A Flower
Main Theme- Cantos Profane by Richard Band
Anakin tries his best in following his husband's passions. He goes to operas with him. He tours art museums with him. He even carries all of Sheev's bags during his shopping sprees. But when it comes to gardening, he doesn't know what he to do. He doesn't have a green thumb nor the encyclopedic knowledge of the subject, both of which his husband has in spades. He couldn't really do anything but listen to his husband's daily reports.
His recent acquisition from the Companion Besh has brought him nothing but woe.
The plant has gone from the green peak of life to withering grays of death. It's clam-shaped bud still hasn't opened after three weeks and seemed slated to never. His husband has tried everything to make the plant survive and thrive, but it's only ended in the frustrated wringing of his delicate hands. It doesn't effect his duties as emperor, but he has become terser in private. All Anakin wants to do is help him, but he doesn't know how.
The Eternal Emperor learns that a Prophet of the Dark Side still lives, so he sent his Darth Vader after her. It's there that the Force gives him a miracle: a twelve-year-old boy named Armitage.
The boy has long, red hair and blue-green eyes. Freckles dot his fair skin from near-constant sun exposure, very unlike his husband's alabaster skin. He burns with the purity of a child determined to save a loved one, reminding him of a little slave boy that wanted to protect his mother from the world's evils. So, Anakin makes a deal: if Armitage can save the stubborn plant, then he'll leave Sariss be.
The boy takes it without a second of hesitation.
It's been a week since he brought the boy aboard Eclipse, his husband's flagship and main residence, and the boy fulfills his end of the bargain. His husband is there when it happens.
The secret to the plant's life is music. Armitage sings everyday for an hour or two. On the seventh day, the shell splits open and reveals the flower. It's a person. A miniature of the boy if he was made of red sepals with eyes of coal. It's only the top half since the legs are the rest of the plant.
"Listeners take the shape of those that sing for them. Most of the time it's birds of the mountains. They can only maintain the form for a day or two before closing up again." The Listener reaches out with its miniscule hands and grasps at the boy's pointer finger. It smiles very much like the boy. "They're quite friendly."
His husband lowers himself, his indigo mantle of stars meeting the dark earth. Almost hesitatingly, he holds out his hand to the Listener. The Listener tilts their head at this new person, but it lets go of Armitage's finger and latches onto his husband's ring finger. They pat the red kyber band. Anakin feels his own band echoing the little thumps.
"Sariss will be spared," his husband pronounces regally. The boy grins with all his slightly crooked teeth. Anakin can't help but grin along with Armitage. He feels the Force pulse with the giddiness of a child as the trio bask in this small victory. His husband is at peace, and the child has succeeded where he failed.
It's as all it should be.
Author's Comments- Here are the links:
Here is an image of Palpatine's flagship, Eclipse, from Legends/EU. It's absolutely ridiculous in size and in a certain fin feature, but Palpatine would use that size to give himself a sizeable garden: a href=" . "Link/a
The song that Armitage sings is from Troll (1986) known as "Cantos Profane" by Richard Band. I love the movie because it's a fairytale horror: a href=" watch?v=c836nlVXDsU"Link/a
I guess this could be viewed as a pseudo-sequel for a href=" /works/41181132"Sheev in Gold/a where Sheev spends time with Armitage, not knowing that Armitage is his grandson, through Anakin's POV. For those who have never ever encountered my version of Armitage Hux, he is Palpatine's grandson in my stories. Brendol Hux is his sire, but his father is Rama who's unique mutations allow for him to conceive and carry Armitage but still needing a C-section for the birth. And yes, Sheev and Anakin used a kyber crystal for their wedding rings.
