15 - For Better or Worse

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*:.. o ..:*

Avery POV:

As soon as my Mom, Aero, and (y/n) left the palace, I snuck over to the kitchen. That was the designated meeting spot for Luca and I when we wanted to be alone. And since breakfast was over, none of the cooks would be in there.

As soon as I got there I saw him aimlessly looking through the drawers. He was, to my surprise, wearing his full body armor. I'd be too chicken to tell him this, but the sight of him in all of his armor is a huge turn on. Don't judge me, I think it's hot.

When he finally caught me staring at him from the doorway, he smiled playfully, "Am I a sight for sore eyes, Princess?" He teased.

I rolled my eyes, "No, I was just internally laughing at how ugly you are." I lied coolly, though I could feel a blush rising to my cheeks.

He walked over to me and fake pouted, "You don't mean that." He wrapped his arms around my waist. I shrugged and grabbed his biceps, "Okay, I was only half joking." I teased, and failed to conceal a smile.

He laughed and leaned down to kiss me. The moment our lips touched, it felt like our first kiss all over again. The butterflies in my stomach didn't hesitate to flutter from the feeling, which only left me wanting more. "What are we doing today?" He asked against my lips. I sighed in annoyance and pulled away, "Well we were supposed to have a pow-wow with the prisoner, but he died of starvation in the night."

I expected him to be surprised or even sympathetic, but he just rose his eyebrows suggestively, "So....we have nothing to do today?" He asked hopefully.

I smacked his arm in response to his immature mind, "Nice try bucket boy, but we can't get out of work that easily." I smirked as he groaned in irritation. "Don't worry, your job is easy. All you need to do is keep Annabelle occupied and see to it that he doesn't ask too many questions about where (y/n) is today, since she's with my Mom doing Queen business."

Luca sighed and leaned back against the marble counter, "What happened to her yesterday was a close call. Are we sure it's a good idea for her to be here?" He asked.

I shrugged, "Well, she is a Jedi, and I've heard her Master is one of the most powerful in their Order, so I think she'll be safe with him."

I'm totally not planning on getting them together and imagining them dating in my head or anything....but the thought of him being her knight in shining armor is the most romantic thing to me. I'm a sucker for romance clichés. It's so obvious that they're subtly in love with each other, and the only way they know how to act on it is through fighting and insults.

But that just makes their relationship even better, if I'm being honest.

Luca chuckled, "That he is. We were roughhousing yesterday and he slugged me in all sorts of places. I decided to wear all of my armor for extra padding." He rubbed his armored shoulder as he spoke.

Yesterday. That's another thing. Luca told me that he saw Anakin wearing the flower that (y/n) was first wearing, after I gave her the whole soulmate spiel. It's so obvious that they're meant to be, but now we just need to figure out how to make it happen. I'll be hosting a ball here in three days, and I've heard that that's usually where the magic happens.

I laughed heartily at his roughhousing explanation, "Well on the bright side, it makes you look hotter."

His blue eyes lit up at my comment, and my heart fluttered to see him so happy. Luca has always had that effect on me; his smile, his charisma, his energy. I'm naturally drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.

He straightened himself out and stood upright once more, "Well, the day isn't going to start itself." He sighed, and then darted his eyes back to me as if he just remembered something, "Oh by the way, do you know what planet the Jedi Temple is on? I want to set it up in our coordinates in case we need to get you and your Mom there if it's not safe here."

I nodded, "I'm pretty sure it's on Coruscant, the most 'technologically advanced planet'." I did finger quotes as I spoke, because that's what I've heard about that planet. I'm not sure if that's actually true, because I've never been there.

"Anyways," I went on after Luca nodded in acknowledgement, "I need to go sort out some legalities." I smiled humorlessly, knowing fully well that his day would be much more entertaining than mine.

Although, if I can make some progress with our two lovebirds, then things may get more interesting.

(y/n) POV:

We returned later than expected, almost at the dead of night. Our day was actually pretty fun; we soared over all the plains and rivers of Alderaan, and it was probably the most beautiful experience I've ever had. Snow-capped mountains, valleys, streams, clouds, all of it was a rarity to me after being confined in the Temple for most of my life.

My Mom dismissed Aero when we returned to the palace so that she and I could have our own private conversation as we sat together in her mini office room.

She sighed as she handed me a cup of tea and sat down, "(y/n), as much as I adore having you here, I'm also concerned for your safety. Even though you're a Jedi, it doesn't make you all-powerful. You're still our Queen; our only remaining heir." Her upturned eyes became pensive, like she was reliving a memory of the past.

She's right, I'm not all-powerful. Maybe that's why Anakin was so strict about it yesterday, he probably thought that I pushed myself too hard because I believed I could handle it. That's not why I did it, but nonetheless, now I know that I have to be more careful.

I sighed, "I understand. But after my encounter with that guy, and my conversation with Yoda, I think it's safe to assume that he was a rogue attacker. I don't believe what he did was planned by Alastair." The man that tried to kill me was extremely disorganized and messy, there's no way his arrival was formally planned.

My Mom smiled at the mention of my green friend, "How is Master Yoda doing? I haven't spoken with him in quite a while, though I understand the war has proven to make all of our lives much busier."

I nodded, "He's been busy but he always makes time for me. He's my best friend, and has never once abandoned me." It was weird to be away from him for so long since I normally see him almost every day.

Her expression suddenly faltered, "(y/n)....you're aware that once you formally take your place as ruler, that you'll have to leave your Jedi life behind?" Her voice became soft and sympathetic at the end.

A pang of sorrow hit me in the chest when her words sunk in. I'd be leaving behind Yoda,—my lifelong father figure—Obi-Wan,—my good friend—and.....Anakin. Isn't that what I wanted though, to finally be done with my Master and his sour moods? I thought so, but now I suddenly feel sad at the thought of not being able to annoy him and joke with him anymore.

My Mom sighed as she studied my blank expression, "I know that you've had a good life with them, and this doesn't mean that you'll never see them again, but life as a Queen will be much different than how you're living now. You'll mature, grow, and thrive in many different ways. In due time, I will teach you many things; lessons far different now that we are in person."

I nodded slowly, my mind began to wander away from this present moment. Why am I so gloomy about this? I should be happy that my opportunity to lead my planet is coming closer and closer. And I am. But I can't help but feel like something will be missing when I get to that point.

I sighed, "It's just....I've only ever known this life. Having to change everything seems scary." I admitted.

She smiled warmly and took my hand in hers, "Change occurs all the time, my love. What matters is how you adapt to it." 

That pretty much concluded our late night conversation. Remembering that I was going to read Anakin a story tonight, I ambled over to his room through the empty, dimly lit halls. On the way there, my Mom's words had me thinking; how much more difficult would my life be as a ruler? I didn't even think about the fact that my whole life would change. For better or worse, I have yet to know.

My eyelids grew heavier with exhaustion as I stepped in front of the door to Anakin's room. The decorative gold halls around me seemed to spin for a moment, and the time of night suddenly caught up with me. Would he even still be awake right now?

Part of me wanted to go to my own room and just skip out on story time tonight, so I could sleep off my depressing thoughts. But then I reminded myself that, doing this for Anakin is helping him, and he's become nicer to me because of it. It wouldn't do me any good to ruin that now.

I sighed and finally opened the door, then turned around to close it behind me. When I faced the direction of his blue and gold bed once more, I saw that he was sitting up and looking at me sternly, with his flesh arm rested on one knee, while his other leg was laid straight out. He wore his grey sweatpants and white tank top, but he still had his glove on over his metal arm.

"It's late. Did you forget we have a curfew, or do you just not care?" He asked in a scolding manner.

I faked a smile and went to sit over on the blue cushioned bench-like seat, "Sorry, it won't happen again."

His eyebrows furrowed at my dull answer. He was probably expecting sass, or a witty remark, but I didn't have the heart or energy to do it now. "What's the matter with you?"

I shook my head dismissively and avoided his confused azure gaze, "It's nothing, I'm just tired." I then thought about what story I should tell him tonight, but I was so fatigued and my brain was still running haywire from my conversation with my Mom that I could hardly think of anything.

"Look at me." Anakin's voice cut me off from my thoughts, and I looked back up at him. His eyes softened when he got my attention, and he adjusted his position on his bed so that he was fully facing me, and sat with his legs over the bed, with his elbows rested on them.

"You're lying." He stated simply, though there was a stern edge to his tone.

I scoffed through my nose, "And just how many times have you been honest with me?" I know for a fact that he's lied to my face before, like about how he doesn't care about me, for instance.

He smirked in amusement, "Alright, my stubborn Padawan. Let's make a deal; no more lying to each other?" He offered, and playfully held out his pinkie so we could pinkie swear on it.

I giggled at his childish action and nodded, taking his pinkie in mine. When we released, his expression became serious once more, "Will you tell me now what the problem is?"

I chuckled as I remembered some of our previous conversations, "Is this the part where I ask 'Why do you care?' and you respond with 'I don't'?"

That's usually how our conversations go when he starts sounding like he's concerned, but he always shuts it down when I ask.

He smiled smugly at me, and leaned back onto his pillow and put his hands behind his head, "Maybe, maybe not. But either way, if you don't tell me, then I'll lock you in here again." He looked purely entertained, like this was a game to him.

I eyed him nervously, "You wouldn't." He knows that I hated when he tried that last time. But that just might be the very reason he's threatening to do it.

While never breaking eye contact with me, or letting his infamous smirk falter, he lifted one hand up from behind his head and held it out in front of him. I watched curiously as he curled all of his fingers except his pointer into a fist, and then slowly moved his index finger up as if he was beckoning to someone. As he did that action, I could faintly hear the sound of his door lock clicking.

My heart dropped to my stomach in sheer terror. He would do this just to annoy me.

I sighed in irritation and rubbed my eyes tiredly, "It's just been a long day, and my life is difficult right now." That's the only explanation I can give him, considering my troubles are involving my Queen life.

He began snickering, which caused me to direct my eyes over to him in confusion. His eyebrows were raised as he continued snickering like I had just tripped over my own feet. "Your life? The only tasks you do all day is slack off and find new ways to annoy me. How hard can that be?" I couldn't tell if he was being serious or just mocking me.

I wanted to tell him so badly that he has no idea of what I have to do, or worry about, or prepare myself for every single day. But, even though it took everything in my power, I bit my tongue on this one.

Instead, I tilted my head with a coy smile, "Actually, it's extremely difficult. Someone has to annoy you to keep your ego in check, but sometimes your head gets so inflated that I can't always pull it out of your ass for you." I explained like it was simple.

I thought he would get angry for how I just insulted him, but instead he just grinned, "There she is."

I realized then that he was actually trying to make me feel better by getting me to insult him. And it worked. I rolled my eyes but giggled nonetheless; it was pretty funny that he'd actually managed to make me both angry and happy in two consecutive moments. I'd forgotten about my worries in that moment, and for the rest of the night as well. Talking to Anakin and telling him stories surprisingly made me feel better, and distracted me from the complicated reality I'm living in. It hasn't been too long and yet we've already managed to go from enemies to friends, just by finding something in common that we share.

Anakin was already asleep by the time I got halfway through a made up story that I put together on the spot, and I could feel myself beginning to doze off as well. Getting back to my room would be difficult, and part of me actually just wants to pass out right on the spot because of how tired I am. I couldn't do that, though. He'd never trust me again.

After standing up, I went over to the door with wobbly legs. But when I pulled on the handle to open it, it wouldn't move. I froze in place for a moment, then slowly turned around to look at my sleeping Master. He forgot to unlock the door. Now I'm trapped in here.

If I wasn't so exhausted, I'd probably scream in frustration.

I should wake him up and get him to open the door. But I also didn't want to wake him like that, not when he's already fast asleep and free of nightmares. I didn't want to be stuck in here all night either, though.

I moved back over to him and sat down at the side of his bed. He's not awake so he can't yell at me for doing that.

Maybe I'll wake him up in a few minutes. I think I'll just close my eyes for a moment while I wait. Only a moment, then I'll wake him.

˚✧₊⁎✿⁎⁺˳✧༚

When I awoke, the first thing I noticed, much to my confusion, was that I couldn't move. I wondered if it was just in my imagination since I had only just woken up; my mind was still clouded with sleep and my muscles were most definitely stiff. But even as my body and mind adjusted to the world around me, I still couldn't move.

Confused and slightly concerned, I opened my eyes. But my vision was blocked as I then realized my body was pressed against something; something large and warm.

I turned my head so that the side of my face was against whatever was blocking my vision, and finally noticed that I was in my room. Though as I looked around, my eyes landed on what was keeping me from moving. It was a pair of arms—one wore a black glove—wrapped around my body and over my own arms so that I was trapped. That would mean that, the large, warm structure I was pressed against was someone's thinly clothed chest.

This isn't my room, I realized with a pang of terror. Last night seeped it's way into my memory and I realized that I never went back to my room. Instead, I decided to just 'close my eyes' for a moment, foolishly thinking I wouldn't fall asleep.

Oh my stars. This is Anakin's chest. Anakin's. Chest. My Master, who despises me and usually treats me like rubbish, is unknowingly holding me in his arms like he's a five-year-old who just got a new stuffed toy.

Of all the weird things that have happened in my life, and over this last week, this has definitely made it to the top spot.

While trying not to wake him, I attempted to wiggle out of his arms. But as I've mentioned before, he's a lot stronger than me, so I was unsuccessful. And I've heard that people somehow become stronger in their sleep as well, so that doesn't really help my situation.

I stopped struggling for a moment, and looked up at him to see if my movements had woken him. He was still fast asleep but this was the first time—involuntarily, if I might add—that I noticed how truly peaceful he looks when he sleeps. As I looked up at him, I counted every feature upon his face, as well as his dark blonde curls. He looked like an angel; a sculpture carved from the purest blessings, and coated with his sharp charisma. I felt his rhythmic breathing against my forehead, like a cool nighttime breeze, and it reminded me of the night when he tended to my scar.

I still had the bandage on, I was too scared to take it off. I was afraid of how I would look with my permanent wound.

My body naturally relaxed in his arms as I got lost focusing on his breathing, like I was under a spell. Though I'm relaxed, I'm still worried about how he'll react if I can't sneak out before he wakes up. Not to mention that my cheeks are hot with embarrassment at this awkward position both of us have been put into.

I quietly attempted to break free from his hold again, to which he sleepily growled and just held me tighter.

I sighed, and silently prayed that I could get out of this before he wakes. After a while, I almost fell back asleep since I had nothing else I could do. His cool breathing was calming and, though I'd never verbally admit it, his arms were pretty comfortable. I felt safe in them, and almost gave into the world of sleep that was gradually lulling me away.

But he finally let go of me as he rolled over to his other side. As I became free, my sleepiness disappeared and I shot up out of the bed. I ran to the door and thankfully was able to open it. His force hold on it must have weakened in the night as he slept.

I ran out into the cold halls as fast as I could; the embarrassment of that entire thing caught up with me as I slammed the door to my own room and leaned against it to support my shaking legs. That did not just happen.

But, oh, it did.

I don't feel the same anymore after that. It's all so weird, and strange, yet another part of me that I'm trying to push away is telling me that I liked it. I liked being in his arms, engulfed by his sweet scents, protected by his steady breathing. And that's what scares me the most. Everything felt different, but one thing that stayed the same from when I woke up to now was the lingering blush that tinted my cheeks.


(a/n): Thoughts on this chapter? I'm unsure about it, but the ending was basically my way of pushing (y/n) towards the 'developing feelings' stage, if that makes sense haha. I did say this would be a slow burn, after all😏

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