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2.3k words

"Crying does not mean a person is weak, it means they have a heart."

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I was wiping the counter before the club opened with my eyes glued to the dance floor, my mind elsewhere.

I was exhausted from staying up all night, thinking of what exactly I should do. I was debating on whether I should tell Anakin the truth, or if I should help him on the sidelines without his knowledge. And once Sheev has been taken down is when I would reveal the truth. I think if I do it that way, he may be more inclined to forgive me since he will see that I truly did just want to help him.

The only reason I'm considering still keeping him in the dark is because I don't know how he will react if I tell him the truth at the stage we're in right now. Chances are low that he won't freak out and chances are high he will either kill me or make me leave — and I can't help him if I'm not here.

So I was leaning towards keeping him in the dark, for now.

I quickly tossed the rag in the bin behind me and pulled my phone out of my pocket when an idea came to mind. Now that I'm shifting the focus of my investigation to Sheev, I'm going to need all the information I can get my hands on about him—not just the limited information Kenobi has given me—and there's one person I know who can help me with that.

I typed in the number I knew by heart, but paused before pressing the call button when I looked up at Ahsoka who was sitting on one of clubs couches, scrolling through a phone, "Hey I'll be right I'm going to use the bathroom." I said to get away for some privacy.

"I can't believe this bitch is messaging Piett on Instagram, my name and our date is literally in his bio." She complained, probably missing that I even said anything, "And she's a model too," She whined while she also began to bite her nails anxiously.

I told her the second she came down here with it to not go through Pietts phone, that trust is key. But did she listen? No, she basically ignored me when she plopped down on the couch and guessed his password after the second try — surprise, surprise, the code was her birthday.

"Is he responding to any of them?" I asked with a raised brow.

She glanced up, but only for a moment before looking back at the small screen in her hand, "No, he hasn't even opened them." She said low.

"Then he clearly doesn't care about what they have to say or what they look like. That man is in love with you so stop being so anxious." I get the worry and anxiety over potentially losing someone you love, so I don't necessarily blame her for what she's doing right now. But that doesn't mean it's healthy, "You're stressing yourself out over nothing, he's not going anywhere." I assured her as I spun around to head towards the back area.

I heard her sigh, which was followed by the sound of her setting the phone onto the glass table next to her, "She's right, she's right," She mumbled to herself.

I passed by the kitchens and made my way to the employee bathroom that was singular, meaning there were no other stalls. I got in and locked the door behind me before running the water on the sink. I pressed the call button for the number I already had in the phone and held it to my ear as I listened to it ring.

On the third or so ring, I finally got an answer, "Hello?"

I smiled, "Hey Jimmy, it's (y/n)." Jimmy works at the police station with me. He's a detective like me as well, and he's a genius when it comes to finding out anything about anyone. I have him to thank for many of my solved cases, and he also happens to be one of my best friends so I was more than happy to hear his voice.

"(Y/n)? Oh my god, babe I haven't heard from you in so long, how's the undercover life?" He asked in a cheerful tone, showing just how happy he is to hear from me, "And have you given any hot guys my number yet like I told you to?"

I laughed louder than I intended to, "No I haven't, I've been busy working to advance my career and not blow my cover by giving away a cops number," I rolled my eyes in a playful manner, "And it's...not what I expected," I said with an awkward sigh, "But listen I can't talk too long and I need you to do something for me."

"Name it," He said without hesitation and I imagined his dramatic sleeve roll as he prepared to type into his computer.

"I need you to find out everything you can about a Sheev and Clovis Palpatine and send it to my work email." I was speaking in a whisper as I bent close to the sink so it could hide my voice better.

"Sheev and Clovis Palpatine," He mumbled and I could hear him typing in the names, "Can I ask you who they are?" He asked curiously.

"It turns out Skywalker may very well just be a pawn in a much larger game," Here I was, already trying to plant his innocence, "Sheev is in control of everything and Clovis is his narcissistic son that I'm convinced is just as involved as he is."

"Have you told your superior?"

"I have," I nodded with a sigh as I placed my hand under the running water before wiping some of it across my face, "But it's like he has this vendetta against Skywalker, he still wants his focus on him. Sheev too of course, but he wants to incriminate Skywalker like he's the ring leader, when I really just think he's being blackmailed or something into following orders." That's a theory of mine on why I believe Anakin is still in the situation he's in, it's the only thing that makes sense since I'm not convinced he'd stay on his own accord. Not with how unhappy he seems.

"Wow. Now I get what you meant when you said it was not what you expected," Jimmy mumbled in a low tone that was filled with surprise, "Don't worry baby girl, I got you, I'll send you everything I find by tonight."

"Thanks Jimmy and you're at work right now, please talk more professionally and don't call me baby girl," I chuckled.

"Don't tell me what to do." He said simply before hanging up.

He's never been the type to listen, he's in the captain's office more than anyone over something stupid he has done or said, but he still does whatever he wants—legal things of course—because he knows they will never fire him. He's the only gay cop in the precinct and the son of the chief of police, so it's safe to say he has every protection box checked.

I hung up the phone with a smile on my face before placing it in my pocket and turning off the sink. I fixed my hair a little and checked my appearance. Once I was satisfied, I turned around to leave the bathroom, but paused as soon as I swung the door open.

"Were you talking to yourself?" Anakin asked with folded arms and knitted brows. He stared down at me and tilted his head as he waited for an answer.

"Uh, no?" I said with uncertainty, completely caught off guard.

He took a step closer and I took one back, "Are you sure? 'Cause I swear I heard you talking to yourself."

After I took a few seconds to compose myself and think, I chuckled and played it off, "Okay fine you caught me," I mumbled in a sigh as I leaned against the doorframe, "I have a presentation for my public speaking class on Thursday and I was practicing in the mirror." I pointed behind me to the large mirror that hung over the sink, "I've never been good at presentations, so I've been taking every opportunity I can to practice,"

"Oh," He dropped his arms down, "Well why didn't you ask me? I wouldn't mind being your audience." His famous smile was now on his face as he gently grabbed and held my hips to pull me closer, "I happen to be great at public speaking and I have so many skills I can teach you." His thumbs softly caressed my hips.

I smiled up at him as I felt the temptation within me burn like a flame, "I think we both know I wouldn't get anything done being in a room alone with you." I fed into his actions and leaned my body into his as I raised my arms to wrap them around his neck.

He inhaled and exhaled slowly, then subtly licked his lips, "You're right, we wouldn't," He smiled deviously with a glimmer of lust in the corners of his eyes. As we smiled at each other, the distance between our lips began to close, but they never did because we were interrupted by the sound of shouting.

We pulled apart and rushed to the front of the club where we walked into an argument between Piett and Clovis, "Stay the fuck away from her," Piett lunged towards Clovis, but Ahsoka got in between and pushed her boyfriend away from the altercation.

Clovis laughed as he leaned his back against the bar, "I was just coming over to say hi." He shrugged, smirking.

"You tried to kiss me," Ahsoka sneered in anger as her face twisted into disgust.

"Don't you ever come near her again," Piett snapped as he pointed at him, "In fact, don't even look in her direction or I'll cut out your fucking-"

"Enough," Anakin's voice echoed throughout the club, silencing everyone, even Clovis's laughs. His eyes snapped to his enemy and his demeanor darkened, "What are you doing here?" Anakin clenched his jaw, "And how many times have I told you not to go near my sister again? Am I going to have to send you back to your father in pieces?" He threatened, and I was starting to wonder if he remembered that I was here.

"Anakin," Ahsoka mumbled to get his attention, her eyes flickering to me momentarily . It seems she also noticed this was a side of Anakin he wouldn't want me to see.

He ignored her as Clovis pushed himself off of the bar, "I was just coming in to scale the terrain, I'm thinking of doing some remodeling," He walked across the dance floor and not once commented on Anakin's threat, like he didn't take it seriously enough for it to be worthy of a response.

"Remodeling?" Anakin looked pissed to say the least. He loves this club and this is a clear shot that Clovis is taking as a way of saying 'I'm the one that's really in charge'.

"I hate what you've done with the place, everything is so..." Clovis walked up to one of the tall glass tables before raising his foot and kicking it down, completely shattering it, "Ew." All four of us were silent as we watched him destroy things. Next he pulled out a small pocket knife and dragged it along one of the leather couches, "My club will look so much better once I'm done with it," He chuckled as he cut through another couch. Anakin's jaw remained clenched and his fists were balled and shaking. I did my best to give him comfort as I made my way to him and held one of his fists in my palms.

"He just wants a reaction, don't give it to him," I whispered.

Anakin side-eyed me for a moment before turning his attention back to Clovis, his tense body slightly relaxing, "I've been meaning to get new couches anyway." He shrugged.

"I'll pick them out," Clovis shrugged back, like he was mocking him.

Anakin forced a smile, "I'm sure they'll be great." He said sarcastically, "Now leave, I have a mess to clean—thanks to you—and a club to open like a real owner." He removed his fist from my hands and mumbled a thank you to me before going around the bar to grab a pan and broom.

He walked to the glass on the floor and started to sweep it up. Clovis looked irritated that he didn't get the reaction he was hoping for, and walked away towards the exit doors, but not without letting us know he would be back, "Save the VIP section for me tonight and make sure the waitress is hot, then after we can go over the changes I already decided on. I think I'm going to start being a lot more hands-on with this place."

As soon as he was gone, Anakin paused his sweeping and rested his forehead against the broom's handle with his eyes closed, "Are you okay?" Ahsoka asked him in a gentle tone.

"Yeah snips," He said low with a sigh, "I just need a minute alone, okay?" He turned his back to all of us and Piett started to herd Ahsoka and I out of the room when Anakin's shoulders began to shake.

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Hope you enjoyed it my loves ❤️
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