Hidden From Plain Sight – Part II – Light in the Darkness
Hidden From Plain Sight – Part II – Light in the Darkness
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars and characters. If I did I'd be rich and famous.
Has it really been almost 4 months? Wow... Special thanks to Jedi Ani Unduli for beta/edit! Merci!
From the previous chapter…
It had been a month since Barriss's supposed passing, but she still couldn't get over it.
She had so much potential… If only she'd lived… I miss her so much, from her pessimistic attitude, right down to the way she used to smile… I remember all the times I scolded her for not keeping her temper… How I regret that now. But Jedi do not regret, do they? Perhaps I am not Jedi… Perhaps no one is truly Jedi. Everyone has emotions; some choose to show it, some do not… Oh, Barriss… How I wish you were here now.
--
Obi Wan peered inside. It was much too dark to see anything. He stepped in, uncertainly. "Luminara?" he called. There was no answer. He had thought such; she wasn't in here. He couldn't sense her presence. But even as he closed the door behind him, a nagging voice in the back of his mind said, Are you sure? She could be cloaking her Force signature. She's good at that, you know.
--
Luminara breathed a sigh of relief as Obi Wan left. She just wanted to be left alone for a while.
--
(Battle of Geonosis)
Barriss fought her way through an army of battle droids. She was tiring fast, and she knew it. Her Master, Luminara Unduli, battled beside her, slicing through wave after wave of droids. Glancing away for just a moment, she lost sight of her–
Suddenly, a large, loud, whirring sound ascended from overhead. She looked up, her head flashing up just for a moment. A small, green shape peered down at them. "Hurry, you must!"
Suddenly, Barriss felt herself being shoved aside. A small stampede of Jedi raced across her path, all eager to get onboard. She found herself being pushed forward, and being trampled. She curled up in a ball, praying that no one would step on her…
--
Luminara lay flat on her back on her bed. She couldn't sleep. How could she? Her Padawan was dead. Gone.
She rolled onto her back, staring at the shut door without really knowing it.
A soft knock from the outer door told her someone was here. Probably Shaak, she decided, sitting up.
"Who is it?" she called out, her voice slightly hoarse.
A deep voice answered her; definitely not Shaak's. "Me."
"Obi Wan."
She let loose a soft sigh. "Not now, Obi Wan..."
"Please?"
She could almost picture him giving her his kicked-bantha look. Even after a good twenty to thirty years, it still worked.
She blew out a breath. "Fine."
Obi Wan stepped inside, turning to close the door. He sat down on the edge of the bed. Luminara refused to look at him, turning away and studying the moon outside the window with sudden interest.
"What is it?" she finally said, still not looking at him.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because..."
"Because?"
"Because you were acting…"
"Acting what?"
Now it was his turn to look away. She smirked slightly.
He suddenly sat up straighter. "Because you've been acting weird."
"You don't say," Luminara commented dryly.
He nodded, as convincingly as possible. "Yes. That's it."
She frowned, sensing something deeper. "And..?"
He blinked at her, giving her his kicked-bantha look again. "And what?" he asked, as innocently as possible.
"There's something else.." Luminara prodded.
"Erm…"
She suddenly realized something. "Shaak put you up to this, didn't she?"
Obi Wan looked away. "She was worried.."
Luminara snapped, "I'd be better if everyone just left me alone. I mean, what am I expected to do? Pretend my Padawan didn't exist, never existed, and just go on like before? It's not possible, Obi. I've tried."
"Well, I could help you." He shot her a sly look.
She rolled her eyes. "Right. How would you do that?"
"Like this."
He reached over and tugged her over to him. Luminara, who had not been expecting this, was caught off balance, and tumbled neatly into his lap.
"Well? Is that it?"
"Um.. I didn't think that far yet."
"Try again."
"Um.."
Luminara couldn't believe how dim-witted he was. Did living a happy, normal life always do this to people? Then she realized that she had once been like that. Naïve, full of hope, happiness, contentment, joy..
"This isn't helping, Obi Wan.."
"Um.."
"Can I get up now?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because.."
"Hmm?"
"Because you're warm."
She rolled her eyes.
"Is this the best excuse you can think of?"
He shrugged.
Luminara sighed. "Fine."
She lay back down, closing her eyes. It was just before sleep overtook her that she really began to wonder why Obi Wan was doing this…
--
Obi Wan peered down at Luminara. He was sure she was asleep by now. He moved slightly, afraid to wake her. Tentatively, he pulled her closer. Force, it was freezing. He didn't know how she could stand the cold. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling her warmth. He pulled her back on the bed with him, closing his eyes, and fell asleep like that, his arms holding her close.
Okie.. now, I've come to a dilemma; how should Luminara react? Will she find out (will Obi Wan get out of there before she wakes up, so she'll never know?)? I need an opinion on this...