Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters are the property of George Lucas, I'm just borrowing them. All quotes from the Revenge of the Sith monetization belong to Matthew Stover, George Lucas, and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Alright guys, here comes chapter 14! Um, I don't really have much else to say, except... Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews!
On with the show!
Padmè's injuries were beginning to catch up with her when she and Anakin arrived back at his flat.
They put away the bags and sat down on the couch, flipping on the television for lack of anything better to do.
"How're you holding up?" Anakin wondered.
"I'm alright. My ankle and my wrist feel a little bit better; my arm's still pretty sore though." Padmè replied, rubbing the bandage on her arm absently. She took another sip of the juice she'd poured herself when they got home.
"Do you feel dizzy at all?" Anakin asked.
Padmè shook her head. "Nope. I'm just tired."
"How about your ribs?" Anakin continued.
"Still sore." She admitted, yawning. Padmè flopped over carefully, using the arm of the couch as a pillow.
The two companions lounged for a few moments, until a knock at the door interrupted their evening.
Anakin rose from the couch. "I'll get it." he said unnecessarily-Padmè was asleep. He crossed the room and opened the door a crack.
Ruwee glared at him from the other side of the door.
Anakin's grip tightened on the door. "What are you doing here?" He demanded coldly. np
"Looking for my daughter." Ruwee snapped back.
Anakin's cobalt gaze hardened. "And what makes you think she'd be here?"
Ruwee barged past Anakin into the apartment, shoving against the door hard enough to send the youth stumbling back. "Don't take me for a fool boy," He snarled. His voice sharpened when he caught sight of his daughter lying on
Anakin stepped in front of Ruwee, barring his access to his daughter.
"Get out of my way." Ruwee snapped. "You have no right to keep my daughter here."
Anakin's tone was filled with venom and scorn, his brow darkened with fury. "No."
Ruwee raised a hand to backhand the youth. "Move!" He roared.
Anakin's throat constricted, pulse pounding in his ears. Red fury crawled up the back of his throat, burning like acid. "Not while you're still breathing."
Ruwee stood there, fuming.
"You have a move to make? I don't have all day." Anakin sneered.
Ruwee's fist was fast, but Anakin was faster.
Anakin reached up to seize the man's wrist, corkscrewing his arm until his shoulder popped free of the socket. "You'll find I lack the respect your daughter has for you; I will not hesitate to raise a hand to you. Sir." Anakin's lips tightened.
Ruwee doubled over panting.
A swift, sharp kick to the ribs sent Ruwee sprawling to the floor.
Padmé stirred.
Anakin crouched next to the wheezing man. "You may take your daughter and go. But you have my word: If I so much as suspect that you hurt her again. If I even think for one second that you laid a hand on her with anything other than compassion. You will answer to me. I don't care about your friends, I don't care about your connections. You're dealing with me now. I don't hide behind my friends…" Anakin lowered his voice, which somehow made him sound even more menacing. "And I have absolutely no problem, getting my hands dirty."
"You think I need your permission?"
Anakin hauled the man to his feet. His face was creased with rage. "I made your daughter a promise: I promised her I wouldn't kill you when I found out what you've been doing to her. You have no idea the amount of self-control it takes for me to avoid snapping your neck at this very moment." Anakin took a breath, to calm his raging emotions. "Do not trifle me with your contemptability again. The next time you raise a hand to your daughter, my self-control may not be so unwavering. Make no mistake- any harm that comes to your daughter by your hand will result in your death."
Trying to hide how deeply thee young man had effected him, he gently-very gently- shook his daughter's shoulder.
"Padmé?" He asked gently.
Anakin stood by, watching intently, arms crossed over his chest.
Padmé was catapulted into full alertness by the sight of her father's face.
"Anakin!" She shouted.
Instantly, Anakin was at her side. "I'm right here, Padmé. Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you."
Padmé calmed down a little, but her tone was still spiteful. "What the kriff do you want?" She demanded.
Ruwee's face softened. "I want you to come home. Please."
"I don't know if I can. Not after what you've done to me." Padmé countered
"That will never happen again. I promise." Ruwee said fervently.
"I'll come with you…" Padmé said slowly. "On one condition: I want to see my mother."
Ruwee's throat went dry.
His men were already on their way to his wife's house.
Ruwee smiled disarmingly. "I'll…make a phone call when I get home."
Anakin disappeared for a breif moment, before returning with Padmé's things.
Handing her purse, he bent down to whisper in her ear. "Call me if you need anything. No playing hero this time, Padmé." He said.
Padmé nodded subtly. "I'll see you in school tomorrow."
With that, Ruwee and Padmé departed.
Anakin eyed Ruwee coldly as he passed. Remember our agreement.
Ruwee swallowed, visibly shaken. He nodded, and left the room.
The black suburban barreled through the forest, tearing up the gravel driveway in a spray of rocks and grit. The vehicle pulled up to the small cottage, and four men in suits men got out.
"Alright men, Ruwee wants this done by the book. Let's-" One of the began.
Red-and-blue lights flashed and police sirens split the night.
Almost immediately, the quartet was surrounded by police cars.
"Freeze!" One office shouted as seven of his comrades trained their weapons on the would-be-assassins.
One by one, the men lowered their weapons.
A police officer with a hat and a neatly trimmed beard stepped forward. "I don't suppose you have a permit for those weapons, gentlemen?" He stated smugly.
The mobsters obediently got on their knees, hands behind their heads.
They knew the drill.
Go quietly; Ruwee would bail them out before the week was done.
From the living room window, Jobal watched with satisfaction. Never mess with my kids. She thought
In his cluttered office, Ruwee hunched over a stack of papers, ignoring the vicious throbbing in his ribs as he finished his paperwork for the night.
Skywalker had a vicious snap-kick.
The man smiled to himself-Palpatine would be pleased.
The kid was half-gangster already, and he didn't even know it.
With any luck, Palpatine would be running the town by the end of the school year; especially with that Vader compound that he was working on-that was some pretty heavy stuff.
A smile played across Ruwee's features- he had no doubt that he would be handsomely rewarded when Palpatine's rise to power was complete.
Groaning in discomfort, Ruwee popped a few Ibuprofen tablets, downed a swig of water and continued with his work…These bail papers weren't going to complete themselves.
Okay guys, you know what to do next! Review! I have the next few chapters planned out, and I think you'll really like them! I just wanted to let you know, my new work schedule is more hectic, so I won't be able to update as frequently-, but I should be able to update at least once a week.
Thanks for all your wonderful feedback, I really appreciate it! Please keep it up!
Catch you on the flipside,
~Ink