CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

The silence between Obi-Wan and Phoenix came and went. Sometimes it was a long silence when Obi-Wan was searching for something in particular. Sometimes it was short and they were discussing their next steps or any evidence that Obi-Wan had discovered. There wasn't much but it was slowly coming together

But Phoenix knew that she couldn't sit back and do nothing for much longer. The assassins wouldn't stop and that had become abundantly clear. They were bold and even despite a Jedi protecting her, they had nearly got her. Nearly killed her in her own home.

Every time they had encountered the assassins, it had never been on Phoenix's terms. It had always been on the assassin's terms and they always had the upper hand. Phoenix hated that and so, as she sketched, she began to think. Think about how to draw the assassin's out and how to force them to work on her terms. She knew it was risky and whenever she even mentioned the idea of using herself as bait, Obi-Wan shut her down.

Well, he shut her down for the first few hours. It didn't take long until he began to realise that it was one of their only choices and Phoenix's arguments were eloquent and convincing. So, Obi-Wan - with reluctance - agree to her plan. He knew it was a bad idea. Deep down he knew he couldn't put her in harms way but everywhere had been a dead-end.

In the back of her mind, Phoenix also knew it was a bad idea. She knew that this could end in her death but she had faith that Obi-Wan could protect her. It wouldn't even seem like he was there to the assassin but she knew he would be and she would be safe. The only problem was Jax.

"Will Jax agree to this?" Obi-Wan asked as he watched her flip through her sketches. She returned to an older sketch. It was a bar scene that she had begun the last time she was on Coruscant months ago. It captured the feeling of the bar spectularly and she could remember the night so clearly even if she had had one too many glasses of wine.

"He has to." Phoenix retorted. She glanced up and sent Obi-Wan a half-smile. Obi-Wan quickly averted his gaze, feeling caught. He enjoyed watching her work and he always had. It brought him a sense of peace he hadn't felt since he was a teenager. It was calming in such a hard time for the Republic.

"He is not agreeable and he doesn't view the world in the same way you do," Obi-Wan retorted and Phoenix hummed in response before she placed her pencil down and looked at him. The morning sun was pouring through the windows, lighting up her face in a soft glow of orange and Obi-Wan found it hard to keep his gaze off of her.

"You're right. He doesn't realise that it would be the greater good and he doesn't want to lose the status and reputation us being together gives him if something happened to me. His family cares about reputation and this would damage it. But he will agree because he knows that whatever happens to me, it will either scare me away or allow his sister to take my place if I get hurt," Phoenix responded. She knew why Jax had chosen her. It had become clearer and clearer over recent months. It was reputation and family and if he learnt the ins and outs of being a Senator from Phoenix, he could help his sister when she eventually stole Phoenix's spotlight. It was never about love for him.

"Why do you subject yourself to him?" Obi-Wan asked and Phoenix winced at his choice of words. She knew he was right. That was the perfect way to describe it but it didn't make it any easier to hear. She tapped her nails against the sketches before she placed her pencil down on the side.

"Because it is suitable. He is rich, he is young and he has a good reputation. He loves me well enough and that is all I need in life. If I lose this Senator position, I will at least be comfortable living in his care. My marriage to him will do what it's supposed to. I will keep my father happy, I can have children and my mother will not have died for nothing. I would rather languish in a mediocre marriage than be lonely for the rest of my life because who I want is unattainable." Her own words surprised her and the reality of her life seemed to hit her in that moment. Her whole world seemed to come into focus and she sunk back into the armchair.

Although she had always known that her marriage would never be perfect, she had never realised her own position. How desperately sad her position was. She was marrying a man she could never and would never love for comfort. Her face seemed to crumple as she pushed her fingers through her hair. But she cleared her throat and turned to face Obi-Wan, trying to disguise the look of utter despair.

Obi-Wan was quiet for a few more seconds, "And the unattainable?" He asked, trying to get her to speak more of him. They both knew who she was referring to and he had no intention to be malicious but he wanted to know.

"He is simply that." Her words were soft as she looked at him. And he let a frown spread across his face as he watched her. The slight downturn of her lips and the sadness that seemed to appear in her eyes at the confession.0

"What if he wa-" Obi-Wan began but then the door opened. He stopped in his path and they both turned to see Jax walk through. He looked happier than when she had seen him in the dead of night previously. He also didn't smell horrifically of alcohol. He seemed to have more grace to his appearance but there was a slight scowl when he saw how close Obi-Wan and Phoenix were to each other.

But before Phoenix could say a word, Obi-Wan had stood up and the men had left the room to discuss away from Phoenix. The blonde wasn't entirely sure why they found it necessarily to leave while they discussed but she had no interest in hearing their conversation. They had spoken earlier that morning so there was clearly more to the situation than she would ever be aware of.

 It was only a few minutes later until the men returned. Phoenix had got up now, made a fresh cup of caf and was stood with her hip against the counter, sipping it. It warmed up her hands but she was out of the sunlight now. Hidden in the darker corner of the room.

"I know where we can go," Jax said as he walked over to her. Obi-Wan kept back while Jax wanted to invade Phoenix's space, "There's a classy bar that I frequent. It's out in the open, in the public sectors. They'll see you if we want to go through with this. If you think it's safe," Jax said as he reached out to take her free hand - that didn't hold the caf. Phoenix was surprised by the contact but let her fingers intertwine with his, nodding her head.

"That sounds perfect. We will have to go later in the day. Although I don't have Senate duties, I still have some paperwork to finish. Shall we go once that is finished?" Phoenix asked. Jax nodded and glanced back at Obi-Wan, cocking an eyebrow. Obi-Wan nodded, a silent conversation between the pair. Obi-Wan then grabbed his datapad and excused himself. 

Once the door was closed, Jax took a hold of her mug of caf and placed it down on the side. He then pulled Phoenix against his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist and her arms pushed up to wrap around his neck.

"This is dangerous," He said as he looked down into her eyes. Phoenix felt like she was getting whiplash. He had been so cruel earlier. He had ignored her the entire night, got drunk after an argument and never even apologised. But now he was here, caring.

"What did you speak about with him?" Phoenix asked, ignoring the comment. It was twice that they had spoken away from her ears and she didn't enjoy not knowing.

"Nothing that you need to worry about." Phoenix gave him a look but rather than responding, Jax leant forward and pressed a kiss to her lips. He pulled her closer and she melted into the kiss. It felt wrong but so right all the same. She kissed back, her fingers running through his hair before he pulled back, "You have work to finish," He mumbled. His forehead pressed against hers. Phoenix nodded and stepped back.

She was still dressed in her pyjamas so she knew that she had to change eventually but she'd rather be comfortable doing paperwork. So, she broke away and stayed as she was as she went about her duties.

-

The evening rolled around slowly. Phoenix was sure that the universe was purposefully slowing down time. The sun crawled below the horizon as she finished up her last bit of paperwork. She then disappeared into the bedroom to decide on a bar appropriate outfit. She hadn't really changed out of her pyjamas so she knew she needed something.

It couldn't be too formal but she didn't want to be overly exposed. It was never a good look and with Jax's help, she managed to pick something. It was a black cocktail dress that fell just above her knees. It was appropriate for an informal Senate gathering but Jax assured her it would fit the bar's dress code. 

So, she changed and got ready for the evening. Jax disappeared back out of the room and when Phoenix stepped out, both the men's jaw dropped. Obi-Wan had changed into civilian clothing and Jax looked as handsome as he always did. Phoenix had only put on some light make-up but both the men adored how she looked.

"We should arrive together and then Obi-Wan should split off when we are inside. The lack of Jedi robes mean he won't stand out and the assassin hopefully won't have memorised his face." Phoenix said in an attempt to stop them from gawking. Obi-Wan nodded in agreement and Jax walked over to Phoenix, wrapping his arm around her. He whispered a compliment into her ear before they all walked out of the room. They called a hover taxi before they were then taken off to the bar district.

The journey was quiet and Phoenix spent much of it staring out of the window and thinking. It was dangerous to think but she couldn't help it. Her mind drifted to her youth and all that time with Obi-Wan, how much her life was in danger and that he was the only one that could save her if something went wrong.

Jax was not someone taught to fight. He was not someone who would help her. He hadn't even taken her to the medical wing when she needed it. He had not come for her when he should have heard commotion and shouting. He was not going to be the one to save her. Obi-Wan would be and as she watched the last drops of orange disappear from the sky, she realised what she was doing.

But they were at the district before she could change her mind, the trio got out of the hover car and she took a deep breath. She wrapped her arm around Jax's and they headed to the bar. Obi-Wan took a step back and stayed a few feet behind them, keeping his distance to avoid any suspicion.

As they headed inside, Jax seemed to be more fidgety than she was and she didn't understand why. He was never this nervous for anything but she tried to ignore it. If she focused on it, it would only serve to make her feel worse. They went straight for the bar once they were inside and sat down. 

It was definitely classy. It was well-lit and smelled distinctly of whiskey and strawberries. The whole area felt warm and homey. The bar made of some light-coloured wood and a fireplace in the far corner. A group of men talking with beers in hand. It made it feel like a gentleman's club and Phoenix suddenly felt very out of place. Her hands rested on the counter as she glanced over the drink's menu.

It felt strange but Jax was right. It was open-plan but busy. It was the perfect place to catch someone. The tables were relatively close together but not full so the assassin could logically get an easy get-away. Phoenix didn't concern herself with exits since that was Obi-Wan's job but she vaguely planned out where the assassin could come from if they didn't take the bait when she was outside and alone.

Jax and Phoenix's conversation was quiet and far from interesting as they ordered a drink. Jax got a whiskey on the rocks and Phoenix ordered a glass of wine. She made sure it wasn't a strong one so she could still have her wits about her when she went off into the alley so that she would be ambushed. There was a brief moment of her saying that she didn't want anything but Jax had insisted it would look strange otherwise. So, a small glass of wine is what she got.

They sat at the bar, sipping their alcohol and quickly came into discussion about what was going on both in the Senate and with the current plan. Jax wanted her to reiterate how the plan was supposed to go and how Obi-Wan would keep her safe. He was playing the role of concerned fiance and Phoenix was vaguely aware that he didn't truly feel concerned for her.

She trusted Obi-Wan a lot more than she did Jax and so, she never divulged the full details of what exactly she planned on doing. She didn't want to tell him but she wasn't sure why. They continued to talk and drink and make conversation, like an typical couple would at a bar like that.

And eventually, Jax spotted a few people he knew and they came over. Phoenix listened absentmindedly as they talked and discussed business which Phoenix had no interest in. She moved up seats for them and played the perfect role of fiancé or soon-to-be-wife. She did exactly what he would have wanted her to do and acted as mildly interested as she could. It was all irrelevant to her and provided a good excuse for her to get up at the right time.

Phoenix glanced around the bar and that is when she spotted the woman. A blonde girl with mint streaks in her hair. She was sat in the corner of the room. Her mask on the chair beside her and a glass of brandy in her hand. Phoenix didn't look for long but she knew she was there which meant it was time.

Phoenix slid off her seat and walked up behind Jax. She whispered in his ear, telling him that she was going to the bathroom before she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. He nodded and allowed her to go, a soft smile spreading across her face before she then walked away. Her feet took her through the bar and she reached the side-exit door, easily mistaken just another bathroom door.

She waved her hand in front of the sensor and it opened. She stepped into the alleyway and took a long deep breath of the air. The stuffy bar had made her feel slightly anxious, her stomach twisted from the nerves but she knew it was fine. A soft breath escaped her lips as she leant against the wall by the door.

There was quiet in the alley for a few minutes before the door whooshed open  again and the platinum blonde appeared. A smirk on her cherry pink lips and she walked up to Phoenix. Phoenix's eyebrow raised and she opened her mouth to say something but the blonde pulled out a blaster before Phoenix could say anything.

There was no hesitation in the woman's face as she lifted the blaster to press against Phoenix's forehead. This is where it could all go wrong and she knew that. It could go wrong and Obi-Wan wasn't here. 

"My master will be so happy when you're dead." The woman said and Phoenix scoffed. A scowl on her face.

"Your master is pathetic for not killing me themselves," Phoenix spat back. She wasn't sure where the sudden bravery had come from but the assassin didn't seem to take kindly to it. The blaster moving to press against her side and shot. Phoenix cried out in pain, her hand shooting to her side, gripping the wound as her eyes squeezed shut.

"Nobody talks about my master like that," She hissed before she lifted the blaster back to Phoenix's forehead. But the feeling of the blaster was gone in a second and Phoenix opened her eyes to see Obi-Wan stood at the mouth of the alleyway. His gaze flicked between the assassin and Phoenix's injury.

The blonde stared at Obi-Wan and then Phoenix, quickly realising what she had run into. Then the blonde ran. Phoenix collapsed against the wall, sliding down to the floor and Obi-Wan's eyes frantically flicked between Phoenix and the blonde who was getting away. He was torn. His heart thundering against his ribcage and his mind screamed at him to run after the assassin but Phoenix was shot. It would get infected and it was clear that she was in pain. He could feel it in the Force.

"Obi-Wan," Phoenix's voice sound strained as she pressed her fingers against her side. The blood dripped on her fingertips as she looked up to meet his gaze, "Go after her, now!" Phoenix shouted as she pushed herself to stand up. She stumbled and Obi-Wan rushed to her side, grabbing her and supporting her.

"I cannot leave you with an injury. Jax is not here," Obi-Wan said, keeping a hold of her.

"And you cannot let the assassin get away. They'll kill me next time," Phoenix retorted as she met his gaze. Their faces inches apart and he stared at her. The conflict was so obvious. His heart ached and she used her free hand to push him towards the assassin. But she was weak and he barely moved an inch, "Please, go!" Phoenix practically shouted as she stared up at him. Obi-Wan - with heavy reluctance - let go and ran. 

Phoenix stumbled as she walked towards the door but then it opened. Jax stood on the other side and his face fell at her appearance. He rushed down the steps to her side and grabbed Phoenix before she stumbled over.

"We need to go," Phoenix mumbled. Jax nodded.

-

NOTE; and another attacked but this one was at least planned! we have some moral dilemmas for our boy obi and phoenix not feeling great, the dramatics are definitely ramping up now and the drama is going to unfold soon enough :) for now, i hope you enjoyed the chapter <3