Note: Alright everyone, you all finally get fluff! And underlines are the flashbacks! And this is a LONG chapter, so bear with me please! n.n
Chapter Six: Let's Fight
She was deep in thought, to say the least. With her hair tied back in its four bands, reaching down to her ankles. The wind was strong enough to gently caress its tail along with it, tickling the Jedi's thighs. She was leaning over the brick wall, watching the pond as it went about with its busy life.
Every thing was busy on Coruscant.
Revan's arms were crossed over themselves, blocking out the chilliness that the mist brought.
Revan was very surprised to find a Jedi Council still thriving on this planet, though it consisted of only two people. Master Vandar—who she was very glad to see—and a Master Kollin held the two spots. The Enclave in which Revan now resided in was noisy with work as new Jedi apprentices walked from class to class.
There weren't enough Jedi to properly teach each child, yet.
The two in the Council had advised Revan to stay on Coruscant a while and—catch up on things. The party that had been thrown in her honor the night before last had been one great way to do that. Everyone had wanted a piece of the hero, and she had no time to see her friends.
While the Jedi hero was there, she could teach the little ones who needed assistance in their training, the Council recommended.
Get a Padawan, the Council had said. Train him or her to be a great Jedi!
Revan already had a Padawan in mind.
That was what Revan was now contemplating with her master over.
Kreia, The Jedi continued her conversation with her mentor. We need to find Masa. Especially now.
I know that just as much as you do, child. Kreia insisted. We already know she's on Coruscant. But where would she go? What would she be doing?
If I remember her correctly, she'd be starting fights. Revan grinned at her own memories.
But you gave her to a good family, so I don't think that she'd be doing much of that, dear one. Kreia advised. Think harder.
I'm trying!
Revan now scrunched her nose up in frustration, and squinted her eyes. Where would a girl she hadn't seen in at least nine years be?
Revan never noticed Carth walk in behind her, stopping to stare at her. Something wasn't right about her, he thought. She seemed to be thinking way too hard about something. Her eyes seemed slightly glazed, and she wasn't focused on anything in the pond scene before her. It made him wonder if she was sick from the battle with Shinrii.
Suddenly she sighed deeply and frowned, her nose compacted into itself. This made Carth more aware of the scar racing across Revan's face. Where had she gotten it? How had she gotten it? And most importantly, what happened so she couldn't heal it fully, so it left a scar?
Revan dear, Kreia said softly, a smile playing in her voice. You pay too much attention to our conversation.
Why would you say that? Revan raised her eyebrows, pulling out of the chat slightly to feel someone watching her.
Someone she knew well.
Oh, great. He must think I'm crazy.
"Hmmm," She moaned, trying to compress a grin. She didn't turn to face him. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Oh, uh, not long, actually. A few seconds, tops." Carth explained, daring to move further towards her. "You seemed to be sort of—well, out of it."
"That would be one way to put it, yes," Revan turned to face him, smiling. "How've you been?"
-----
Reese stretched, getting up from her meditation position and settling with her legs sprawled out on the floor. She had needed that tiny little nap. Now all she would need was a shower and a cup of coffa and she'd be one happy Jedi.
"Hi, babe." Atton's voice filled her ears and brought the woman out of her daydream. He had walked into the room with two cups of coffa. He was smiling broadly.
"Just thought you might want some." He watched her as her eyes settled on the coffa. He held it higher in the air, laughing when her eyes followed it. She clapped her hands together repeatedly when he sat down cross-legged beside her, handing her a mug. "Enjoy."
She sighed as she drank a sip.
"That's just what I needed." She said happily. She laid her head on his shoulder. "We needed this vacation, you know."
Atton groaned in agreement. "Did we ever! Last night I was so tired, I fell asleep before I got to my bed."
Reese was sent into a fit of giggles and she covered her mouth.
"I know, I saw you asleep on your floor." She managed to get out of her mouth.
"You're really happy today, it seems. Is something going to happen?" Atton laid an arm around her shoulders and hugged her into his chest. She let herself get pulled, laying a hand across his vest. She could feel him breathe, and it soothed her.
"We're on Coruscant, we're not waiting for another mission, and Carth isn't around us asking about Revan, because she's back. Of course I'm happy, Atton!" She thumped him before pulling herself up and tugging on his hand meekly. "Come on, let's go for a walk."
"Oh, no." Atton shook his head. "I don't want to…."
"Yes you do, Atton Rand!" Reese pulled on his hand harder, smiling. "Please?"
Atton still refused.
"Alright, then." Reese sighed, walking towards the door. "I'll just go out by myself, ending up being abducted by some Mandalorian mercenaries. But it's not like you would care; just because I was kidnapped and defenseless."
"You have your sabers, Reese." Atton joked, standing up.
"They could break!" Reese whined playfully, grabbing his hand once more and yanking him out of her room. "Now come on!"
"Alright, I'm coming." Atton allowed her to drag him out of the Enclave and onto the pavement outside.
"Isn't that Jolee?" Reese pointed in front of her, where a dark old man was sitting down, talking with Bastila. He held his hand up to his mouth and coughed once, replacing the hand where it rested before.
"And Bastila," Atton whistled a wolf-call, resulting in a slap in the back of the head from Reese.
"Very funny," She sneered. "Let's go talk to them!"
"Hello, Lass." Jolee bowed his head slightly, seeing the two come up. "Take a seat."
"Yes, please do." Bastila smiled, raising her hand. Two seats pulled out of the table. Atton and Reese sat down in them.
"So what are you guys up to?" Reese asked, rubbing a crick in her neck. "Aren't you tired?"
"Not really," Bastila shook her head. "We were just talking about Willow and Carth."
"Yes," Jolee added. "They both seem to refuse to make a move on each other," The old man rubbed his chin. "Very strange,"
"But understandable," Bastila agreed. "Considering,"
"Considering what?" Atton groaned. "Whenever Carth talked about Revan, it seemed like they were madly in love and it killed him to be separate!"
"Really now? Willow didn't tell you?" Bastila asked. She sighed when Reese and Atton shook their heads. "Carth and Willow got into a huge fight the last day she was with us."
"That's sad," Atton grimaced. "How bad was it?"
"I fight to the death, until we stopped it." Jolee answered, rubbing his chin.
Reese sharply inhaled, placing a hand over her mouth. "You're kidding!" Bastila shook her head seriously. "That's horrible; they've been living with that for what—three, four years now?"
"How did that happen?" Atton sounded just as concerned. He wrapped one arm around Reese's shoulders and squeezed her tightly, making sure she was still there.
"It's sort of a long story…." Jolee mused, preparing to tell the story.
Revan sat down in the chair next to her soldier, grinning at the agitated Carth. She flipped her shoulder-length hair onto her back and crossed her legs. Her robes were grungy, and looked like they hadn't been properly washed out in a long time.
"What's wrong, flyboy?" She smirked. "You're awfully quiet. Something grab your hyperspace engine?"
Carth just groaned, passing his fingers through his hair.
"Must you always try to get me out of my moods, Willow?" He snapped, making Revan recoil. She recovered quickly, unsheathing her smirk once more. "What if I just want to reflect?"
"Can't you reflect on the good things, other than on the bad things of life? You've been so gloomy lately, it's been bothering me." Revan nodded her head. "So tell me, what's on your mind, right now?"
Carth hated that question, no matter how she said it. And she always said it! When he was upset with her, someone else, or himself, she always asked what was on his mind! And, he always told her, of course, but that was a different story!
"It's nothing!" Carth turned around and tried with all of his might to focus on something different. "Leave me alone!"
"I'm just trying to make everyone happy," Revan shrugged, still smirking.
"What if I don't want to be happy?" Carth retaliated before Revan could finish her statement. "What if I just want to be left alone to think, Revan?"
Revan gasped, her smirk instantly wiped off of her face. Carth mentally slugged himself for using that name.
"What did you call me?" Revan's voice darkened considerably, and her emerald green eyes glared. She stood up and folded her arms.
"Well, you've been acting like her ever since we destroyed the Star Forge!" Carth shouted, turning back around.
"You mean—for two years now?" Revan's voice matched his. "I've never once done anything that Darth Revan had done! How dare you call me that!"
"Then why do you always act like the whole universe belongs to you, all the time?" Carth raised his voice even more. "Your head is probably so big, the banthas can't see over it!"
"Oh, my head is big? Mr. I-Can't-Walk-Down-Telos-Without-Staring-At-Each-Person-I-Meet-For-Fear-Of-Them-Attacking-Me is telling me I have a big head? That's right! I've seen you! You couldn't trust a gizka with jumping into an electric wire on the Rakata's planet! Then it startles the crap out of you when someone talks to you!" Revan threw her hands in the air, exasperated.
"It's kind of hard not to be paranoid when you shove all this pressure on me!" Carth screamed his throat coarse.
"I put pressure on you?" Revan pointed a thumb at her chest.
"Hey, guys." Mission walked in, rubbing her eyes. A pale blue blanket draped across her shoulders, and she held it together at her chest with one hand. "It's the middle of the night, what's going on?"
Ignoring Mission, Carth went on. "Every time you get upset, guess who has to make you happy again? Me! You might tell Mission a thing or two, but other than that it's all centered on me!"
"Uh-oh," Mission was now awake and watching the fight with wide eyes. She watched as the two passed ugly words.
"So now it's a contest to see who has to most pressure put on them? Please!" Revan scoffed. "Don't even start. I'll have you eating dust off of my lightsaber before you break a sweat."
"I'm sure that'd be easy for you, you Sith Lord!" Carth screamed violently. Revan glared even more.
"Bastila!" Mission ran out of the room as fast as she could, dropping the blanket altogether and slipping on it. "Juhani! Jolee! Big Z!"
"If I'm the Sith Lord, you're the sniveling underling!" Revan shouted. "Like father, like son!"
"Go back to Korriban, Sith!" Carth threw a fist in the air.
"Cry on Telos, bantha herder!"
"FALL IN LOVE WITH ONE OF YOUR SITH LORD FRIENDS, TRAITOR!"
"SLEEP WITH YOUR DEAD WIFE, TELOSIAN BASTARD!" Revan pulled out one of her violet lightsabers the second Carth brandished a vibroblade. Knocking each of their weapons violently, they held no strength back.
It was a fight to the death.
Not caring if they hit the room's furniture or not, Revan and Carth blew lethal shots to the other, each getting blocked and repeated.
"Willow!" Bastila's voice broke through their deadly trance, and though they did turn to look, they quickly reinstated the quarrel.
Four strong arms latched onto Revan and pulled her away from Carth, while two big furry arms engulfed Carth, so he couldn't attack her in her defenseless state.
"Let me go!" Revan fought Jolee and Bastila in vain, knowing they wouldn't listen to her pleas.
"Control your anger, Willow! He didn't mean it," Bastila whispered soothingly.
"My ass!" Revan screamed. "I think the bastard meant the Sith Lord remarks!"
"You mean you aren't one? Could've fooled me." Carth glared.
"YOU BASTARD!" Revan tried to rush at him once more, but was pulled back again. She fought with them until tears streamed down her face.
"Calm down, young one. We'll take care of it," Jolee said soothingly. Revan stopped struggling and began to steady her breathing.
"Carth!" Bastila stared, shocked. "What's gotten into you?"
"I was doing fine until Revan came in here and screwed it up!" Carth snarled.
Using all of her powers, Revan Force Pushed the people away, her eyes blood-shot with anger.
But she didn't attack him. She gulped slightly, and whispered, "You always knew what to say to me, I was trying to return the favor," turned around, and ran out of the room.
"HK! T3! Come with me," She snarled at them hatefully. The hum of wheels and the creaks of joints filled everyone's ears before the house doors opened and slammed shut as Revan ran out.
"Wait, Willow!" Mission followed quickly.
"Well, I hope you're happy, Carth." Candorous leaned on the doorway, smirking. "You're destroyed her life, care to try Mission's while your at it?"
"She'll come back; we'll talk to her then." Jolee instructed. He turned to Carth. "And you, you stay in here and think about what happened."
"Whatever," Carth sat back down and sighed.
Ten minutes later, Mission returned with no Revan.
"Where is she?" Juhani asked the tear-stained Twi'lek.
"I—I lost her awhile back." Mission said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! She put out Burst of Speed, and I couldn't keep up with that if I tried…."
"It's alright, Mission," Bastila laid a hand on the Twi'lek's shoulder. "She'll be alright. She has to come back sometime."
Candorous chuckled.
"Well, my mistake. You've already ruined Mission's life. Care to strive for mine next?" He slapped Carth on the back roughly and left the soldier alone.
They waited for the rest of the night, and Revan did not return.
"We have to go find her, then." Bastila sighed, wrapping a coat around her arms. "Jolee, would you look in the Refugee Sector?"
"I will," Jolee grabbed his lightsabers and ran out of their apartment.
"Mission, check the Socorro section, please." Bastila nodded her head towards the Twi'lek, who immediately ran out.
"Zaalbar, can you check the Jek'Jek Tar?" Bastila didn't have to wait for an answer, the Wookie ran out after Mission.
"Juhani, you stay here in case she comes back. Carth, you and Candorous check the other cantina on Nar Shadaa. I'll check with the Hutt in the last sector." Bastila began making her way out of the apartment when Carth's voice stopped her.
"It's all my fault." He whispered. The female Jedi turned to face him.
"It was her choice to leave the base, Carth. We need you to go to the cantina and watch for her." With that, Bastila left.
"I'll be back," He told Juhani. "If she comes back, call me first, alright?"
Carth entered the cantina, instantly walking over to the bar. Candorous walked the other direction to talk with the others.
The soldier sat down next to a hooded woman, and ordered some juma juice.
"You look a little sad there, Mister." The woman croaked in a coarse voice Carth knew wasn't her own. She kept her face forward, but she was speaking at Carth.
"Yeah, well I think I just ended the best relationship of my life." He told. The woman chuckled, and Carth could tell a grin crossed her face.
"That so, eh? You wouldn't happen to be the man who upset that pretty little Jedi awhile back, now would you?" The woman took a sip of her drink and set it back down, still not looking at Carth.
"You've seen Willow?" He asked, standing up. "Is she alright? Where is she? I have to talk to her!"
"Shhh," The woman stood up too, placing a long, slender finger across his lips. Her eyes were hidden by the hood. "Keep quiet, will you? I'm not here to attract attention."
"Alright, but you must tell me everything." Carth sat back down with the woman.
"I don't know everything," The woman's voice lightened, and exposed more of her real tone. "But I know she was really upset, and murmured something about being so sorry. Then she left a datapad with the clerk there." The woman stood back up and bowed. Her voice lost all of its hardness and scruffiness and became a real, recognizable sound. "Good day, and May the Force guide you through all of your future hardships."
The woman finally faced Carth, her eyes boring into his. Her emerald eyes—which had a hint of redness to them—began to plead something to him that he couldn't make out.
The woman shed one slight tear, and left Carth to his self.
"What was that about?" Carth asked himself, looking around and eyeing the clerk.
"You want something?" The clerk asked to the now bewildered soldier. "I saw you talking to that lady over there. You wouldn't happen to be Carth Onasi, would you?"
Carth slowly nodded, sighing and mentally berating himself for putting both him and Revan through this.
"Well, here you go. The lady put a code into it, so even if I wanted to look at it, I couldn't. Oh yeah, and she gave you this package, too." The man handed Carth the datapad that was obviously Revan's. It had the insignia carved into its side.
"You find something?" Candorous strode over to his comrade.
Carth grabbed the package first, unfolding the paper to find her turquoise and dull red necklace; her most prized possession. He rubbed its surface with his thumb, being sure to not hurt it.
The soldier then took the datapad and turned it on, terrified at what he was going to find.
"I'll bet the first one to find this is Carth," The woman was actually smirking. "Listen, then. About last night, I'm sorry. The whole thing was my fault and I shouldn't have egged you on. I'm such an idiot. I just wanted to help you, because you're always helping me. But I was just being selfish. I'm always being selfish…." The woman sniffed and wiped her eyes before continuing, giving Carth time to interject.
"No," He gasped, eyes widening.
"But there was some truth in what you said last night. I am becoming more and more like Revan, that's for sure. But maybe not the Revan we've all known about through the beginning Jedi Civil War. Maybe I'm becoming like the Jedi Knight Revan, the one with all the light inside of her.
"Another thing you said: I'm always pouring my heart out to you. I'm so sorry; I should have considered what you thought of it before I went and did something like that. That's just me being selfish again.
"I'll tell you this, though. I've taken the Ebon Hawk and the droids—more selfishness, I know—and am preparing to leave to the Unknown Regions. I must—retrieve something before the Sith do. This is a place where I will not take my loved ones.
"I have given you my necklace—given to me long ago by my master—as a promise. I will return, Carth. Be it a hassle or an exciting time, I have things I need to do. Once I come, do you think you could tolerate me for a few days?
"Carth, please know that I will always love you, no matter how long we're apart.
May the Force guide you through all of your future hardships."
His beloved Revan flipped her hood over her head, and suddenly Carth realized what those deep green eyes had been pleading all this time.
Or better yet—who it was who was pleading.
Carth watched as the woman clicked off the pad.
"Wow, you're on a roll with lives, tonight, buster!" Candorous snarled angrily.
"Oh my—!" Carth grabbed the pad and bolted out of the cantina.
Shoving the door open like it was just an obstacle in space, Carth wandered around the Nar Shadaa sector, looking for the hooded woman.
New rain poured onto his head abruptly. He looked up into the sky, watching as the rain multiplied and continued to soak him.
"What have I done?" He thought out loud. "Willow!" He shouted, cupping his hands over his mouth. "Willow, where are you? Where—"
"Carth!" Bastila's voice startled him. She stood right in front of him with her hands on her hips, also soaked in rain. "Why are you shouting?"
"None of us knew she was leaving," Jolee finished. "She must have decided it sometime in the middle of the night."
"Force, I never knew that," Reese stated, her own eyes wide and dry. "I'm so sorry!"
"Don't worry about it, it's not like it should matter now. They both took their own blame for it, so as long as they talk about it they should be fine," Jolee sighed.
"It just isn't very comfortable not knowing if they're talking or not," Bastila said, joining in her friend's sigh. "But she really loves him, even now. You can easily tell."
"Yeah, she got pretty furious at Shinrii for bad-mouthing Carth," Atton whistled.
"If you had lived with us before, it would have been more apparent. She listens to us and takes our advice on things, alright, but she hangs on his every word like it's an ancient text. If Carth told Willow to cut her arm off, she would do it without question, and without uttering a cry the very next moment she got." Jolee said.
"Of course, he would never say something like that." Bastila interjected, thinking up a new subject. "So, what about you two?"
-----
"You know," Carth and Revan had wandered off into the Coruscant fields and sat in the grass. "I hadn't meant to stay gone that long."
Carth raised his eyebrows. "Really? How long did you mean to stay?"
"A year or two, depending on how well the trip went." Revan waved her hand from side-to-side to show him it could have varied.
"Well what happened?" Carth was afraid to ask.
"Too many things. First the ship broke down, then it crashed, and seconds before I got out, it exploded." Revan fell onto her back, stretching out in the soft, warm grass.
"How did you get back?" Carth instantly became worried for her.
"After months of walking, I came upon a little town, surprisingly. They had all the materials I needed to make another ship and leave, and they were kind enough to help." She drew pictures in the air with her fingers, indicating what she was talking about.
"I bet you were happy," Carth sighed, bringing his knees up to his stomach and closed his eyes. "I said some pretty hateful things the night before,"
"I said more, though," Revan clarified. "And I spent the whole first week crying because I couldn't get back,"
Carth merely shook his head.
"You didn't do anything; I was the one who shouldn't have called you Revan." He stated. Revan sat back up and stared at him.
"I know, but I shouldn't have continued it." She retaliated. "That: and I mentioned your wife. I didn't have to do that."
"It's alright, I started it." Carth said.
"No, you didn't," Revan argued, smiling. Carth laughed, giving up.
"Alright, it was both of our faults, so we don't spend the whole day arguing about it." He said. Revan nodded.
"Fine." She sighed, lying back down on the ground.
Carth just stayed quiet, staring at his feet. So, his guiltiness was shared by Revan. He hadn't known that the whole time she felt the same way he did. Then again, he never saw her after the fight.
But the silence that followed bothered him. His best guess to make was that Revan didn't know what to say, either, and that she was waiting for him to think of something.
Finally deciding on what to do, Carth stood. Revan's eyes followed him into the air, and stopped when he did.
"Willow," He grinned at her. "Let's fight."
Revan gasped slightly, the memory of their first game flashing through her mind.
"Willow's been sort of out of it, don't you think?" Jolee asked, watching as the Jedi woman dragged her feet into her room.
"Something's bothering her," Bastila agreed, nodding her head.
"You think it could be a new memory?" Carth chimed in. "She needs to come out with it. Bottling at all in isn't healthy."
"Not to mention that she's annoying us all with it." Jolee nodded his head. "We've got to make her spit it out,"
"I have an idea, but I don't think she'll like it," Carth sighed. He explained it to them piece by piece.
"There's a chance that might not work, you know." Bastila advised.
"She wouldn't deliberately hurt me, though." Carth said, shaking his head. "Not even when she's angry."
"Well, alright, but we'll be close by." Jolee insisted. "Now go talk to her. There's still enough daylight out."
Carth entered Revan's room slowly, watching her as she sat up in her bed.
"Hi, Carth." She breathed. "What's up?"
"Oh, nothing," He said, sitting down beside her. "You just looked kind of upset, so I came in to check on you."
"Oh, I'm fine. Really." Revan smiled at him. "I'm just tired, you know?"
"Alright then. You want to play a game?" Carth grinned back at her, knowing her next question.
"What kind of game?" She asked. He chuckled.
"A fighting game. There're three rounds. Round one has no weapons, and the loser is the first to bleed. Round two is one vibroblade each, and the loser bleeds again. Round three is all out: You can use the Force and your sabers, and I can use anything. First one to fall loses." He explained the game. "Wanna play?"
"Hmmmm, sure." Revan stood up and followed Carth out of her room.
On the peaceful plains of Onderon, Round three of their battle raged on.
"Why are you doing this?" Revan shouted across to Carth, angry as ever. He wouldn't stop asking her about her memories.
"Because leaving that to yourself is dangerous, to you and to others. Please, just tell me!" Carth forced out, trying to steady his breathing.
Revan shook her head violently. She refused to tell him her memories; he would surely hate her! If she kept them to herself then no one else would suffer.
Or I'm just being selfish again, she thought.
"I won't!" She shouted, jumping back into battle. Her two sabers met Carth's blades hit-for-hit, trying to make him drop.
"Then I won't leave you alone until you do." Carth said back, working hard to stay on his feet.
"Damn it, Carth! Must you always do this? Don't you get it?" Revan jumped back away from their sparring.
"Get what?" Carth asked.
"You don't see? The Jedi Civil War was my fault! Traya was my fault! The Sith were my fault! The whole Star Forge was my fault! Malak falling was my fault! And damn it, Kai'Sek and Masa were—" Revan clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes opened wide. She fell onto the ground, knees first, and sobbed. Blood slightly trickled across her forehead where Carth's vibroblade had met her skin. "Carth, it's ALL my fault!" Revan continued crying, her breathing turning ragged.
Carth's muscles relaxed and he dropped his weapon. Is that what this was all about? That was nothing compared to what he thought! He walked quickly over to her and wrapped his arms around her. She immediately folded into him, laying her head on his chest and her arms pressed against him. She didn't hold anything back, and hyperventilation noises erupted from her.
"Hey," He said, trying to stop her from weeping. "Listen to me, Willow. Look up at me, Willow. Come on," His voice was soft and quiet, so only she could hear him.
Revan's crying stopped and she forced herself to look at him. His eyes showed nothing but compassion and understanding, which soothed Revan entirely.
"It's not your fault," He said confidently, melting her heart. "It was their choice, Willow Sana. It was Malak's choice to fall, it was Traya's choice to follow, and it was the men's choices to join the Sith.
"And look on the bright side of things, alright? If none of this had happened, we never would have met." Revan chuckled weakly and embraced her lover.
"What am I going to do with you?" She asked, drying her tears. "You always say what I want to hear most…."
Revan's eyes brightened, staring at Carth as she remembered that rather twisted memory.
"Really?" She asked. "Alright!"
-----
The exile, Atton, Jolee and Bastila were walking around, talking of their experiences with things.
"Have you ever been up against a tarentatek?" Jolee asked Atton.
"Can't say that I have," The scoundrel replied, raising an eyebrow.
"It's a rather weird time. You can't use the Force against it, because that just makes it stronger." Jolee explained.
"Willow had to battle three at once, one time." Bastila chimed in.
"No way!" Reese's eyes widened. "When did she do that?"
"She did it on Korriban, if I remember correctly. Strange place, if you'd gone there when people were there." Bastila's answer was cut shorted than she wanted it to be, because Jolee grabbed a hold of her arm.
"Bastila, look!" He whispered. His index finger pointed crookedly towards the fields next to them.
"Oh, that's sweet." Bastila cooed. "They're fighting!"
"What?" Atton and Reese asked simultaneously. They followed Jolee's finger to see Revan and Carth with their fists doubled up, sweating, and bruised.
"What are they doing?" Reese shouted. "They're gonna hurt each other!"
"Unlikely. This is a game they play, Lass. They made it up one day as a way of talking to each other." Jolee examined. "And they're smiling, which means they're enjoying themselves."
"Those two sure have strange tastes," Atton slapped his forehead with his hand.
"Let's see, they're in round one." Bastila observed. "They're weaponless."
"That means they just started." Jolee grinned. "And look at Carth! He's already sweating like a dog."
"I'm sure Willow's enjoying that," Bastila muttered to herself.
"Lass, you and Atton look hungry. Go eat! Shoo! Leave this old man be. Take this lovely Jedi with you." Jolee slapped the three young Jedi off and wandered his own way.
-----
"Alright!" Carth fell onto the ground, sweating. He had to pull his shirt of in the middle of round two, because both of them were really going at each other, and the sweat had soaked his entire shirt. It had taken both of them to pull it off. "You win!"
Revan fell onto her knees, laughing and panting.
"That was fun!" She insisted. "I haven't had a workout like that in forever."
She stood up and pulled her hair off of her sticky arms. Watching as Carth still hadn't gotten up from his hands and knees, she sighed. "Are you ok?"
Still no reply. Revan walked unsteadily over to Carth, trying to keep her weak legs from collapsing, and stopped in front of him. "Hey, Carth?"
"I'm alright," He breathed. "My muscles just forgot about this game."
Revan crouched down to him and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Got ya!" Carth's voice surprised her, which made it easy to flip her over onto her back. Laughing, Revan spread out on the grass.
"That was very mean, you know." She said resolutely. "I'll get you for that!"
"I'd like to see you try." Carth was instantly on his feet and made a desperate attempt at running. Revan staggered up and followed him wearily, keeping her pace steady.
"Get back here!" She chased him through the fields, trying to grab at him whenever she got the chance.
They passed Atton, Bastila, and Reese throughout their pursuit. The three eyed them slowly as they passed through the fields, protecting their lovely picnic from getting perspiration on it.
"Hi, guys!" Reese waved at them as they raced by, smiling largely. "Bye, guys!"
"Run faster, Willow!" Bastila taunted, cupping her hands over her mouth to project the sound.
Atton just sat with his arms protectively around Reese, who seemed to ignore it completely.
Revan tackled Carth onto the ground, laughing as she heard him grunt.
"Ooh! She got him!" Reese stood up to see their scourge.
Revan sat on top of Carth's back and pinned his arms down with her knees.
"Give up truthfully this time?" She smirked. Carth moaned.
"Fine, just get off of me." He mumbled. Revan got up and lent him a hand.
"Come on," She said. "You need a shower more than I do."
Carth welcomingly took the hand and pulled himself up off the ground. "Alright, let's go to my place."
"Ooh!" Bastila said loudly, poking the Exile in the ribs. Revan and Carth turned to look at them, surprised that they were still in sight. "That sounds nice!"
"Carth and Revan, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Reese sang back at Bastila, grinning from ear to ear. The began snickering like schoolgirls.
Atton ran a hand through his black hair and scooted away from the two, retracting his arms.
"I'm not with them, ok?" He pointed to the two giggling girls, sighing and shaking his head.
"And who said you could take your hands off?" Reese whined at his, pointing commandingly at her shoulders. Sighing, Atton took his place back with Reese.
"Alright, already. Let's go." Carth took Revan's hand and pulled her along.
"Wait!" Revan pulled back slightly, making Carth stare at her. She looked him over and began laughing.
"What is it?" He asked, inspecting his torso for the problem.
"We forgot your shirt."
-----
After the long and grueling search for Carth's misplaced shirt, the two tired heroes arrived at Carth's home. Upon entering the house, Revan gawked at the hugeness of it, stumbling around. The red décor definitely went with the black carpet, and the giant holoscreen nearly blew Revan clear off her feet.
"Wow," She gasped, dropping her mouth. "It's huge!"
"I know, I keep getting lost. I had to download my own schematics just to keep track." Carth sighed. He led her into his room, which was much like the rest of the house.
"You go ahead and take a shower, it's right through there. I'll take one next." Carth directed her into the bathroom and instructed her on how to use the shower.
After her rather hurried shower, Revan sat on Carth's bed, waiting for him to finish his. Feeling awkward in an unfamiliar house, Revan began inspecting the holopictures on the walls and on Carth's dresser. There were many pictures of her and Carth, most of them in a field after a Fight or on the ship.
Revan couldn't help but feel a smile stretch across her lips at the sight of herself. Her hair was definitely shorter, and there weren't apparent scars crossing her face and hands.
Can you spare a minute, child? Revan jumped slightly at her master's voice.
Sure, Kreia. What is it?
I was just going to suggest cutting your hair again. It hindered you in your last battle, and look at it now. Kreia did have a point; the locks were lumping together and dripping all over the place. The only thing that saved Carth's bed was the towel Revan placed under her hair.
I'll do it as soon as possible, I promise. Revan smirked.
You won't forget?
Not if you remind me.
The door opened again and Carth ambled out of the bathroom, his hair wet and his clothes fresh.
"Feel better?" Revan asked him, smiling. He nodded.
"Very much," He couldn't help but grin back. "I've got some holovids we can watch, if you want."
"Only if they're cheesy and romantic. I've had enough of action for a while." Revan lifted her knees up to her stomach.
"That's what I was thinking." Carth retorted.
Revan and Carth picked the movie "Someone to Hold" first, since it was on top. Carth placed the data-holder into the system and turned it on.
They sat on the bed, with Carth leaning on the pillows and his legs spread. Revan filled the space between his legs comfortably and leaned back against his chest.
Both of them crashed ten minutes through the movie.
-----
Early in the morning, Revan awoke drowsily with a pair of strong hands clamping her in place. She looked around to find Carth's hands laced together on her lower chest, making sure she wouldn't run away again.
Looking up, Revan saw Carth's face leaning to the right, obviously still asleep.
Smiling, Revan let out a sigh and stretched slightly, so not to awaken Carth.
Nope. She thought to herself. I'm not ready to get up yet.
THE END!
Oh my gosh this was a long chapter! The next chapter I'm pretty sure will be shorter, but it will explain the tarentatek story mentioned two chapters ago! Review please! Or not, seeing as how I have 1002 hits. That's really weird. Oh well, I appreciate all you guys anyway! Thank sooo much!