literature

What ifs Part II

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Letters to the Emperor
"What ifs" Part II



Jumping ahead a few years... I might fill in that space at some point... doubt it.









          “Sometimes it’s just nice to come home, Master.” Anakin smirked at Obi Wan, who gave him a look that clearly said “I’m not buying it.”
          “I know you, Anakin. You’re nervous. There isn’t much that makes you nervous.” His fifteen year old Padawan shrugged lamely.
          “We haven’t been back in months. It will be nice to see my rooms again.” R2 gave a series of trills, and he grinned down at the little droid. “That too.”
          “That what too?”
          “….nothing.” Anakin smirked, licking his lips. Obi Wan looked him over, raising a brow. The Jedi walked along the landing platform mostly side by side; Anakin was in the habit of dropping a few paces behind. Ahead, the doors swung open and a few Jedi walked out, discussing somewhat, and Anakin craned his neck a little before dropping back quietly.
          “I don’t know what’s into you, Anakin, but—” He paused midsentence, as a pale figure stepped out into the sun. She glanced up at the sky, smiling idly, white hair bathed in gold. It was growing out, finally, still short at the back of her head, but it angled down to tapered points below her chin in front. She tugged on her Padawan braid, a nervous habit she never quite shed, and glanced over. Anakin grinned, walking a little faster and bowing when they got close enough to warrant it.
          “Artemis.” She bowed in turn.
          “Anakin.” He stared at her a moment; at eleven she was growing out of her childish features. A soft, rounded face had changed while he was away; cheekbones starting to sharpen and the hint of what she would look like in a few years becoming visible. She’d always been pretty… she was becoming lovely. She stared back, just as interested. Manhood was setting in, that soft jawline hardening. He’d grown into the nose, some; awkward features were rearranged into a strikingly handsome young adult. Obi Wan watched them look each other over and rolled his eyes.
          “I’ll see you inside, Anakin.” He paced off. As soon as the door closed Artemis stepped in to hug Anakin, the side of her head pressed to his.
          “I missed you.” She smiled up at him; he was starting to shoot up in height, leaving her behind. He gazed back down, grinning. She didn’t smile at anyone else like that; she didn’t really smile at anyone.
          “I missed you too, Miz.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, walking her back in the building. “So what have I missed?”
          “Not a damn thing, with all the conflict keeping the Masters busy, its been boring as hell for the apprentices. Everyone’s starting to fight to get noticed… we have two more years to impress someone, or we end up as Jedi lackeys.”
          “I never did think it was a good system… too many people get looked over. It’s not fair.”
          “Damn popularity contest.” She leaned into his shoulder, letting out a sigh of relief at his presence. He dropped his lips to her hair, stopping just short of a kiss. He’d been a little worried about this. She was heading towards her teenage years as fast as she could, and the spark that had always run between them was growing into something… the Jedi would not approve of. He shrugged it off, just enjoyed being close to the one friend who never cared that he was the “Chosen one” or that he had a destiny at all, or that he was supposed to be the star pupil of the academy. She liked him because they were a pair of slave children. They understood each other as no one else could.
          And her hair smelled really nice.
          “Anyone have you picked out?” He didn’t let the hope into his voice, didn’t want her to know how desperately he was hoping she’d be taken under a Master’s wing. The thought of her spending her life in service to the Jedi without actually being one felt like a complete waste.
          “Not really. I make the Masters nervous.” She shrugged. Yoda had taken her into a side room shortly after she’d arrived, and done… something. She still didn’t understand it, but there were places in her mind she couldn’t go. No one was really able to sense her; either… she was diffused oddly. Yoda said it was for her own protection, but it also meant the Masters passing through didn’t know she was stronger than they could normally sense. “Odds are I won’t get picked.”
          “You will.” He scowled. “I’ll…”
          She chuckled. “What; make them? Take me as your Padawan?” A little shake of her head sent her hair out like a silver wave around her face.
          “If no one picks you, then… I’ll train you in secret.” She laughed, rolling her eyes.
          “Yeah right.” They reached a hall and Artemis grinned up, still under his one arm. “This is where we part company for a while, I got class. Sabers.” Anakin raised a brow, and she stuck out her tongue. “Come on, it’s a weapon I don’t already know how to use. Makes it worth learning.” She leaned over, lips pressing into his shoulder; a friendly little kiss. A moment later the apprentice Jedi headed off, steps not setting off the usual ring through the halls; she somehow always walked completely silently. Anakin watched her go, biting his lip.
          Trying not to think about how...warm his shoulder suddenly felt.

*****

          “Shhh!” Anakin grinned, and ducked into the alcove. Once he was in they walked single file to a high balcony he knew well, sitting out under the glitter of ships and moons and the stars bright enough to be seen through Coruscant’s light pollution. Artemis laid out a blanket, and they lay side by side, staring up. He sighed contentedly; it was stolen moments like these that made the rigors of Jedi training worth it.
          He rolled on his side, looking at the little figure beside him, hair spilled over her arms like liquid silver. “How have the nightmares been, Miz?”
          She glanced up; then away with a shrug. “No worse.”
          “So… terrible.” He raised a brow; she laughed and nodded.
          “Yours?” Anakin smirked.
          “Same.” It was their secret. No one could know. But somehow when they were together, their dreams were peaceful. Her nightmares were of the scars of the past; his were horrific glimpses of possible…negative… futures. Somewhere in the middle their dreams balanced out.
          “Anakin? What’s it like out there, when you’re with Obi Wan.” She stared into the stars, and the Padawan propped his head up on his arm.
          “Well, there’s always something that needs to be done, people who need help. I just wish we could do more.”
          She smiled up at him, inching closer. “Thaz what I love about you, Ani. Most Jedi are content to do their tiny part, you’d give anything to be able to give everything.” He shivered at her choice of words. Not quite twelve and only just becoming a lady. For a fifteen year old constrained to a celibate order, having a close friend like Artemis was just dangerous.
          “Oh, you love me, do you?” He grinned, trying to play it off. She shrugged and sat up. Behind her the buildings surrounded her silver hair in a rainbow lit crown against the dark. Even in moonlight her eyes were pale; otherworldly without being inhuman. Once upon a time he had asked Padme if she was an angel; she’d been the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen on Tatooine. He knew now what Angels really were, and had seen some of the great beauties of Coruscant. Beside all of them, an ethereal beauty framed in the Coruscant night sky still had the power to set his fifteen-year-old heart on fire.
          “Yes. You are my best friend. And I love you.” She kissed his lips gently, almost just friendly. His hand came up to gently cup her face, unwilling to let her break away. They were suspended there a long moment under the stars, before drawing apart; the weight of impending vows of celibacy hung over them both. “I….I’m sorry.”
          “No… I… no it’s fine.” He sat up beside her, his face a little flushed. “That was… ah…”
          “That… yeah.” She laughed, shaking her head. “That was a bad idea.” He grinned and nodded at her.
          “Let’s not… do that again.” Anakin glanced at her and she nodded in agreement. Their eyes met, and both of them knew neither meant what they were saying. They both lay back down, looking to the sky.
          “How long will you and Obi Wan be here?” She propped her head up on her hands, glancing over. Anakin shrugged.
          “They’ll have another mission for us soon, no doubt.” He fidgeted.
          “You know, I’m screwed if you aren’t around when it’s time to build my saber.”
          “You’ll be fine, you‘re great with machines.” He grinned, covering his mouth with a hand, and she smacked him lightly. They both knew she took to sensitive electronic equipment like water did. She’d been banned from his room years before as a matter of practicality.  “Come on… the lightsaber is different.” He sat up and handed her his, which she took gingerly.
          “It’s so… sleek.” She ran her fingers over the case, and Anakin found he had to physically look away. “It’s beautiful, but I’ll never be able to make one.”
          “I’ll tell you what.” She glanced up. “I’ll collect the parts you’ll need to make a real one, not the crap they have laying around here. I’ll find you all the focusing crystals, and then next time I come back we can build it together.” She grinned shyly. “I just can’t promise it will be any time soon.”
          “I’ll wait. I’d wait forever.” She handed the saber back over, and he clipped it at his side. “What color do you think it will be?”
          “What’s your favorite color? I’ll try to find a crystal that works.”
          She shrugged. “Don’t really have one.”
          “I’ll pick something special then.” He reached over and pushed her shoulder a little, setting off laughter. “But you have to promise me something.”
          “Anything.”
          “Stop hiding from the Masters. Let them realize your potential. I know, we both hate the popularity thing, but you have to try.”
          “Easy for you to say.” She sighed, hugging her knees.
          “I know. But hey, you can have Obi Wan if you want, he’s really annoying sometimes.” That earned him another grin, and the air got knocked out of his lungs in a rush as she hugged him. “You promise?”
          “I promise.” He laid back down, her head pillowed on the shoulder, his fingers idly sliding through her silken hair. “You promise you’ll always come back for me?”
          “Wild banthas couldn’t drag me away.”
Again I apologise in advance if I ruined Ani.
© 2007 - 2024 Ishdakitty
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GuardsmanKoto's avatar
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