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Loris was a young boy around 8, from what Anakin knew. He had huge green eyes and curly brown hair, always positive and very talkative. Master Yoda always described him as an endless energetic battery. He was curious and always aspired to learn more. A good youngling.
However, Loris’s uncle was a senator working actively among the Senate of the Republic. He was a man of power, highly respected and proved more than once his bravery and support to the Jedis. But the man couldn’t just leave his nephew in the Jedi Temple without seeing him from time to time. Even if he knew it was forbidden for the younglings to maintain relationships with their blood families, Senator Krawl had been visited every week by his nephew. It wasn’t well seen by a lot of Jedis but the Council decided to not interfere as the Senator explained he just took the boy under his wing to teach him more about history, mathematics, astronomy and politics than the Jedi education did. These activities weren’t forbidden so they quickly gave up on that case.
Every week, Senators could perceive a young and energetic boy wandering and running all around the Senate until he arrived at his uncle’s office and then left to have dinner together and spend some time at his apartment.
The first time Loris saw Padme Amidala, he was speechless. She was in an active discussion with Bail about the previous debate in the Senate, clearly focused and didn’t pay any attention to the boy. But all he could see was her. She was so beautiful that he forgot how to even talk or follow his uncle.
The next time was when his uncle invited multiple Senators for dinner at his apartment. Loris just kept staring at Padme like she was a masterpiece of art. The boy was definitely hypnotized by her elegance, her beauty, her way of talking. Loris took all the bravery he needed and detached from his uncle’s hand on his back. He approached Padme with a red face and asked very loudly:
“Could I marry you one day ?”
The group of Senators went silent. Most of them bursted of laughing while Padme froze, shocked and then smiled softly to the little boy, now all shy. He tried to dig his face between his shoulders but the affectionate look on Lady Amidala was all he needed to gain his confidence again. She didn’t laugh at him like all the others and that’s all he needed.
“I’m sorry, Padme.” said Senator Krawl while rubbing his nephew’s back to get him out of his dreams.
“No worries.” assured the living beauty. She then turned to Loris. “My boy…”
“Loris !”
“Loris. It’s not possible but ask me again when you’ll be all grown up.” she gave him a polite smile, caressed his hair to fix them, and then went back to her complicated conversations. She just hoped her answer was enough for Loris to not be hurt by her rejection
Loris couldn’t sleep at any moment that night, he had butterflies in his stomach for the next following month and stars were shining in his eyes anytime he looked at something that made him think of Padme.
A pretty rock ? Padme. The warm sunshines ? Padme. His Kyber Crystal ? Padme. The song constantly in his head ? Padme. She was everywhere for him.
He knew that, as a future Jedi, he wouldn’t be allowed to marry anyone. But he wanted to believe in it, in Padme, in his feelings. To be honest, for the moment, he didn’t really cared about the future and only focused on his current feelings.
One day, he saw her discussing with Master Skywalker and Master Kenobi about a mission. He immediately ran to her. The three adults turned towards him and he handed to Padme a little rock he found and thought it was pretty.
“Lady Padme ! I have found a rock for you !”
Anakin and Obi Wan looked at Padme with little smiles but she only minded Loris, which made him feel special. She chuckled and took the rock in her delicate fingers. The boy’s face was as red as tomatoes when her skin touched his hand. So sweet ! And now he just realized how good she smelled too !
“You are a lovely boy, Loris. Thank you, I love it.”
“Does it mean you’ll marry me ?” he asked, full of hope.
Now, Obi Wan and Anakin looked at her with surprise. Obi Wan was more amused than anything but Anakin was more like “What did I miss ?”. She gave them both a nervous smile before going back to Loris.
“Well…uhm…I told you, at least, you needed to grow up.” she reminded him with a finger up.
He frowned in confusion. “But I did grow up ! I gained 3 inches !” he protested with energy, ready to defend his point of view.
Obi Wan chuckled and came to help Padme. “Senator Amidala meant that you needed to age up. However, youngling, you will not be able to marry her when you’ll be a Jedi.”
“It’s against the code.” precised Anakin and he got a “Really ?” look from Padme behind Obi Wan’s back. He shrugged his shoulders with a smirk.
But Loris didn’t give up. He looked straight at the adults with a lot of confidence in his voice. “Then I’ll change the code !”
“Loris ! Are you coming ?” his uncle called for him, his husband beside him, so he waved to Padme way longer than for the two Jedis.
“Goodbye Master Kenobi and Master Skywalker ! Goodbye Lady Amidala !” He had a wide smile on his face when he pronounced her name. She waved back until he wasn’t to be seen.
Obi Wan turned to Padme. “You sure have a determined suitor.”
Anakin crossed his arms. “And impatient.”
She chuckled. “Yes, I can see that. He will quickly forget that anyway.” She kept the rock in her sleeve until she could store it in her room.
…………….
Anakin was laying on the bed, playing gracefully with a ball with the Force. On the back, his arm behind his head and the other one controlling the trajectory of the ball. His beautiful wife was sitting in front of her mirror, taking off all her jewels and makeup while wrapped in her robe. He couldn’t wait for her to come and join him in bed.
As he didn’t hear any more noise from her, he turned towards her frozen figure, observing the little rock with a sweet smile before putting it back in her jewel box. Anakin raised an eyebrow.
“Why are you keeping it ?”
“What ?” she asked, taking off the heaviest earrings he ever saw.
“The rock. It’s stupid, and you even said it, he will probably forget it in a few months.” he put the ball on his night stand.
She shook her head. “Oh no, that would be cruel. Poor boy, it would make him so sad if I got rid of it. It was so kind of him…”
Anakin chuckled while shaking his head. He got up and walked to her, caressing her neck, his desire radiating from his fingertips.
“Padme… It’s just a rock. It’s not like it had any value.”
“Oh ?” she raised her eyebrows while applying a hydrating cream on her hands. He wanted to kiss them. “And what would you have done if I had thrown away the pendant you made me ?”
He froze on his way to kiss her ear and looked at her hands.
“But I’m your husband.” indignation filled his tone but remained calm.
“Well, not as soon as you gave it to me. I had ten years to get rid of it.”
Her husband rolled his eyes and sat next to her, his arms wrapped around her waist.
“Okay, you got a point.” he sighed and she gave him a kiss, happy that he admitted she was right.
“Now, let’s go to bed.” she took his hand while standing up, a smirk appearing on her lips.
Anakin didn’t waste a second to follow her.
“Anything for you, my angel.”
…………..
Loris’s sparkles in his eyes were fueled by Senator Amidala’s speech. The little boy couldn’t take his eyes off the screen showing Padme delivering an inspiring and hopeful speech, interrupting his concentration on the exercise consisting of lifting an object with the force.
“There is no place for injustice and slavery even in such troubled times as war !” her voice was firm, strong, full of conviction. Loris was completely speechless. “We are all living beings, emotions and dignity are part of all of us and that’s why we all deserve respect and help. That’s why slavery is an insult to all of us ! Because people are harmless and in need doesn’t mean that they should be treated poorly and with cruelty !”
“Wow…” mumbled Loris with a voice full of admiration. He approached the screen, wanting to put his hand on her face.
“She’s impressive, right ?”
The boy jumped and turned to see Master Skywalker, his arms behind his back. He was also watching the Senator giving her speech against the slavery.
“Yes, Master Skywalker !” he nodded enthusiastically.
A silence followed where they just stood beside to admire Padme. Anakin dreamt about her lips against his. Her scent intoxicating his nostrils, her skin caressing his body like an expert. A shiver brought him back to reality.
A sigh left his lips when he looked at Loris. The look he gave to his wife…he could swear it was the exact same one he had when he was a child and thought that Padme was an angel. Wait…she was an angel !
He couldn’t decide if he thought it was cute to see a little boy as much in love with Padme as he was or if it was a problem. The problem was: if he was as deeply in love with Padme, when Loris will be a grown up adult, he will try to seduce her ! Yes, the Jedi code was forbidding relationships. But if Anakin didn’t care, why would Loris do ?
He just needed to…prevent this from happening.
Skywalker leaned to have his face next to Loris’s.
“Hey, buddy ?”
“Yes ?” asked Loris but his eyes never deviated from Padme’s image.
“You see that incredibly beautiful, intelligent, charismatic, strong willed person full of energy and conviction ?” Anakin described his wife with so much passion that Loris opened his eyes even wider, completely carried by the description.
“Yes…” he mumbled, hypnotized by the woman in front of him.
Anakin smiled widely when he broke all the boy’s dreams by saying. “Well, she’s my wife. And she will never love you. Because she’s mine.”
Loris’s smiled faded immediately and his face showed his shock and deception.
“What…? he squeaked, tears almost forming in his eyes.
Anakin smirked, a little peak of pride growing in his chest to see his dreams collapse.
“That’s right.” He stood up and patted the boy’s head. “Don’t worry, you’ll get through it and forget her. Have a good day, little one.”
Skywalker smiled and walked away, whistling a joyful melody while Loris was on the verge of crying.
……………..
Loris was sad. Devastated. The Jedi teachers weren’t able to get him to talk about what was wrong so they allowed him to rest in his room for the rest of the day. He cried because he really thought that Senator Amidala liked him and that she would accept to marry him when he would grow older !
The next day, when Loris went to the senate to meet his uncle, he wandered all around the Senate to find Padme. Instantly, the tears flowed on his cheeks, his little face became red and his eyes looked like they belonged to a cute animal. The little boy ran to Padme’s petticoats and she gasped, surprised by his sudden arrival.
“Lady Amidala !” Whined Loris.
“Oh ! Loris !” her surprise faded to be replaced by worry. She told Bail to continue without her and she kneeled in front of Loris. “What’s wrong ? Do you need help ? Do you need Senator Krawl’s help ?”
Loris shook his head, his sobs getting stronger and stronger. However, her hands covering his were slowly calming him.
“I-It’s Master Skywalker ! He-He told me very cruel things !” he bursted in more tears, leaning in Padme’s arms.
Padme was definitely surprised by the young boy’s claim but she needed them to be in a more private place to talk about it.
“Uhm… Senator Krawl is still in a meeting. We could wait for him in his office, what do you say ?”
Loris nodded and followed Padme in the corridors to his uncle’s office and waited for him. The Senator invited him to sit in front of her on the couch.
“So…you were crying because of Master Skywalker ? What did he do to make you cry ?” she asked with a sweet voice that made Loris melt like ice cream. She wiped his tears with a tissue and he let her do so.
“Yes.” he brought back his calm. “He said that you would never love me because…because I was a little spoiled brat trying to steal his wife !” he said with a shaking voice.
Padme put a hand on her heart, shocked by his words. How…how could Anakin say that ? And reveal their marriage ?! To a child ?! And all because of a stupid childish crush ?! Oh now she was furious !
“I’m so sorry, Loris.” she wiped a tear on his cheek, trying to keep her calm and reassuring behavior in front of the emotional boy. “I will talk to him about it, okay ? But, please, don’t talk about that to anyone, okay ? Can I trust you ?”
Loris lifted his head and smiled softly for her. “Of course, Lady Amidala ! Anything for you.”
……………
“He told you WHAT ?!” Anakin screamed.
Another night together, Anakin was more than delighted about it. He was already laying on the bed with his night clothes on when Padme came back after her work day. The Jedi was already looking for a kiss when Padme screamed at him how he terrified a poor child and admitted his marriage with her.
“Padme…” he looked at his wife furiously taking off her dress and pins in her hair. “I never told him that !”
“Oh !” she shouted and turned around. “So he just guessed we were married ?!”
Anakin winced. Why the kriff couldn’t this kid shut his mouth ? Instead of arguing with his lovely wife, he could cuddle with her ! “I…may have said something. But not everything he reported to you !”
“Then what did you say ?” she asked, her voice sounding more like an order.
“I told him that we were married so you would never be interested in him ! That’s all, I promise.”
Her eyes rolled but anger came back with force. “Of course I would never be interested in him ! I’m not a pedophile !” she shouted, thinking how stupid it was from Anakin to explain that to a child.
His face showed how his panic started to invade him. “I did not say that ! I-I just wanted to put the basics and eventually prevent him from seducing you in the future !”
She squinted. “Seduce me ? For the love of the Force, Anakin, I’m not a pervert or a cheater either !”
Anakin put a hand on his face, trying to find a way to get out of this situation without damaging their relationship. Nights together were rare and he couldn’t waste one.
“Look, honey, I’m sorry. I only wanted him to stop imagining his future with you !”
“And why couldn’t you just let him ? He would have forgotten it, at worst, in a few years !”
“Because that’s what I did and look where I am ! Married to you ! And I didn’t want him to take my place !” he finally admitted.
Padme froze and a flash of sympathy showed on her face. She acknowledged that Anakin had some serious insecurities but… revealing their marriage ? To a child ? A youngling most of all ? That was some serious mistake. They were trying so hard to make things work and it’s like he just spitted on it.
Her look became cold once more as she saw the pleading in his eyes. “You can go back to your room tonight. Find a way to repair your stupid mistake by revealing to a youngling our marriage.” she turned to her mirror to take off her makeup.
Anakin’s eyes widened. “What ?! No ! Com’on, don’t let this waste our night together !” he pleaded with passion. He walked to her, his hand wandering on her neck. “Angel…please…”
“You’re the one that messed up, Ani, you can only blame yourself.”
Anakin’s shoulders went down, disappointed.
“I’m sorry, Padme. I’ll make it up to you.” he promised. He gave her a last kiss on her cheek before leaving her apartment.
………………..
Anakin was, of course, in a very bad mood. He couldn’t sleep last night because of this argument he had had with Padme. He should clear up the thing with Loris, even apologize. He was deeply ready to do that.
His engagements drastically changed when, when he headed to the Senate for a mission, he saw Loris handing a little bouquet of flowers to Padme. The youngling saw him and, while Amidala was admiring and complimenting his gift, he showed his tongue to Anakin with a smirk.
That was definitely a declaration of war. Anakin’s face was deformed by surprise then by anger, his eyes sending a clear message that Loris should watch behind him because he could really be tempted to stab him in the back.
“Oh, Loris, your attention is so cute !” she chirped, getting on Anakin’s nerves. That bouquet of flowers was so pathetic that he was tempted to mock Loris right in front of Padme and humiliate him. However, he knew better.
“Only for you, Lady Amidala !” the young boy made a cute face to gain her sympathy and a sweet smile from her.
And you know what is only for me, Loris ? Her.
…………………
“Dear…Goddess…” Padme whispered, looking at the enormous bouquet in Anakin’s hands. So big that she couldn’t even see her husband’s face.
“Surprise !” he chuckled and handed her his gift.
“A-Ani where do you want me to put that ?” the young woman looked all around her apartment while holding the way too heavy bouquet.
Anakin’s hand went on his hips, clearly proud of his effect. “Anywhere you want, angel !”
Padme observed him and a smirk formed on her lips. She went outside, on her terrace, to place the bouquet next to a seat. It brought some colors to the composition, some of Naboo, some of her home… But it was way too big and Padme wasn’t sure if it could fit anywhere.
“You did see Loris giving a bouquet to me today, right ?” she turned towards him, her arms crossed and squinted.
“Absolutely not.” he affirmed.
Padme rolled her eyes. “Did you even apologize ?”
“Not exactly. But we got things clear.” his tone became darker, his plans forming in his head while Padme interpreted that as a sign of his frustration.
Her face softened and she walked to him, caressing his arms and catching his attention. “I’m happy you did.”
The kiss that followed got Anakin very enthusiastic about ruining Loris’s chances and dreams about Padme. It pushed him to deepen the kiss with passion.
……………………
One of the most exciting times for the Young Padawans has come. They were about to be designated a Jedi Master to continue their formation as future Jedis. Loris was very excited to know his Master that will teach him all about the Force, the Jedi Code, the art of Jedi combat, meditation… All of this was a very pleasant idea to Loris, craving to become a good and strong Jedi ! Maybe…Maybe Lady Amidala would be impressed ?
However, his joy faded just a little when he saw Anakin Skywalker walking towards his group. Loris rolled his eyes and then smiled, trying to not let the presence of Skywalker affect his pleasant mood. Today would be a good day. Nothing could change his mind.
The Jedi started to give everyone the names of their Jadi Master and smiled brightly when he approached Loris, his big eyes observing Anakin with curiosity.
“Young Padawan, I’m glad to announce to you that you were designated to a Jedi Master as talented as you. Master Korlianus will be in charge of your formation. Congratulations.”
Loris smiled brightly, Master Korlianus was a very respected and powerful Jedi. He was also famous for his effective and instructive pedagogy. Loris couldn’t have dreamt of a better Master. The young boy was shining with joy and felt like he was on a little cloud ! However, he felt like Master Skywalker’s smile was a bad premonition. His formal position with his arms behind his back showed he was expecting for Loris to react in some way.
Then…Loris realized. Master Korlianus was barely seen at the Jedi temple because he was always busy with very long term missions at the other side of the galaxy, far away from Coruscant. Loris realized he would probably never see his uncle again until the end of his formation. And Lady Amidala either…
The happiness on his face slowly faded to Anakin’s satisfaction.
“I didn’t skimp on the praise for you. It was normal, you needed a Master worthy of your potential.” Anakin’s smirk was malicious.
He left the boy speechless, humming with satisfaction. That same night, Padme thought it was so sweet of Anakin to allow Loris to have access to such a good formation next to one of the most talented Jedi. And Anakin loved every compliment she made to him.
…………
Loris was back on Coruscant only for a day with his master. His formation was rough and difficult but his Master deeply cared about him, his education, and his future and he felt like he was making huge progress. He hoped to sneak out of the temple and out of his Master’s gaze to meet his uncle and maybe Padme Amidala.
However, on the way, still in the Jedi temple, as the night has fallen, he met a dark and tall figure. A hood was hiding his face but when the stranger lifted his head, he recognized Master Skywalker. Loris was about to send scathing commentary, when he saw it.
His eyes.
Burning with hate.
Loris’s body started to shake. Something from him was paralyzing. He was just grabbing his lightsaber when another blade impaled his body, right through his heart. Loris gave a last look at Anakin, not looking like he cared he just took the life of a child.
But to Anakin’s eyes, he wasn’t a child. He was an obstacle.
Loris’s dead body fell on the ground.