-SLAMS FISTS ON TABLE- āI think I love you.ā WITH SAESEE AND KI ADI.
-clutches heart- YES.In an AU where everyone comes home safely...
Ki-Adi, much to the irritation of the healers, had yet to leave Saesee's bedside. It had been days since the Jedi sent to arrest Palpatine had returned. Critically injured. Days of waiting and praying that he had not lost Saesee this time.
There had been incidents before. The first being the Battle of Geonosis, where Saesee had mistakenly been reported as killed in action and Ki-Adi had nearly collapsed in grief at the news of losing him on top of so many other Jedi. There was Umbara, where Saesee had damn near been shot down. Although the war forced the Council to meet over holo more frequently than in person, it was rare for a member to be outright absent. Ki-Adi only learned of his belovedās condition through word of mouth.
This was the most recent incident and, Ki-Adi prayed, the last.
Ki-Adi takes Saeseeās hand in his own, fingers running absently over the lines heās practically memorized by now. Be strong, he tells his lover, Be strong and come back to me.
He doesnāt realize heās fallen asleep until thereās an urgent yank on his hand and a blissfully familiar presence in the force washes over him.Ā āSaesee,ā Ki-Adi breathes in relief, starting to stand.Ā āAre you in pain? Do I need to get the healer? Let me get-ā
āNo,ā Saesee grunts, his tone as low and harsh as usual. His yellow eyes are hazy even as they lock on Ki-Adi.Ā āNo, not yet, I have something I need to tell you.āSaeseeās presence is strong but thereās an urgency in his voice.
Ki-Adi feels his heart rate spike in anxiety. He squeezes Saeseeās hand and leans in.Ā āIām here, Saesee, Iām here.āĀ
āI think I love you,ā Saesee blurts out, holding Ki-Adiās hand in both of his.Ā āI think I really love you, Ki.āĀ
Thereās that haziness in his eyes and the words are just a touch too slow. And then it clicks.Ā Pain meds. Ki-Adiās so relieved he canāt even stifle the laughter.Ā āOh, Saesee, I know,ā he says with a reassuring smile, pausing for a moment to plant a kiss on his loverās forehead.Ā āI think I love you quite dearly.ā