I do not own characters made by George Lucas, but Vataloni and any plot twists belong to this story.
Vataloni's View
"You're late," Anakin muttered, stretching his left arm across his chest, "You sadly missed warm ups."
"I'm sure I'll regret it later," Vataloni muttered, tossing her outer cloak to the side and stepping onto the training platform with Anakin. They had a ritual, in which every morning they would battle each other in the Training Stadium until the younglings would come for their lessons.
"Where were you anyways?" Anakin inquired, chucking a training lightsaber at her, and igniting a blue one of his own. It would not be fair to use real lightsabers, since Vataloni never knew when Anakin's temper would fly and he could chop off a limb.
"I was having a chat with Yoda," she said simply.
"About what?"
She rolled her eyes, "Must you be so curious Anakin Skywalker...? It was about something important."
"Was it about Obi-Wan?" he said suddenly, watching her closely as she lit her blade. Vataloni snapped up, her eyes widened, but quickly looked away, thinking about how suspicious that could look. She shook her head, "No... I don't see why it would have anything to do with him."
"You can really tell when you lie, you know that," he chuckled, "You stare at the floor and chew on your lip... You do it all the time."
She glared at him, "Stop making distractions and let's get this over with."
"I'm not making any distractions," Anakin said calmly, following Vataloni out on to the small mat they would fight on, "I was only wondering..."
"Well stop," she hissed, sighing immediately and apologizing for her tone, "I just feel... stressed, alone... Nothing is working out for me... And the Chancellor seems to want me to leave Obi-Wan as soon as I can so I can come work for him, and-"
"What!"
Vataloni quickly explained her conversation with Palpatine earlier that morning, excluding the remarks about her and Obi-Wan's affections. Anakin listened thoughtfully, his arms folded over his chest, one hand under his chin, and nodding along as Vataloni's story unraveled.
"You think I should tell the Council?" Vataloni asked finally, after she had enough of Anakin thinking in his own little world. He shook his head, "No... This has to do with Palpatine, not them... The Council..."
His eyes suddenly widened and he looked at Vataloni. She frowned for a moment, then her mind clicked in with his, "The meeting! Bloody Hell we missed the meeting, AGAIN, Anakin! AGAIN!"
Anakin groaned and snatched her lightsaber away from her, disposing of it into the training bins as Vataloni scurried around, gathering up their cloaks.
"Obi-Wan will tell us what we missed," Anakin declared as they rushed out of the room, "He always does!"
Vataloni shrugged her shoulders, skipping three stairs as she and Anakin jogged up them, trying not to plow any younglings into the wall as they did. It was quite difficult not to, the younglings were EVERYWHERE in the Jedi Temple. You could not walk five feet without tripping over one testing out their new lightsaber.
"What was this meeting about again?" Vataloni inquired, skidding to a brisk power walk as she and Anakin drew closer to the room. Anakin stopped for a moment, concentrating hard, "Um... It's on... The... Outer Rim Procedures..."
Vataloni stopped walking, then rolled her eyes, "They've been talking about that for the past couple of weeks! I doubt it'll matter if we miss it once!"
"Yeah... But we've missed it more then once," Anakin replied, smirking at her. He grabbed the sleeve of her cloak and dragged her down the hallway. They arrived at the briefing station just as the Jedi Council members were exiting. Vataloni and Anakin bowed their heads respectfully and waited until they had all left, then scrambled in, hoping Obi-Wan was still there. Vataloni spotted him at once as they hopped down the stairs. He was taking a digital scan of a massive hologram of a few Outer Rim planets, a very annoyed look on his face.
"You missed the briefing on the Outer Rim procedures, again," he said moodily, "And you made me sit through them alone...Again... And I thank you for it."
Vataloni chuckled; Obi-Wan hated attending meetings. He never liked to sit through the overdone lectures, a simple statement was good enough for him.
"Our apologies, Master," Anakin said, his voice deepening a hint, "We have no excuse..."
"Well," Obi-Wan sighed, "In short, they are going well."
Vataloni rolled her eyes, and wondered if tearing through the Jedi Temple to simply hear everything was going well was really worth it. Obi-Wan proceeded to explain which planets have been defeated, signaling the close end to the Droid Armies, and which Droid leaders were on the move, once again.
"What's wrong then?" Vataloni asked, sensing disturbance in her Master's voice. Obi-Wan folded his arms and looked over the pair of them, frowning, "The senate is set to vote more power to the Chancellor today..."
Anakin cut him off, stating it was much better if Palpatine was given more power, that way, there could be more action done, and the war would end faster. Obi-Wan stepped toward him about half a step, and warned, "Be careful of your friend Palpatine."
"Be careful of what...?" Anakin asked, watching Obi-Wan walk in-between Vataloni and himself and make his way toward the door. Not looking back, Obi-Wan stated that Anakin had been requested from the Chancellor to come and see him. Vataloni frowned; hadn't Palpatine just wanted to see her? It must have been an odd thing to think about for Obi-Wan, since the Chancellor was calling both of his apprentices to his presence in the same day. She wondered what and why he would want Anakin.
"I should go then, and get it over with," Anakin muttered sheepishly. Vataloni could sense, however, that he wasn't feeling ashamed of being called into a meeting with the Chancellor. Quite on the contrary, she sense... pride. It almost engulfed Anakin as he walked off at a restrained speed down the hall. Obi-Wan must have noticed it too, since he frowned at his apprentice with disapproval.
"What did he want with you?" Obi-Wan asked after some moments of silence. Vataloni wrung her hands together and sighed, "He... He wants me to work for him once I am at a Jedi Master level."
"What?" Obi-Wan's eyes widened with shock, "You can't though... It would be completely against the code of... You need to train... He can't and you won't, I forbid it."
"He knows," Vataloni stated.
Obi-Wan's Observations
The simplicity of the sentence shocked Obi-Wan more then the rest of Vataloni's comments had all together. He knows? Knows what? About Vataloni and himself?
"How... But we aren't..." Obi-Wan fumbled over his words, desperately trying to figure out what to say, "Did he use it against you?"
Vataloni's eyes watered up slightly, and he knew she was becoming flustered with the whole situation. He gently grabbed her shoulders and steered her behind a creamed toned pillar and out of the public eye. Vataloni quickly slid her pinky under both of her eyelids, brushing off some tears that were trying to fall.
"Sssh," he cooed, "Vataloni please, please you need to tell me what he said."
"He said he'd go to the Council and tell them about how I... feel for you," she said, her voice barely hitting above a whisper, "And I know if ..." she sniffled, "If he goes, you'll be expelled and everything will be wrong for you and I know my feelings are so stupid, but-"
He kissed her.
It was breif, short lived, but Obi-Wan wanted to do it again. Her lips were so soft, yet salty from the few tears that had slipped past her guard. Vataloni's eyes were wide, and her arms hung limply at her sides, shock moving throughout her mind. He tucked a curly piece of hair behind her ear and cupped her face, "Nothing like that is going to happen... I promise."
Vataloni's breathing was short and she looked from his eyes down to his lips again, almost fighting with her mind whether or not to kiss him. Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile, but his mind too debated if the kiss was too premature for what they were doing. He really only did it to get her attention, but something seemed to... react to her touch. Something inside him was pushing him on, willing him to do it again.
"Kiss me..." Vataloni whispered, her hands sliding up his chest and wrapping around his neck, "Obi-Wan..."
He ignored him brain screaming at him not to do it, he ignored the voice telling him this was not the Jedi way, he just ignored everything. Leaning down, he pressed his lips into her awaiting ones harsher then he had before, and circled his arms around her small waist, pulling her body in closer to his. They fit well together, he noted, her body fitting exactly into every groove of his own. Time slowed for Obi-Wan as he explored Vataloni. His hands slid up and down her back, playing with a few longer strands of hair, while her hands moved up and cupped his face, deepening their passionate kiss.
Obi-Wan finally pushed her away, trying to keep a steady breathing rate. Her eyes were so full of life as she stared up at him, her chest heaving, "We're going to get in so much trouble for this..."
Obi-Wan cupped her face and gave her another quick peck, "I can't stay... I have a meeting with the Council. But... Come to my apartment tonight. We have to talk."
Vataloni's View
He gave her another deep, meaningful kiss before he left, even though he had just told her he was in a hurry. Vataloni didn't want him to leave, so she held on, standing up on the tips of her toes to coil her arms around his neck. The one thing that made Vataloni want to giggle was his beard, it tickled her at first. He finally pulled away and forcefully, yet gently, pushed Vataloni over slightly, "I really need to go... Come to my chambers tonight and we'll talk, alright?"
She nodded her head, and he bowed a little, then took off briskly down the corridor.
"Vataloni!"
She flinched at the sharpness of the tone, and whizzed back to see Anakin running down the hall, a weird sort of grin on his face. He jumped to her the last foot of the way and pulled her in to a tight hug, "I'm in! I'm in!"
"In what!" she laughed, watching his eyes lighten even at the question. Anakin's chest puffed up, "I'm representing Chancellor Palpatine on the COUNCIL!"
Vataloni's first reaction was to go on about how out of Jedi Code all this was, but her friend was just so happy, all she did was squeal and pull him into a hug. Anakin swung her around in a circle, then set her down, a serious look returning to his face, "Run and tell Padme for me... I have to go to the meeting."
She nodded her head again, and watched for a second time a deep brown cloak running off towards the Council room.
"On the Council?" Padme repeated, pouring Vataloni a cup of freshly brewed tea, "My Anakin... A Master?"
"I... I doubt they will grant him a Master yet," Vataloni stated, "I mean... I know they won't, and this will frustrate him to no end, Padme. So please, watch out for him, his temper will be short when he returns home this evening."
Padme stirred her tea with a spoon, then set everything back down and leaned against the white couch in her living room. Vataloni studied her expression, rather then sense her emotions. She looked... thoughtful. But then again, the room they were sitting in was a thought provoking room. Vataloni always loved an excuse to come see Padme. Her Senator status had earned her a magnificent apartment, complete with elegant Royal furniture, fountains, and balconies galore.
"What's wrong?" Vataloni pressed, "Is everything ok?"
"Anakin has been..." Padme sighed, "... more and more distant lately. He won't tell me what's happening anymore. I fear for him, Vataloni... I fear his love is fading for me, and growing for this war we're in."
Vataloni moved closer to her on the couch and rubbed her back soothingly, pushing her brown hair across her shoulder, "He loves you... Padme he loves you with all the love possible. When it's just me and him... He talks about you all the time. It's like... He reminds himself daily of the bond he and you have. He acts careless sometimes... But I think it's because he's so in love."
Vataloni had only just been on her way to Obi-Wan, when she was intercepted by another one of Palpatine's messenger droids, requesting she join him to see an Opera he would attend that evening. She explained what she had been asked of to Obi-Wan, and his face furrowed with curiosity and annoyance.
"You must go," Obi-Wan stated, "Anakin has been requested to... Spy on the Chancellor for Council benefits. He was outraged when I told him this, and I fear he will not do his job successfully. You have to go, and find out... What's happening..."
Vataloni grinned playfully, "Shall I change? I doubt this is appropriate for a formal event."
Obi-Wan's eyes looked her over, "I think you'll be fine... You're a Jedi after all..."
Vataloni frowned, and Obi-Wan added quickly, "But I can get you something of mine... I remember when we had to protect Padme years ago... She left a few garments here. All of them are obsurley in her style. But I'm sure one would be simple enough..."
Vataloni raised an eyebrow and Obi-Wan hurried into his room, returning with a floor-length dark green grown folded over his arm. It criss-crossed in the back, and had a V neck in the front, with no sleeves. Vataloni smiled, "I've always admired Padme's taste."
Obi-Wan smiled back and offered it to her, but instead of taking it, she threw off her Jedi cloak to a couch, still smiling coyly, "This thing is always so dreadful to take off alone... I could use some... help."
He cleared his throat nervously as Vataloni turned her back on him, waiting for the assistance she had asked for. Obi-Wan stepped forth and started to unravel the long Jedi shirt that everyone was required to wear. She raised her arms up over her head and Obi-Wan pulled the shirt up and off, revealing her bare skin.
"I don't think I should do this, Vataloni," he whispered, his hands moving gently up and down her back, causing goose bumps to erupt all over her pale skin. She didn't answer, just simply waited to see what he would do next. His lips were suddenly on her neck, kissing down to her shoulder. He gripped her hand and brought it up, kissing the top of it, "I know I shouldn't do this..."
"But you are..." Vataloni breathed, wanting so much to turn around and slam her lips onto his, but she didn't, "My dress... Please Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan left her and she held her arms up again, allowing Obi-Wan to slid the soft, silky fabric over her finger tips and down her body, then simply letting the dress fall to the floor. Vataloni wiggled out of the bottom half of her Jedi outfit and set it neatly on the armrest of the couch, blushing slightly as Obi-Wan looked her over, "You look... Very beautiful."
Vataloni almost broke off into a run when she realized the Chancellor would have already arrived at the Opera House of Courasant, and she would be late for his request. When she finally made it, Palpatine and his party of co-workers were standing near the doors inside, chatting away about politics, or so Vataloni would have guessed. She looked a bit of a mess, since she had just thrown her Jedi cloak back on to avoid unwanted attention on the way to the Opera House, and she was guessing her hair had been frazzled by all the running she had done.
"I was wondering if you had gotten my message or not," Palpatine greeted cheerfully, ordering one of his co-workers to take Vataloni's cloak, "And I was hoping you wouldn't come dressed as a Jedi."
"I tried my best, your Excellency," Vataloni replied politely, "I'm not accustomed to formal events."
Palpatine laughed and held out his arm, which Vataloni accepted and the pair lead the group of a staircase full of elegantly dressed elites, all waiting around for their show to begin. She looked around the large halls with high ceilings. Red lights illuminated the way, and Vataloni could tell by the well furnished rugs that this was a place of truly the best, a place where Vataloni felt she didn't belong.
"Breathe," Palpatine whispered, "You're doing fine."
"If I may ask," Vataloni said slowly, "Why did you request I join you?"
"Everyone must see a show here, one time or another," he answered pleasantly, "And I knew you weren't doing anything important tonight."
Vataloni bit her tongue to keep from snapping at him, and stating she did have plans tonight, but she didn't want to remind him about her and Obi-Wan. Palpatine resumed his chat with her, talking mainly about the comings and goings of the Jedi Council, and how pleased he was Anakin sat in among them. Vataloni responded on a low key basis, only saying information the Chancellor already knew.
Palpatine's Point
Palpatine settled into his seat, the one that had always been his ever since he was elected Chancellor. This balcony was always his balcony, and he was seated with the people he had always been with, in a manner. Vataloni gingerly sat in the wide seat beside him, resting her hands on her lap. She looked pale, maybe nervousness was taking over somewhat. He smirked and relaxed in his seat, hoping she would soon do the same. Vataloni, however, gulped and looked out into the huge stage area in the centre of the room, waiting for everything to start. No people were in the Opera, there had ceased to be actors in Operatic plays for some time now. For now, there were lights, light forms that flew around, humming softly.
"Do you always sit as through you're tied to a stake?" Palpatine inquired softly, touching Vataloni's arm. She flinched and looked back, then settled down a little into the comforts of the chair. She sighed, "My Master trained me to sit at attention."
Palpatine smirked, "Obi-Wan?"
"No... My old one."
"Did you like him?" Palpatine asked. Vataloni licked her lips and shrugged, stating he was a good teacher. Palpatine grinned; he knew he was an excellent teacher.