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No One is Ever Truly Safe

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Ahsoka's POV
"Thank you," I said to Luke as he wrapped his cloak around me when he noticed me shivering.

He nodded, but his gaze remained fixated on the water. A siren—the same one who helped me—had her head sticking up from the water, but only enough to see her piercing black eyes, "Did you get it?" He asked. Her and him locked in a stare down.

"I did," I held the rock tightly in my palm, "Why is she staring at you like that?"

"To make sure you're safe from me. Sirens on this planet were hunted by men for thousands of years. They're safe now, but still have the mindset of a warrior."

"Smart," I locked eyes with her and felt a warm feeling within my chest, "Evil has an odd way of prevailing in this sick galaxy. No one is ever truly safe." I don't understand where those words came from, my lips moved before my mind registered what I was saying— as if they weren't actually my words. But her speaking through me.

"You don't have to tell me that," Luke said quietly. I could hear a hidden meaning behind his words. But before I could ask, he held his palm out to me, "Let's get back to the ship before she decides to sing to me."

I accepted his hand with the one not holding the rock and he pulled me to my feet. My wet clothes dripping on the floor, "What happens if she does?"

"My head will explode," He said simply with a shrug and I whipped my head in his direction with wide eyes. They met his and he smirked, a smirk that seemed familiar, "Kidding, a siren's song grips the hearts of men and it's basically like a trance. She'll lure me to the water and drown me once I'm close enough. Only one man in history has ever survived a sirens call." He said that last part low before breaking our eye contact, "He was vile being and followed it willingly with the intention of doing what he did next. He killed so many of them that the river ran red for days."

"Sounds like a horrible person." My stomach churned at the thought of this river being red with blood, who could do something like that? I would understand self-defense and then running, but from what he just told me, its clear this person wanted a massacre.

"He is barely a person." He spat.

"Is?"

"Was." He corrected without looking at me and lowered the ramp to his ship, "Come on, I doubt we have a lot of time left."

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"So does he swallow it or?" I asked when Luke took the rock from my hand. I then tightly wrapped his cloak around my body to shield myself from the sudden breeze that came into the tent they built around my best friend and Skywalker to protect them from the oncoming storm.

The clones around us, and Master Kenobi and I watched him as he squeezed the rock in his glove covered hand. Once he opened it, the rock was broken in half with a blue opaque liquid slowly pouring out of it, "The inside, yes," He took the two pieces of the rock and dropped them to the floor before bending down in-front of Skywalker. His cautious eyes went to (y/n). She was unconscious, but alert and dangerous, and he knew that, "I'm here to help him, so please don't throw me across the tent."

Luke's POV
I lowered down to whisper into his ear so no one would hear, "I won't be saving you again old man. You're on your own after this." I grabbed his cheeks with one hand and pinched to purse his lips and open his mouth before letting the drops of the thick blue liquid trickle onto his tongue.

Less than a minute later he was coughing, then his eyes shot open with a gasp — unfortunately.

(Y/n)'s POV
The moment I heard Anakin gasp awake, I felt myself being pulled from my trance, and I slowly opened my eyes — meeting his.

We said nothing. We heard others speaking around us, most likely talking to us. But it was tuned out, neither of us giving them an ounce of our attention. So much was said between us without there being words, he knew what I saw. What he did.

It dies with me. I reassured him once again, noticing the fear behind his eyes.

His gaze softened and what he did next made me completely freeze in place. He raised his hand with a slow and weak movement, before resting it on my cheek. Him being somewhat affectionate wasn't new to me, he has a soft side I've come to notice, but never has he ever showed this side of him in front of others. We had a whole audience. And what was once a room filled with chattering, was now dead silent.

"Thank you," He whispered weakly, "For keeping me alive." He added, dropping his hand down after subtly stroking my cheek with his thumb.

I smiled, feeling my eyes water. I was remembering how afraid I felt when I thought he was gonna die, now I'm relieved, "I didn't want to lose you too."

He smiled back and took a deep breath through his nose. His eyes then closed, he looked exhausted from his body figuring the venom, "And thank you to whoever saved me, I'm in your debt."

"We're good." A stern voice spoke, causing Anakin's eyes to open again. They shifted to above and behind me, an expression of both anger and confusion spread across his features.

"You, I know you—"

He was interrupted by Master Kenobi bending down next to him and pulling him into a hug that made him groan, "Just one mission Anakin," He sighed, "One mission without you almost getting yourself killed. Is that really too much to ask?"

"Honestly yes," Anakin responded, reciprocating the hug as much as he could.

As they had their moment, I turned around to see who Anakin had noticed. My gaze locked with a pair of eyes I know I have seen before, "You," I echoed with furrowed brows. He's the same guy I've seen wandering around the temple, never staying in one place long enough to catch up to. Then there's the night in the hallway where I bumped into him, purposely, although I'm still unsure if that memory was a dream or not. But I know the rest were real, "Who are you?" I questioned.

"Good question," Anakin said right after me with his usual attitude. I heard him slowly sit up, "Who the hell are you?"

The man didn't take his eyes away from me, ignoring Anakin, "Uh, I'm um—" He sounded like he was panicking, "My name is sky-starkiller, Luke Starkiller." He cleared his throat, his slightly wide eyes giving away that he was nervous, "Jedi Knight."

"Jedi Knight?" Anakin spoke before I could, "I have never heard of you, Luke Starkiller." He said the name with pure disgust.

"I haven't either," I added, my tone a thousand times more gentle, "Who was your Master?"

He parted his lips, but nothing came out, "Hello? Do you speak English—" Anakin went for an insult, but I stopped him when I turned around and smacked him on the arm, hard. For a man who almost just died mere minutes ago, he shouldn't have this much of an arrogant attitude.

"Stop being an ass." I snapped.

"I'm not being an ass," He defended himself, glaring at me, "I'm just asking a basic question. If he speaks English." He smiled, "Since clearly giving you a response to your own basic question is hard work."

"Maybe I should've let you die." Luke retaliated, catching us all by surprise. The clones, Master Kenobi, and Ahsoka were all turning their heads to look at whoever was speaking, watching us like we were a sitcom.

"What did you just say to me?" Anakin looked like he was about to get up, despite how weak he clearly still is.

"Sit down," I placed my hand on his chest and pushed his butt ontological the floor, "You deserved that for being a jerk to him first."

Why do I feel like I'm between the argument of two children?

"I didn't have one." Luke gained our attention again, our eyes meeting, "I was found late and nobody really wanted to deal with a late bloomer, so I was cared for by Master Yoda, but I wouldn't say he was my Master, more of a guardian. Then I was thrown into assignment after assignment and hardly saw the temple, so that's why none of you know me."

His explanation made sense, but I was having a hard time believing it. And if it were true, wouldn't at least Master Kenobi recognize him?

"Why are you here now?" I asked.

"And why have you been following us for weeks?" Anakin added. This time I didn't hit him for his tone, mainly because I was curious for the answer too.

Luke stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes shifting between us both, "Master Yoda asked me to. He was worried your dynamic wouldn't mesh well, so I was there for the beginning to make sure you two didn't kill each other. That's it."

Anakin slowly got up with Master Kenobi helping him, "I'll be checking with Master Yoda about this, and your story better be accurate or I'll—"

"Do what old man?" Luke chuckled, not taking Anakin's threatening tone seriously. It's nice to see someone not backing down against him, his ego doesn't need the satisfaction. Even I have a hard time standing up to him sometimes but this man seems
unbothered, and entertained.

Anakin's eyes slightly widened and there were a few snorts in the room, "Old? Who are you calling old? We look like we're exactly the same age."

Luke shrugged, "Sorry, I just assumed with those wrinkles under your eyes you were pushing thirty."

My hand flew to my mouth to hide the sudden gasp that turned into a cackle. And Anakin's face... priceless.

"I like you." Ahsoka got on her toes to wrap her arm around Luke's shoulder, making him smile, but only with the right corner of his mouth, "I can tell we're going to be great friends."

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"So?" I questioned as Anakin strutted into the tent after leaving to make a call to Master Yoda. He wanted to see if Luke's story was true, and although he seems kind and harmless, I got a strange feeling he wasn't being entirely truthful.

Anakin sighed, disappointed, "His story checks out."

"You say it like you wanted him to be trouble." I said as he sat down next to me on the floor.

We were the only ones in here now. We couldn't go anywhere or move our camp because of the storm that was shaking the tent. It was light now, but it's obvious it's going to pick up and be more dangerous soon. The clones and everyone else were outside setting up the tents once again and staking them down the best they could to be used for shelter.

I have no idea how well these tents will hold up in this weather, but we're about to find out.

"It's not that," He leaned his head back, "I just a weird feeling about him, something is off."

"Maybe you're just paranoid," I leaned my head back as well and faced him. He did the same, our faces now only an inch or two apart, "You never have been the trusting type."

"I trust you," He nudged his shoulder with mine, making me smile, "But him? Why should I? I don't know him and I certainly don't trust him around you."

My heart skipped a beat, his protectiveness over me had always been one of my favorite things about him. I know that no matter where we are or whoever we're with, as long as he's around, I'm safe.

"Give him a chance, we are going to be partnered with him for some time and he did save your life." I only slowed down the venom, but Luke is the reason I have Anakin breathing next to me right now and that is a debt I have no idea how to repay. I will forever be grateful.

He looked away and sighed with a slow nod, "Fine, I'll play nice. For now." That's as good as I'm going to get, so I'll take it.

I tilted my head to the side and rested it on his shoulder, "Are you feeling okay?" I changed the subject, feeling him rest his head on top of mine. I closed my eyes, feeling content and relaxed.

"Yeah, I'm okay," He mumbled, "Are you? I'm sure what you did wasn't easy."

He's right, my body was exhausted, "I'm a nap away from being back to a hundred percent."

"Take one right now, it can be my turn to watch over you."

I didn't hesitate, instead I accepted his suggestion, "Just an hour, then wake me." I snuggled close to him, using his body warmth to heat up my cold body.

"You deserve two." He said low and I felt him press his lips to the side of my head, warning my heart.

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