Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and the quotes form Attack of the Clones belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Seriously, you guys rock! I never dreamed that this story would become so popular. I figured that it would sit around, on ff.n, gathering dust and maybe one or two reviews when bored people happened upon it, but thanks to you, it's gained a lot of publicity, more than I'd hoped for. And, for that, I owe all of you a huge THANK YOU!
Chapter 9 is rolling in smooth, be sure to let me know what you think!
Padmé hefted the sword in her hand awkwardly. It was heavy, cumbersome.
"How am I supposed to fight with this when I can barely lift it." Padmé sighed in exasperation. "This is your revenge for this morning isn't it?"
Anakin chuckled. "It takes practice to get used to the heft. It was awkward for me at first too." He explained stepping closer to Padmé. "Choke up a little on the grip, it'll make it easier to hold onto and it won't be as heavy."
Padmé complied and rolled her shoulders in relief. "That is better." She said
Anakin nodded as he stepped around to face her from the front at an angle where he could watch her movements but not be in danger of being hit by the sword. "Good. Now that you have the proper grip, let's see a swing."
Padmé raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but I warning you now, I might cut off something you'll miss later." She warned. She followed Anakin's instruction, but she was inexperienced and her movements were clumsy, unsure.
Anakin moved his foot out of the way, allowing the sword to clank to the floor beside stepped behind her again and grasped her arms gently, guiding her through the correct motions. "You're too stiff. You need to relax your elbows when you swing, a sword this heavy will do most of the work for you. It's kind of like driving car-all you have to worry about is the gas, brakes, and steering, the sword will take care of the rest." Anakin counseled, guiding her arms with a feather-light touch.
Padmè suppressed a wince as Anakin's fingers wrapped around the fresh bruises on her arms, but her swing never faltered.
"You see, you can do it." Anakin approved smiling. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Not really." Padmè agreed.
The two of them practiced for a few moments more, until Padmè's cell phone started ringing. She glanced at the caller ID screen and her face went deathly pale.
"What?" Anakin demanded when he saw the color drain from Padmè's face.
Padmè took a moment to compose herself before speaking. "It's nothing, the phone just startled me is all. That was just my dad, he forgot about my fencing practice and wanted to know where I was." Padmè explained.
"Oh. Well, we can pick this up again another time. Do you need a ride home?" Anakin wondered.
"Do you mind? That would be wonderful." Padmè conceded gratefully.
After returning their equipment to the racks, the duo retrieved their things and headed out to Anakin's car.
The ride back to Padmè's house passed in silence.
Padmè's knuckles tightened on the door handles, bleaching the skin over the bones. Her heart felt like it was attempting to hammer it's way out of her chest. Her chest heaved, as her breathing accelerated, pace bordering on hyperventilation.
She clenched her fist even tighter, forcing herself to be calm and ignoring the creak of protest from the door handle and the sharp pops of her knuckles as they strained. She was satisfied to see that tightening her grip helped to conceal the fact that she was shaking like a leaf.
Once again, Anakin proved to be more observant than she gave him credit for. "Do you want someone to walk you to the door?" He asked, almost as if he sensed Padmè's unease.
Padmè's throat had tightened to the point where she was incapable of speech, so she nodded in reply.
The short trek to the door was tense, to say the least.
Anakin felt more like he was condemning Padmè rather than dropping her off at her house. So great was his sense of unease that when the door to the house opened, he instinctively shifted so he was in front of Padmè rather than beside her.
Ruwee Naberrie stood at the door in all his imposing glory, his beefy arms crossed. "You're late." He hissed.
Anakin leaned down so Padmè could hear him.
"I'll be right behind you the whole way." He assured her.
Instead of her normal vehement rebuff. Padmè whispered a quiet, fervent, "Thank you."
As they walked up to the door, Padmè gripped Anakin's hand unexpectedly, twining her fingers with his.
"Hi Dad, sorry I'm late. Fencing practice ran a little late." Padmè explained, not meeting her father's intense blue gaze.
Ruwee grunted in response, turning to Anakin instead. "Who the kark are you?" He demanded.
"Anakin Skywalker." Anakin replied, extending a hand.
Ruwee gripped Skywalker's hand in a bone-crushing grip. His squeeze grated the bones in Anakin's hand against each other. "You uh, a friend of my daughter?" Ruwee demanded.
Anakin refused to waver. "Yes sir,"
Behind him, Padmè's sharp intake of breath was barely audible.
Ruwee's tone remained indifferent. "Good. It's nice to see she's fitting in. Now, If you'll excuse us, we have to eat dinner. It was nice to meet you." He turned to his daughter. "Go wash up for dinner."
Padmè looked up at her father with an uncharacteristically sweet expression on her face. "Can I have a minute to say goodbye first?"
"Sure, whatever. Make it quick." With that, Ruwee disappeared into the house.
"Thanks for the ride." Padmè said, clasping her hands behind her back. She let out a breath and then looked up at Anakin. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask you...Can I have your cell number?"
Anakin pressed his lips together to keep his jaw from dropping. "Um sure."
The two of them exchanged information.
Suddenly, Padmè threw her arms around Anakin and squeezed for all she was worth. "You should go..." She said, her voice breaking.
Startled, Anakin looked down at her and caressed her cheek, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "I can stay..." he said, bringing his hand up to press Padmè's face tenderly against his shoulder.
Padmè sniffled loudly and pushed him away, gently. Her voice was grave. "I'm serious, you need to leave...it's not safe for you here."
Anakin started to object, but Ruwee poked his head out the door.
"You coming?" He said gruffly. The skin around his eyes was tightened.
Padmè nodded. "Just a second." She effectively chirped.
Anakin's voice smoldered, his tone serious, passionate. His blue eyes were piercing. "Promise me something." He said.
"What?" Padmè replied, slightly enthralled by Anakin's velvet voice.
Anakin reached over with deft fingers and plucked Padmè's phone from her pocket. He pressed it into her hand. "Call me if you need anything." He said.
Padmè blinked, surprised by Anakin's request. "I will..." She replied, unsettled by the earnestness in his gaze. "Please don't look at me like that." Padmè requested.
"Why not?" Anakin asked, puzzled.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable. I'll see you in school tomorrow." Padmè said as she gripped the door handle.
Anakin was almost to hid car when he turned around. "Padmè!" He called.
Padmè turned to look at him.
"Take care of yourself." Anakin instructed solemnly, and then he was in his car, leaving Padmè on the porch.
So what do you think? Good? Bad? Hard to understand? Let me know! Remember, first to review gets an A/P one-shot!
Peace.
~Ink