A/N: Short A/N this time. I'm baaaack. I don't have the faintest clue as to when the next chapter will be posted, possibly due to writer's block =( I haven't been able to write anything, lately. Be aware that mostly fluffy-stuff will start with the next chapter and continue through several chapters before going back to the plot (yes there is an actual plot)
For the Sake of Being with You
:: Demon Eyes ::
~ Chapter Four ~
Obi-Wan was pacing around the sitting room, wondering how he had suddenly lost the argument. He really did not think it was wise to bring Padme along with him. Who knew what could happen in the busy streets of a place like this?
It really was imperative that he find Anakin, though, one to make his job somewhat easier (he hadn't slept at all that night) and the other to make sure that he hadn't been killed or hurt. Maybe it would be okay, after all he would be there to protect her, no matter what.
A few minutes later, Padme emerged from her room, and she looked better then well. She looked amazing, even dressed simply in black pants and a black, long sleeved shirt. He even noticed there was a blaster somewhat hidden at her side under a long jacket.
"I'm ready to go," she announced as if the argument had never taken place.
"You know I still don't approve of this," he replied with a sigh.
Padme continued walking to the elevator, her long tied back hair swaying behind her. "Oh, I know."
Obi-Wan followed her to the elevator which always seemed to be waiting for them. The two stepped into the elevator and immediately headed the hundred or so flights towards the street. They were silent for a few seconds before Padme asked, "How do you expect to find Anakin?"
"A Jedi Master and apprentice have a bond through the Force. As we get closer to him, the bond will grow stronger. It's almost as good as a tracking device."
Padme smiled. "Maybe you should get one of those for me, so you won't be so worried about me all the time."
"It's an idea," Obi-Wan said under his breath, and turned away as if he said nothing. Padme just smile even more.
"See, you do have a sense of humor."
"I was laughing hysterically just a few minutes ago or was that a different senator I was arguing with?"
"Yes... but," Padme thought a second then finished proudly, "that's different."
He wanted to question what was so different about it but they arrived at street level then and were suddenly caught in the hustle of the day. Atleast, the Jedi thought, the
daytime is better then the nightlife.
"Stay close to me, Padme," Obi-Wan said, not realizing what his words would mean.
Padme couldn't resist the chance to "stay close" to Obi-Wan, and linked her arm through his, careful of the wound. "If you say so, Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan froze as he felt her body against his, her warmth giving him spirit. The touch of her arm through his. Padme was just as transfixed as he was, finding comfort being so near to him. She wanted to stay that way forever. Of course, since neither of them wanted to move, it might become reality.
"Uh," Obi-Wan breathed, "we should get going."
Padme nodded, almost reluctantly. "Right."
They both started walking at the same time, Obi-Wan leading her in the direction that he felt Anakin's lifeform coming from. They exchanged light conversation as they walked, still arm in arm, and both felt attraction for the other growing. Obi-Wan was indeed glad that he had somehow been talked into taking the young senator with him.
The pair entered a rather seedy part of town and Padme looked questioningly at Obi-Wan. "He's here, somewhere. What in the blazes is the boy doing here?"
Padme found that question better left unanswered. They continued down the road they were on, Obi-Wan looking intently at each door as he felt the link becoming stronger. Finally, he stopped infront of a door to a run-down, makeshift looking house. "He's in there," he said simply and knocked on the door.
"Yeah, coming, coming," a feminine voice answered and the two exchanged wide eyed glances. The door opened a moment later and a young human woman who looked about Padme's age, glanced immediately at Obi-Wan with a suggestive smirk. "Oh, another Jedi. Pleased to meet ya."
There was no doubt now that she had seen Anakin. "I'm looking for someone," Obi-Wan replied, dropping all formalities. "His name is Anakin Skywalker. Have you seen him?"
The woman glared at the Jedi, possibly upset that he was all business. "Yeah, 'course I've seen him." She then turned and yelled into the house, "Anakin!"
A groan and a muttered 'not so loud' was the response until Anakin, missing all clothing aside from pants, arrived at the door. The sight of both his Master and Padme made him become aware immediately. "Master!"
"Anakin, I want you out here in two minutes. Any later and you will be punished," Obi-Wan said, immediately resuming his role as Jedi Master.
"Of course, Master," Anakin replied, going back inside to get his things without a second glance at the woman. She shrugged and went back inside as well.
Obi-Wan shook his head at how naive his student was. "I'm terribly sorry, Padme."
She smiled softly, understanding what Obi-Wan had meant. Anakin appeared within a minute, fully dressed. He knew his master was not in a mood to be tested. The door slammed shut behind him.
"Anakin, what happened?" The Jedi Master's words were calm which made Anakin even more afraid of him. If he had been angry, it would have made sense, but to see the
older man so calm was nerve racking.
"Last night, I was out looking for Padme," he shot the woman a grin, obviously happy to see that she was well, "And I...kind of passed out. Hope, there, she found me in the street and took me back to her place. That's all that happened, Master, I swear."
Obi-Wan nodded, knowing his Padawan spoke the truth. "You should not have had so much to drink at dinner, Padawan. Padme could have been killed because of what you did."
The boy paled at this, obviously realizing for the first time the full extent of his action. His arrogance still shown through, though. "How was I supposed to know that she would be kidnapped?! If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten drunk."
"That's just it, Padawan. A Jedi must always be prepared, alert and expecting an attack even if one doesn't come. You are not to even look at a drop of alcohol as long as you are my student, do you understand?"
Anakin bowed his head, "Yes, Master."
"Now, I think you should apologize to the senator for your actions."
Taking her hand, Anakin bowed his head to Padme as well, "I'm truly, deeply sorry for what I did, Padme, and I hope you can forgive me."
"Of course," was all she could manage. She was impressed with the way that had gone. She had actually braced herself for a repeat of her own fight with Obi-Wan that morning.
"We should return Senator Amidala to her rooms, now. It's not safe for her out on the street," Obi-Wan continued, looking pointedly at Padme.
"You're right," she replied, catching the Jedi off guard.
"Of course I am," Obi-Wan replied.
The three now began their walk back to the building Padme was staying in. Padme and Obi-Wan walked together while a rather annoyed Anakin walked behind them, mad because instead of him walking next to the woman he loved, it was his Master. He remained silent though, knowing the older man had let him off easy and did not want to push him.
The trip back was made in complete silence until they returned to the building, where Obi-Wan turned to his padawan and said, "I have to go speak to the Council, can I trust
you to take care of the Senator?"
The boy nodded eagerly, "Of course, Master."
"Good. I'll be back shortly." Without another word, not even a good-bye to her, Padme watched sadly as the Jedi walked down the sidewalk, heading for the Jedi Temple.
Despite their fighting, she would miss having him protecting her. The fight was actually part of what she loved about having him as a bodyguard. No one usually dared to fight with her but comply with her. Obi-Wan treated her as a real person and did not notice her position as a Senator in any way except that because of it, he had to protect her.
"Come on, Padme," Anakin called to her, and she followed him, putting on a smile.
:://~//~//~//~//~//~//~//::
"Leave the planet immediately, you must," Yoda said after hearing the story of the previous night from Obi-Wan.
The council had been adjourned to some important meeting, but Masters Yoda and Windu had agreed to meet with him.
Obi-Wan sighed, looking down at the little green Jedi infront of him, "I knew you'd say that. Senator Amidala will not want to go willingly." A pause, and then a thought came
to his mind, "Where do you suggest we go?"
"Naboo, perhaps?" Mace said thoughtfully. "She may be more willing to leave if it is back to her own planet."
"Yes, to Naboo the Senator must go."
"She has just come from Naboo. With all due respect, Master, I do not believe she will agree with you on this. Especially with that vote so close."
"We're just trying to keep her safe, Obi-Wan. She must be able to see that."
"That girl cannot see anything other then what she wishes to do," Obi-Wan said, almost
under his breath.
Yoda and Mace exchanged a glance unnoticed by Obi-Wan. They both sensed deeper feelings for the Senator then Obi-Wan let on.
"Surely, you can convince her?" Mace replied.
The younger man sighed, remembering the argument the two had shared that morning. "I'll do my best, Master. And what about Anakin, will he be accompanying me?"
"Hmm," Yoda thought, sharing another look with Windu. "More useful looking for this bounty hunter, perhaps the padawan is."
Obi-Wan was shocked. "Do you really think he is ready for that?"
"He is almost to the age when he will become a Jedi Master, Obi-Wan. We must see if
he is ready for the trials or not. Or, do you believe that he requires more training
before being set out on his own?"
"No, he is ready," Obi-Wan nodded, just imagining how furious the boy would be with him if he told the council he was not ready. Although, in the current situation, he might be more mad about being separated from Padme.
Which led him to thinking how he would be alone with Padme, now.
Thoughts cut off there as he remembered he was in a room with the two most powerful Jedi alive, and would most likely pick up on any emotion.
"Leave tonight, you must. Meet tomorrow with your padawan, we will."
Obi-Wan bowed to his elders. "Thank you, Masters. I will tell Anakin you wish to see him." With that, he exited the Council room.
Yoda and Mace immediately shared a look. "Confused, Master Kenobi is."
Master Windu sighed, shifting his position in the chair. "He has feelings for the senator, though I'm not sure whether he has admitted them to himself. Do you believe this will interfere with the future?"
Yoda let out a low grunt, "Chosen this path, the Force has. Whatever happens, the Force has meant it to be so."
"I hope you are right. I fear much suffering will come of this."
Yoda nodded to his friend, "As do I, Master Windu."
:://~//~//~//~//~//~//~//~//::
"I'm sorry again, Padme," Anakin said for atleast the hundredth time as the pair
returned to her rooms.
"Anakin, really," Padme replied, somewhat amused, "It's quite all right. Obi-Wan is
probably more angry at you then I am."
Anakin's face dropped. "You're angry at me?"
She shook her head quickly, as she realized she had chosen the wrong words. Stopping
to face him, Padme replied, "No, I didn't mean it that way... I meant that I understand
what happened and I've forgiven you. Just please, Anakin, don't do it again?"
"Already done," he replied with a grin.
They continued walking side by side into the sitting room where Dorme sat, mending the dress that had been ruined the previous night.
"Welcome back, young Jedi," Dorme said to Anakin.
The padawan had no reply as he caught sight of the torn, bloody dress. He turned quickly to Padme, who was taking a seat next to her friend and asked her in a panicked tone, "What happened to you last night?"
Padme looked towards the floor, knowing that Anakin deserved to know what had happened but everytime she told the story or thought of the events, bad memories rose up, terrifying her. Despite that, she worked through her pain, retelling her story in painful detail, at Anakin's request, leaving out the same parts of the story as when she told Captain Typho.
Padme found that she was unnerved to the fact that Anakin could not pick up on her distress as she told him of her kidnapping and near death experience. She wondered if it was the hangover or his he was really just unaware of her feelings. Either way, Padme was glad when Dorme finally interrupted.
"M'lady," she said, using formality, "I believe I may have saved this dress. If you don't mind, I'd like to get some more materials."
The senator just nodded absently, unable to beg her friend to remain with her. She watched Dorme exit the room, dress in hand, feeling her only escape escaping herself.
In a moment, Anakin had positioned himself next to Padme.
"I can't believe it's been ten years since we met each other on Tatooine," he said in a half-whisper, raising a hand and letting it drift down her arm.
"Neither can I," she responded, hiding her unease, "and you've gotten much taller." Padme was vaguely aware that she had said something similar to him when they had met again the previous day.
He laughed. "Yes, well I couldn't stay that 9 year old boy forever, now could I? I'm an adult now... we both are," he added with a grin. "Older and more mature... and able to move past childish things."
As he finished, Anakin leaned in, placing a soft kiss on Padme's lips. Padme only gave into the kiss partly. It was a sweet kiss and she felt the emotion of the Jedi apprentice radiate like the sun, but it held about half the passion and desire as a simple look from Obi-Wan. It was then that she knew for sure that she could never feel anything other then friendship towards the boy.
Padme pulled away with a jerk, berating herself for letting that kiss linger so long. "We shouldn't have done that, Anakin."
"Why not?" he murmured, running a hand through her hair. He really didn't sense her feelings, did he? Was he so blind by his own lust that he assumed that Padme felt the same?
She got to her feet, looking down on Anakin. "Don't," she said simply in a harsh tone which finally sunk through.
Anakin blinked rapidly several times, hurt. "I-I didn't mean to. I don't know what I was thinking."
"I'm sorry, Anakin, I just can't... I hope you understand."
"Of course," he said, his childish smile returning half-heartedly.
Padme sat back down, and they sat in awkward silence for a long time. She regretted telling Anakin so harshly that she wasn't interested as she seemed to have started breaking his heart. But, she quickly reminded herself that she had the right to choose whose advances she accepted, and Anakin would have to accept it as well. The senator was surprised that the boy had held this crush for as long as he did. In her eyes, Anakin seemed the kind of youth who would look at any beautiful woman and instantly fall for her, only to move on to the next beautiful girl.
But Obi-Wan was loyal, and she could tell by the way he acted and the looks she saw from his eyes, that he had never been in love. She imagined the Jedi master was somewhat like his apprentice when he was younger, but had grown out of that. It was part of what attracted him to her, that sense of loyalty and knowing he would never betray someone he loved.
Her eyes darted around the room shrouded in eerie silence and she unknowingly met Anakin's gaze, who was looking at her strangely, as if he didn't understand something. Padme quickly shielded her emotions; she had to remember that he was a Jedi and able to pick up the slightest change in her moods. She predicted it would not be wise to let the boy know she refused his advances because of another man.
The silence lasted for nearly half an hour, before Obi-Wan returned, breaking the awkward silence. As soon as he stepped off the elevator, he knew something was wrong but did not question what had happened, because he did not like the looks he was getting for the guilty party.
"Master," Anakin said, getting to his feet, "what did the council say?"
Obi-Wan's eyes darted to Padme, who remained seated. She looked the most awkward of the two, and seemed slightly less interested in the topic then she should have been. Fine with him, it might have actually made the news easier to deliver.
"Well," Obi-Wan said, folding his arms, "Masters Yoda and Windu think it best that I accompany the Senator offworld to Naboo, immediately."
"What?" Padme nearly yelled, loosing her temper as she got to her feet. "Doesn't your damned Jedi Council know that I've only just arrived and this vote is very important? One that I must be present for? I refuse to leave Coruscant before the vote, Master Jedi. I don't believe there is anything else you could do to get me off this world short of kidnapping me yourself."
Obi-Wan sighed and thought how ignorant he was to think that the Senator might have actually gone along with it without protest. Despite attempts on her life, she still wished to stay in harm's way. She was unbelievable. "Believe me, Senator, if that's what it will take, I'd be happy to obligee."
She crossed her arms, mirroring his own expression. "I'm not leaving, and that's final," Padme said, nearly resorting to pouting like a small child.
Obi-Wan's nerves rose at her stubbornness. "No, you are returning to Naboo and that is final," his voice a mix of calm and annoyance.
"He's right, Padme," Anakin said, trying to reason with her, "we do not want you hurt and it would make more sense for you to go back to Naboo, and have Dorme pretend to be you for a while."
"I am not putting another person, a friend, in danger because some Jedis are trying to interfere with my job."
"How do you expect to do your job if you're dead?" Obi-Wan replied, and Padme fell silent. "Don't you understand, Senator, that the people would much rather have you safe to serve them another day then to be killed now when you could have done so much good in the future? You will find, m'lady, that any person you ask will tell you the same, and that it is wise to leave. You are the only one who would consider suicide."
Padme remained silent, sitting back down on the couch. She rested her head in her hands, wondering if she had really been that irrational and blind. He was right, of course he was right. It was wiser that she flee now and live to help Naboo another day. But, still, that word 'flee' was what kept her fighting to stay on this planet.
"I do not wish to leave, Master Kenobi," she said civilly.
"I understand," Obi-Wan replied with a sigh and a shared look with his student. Neither wanted to loose her, but they didn't want to force her off the planet. They wanted her to decide to leave by herself. It was just a matter of persuading and the Senator seeing past her stubbornness. "But if you want to live, you must come with me."
Padme looked up at the Jedi, eyes glistening. Such a hard decision, yet she already knew the choice. She had to go with Obi-Wan because her role was too important in helping her people. Yet, she was reluctant. This upcoming vote on the creation of an army was important to her and the fate of the galaxy. Without her vote, events might be altered drastically. She looked for answers in the blue eyes of the older Jedi.
Please choose right, Padme, please come with me. It would be too much for the galaxy to bare if you were to be killed, Obi-Wan's voice sounded through her head.
She was not surprised, Padme had always suspected that the Jedi had the ability to communicate this way. She wondered if she was able to communicate back.
Of course.
Can you hear everything I think, Master Kenobi?
Only what you want me too.
A relief. She did not want that particular Jedi routing through her thoughts, mostly because a large percentage centered on him and situations he probably would not like to know went through the young senator's mind.
Padme looked at Anakin, who stared back at her, a slightly compassionate expression on his face. She knew he was trying to help her see that she should leave, and it made her regain some respect for him again. To him, it looked as if she was just having a hard time deciding, while she conversed with Obi-Wan in her mind.
I feel like I am running from my duty.
Impossible, Padme. She noted the familiar use of her name with affection. You are just doing what is best for your people. As I said, they would care more that you live to help them tomorrow, then die in vain today.
Boldly, for she was not one to be afraid and a coward, she ventured; You'll be there to protect me, Obi-Wan?
He hesitated a moment before responding. I will always be there to protect you, Padme. I promise.
You may have just convinced me to go, Master Jedi.
The two shared a smile before Padme voiced her decision in words. Anakin looked incredibly relieved and thanked her for seeing that it was necessary.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, turning to his student, wearing an emotionless mask, "unfortunately, you won't be able to accompany us." Before the boy could protest, Obi-Wan continued, "The council would like to see you tomorrow morning, about sending you on a mission."
Anakin blinked in surprise, then immediately brightened. "A mission, Master?"
"Yes. They'll explain it to you, but, if this goes well, you may find yourself ready to take the trials."
Anakin's smile became a grin. "Really?" he laughed and Obi-Wan nodded, smiling.
The boy couldn't help but become excited despite his Master's advice that he hide his emotions. Padme felt herself laughing along at such emotion.
"That's wonderful, Anakin," she said, giving him a hug.
This left him grinning more then before.
"If you don't mind," Obi-Wan said, turning to Padme as Anakin continued celebrating, "I
received no sleep last night and would like to catch up. I'm sure Anakin wouldn't mind being your guardian for the day."
He saw something flash through her eyes at the mention of Anakin but she nodded, maintaing her smile. "Of course. You've done more then necessary and deserve some sleep."
"Thank you, Senator," he said, bowing and then heading towards the door. "We'll be leaving tonight, just after sunset." And then he was gone.
Padme wished he would have stayed with them longer, especially since she did not feel very comfortable with Anakin. But, she supposed she would see him everyday in the future. And he deserved his rest.
"I'm starving," Anakin said, suddenly and offered his arm to Padme, "Would you like to join me and then I'll help you pack?"
Padme smiled a genuine smile because he was acting like that little boy again, and she gratefully accepted his arm, as they headed for the dining hall.