𝕮𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡
━━ 𝙏𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙀𝘿 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙄𝙉

━━ 𝘊𝘙𝘠𝘓𝘓𝘌𝘚
𝟸𝟹 𝙱𝙱𝚈

They wake at the first light of dawn, gentle sunbeams warming their faces.

Selyn opens her eyes sleepily, mind still fogged with slumber. She wonders absently why she feels so warm and comfortable, so safe with this weight around her waist. Then her eyes focus on a chest falling and rising gently with each breath, she acknowledges a steady heartbeat from where her cheek is resting on.

Anakin's heartbeat, she realizes.

And with a jump, she's awake, the events of last night flooding her mind.

The chase. The dragon. The kiss.

She sists upright and finds Anakin already awake, looking at her. She can't resist a smile tugging on her lips upon seeing him.

"I'm glad the speeder stopped working," he says before anything else.

Selyn grins. "Wouldn't be surprised if it was you who was responsible for that in the first place."

He raises an eyebrow, his eyes sparking. "Maybe I was, Selyn. Maybe I was."

"I wouldn't blame you the slightest."

She jumps to her feet, ready to start repairing the speeder.

After drinking some water and eating the remaining fruit they begin their task. Selyn enjoys working with Anakin, he is eager to explain her how the different parts of the motor work and is delighted when she understands.

With a smile she remembers his fondness for tinkering and mechanics as a youngling.

After some time, she resigns to re-braiding parts of her hair watching his skilled hands work, deciding that she is of more use just looking at him fondly. He assembles complicated-looking pieces without difficulty, using the tools stored in the speeder for cases of emergency.

When he is done, they dust off their robes and mount the speeder again.

The ride back to Sol City passes in peaceful silence and this time Anakin sits in front. Selyn is content wrapping her arms around his body, enjoying being so close to him.

Dunes pass by, and her eyes follow the recurring patterns of their silhouettes against the clear blue sky, hot sun-burned lines moving up and down.

There seems to be a silent agreement between them to not speak of the consequences of their kiss or how they broke the code. Selyn is thankful for that, it allows her to reminisce about their kiss without feeling guilty. It allows her to lay her head on his back without wondering what their penalty might be if someone found out. To run her fingers through the hair on the back of his head, simply because she wants to.

But the closer they come to the city the more tense she becomes. They are about to enter reality again, and the canyon and its freedom seem to be in unreachable distance, fading like a dream upon waking, the sweet mist of a quiet night's dreams evaporating in the merciless sun beating down on them.

Anakin and Selyn are greeted by Nadia's and Obi-Wan's worried faces upon their arrival back at the palace.

No one is angry with them for letting the two attackers get away. They have managed to disarm the three remaining ones and taken them to be questioned.

"It was indeed the Clans of Fire and Desert and of Scales and Blood the ones responsible for the attacks," Nadia explains. "They used Serpent and Bone as a cover for their actions. It is true that Count Dooku reached out to them, offering them his support."

The news are not surprising, but nonetheless alarming. Selyn exchanges a worried glance with Cleodys, who has just arrived to their quarters.

Her sister merely nods and then raises her eyebrows. Her mouth silently forms a question. What happened? Since she's discreetly pointing her thumb towards Anakin it's not hard to guess which information it is exactly that she is interested in.

Selyn's ears turn red. This is answer enough to Cleodys, who grins proudly, giving Selyn a thumbs-up.

"But for now, the situation is under control," Obi-Wan says calmly. "The danger has been averted and the responsible people arrested to await their punishment. However, we can't be certain that truly everyone has been captured."

Nadia nods. "Since this mission is officially over, Anakin and Obi-Wan will return to Coruscant. They have a new mission awaiting them. Me and Selyn will stay here on Crylles for a little longer to make sure everything runs smoothly until the contract for the holometal is signed."

Right, the contract. The sole reason for the republic's interest in Crylles. And for the Seperatist's, too, apparently.

"Anakin and I will be leaving immediately," Obi-Wan concludes, looking at his padawan. His words take Selyn by surprise, an uneasy feeling tightening around her chest.

She catches Anakin's glance. He doesn't seem too happy, either.

Selyn isn't sure what she expected. Maybe a few more days on Crylles to relax and spend time with Anakin, wandering over the market hand in hand? Introducing him to her family as her...what, her boyfriend? The thought seems ridiculous to her, of course Obi-Wan and his padawan have new orders awaiting them. The council didn't send them on vacation here.

But still, she would have liked to talk to Anakin in privacy at least. To entangle this mess of feelings inside her heart together and to discuss what this kiss means for them now.

But as much as she dislikes it, bags are packed and Obi-Wan and Anakin ready themselves for their departure. She can't catch a chance to talk to him, let alone a moment alone together. A strange atmosphere of good-bye and finality hangs over their guest apartments, and Selyn feels out of place, out of touch with reality. It is as if these last few hours were some strange dream, some fantasy her mind has spun to let her get lost in, a different life that comes falling to pieces as they are tossed back into the cold waters of normality.

The conflicted feelings within her and the shock of Anakin's sudden departure feel as heavy as stone, weighing at her heart. But he won't be there to carry it with her soon enough, and she struggles to hold it alone.

The landing platform outside Sol City is familiar to Anakin.

Selyn, Cleodys and Nadia have accompanied them to the ship waiting there for him and Obi-Wan. The freighter's metal hull is glistening in the merciless sunlight, engines already powered up and humming faintly.

Anakin takes one last glance at Sol City, and thinks of the bustling market, the golden citadel and its roof, the training fights with Selyn and his promise to her under a setting sun, he thinks of the temple and the dragons and the bleeding dunes. Of a welcoming family and a gentle kiss under starry skies.

He thinks of Selyn and how this place will always be connected to her. During their time here he had been lucky enough to get to know so many different aspects of her, even the ones she had been hesitant to show at first.

But now she has claimed a part of his heart she will own forever.

Anakin knows that she is in deep confusion right now, he sees how troubled she is, and how her mind is filled with thoughts that are too fast and too much. He desperately wishes he had the chance to talk to her again, but he also knows they will meet again. Soon. They have to.

He hugs Cleodys as a good-bye so that he's able to hug Selyn, too, without arising suspicion.

The older Val'aeon sister is positively thrilled. "You did it." She pulls him into a bone crushing hug. "You crazy son of a bitch, you actually kissed her. I'm so proud of you." She holds him at arm's length, regarding him. Anakin isn't even surprised she knows about their kiss already.

Despite his rather glum mood he can't help but grin at her words.

She gives him a critical look. "Though I must admit I really won't miss you pining over my sister."

"I sure as hell won't miss you meddling with my personal life either," he replies.

Cleodys flips him off, and Anakin turns towards the Selyn, grinning.

He knows he'll miss her, just as she will miss him.

Anakin's and Selyn's embrace is short and he savours every precious second of it, but he can already feel her slipping away from him under Obi-Wan's and Nadia's prying eyes, as if he's trying to reach for a ghost, smoke losing its shape between his longing fingers.

He is surprised that Nadia hugs him shortly, too. Something about her expression is mysterious, but she gives him an encouraging smile. Maybe she knows more than she lets on - Anakin wouldn't even be surprised, sometimes it seems to him that in exchange for her eyesight she has gained the power to glance into one's soul.

Obi-Wan grows impatient beside him regarding the drawn-out farewell. And so Anakin follows him, casting one last glance at Selyn before he enters the ship.

She keeps her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that makes him want to abandon everything and run back to her. There is longing in her gaze, but heavy guilt, too. He promises her silently that he will talk about it all and ease it when they meet again, that his fingers will brush over her cheeks and the soft skin of her neck to make her forget her doubts, and that he will pull her close and never let go.

Selyn's last days on Crylles pass in a blur.

Nadia and her are mostly busy accompanying the queen, ensuring her safety. The official signing of the contract comes as a relief to them all. Count Dooku's prying eyes seem to follow them wherever they go now though, and Selyn wishes she could snatch the planet away from his reach, ensuring her home's safety from conflict forever.

From time to time she notices Nadia struggling with herself, opening her mouth to ask Selyn a question but then deciding against it. She knows that her master surely hasn't missed the change in her behaviour, but she is glad Nadia doesn't ask. She isn't sure what she would say, how she could try to explain her thoughts, tangled up like ropes in right nots with maybe no hope to unravel them ever again.

"You've changed," is all Nadia says whilst she braids her padawan's hair. "Grown up."

Her unseeing eyes seem to pierce through Selyn's heart as she turns around to look up at Nadia. She doesn't even know why she bothers keeping secrets from her master.

"Is that a positive thing?"

Nadia's hands are gentle on her scalp. "I think so, yes. Growth can be hard, but it's always rewarding."

Instead of her training fights with Anakin she meditates with Nadia on the palace's roof. Her mind-home offers comfort and much needed reflection, a place to breathe freely and to let go. She still misses battling Anakin, though, misses how he made her unleash herself and embrace their competition, this rhythm of their dancing bodies.

She goes to her family to dinner almost every second night, this time with Nadia by her side. They are obviously a little intimidated by her at first, but Nadia's warm and open character loosens them up in no time. By the end of the first night, Varielle is glued to Nadia's side, bombarding her with questions. Selyn's little sister almost tears up as it is time for them to leave, but Nadia quickly reassures her that she will come again in the following days.

Selyn goes to the market with Aren or Cleodys. Sometimes Varielle accompanies them, chattering idly as she examines pieces of jewellery or food. Selyn looks out for the necklace she found with Anakin, but it's gone. Maybe it all really was just a dream, meant to pass and leave nothing but these heavy feelings.

She talks about the kiss shortly with Cleodys. Her sister is beside herself with glee and curiosity, but as she realizes that this is a sensitive topic for Selyn, she steers the conversation to other matters.

Selyn doesn't even understand why it is so hard for her to talk about Anakin to her sister and Nadia. The only person she does want to talk to has left, and she misses him every day, as if some physical part of her was gone.

At last, the day of their departure arrives.

She embraces her family, Varielle says a tearful good-bye to both her and Nadia, but she promises herself and them that she will return.

Cleodys has brought her something as a parting gift.

"For you," she says, opening her hand. On her palm is the golden ring that belongs to her spear, her sign of honour, earned in battle. The delicate carvings flash in the sun as Cleodys gives it to her.

"Cleodys," Selyn protests. "I can't accept that. I know what it means to you."

"Yes, you can. It fits around your lightsaber in the middle," she explains. "I've tried it. Take it as a reminder of home and of how much I love you."

Cleodys closes Selyn's fingers around the small band of metal and Selyn feels her eyes water. "Thank you."

Her sister smiles. "And if you're ever in need of a laugh, just remember the story of how I earned it."

Selyn does indeed laugh, despite her tears. "I will."

Cleodys hugs her tightly. "You got this. Don't be afraid of what you feel. You're stronger than that, strong enough to face it."

Selyn just nods, inhaling her sister's now-familiar scent.

The rest of her family bids their last good-byes again and with that Nadia and Selyn turn towards the awaiting ship.

Towards an unknown future. Towards decisions and a life that is irrevocably different than to how it was before.

But Nadia is by her side, a calm constant, offering her feet a steady ground to stand on and her heart a welcoming shore to return to. Her master's presence gives Selyn strength, as it always has.

They sit next to each other by a floor-to-ceiling window as the spaceship leaves Crylles' orbit. Selyn watches her home grow smaller and smaller, stares at the mesmerizing patterns of the clouds and the colours of the desert until they blur together, until her eyes water with unshed tears.

For a moment, like a ghostly vision, she sees her past self mirrored in the glass, how unknowing and naive and frightened it was, and she knows in her heart that she is not the same person again. Something in her has changed, there's been a shift in her core that can never be undone as long as she carries these memories of the past few days like a treasure within her. She is carrying the exquisite burden of love now, of sentiment, of feelings towards the new people that have entered her well-guarded heart once locked by a code she didn't choose.

The planet vanishes entirely as the ship jumps into hyperspace. Selyn feels a tug in her stomach, and in her heart, as if part of it had just stayed there on that dusty planet.

Nadia lays an arm on Selyn's shoulder, pulling her close as they dive into the stars.

✧･ﾟ:* 𝕬𝘜𝘛𝘏𝘖𝘙'𝘚 𝘕𝘖𝘛𝘌 *:･ﾟ✧

HONEYMOON'S OVER BITCHES

keeping y'all hungry for more 😄😄

now we have confused!Selyn and guilty!Selyn and overall fml!Selyn who is just generally a poor Selyn like damn that girl has too much to figure out 😭🫡

ANYWAYS hoping she's gonna see Anakin soon again, huh?! 👁️👁️

stay tuned <3

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