I tensed a little, bracing myself for him to continue. Preparing myself in the event that what he was about to say wasn’t what I longed to hear.

So it shocked me when he was closing the distance between our mouths all over again as he muttered in a lust-filled whisper, “Last night was more than just sex. You make me feel things that I haven’t before, kotenok.”

My breath caught in my throat and I didn’t realize it until I finally took a breath and it was shaky. I gazed up at him, letting his words sink in. Trying to wrap my head around it. I went to say something, to tell him that I felt the same way and I didn’t do what we’d done last night often, but he pressed the side of his finger against my lips, silencing me and continued to speak.

“You make my heart beat faster.” he took hold of the hand I had rested against his chest, placing it over his heart. I gasped quietly as I looked up at him again and saw the way he was looking back down at me, a look of pure and total adoration.

He looked nervous as hell. Fidgeting a little. Not quite sure what to do with his hands after he moved one off my hip and let go of my hand with the other. He went to step away, swearing under his breath and I realized that he wanted me to react somehow.

I pressed against him from behind. My hand wrapping around his where it lingered on the knob to my bedroom door. “Don’t go. Please?” I asked in a hushed whisper. Pietro turned around and when he did, I melted against him. Raising my arms to wrap them around his neck. Dragging my fingers through a thick mess of platinum blond. Tugging at it as I rose to tiptoe and crashed my mouth against his. Laughing softly when our noses bumped and our lips connected all over again; hungry. Desperate. Frenzied.

He reached down, twisting the lock on my door knob so that it was locked and no one could come in by accident. A low growl rose up from the depths of his chest, hanging in the air between us only to be swallowed by the kiss as our mouths reconnected and it deepened. I rubbed myself against him clumsily. Needy.

His hands locked across my ass and he slipped me up his body, stepping over to my bed. Dropping me against my mattress softly and positioning himself on top of me. Pressing his hips into mine. Bucking against me as his mouth strayed from my own, working it’s way down the side of my neck. His lips caught on my pulse, making me shiver and rock myself up into him as I gave a needy whine and raised my legs, squeezing his hips with my knees. The kiss broke and he muttered against my mouth with a teasing grin, “ Think you can be quiet for me, kotenok?”

“ I can try.” I whimpered as his mouth worked down the front of my throat, teeth scraping against skin. Stubble tickling me. Making me cling to him as he snapped his hips against me and his hands moved down between us, catching in the hem of my shirt. He pulled me up to a sitting position and pulled my shirt off, tossing it onto my bedroom floor. I tugged at his shirt, whining impatiently and he chuckled. Nipping softly at my bottom lip as he teased, “Patience.”

“Pietro.” I pleaded.

He tugged his shirt over his head, letting it settle on the floor near mine. And then he was leaning in. His hands moving up my sides. Stopping to squeeze my breasts, growling to himself quietly before reaching around. Hooking a thick digit beneath the band of my bra and working the clasps free. He pulled it off, balling it up and tossing it on the floor with the rest of our clothes as he leaned into me even more, my back pressed flat against my bed all over again. He positioned himself on top of me, his body spreading my legs wide and as his head dipped down, my fingers curled in my blanket and thick blond hair.

His mouth worked across my collarbones. Then lower. He squeezed my tits together, mouth diving down. Latching onto one of my nipples. Tongue circling lazily until he’d teased it to a point and I was squirming beneath him, rocking my hips, desperate for any kind of friction I could get. My fingers caught in the waistband of his jeans and I worked the button and the zipper free. He pulled away and slipped off the bed to shed his jeans and underwear and eyed me hungrily. Leaning down. Meeting my gaze with a mischief filled smirk as he took off my pants. Holding my gaze the entire time.

I kicked my pants free at the ankle and he was on top of me again. The tip of his thick cock brushing right against my fabric covered crotch as he bucked into me and muttered against my mouth, “Are you ready for me, kotenok?”

“Please?” I begged breathlessly, barely managing to keep my voice a whisper as I did so. When he smirked at me as if he were pleased with himself, I realized exactly what his goal was.

He wanted to see just how close he could get me to getting loud.

I pouted up at him and he chuckled. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re being a tease. I know what you’re trying to do.”

“Oh?” he muttered, his hand disappearing between us. Slipping into my panties. Fingers working me open. Burying deep in my throbbing, wet sex. I arched my back and gasped, my fingers tangling in his hair, tugging at it as I rocked against his hand.

It wasn’t enough. I wanted him buried to the hilt inside of me. Now.

But Pietro was in a teasing mood tonight. Something told me that the more I begged, the more he was going to prolong it. And if I didn’t beg? He’d prolong it.

I was absolutely fucked.

    Kylo ushered me along, keeping a close eye on me even as we walked out of the temple in their secure formation then. The streets after dark housed new beauties for the festival. Large gatherings of people performing with sparks of fire, more loud boisterous music, and lanterns strung over the main stretch of road. Many people laughing, dancing, drunk and in love made whoops and hollers when they saw us passing through. No one dared get in the way of the important men and women the temple was honoring, but their intoxicated minds must celebrate us.

    Kylo seemed particularly tense on the way back, every interaction with the crowd left his senses tense and overloaded, his instincts not ready for the bold people lining the pavement. The shadow of darkness did not allow him any relief, the nature of the city allowing for many vulnerable places for people to strike.

    His tension only melted as we approached the edge of the city, where a large ship laid waiting for its leaders’ occupation. There were men in white armor and blasters stationed outside of the ship, as a walkway descended to the ground, creating an isle up to his world. More guards in white armor descended in two lines and I wondered where they were all coming from, or if they had been waiting all day for this.

   As Kylo led me aboard his ship I felt like I was transported into a different dimension altogether. I had never been anywhere but my small planet, I had barely left the city in all my life. The sleek and simple black and white design of this looked state of the art, unlike anything I have ever seen. There are a couple more people to greet us, him, when we boarded.

     “Supreme Leader!” one of the men addressed Kylo enthusiastically, “Your earlier message made it seem like you would not be returning tonight,” his tone laced with acidic uncertainty, “We weren’t expecting you so soon.”

    Kylo’s gaze hardened in an instant, “My movements do not concern you.” He spoke to the small man who fell back into his rank surrounded by the guards behind him. “Leave us, we’ll have no petty interruptions tonight officer.” With that Kylo made a dramatic turn away from the hoard welcoming us abord, and towards the hallway adjacent to us.

     I followed him quickly, not wanting to invade his space if he was upset but also not wanting to fall behind and be lost on his ship. After travelling down a corridor for some time he came to a stop at a barren doorway that opened without hesitation.

     His room was barren to say the least, it was gracious in dimension but lackluster in any personality. The sterile minimalism extended to all parts of his ship, I wondered if this ship was his home, somewhere he spent frequently and if it was there had been so sign of him before.

    Kylo removed his helmet as soon as the door was secured behind us both, his demeanor shifting to the relaxation under the sun this afternoon. He regarded me with a smile so soft and quick I almost missed it.  I had stepped into the threshold of the room but no further, not knowing how to fit into this part of his life yet. All of my comfort that I retained from this evening had slowly melted away, and it left behind the ebb and flow of the anxiety in my stomach. I stood as still as possible, only a dew steps into his room watching as he moved with definitive purpose, exactly the opposite of my floundering worry.

    He didn’t address me until he began to remove the intricate bindings of his outfit, starting with the secures on his wrist. He looked up and saw my tense fearful body awaiting his instruction with my eyes darting all places in his room before landing on him. He stopped his pursuit of comfort, changing direction to aide my own. The cogs turned in his head for a moment, true vulnerable uneasiness passed over his features as he tried to acclimate me to his world.

   “I had one of my knights bring your things, they should be in the closet,” He started with a practical steady tone, “You are welcome to explore.” He tried with less certainty, his façade falling further with every tactic.

    “Can you show me?” I asked, not recognizing my own voice as it came out of my mouth a foreign cadence that lilted like the music in the market after dark. That lilt must have washed over him like a warm breeze because the trepidation before melted away, a smile graced his features as he moved to show me the amenities aboard his quarters.  

   He spoke softly about the room, which switches controlled which light, stopping at a bare display of buttons that he explained called droids for various services at any time. He showed me the fresher, the small space itself completely foreign to anything I had ever seen. Kylo must have found delight in my ignorance because he refused to tell me how to work the dammed contraption, opting to let me figure it out myself. When I looked up at him in protest his eyes were shining down on mine, full of a joy and passion. There was a third emotion I couldn’t quite put my finger on, it was dark, misty, but not intimidating.

    He paused before moving on to show me the rest of the amenities, his hands coming to wrap around me, the first physical contact we’ve had since stepping on the ship. They snaked their way around settling on my back once I was pressed to his front. He tilted his head down, wordlessly asking for a kiss. I obliged tenfold, pushing up to meet his lips with desperation. My hands finding purchase on his cheeks.

    This man lit a fire in my bones, not being able to touch him, to hold him in my arms for as long as I had felt like walking in the desert without water. Now, with his lips pressed against mine, his large sturdy hands keeping me secure, his breathe breathing me new life, his soul intertwined with my own, I was drowning. No, I was basking in his passion for me, his need. His touch, even juvenile, had me floating far from the rest of the world.

     When Kylo pulls back I feel the lack of his heat immediately. The unpleasant contrast from the pure joy before forced a whine from my mouth before I could stop it. My hands dropping to his chest as he moves away from our tight embrace. He didn’t try to hide his amusement with a deep reverberating chuckle sliding out his lips which curled up into a light hearted smirk. His hands moving from my back to my neck, tilting my head up to meet his intense gaze.

     “Don’t get greedy now sweet girl.” He commanded softly, his gloved thumb skimming along my cheek sweetly contrasting his words.

    “I hardly think wanting a kiss from my soulmate is greedy.” I countered teasingly, fluttering my eye lashes and pushing my bottom lip out at him. His body visibly reacting to me calling him my soulmate. His cheeks flushed red and he leaned in like he was going to kiss me once again.

    His lips ghosted mine slowly, his hands keeping my head locked in place not that I would dare move when he was this close, “Say it again.” He asked, a new layer of vulnerability in play with him.

   “You’re my soulmate Kylo.” I whispered against his lips before he gently pressed us together again. Once again there was purpose, there was meaning, light all through my bones because of him. The man that deserved no less than the galaxy, and had it all and more, pressed against me in a fresher because out souls were connected to one another. I was vastly out of my playing field with this man and something about it made me feel like I was going to learn to run before I learned to walk.

    I pulled away from him this time, he hesitated, trying to regain his self-control before moving forward. His grip on my face loosening up as my hands explored his torso softly, trying not to cross any of his boundaries. “You’re…” He looked so conflicted, so lost, unable to say every thought in his head. His mind so jumbled that even one sentence was too difficult. I didn’t push him to say anything at all, he just shook his head and retreated to stand before me.

    “I need to use the fresher before we sleep.” I mumbled, sorry to be changing the subject before he could express what he was thinking. But the smile on his face made my heart shine, he welcomed the diversion away from whatever plagued his mind before.

    “I’ll lay some things out for you in the closet.” He offered, and with a swift kiss to my forehead he left me to my own devices to get clean.

    The fresher had an endless stream of hot water, I don’t think I had ever experienced anything close to this luxury. His soap smelled dark and musky like him, laced with spices that I had only smelled at the market before. The stream of water resetting my mind for the night, giving me time to realize that as enthralling as Kylo was, we needed to talk before doing anything too risqué. The steam that fogged the mirrors had cleared my mind from the soft caresses Kylo bestowed on me earlier.

    He held his promise, leaving out the set of night clothes I had packed and a towel for me. I took the time to ready myself for bed before I emerged into the bedroom. Kylo sat in the bed that looked much smaller with the large man on top of it. He had a datapad and was looking intensely down at the object. He didn’t hear me come in until the doors automatically skimmed shut behind me.

    Kylo’s eyes raked up my form only outfitted in the thin nightgown I’ve worn all of my adult life. He swallowed thickly, discarding the datapad on a shelf next to the bed an welcomed me to sit next to him. I moved slowly, not wanting to do anything that was odd to him or something that maybe only my planet did. It’s becoming clearer that he had a very different lifestyle than I was used to.

   Nevertheless, he pulled back the covers and welcomed me in his normal-sized, yet somehow small, bed. The lights overhead dimmed, but did not shut off and he laid down. At first, we laid separately, an awkward tension hung in the air, keeping us repelled from one another not wanting to break the boundaries. I made the first move, scooting closer to the middle of the bed, which was more like his side due to his large stature, hoping he would do the same.

    “I’ve never been in a bed this comfortable.” I admitted shyly looking up at him as he propped himself up to look down at me. His hand skimmed my arm softly up and down as we spoke.

    “This is nothing compared to my bed in Coruscant,” He began softly his voice lulling me once more into a comfortable serenity, “It’s much larger too, far too large for just myself.” He tested experimentally waiting my reaction.

     “Do you share your bed often supreme leader?” I asked half-teasing, half-terrified of the possible answer. He was handsome, there was absolutely nothing stopping him from taking a thousand different women before me. He could have a wife back home, he could have a concubine, I had never considered the possibility before now. My veins turned to ice while I watched him answer.

     “No,” he ended my spiral with definitive assurance. “There has not been much time for romance admittedly.” His confession is whispered shamefully into the air of the bed between us.

    “Fate has a funny way of changing your plans.” I looked up at him only to find he was already watching me, his eyebrows furrowed but his expression was curious. He was trying to find something in my features but he was not coming up with an answer. “Do you believe in fate?” I asked, startling him out of his concentration.

    “I believe in the force.” He countered, swerving around my question. I cared little about that, realizing what he said. The ancient force myths were rarely spoken of on my planet, and even more rare was it not used as a cautionary tale. The limited knowledge available at the library was biased, and my father kept many of the ‘radical’ copies out of my hands.

     I shot up in the bed, no longer able to stay peacefully laying with him, onto my knees to continue the conversation. “You believe in the force too!” I all but shrieked out excitedly, thrilled about the new avenues of conversation we could research and debate together. “My father always told me they were just old myths! He never let me put any real stock into the stories, but I knew it! If the Supreme Leader of the Galaxy believes it, it must be true!” I rambled out quite loud and quite fast and once I had come to take a breath and look at Kylo he was laughing.

     “Sweet girl,” He chuckled out, adjusting his position to a more active one on the bed, and lifting my chin to meet his gaze, “I don’t want to shock you, but I thought it was common knowledge.” He began.

      “What? The force? It’s hardly common here, no one had time for my fanciful tales anymore.” I rebutted, slightly irritated at the thought of so many people dismissing me and I was right the whole time. The only reason they dismissed me is because I was just a little girl to them. I then realized that I was probably just some ignorant little girl in Kylo’s eyes too. He was the supreme leader of the galaxy and my home planet didn’t even think the force was real. How was I supposed to be Kylo’s equal when I don’t know anything about life outside my own planet?

    “Sweet girl,” He cooed out, bringing my attention back onto him, “You were up in the clouds for a moment,” he shifted forward bringing me closer to him, “I thought you knew, the force is very real, and I am trained to yield it with the Sith lords among me.” He spoke soft in volume but hard in resolution creating an odd tone. Yet the only thing I could think of was that my soulmate, the absolute reflection and completion of myself was a Sith Lord. All the years of reading the myths, of understanding bits and pieces of these Jedi and Sith masters battling to the end of time over freedom and peace and justice now I had one right in front of me. I wondered if he could hear any of my thoughts. That brought me abruptly from my shocked state.

    “Can you really read my mind?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. His worried, and dare I say conflicted position, dropped with the mindless question and he huffed before explaining.

    “I can choose to know whatever I want about you sweet girl.” He spoke mysteriously. My excitement barely quelled by his non answer which forced me back to sitting, hoping he would elaborate. “I can enter your mind without your permission, but its painful. However, when you’re preoccupied with feelings, you project messages through the force, and I can hear those.” He explained slowly, allowing me to absorb the information he fed me by hand.

    “What kind of things have I projected?” I asked plainly.

     “In the library, when you saw me for the first time, I could hear your thoughts.” He spoke slowly with every word a new possibility for my brain to process. “Your thoughts are so pure, so strong my sweet girl.” He finished with a compliment, urging me towards him. I took the opportunity to lay my head on my chest, he countered by tracing my left hand with his right.

    “I don’t know much,” I felt the need to explain myself, “All of my knowledge comes from the books in the library, and most of is too old, or incredibly one sided.” I scoffed at the stances taken in most of the stories about the history of the Force. “You know, you’ve seen much more than I have, more than I ever thought possible.” I mumbled into the chisels of his chest.

     “I’m glad you’ve not seen what I have seen.” His voice holding secrets from demons he had yet to exorcise from his head. “I can’t promise that I tell you everything now, nor can I promise that you’ll like what I have been in my past. I can’t-“ His voice was shaking, his eyes glossed over with the look of a thousand defeats passing through.

     “Will you love me?” I interrupted him, shaking him from the dark road he was heading down, “Will you love me? And be loyal to me? And be patient while I try to learn?” I countered with the love that I knew was imprinted in my soul and matching on his, I don’t need riches, or adventures, or galaxies bowing down at our feet. The universe gave me this man for a reason, and I wasn’t going to give up because of his past. “Will you try?”

    The last one seemed to get his attention, his striking gaze hazed with unshed tears matching my gaze of unwavering support, “Yes.” He answered simply. Agreeing to not be a different man, but to be himself and try something new.

     “That’s all I need from you.” I reassured him, laying back down on his chest, listening to his heart beat calm slowly from the anxious beats before. His breathing slowed immensely, leading me to believe he could be asleep, but the lights weren’t quite off, nor were his hands quite still.

     Just as I was drifting off to sleep, in the odd stage of awake and away his voice rumbled through his chest, had I not been using him as a pillow I’m certain I would have missed it. “Marry me?” it was soft, a timid ask from the man that lay beneath me.

    “Kylo?” I called out, mostly looking for clarification. It wasn’t odd that he wanted to get married to me, not at all. Most couples, after finding their soulmate, got married quickly, not wanting to part from one another. My sister married her soulmate within a week of meeting him, my parents within the month. It wasn’t odd for me, but from what I knew that was hardly the case outside of my world. I didn’t want him to ask for my sake, I wanted him to ask because he wants to marry me.

     “I promise I will try; I will be patient and teach you what you want to know, I will be loyal to you, I-“ he broke off, his voice faltering, but regaining it’s strength, “I will love you.” He stated, confident in his own feelings for the first time. His fingers stilled on my back, waiting for my response.

     “I will love you too Kylo.” I spoke softly, gripping my hand on his arm, bracing myself to look at him. He looked terrified, vulnerable, but he saw me and he looked happy.  “I will marry you.” And despite the long days ahead, and the seemingly endless amount of things I had left to learn about the world that lay before us at our feet, all I could think about is how quickly the man had taken every part of my heart and soul by storm.

For with you, I am now one;

 For with you, our life has begun.

 Transitioning from limitations on social interaction to pursuing the company of multiple individuals threatened to wreak havoc on your nerves. There were some of those beings that you did not worry how they would react to your prolonged absence. Others, though, you were unsure how awkward things would be in those first several minutes. Would they make any scathing remarks? You thrust aside those thoughts, opted to seek out the former persuasion of folks, and thus were able to breathe. One such being was absent from the planet; Rey had returned from the world of her birth only to be called away to assist in some matter of piracy. Due to her abilities in the Force and the planet that had been targeted by the pirates, she was more welcome than the newly instated galactic law enforcement--nevertheless, Dameron had gone along with her, albeit unofficially and as a partner rather than in any position of authority.

 Prior to his death, while you had felt a kinship with Vicrul, it had been different than the bond that you shared with Ap’lek or even with Cardo. There was a portion of him lost to you now that you would never touch, never know; in the same way, there were parts of you that he would not know. When he had held your hand by the edge of the pool, that squeeze of reassurance, of understanding, that had simultaneously been a farewell and greeting. It was Vicrul that you sought, though you were aware that Kuruk was with him at the time.

 Floral and fruit scents wafted through the room the moment that the doors parted to permit you entrance. You inhaled deeply, allowed your eyes to close, and gave yourself the opportunity to remember the planet of your birth, your childhood. Things dead and lost, memories that opened doors for your future. Peace settled within you. Reopening your eyes, you studied the potted plants in the nursery. Kuruk observed you from one of the corners of the room. He wore his normal attire, whereas Vicrul had removed his helmet and a layer of his clothing. You nodded in Kuruk’s direction, and he returned the greeting before gesturing with his head towards the other Knight of Ren.

 Heart thudding in your chest, you pressed one hand to your heart and closed the distance that had remained. Vicrul gave a grunt of acknowledgment as you drew up to his side. His organic arm twitched, meanwhile he squeezed a mechanical fist around a bag of soil. You heaved a sigh, understanding him though he had not spoken, not yet. You did not pity him, and that was likely why he did not pull away from you when you touched a hand to his upper arm while saying a soft hi.

 “It’s quiet here.” There was no joy in his words, although you would not say that there was resentment either. Boredom perhaps. He was struggling to find his place in this galaxy, which was what would have occurred even if he had not lost a limb. The two of you were, in essence, in the same boat.

 You reached forward to toy with the leaves of a plant. The action, the feel of what you had touched, sent a series of tingles running along your spine. “Do you feel caged?” In answer to your question, Vicrul held both of his hands palms up in front of himself. He stared at their surfaces then curled the two limbs into loose fists. His body was the cage, these new limitations obstacles that he would overcome. An end to the war left him with little to take his frustrations out on. “There will be missions of some sort.”

 “Rules.” You barely managed to contain the snort; a choked sound erupted from you, earning Vicrul’s full attention. From his position, Kuruk swiped the back of his hand along the lower half of his face, as though he was also stifling proof of amusement. He may have been agreeing with his fellow Knight of Ren. For how long had they traveled among the stars without being forced to abide by laws? They had a reputation, one that had taken years to develop. This adjustment period would be more difficult for them than it was for you.

 That was, strangely, humbling.

 You lingered in the nursery for the remainder of the shift that Kuruk and Vicrul were taking to care for the plants. Afterwards the three of you walked together towards the medical facility in which Cardo received his scheduled therapy for the damaged nerves in his right hand and left foot. The injuries had not been enough to keep him down, however he battled occasional numbness. This was not much of an issue when it came to his hand, though his foot losing feeling was not something he had yet grown used to. You did not know a lot regarding the treatments that he was receiving, and you did not pry.

 Ushar had joined Cardo for the session, which allowed you to meet with the pair at the same time. You felt more of the nervousness that had started to bubble forth again die down. These men were a part of your family--and while family could disappoint you, that was not the case with them and you. “You’re looking well.” Not a jab, more a statement. You could barely remember when last you had stood face to face with Cardo, or even face-to-mask. It was a blur, a swirl of moments that had elapsed after you had come back from death.

 “I’m trying,” you replied. There were not a lot of other ways to explain it. You were not unwell, however you could not say that you were well in the general sense. The path you had decided to take was getting you there. A small smile tugged at your lips, and Cardo relaxed upon noticing it. “There are so many decisions to be made. Things to figure out.”

 “War is swift, yet so is peace.” Swift or fleeting, which would be the more correct term? You hoped it was the former. Nodding, you drew closer to Ushar so as to give the physician in the room enough space to finish their task before leaving to tend to other patients. “Politics were not part of my plan.”

 Oh, how you felt those words on a deep level. Understanding that politics were involved in war, it remained different than being actively political in the sense of attending meetings. Action versus discussion. One of the offers that had been extended to you for a future had been to serve as an aide to politicians that your mother knew. As before, you had no interest in that. Less interest, you thought while observing the four Knights interacting.

 Trudgen would join them in time; the medically induced coma had had the side effect of plaguing him with night terrors since he had woken. You wondered--without fully wishing to know--what sorts of things so bothered him that Trudgen had become more reclusive. That his sleep pattern was disturbed enough to have physical side effects. He had requested that you meet with him one-on-one later, and you planned to do so within the coming hours of that same day. In the meanwhile, you watched his fellow Knights of Ren and resisted the urge to ask them for how to prepare for the upcoming meeting. This was no stranger. It would be okay, you told yourself.

 And it was.

 The pair of you met outdoors rather than inside, and you found yourself pleased with the arrangement. Trudgen’s desire for fresh air was one that you shared. The two of you sat together under a large tree that was native to the planet, its branches stretched far and providing ample shade from the bright sunlight. You toyed with a flower that fluttered down from the tree, rolling its petals between your fingers while looking at the Knight of Ren’s helmeted visage. He wore his usual armor, his weapon within reach despite the peace that the planet was enjoying.

 “How many offers did you receive?” His voice did not break. Trudgen sounded little different than he had the last time you had spoken with him. In reply to his question, you first took a moment to consider what proposals had been extended to you regarding potential futures.

 You relinquished your hold on the flower and watched as it fluttered away on the light breeze that stirred the cloth of your shirt. “Eight, technically speaking.” He grunted at that. “There were only ever three that seemed honest to me, that felt as though they were meant for me personally.” You paused to observe Truden, who cocked his head to the side. “One of those, to help gather remnants of Naboo and to write the tales I grew up with as a child, that can coincide with another offer. That was the one I thought about the most.”

 “What does your mother think about that?” Teasing but honest, genuine curiosity. It made you chuckle, your eyebrows rising as you remembered her face when you had mentioned your decision. She had not been displeased nor hurt; if anything, the two of you seemed to understand one another more. With the war over, the two of you had been able to communicate things that had been looming over your heads. “When you wear that expression, it’s obvious that the two of you are one.” It was one of the highest compliments that you could be paid, where before you would have shrunk from such a comparison. You felt a warmth permeating throughout your entire being. The Knights of Ren understood Kylo so well, and for any of them to see that the two of you were one meant more than when others realized it.

 “It wouldn’t make sense to do anything else though,” you said at last, wrapping your arms around your legs. Conversation died away for a while after those words were spoken. Trudgen tensed multiple times during the silence, which prompted you to start talking. He listened to another tale that you had learned during your schooling on Naboo, although this story had not originated on your birth planet. It was one that Trudgen was familiar with, a fact that you learned when he commented on an upcoming element. You nearly stopped, feeling rather self-conscious and unsure if he was interested at all in you continuing. At his urging, you did finish the entire story.

 The two of you did not part for the remainder of the day; he accompanied you on your visit to Ap’lek, who was in the process of studying laws on planets that Kylo’s presence had been requested. These texts had been provided by your mother, and you recognized a number of them from when she had hoped to secure you a job as an aide. Millicent released a loud meow at Trudgen. She slunk along his legs, weaving through them then returning to Ap’lek, whom she had clearly adopted as master. It was much the same as how the akk dog had formed a bond with Kylo and you. Where normally the creature would bond with a single being, this was more proof for you that you did indeed share a soul with Kylo, that the two of you had all along been on a path of self-destruction. Millicent nudged Ap’lek with her head, and you saw in him a flicker of utter peace that you knew on a deep level.

 You moved over to the pair, kneeling down and stroking Millicent’s ears. She leaned into your touch. While petting her, you thought of the assortment of electronic pets that you had collected. They were in a box within the quarters that you shared with Kylo, a box that was easily stored on a ship when it was time to leave the planet. The plants, on the other hand, would remain behind in the nursery with the exception of two smaller ones that were transportable. One belonged to you, the other to Vicrul. Millicent and the akk dog would join you as well. The Knights of Ren--they would never not be that--and Kylo, that was where you would go. Wherever fate took them, you were along for the ride. Along the way, you could complete your task of writing the tales from Naboo. You could collect relics. Most important of all, you would be with those you cared for.

 Even your mother, much to your surprise, had voiced her support after listening to how you had spoken of your decision, of your thoughts on the matter. Due to the political nature of Kylo Ren’s position, your paths would cross many times with your mother. That was something that you quite liked. Having her support, having her in your life while being able to make your own decisions, to forge your own path, to be yourself.

 Scooping Millicent up into your arms, you cuddled her to your chest and let yourself smile. Ap’lek noticed this within seconds. “Where’s your dog?”

 “With Finn, I think. I’m seeing him later.” That was still another bonus to your choice; Finn planned to study more regarding the Force with the Knights and Kylo between lessons with Rey. You were not losing anyone, not really. Poe was another familiar face you would see. Rose had signed on to assist in ensuring equipment was up to date.

 The children that had been studying the Force with the Order of Ren had returned to their families until the academies devoted to teaching them how to wield the Force were completed. The older students had copies of texts that Rey and Kylo had acquired, albeit the basics. Anything advanced would be too much of a risk. There would be no Jedi, no Sith. Just the Force, a balance within it. An acceptance of the Dark and the Light, which the heroes of the Rebellion had not fully achieved. It was this that instilled in you more hope, that allowed you to believe this peace might be real.

 It was not perfect. There were pirates, there were criminals. There was no galactic war. That was the difference. That was why hope was spreading in a much greater capacity than it had before.

 Learning from the past, Kylo was not going to demilitarise completely as the New Republic had done--that had allowed the First Order to rise from the ashes of the Empire. All in a single lifetime, two great wars. For some, three great wars in just one lifetime; the Clone Wars were not that ancient. You almost whistled at the thought.

 Instead you were drawn out of your thoughts by Millicent squirming to get away so that she could climb onto the datapad that Ap’lek had just laid out. He dragged her off the device, much to her chagrin, and scratched under her chin as he read. Trudgen had since taken a seat next to you. He, from what you could tell, liked the noise, the company. You liked to think that once you all set out, there would be more improvements.

 “Have you read this one?” Ap’lek asked, drawing your gaze off of Trudgen. You tilted your head as you considered the text that was displayed then gave a nonverbal response indicating the negative. “Hmm.” That noise reminded you of Kylo, who had also been reading more texts on the matters. They were both rather dutiful students even if they were bored out of their minds. That dedication, though, was what caused others to respect them.

 “What planet is that for?” By way of response, he scrolled backwards in the text until the name was visible to you. It was something from Wild Space as far as you could tell, not a planet that you readily recognized. “Interesting.” This was in reference to the first paragraph, which you skimmed through. Trudgen chuckled, and Ap’lek sighed again.

 Hours later, when you were with Finn, you curled against the akk dog’s side. It was pleased to be in your company, which had been a rare occurrence since you had returned to life. More often than not the akk dog had remained near to Kylo since you preferred solitude. You ran a hand under its chin, sighing in contentment. Finn stretched his arms above his head before stifling a yawn. His training was taxing mentally as well as physically, although this was in part because he was helping some of the children on the planet that were Force sensitive. He rather enjoyed that.

 It was nice, you thought, that there had been not a second’s worth of awkwardness when you had entered the room. Finn had greeted you as though the pair of you had spoken just the previous day if not earlier in the morning or afternoon. You did not have to pretend with him. Finn saw the hesitation in you, the ever-present threat of being overwhelmed, and he did not pry. He had been forced to adjust to a new life all too fast when he had left the First Order.

 “Have you heard from Rey?” you asked him. If you reached out, you might have been able to feel her in the Force. Finn would more easily be able to do so due to his natural abilities and the bond that he had with her. You imagined that they communicated with one another in that way from time to time, although it would not be often; that would drain the two of them, which could give the criminals that Rey pursued the upperhand. Finn nodded, revealing that he had spoken with her via commlink a standard hour before you had arrived. She was wrapping up with the mission that she had undertaken. The target had jumped to a new sector in space, one that did welcome those under Dameron’s command. “That’s good.”

 “Yeah.” He grinned widely. “Poe said to tell you that he’s open to give you more flying lessons any time. You pick things up easily.”

 “So do you,” you teased, mirroring his smile. He could fly basic speeders and smaller ships, however Finn did not have any desire to pursue those skills or any dreams of flying a vessel such as the Millennium Falcon. That he was leaving to his friends. To your friends. Your smile lost some of its length, and your hand paused in its stroking movement on the akk dog’s chin. “Finn?” He hummed acknowledgment whilst nodding, urging you to speak, letting you know that he was listening and that he would not say anything that would make you regret opening up to him. “Sometimes I don’t feel real. I used to have those moments before everything happened. Even before I joined the Resistance. It’s just more pronounced with this. I feel as though I’m not me, I’m just pretending.”

 You knew that there was a proper name for that: imposter syndrome. Speaking in a more technical sense did nothing to lessen the weight of what you felt. It made it too clinical, too cold. It simplified things and made you feel like a statistic.

 Finn reached for your hand, slipping yours into his and giving you a squeeze that you quickly, readily returned. The friendship that you shared with him was one of the elements of life that made it worth living. Where other relationships of the past had helped you to become who you were, Finn was one of those individuals that played a part in who you would transition into, just as you were the same for him. The pair of you understood one another, complemented each other in a different way than how Kylo and you were. He touched and saw your soul without being your soul.

 You released a breath, thinking how Kylo had revealed to you that he had sensed something in Finn when they had been on Jakku together. That was after you had been captured, you remembered. Finn had confirmed that he, too, had felt the connection. It was similar though different than what he had with you. The way the two men explained it, they felt things in the Force that you could not. Instead of hating this as you had in the past, it sent a new warmth through you. There were mysteries in the galaxy. There were new discoveries to be made. The war was not the entirety of your life.

 “Hey…” His voice trailed off as you turned your head to meet his gaze. “I… You know, as a stormtrooper--I never interacted with you.” You nodded, aware of this already. “When I learned more about you, how you were his prisoner, I wondered if you resented the fact that I helped Poe escape but not you.”

 A laugh erupted from you before you could stop it, and you could have sworn Finn was blushing at your amusement. “Sorry. I just--no, it’s funny, because I hated the Force at that point but I prayed… I prayed that Poe would get away. You helped do that. You helped answer my prayers. You helped me regain a sense of hope. You touched my life in a good way without knowing it.”

 He audibly swallowed, his throat bobbing. You smiled at him, your expression soft and one of appreciation for his presence, for who he was. This man and Rey had both offered you hope before you had met them. Their existence had saved your life, had saved Kylo’s, had saved the soul that you shared. You squeezed his hand once more, and Finn returned the gesture. Relief overcame his expression. The guilt he had harbored, no matter how small, was washed away.

 The akk dog leapt up to its feet, behaving in a manner that exposed its excitement. Finn grunted in understanding while you rose to greet Kylo as he entered. The exhaustion that so often showed on his face after conducting political business was absent. He handed the datachip he had been carrying to Finn. Next he turned to you, setting one hand on your upper arm while touching the top of the akk dog’s head with the other. You said a quick farewell, aware that you would see Finn in the early hours of morning, and allowed Kylo Ren to lead you away. The akk dog followed along without any prompting.

 “All of the Knights survived,” you said. This was not the first time that the words had left you. Kylo nodded all the same, not annoyed. You slipped your hand against his, the backs of your limbs touching. If you had needed him to hold your hand to be more grounded, that would have happened. It was not a necessity. The contact, small as it was, was perfect. Each brush with every step a reminder that the two of you were together. “We’ve all changed though. We’re still changing.”

 “We are adjusting, which you are rather skilled at.” The compliment made your heart flutter. It was not just the words, but the meaning behind them. Kylo admired your ability to adapt, he had said so countless times. No matter how often you accomplished this feat, he was left in awe when next you succeeded. It was not that he doubted that you would succeed on any of those occurrences. The simple things in life were sometimes the most important, the most marvelous of all. Like the stars that one gazed upon in the sky, the stars that appeared each and every night.

 When the war had ended, Kylo had given you two separate offers, one based on the words that he had spoken to your mother, promising to return you to her. He had, you had told him, already done that. For the rest, it was your decision to make. To remain with her or to go with him. Whichever was to be the case, the pair of you would not separate. For the past few days, he had prepared himself for you to remain behind in part due to the fact that your mother’s offer for a job had been extended after he had given you the option to remain behind. He knew how worn the war had made you, that dying had made you.

 “Like the Knights, politics aren’t my favorite,” you said teasingly. He half turned his head, his eyes darting about your face as he took in your features. Even if you traveled with him, politics played a role. You twitched your fingers, threading them through his though you did not hook them together. It was a passing union. As you began to draw your hand back to yourself, he shifted his and rethreaded your fingers together, hooking them into a loose embrace. Your palms were not touching, but that did not matter. “Kylo.”

 He tugged, steering you in a new direction that would lead to one of the more secluded gardens that the owner of the building had given Kylo access to. There was no official name yet for the position that Kylo was in. He rejected the idea of being referred to as Emperor. Supreme Leader no longer held any appeal, although for the time being that was what many continued to call him. He accepted it without a word, at least not publicly.  Kylo had voiced his thoughts with you on the issue, how he felt detached from those labels.

 There was time to breathe between the meetings with politicians. Moments that the two of you were able to share and be yourselves. To just be.

 You entered the garden, which had a gazebo that Kylo led you towards. Vines crawled along its sides. Blossoms grew from them, many of the buds not yet in bloom. There were seasons, which made you happy. You stood within the gazebo with Kylo, facing him and memorizing the scars on his face. The moles. The flecks of color in his eyes.

 “You’ve never wanted a title.” You had not thought much about that; whatever title he took on, it would change how others referred to you. Had he been keen on emperor then you would have been empress. You shook your head, agreeing that you did not desire any title like that. “Names are fleeting for you.”

 Ryoo-bud. Tooka. Tooke. Supernova. KS. Prisoner. Glitterstim. Fate. Wife. Daughter.

 “For you as well.” He dipped his chin.

 Ben. Creature. Monster. Commander. Supreme Leader. Master of the Knights of Ren. Husband. Son.

 Kylo spoke your name. You reached up with both of your hands to cup his face. Your thumbs traced his lips, which parted then pushed together as he kissed their pads. This was a Kylo that few were able to see. Fully exposed, baring himself by dropping all emotional defenses. He stared into your eyes as you stared into his. Seeing each other. The rest of reality dropped away until there were just the two of you. The sun, the moon, the planets, the stars. Everything existed within you, composed of those who had touched your lives.

 “It doesn’t matter what they call us, not really.” Words could not define what the two of you were, who the two of you were.

 At one point, while in turmoil, he would have brought the galaxy down to its knees, quaking in fear. Now it bowed in admiration for all that he had overcome.

 “We’ll be together.” You dropped your voice. “Nothing will stand in our way.” His eyes pinched in the corners at your teasing, and you grinned. He knew that you were not mocking him, not being cruel. “I can focus on creating, on breathing life into the remnants of Naboo and other planets, people that would otherwise be lost. At the same time, I’m going to be with you. Helping you. Whatever you need. We determine our fate--together.” 

 No one else could do that, no one could choose it for you. Regardless of what they thought of you, what they called you. Only your choices would matter. Kylo bent down and kissed you. “Yes, we will.” And he said your name once more, breathing more life into you, completing you again, as he always did simply by existing. As you did for him. One soul, which could not and would not die. Together throughout all of time.

5. Share one of your strengths.

I think, since I’ve been trying to be sparser in my words, I’ve been able to better emphasize what isn’t being said

6. Share one of your weaknesses.

No action scenes from me are ever good, lmao

7. Share a snippet from one of your favorite pieces of prose you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

It was late at night, when he started to cry.

He didn't want to cry, but he did.

It's been years since he's last let himself feel, or was it since he was last allowed to feel?

He choked on his sobs, uncomfortable with his tears. He's forgotten how to properly cry. His entire body is shaking, and the connections between flesh and wire hurts.

He stops crying. He starts crying again.

This continues for another few minutes, until he feels as if he can't possibly have any more tears.

He wipes his face, pulls the covers up to his chin, and falls asleep.

(from Twilight on the Sea) I really like this bcus I don’t think I’ve ever really typed out crying in this way, n I tried to make it feel like it was a lot

8. Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

Cass was quiet for a moment. “... you know what? Maybe I’ll just go up there and surprise you.”

“If you do, then you already ruined the surprise, haven’t you?”

“Eh, I dunno about that. Seeing my beautiful face is a shock for many people.”

“Oh, I’m sure of it.”

“Hey, Koda? I don’t know about you, but it’s really late here.”

“Really?” Koda asks, then remembers that time zones exist. “Oh crap, what time is it over there?”

“It’s midnight. What about you?”

“It’s eight o’clock. Only four hours difference?”

“Oh hey, that’s not so bad.”

“It reduces our time,” Koda said, a bit whining.

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“What are you going to do? Move here? Send for me?”

“You’ll see.”

(from Together) This was a gift for one my best friends on here, @suncatchr​ , and it’s about his ocs!!! I love this a lot bcus while it’s a soulmate au, it’s not ur average soulmate au, and I tried making it as original as possible! And this blurb, I just wanted them to effuse so much love w/o having to say love...cries

9. Which fic has been the hardest to write?

If this is by posted fics, then I remember writing Look What You’ve Done to Me was very very difficult, bcus, since it’s also a gift, for @daniel-bryan​ , I wanted to write it Good, n since my buddy usually wrote from the love interest’s pov, I felt a weird pressure to write Daniel Bryan’s pov as good as I could

10. Which fic has been the easiest to write?

2 of my fics in Spanish!!! My oc centric one, Rayos y Centellas, and my shyan one, oye cariño, solo pienso en ti ! Turns out writing in ur native tongue makes everything easier

11. Is writing your passion or just a fun hobby?

It’s a very passionate hobby!!! I just!!! try to pour all of my love into everything I write!!!

12. Is there an episode above all others that inspires you just a little bit more?

I’m not sure!!! I just watch movies n quietly scream to my gay lonesome bcus No One Ever Watches Movies ;-;

13. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever come across?

To just keep writing n not stop for details or forgotten lore, bcus it’s important to write down what’s firing u up Right Now. Of course, it’s very difficult following that ;;-;;

14. What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever come across?

“No adverbs!” “No ‘said’!” “It has to make grammatical sense!” sometimes things Need those

15. If you could choose one of your fics to be filmed, which would you choose?

Was gonna say my rewrite of the end of The Rover, but actually, my SPN fic Ube . Shit was peak inspired

16. If you only could write one pairing for the rest of your life, which pairing would it be?

Eridirk (Eridan Ampora/Dirk Strider from Homestuck) all the way. The one otp that’s stayed thru thick n thin <3

17. Do you write your story from start to finish, or do you write the scenes out of order?

A little mix of both, and tbh it depends on the fic, but I tend to write chronologically

18. Do you use any tools, like worksheets or outlines?

I’ve started bullet pointing my ideas out before writing my fics, and so far, it’s been helping me be more streamlined n get my things written out faster n clearer!

19. Stephen King once said that his muse is a man who lives in the basement. Do you have a muse?

Is the need for representation in all the niche movies I keep watching a muse?

20. Describe your perfect writing conditions.

In my dark room, w music blasting from my laptop, the TV w a soft hum, I have the perfect playlist to get the mood right, curled up in my blankies, n my plushie Sweet Pea by my side

21. How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

Zero, we rely on autocorrect & editing while typing and die like men

22. Choose a passage from one of your earlier fics and edit it into your current writing style. (Person sending the ask is free to make suggestions).

YOU DON’T SEEM SCARED.

Del Rio shrugs. “Working as a cop, it makes you numb to some things. It’s good, it lets you react to things as you should, and not how you’d want to.”

YOU SOUND SAD ABOUT THAT.

He makes a noncommittal noise. “It is what it is.” He eats another spoonful of his ice cream, then gets a thought.

“Can you show up?”

HOW SO?

“Can you,” he tries, waving his spoon around, “Manifest?”

I DON’T KNOW. I’LL TRY.

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine,” Del Rio assures, and he can feel the air around him smile. The...world, he thinks, around him shifts just slightly, and there seems to be a chink in the armor for a moment before it goes away, as if someone had wiped the glass clear. He realizes that this is her, trying to show up in a physical form, step out of the phone.

He doesn’t know where to look, but then his confusion wanes when a butterfly shows up, fluttering towards him. It lands near his phone, skitters a bit, flaps its wings.

“Lucy?” he asks, transfixed on the butterfly. Its orange wings are bright under the sunlight.

I THOUGHT I’D TRY SMALL, FOR MY FIRST TRIAL.

“Well, you certainly nailed it.” He smiled warmly at the butterfly, and he had the crazy notion that it smiled back at him.

(adapted from The Policeman , the first fic I posted!)

23. If you were to revise one of your older fics from start to finish, which would it be and why?

Yeah, probably The Policeman lmao, I remember it today n I cringe a little at the very obvious refs to other fandoms I made. Despite that, it continues being one of my best hits!

24. Have you ever deleted one of your published fics?

Never

25. What do you look for in a beta?

I’m just thankful to have gotten a beta in general in life at all

26. Do you beta yourself? If so, what kind of beta are you?

I beta’ed once, and since English is my 2nd language, I pointed out syntax confusion, typos, n continuity errors

27. How do you feel about collaborations?

Can be done, it’s just that I am frightened. Tried doing that, it fell thru, n the new thing that came up, I still have to hold up my end of the bargain ;;-;;

28. Share three of your favorite fic writers and why you like them so much.

cries omg ok so!!! Chancy_Lurking ( @lurkerviolin​ ) is one of my faves, n we’ve become friends, n their Felix+ Sense8 series is the reason for it all, and u know it’s good if it managed to make a friendship that’s last its good while, and also they’re so nice, and we vibe so well!!! thegoatz ( @daniel-bryan​ ) is also now one of my bestest friends ever, and I wuv him so much, he is such a good kid, n he’s so enthusiastic about writing, and I hope that spark never goes out!!! And adamwhatareyouevendoing ( @skatingthinandice​ ) bcus she’s doing a rewrite of The Last Kingdom where it’s all gay where it should be and vnjkdfsnvkd God, what a wonderful friend!!!

29. If you could write the sequel (or prequel) to any fic out there not written by yourself, which would you choose?

I actually technically am working on a sequel to @rettaroo​ ‘s A New Kind of Touch ! Another promise I have to hold up eventually ;;;-;;;

30. Do you accept prompts?

Sure!

31. Do you take liberties with canon or are you very strict about your fic being canon compliant?

I try to follow canon as much as I possibly can!

32. How do you feel about smut?

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

33. How do you feel about crack?

Eh, it’s alright. I don’t normally look for it, so I don’t really have a solid opinion on it

34. What are your thoughts on non-con and dub-con?

I don’t want to read it, but I have so far encountered it twice very amicably: once here in a ficlet, and another in a longer fic on AO3, and they were both very good

35. Would you ever kill off a canon character?

Probably not, I don’t like sad things!

36. Which is your favorite site to post fic?

AO3! I’m RedLlamas on it!

37. Talk about your current wips.

Lmao which one. The one I’m currently working on is an impregnation kink turned “oh no I actually do wanna have a family” feelings fic!

38. Talk about a review that made your day.

Gonna be real w u, the best comments I’ve gotten have mainly been from my friends, who either write a paragraph or two going into detail of the fic, or just send a one sentence comment that’s just “screams!” I’ve gotten very few paragraphs from other people, n they’re always so!!!

My friends are the realest :’)

39. Do you ever get rude reviews and how do you deal with them?

The perks of being a rarepair writer is that the only people who read my fics are the ones actively looking for content!!! And they can’t complain about my work because No One Else Is Writing For It!!!!!!

40. Write an alternative ending to [insert fic title] (or just the summary of one).

All my fics are masterpieces, so I’ll do a summary change! For don’t you just know (exactly what they’re thinking?)