Title: Light
Author: Tuliharja
Summary: Thrawn could give her full speech about her artworks, but only her partner could ignite light within her.
OR, Ar'alani's partner doesn't really know that much about art to give her an essay about it. One-shot.
Disclaimer: The original series and its characters belong to their respective parties. I'm merely writing fan fiction about the series and its characters, though I do own my own OC. I don't either own the cover image of this fic.
Author's note: Thank you CrownofStarsandInk for betaing this!
~Light~
Eyes full of concentration, her brows knitted together, Yomi stared at the wire sculpture in front of her. She had been staring at it for the last hour with an intense look, and Ar'alani was sure if Yomi could shoot lasers from her eyes, her sculpture would already be on fire.
Earlier when they had entered into Ar'alani's quarters she had noticed her partner's lingering look in her newest wire sculpture. Ar'alani had forgotten she had left it on the table after she had finished it, because of an urgent mission previously. Usually, she would store her wire sculptures carefully away from prying eyes as she didn't feel that confident showing those just to anyone.
Yet as her partner had been looking at her newest work eyes full of curiosity, it made Ar'alani casually mention to Yomi she had once shown Thrawn one of her sculptures after they had visited an art museum together. This had prompted Yomi to request to see that particular sculpture Ar'alani had once shown to Thrawn. Excited and a bit happy, Ar'alani had shown that particular artwork to Yomi, ready to hear Yomi's thoughts on it.
Her partner had gone fully quiet as she looked at the artwork. The Chiss female had soon realized her error: she had shown that sculpture to Thrawn. While Thrawn had been quiet at first, he had soon started to talk about it. Its shapes, history, emotions that it evoked, and all kinds of other fascinating observations. It had knocked Ar'alani's breath out. It had been brilliant to hear someone talk about her artwork like that, making her feel special. But she had forgotten not everybody saw all kinds of intriguing things in art.
Yomi's deep sigh brought Ar'alani's attention back to the present moment and to her partner. Seeing her slumped shoulders and somewhat sad look, it was obvious Yomi couldn't see anything in her artwork. To her it probably looked like a mass of wires that didn't make sense.
"It's alright," Ar'alani quickly reassured her partner.
"No, it isn't," came the reply as soon as Ar'alani had said her own words.
No, it wasn't alright. The disappointment tasted bitter on Ar'alani's tongue. She had been so excited to tell her partner about her sculpture. To gush about it and receive compliments.
"I'm sorry," Yomi apologized, her eyes cast down to the floor. Frowning, Ar'alani took Yomi's hand gently into hers.
"No, it's not your fault."
"Yes, it's. I'm…I'm stupid. I mean, if I saw like him, if I-…" Yomi started, looking at her partner with huge eyes full of anxiety and apology. It made Ar'alani feel guilty. She had done it again. Unconsciously, she had compared her partner with Thrawn, even though she shouldn't. After all, there was only one Thrawn and one Yomi.
Rubbing Yomi's knuckles soothingly, Ar'alani shook her head. "It isn't your fault, Yomi. The fault lies in me. I shouldn't have done what I did. Will you forgive me?"
"Of course," Yomi replied quickly, truly meaning it. The little glint in her eyes told Ar'alani Yomi had caught up with her inner thoughts and feelings.
This was something that Ar'alani adored in Yomi: she was so honest with her feelings and because of that, so open. While she had been at first worried about her partner, because she seemed too open-hearted for military style-life, she had quickly noticed Yomi's observant nature. It appeared in the most crucial moments, and especially when Ar'alani herself wouldn't communicate proper manner to her partner. Yet Yomi picked these nuances which made it so, Ar'alani couldn't find it within herself to scold Yomi in these moments when she appeared too open. She knew better than that, after all.
Carefully, Yomi pressed Ar'alani's colder hand against her cheek, smiling at her once again. There it was. That smile told her volumes of love and trust. Something that Thrawn had struggled to show. While he could make a whole speech of her art and make her feel like the most wonderful artist in the whole galaxy, it would have those cold undertones in it. After all, to Thrawn, art was one method to read someone. To find their biggest secrets and weaknesses. He himself had made that crystal clear while they had been at the art museum. While Ar'alani hadn't put that much thought into it, because she trusted him and the fact, he wouldn't use the knowledge he saw on her art pieces against her, it was still a bit chilling to think. Should they ever be on the opposing sides, Thrawn would know exactly how to bring her down.
"Hey, hey, can I add something to your artwork?" Yomi asked, cutting Ar'alani's thoughts that were about to get a bit too dark. She could see her partner wanted to distract her from these thoughts, but she obviously also had some sort of an idea on her mind.
Ar'alani nodded in confirmation to Yomi's request.
Curiously, she watched how Yomi gathered wires and a few lamps before she wove them into the sculpture. Once she had carefully placed enough lamps on the wire artwork, Yomi bounced up to the switch and turned the lights off. A moment later her artwork was illuminating her whole quarters.
"Oh," Ar'alani breathed out. Looking around in the darkness that was illuminated by her lamp wire sculpture now, she turned to her partner.
"I felt like it missed something," she explained, making the Chiss female's heart skip an extra beat. The cold wire artwork exuded warmth. Something that Ar'alani had sought for such a long time.
Turning toward her partner once again, she stepped into her space, before gently drawing her into a kiss. Her own cold lips met Yomi's warm ones. Just like her artwork with the extra lamps, she felt light ignite inside of herself.
Slowly pulling away, she gazed into Yomi's eyes which were full of love.
"It's a good addition," Ar'alani commented to her girlfriend, who smiled even brighter than the artwork if possible. "Just like you to me."
It took a moment for her girlfriend to realize this before her skin turned a bit darker from a blush. It was lovely, Ar'alani decided as she leaned once again toward Yomi and gave her a cheek kiss.
Thrawn could give her full speeches on her artworks, but only Yomi could ignite light within her.