"…We'd also like to thank Jedi Revan for the sacrifices that she has made. We know that this has left her scarred and bruised but we know that she has come out better because of it."
Carth looked at her and saw her wince at the word. She hated being told that she was scarred. Said that all it did was make her focus on her imperfections. Little things like that usually didn't bother her, but when it came to the scars that covered her body, she closed up and attempted to put on a happy face, mentally listing everything that was wrong with herself.
That was what he found her doing when the ceremony was over. He walked into their apartment and found her standing in front of the full-length mirror in their bedroom, sans clothing. She hadn't noticed him walk in and he took advantage of that, watching her trace each scar across her body with her eyes, a pained look on her face.
She finally noticed him when he stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She turned around and buried her face in his chest.
"I hate each and every one of them, Carth." He kissed the top of her head.
"I don't. They make you who you are. They show everything you've gone through.
"They're hideous. I'm ugly as ****. I don't see how you can stand to look at me." He tugged at her chin to force her to look up at him.
"Because I love you. Because they don't matter." He kissed the scar above her eye from where Malak had hit her on the Leviathan. He traced the long one that ran diagonally on her back with his fingertips that she had gotten on the Star Forge. She shivered under the touch of his calloused hands.
"No! They're everywhere! How can you just write them off as nothing?" She pulled away from him without waiting for a response, throwing on her robe and walked towards the living room. Carth grabbed her hand and turned her around. He saw the tears in her eyes. "I'm broken," she sobbed. He brought her to the couch, cradling her against his chest.
"Shhh. Schuyler, you're not broken. You're beautiful and strong and one of the bravest women I know."
"They stare at them, Carth. I can hear them talking about me when they think I'm not listening. 'They're hideous. Poor girl, ought to see what she can do to cover them up.'"
"Then that's their problem. Each scar of yours represents a battle that you've come out on top of. A person or group that you were able to defeat." He kissed the top of her head. "And if I had the chance to erase every single one, I wouldn't. And besides, no matter what they think, they don't make you imperfect." He saw her close her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Carth. I didn't mean to get so whiny. I just feel like it's all everyone sees about me," she said quietly. He tilted her face up to kiss her.
"It's alright, Gorgeous. Now, I have some time off, and you don't have to be anywhere for a hour or so, and you're barely wearing anything…," he said wiggling his hips against her. She laughed.
"One track mind much, Onasi?"
"You're sitting in my lap without any underwear. I blame you."