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Anakin could make out the rustle of clothing alongside the sound of Padmé mumbling words of incoherence, directed to none other than herself… Having been freshly returned from a siege in the Outer Rim; his eyes still burned with exhaustion as his body teetered on the edge of collapse—The cool tile beneath his boots contrasted with the warmth that accompanied her presence which came from somewhere within their shared apartment…
Their bedroom door stood half ajar as ever-forming light spilled graciously across the polished and wooden floor— Anakin himself, stood leaning against the trimmed doorframe, in an uncomfortable attempt of appearing casual. “You’re leaving. Again.”
Padmé let out a jolt at the statement, finally coming to notice his presence as she turned to meet his darkened gaze with her own light eyes— “Why you of all people?” He suddenly questioned, his voice jeered dangerously. “Out of the hundreds of senators, Padmé, why does it have to be you of all people, traveling to some unstable planet?”
With a clenched jaw, Padmé took a moment to consider his words. Anakin looked down at her contemplative figure with expectation as his leather boots tapped restlessly against the floor… “This is intended to be a peace delegation, not a Jedi field trip.” She replied, clear irritation began to bubble beneath her facade of calm. Her eyes narrowed and she continued on, “The moment a Jedi starfighter and a squad of clone troopers drop out of hyperspace, the peace talks are dead—You’ll turn a negotiation into a declaration of war.”
At that, Anakin felt as though his mind was being torn apart into fragments of starlight— “If it manages to keep you alive, damn their politics!” His voice rose with desperation as she grasped her hand, intertwining her fingers. “Why can’t you see it— I’m doing this all because I love you! I failed to save her, and I won’t let the same happen to you too!”
Padmé was not swayed, instead she lifted her chin high as anger flashes in her eyes. “No, Anakin— you’re doing this because you want to control me. You can’t just wrap me in a shield generator and lock me away in this apartment just so you can sleep at night! My duty is to the Republic. That is my role, just as yours is to the Jedi.” Anakin retorted back; “The Republic is dying Padmé.” She scoffed and shook her head in offence at that.
That simple gesture pushed him over the edge— Anakin slammed his fist into the wall, regretting the action in an instant. “Your Senate spends months debating whilst people are being slaughtered in the Mid Rim. You place all of your faith in a broken system that holds very little care for you.” His voice softened, “I care about you.”
Padmé’s brows knitted together as a sorrow crossed over her expression— “If you truly believe that Anakin… if you think the only way to protect people is through absolute force and isolation… then your loss of faith in the Republic means you’ve lost faith in me.” Those words struck him speechless. Anakin's eyes widened as he bit the inside of his cheek hard enough that it left a mark, all in an attempt to restrain his blooming frustration.
A silence began to settle over the room.Padmé stared at the pile of clothing and supplies she had packed, suddenly wondering if she needed any of it at all— a soft chime sounded from Anakin’s comlink, then flinched and glanced down at the blue light flashing from his wrist. With an irritated motion he activated the receiver— A miniature hologram of Obi-Wan flickered to life.
Arms crossed and eyes heavy with exhaustion, Obi-Wan somehow looked even worse than Anakin— “Anakin. I’ve been attempting to reach your comms for the last ten minutes.” Anakin’s eyes met Padmé’s whilst his master’s words faded into background noise. He didn’t particularly care if she overheard. “The Council requires our immediate presence in the Archives.” Obi-Wan’s gaze shifted briefly towards Padmé and the tension obviously still hanging between them.
Anakin straightened up “Master. My apologies, I was… finishing up a security briefing regarding Senator Admidala’s upcoming transit.” Obi-Wan’s expression sharpened. “I see.”His eyes flickered briefly back towards Padmé, whose arms remained crossed firmly. “Well the Senator is in excellent hands with Captain Typho Anakin. Your focus needs to be on our assignment. Meet me at the gunships in ten minutes. Do not be late.” Anakin gritted his teeth. “Understood Master.” He terminated the transmissions before Obi-Wan could muster a response.
The room went back into its silence— Without another glance at Padmé, Anakin turned sharply on his heel, his cloak following behind him. After several steps he stopped— slowly, he turned back for one final time. “Go to those peace talks then. If you won’t let me protect you, I hope your precious democracy keeps you safe when everything falls apart.” The venom behind his words poisoned his own heart, and before he could take them back, the marble doors hissed open and he was gone, leaving Padmé to bask alone in the now-cold sunlight.
Three hours later, The Coruscant sky had bled into shades of a bruised purple and rose evening; Padmé sat at her gold-plated vanity, staring blankly at her own reflection. She hadn’t packed a single item since he had left— then the door chime sounded, a familiar sequence that caused her heart to skip. Rising from her seat she crossed the apartment and released the lock. Anakin stepped inside… The furious warrior from before was now gone and replaced as his shoulders slumped beneath the weight of exhaustion. Rain had dampened his hair, making him look handsome in a way that was devastating and utterly broken. He stopped several paces away, unable to meet her eyes—With a voice barely above a whisper he spoke. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said such things… I lost my temper.”
Relief washed through Padmé so quickly. “Ani…” She reached toward him. And without warning, Anakin dropped to his knees before her, burying his face in the fabric of her skirt like a child in search of comfort. “When I think about something happening to you, I can’t breathe Padmé. The thought of losing you… it makes the whole world go dark. I don’t care about the Jedi, or the Republic, or Obi-Wan. I only care about you, if you die, I die.” His pleading and sobs made Padmé’s hands move to his hair in reassurance, they smoothed and patted down on his head in circling motions.
She was well aware his dependence on her was nothing healthy, she was aware that it bordered on obsession. Yet the sheer intensity of being loved so completely was such an intoxicating thing— “You aren’t going to lose me. But you cannot speak to me in such a way like you did. And you cannot try to control me.”
Anakin looked up at her, his blue eyes were now wet with tears and wide with a desperate sort of devotion. “I know. I’ll be better, I swear it. I’ll do whatever you want. Just tell me you will forgive me, tell me you still love me.” Padmé leaned down and pressed her lips down onto his forehead, his cries quieted down, and she felt as if she crossed a boundary she should have established. But she could not bring herself to regret it— “Of course I forgive you.” She smiled softly. “I love you Anakin.”