Knights and Eros Bound
Chapter 12
Kampher had remained silent, but had nodded subtly as if she already knew. Schurke, however...
"Wife…" he replied at last, incredulous. "You can't be serious…"
Anakin also remained silent, but his expression was stony.
Schurke started to laugh, but it was an uncomfortable sound. "Oh Toboo…"
"I knew you wouldn't understand!" Anakin rose angrily, and began to storm out of the cabin until Kampher put a hand on his shoulder. It was almost as if she were expecting this...
"Anakin, wait…" she said softly, her face and expression were gentle and kind, so Anakin complied. At least for the moment.
"She's not just my lover," he said again at last, still tense but relaxing a little. "It's more than that… I love her… she loves me. We… we needed this… a promise…" His eyes flitted between the two of them, seeking understanding. He found concerned confusion in Schurke's, yet a longing to at least try to empathize. Kampher, however, never lost her look of acceptance, and he drew strength from it. "I almost lost her once… I couldn't bear to face that again…" He paused here, almost defying them to mention the code against attachment yet they remained prudently silent, waiting for him to continue. "I don't know what else to say…" he finished at last, and waited for them to pass judgment.
"Well…" Schurke began, all traces of humor vanished. "You know what this means don't you then?"
"Schurke… Anakin…" Kampher began. Anakin turned to leave, his anger and disappointment coming off of him in waves, but he halted as soon as he heard Schurke's next comment…
"I'll have to spend less time finding nudes and sexual techniques and more time reassigning you…" he said, unable to contain a smile. "If you want me to that is…"
Anakin rounded on them, still angry and yet…
"I can arrange it if you want…" Schurke continued while Kampher watched them both. "A few extra days on Coruscant here and there… Top secret assignments you know…"
Anakin's anger began to melt like ice under a Tatooine sunrise, but he still wasn't sure. His eyes narrowed. "Why?" He paused, assessing them still. Kampher's expression was unchanged, still full of compassion while Schurke had become almost uncharacteristically sheepish.
"Because…" Schurke said at last, his voice was very soft and full of tenderness. "In a time of so much loss and hatred… we all need to take and give love where we find it…"
Kampher nodded, never taking her eyes off of Anakin. He seemed to be wavering, wanting to trust yet so unsure…
"We all hang together Toboo…" Schurke reminded him gently. "Through anything…"
At last, Anakin offered a weary smile, the relief in the small room was palatable. "Yes," he agreed. "Or we shall swing alone..."
"Well then!" Schurke exclaimed happily, as if they had been discussing nothing more than the rain on Coruscant. "Shall we see what they feed the hungry masses on this luxurious liner? I'm so hungry I could eat…"
Kampher placed her hand over his mouth before he could finish.
"Yes we know Schurke… first supper then… the we can talk about the bonding." She looked over at Anakin, who had flinched a little. "Are you all right, Anakin? If you don't want to…"
"No… of course not," he stammered. "I mean, yes I want to do this… I'm just… just a little, well… nervous…"
"It'll be fine." Kampher reassured him. "You must trust me… Us… Yourself…"
Anakin could only nod, as he dutifully followed his friends to the galley.
Trusting them wasn't the issue…