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Observant

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Luke's POV
I was back in my own time, twenty-one years from the day of my mothers death, the tragedy of her dying at only nineteen years old.

The air surrounding Master Yoda's hut felt colder than usual and the fog was thick, leaving me with no way to see the land around me. It was eerie, dark, cold, and I had a twisting pain in my gut.

Something was wrong.

I approached the hut and pushed open the door. I bent down so I wouldn't hit the top of the doorway and entered, peering around the small space for my wise, old friend, "Master Yoda?" I said as I looked towards his bed, hoping to see him sleeping. But just like the rest of the hut, that was empty too.

My heart rate began to increase as pain pinched my heart. I was worried something had happened to him, he was the last person I had in this time and I didn't want to lose him. Especially since if I somehow fail on my quest, this is the future I'm going to have to come back to, and I don't want it to be so empty.

I exited the hut with a sigh and looked at my surroundings, but my vision was limited, "Master Yoda!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the fog and startling small critters that I could hear scurrying through the dirt, mud, and trees.

Then there was silence, until I heard a crack that sounded like a branch snapping in half.

"Not quite," A soft, yet menacing voice uttered from behind me, followed by the whirring of a lightsaber that I could sense coming straight for me. I ducked to avoid the crimson blade that swiped above me, and I spun around while taking a leap backwards. My hand was now on the handle of my own blade, my eyes on the enemy, "I've been looking for you," Someone I once knew as a pure soul approached me with small strides, her wicked yellow eyes glowing through the fog, "Care to tell me where you have been, brother?"

I stood up straight while tightening my grip on my weapon in preparation to defend myself if she attacks again — and knowing her, she will.

She takes after our father.

"Nice to see you too, Leia."

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Anakin's POV
Putting up this act was a lot harder than I expected it to be. I loathed this woman and everything she stood for. The entire time we were walking in the garden, I kept thinking about what it would be like to drown her in the water fountain.

Satisfying is the word I came up with.

She kept rambling on about things that were unimportant to me or the mission, and I pretended to listen with a smile on my face. There is one good thing about all this, this charm of mine is working and I feel like in no time I can trick her into telling me where the colonists are. She has already mentioned Ryloth, Kessel, and Kadavo in conversation. And my instincts are telling me they could have been imported to one of those three, but I need to know which of those planets it is and exactly where. It would take much too long to find them and we probably wouldn't if we were to go off of this small piece of intel.

"That walk worked up an appetite, wouldn't you agree Lars," The Queen sat in her chair that I pulled out for her. We were now in the dining hall, seated at a long table that looked big enough to seat the entire order—I'm exaggerating, but no one should have a table this long. Especially if they're always eating alone, which I know she is and that's why she's on this quest for a husband, to ease her sad and pathetic lonely life.

"I do, your highness," I took the spot that was to her right, facing the large doors so I could see everyone who comes in and out of the room, "And I'm having a wonderful time, I thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to get to know you. You're more amazing than I could have ever expected." I flirted as I reached over and laid my hand on top of hers, which she seemed to enjoy.

'Where are you?'  I spoke to the only person that's really on my mind right now. I've been trying to reach her the entire hour we have been separated, but I have yet to get an answer back and it wasn't sitting right with me. But it's not like I could ask the Queen where she is without it being suspicious, so I bit my tongue and had faith that my Padawan could take care of herself.

"Oh Lars, your words are too kind," She smiled back at me.

Obi-Wan and Artoo were in the room with us as well, and have been following us throughout the day. Obi-Wan is meant to be my guard or whatever, so his presence isn't questioned. Although I regret being paired with him on this assignment because anytime I speak my charm, he rolls his eyes or quietly laughs at me. He finds my torture and cringey efforts amusing and I have to constantly resist myself from throwing something at him.

I leaned closer to the Queen as we continued our small talk, and I noticed her eyes drifting to my lips as they have been all evening.

She chuckled and leaned even closer, "You have gorgeous eyes Lars, has anyone ever told you that?"

My mind went to one person who has said something along those lines and a feeling of guilt shadowed over my heart. I knew what was coming and I was feeling guilty about it... why was I feeling guilty?

"No actually," I lied, "But it's nice to hear, so thank you." My words were smooth and with each one, I lowered my tone to give an alluring effect that was drawing her in, "Yours are like emeralds, so beautifully captivating..." I paused my words when my lips touched hers.

This was my first kiss, and it was with someone like her, I felt disgusted in myself. I always thought a first kiss would be something magical, but I felt nothing but nausea rising in my stomach, and guilt that continued to weigh in my chest.

I kept my eyes closed as I'm meant to, and an image kept coming to my mind. (Y/n). Her face, her eyes, her hair, her smile, the sweet way she smells, and the sound of her soft voice. I got more into the kiss, making it more passionate and it was then that my mind decided to give me an image of it being her instead. I wish I could understand what I was feeling. I'd give anything to know why this girl consumes almost every thought I've had since meeting her.

I was pulled out of the trance when I heard the doors to the room open and I assumed it was the food coming in.  I was about to pull away, but the Queen cupped my face and kept it going longer. But now that I was no longer picturing her as someone else, it wasn't as bearable.

I brought my hands up to her wrists and gently removed her hold on me so I'd end the embrace. I smiled with a slight chuckle as we locked eyes, "We'll have to continue this when we don't have so much company love," I let go of her and leaned back in my chair to give us more distance, "Let's enjoy our lunch." The food was already in front of us, and I found it surprising I didn't hear or notice it being put there by the staff.

Her eyes looked like she was in a daze and she just nodded to my words as she grabbed her cup in front of her and took a drink. I did the same, hoping the wine would wash out the taste of her bitter mouth, but I paused in place when I locked eyes with another in the room.

(Y/n), her jaw was clenched and I swear if looks could kill, my funeral would be tomorrow. Why the hell was she looking at me like that?

She quickly averted her eyes away from me and stared at the floor, her hands resting in-front of her on her stomach.

I picked up the wine and took a drink, before quickly coughing it out when I felt a tightening in my throat, "Lars, are you alright?" The Queen asked as she placed a hand on my shoulder. Obi-Wan came behind me and patted my back as I coughed out the red liquid that stained the white napkin next to my plate.

I nodded as I composed myself and cleared my throat a few times before sitting back up straight, "Yes I'm so sorry, the wine didn't go where it was supposed to." I said with a light laugh and cleared my throat one more time.

Something similar to that has happened before, and so I glanced up and locked eyes with my Padawan once again. 'What the hell was that for?' I snapped, shooting her daggers.

'What do you mean? I didn't do anything.' She responded back with a damn lie, the corner of her mouth twitching like she was suppressing a smile.

"Slave—in the red," The Queen caught both of our attention and as my eyes went to her, as did (y/n)'s, "Get him a new napkin from one of the other set ups, now." She demanded in a harsh tone.

"Yes your—" (Y/n) was cut off as she screamed in agony from the electrical shock that her collar was giving her. Any anger I felt was now gone, replaced by worry. I was now breathing heavily as I clenched the cloth on the table, resisting what I wanted to do in this moment — use the knife that was next to my plate on the Queen and risk the entire mission.

"Did they not tell you to never speak to me during your conditioning?" The Queen seethed before letting go of the button, ending (y/n)'s torture. I quickly glanced to Ahsoka for a moment, noticing the murdering glare in her eyes directed at the Queen, "Get it, without talking."

(Y/n) nodded with an exhausted look in her eyes as she pushed herself to her feet and walked to the table. She grabbed a clean napkin from one of the setups that wasn't being used and walked around to hand it to me, "Thank you," I mumbled, looking up into her eyes.

'It'll be over soon, I promise.'

Her being tortured like this was not something I had considered when handed this assignment. If I would have known, I would've left her and Ahsoka both behind and found another way to do this.

She didn't give me an answer as she turned and walked back to the place where she stood before, near the double doors with Ahsoka by her side. The best friends subtly held each other's hands and squeezed for comfort.

"Tell me Lars, was she yours?"

I quickly looked in the Queen's direction with furrowed brows, "Sorry?"

She then nodded towards (y/n), "The pretty little slave, was she yours?" She raised her brows, "As in, were you keeping her in your bed?"

My eyes widened and I nearly choked again, this time on air, "What? No, not at all." I responded quickly, my gaze shooting to (y/n) who looked equally as surprised and disturbed by the question as I was.

The Queen chuckled as she tilted her head, "You can tell me, I'm not a jealous woman. Well, as long as it was purely physical that is."

I shook my head, confused on how she would even jump to this conclusion, "I assure you your highness, I have no physical or emotional connection to that slave." My chest tightened with my words, a tightening that is similar to that of one I feel whenever I lie. And that's because I was lying, I am aware of the emotional connection that has grown with her, and it's confusing but also terrifying. I feel like I'm betraying the order because of it, like they were right and I was never fit to be a Jedi since I can't even do something as simple as keep my emotions in check...

She slowly nodded and side-eyed my padawan who was nervously playing with the golden chains on her outfit.

I looked back to the Queen and her eyes were now on me, "Raylon," She called aloud and one of the Zygerrian soldiers approached, she looked up at him with a wicked smile, "Take the one in red to my baby, we'll be out shortly."

Her baby? As far as I know the Queen is childless, so what could she mean?

He nodded and walked over to (y/n) before grabbing her by the arm and dragging her out of the room with her looking in my direction with confusion and nervousness, "Where is he taking her?" I asked without thinking. But in all honesty, who wouldn't be curious in this situation.

"Don't worry, you'll see her again after we have our lunch," She said with a smile.

"I'm not worried," I chuckled with a small head shake, "I was merely curious because you said your baby. I wasn't aware you had a child."

The Queen picked up her fork and stabbed it into her food with aggression, "Women are smart Lars and very...observant," She snapped her eyes up and slowly brought her food to her lips, "You say there's no connection, yet I couldn't help but notice your eyes belonged to her the second she entered the room."

I tried to laugh her accusation off, "Your highness I can assure you, there is nothing-"

"Not to mention that little vein in your neck that pulses with every beat of your heart began to race quicker when you saw her. Your palms also grew so sweaty that you left a mark on my table. And now I must ask, is her name (y/n)?" She questioned and I was stunned with absolutely no words flowing through my tongue. How does she know her name?

"Wha—," I mumbled and my eyes landed on Obi-Wan's expression of shock.

The Queen's smile widened with a knowing look in her, "You whispered her name when you kissed me." She revealed... I was so caught in the moment, I don't even remember doing that, "Now I'm not totally unreasonable. You wouldn't be the first man to fall in love with a slave, things happen," Love? No, I'm not in love with her, I can't be. I hardly even know what it is, "So I'll be giving you an opportunity to prove your devotion to me."

"How?" I asked with nervous breathing.

"We're all going to watch a show in my stadium where that slave gets thrown into the pit with my pet, and you are going to watch it eat her alive — and do nothing."

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Hope you enjoyed it ❤️

And so there's no confusion. The Luke you know is 22years from the future, when he said 21years, he was referring to it being 21 from the day of (y/n)'s death/ his birth since she passes the same day. Meaning this story is taking place about a year and a couple months from BEFORE him and Leia are born.  (Y/n) is currently 18 for those who don't remember.
I hope this makes sense!
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