[A/N: This chapter matches up with and makes more sense if you read chapter 4 of "Exile's Word." Thanks again to SeriousSubwayFlirting for the reviews!]
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"Wait here," you casually command, as if you go off to explore ruins dripping with the dark side of the Force by yourself every day.
"I don't think that's a good idea," blondie interjects, and I instinctively roll my eyes. It's just like him to get his robes in a bunch over anything relating to you.
Not that I'm crazy about the idea, either.
"It's not," you agree, your eyes regarding us thoughtfully. "But I have to go alone. Can't you feel it?" you ask, your pretty hazel pools flickering over to meet mine.
Yeah, I feel it, as much as I'm trying to block it out. Those tendrils seductively trying to wind their way into my mind. I clench my teeth.
I hold your stare. At the same time, I allow the irritating feeling to wash over me.
It's overwhelming at first, and my initial instinct is to block it out again.
My knees start to shake and my stomach turns from the severity of it.
I manage to stay upright and slowly adjust to its weight.
This isn't the same as when She woke the Force in me or when you revived it not so long ago, either. The atmosphere of this place is thick, humid like the jungles back in the war. Dark.
I look over to see that the kid looks a little pale and shaken, but he seems to be handling it better than I am all the same. I shoot him a glare.
"I'm going in alone," you repeat. "If I'm not back in a few hours, don't wait for me." You don't bother to wait for a response before you start towards the entrance.
"Ari," I stop you, grabbing your arm.
You pause to look at me expectantly, and I forget what I was going to say.
"Just...be careful," I state, swallowing before I let go. Not that I care, or anything, is what I mean to add to that sentence. "Angel."
"I always am," you deadpan. The corner of your mouth quirks with the barest hint of a smirk. I shake my head and you disappear through the strange fog. All you Jedi are fracking crazy.
I head back over to the kid and lean against the wall of the cave.
Now that you're gone, the itching, dark feeling in the back of my mind is harder to ignore.
"We should be in there with her," he states, after all of five minutes of silence. I shoot him a scowling glance.
"You'd only get in the way," I scoff. He gives me a brooding look before sitting on a rock.
"Atton, I believe there's been much miscommunication between us regarding the exile," he frowns, his eyebrows furrowing. I roll my eyes. He can't even call you by your name; that's how deep this idiot's in love with you. Or with whoever he thinks you are, anyway.
Between blondie and the dark Force emanating from the cave, I'm getting a migraine.
"Miscommunication? No, I know exactly what's going on in your wanna-be-Jedi mind. Thought people like you were supposed to be above all that," I reply with boredom, unsheathing my dagger and using it to scrape the dirt from under my fingernails.
"The way I see her-"
"Yeah, I don't think you've seen her in the same ways I have," I raise an eyebrow with implication. He shifts under my gaze uncomfortably, eyes wary as he averts his gaze.
I smirk.
This is too easy.
"Perhaps I should explain," he continues, not getting the hint. "I see relationships with others in a different light. Not as possessive or carnal." I snort.
"Nice line. Bet the girls love it. Would you mind if I tried it out sometime?"
"Relationships are something shared between two people and give both strength, whether through struggle or affection," he drones on, attempting to make eye contact that I won't give him. "I admire her. Perhaps even feel something for her. Can we at least agree that it is difficult to be around her and not have such feelings?"
"Well... yeah, okay," I allow, sliding my dagger back into its sheath.
"Good," he replies, finally shutting up.
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"I think we should stay."
"She said to go back to the 'Hawk if she wasn't back in time," I argue. "She's a big girl. With a lightsaber. I think she'll be fine," I retort coolly.
"I'm not leaving her," blondie stubbornly insists.
"Fine. You take first watch while I get some sleep." Like he could protect you. But if he's staying, I'm staying.
It's not that far into the kid's watch when he wakes me up with a quick shake to my shoulder.
"What?" I snarl in annoyance. He's just interrupted a very pleasant dream I was having about- well, I'm sure you could figure it out, angel.
He wordlessly nods toward the misty cave entrance, where you're approaching us.
I feel strange. Cold. Empty.
Your robes seem darker than before and your strides toward us turn deliberate as you ignite your lightsaber.
And that's when I realize it.
I can't feel you through our bond even though you're walking right towards me.
I instinctively reach for my holster, my faithful blaster.
Not my 'saber. I don't have that habit yet. I don't have it committed to muscle memory.
I'm not sure that I ever truly will.
"Atton, what-" pretty boy gasps, startled at what I'm about to do.
I aim right between the eyes and pull the trigger.
Your doppelganger disappears in a wisp of smoke.
"What...how..." he sputters beside me. I want to laugh but settle for scoffing instead.
See, babe?
He doesn't know you like I do.
I almost feel like a fool for believing I ever had any competition.
"That wasn't her," I inform him, leaning back against a rock. "Wake me up if something exciting happens."
"I..." he sputters, still speechless as I close my eyes.
She didn't have the same spark in her eyes like you get during a fight, like when you're arguing with me.
You never wear black, and your lightsabers are a subtle green for your right hand and that second violet-hued one, not the unique double-bladed silver she carried, though I can't help but think I've seen that one somewhere before.
Anyway, I don't know what the frack just happened, I only know that it wasn't you.
The next time the kid shakes me awake, you're walking toward us. As you draw closer, I can see how tired you are, how small you look under your dirtied robes.
Blondie rushes toward you and I follow casually on his heels.
"I'm fine," you swat us away. You grimace and clutch at your arm, but ignore the kid's attempts to examine you. "I'm fine," you repeat, swaying.
Liar.
You fall to your knees, but I'm faster than the kid, catching you before you hit the floor.
I scoop you up in my arms, trying not to jostle your head too much after blondie points out the raised welt on your temple.
You don't open your eyes again until we're out of the cave and trudging through the sand back to the 'Hawk.
"Atton," you abruptly say, and I almost trip. You wince at the sudden movement and I pretend not to notice that your lip is torn and swollen. That there's dried blood in your now tangled hair and you have more bruises than you started with.
"Right here, angel," I reply, dropping my voice in what I hope is a soothing fashion. "It's me." I blink in surprise when you reach up to touch my face, trailing your fingers along my jaw. Your eyebrows scrunch as you try to focus on my eyes.
"Good. I didn't want that other guy. Too dark. Too cold," you take back your fingers and close your eyes, expression still pained. "He called me Meetra. She was there, but he didn't know her. Wasn't much fun," you ramble incoherently, pressing your face against the front of my jacket.
"Oh?" I play along, if only to urge you stay conscious. "I bet he's not as ruggedly handsome, either."
"Scoundrel," you grumble.
I'm unsure if I'm imagining the fond undertones, gorgeous, but I smile despite myself.