Author's Note: In truly predictable angstmonger fashion, I took one look at Week Four's seemingly peaceful prompts and went, "Ooh! I have a Sith Lord for that!" So now we're heading back into the main Enter!verse for this set, which centers around one of my beloved trash lord OCs: Darth Ferrus.
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Week Four
47-61 ABY, Enter!verse AU
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16. Balm
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Veeran sits down at his usual place in the mess, greeted by a chorus of approving whistles and cheers. He rolls his eyes and bumps his splint against Yaanis's matching one.
"Sometimes I think you get yourself sent to medical on purpose," the Rodian boy says, wincing.
Veeran shrugs, fighting back a grin as he shoves Yaanis with his other arm. "Don't be ungrateful, idiot. Remember who saved your ass today."
"Like you'd let me forget."
Something brushes his shoulder, and he looks back just as Talia passes behind him, and feels himself flush as she murmurs, "Not bad, Starskip."
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17. Breeze
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He holds the weapon steady in his hands, leaning slightly forward over the ledge of the building.
"I thought you didn't approve of assassination jobs?"
He inhales slowly, ignoring the irritating itch of his brother's words. He has to concentrate, has to account for the wind even when it isn't strong.
(assassinations are for cowards, that's not what this is, but sometimes subtlety works better than brute force)
He squeezes the trigger and exhales, and watches the shot find its mark. Next to him, Festus leans against the ledge, into the breeze, and whistles.
"You're getting pretty good at that."
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18. Idyll
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It isn't hard to pretend.
He does it all the time, and so do they. Pretend he's not dangerous, pretend they don't know better. Give it a few drinks and let it all go, the things he's lost, things he can't get back, things he broke beyond repair… what's the point of torturing himself when he did what he had to?
He likes how it feels, letting go. He likes their soft curves and their warm, liquid mouths, and how they never ask too much. He likes the way they've all begun to blur.
(he doesn't want more than this)
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19. Linger
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For the first time in a long time, there's nothing satisfying in the slaughter. He drops the last gang member, hears the body hit the floor with a heavy thud, tosses the lightsaber to Festus without looking. All he can see is how Iselle stared at him, terrified, like he was some kind of monster.
Did you ever doubt you were? His inner voice sounds a lot like his twin, and he can't even summon the energy to care.
She hesitated. She looked back at the last second, in spite of the danger. Doesn't that mean something?
Does it matter?
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20. Shade
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I'm here. I'm with you.
I've always been with you.
I know it hurts.
I know you're afraid.
I know every tear you've shed. I know the rage that smolders inside you, the fires that consume.
It won't make you strong. It'll burn brighter and fiercer and hotter, until there's nothing left. If you continue down this path, it will destroy you.
You don't have to hold on to this. You don't have to keep fighting. It's okay to lie down and rest.
You can let it go, little one.
You can let it all go.
Come back.
Come home.
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