Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
A/N：Thank you all for reading and reviews . English is not my first language, I apologize if there are any problems with grammar or expression. Anyway, it's finished, I just need time to translate the original into English. I'd appreciate it if you guys would leave a comment.
Padmé was still unsure what to do next.
She was trapped in the cockpit of the Naboo Yacht, with Anakin right beside her. Just the two of them. Well, if you didn't count C-3PO and R2-D2. Thankfully, the two little droids were there, or she might have drowned in the awkward silence. From the moment Anakin reported in, through their ascent from the atmosphere and into hyperspace, they had spoken only when absolutely necessary, both carefully avoiding each other. So much unspoken, so much silence.
They sat on opposite sides of the control panel, gazing into the mottled sky of hyperspace. Countless planets stretched into delicate, pale blue starlines, twisting gracefully into a vast, swirling blue vortex.
After staring for too long, Padmé's eyes began to burn, her mind felt cloudy, thoughts slipping away. Her fingers absentmindedly picked at the leather armrest. Across from her, Anakin fidgeted with the controls or tapped at the dashboard, looking equally restless and uncertain. Striking up a conversation or retreating to the rest cabin felt like better options, yet they remained in their stiff, silent standoff, neither speaking nor leaving. At one point, the heat grew stifling. She instinctively reached for the console's regulator, but her hand brushed against his, the roughness of his skin sending a jolt through her, warmth rising within. She jerked her hand back.
"I'm sorry," she said. Sorry... for what? "I was just trying to adjust the temperature and didn't realize—"
"Didn't realize what?"
She turned her head and locked eyes with Anakin, his gaze sharp, intense, and brimming with challenge.
"Padmé, what didn't you realize?" he rasped, swallowing hard. "Didn't realize I was right here?"
She could feel the tension that Anakin had been holding in throughout the journey finally reaching its breaking point. "Don't twist my words, Anakin." She cleared her throat, masking her discomfort, refusing to let the tension rise any further. "I was just trying to adjust the temperature and accidentally touched you. If it made you uncomfortable, sorry then."
"No, I'm sorry. I haven't been fully invisible."
What? He couldn't be serious. "I'm not treating you like you're invisible. I just—"
"Pretending we're just colleagues, when we both know that's a complete lie?"
C-3PO's nervous voice broke the tension in the cockpit. "Milady, the cabin temperature hasn't changed since we entered hyperspace. If you're feeling warm, perhaps R2-D2 could check the thermostat?" Artoo responded with a few beeps. "Oh, I'm merely stating the facts, R2-D2," C-3PO continued in his usual chatter, his words blending with Artoo's beeps. The two humans paid no attention, their eyes welded together in an unyielding, tense stare.
"You know what I'm talking about, Padmé."
"I don't. Why don't you just say it?"
"You said there's nothing to talk about."
"Then who's the one throwing a tantrum?"
"I am not throwing a tantrum, okay?" His frustration was obvious, so much like an ill-tempered Loth-cat. " You're ignoring me all the time."
"Need I remind you? I'm not the only one who's not talking." She knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn't stop. "We never should have agreed to this mission."
"You could've refused."
"So could you."
"I... I didn't want to." His tone softened, suddenly vulnerable, as he tugged at his hair nervously. It was adorable. She felt an urge to reach out and touch his head. "I wasn't trying to be harsh. But what we're doing... it's really hurting."
"I know." She sighed.
"How did it come to this?"
She didn't answer, and he didn't press further. The silence returned, their eyes fixed on the swirling blue vortex ahead, while the sounds of C-3PO and Artoo filled the background. The tension in the air was like a rope stretched taut between a welded anchor and an adrift ship, ready to snap at any moment.
The ship continued to glide smoothly.
Suddenly, it jolted. Padmé flinched, dizziness and weakness washed over her, like the disorienting moment of an earthquake. Alarm bells went off in her mind, and she instinctively straightened up, realizing the blue outside the viewport had been replaced by darkness. The ship began to shudder.
"What happened?" Padmé asked.
Anakin pulled the lever, disengaging the ship from hyperspace. "We've been pulled out of the hyperspace lane."
Padmé's heart clenched as she quickly pulled up the real-time display. The space outside was both dazzling and chaotic: a nebula light-years away stained the night sky crimson, while countless stars glittered like scattered crystals. The system's primary star cast a soft, golden-white glow, and nine planets, trailed by a cluster of asteroids, spiraled around a massive, pale blue planet..
"What's going on?"
"This planetary system is strange. The gravitational currents here are really unstable."
"Like a thunderstorm in the atmosphere?"
"More or less."
"Master Anakin, are you saying there's a high probability we'll get caught in the gravitational whirlpools and torn apart? I feel it's important to mention that the chances of crashing are about—"
"C-3PO, Artoo, prepare for landing," Anakin said. His decisiveness was remarkable.
Padmé heard C-3PO let out a startled "Oh!" before falling silent, while Artoo responded with a series of beeps. Gripping the controls, Anakin recalibrated the course, ready for manual flight.
She noticed the pale blue planet on the panoramic display, with a swirling mass of chaotic matter appearing between the ship and the planet.
"Anakin, don't tell me you're planning to go through that gravity well."
"Or use its pull to land safely," Anakin replied, a slight smirk curling at his lips, as though the high chance of a crash was just his regular practice.
"I'll reserve my opinion on that."
Anakin had shifted into full concentration, guiding the ship through stars and swirling currents of space. She loved seeing him like this—so carefree, so radiant. But she didn't quite like how Anakin lost himself in the exhilaration of flying, as if the ship were an extension of him, and he was sprinting through a storm, dodging lightning strikes. Just moments ago, Anakin had steered them away from being torn apart by chaotic gravity, yet now they faced the real danger of crashing.
Death threats were nothing new to Padmé. She wasn't fearless, but this time, adrenaline brought something new—a rush that felt like being thrown high into the air, only to be yanked down into a dark abyss, sending a thrilling, chilling scream through her. Half in terror, half in exhilaration. It was the same feeling she always had when she was with Anakin.
Anakin rerouted all the remaining battery power to the thrusters, flipping the ship vertically, plunging into the atmosphere at dizzying speed. She screamed, ignoring Anakin's surprised glance. It was exhilarating—like all the restraints that had weighed her down were suddenly gone. The powerful acceleration filled her with a sense of freedom, and she burst out laughing. Anakin laughed along, then abruptly cut the vertical thrusters, sending the ship into a sharp flip. She instinctively grabbed Anakin's hand, and he squeezed back without hesitation. Their hands, from palm to fingertip, pressed together, warm and sticky, as if they were one.
The ship plummeted at high speed, spiraling through a series of controlled flips before hitting the ground with a heavy thud. As the dust settled, both leaned back into their seats, finally breathing a sigh of relief. Artoo let out a triumphant whistle, while C-3PO exclaimed dramatically.
"Anakin, remind me to get flight insurance next time," she panted, her voice raspy from screaming, her heart still pounding.
"You loved it," Anakin said with a grin.
"I did, but my heart's not too happy about it," she replied.
Anakin tilted his head, looking at her like she was a cute little creature. "Who's talking now? Where did our brave and mighty queen go?"
"Oh my," she said, placing a hand dramatically on her chest. "Did you forget to bring her along when you landed?"
"Well, let's go get her back."
"And then?"
"I'll keep her in my ship, surrounded by glowing flowers." he said matter-of-factly. "When they bloom, soft, warm light will bathe the cabin, like the feeling of a lazy afternoon nap in the sunshine."
If anyone else had said that, Padmé might have felt offended. But right now, she felt lightheaded, her body felt soft and limp, wishing to sink into a pile of pillows. Their hands remained firmly clasped, their gazes locked. A shiver ran down her spine as warmth spread through her body. Her neck ached from the strain, but she couldn't stop herself from leaning forward, slowly and unconsciously. His head tilted closer, his breath soft like a feather brushing her lips—alarm bells rang in her mind. Before their lips could meet, she quickly pulled back and let go of his hand, cool air rushing against her sweat-dampened palm.
"We should get off the ship and figure out where we are."
"I'm sorry, Milady."
Anakin was clearly upset, but how could she blame him? Truth be told, she was just as angry with herself. She should be avoiding him, giving him no hope, but instead, she kept doing the opposite. She was so hypocritical, so conflicted, which is why she always caught in chaotic, unpredictable situations？
A cold gust of wind brushed her face, making her sneeze. She looked up in the direction of the breeze—the skylight was open, revealing a vast expanse of deep blue night sky. Above, nine moons stretched in perfect alignment, like a luminous river winding across the heavens, pouring its silver glow over the mountains and plains, bathing the land in ethereal light.
"It's beautiful..." Padmé breathed, filled with wonder. "Where are we?"
"Skitnica," Anakin said. "Its capital is Moonriver City."
" Have you heard of MoonRiver City, on the edge of the mid-rim? I've never been, but they say the moons wrap around the main star like a glowing river..."
Anakin's once hopeful words echoed in her mind. She pulled a wry face—fate always had a way of throwing unexpected twists. In the silence, she turned her gaze toward him. He was staring at the sky, the moonlight outlining his face and casting sharp shadows. He squinted, as if trying to figure something out, then a faint smile tugged at his lips, like he'd caught onto a pleasant thought. The knot in her chest loosened.