Chapter Text
When she wakes up in the morning, every part of her body is sore. From her ankles from when she had fallen while fighting, to her wrist from the dozens of arm-wrestling competitions that had occurred last night: most of which she had won.
"Damn you, Wist." She says, it being easier to blame him for her actions rather than herself. Vaguely, the knowledge of a Jedi meeting drifts to the front of her mind but she ignores it, knowing that even if she did make it, her fellow Jedi would use it as another reason to call her 'The False Jedi'. Being hungover at a meeting is something that is usually frowned upon, especially when it involves the entirety of the Jedi Order on Coruscant. Obi-Wan will bring her up to speed, she knows.
The one thing that gives her comfort is knowing that Wist is going through the same thing but must hide it during his report to the High General, something that, if he missed, he would get in much more trouble than she will. A smile breaks through the misery and, as she does, she has the sense that the worst of it is over. Leaning against the wall of her bathroom, Kate puts her head in her hands, exhausted despite the fact that it is only 9 in the morning.
"Q?" Kate hears the whirring of gears and after several seconds, Q, her protocol droid, rounds the corner.
"Yes, Master Kate?" If it was not for the automated feminine voice, Kate would have assumed the droid was male when she first received it. Obi-Wan had given it to her after her first solo mission as a show of support. Kate appreciated the offer, especially on days like these.
"Send a message to Padme. I would love it if she could visit as soon as possible." Kate was well aware of the Senatorial meeting going on later that evening, but she needed her friend right now.
"Right away, Master Kate. Is there anything else I can assist you with?" Kate wants to ask the droid to put her out of her misery, but she assumes they would take that the wrong way, so she stays quiet. After a slight gesture, the droid bows and leaves the room, the whirring of her motors following her out the room.
Kate assumes it will take several hours for the message to be received and read by Padme, considering the number of things happening in the Senate today. And even then, she was not sure if she would be able to come at all, she had other responsibilities outside of the Senate after all. She had some waiting to do, and absolutely no plans.
After thinking about it for a while, she decided that a day in front of the television sounded nice and found herself watching a rather interesting rom-com with a cup of caf in her hands. She was well into the series when her front door slid open to admit Padme Amidala. Obviously expecting some kind of greeting but receiving none, Padme stands in the doorway waiting for Kate to say something. She does not, her eyes glued to the TV. Taking several steps forward, Padme looks at the TV and sighs.
"Not you too." Padme groans, finally earning a glance from Kate.
"What?" Her expression asks the question more than her words. Padme sighs and sits herself down on the couch beside her, her elegant dress seeming out of place in the plain apartment.
"Ahsoka and the squad were watching this the other day. They spent a good 12 hours glued to the television and did not even get up for food." This surprises Kate: the squad would do anything for food.
"Just goes to say how good it is." Padme scoffs, obvious disdain in her voice.
"Good is not the right word for it. It freely shames the Senate, placing speculation and lies in people's minds that they have no right to spread." Hearing the passion in her voice, Kate is pulled back to the present. Reaching for the TV remote on the table in front of her, she pushes the off button and the TV goes dark.
"Well, then I guess it is not worth watching." Padme's eyes light up and for the first time I notice a great sadness behind them. "What happened?" Padme sighs, and something from that one movement tells me that it is related to the Senate.
"They passed the law." Kate's heart falls and she places her hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I know how hard you worked." Padme rests her hand on top of Kate's and sighs, her gaze curious.
"You have no idea what we were voting on, do you?"
"Well, I... I mean..." Kate stumbles to find the right excuse but none comes. Padme punches her in the arm, earning a surprised shriek in return.
"Did you pay any attention at all last night?" Padme asks.
"I was preoccupied!" A lame excuse, but an excuse nonetheless. Kate sits back up, having slid a fair way down the couch due to being assaulted. "I would love to hear about it though." After a glare and much consideration, Padme speaks.
"The number of crimes has risen lately and many people in the Senate want to take action. Somehow they came to the conclusion that reinstating the death penalty was the right course of action to take." Now Kate understands. Padme had dedicated her entire existence to politics and, when she was Queen of Naboo, she decided that she was not going to be the type of person who wrongly accuses innocents. The reinstatement of the death penalty on Coruscant goes against a statement that she has stood by since the beginning of her political career. If she had not had years and years of practice, Kate was sure that Padme would cry. But she did not and instead, Kate simply squeezed her hand.
"You lose today..."
"But win tomorrow." Padme finishes. Since the beginning of their friendship, Padme has always supported her, and this saying was one that they repeated to each other over and over again. It shows their never-ending support for each other while also assuring them that it will get better.
"It may seem bad today, Padme, but you are an incredible Senator and an even better person. You will find another way to help the system. The reinstatement of the death penalty is just one misstep that will probably be undone in a few months anyway." Padme nods but something tells Kate she does not really believe her. "You did everything you could."
"I know." She replies, her face still covered in guilt.
"There's only so much you can do sometimes." Kate can hear the guilt in her voice. Evidentially, Padme hears it too and turns to her friend, all signs of her personal struggle gone.
"What's wrong." She asks and suddenly Kate feels like a little girl again, talking to her mother about her day.
"I made a mistake, Padme. And I don't know if I can fix it." Her face is grave as she takes in these words.
"What happened?" Kate immediately turns her down.
"I cannot say. Not only would it harm me, but also my squad, and I cannot risk that." Padme opens her mouth to respond but Kate cuts her off. "I'm sorry, but you never know who is listening. My squad has gone through enough with being affiliated with 'the False Jedi' and her lies already, they don't need another thing to worry about." Reluctantly, Padme accepts Kate's words and stays silent.
"If you ever change your mind..."
"I'll let you know." The two smile and Kate is incredibly glad that she sent for her. She needed this.
"So... what happened while I was away? Anything important?" Kate's question surprises Padme and she takes several seconds to think about it.
"Oh, the usual. Tired, annoyed with the Senate, talking some sense into my fellow Senators..." Kate laughs, tucking her legs underneath her.
"Trying to avoid political scandal." Kate finishes and Padme laughs.
"Political scandal arrives whether I invite it or not. All I can to is try to keep it from completely overthrowing the Senate."
"Good luck with that." Padme elbows her and Kate giggles. They sit silently for several moments, staring out at the traffic and listening to the vehicles whooshing past. "Thanks for coming, Padme." Padme turns back to her and smiles.
"You know I'm always here for you." A wave of happiness washes over her and she is grateful once again that she is back from the Outer Rim.
"I know. I just felt like I let everyone down and you helped me see the bright side."
"Well, I have no idea what you're talking about but I'm glad I could help." Kate takes her hand a squeezes gently.
"Well, look at the time. I promised my advisors I'd be back by now." Padme stands up and straightens out her dress.
"More Senate talk?" Padme laughs and nods.
"It never seems to end." Kate walks her to the door, a feeling of content washing over her for the first time in a while.
"I'll see you soon." Kate nods as she opens the door. "Oh, and Kate."
"Hmm?" Padme turns to her, a serious look in her eyes.
"If you love someone, you don't let them go without a fight." This surprises her and she is going to comment but the door is closed before she can respond.