A green halo of glowing light emanates from the hand of the young padawan as she crawls her way through damp passageways, heading deep into the Temple infrastructure. Riven is following the sounds of soft sobs that echo against the mildewed stones she brushes by.
"Anakin?" She calls out, noting the hush that quickly follows.
A few cautious movements forward, and she spies the blonde-headed boy cowering in a corner. Holding the glow light up and out to see, Anakin gets a glimpse of a pair of dark eyes laced with concern.
"Padmé?" He asks in confusion, his eyes alighting with hope as the face approaches and is ultimately revealed.
"No, Anakin. It's Riven."
Disappointment clouds his features, but Riven wisely doesn't allow him the time to consider his next course of action.
"Who is Padmé?" She asks curiously as she draws closer. "Is she that woman I've seen hanging out with your Master?"
"Yes." The word is hissed out and Riven quickly sits down next to her friend.
"Isn't she a queen or something? How did you meet her?"
The young girl listens intently to the details of the Battle of Naboo, and how Anakin had come to meet Padmé and become a Jedi padawan.
"She sounds very nice."
"She is." Anakin agrees with a sniff.
"But she doesn't sound like she wants to be your girlfriend. A good friend, yes. But not your girlfriend."
"I know that. Now." The boy huffs in despair.
"Then what are you doing hiding down here?"
"Because I destroyed the Serenity Gardens! And…and I killed my Master!" Fresh tears stream down the young boy's face, and Riven pulls him into a tight one-arm embrace.
"Shh. No, you didn't. Master Kenobi is fine, and the Queen of Naboo is doing well. They are both in the healer's ward recovering. They're going to be okay."
The sounds of Anakin's stuttering breaths fill the cramped cavern as Riven pats him on the shoulder, in a gesture of support and comfort.
"Why did you come down here?" Comes a muffled reply between drawn-up knees.
"Because I'm your friend." Is her simple reply.
"Why?"
There is a slight pause, but then the girl continues. "I think you're brave and smart. And I think you're kinda cute." A slight blush crosses Riven's cheeks, but it is a time for honesty. The Force is leading her to speak truth. It is the only way that she can save her friend.
Anakin's head comes up at her bold statement and disbelief clouds his features, followed by a slow, humble acceptance.
"You're the only friend I've got, Riven." He admits solemnly.
"Oh, but you're wrong." Riven declares. "Come with me and I'll prove it to you."
"Why? Who's up there? The council? Master Yoda? They're not exactly my friends." The young male padawan declares, crossing his arms in defiance.
"Just come with me, Anakin."
A small hand reaches into the crossed extremities, grasping onto the boy's fingers and hesitantly he follows Riven up and out of the dark.
A man's calloused and shaking hands untie a blue lace bodice, revealing pale skin beneath, warm to his touch, silky smooth under questing lips. A gentle sigh reaches his ears as Obi-Wan continues his slow explorations, but worries of his padawan push into his mind, and he stills momentarily. However, the Force is insisting upon completion of the bond that has begun, and all else must wait. Even his own apprentice.
Regretfully though, he realizes that he must rush through this. When he would much rather take his time and learn Padmé's body in every intimate way possible, he feels compelled to get to Anakin as quickly as he can.
Biting back his regret, he kisses Padmé soundly, and suddenly is met with a rush of peace that floods over him. A tide that speaks of acceptance and light, and the knight realizes everything is going to be okay.
He collapses over Padmé's body, releasing his stress through several deep breaths.
"Is it Anakin?" She can feel Obi-Wan's emotional upheaval and hopes that she has understood the implications of it.
"Yes." Obi-Wan answers into her hair. "He's reaching for the light. There's still hope."
Padmé smiles broadly at the news and the joy she feels along their bond, and then at the smile upon the knight's face as he lifts his head.
"Obi-Wan?" She murmurs between a probing tongue and nibbling lips brushing upon her own.
"Hmm?"
"I feel a strong urge to complete this wonderful…" Padmé pauses, searching for a term to describe this foreign, albeit welcome sensation, "tie between us, but do you think we could manage a shower first?"
A chuckle shakes his frame as Obi-Wan soothes back the dark curls from Padmé's face, noting that indeed they are covered in dust and that sand is imbedded in her scalp. He nods over to the fresher unit in the med room they occupy.
"Or maybe we can accomplish both at the same time?" He suggests with a wicked grin and Padmé responds with a playful swat to his backside.
"Multi-tasking." She purrs. "I like the sound of it. Get going. I'm starting to itch."