Disclaimer:
I do not own any rights to Star Wars. This is merely fan fiction by a fan and not someone even remotely involved in any Marvel or Lucas Film property. That being said I do hope you enjoy it.
"What does Anakin like?"
"Excuse me?"
"He's been mopey all day, he spends his free time staring at the incubators and when the scientist get annoyed at him telling them that they are wrong and finally kick him out of the labs he spends the rest of his time sleeping."
"More so than usual?" Obi-Wan raised a brow at her. He himself was busy fiddling with his lightsabre as the parts of the iconic weapon lay scattered across his desk.
"Yes!" She whined, why was he so nonchalant about Anakin? Was she the only one who could see something is clearly wrong with him. More so than usual at least which was surprising.
"He's just growing, men also experience hormone swings. He'll come around, he always does. He was the same at the temple, always picking fights, cussing at people but then the next morning he'd show up at your door with a gift basket and an apology."
The idea of Anakin apologizing especially to a Jedi didn't exactly strike her as something Anakin would do. If anything if she received a gift basket from him she would have it sent to the police to check for poison or explosives in the chocolate.
"So what? I'm just supposed to wait?"
"Some people don't want to be 'helped' and unfortunately you generally can't help those people." Obi-Wan shrugged. "Anakin was a slave as a child, he's been abused. While it would be nice for abuse to be solved with a hug you just can't, you've got to give them space and most importantly time to come out of his shell."
"It's been eight years! What did you do at the temple?" At this Obi-Wan actually looked offended. Taking the time to look away from cleaning the separate parts of his lightsabre he gave her a sharp glare.
"We tried our best at the temple and Anakin is hardly the first Jedi to come from abusive households, it's really the only time Jedi forcefully take a child. But usually we take the children while they are so young that they don't remember, it was a special case for Anakin. Though he progressed remarkably, we brought in therapists and they all said he was making a very healthy recovery at the temple. As morbid as it is to say this, Watto wasn't the worst slaver. He never sexually assaulted either Shimi or Anakin, and while he did physically discipline them he never branded or leave extreme permanent scarring."
Padme flared up at the idea of Watto 'disciplining' Anakin. Obi-Wan had been right of course, Watto certainly could've been worse. Still, the idea of Anakin as an nine year old or even worse younger being beaten because he spilt something left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"It's kind of you to care for him Padme. Had you been born with the Force I could see you the gold standard of a Jedi. All you have to do is give him time, he will come around."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then he doesn't. But it's our job as his friends to not let that impact us, he might never get rid of his PTSD from abuse. That's just something we might have to accept will never leave."
"Of course." She wouldn't leave it alone though. If there was one thing she had learnt from Dooku and Anakin is that the Jedi can be wrong and she wouldn't give up just because some people in long robes told her to. That's basically just the Senate.
She was going the therapy Anakin so hard.
Anakin's fingers tapped on the screen of the computer over and over. The loops much like the Force hated being stagnant, always very small changes. One of these changes were passwords. They often changed throughout the loops and while some were more common and stayed more constant, sometime the loops would change them. It was one of the most inconvenient things about the Loops as now he couldn't just remember important passwords as there was no guarantee they would last the next reset. Still while his knowledge of passwords were useless he did pick up hacking skills that made his life certainly easier as now he was more effective spicer then most droids.
"What am I doing?" He whispered to himself, alone kept company by the beeping lights which was annoyingly not synchronised.
The Kaminoians hadn't yet perfected their brain chips yet, no point putting them in yet if most of the clones died to cancer. Still they had the blueprints prepared, the skeleton of the clone genetic programming that would ensure loyalty to the Republic. Brain washing, while effective could fail, some clones, especially those made of Jango Fett, could be remarkably resilient to their mental conditioning. Sure brain chips could fail and they would during the clone wars, but, they would provide extra security and assure that the majority of the clones would stay in line.
Still his fingers danced across the keyboard, easily opening files that most only the highest ranking Kaminoians had access too. The secrets of the clones still in their earliest stages laid bare before him. It would be so easy to type in a program that would build the backbone of programming so it couldn't just be easily deleted. He couldn't help the several ideas that flooded into his mind.
Maybe he could install a program in which all the clones would turn on Palpatine when he commands order 66. Maybe he could order a mass suicide of the Republic slave army or maybe install a master key in which all clones would be forced to listen to him no matter the order.
The worst part is Anakin had tried all these methods before and had never succeeded. At best it would force Palpatine to flee the Republic. At worst, it would result in Palpatine convincing the Republic that the clones have rebelled and there would be a Republic Civil war still resulting in the death of the Jedi against the clones anyway.
This was suppose to be his break, it was one thing to get dragged into Padme's mess but he would NOT actively try to stop Palpatine this time. Protect Padme, enjoy the rich food and alcohol at her social events then wait till Palpatine murders everyone. Afterwards he would go out to the Rim and spend the rest of his life getting high and banging whores.
It was a flawless plan.
Which brought up the question, 'why was he here'? He had gone through all the effort of breaking in and for what? To alter the brain chips? No… he couldn't, or rather he wouldn't. He wouldn't take part in another war. Not in this life.
With a heavy sigh he walked away from the screen. Sorry Rex, looks like he would be born a slave once more. Without Anakin he would probably die in the Clone Wars anyway. Hopefully he would be put with a kind Jedi, Plo Koon or Kit Fisto would be ideal.
"I'm sorry," but he wasn't. He was a blight on the Galaxy, everything he touched always had the tendency to wither and die. However, if it meant the end of Palpatine he would slaughter anything that got in his way so long as he would get his withering fingers around Palpatine's throat for good.
Just not this time.
"I'm sorry?" She looked at Anakin's face which was currently scrunched up in both disbelief and disgust.
"It's raining, therefore… game night!"
"No." He hissed as if he had just been asked to walk around the complex naked.
"Yes." She hissed back. "Besides I don't feel safe, I need my bodyguard with me, and if he just so happens to join me on my game night then so be it."
"You're lying, you have Mandalorians, a Jedi knight and an army of clones to protect you while you are in the middle of nowhere. Believe me you are plenty safe. I'll leave you to your board games in private."
"Well… actually, this is a direct order from your boss. Sooooooo," Padme shrugged making a 'what can you do' gesture. Was she taking advantage as her position as his boss? Absolutely. Would she stop? No.
"So you're forcing me to be your friend. Do you realise how pathetic that is? I mean look at this place! You've scattered pieces and boards across the room that we don't even know what belongs to what at this point." He scowled at the mess completely ignoring the annoyed expression on her face. "Also you are wet, why?"
He didn't so much ask as he demanded annoying Padme even more. He can't insult her and then pretend to care a few seconds later. Not he was wrong though, Padme could still feel her wet hair stick to her scalp and every so often a droplet of water would fall into her eyes forcing her to scrub wildly to get the water out
"The board games were on the ship, it was raining."
"And you didn't bring an umbrella?"
"I did! Do you think I am that stupid?" Anakin gave a probing hum but she quickly shut him down with a look that promised him a painful death. "It was extremely windy. I lost my umbrella."
Anakin rolled his eyes at her before stepping over the board games she sacrificed her dry hair for, instead, he went over to the bathroom only to return a few moments later with her an assortment hair accessories and gadgets. Or rather her hair products. Her hair dryer, her brush, her heat protection spray, her whole bag really.
"Hey! What are you doing with all my stuff?"
She never got a response instead her bodyguard took a seat on his own separate bed before looking over at her expectantly like an owner expecting their pet to behave whilst being groomed.
No, she wouldn't. Absolutely not, she was not some highschool girl who got her hair braided while she talked about cute boys. That was stupid and beneath her! Besides he probably didn't even know how to use those, his hair was always a mess. She absolutely under no circumstance would go over to him.
She soon sat down on the bed before him furious at her own legs for betraying her. Curses! He anger wouldn't last too long as Anakin slowly began to work. Shee quickly fell into bliss as Anakin worked his fingers through her hair in a way that wasn't unfamiliar to how she would do it herself. His nails split her hair and she felt the rain get drained out falling onto her shoulders and the sheets.
This is what cat's must feel like when they get pet. It certainly felt good, if a somewhat alien feeling. Having fingers that weren't her own running through her hair was a good feeling but perhaps it was more so the attention that made her melt. Like for these brief moments Anakin's rather small attention span was on her and her alone, which, a rather guilty and attention-seeking part of her liked.
She bit her lip as she felt a moan threaten to come out of her mouth. If there was one thing she couldn't do tonight was give anything he could use against her.
"Damn it you prick, this night was suppose to make you happy." She tried growling but it came out more as a purr.
"Really?" She couldn't see his face but she heard the amusement in his voice.
"You've been-" she never got to finish her sentence as Anakin turned on the hairdryer downing her voice out.
She wanted to be angry at him, she really did. He definitely did this on purpose, waiting for her to speak so he could cut her off with the hair dryer but she couldn't deny how warm the hair dryer felt.
"So-" he blasted the hair dryer again.
"Ana-" he turned it higher so now the nice warm breeze was a hot blast.
"Quit it!" She knocked his hand away causing him to give her a fake gasp of pain. "We are talking whether you like it or not."
"I won't."
"It's not up to you."
He let out an audible sigh before falling back onto his bed. He was such a child sometimes, did the Jedi teach him nothing about maturity?
"Now why have you-" No! What was she thinking? Just straight up asking him why he was being so difficult? That was moronic, Anakin when you ask for sugar would be difficult. Getting him to talk about his personal life would be more difficult then Padme clawing her way through a brick wall.
"Why have you?" Anakin repeated her own question in a confused voice. "You truly a way with words my dear Padme."
"Why have you, um-" Come on brain! Think of something, anything that wouldn't make her a complete weirdo. Anything!
"Why have you not put any ointment on your burns?" Yes, brain! She would reward herself with a celebratory glass of wine tonight, she earned it.
"Oh? And how do you know I haven't." He gave her a challenging smirk. His perfect teeth wordlessly teasing her 'how can you prove it?'.
"Because I know you. Have you?"
His smirk quickly turned into a scowl proving her right. Not that it was a surprise of course, she was always right.
"You are acting like I was struck by lightning. They were stun batons on the lowest setting, they aren't so much burns as they are just little red marks. I don't need ointment. I'll heal under a week, probably half of that."
"I would feel better if you did."
"Oh, and I must. What am I? A slave?" His evil smirk returned. But Padme didn't see it through the red.
"Don't you fucking dare." Her voice dripped disgust. "I'm not like that!"
She saw how he wanted to continue, that he could hurt her and he knew it. It would be so easy for him, she really wasn't the strong independent woman that she was praised for being. She was a weak little girl who screamed loudly because she never outgrew her childish ways. Isn't that what politics is? Just a bunch of childish adult put in the positions where they can do the most damage.
"I'm… sorry, that was uncalled for. You aren't like them." But she was.
It was something that had been eating her up inside. She had stolen him when he was injured, worse, unconscious. Then forced him into a contact. What was he suppose to do? He was just fired by Grakkus on a ship going back to the system he was trying to flee. Sure she didn't hold a blaster up to his head but she didn't have to. He really had no choice but to join her.
"Sure," she halfheartedly agreed.
"Padme-"
"Don't."
"If I wanted to leave I could. Do you really think you could stop me?" She flinched when his fingers made contact with her own. His rough calloused hand cupped her own so delicately that she could barely feel the rough texture of his fingers.
"Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?"
"Anything?" She asked, her voice breaking a little at the excitement of the idea.
"I suppose so." His own voice dropped, a definite fear could be seen as he saw just how much she was smiling. He would soon regret the words that came out of his mouth, but it would be too late as she wouldn't let this chance go.
"Ointment." He did feel a little satisfied by his loud groan of annoyance. Good, his misery was just an added benefit.
"Ugh, the very very minor burn are on my back. I can't even reach it even if I want to, which I cannot stress enough, I don't. Cannot we not do this?"
"No, now take that shirt off, I'll be back in a sec."
Padme quickly ran off to the bathroom where she kept her medical bag. Usually, it was full of anti-inflammatory and migraine over-the-counter drugs, though she also kept bandages and burn ointment just in case. Still she had to be quick as it wouldn't take long to realize that he could just leave and there wasn't much she could do to stop him.
Despite her doubt true to his word when she returned back he had his shirt off and was lying on his stomach leaving his bear back exposed.
She probably could have just rubbed in the ointment while standing next to the bed but that would be uncomfortable after five minutes so instead she chose to hop onto the bed. She dragged her leg above him before landing with a knee on either side of his hips so now she was straddling his lower back.
He jolted at her touch but if her weight bothered him he never said anything as after the initial surprise he shifted his shoulders and adjusted himself to make himself a more comfortable seat. Good at least he knew his place! He should consider himself lucky to be her seat.
He hadn't been lying (for maybe the first time) when he said his burns were minor. Padme had remembered when she had tried making coffee for herself and she didn't realize just how hot the steamer gets. Hurt like a bitch when she grabbed the hot metal but the pain had been bearable after a few moments. His back was red but there wouldn't be any scarring and at worst they would only a few days.
Still, she didn't like the idea of Anakin not caring for his wounds. It was minor burns today but a severed arm five years from now. She couldn't help but the uncomfortable swell of guilt in her throat as she saw him after the Starweirds. His fingers bent at wrong angles and the electrical burns that time had been quite serious. The idiot could have potentially died but he had been more worried about her! That was a habit she definitely was going to get rid of.
With two fingers she took a generous scoop out of the ointment before rubbing it into her hands. The ointment was cool to the touch and when she placed it on Anakin's burns she felt him twitch.
"Sorry."
"It's fine, doesn't hurt, just an odd sensation."
This time she was more gentle, more slow. It was only when she had her hands upon him did she truly realise how different their bodies were. While her skin was soft, his was scarred and hard. She had fat while he had muscle. When she poked her back it would dig in but with Anakin, it was like pushing against steel fibre. She could actually feel the different muscles, each in their own way defined and outlined. She supposed Jedi didn't gain their fame as holy warriors by not training.
She knew she was supposed to rub gently. Ointment wasn't like sunscreen where you were meant to rub into the skin till it disappeared. But she couldn't help herself as she pushed her palms against his shoulder blades, then down his spine till eventually she was cupping the side of his abdomen where she could feel the side of his abs.
Why? Why did he have to have abs?!
She could have spent hours on him rubbing this ointment on his back till eventually the container ran empty and even then she would still continue. Not until she could close her eyes and see every detail of his muscles sculpted into her mind would she be satisfied. She wanted to know it all. The feel of his jagged skin that would cause her to flinch when she ran a nail over his many scars, or the warmth of his body when she rested her own hands against him.
"Don't you think you've done enough?"
"Oh? U-um, right." Come on Padme! You were better than this! This is your childhood friend for fuck's sake. Just get off him, play some board games and go to sleep together… in separate beds of course. Yes, that would make sense, totally normal and exactly what she wanted. Totally what she wanted and nothing else. She just had to get off him.
"Okay roll over." Padme cursed her perverted mouth. First her legs now her mouth. Her whole body was against her.
"Pardon?"
"Did you not get any burns on your ab- front!" Curse you mouth! Her blasted lips almost gave away the fact she really really really wanted to see his abs. Not that she hadn't before but she also hadn't felt them before. Not that she was doing this for the take. This was for Anakin's benefit and no one else.
"I mean, I guess. I can do it myself though if it makes you uncomfortable." What he was saying made perfect sense, he could totally have done it and it would be stupid of her to do it. Completely unnecessary. There was no point, especially after Padme's rather poor job on his back where she didn't do much out ointment on his back and instead spent the time feeling up her friend.
Not her fault though! She was distracted by his muscles. If anything he was to blame!
"I mean, I'm right here and my hands are already smeared with ointment." She gave a pained smile. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
"I guess that makes sense…" No, it didn't! She could hear the hesitance in his voice. He was probably thinking 'what's wrong with her?' Or maybe, 'Is this workplace sexual harassment?'
It totally was! If she ever wanted to feel his strong muscles again she would have to fire him, or find some other alternative way so there wasn't an abuse of power. Or she could just stop right now, get off him and go to sleep. Without feeling his chest or abs… damnit.
"Yup now roll over." She was a terrible person.
She lifted her hips and taking that as her sign to roll over he rolled onto his back. The ointment Padme had just rubbed smearing against the sheets ruining a lot of Padme's work. Though, if she had to admit it this was no longer about caring about Anakin's health or some stupid ointment as it was her trying to finally saw his body close up.
She lowered her hips being sure to sit on his thighs and not his crotch as no good would come of that, no matter what those stupid voices in her head were telling her. Stupid hormones. Still she was technically his boss and this was considered kind of 'medical'. She would keep this totally professional. That was it! This was all professional, she had to care for her bodyguard. This was just being a good person. Really she was being selfless, she was still a good person and definitely not doing this for her own selfish wants.
Despite these thoughts of her being a totally good person, she couldn't bare to look up at his face. Her cheeks felt like a furnace and her brain felt like it was swirling in her head.
If he had been good-looking from the back he looked perfect from the front. The word chiselled came to her mind more than once. It was completely unfair!
Jedi trained all day, ate well and from what she understood of the Force, it basically gave them physical enhancements. Of course, they would all be gorgeous! They were basically just walking advertisements for healthy living. Even if Anakin's face was disfigured and ugly (which Padme certainly didn't believe for a second) it wouldn't matter as he was built like a statue.
With shaky hands she took another generous glob of the ointment and rubbed it into his chest, then lower to his diaphragm then finally to his abdomen. This would be so much easier if he was unattractive
"You okay?" She didn't need to look him in the face to know he was teasing her. Not that she could look him in the face right now her face was burning and looking him in the eyes while she had a her hands around his waist.
"I'm fine!"
"You seem a little flustered."
"I'm fine!" She stressed! He could under no circumstance know she was enjoying this! He would have to die before he knew that.
"Sure," she couldn't know for sure since she refused to look up, but she swore she could hear his eyes roll. "Wasn't this supposed to be a game night?"
Was it? Honestly, she had forgotten she had let herself become a little too… distracted. For his sake of course. She was doing for him!
"We can still play games."
"You'd have to get off me for that." No! Erm, no… she couldn't because. Reasons, yes, lots and lots of reasons she couldn't think about right now as she was really busy. What she needed was another game. A game that she could play whilst still on top of him.
"How about truth or dare?"
"Truth… or dare?" She could hear the exasperation in his voice.
"Yes!"
"Are you twelve?"
"Nuh huh," Damnit Padme that was the most twelve-year-old thing you could possibly say. "You never asked truth or dare."
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Are you aware that you're an idiot?"
"Don't be a prick Anakin."
"Sorry," he wasn't as usual. "May I try again?"
"Fine," she growled.
"What's your least favourite race based purely on prejudice." He soon regretted his words as she stabbed her nails into his skin. She was still rather pissed about the slave comment so while she definitely could have held back a little… she didn't. He could suffer a little.
"Hey I'm injured!"
"You're an arsehole."
"Fine I'll play seriously."
"No you won't."
"Come on Padme. Truth or dare?"
"No."
"I know you want to." His voice sang and as much as Padme was pissed off at him her mouth betrayed her again as it formed into a small smile.
"Fine we can play a different game, just get off m-"
"Truth!" She said though it came out more as a squeal. She couldn't let Anakin pick a new game! That would mean getting off him and she… hadn't finished with the ointment yet. Yes, that was a perfectly respectable reason. Totally.
"Something I don't know about you? That's a hard one," Padme rolled her eyes. It hardly was, the two never spoke. He could ask her almost personal question and he wouldn't know the answer. "Why were you on Grakkus' ship?"
"I already told you. It was for Outer Rim trade deals."
"You don't usually go on those sorts of trips though. Not in Hutt space." How could he possibly know that? Then again most people knew the Hutts and Republic didn't have a good relationship and he was a Jedi.
"I don't know, I just felt like I had to be there. The opportunity showed up and I took it. That's all really." Despite her answer she could tell he wasn't pleased.
Padme wasn't sure but she could've sworn she heard a frustrated grumble from him blaming the loops and the Force.
"Your turn a suppose." He grumbled, his chest heated with annoyance and while Padme should've questioned his poor attitude she was too focused feeling the rise and fall of his angered breaths.
"Truth or dare?" She asked.
"Truth."
"What's the one thing you want to do most in the Galaxy?"
"Stay dead probably."
"Anakin!"
"What? Would you rather I lie cause the last time you caught me doing that you threw a pillow at my head."
"I was expecting something less dark, stop being such an emo."
"I'm not emo!"
"You're super emo. 'These burns don't hurt me, this pain is trivial to the pain of life.'" She bit her lip for dramatic affect and clutched her chest as if it was wallowing in pain.
"Oh woe is me! No one understands my pain!" She continued this time flipping her now dry hair for dramatic effect.
"I get it," he growled. "Truth or dare."
"Dare."
What would he make her do? 'Padme I dare you to kiss me'. Damn, her cheeks were painfully burning at just the thought. No! He was a scumbag, he would never ask that. Someone like Anakin wasn't romantic in the slightest, he was a crude arse. No, he'd probably say something like 'take off your shirt'.
Disgusting, pervert. He would smirk at her while she stripped and occasionally make suggestive comments about her. Gross! She absolutely totally wouldn't do that. Besides, if he wanted to play the stripping game she would win. She had more articles of clothing on them him so if they 'hypothetically' were to play that game she could totally see him naked before she lost most of her clothes. If he wanted to play this game then fine! She would win. As usual of course. Padme never lost and she wouldn't start now!
Urgh! What's wrong with her?! Stupid hormones.
"Could you look me in the eyes? Not that I don't love the top of your scalp but it does become a dreadfully boring sight after a while."
"That's… it?" Her cheeks was still burning from her previous thoughts.
"That's all."
With great effort she was able to tear her eyes away from Anakin's chest and instead was able to look at his eyes.
They were so beautiful. They were also incredibly soft, gentle? No, not gentle. More so apathetic, like she really could stick a knife through him right now and he wouldn't care. Unlike her whose face was burning bright at the touch of each other, he was cool and calm. Why would he care? He hasn't kept it a secret he had slept around, to him this was extremely tame.
Arsehole, why did it bother her so much that this wasn't affecting him as much as it had her. Why didn't he blush when she touched him? Why did he treat like her being in the same bed as him was the most natural thing in the world? Why did she hate that he didn't care?
"Happy?" She looked away afraid he would catch the annoyance in her gaze.
"I'm satisfied."
Why did she feel so disappointed?
"Truth or dare."
"Dare."
"Give me a back rub." She demanded with an annoyed huff.
He rolled his eyes at her and while she expected him to complain he instead reached up and grabbed her by the hips. It was almost humiliating how easily he picked her up from his lap and flipped her beneath him.
"Hey what are you- oh my God." Her nails bit into his mattress. This was the worst possible outcome. How could such a terrible thing happen! He was good at it! Damnit, when had he had time to practice this?
Sure he wasn't the best in the Galaxy, she was a princess after all and not to mention he was doing it through her shirt which did ruin the experience a bit but he was good enough that it couldn't have been his first time. Just how many women had he done this too? Had he learnt are the temple?
Her nails dug in a little deeper as his palms digged into her shoulders. Most of her day was spent on a computer either scrolling through long contracts or typing up messages to other Senators trying to sway them to her side. Either way while Padme didn't do as much exercise as she would like she did use her arms quite a bit. Enough that when Anakin's hands kneaded away at her muscles it was enough to force her to stifle a purr.
How did he know all the right spots?
"It's your turn by the way."
"Just a few more seconds." She could spend an eternity like this, for such callous fingers he sure knew how to use them.
"Ouch! You arse you pinched a nerve."
"Oh did I do that? Me and my silly hands."
"Truth or dare prick."
"Truth"
"How's is Shimi? I haven't spoken to her since Tattooine."
"Who?"
"Shmi?"
"You saying the name over and over doesn't make me recognise it any more." Was he joking, of all his jokes this was probably the funny.
"Your mother? Did I get the name wrong?"
"Oh, Shmi." She could hear the late recognition in his voice, as if someone had brought up an old friend that they forgot. "Yes, that is my mother's name, I suppose. She's would be alright."
'Would be alright' not she is alright. He had no idea just making an assumption.
"Have you contacted her?"
"No, the Jedi weren't fond of me keeping in contact with her. I think I did at first, but parents and kids start to drift away at this age, just a part of life I suppose. I haven't seen her for ages, never had a real reason too."
"Would you like to see her?"
"No." There wasn't any doubt in his voice nor could Padme detect that there was any shyness either. She knew guys would often say no when they meant yes to not embarrass themselves by 'showing their feelings', but it felt like Anakin truly didn't care.
"Truth or dare." He asked before Padme could further ask any more questions. The fact he was surprisingly quick with cutting her off didn't escape her though.
"Truth."
"What do you think will happen when you publish that article?"
"What arictle?"
"Please Padme, I know you think little of me but you have a nasty habit of leaving your computer open."
"It doesn't concern you."
"It absolutely concerns me. You know why the media chooses to give young kids eating disorders or shove advertising down the throat of anyone that opens the holonet? Because real journalism is dead, and when I say that I don't mean figuratively. I mean that if you publish this people will want you in an early grave."
"I'm not scared of threats."
Anakin's hands no longer was on her. Instead he looked her with a rarely seen fury in his eyes and felt her stomach drop. Why couldn't he just keep touching her? That felt so much nicer then this feeling that weighted down her heart.
"What do you think is going to happen when you reveal the clone army? That there isn't going to be some sort of backlash? People will run outside cheer your name and then make out in the middle of the street because of how amazing you are? Better journalist then you have died for revealing less."
"The people need to know that there is a secret army. They should know what their taxes are going towards."
"And you have to be the messiah who proves it? Give the job to someone else someone who has more experience."
"Some like Garm? Who hides away the second Palpatine puts on the pressure?"
"There are others who are against the MCA who have fought longer against the Chancellor then you have and have more support. This isn't about illuminating the Republic's misdeeds but you being a hero."
"It's necessary."
"It's childish."
"So what?!"
"So what?" He growled.
"So what if it's childish. I need to be when competing against old men who spend more time looking at my cleavage then my face. I went into politics thinking it was mature and I find out that it's just a glorified kindergarten that always seems to be on fire. My God, we can't even decide on a fucking colour of decorations of the Senate and yet these are the same people that are entrusted with the lives of trillions."
"And you're solution is to put a target on your back? You know why Garm hid? Because no one can stand against Palpatine especially in a political fight, you can't compete against him Padme. He's so much worse then you could even possible even imagine. Just give up, there is no shame in it "
Just give up? No she couldn't, he was wrong that their was no shame in giving up. Her Father always taught her that for evil to triumph all it would take was for good men (or rather women in her case) to do nothing. It was her responsibility as a person in power to fight against curruption and if she did fail? Then yes she would feel shame.
"I need to, I need to be the center of attention. Palpatine didn't get to where he is by giving his information away. He rose to where is is because he didn't let other people do his job for him."
"He also killed to get where he is? Can you do that Padme? Can you kill for power"
"Don't you think you are being dramatic?" She rolled her eyes. Anakin and his hate boner for Palpatine. "He's not that bad."
You don't know anything about him!"
"And you do?" This hadn't been the first time Anakin had shown unjustified hatred towards the Chancellor. Back in the senate Padme could've sworn she saw Anakin trying to make Palpatine's head explode with just his death stare. Could Jedi even do that?
"He isn't some mastermind Anakin, he's just some old man with old ideas. I'm more afraid for him then of him, sometimes I wonder if he'll have a heart attack mid senate meeting."
"How can you say that? He's not just some Senator with competing values. Don't you see how shrew he is, you of all people should know!"
"Anakin."
"Why are you so set on dying all the time. For fucks sake Padme for someone who claims she wants to see a better future you sure do seem to be set on doing everything in your power to get yourself killed."
"Ani-"
"It isn't even the first time you've intentionally put yourself in danger, it's all the time! You're worse than Obi-Wan. At least with him It's not completely his fault he has so many people wanting him dead, but you avoid this, so why? Why do you always do this?!"
"Anakin!"
"What?!"
"Truth or dare."
"Padm-"
"Truth or dare."
"Truth."
"Pick dare."
"Are you serious?"
"Pick it!"
"Dare."
"I dare you to not be mad at me."
"That's not how it works." He signed, that small bit of fire. That rare show of emotion dying with his breath.
"That's absolutely how it works. And if you are mad at me that means you lose."
"I'm not mad at you."
"Good."
She didn't know what exactly possessed her to do it but she quickly covered the distance between them and embraced him in a hug.
"By the way it actually wasn't your turn for truth or dare. So you cheated and I won." He gave a weak laugh.
"Shut up."
With a flick of his wrist the lights turned off Padme found the blanket crawl up them by itself. Anakin didn't say anything and instead wrapped his own arms around her.
Anakin's body was hard, rough, scar covered and calloused. His hands were like sandpaper and the smell of ointment was a overpowering. She really did over do it with the ointment. These beds were also militaristic, Padme wasn't sure if it was the fact that Kaminoians hated races that weren't their own or the fact it was a military base but it sure felt like they were given the most unsupportive mattresses possible.
Still even though the smell was overpowering, even though the bed may as well be made of stone. For the first time in a long time Padme had the best sleep she ever had wrapped in the safety of Anakin's arms.
Stupid hormones.
No smut! Okay a little smut, but no explicit stuff.
Worried I wouldn't make it near the 4000 word mark but wow did i underestimate it. I wanted to add more but dang too many words. This is the first time I've written slow burn or stuck with writing something so long. I have to keep in mind that smut takes longer to write than I thought.
I find the problem with slow burn is it's boring once they are in the relationship. Thats why it's saved for the very end. The means I gotta space this out quite a bit. Still have to do a clique misunderstanding fight, a first kiss, a I hate you but I love you scene blah blah blah. I'll figure it out as we go.
"Oh no Ani, we are stuck in a snowstorm and we have to huddle together naked for warmth."
Also I'm sorry, i genuinely don't know how to reply to comments or even if you can. I'm so not skilled at tech it's not even funny. I can't even uninstall league of legends client ffs, if someone ever asks you using my name for money it is 100% a scam cause I genuinely woulnd't know how to.. I do read all comments though! And thank you.