Chapter 2.
POV: Ahsoka Tano
Lux held me close as I came back down. My eyes glazed over with intense emotion as I clung to his skin. Chest to chest. Heart to heart. I could feel it pulsate through my body. His breathing in time with my own. I breathed in sharply and parted from him reluctantly, excusing myself to the bathroom. I washed up and remembered how to breathe before joining Lux in the kitchen.
It stood there strong in its formality steam rising from inside. Lux pushed it towards me, ushering me to taste its contents. It slid down my throat like fuel to an engine. The masculine bitter taste clawing at my tongue. I turned down his offer for sustenance, only one name taking prevalence in my mind. Anakin.
"It'll take time, Ahsoka," he said pushing back the plate of food towards me as he took his own and sat at the table.
I begrudgingly joined him and once again mulled my thoughts over. With his kind eyes and forced smile, he reassured me that I was doing the right thing. I was better off without him.
"If you knew you could trust him, you'd go back to him, I know you would, but you can't," he said bluntly sipping his glass of Iziz distilled liquor.
I sighed for what felt like the millionth time and nodded, stealing his glass and finishing it. He laughed, gesturing for my hand. I took it and he led me outside. There he jumped onto his speeder bike and I followed, sitting behind him and wrapping my arms tightly around his torso.
We rode into town, enjoying the feel of the wind rushing through us. People began to shout and holler at us as we got closer to the city. I pulled my hood over my head as did Lux as more began to recognise us. I just smiled and pulled myself closer to Lux, my hands moving up towards his chest.
Lux took my hand in his as we walked through the city, performers, light shows, fancy dress and food were on the agenda for the night festival. I was grateful for the distraction as we strolled around the festival, taking detours around the busier parts of the festival. Although we had hoods over our heads, up close it wouldn't take a genius to recognise us both. The light show began, all heads turning to the sky but my lips found another's, a delicate mirage of giving and receiving.
A hand clasped firmly around my wrist, the familiar click of gears finding my ears as I was forcefully pulled away from Lux, a fist soaring past my eyes. I screamed, all heads turning in our direction. Lux was on the ground holding back the fight within him.
"You don't know what you've just done," Lux uttered as people began to talk.
'Isn't that the Lady Tano?'
'It's Senator Bonteri!'
"Is this who you'd rather be with!" Anakin turned to me, yelling for everyone to hear.
I ran over to Lux, pulling him to his feet, my palm connecting with the side of his face as I assessed the damage, a cut lip, and potentially broken nose.
"You have no idea who I'd rather you be," I spat back at him as security from the festival closed in.
"I love you, Ahsoka," Anakin cried, his eyes drilling daggers into my heart.
"I can't trust you anymore…" I whispered out, holding back tears as people began to take pictures.
I tapped my commlink, signalling for Pierre and Lux's private security as Anakin fought amongst the festival security, handcuffs slapped to his wrists.
I sighed heavily letting out and disgruntled groan of frustration as the loud shouting of Pierre and Lux's security team fought back reporters outside his senatorial residence. I rolled over and inspected Lux, a prominent bruise on his left cheekbone. The swelling had subsided thankfully, his eyes flickered, his hand reaching for me.
"What are you staring at?" he chided, cracking a small smile, his voice hoarse and raspy.
I batted away his hand smiling as I took a sip of coffee but he insisted taking the cup from my hands as he sat up with an untimely growl. I watched him sip it silently as my commlink blipped twice. I sighed again, getting up and heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" Lux cried, setting down the now empty cup.
"I won't be long, I'm to discharge and escort Anakin back over to the custody of Coruscant officials under the acting jurisdiction of Senator Binks for Naboo".
"I'll be waiting, Lady Tano," he replied, chuckling lightly.
"Before I go, I've arranged for us to go off-world for a while, just until the reports die down".
He nodded sleepily, approving my decision and waving me out the door. I rolled my eyes and begrudgingly flopped into my speeder.
I arrived at the overnight lock-up and escorted Anakin into my speeder with the help of several Onderon militia officers. One speeder lead and another followed as I guided my speeder to the barracks landing platform. I ignored Anakin as he tried to engage in conversation.
"I'm only going to say this once, you endangered an executive official of the Onderon Court, attacked a member of the Galactic Senate, assaulted the Senator for Onderon and embarrassed yourself on neutral territory as a known ally of Onderon".
"I'm sorry, Ahsoka," Anakin murmured, no excuse was capable of leaving his tongue, "I want you back, 'Soka".
I stepped my foot down harder, "there was a time and place for that Skyguy and you lost your chance…"
I swallowed hard fighting back tears, my stomach twisting itself into an infernal knot. My eyes set upon the sight of a Nabooian Starship at the landing port accompanied by a small platoon of troopers and two other officials. As I drew closer, I allowed myself to breathe, Jar Jar and Obi wan were waiting for my arrival.
I elegantly threw myself out of the speeder, my coat gracefully waving above the ground as I adjusted my skirt. My tank top comfortably clinging to my skin as I grabbed Anakin by his handcuffs, pulling him out of the speeder and pushing him forward. I was swamped by the militia as I walked towards Obi wan and Jar Jar on the platform, handing him over to Commander Fox.
"aaahhhh…." Fox trailed off as I pushed Anakin forward again closer to Fox.
"Aren't you going to uncuff him?" Obi wan's voice shouted as Fox began to walk Anakin past Jar Jar and Obi wan.
I stood before Obi wan, dismissing the militia to guard duty. "I really don't see the problem Obi wan I'm sure you'll find a way to get them off without the key," I handed him Anakin's lightsabre.
"It'sa good to see yousa again, Lady Tano!" Jar Jar yelled as he hugged me spinning me around.
"Jar Jar!" I squealed, before he put me down, "it's good to see you again too".
Obi wan dismissed him and gave him Anakin's lightsabre with strict instructions on how to give it back to him. I giggled scuffing my heeled boots on the platform.
I hugged Obi wan enjoying his familiarity.
"Ahsoka, it is really good to see you again. I haven't had a chance to talk to you since you the collapse of the Jedi".
We engaged in small talk and reminisced over the Jedi Order. Obi wan wishes to re-establish The Order but I strongly advised against it. The Grey Jedi will handle it without the need of The Order now. He showed me a photo of Luke and Leia and my heart tightened in my chest, a strong foreboding sense washing over me. He assured me of their safety and that he was tending to Padme and the twins most hours of the week with C3PO. I told him about the new life I had started here on Onderon and the training of Katooni to which he congratulated me.
"…he still loves you, even though you might not like to accept it I can sense the conflict within you," his voice was low and monotonous, soothing.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I tore my gaze from him, a single drop sliding down my face.
"I can't trust him Obi wan and as much as I wish I could I can't and Lux," I looked back at Obi wan, "he has become more of a friend to me than Anakin ever could…"
He nodded breathing out a breath of agreement, "if you ever need anything, you know where to find me".
"Likewise," I nodded and wished him well on his journey back to Coruscant.
Chapter 3 -Preview-
"Are you staring at me again, Lady Tano?" he chided.
"You have no idea how hard it was not to kiss you..."
To be continued...
