Chapter Ninety-Two
For everyone mad at Luke, I get it, but remember that in his time Leia did basically kill just about everyone he ever loved. Including Obi-Wan and Padme.
Despite still loving her, she's a walking disaster in his eyes. So he's bound to be cautious, he didn't just do what he did to be an asshole. I mean if someone killed your entire family wouldn't you want them to get tf away from you? 💀
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A Lesson on How to be Human
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(Y/n)'s POV
"Are you ready?" Anakin asked, pulling my focus away from the battle raging below us. We were on a ship, preparing to infiltrate a separatist base/droid factory on Corellia. Master Kenobi, Ahsoka, and the 212th were already on the ground, and we were en route to assist them after receiving a call from Master Kenobi asking for our aide.
I nodded, determined to get back out there. "I'm ready." This was our first mission back in the war, and I was more than ready. Those weeks spent confined in the temple were enough to drive anyone a bit crazy, but thankfully, I had Anakin to occupy my time.
"Me too," Luke chimed in, his tone hinting that he felt a bit forgotten—since we sort of did forget he was here. I had almost forgotten entirely that Master Yoda assigned him to work alongside us for awhile, not that I had an issue with it, he's been beneficial so far.
Anakin glanced at his troops and signaled for them to proceed. One by one, they began to lower themselves down on ropes and began fighting, with Rex being the last to descend. He saluted Anakin and I, "See you down there, General."
"After you," Anakin said, shoving Luke, who tumbled out of the ship with a surprised shout.
"Anak—" I began to scold him, but he quickly pulled me close and kissed me deeply.
When we finally broke apart, he smiled softly and caressed my cheek. "Stay by my side and for the love of the force, do not get shot."
"Same goes for you, Master." I gave him another kiss, this one a quick peck. Once we parted, we both leaped off the ship and landed smoothly, our lightsabers firmly in hand.
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"Don't even think about talking to me."
"Don't worry, I don't want to talk to you," Anakin shot back, tossing his battered armor aside. It looked so damaged that I doubted he could wear it again.
I picked up the lightsaber he had dropped and tossed it down by his feet and it clanked loudly against the metal floor. "Try to keep track of your things. I hear this is your fifth one." I turned away from him and moved to the far end of the ship, as far away from him as possible.
As I passed a group of clones who were observing our tense interaction, I caught one whispering to another, "What the hell happened out there? They were getting along just fine."
"Beats me, mate."
I leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor, letting out a deep sigh. Tilting my head back, I stared up at the ceiling. The ship hummed around me, and I could hear the metal creaking as it roared to life and lifted off the ground. At least we had succeeded; we infiltrated the base and dismantled it from within—no more droids will be produced on Corellia for the time being.
Luke gradually settled down next to me. "Are you—" he started, speaking slowly and carefully, "Okay?"
I turned to meet his gaze. It always struck me how much his eyes resembled Anakin's; it was almost unsettling. "I will be. He just has a talent for complicating everything." It felt like this was the first real argument we'd had since confessing our feelings, and honestly, it was frustrating. He's the last person I want to fight with, yet his know-it-all attitude makes it so maddeningly difficult to stay calm.
And his choices? Reckless. He thinks I'm a walking disaster?—his words. Maybe he should take a good look in the mirror once in a while.
I glanced at him from across the ship, our eyes locking for just a moment before he turned away to talk to his Captain, Rex. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he clenched his jaw as he spoke—he was just as furious as I was, though I don't see why he even deserves to be angry.
"You didn't get hurt or anything, did you?" Luke asked, pulling me from my glare directed at my dear fiancé.
I shook my head. "No, I don't even have a scratch."
"Okay, I'm confused then. If you're not hurt and he's not hurt and the mission was a success, then why are you two arguing?"
"Because," I said with a smile, "He's an idiot."
Anakin's POV
She ought to appreciate what I did; the success of the mission was largely due to me and my efforts. So, I really don't understand why she felt the need to yell at me right there in the middle of the battlefield in-front of everyone.
As soon as we touched down at the temple, she was the first one to rush off the ship. I could already picture what awaited me when I returned to our room—nothing. She was so furious that she would choose to sleep alone in her own tonight. The thought of being by myself, especially after everything I had been seeing recently, wasn't ideal. So, after sending my clones away for the night, I decided to make a quick detour.
I knocked on a door and waited for the person inside to respond. "An!" Cal greeted me with a friendly smile. "What's going on?" BD-1 perched on his shoulder, looking at me with curiosity.
"My padawan and I got into a pretty bad fight and I could really use a drink," I admitted, suddenly feeling more sad than angry. I didn't want to argue with the one I loved the most in this galaxy, but sometimes she could be so unreasonable. "Want to join me?"
He glanced at BD, "I need you to stay here. I'll be back soon." BD seemed to protest a bit, but he eventually settled down when Cal raised an eyebrow at him. "That's what I thought," Cal said with a smirk, closing the door behind him as his droid hopped off to sit on the bed and wait.
I thought of going to Obi-Wan first, but things between us were still a little strained and we haven't talked that much since I told him how I really feel about (y/n). I know he disapproves, that's enough for me to keep my distance for now. So the only other person I actually enjoy being around was my only option, and I knew he'd say yes. I still find this sudden friendship bizarre, but there was one thing on that ship we happened to share with one another that has formed a bond not many—if any—in this temple would understand.
Flashback
Cal sat at the back of the ship, his fingers twisting together as he let out a sigh for what felt like the tenth time. It was just the two of us in the cockpit, along with our prisoner, who lay unconscious after Cal had lost his patience with the endless crying. The others were scattered around the ship, either resting or asleep.
I turned to him, a hint of irritation in my voice. "Why do you keep sighing?"
He glanced at me briefly before looking down again. "It's nothing."
"It's clearly not nothing. If I hear you sigh one more time, I might just turn this ship around and drop you back on that island," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
He managed a small smile and let out a quiet laugh. "Your reputation precedes you."
"I've heard that before. Now, what's really bothering you?" I pressed.
"I—" He hesitated, glancing around as if to ensure we were alone and no one was listening. "I feel like I've failed as a Jedi."
I furrowed my brows, "You've only just begun. You can't have failed already." I figured he was feeling down because he had been captured and lost people along the way. Anyone would feel like a failure after something like that,"What happened isn't your fault—"
"I kissed Ahsoka." He interrupted me, leaving me momentarily speechless. "I've developed feelings for her, I've tried to avoid it at all costs but it has felt so inevitable. I know you're going to have to report me to the council for breaking the code, all I ask is that I be there with you."
Was this kid really telling on himself right now?
Fortunately for him, he was talking to the right person.
I stood up and moved closer, taking a seat beside him. "We're not going to be telling the council anything," I said, watching his eyes widen in surprise. "They don't need to know."
"But," he stammered, looking puzzled, "that's why I'm telling you, Master Skywalker. I feel like I should confess. I made a promise, an oath, and I've broken it—I've failed."
"Stop." I paused, shaking my head at his words. "Feeling human emotions isn't a failure." I opened my eyes to meet his gaze. "Emotions are not always a bad thing, it's normal. You are not a failure, you are normal."
"But the council—"
"Screw the council," I scoffed, "What you've discovered, if she feels the same way, is a gift , not a sickness that needs to be fixed like the council suggests."
"She," he cleared his throat, "she does feel the same, and I can't explain it, but I can't stop thinking about her. I have tried everything, I've mediated, I've tried not to talk to her, I've avoided her in the halls..."
I smiled gently, he reminded me so much of me when I was first trying to understand what I was feeling. "The council doesn't exactly give us lessons on how to manage our emotions properly, just to dismiss them entirely. But there are some things that can't be ignored no matter how hard you might try Cal, which is why it feels so confusing and overwhelming." I explained and suddenly I was feeling like his master with him as my padawan, though instead of lessons to be a Jedi, it was a lesson on how to be human— or simply a man falling in love, "I say keep it between you two and see where it can go. But you need to promise me to never share this with anyone else."
"This isn't how I thought this conversation would go." He laughed.
I glanced at the door where (y/n) was, likely still unconscious. "Let's just say I understand you better than you realize."
"Your padawan," he said, finally putting the pieces together.
I looked at him and smiled. "My padawan."
He hummed, "Seems a little predatory."
I shot him a glare, "She is not that much younger than me."
He smirked, "I'm teasing."
Flashback ends
"Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?" he inquired as we walked through the corridors toward one of our speeders outside.
I exhaled deeply. "It was a rough day on the battlefield."
He made a sound that indicated he was skeptical, his brow furrowing slightly. "What did you do to upset her this time?" His tone was teasing.
"Why does everyone assume I'm the one to blame?"
He nudged my shoulder playfully. "Because you have a habit of being an asshole."
I shot him a look. "I'd rather not talk about any of it."
He raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender. "Alright, fine. Let's take my speeder today, it's been awhile and I'm worried it's going to start collecting dust."
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