Disclaimer: George Lucas owns all (not that he'd recognize much of it in
this story) Oh except for Curt, he belongs to Todd Haynes
Spoilers: Episode II
Summary: Suddenly the strain of losing her world becomes too much for Padmé, the death of her handmaiden spirals her into a path of destructiveness. Her Jedi protectors must help her while saving their own relationship in the process. Can the broken bonds once forged from innocent love overcome a world destined for darkness?
Chapter I
Padme wrapped the silvery lace shawl more tightly around herself, though it provided her with little protection against the biting cold as late evening turned slowly to night. Coruscant was beautiful in the dark, when the sunlight was no longer reflected by the cold metallic walls of towering skyscrapers, but instead the buildings emanated their own electric light, and the headlights of speeders filled the night sky like stars. No, she did not wish for protection from the elements, but from the crowds of people all around her, pushing and shoving at each other on the sidewalks, all too wrapped up in their own busy lives to put up with loiterers. Or people who just didn't know where they were going.
"Hey, excuse me!"
"Outta the way!"
Padme looked about quickly, wearing on her face an unusually uncomfortable expression, nervous even. This was not Senator Amidala, though perhaps it was the stubbornness of the representative of Naboo that had gotten her into this situation in the first place.
"Move it!"
Someone pushed her a bit too roughly from the side, and she half stepped, half fell into a doorway. She quickly got her footing and turned to shoot an angry glare at the person, but they had already been swept along by the crowd. She raised her chin defiantly, sweeping away all the traces of nervousness from her amber eyes as she remembered who she was. Padme may have turned back, but Senator Amidala would most certainly not. This was what she had wanted, after all - a few hours of freedom from the constant suffocating presence of Captain Typho, her many guards, and now two jedis too. Although, if she was being completely honest with herself, Master Obi Wan's presence was anything not unwelcome. His face was as warm and comforting as it ever had been, perhaps even more so than she remembered. His eyes brought back memories to her of warm summer evenings in the meadows of newly liberated Naboo, all of ten years ago. It was only his padawan learner that made her uncomfortable. Anakin, once a little boy whom she had been fond of, now a handsome young man, but his eyes ever suggestive, piercing the senator's façade like few could and getting right under her skin. She wished only for the friendship they had once shared, but she could see already that he would not settle for that.
So was that why she was here? Had a single young padawan driven her out into the dirty streets of one of the worst parts of Coruscant? Well, it was true, in part, but that was not the only reason. The current situation in the senate, Corde's death, the fact she hadn't seen her parents in months - finally it was all starting to get to her. It had only ever been a matter of time.
Slowly she became aware of voices within the building that she was stood outside. The excited murmurs drew her out of the cold and into a crowded room. Great, more people she thought, again subconsciously pulling at her shawl. But not one of them paid Padme any notice as she took a seat at one of the few small grubby tables, despite how very out of place she looked in her beautiful lilac dress, and with her hair twisted in an intricate pattern down her back and threaded with many tiny pearls. In her escape, there had been no time for the lengthy process of getting changed. Infact, as she took in her surroundings, she realised that many of the people here were dressed up in such unsuitably fabulous clothing, some to such a degree that it almost served as competition for Padme. Almost. A small smile played on her small pink lips. Though this world was completely foreign to her, it seemed she had already been accepted into it.
Then, a hoarse shout filled the air, so sudden as though something had not wished Padme to become too comfortable. She jumped in her seat, and spun around to see where the sound had come from, fearing what she would find, questioning again what she had gotten herself into. But even as she turned, the yell was joined by what she recognised by music, and yet the sound was, like everything else, completely new to her. It was raw, violent, yet strangely compelling, even beautiful. She found herself staring at a small stage, at the curvaceous metallic instrument which she could only presume had produced the sound. It screamed out a tune, joined now by another instrument that she was more familiar with, though never before had she heard drums played in such a way, like they were created with the sole purpose of accompanying this strange new sound. Padme's eyes widened in fascination, yet she did not see the players, only their instruments, until the voice came in once more, harnessed now, brought down into actual words that in their unusualness only complimented the music.
"well see that cat
yeah, I do mean you
well see that cat
yeah, I do mean you"
Her eyes travelled slowly up the singer's body, up the tight black leather pants to his naked upper body as he drizzled oil down it. Her lips parted slightly in surprise. pleasant surprise as he massaged the oil into his skin, moving his hand in slow, erotic circles. Padme finally managed to raise her stare up to eyes that were ringed with eyeliner, to a face that emanated unusual familiarity, and at the same time was like nothing she'd seen before. He licked his lips like a hungry wolf, prowling across the stage, his voice husky as he sang on.
"shoot your T.V. Eye on me
shoot your T.V. Eye
shoot your T.V. Eye on me, oh"
He picked up a contained of gold glitter and sprinkled it over himself, pieces of it catching the light as it fell, sparkling and twinkling like stars, some settling on him, some falling to the floor. And then, all of a sudden, he looked straight at Padme. She found herself holding her breath, fixed to the spot, and her heart gave a slight flutter of desire. The song seemed to fade away into stillness as their eyes met, and his gaze spoke of forbidden pleasures, an untamed world that he was calling her into. She knew in her heart how completely wrong it was, but that only made it all the more enticing. Still a few flakes of the gold glitter were falling about him, like the eyeliner contrasting and complimenting his appearance at the same time. The attraction was primal yet complex, and try as she may she couldn't explain it. She found herself helplessly caught in his gaze, unable to look away until finally he did. All around her she felt movement returning. Suddenly feeling disorientated, she stood up, having to press her hand against the wall for support for a moment before the wave of dizziness passed, but leaving her still lost and confused. She needed fresh air to clear her mind. As she stepped out into cool night once more, she could hear the song coming to an end behind her.
She should have started heading back by now. The sky had turned from deep blue to inky black, and doubts were starting to kick in. They would no doubt have discovered she was not in her room hours ago, and would probably all be running round like headless chickens by now. She almost felt sorry for them. Yet here Padme was, not only still out, but still stood outside the same bizarre club. Why was she still here?
"You're new here." The voice came from behind her, low and husky, making her jump as it tore her out of her trail of thought. She spun around, about to give this creep a piece a little advice on not sneaking up on people in dark alleyways, but the words caught in her throat. It was him - the singer from the club - the reason she had been stood out here for the last 20 minutes, although she wouldn't admit it to herself. A slight smile crept over his lips as he came towards her, his movements again reminding her of a wolf stalking its prey, slow and cautious yet certain, his eyeliner ringed eyes never moving from her face.
"You got a name?" This time she had overcome her initial shock enough to recognise his accent, belonging to this area, or perhaps just a little to the north. When had she ever allowed herself to become dumbfounded by anyone? She cleared her throat and gave him a small, seductive smile, playing him at his own game.
"Padme," she said, taking just a couple of steps towards him, if only to show she wasn't intimidated by him, that she wasn't helpless in this situation. Partially she was just reassuring herself of those things. It didn't even occur to her just how easily she had dropped her title of senator. Right now, outside this club at this time of night with him at her like that, she was Padme. She looped a lock of her silky brown hair loosely around her finger, winding it slowly, idly, keeping eye contact with him. She knew perfectly well how to get a man where she wanted him, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him from somewhere. "And yourself?" All the while, he had continued to move towards her, but only now did she realise that he was just inches away from her, his eyes bearing down into hers, flashing mischievously for just a moment as they caught the silvery light of the moon. She held her breath, and once more her heart pounded in her chest, sending emotions surging through her veins. Somehow he had caught her off guard again!
"Curt," he replied after what seemed like an age, and she could feel his breath on her neck, sending a tingling sensation across her skin. She shivered slightly, pleasantly, closing her eyes for a moment as tingle ran through her whole body. She wanted to respond, but she was sinking too deep in her own desire, hoping only that he would read the signals as with much effort her eyes slowly opened again and gazed into his.
She felt a cool hand against her soft ivory skin, intensifying that shiver, leaving her breathless. He was teasing her now, she was sure of it, but she was completely powerless like she had never been before. Her passion surged with each touch - she was falling too fast, hurtling out of control, needing this man who was almost a complete stranger to her.
His lips brushed over hers and again her eyes fluttered close, but already the contact was gone. Desperately she craned her neck, searching blindly for the taste again, then sinking in as she found his soft lips. Her hand went up to his face, and she ran her fingers through his hair and slowly down the back his neck. There she let her hand rest, applying just a little pressure to deepen the kiss, feeling her heart race within her chest. It was he who let out a small moan of pleasure, repaying the favour by snaking his tongue into her mouth, then massaging her tongue slowly. Both her hands found their way down his naked back, rubbing his skin in slow, deep circles as he ran his hands up and down her naked arms. Everything was happening so quickly, and already in her mind she knew where it would end, but she couldn't stop. She didn't want to stop. And it didn't seem like this familiar stranger was going to either.
Spoilers: Episode II
Summary: Suddenly the strain of losing her world becomes too much for Padmé, the death of her handmaiden spirals her into a path of destructiveness. Her Jedi protectors must help her while saving their own relationship in the process. Can the broken bonds once forged from innocent love overcome a world destined for darkness?
Chapter I
Padme wrapped the silvery lace shawl more tightly around herself, though it provided her with little protection against the biting cold as late evening turned slowly to night. Coruscant was beautiful in the dark, when the sunlight was no longer reflected by the cold metallic walls of towering skyscrapers, but instead the buildings emanated their own electric light, and the headlights of speeders filled the night sky like stars. No, she did not wish for protection from the elements, but from the crowds of people all around her, pushing and shoving at each other on the sidewalks, all too wrapped up in their own busy lives to put up with loiterers. Or people who just didn't know where they were going.
"Hey, excuse me!"
"Outta the way!"
Padme looked about quickly, wearing on her face an unusually uncomfortable expression, nervous even. This was not Senator Amidala, though perhaps it was the stubbornness of the representative of Naboo that had gotten her into this situation in the first place.
"Move it!"
Someone pushed her a bit too roughly from the side, and she half stepped, half fell into a doorway. She quickly got her footing and turned to shoot an angry glare at the person, but they had already been swept along by the crowd. She raised her chin defiantly, sweeping away all the traces of nervousness from her amber eyes as she remembered who she was. Padme may have turned back, but Senator Amidala would most certainly not. This was what she had wanted, after all - a few hours of freedom from the constant suffocating presence of Captain Typho, her many guards, and now two jedis too. Although, if she was being completely honest with herself, Master Obi Wan's presence was anything not unwelcome. His face was as warm and comforting as it ever had been, perhaps even more so than she remembered. His eyes brought back memories to her of warm summer evenings in the meadows of newly liberated Naboo, all of ten years ago. It was only his padawan learner that made her uncomfortable. Anakin, once a little boy whom she had been fond of, now a handsome young man, but his eyes ever suggestive, piercing the senator's façade like few could and getting right under her skin. She wished only for the friendship they had once shared, but she could see already that he would not settle for that.
So was that why she was here? Had a single young padawan driven her out into the dirty streets of one of the worst parts of Coruscant? Well, it was true, in part, but that was not the only reason. The current situation in the senate, Corde's death, the fact she hadn't seen her parents in months - finally it was all starting to get to her. It had only ever been a matter of time.
Slowly she became aware of voices within the building that she was stood outside. The excited murmurs drew her out of the cold and into a crowded room. Great, more people she thought, again subconsciously pulling at her shawl. But not one of them paid Padme any notice as she took a seat at one of the few small grubby tables, despite how very out of place she looked in her beautiful lilac dress, and with her hair twisted in an intricate pattern down her back and threaded with many tiny pearls. In her escape, there had been no time for the lengthy process of getting changed. Infact, as she took in her surroundings, she realised that many of the people here were dressed up in such unsuitably fabulous clothing, some to such a degree that it almost served as competition for Padme. Almost. A small smile played on her small pink lips. Though this world was completely foreign to her, it seemed she had already been accepted into it.
Then, a hoarse shout filled the air, so sudden as though something had not wished Padme to become too comfortable. She jumped in her seat, and spun around to see where the sound had come from, fearing what she would find, questioning again what she had gotten herself into. But even as she turned, the yell was joined by what she recognised by music, and yet the sound was, like everything else, completely new to her. It was raw, violent, yet strangely compelling, even beautiful. She found herself staring at a small stage, at the curvaceous metallic instrument which she could only presume had produced the sound. It screamed out a tune, joined now by another instrument that she was more familiar with, though never before had she heard drums played in such a way, like they were created with the sole purpose of accompanying this strange new sound. Padme's eyes widened in fascination, yet she did not see the players, only their instruments, until the voice came in once more, harnessed now, brought down into actual words that in their unusualness only complimented the music.
"well see that cat
yeah, I do mean you
well see that cat
yeah, I do mean you"
Her eyes travelled slowly up the singer's body, up the tight black leather pants to his naked upper body as he drizzled oil down it. Her lips parted slightly in surprise. pleasant surprise as he massaged the oil into his skin, moving his hand in slow, erotic circles. Padme finally managed to raise her stare up to eyes that were ringed with eyeliner, to a face that emanated unusual familiarity, and at the same time was like nothing she'd seen before. He licked his lips like a hungry wolf, prowling across the stage, his voice husky as he sang on.
"shoot your T.V. Eye on me
shoot your T.V. Eye
shoot your T.V. Eye on me, oh"
He picked up a contained of gold glitter and sprinkled it over himself, pieces of it catching the light as it fell, sparkling and twinkling like stars, some settling on him, some falling to the floor. And then, all of a sudden, he looked straight at Padme. She found herself holding her breath, fixed to the spot, and her heart gave a slight flutter of desire. The song seemed to fade away into stillness as their eyes met, and his gaze spoke of forbidden pleasures, an untamed world that he was calling her into. She knew in her heart how completely wrong it was, but that only made it all the more enticing. Still a few flakes of the gold glitter were falling about him, like the eyeliner contrasting and complimenting his appearance at the same time. The attraction was primal yet complex, and try as she may she couldn't explain it. She found herself helplessly caught in his gaze, unable to look away until finally he did. All around her she felt movement returning. Suddenly feeling disorientated, she stood up, having to press her hand against the wall for support for a moment before the wave of dizziness passed, but leaving her still lost and confused. She needed fresh air to clear her mind. As she stepped out into cool night once more, she could hear the song coming to an end behind her.
She should have started heading back by now. The sky had turned from deep blue to inky black, and doubts were starting to kick in. They would no doubt have discovered she was not in her room hours ago, and would probably all be running round like headless chickens by now. She almost felt sorry for them. Yet here Padme was, not only still out, but still stood outside the same bizarre club. Why was she still here?
"You're new here." The voice came from behind her, low and husky, making her jump as it tore her out of her trail of thought. She spun around, about to give this creep a piece a little advice on not sneaking up on people in dark alleyways, but the words caught in her throat. It was him - the singer from the club - the reason she had been stood out here for the last 20 minutes, although she wouldn't admit it to herself. A slight smile crept over his lips as he came towards her, his movements again reminding her of a wolf stalking its prey, slow and cautious yet certain, his eyeliner ringed eyes never moving from her face.
"You got a name?" This time she had overcome her initial shock enough to recognise his accent, belonging to this area, or perhaps just a little to the north. When had she ever allowed herself to become dumbfounded by anyone? She cleared her throat and gave him a small, seductive smile, playing him at his own game.
"Padme," she said, taking just a couple of steps towards him, if only to show she wasn't intimidated by him, that she wasn't helpless in this situation. Partially she was just reassuring herself of those things. It didn't even occur to her just how easily she had dropped her title of senator. Right now, outside this club at this time of night with him at her like that, she was Padme. She looped a lock of her silky brown hair loosely around her finger, winding it slowly, idly, keeping eye contact with him. She knew perfectly well how to get a man where she wanted him, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him from somewhere. "And yourself?" All the while, he had continued to move towards her, but only now did she realise that he was just inches away from her, his eyes bearing down into hers, flashing mischievously for just a moment as they caught the silvery light of the moon. She held her breath, and once more her heart pounded in her chest, sending emotions surging through her veins. Somehow he had caught her off guard again!
"Curt," he replied after what seemed like an age, and she could feel his breath on her neck, sending a tingling sensation across her skin. She shivered slightly, pleasantly, closing her eyes for a moment as tingle ran through her whole body. She wanted to respond, but she was sinking too deep in her own desire, hoping only that he would read the signals as with much effort her eyes slowly opened again and gazed into his.
She felt a cool hand against her soft ivory skin, intensifying that shiver, leaving her breathless. He was teasing her now, she was sure of it, but she was completely powerless like she had never been before. Her passion surged with each touch - she was falling too fast, hurtling out of control, needing this man who was almost a complete stranger to her.
His lips brushed over hers and again her eyes fluttered close, but already the contact was gone. Desperately she craned her neck, searching blindly for the taste again, then sinking in as she found his soft lips. Her hand went up to his face, and she ran her fingers through his hair and slowly down the back his neck. There she let her hand rest, applying just a little pressure to deepen the kiss, feeling her heart race within her chest. It was he who let out a small moan of pleasure, repaying the favour by snaking his tongue into her mouth, then massaging her tongue slowly. Both her hands found their way down his naked back, rubbing his skin in slow, deep circles as he ran his hands up and down her naked arms. Everything was happening so quickly, and already in her mind she knew where it would end, but she couldn't stop. She didn't want to stop. And it didn't seem like this familiar stranger was going to either.