Author's Note: Before you read this latest chapter, I just wanted to say a quick thanks to those of you who've followed, favorited and reviewed! I love sharing my ideas and stories with other like minded people. This chapter will be the last T rated chapter, the next will be M rated and you'll see why when you read how this chapter ends...
I hope you enjoy!
Updated 08/21/2022
The Bounty Hunter: Ch. 3
There's a ringing in my ears and I feel Padmé move under me. That's good, at least. It means she's still alive. I push myself up to my knees and grab her, looking her over for any injuries. She seems stunned, her eyes wide and still. I cup her face, forcing her to look at me.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I ask her, not spotting any injuries from what I can see. However, I can't see a broken bone.
Padmé swallows hard and nods, her eyes sweeping over the carnage near us. She stops breathing for a moment, her eyes beginning to water.
I don't need to turn around to know that Cordé's dead, I can feel it through the Force. Many of her security officers are too. But Padmé isn't, and as callous as that sounds, she's all I care about.
Cordé and all the others knew what they were signing up for. They all knew the risks. They accepted them when they joined the RNSF. Padmé didn't, she's only trying to serve in the best interests of her people, the rest of the people in the galaxy.
Padmé draws away from my hands and rises to her feet slowly. I don't stop her. I don't sense any more danger. It's past for now. I only wish it'd be the last and that Padmé wasn't still being hunted.
How ironic that Padmé is being protected by me, a bounty hunter, when she's being pursued by bounty hunters. I push my wayward thoughts to the side and get up to my feet. Besides the ship that's crippled and the dead security officers, nothing else looks to be affected.
In a few moments, we're being surrounded by the Coruscant police force and emergency responders. Padmé's whisked away by her security team, and I closely follow suit.
A short time later, we're all in the senate building and the loud voices coming from the senate chambers are hard to miss. It makes me think of all the cheering back at the Boonta Eve Classic, I could distinctly remember the loud cheers of all the people as I flew by them at breakneck speeds. Except these loud voices sound angry, accusing, ready to fight, not cheer.
"This is exactly why Count Dooku was able to convince so many systems to secede," Padmé says to one of her handmaidens. I don't listen to her response and tune out their conversation. I decide to focus more on the currents of the Force and reach out with my senses to see if there are any threats to Padmé closeby.
Jango's first attempt wasn't a success. He'll try again, I need to keep on alert and be ready for anything. He's a professional killer, one who kills more than he captures. He doesn't care if his bounty lives or dies. Something I always avoided, I'd rather freeze them in carbonite than outright kill them. It usually brings in more credits too, a win, win in my book.
Eventually we step into a pod and I look around in wonder as the hover pod brings us into the middle of the large chamber. The room falls silent as they all lay eyes on Padmé. I know the feeling, she has that effect on people.
"My noble colleagues," Padmé says loudly into the microphone. "I concur with the Supreme Chancellor. At all costs, we do not want war!"
Then, to my surprise, the chambers are engulfed in a thunderous outburst of cheering and applause. It takes me by surprise, especially since at least half these people are against her. I hear the Supreme Chancellor say something but don't hear it over the loud cheering. I don't really care what he has to say either.
I'm only here for Padmé and I keep on alert for anything that can harm her. Physically.
It's a little while later that we walk into the Supreme Chancellor's office. Padmé walks in the lead, I stay in the back of the group. I don't want any eyes on me and I don't care much for political nonsense where there's talk talk talk and no action. At least in the Rim we don't have to deal with this. How could anyone expect a body so big to be able to function efficiently? Tens of thousands of worlds, thousands of different species, not all are going to agree on the same bills.
It's all just a big pile of bantha poodoo if you ask me.
But what do I know? I'm just a former slave boy from the Outer Rim, turned pod racing star turned bounty hunter. The only law in the Outer Rim is the Hutt's, and I'm one of their...enforcers, if you will, for one of their most prominent members. And at least Jabba is open with you, instead of telling you something to your face and stabbing you in the back like most of these guys who lack the courage of a fair fight.
Force forbid they actually get their hands-
I feel eyes on me and the Force swirls. Jedi Master Yoda is staring at me. I didn't even notice him, which isn't saying much considering how small he is. It's not just him either. Master Windu is here. As well as a few other Jedi, all of which are staring at me like an amoeba under a microscope. I stare back at each of them, giving them each a cold hard glare. I refuse to look weak or uncomfortable in front of them. I'm not nine any more.
I'm a grown ass man. A hardened bounty hunter. Jedi don't scare me.
Their attention shifts to Padmé and I breathe a sigh of relief. All of their eyes on me were suffocating, just like all of those years ago...
"Chancellor, if I may comment, I do not believe the-"
The Chancellor cuts her off. "Situation is that serious," he finishes for Padmé. "No, but I do, Senator."
"Chancellor, please." Padmé pleads, something I never thought she'd do. "I do not want any more guards!"
I can't say I blame her. I'm not going to point out though, that she could use some guards right about now. I don't think she'll like it coming from me and I don't want her heated glare focused my way. She can be a force to reckon with, but I like that about her.
The Chancellor tries to persuade her to accept Jedi protection. "But perhaps someone you are familiar with, an old friend," the Chancellor focuses on me. "Master Kenobi?"
Padmé tries to brush it off but the Chancellor is relentless and manages to get her to accept Obi-Wan as her protection. I'm glad it's him and not another Jedi. Like Windu. I can't think of a more insufferable Jedi than him. He took one look at me and curled his lip at me in disgust, like the freed slave boy wasn't even worthy of stepping foot in his precious Jedi Temple. I'll never go back there for as long as I live.
I did just fine without them. I'll do just fine without them.
The fanfare begins to die down when we're all in Padmé's senatorial apartment. I'm impressed, too. It comes with an amazing view of the city-planet and it's high in the clouds. I guess living in 500 Republica has its perks.
It's the most exclusive address on the planet, maybe even the whole galaxy.
Padmé changes her clothes, changing out of her formal senatorial garb and into some more relaxing clothes. I can't help taking her in and appreciating her natural beauty. Her legs and arms are bare, nothing but skin. If I could only see one thing for the rest of my life, I'd choose her. I don't think there's anything or anyone that could ever be more beautiful.
I'm sure of it. Angelic for sure.
"I'm sorry about all of this, Ani," Padmé says, sighing as she comes to stand beside me on the veranda. Her beautiful, intoxicating, earthy scent wafts upwards to me and I have to take a deep breath to gain my composure. Padmé's completely unaware of the effect she has on me, even just standing next to me. "Because of me-"
"Because of you," I interrupt and wrap a hand around her arm and turn her to face me. I put a hand on her cheek and smile when she doesn't bat it away or tell me to kriff off. "Because of you, I am right where I want to be. I'm a bounty hunter, Padmé. I've chased down dangerous guys, guys that would have no problem killing me. And I'd have no problem killing them, if I had too. I can handle this. I won't just stand by and let anyone harm a single hair on your beautiful head, not if I can help it."
She looks up at me with those gorgeous eyes and I swear they're getting all teary again. "You think I'm-"
"Beautiful?" I finish for her and nod. "I don't think there's a strong enough word to describe how incredibly beautiful and amazing you truly-"
She fists my brown RNSF vest in her hands and pulls me down to her and our lips crash together. I freeze, completely not seeing this coming. Force be damned. I never felt lips so soft, I close my eyes and in no time, my lips move in tandem with hers and then I'm the one taking control and lowering my other hand to her waist and drawing her closer to me until our bodies are flush together.
She moans into my mouth as our bodies connect, hands roaming and caressing. There's so much to explore and appreciate, and I wish these damn clothes weren't in the way. I waste no time in licking my way between her full parted lips and seek out hers.
The second our tongues touch, I groan. I've never felt this incredibly turned on before in my life. I didn't think then that this would ever happen, which spurs my desire even more. It's mind blowing. I have to be dreaming- and if I am, I don't want to ever wake. I keep my eyes closed and keep moving my lips, my tongue, my hands that are on her soft, smooth, face and waist, I press my fingers into the supple skin and groan as Padmé ends my life-altering kiss when we both need to come up for air.
Blinking my eyes open, she smiles up at me with a smile I never saw on her angelic face – one of pure desire – and she breaks eye contact, her fingertips brushing her bottom lip as if to savor the feeling of our kiss. "Wow," is all she says, sounding as breathless as me.
Blinking my eyes open, she smiles up at me with a smile I never saw on her angelic face and she breaks eye contact, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. "Wow," is all she says, sounding as breathless as me.
I give a husky laugh, at a bit of a loss of words myself. "Yeah, I never…" I brush a hand through my hair that's damp and lose my trail of thought. I never felt that way before or believed something like that was even possible. And we only kissed. I can only imagine- no, no I can't actually. If something as little as kissing can feel like this, then I can't imagine what it'd be like to have her naked and writhing under me as I-
Nope. Not going there. I lick my lips and still taste her, warmth thrumming through me as I stare blankly into space out of pure disbelief. Did that really just happen? I shake my thoughts away and look back up at Padmé to find her blushing with those beautiful brown eyes of hers focusing below my waist and when she notices me watching her, she takes a few steps back, stumbles and disappears into her bedroom.
I know what she saw, how could she not? I'd be surprised if she didn't feel how turned on I was when I had her body flush against mine. I never thought I'd have her even that close, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to explore as much of her as she'd let me. It's been a frequent fantasy of mine that I can't seem to shake. I don't want to.
Even if we never do more than what we just did, at least I'll have this memory. If I die in one minute, I'd die the happiest man in the galaxy.
Padmé avoids me until Jar Jar, who was way too enthusiastic when he recognized me earlier, welcomes Obi-Wan. Jar Jar is just as enthusiastic with him, and I smile at Obi-Wan's obvious discomfort. He never really liked Jar Jar, even nine year old me who knew nothing of the Force, sensed that.
He smiles when he sees me, the smile genuine. Real. "You've grown," he says in greeting.
"And you've shrunk," I say back and he laughs and gives me a firm handshake and even pulls me in for a hug. "It's good to see you, Obi-Wan."
He nods. "It's good to see you, old friend." Padmé then comes out to greet Obi-Wan and he bows to her, and promises that he'll be invisible while he's here.
"I'm very grateful that you're here, Master Kenobi," Captain Typho says as he comes in from another room. "The situation is more dangerous than the senator will admit."
He's right and I say as much. "Padmé, your chief of security is right." The danger is more serious than she knows. "Jango Fett and Zam Wessel aren't to be underestimated. And even if we manage to thwart them again, even kill them, it won't stop the Viceroy from hiring more bounty hunters to try and finish the job."
Obi-Wan strokes his beard as he digests what I just said. "I sense something more is at play here, Senator. You're the opposition against the military creation act, you made a lot of enemies. The timing of all this…it can't be a coincidence."
Padmé and Typho exchange a look. "Our intelligence suggests that the Trade Federation has entered into an agreement with the Separatists." Captain Typho says. "I guess, it is possible that the Viceroy demanded the Senator's head as part of that agreement."
That's the first I'm hearing about this, yet it doesn't surprise me in the least. The Viceroy isn't the type to get his own hands dirty, just like he didn't ten years ago. He's nothing but a sniveling little coward, like all Neimoidians.
Obi-Wan nods. "Yes, I can see that. I'll need to see your schedule Senator and Captain, I'd like for you to show me the security office and the systems and protocols you have in place. We might need to make some changes."
Typho jumps right to it and they disappear, leaving Padmé and myself. And Jar Jar, who picks up the social cues and our looks at him and he leaves us be. I clear my throat when he's gone and we're all alone. "Was I that...bad a kiss?" I ask, giving her a self deprecating smile, because I know there's no way that that kiss was bad. She made me feel like I was on fire, and it burned so good, leaving me dizzy with desire. Does she feel the same way?
There's no way she didn't feel it, too. And she kissed me. "It's, it's," she pauses as she tries to come up with the words. "It just took me by surprise is all," she finally says. "It's been ten years and I'm glad to see that you're alive and well...I just didn't expect to feel the way I did- the way I do," she quickly corrects herself and I find myself smiling. I didn't think she got flustered over anything, I'm glad she's showing me another side of her. A side I'm sure she doesn't let many others see. If anything, it only makes my love for her grow. "I've been under a lot of stress from this bill and seeing you made it feel like...made it feel like it didn't matter. It made me feel something, besides stress. You made me feel like there are other things that are important besides just work." I don't stop her stammering, I find it rather cute and endearing and her words wrap around my heart and squeeze.
It's even more cute and endearing when it's because of me. I put my hand back on her cheek like earlier and I watch her carefully to see if I'm reading and feeling her right, she places a hand over mine and I give her a reassuring smile before leaning down and taking her lips with mine. I start slowly, giving her time to adjust and sink into the kiss and when she does, I part my lips and brush my tongue against hers and explore every contour like it might be my last, because it very well could be.
Padmé pulls me closer again, her small hands fisting back into my vest and pulling me down against her. I lower my hands to her waist, then lower to palm her ass and lift her up effortlessly into my arms and she wraps her legs around my waist without hesitation. I smile against her mouth and begin to carry her back to her room...
A/N: Had to end it there. As I said in the beginning, the next chapter will be rated M, and yep, we'll see exactly where that goes though I'm sure you can guess. I decided to quicken things between them, their feelings and attraction to one another is undeniable and there's nothing preventing them from loving one another or loving on one another.
Prepare for it to get steamy. I also want to say that even though Anakin's a complete sap and soft with the woman he loves (like any man), he's still that boy and man that grew up on Tatooine. He's a hardened bounty hunter and even if his life radically changed in the matter of just a couple of days, with his angel back in his life, his upbringing and life until this point hasn't negated the past. Even in this alternate universe where he's not a Jedi that borders on the dark side, you don't mess with those he loves (no matter what universe or galaxy he's in). His mother, and his angel. If you do...well, you'll soon see what he does to them. Don't mess with the Skywalkers.
Until next time…
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