Deceptions
Chapter 2
Anakin slowly made his way over to Padmé, carefully trying to maintain at least a semblance of normalcy. She looked up and smiled as he approached while her companion took advantage of her momentary distraction to openly leer at her breasts.
"Cha skrunee do pat, pateessa..." Anakin growled in Huttese softly, but Padmé had heard him.
She cast him a look which reminded him that she DID understand at least the gist of what he had said and that he might catch it later if he didn't watch himself. He sighed inwardly. The last thing he wanted was to fight with Padmé, even though it was probably going to be inevitable tonight. He was dreading the fact that he would have to tell her that he would be leaving again after a few short days back on Coruscant She had arranged to spend her the last of the Senatorial recess in the Capital on the assumption that Anakin would be remaining for at least a few more weeks. His recovery on Naboo had been thorough but far from complete, and yet the Council had suddenly decided that Anakin was well enough to over see the construction of some Republic or Jedi project. He knew it was some form of gracefully sending him away for what ever reason the temple had this week but it still aggravated him. A promotion on one hand to be spat at in the other...
All of this and more passed through his mind in a moment and, forcing himself to smile at the Senator from some Force forsaken Outer Rim Territory...
"Anakin," Padmé said sweetly, interrupting his increasingly scattered train of thought. "This is Senator Minabul Regarder..."
Anakin desperately bit his lip, and started choking, trying to mask fits of laughter. Thankfully, Padmé seemed to understand, and excusing herself she lead Anakin to the refreshment table to get a glass of water.
"What in the name of the gods has come over you this evening?" she hissed under her breath angrily, yet rubbing his back with genuine concern. She took a deep breath and wrinkled her nose. "Ani? How much have you had to drink tonight?"
"Too much..." he admitted, and leaning over, with his hands on his knees, he took a few deep ragged breaths.
"We can go to my office if you need to get away..." Padmé offered quietly. "Unless you'd rather go to the Temple Healers..."
"Office... Please..." he gasped. "Don't need yet another lecture tonight..."
Padmé lightly took his arm. "Can you make it?" she asked, and he nodded his assent. "Try to look, well... dignified..."
He managed a weak smile. "Your friend, the Senator... his name is similar to 'scruffy looking' in Huttese... he might have difficulty in negotiations..." He considered things briefly. "You'll be missed won't you?"
"No matter," she said quietly. "There are times when I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of indifference here anyways... Senator Père is about to make a speech in a few minuets, extolling the virtues of some military relocation or another... we can escape with the minimum of fuss if we're careful..."
She led him to a small side door and out of the Ballroom, unaware or perhaps uncaring of the looks of disapproval from Obi-wan and the small maintenance droid that would follow them down the hallway.
A/N Translation of What Ani says:
Huttese for "Don't count on it friend."
Translation taken from the Star Wars Galactic Phrase and Travel Book by Ben Burt.