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"Promises may be simple words, but when fulfilled, they create a beautiful melody of trust."

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Kenobi's gaze remained steady as he asked, "Are you completely sure he never disclosed your identity to anyone else?" I stood in silence, watching as a coroner carefully placed the body into a bag, while the CSI team worked quickly to remove every trace of blood from the floor. The sterile scent of antiseptic mingled with the metallic tang of blood, creating an atmosphere that felt both surreal and suffocating.

I nodded, the shock still lingering within me. "Yes, I'm sure. He was calling Anakin when I—" My voice faltered, my head lowering. The memory of the confrontation replayed in my mind like a broken record, each frame more vivid than the last. I could still hear the crack of the gunshot echoing in my ears, the flash of the weapon illuminating the dimly lit room, and the look on his face as I pressed the trigger.

With a comforting hand on my shoulder, Kenobi said, "Your actions were necessary; it was self-defense. He had a gun, and you had every reason to believe your life was in danger." His tone felt almost rehearsed, as if he were preparing me for the inevitable questions from our superiors.

"Self-defense," I repeated, the phrase tasting bitter on my tongue. It felt like a flimsy shield against the reality of what had just happened. I had taken a life, and no amount of justification could erase the enormity of that act.

The fluorescent lights above cast harsh shadows across the floor, and I found myself staring at the bloodstains that would soon be scrubbed away, remnants of a moment that would haunt me forever.

Kenobi's eyes softened, and I could see the empathy etched into the lines of his face. "You did what you had to do. Sometimes, in this line of work, we are forced into impossible situations. It's not about the choices we wish we had; it's about the choices we make in the heat of the moment." His words were meant to comfort, but they felt like a double-edged sword, cutting through my resolve while simultaneously offering a lifeline.

"I never wanted anything like this to happen," I said, my voice trembling with the enormity of my regret. "I didn't want to pull that trigger again." Taking a life was a burden I had never wished to bear, especially when the victim was a man who seemed to have lived a life free of malice. As far as I could tell, he had never harmed anyone, never crossed the line into criminality—unless you counted that one speeding ticket, which he had received while rushing to pick up his daughter from daycare. I knew this because I had ran background checks on everyone before stepping into that place. He was merely a guard dog.

"Why don't you go to your room, take a shower, and try to rest? I'll handle everything else out here," Kenobi urged, gently guiding me through the living room, his insistence a desperate attempt to get me away from the source of my guilt.

The adrenaline that had fueled me through the night was fading and I was exhausted, so I didn't argue. I nodded, though my heart felt like a lead weight in my chest, and allowed him to guide me down the dimly lit hallway toward my room.

As I stepped inside, I shut the door firmly behind me and leaned against it, releasing a long, weary sigh. Just moments later, my phone buzzed insistently in my pocket. I fished it out, my stomach twisted into a deep knot when I saw the name flashing on the screen: Anakin.

My heart raced uncontrollably, pounding like a drum in my chest. I forced myself to take several deep breaths, reminding myself that it was just a coincidence that he was calling me right now. It had to be. There's no way he could know what was happening here, Kenobi and the rest were as discreet as possible when coming here.

After one final, steadying inhale, I answered the call, striving to keep my tone light and casual. "Hey there, handsome. Missing me already?"

Anakin's laughter echoed through the receiver, warm and inviting. "Maybe a little. I just wanted to check in on you. Are you doing okay?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" I replied, my voice betraying a slight tremor that I desperately hoped he wouldn't catch.

"No particular reason, I just—" He hesitated, and I could hear him speaking to someone else in the background, though their words were too muffled for me to decipher. "I just wanted to hear your voice before you settled in for the night and make sure you were alright."

"I'm alright," I assured him, piecing together that the sudden end of his call with my victim may have made him paranoid. Therefore, he's making house calls to make sure no one else is now currently missing seeing as he had attempted to call the man numerous times afterwards before Kenobi shut off the phone—at least that's my theory. "You really ought to get some sleep as well; we go back to work tomorrow."

He let out a groan. "Don't remind me. I'll catch you in the morning then. Sleep well, gorgeous. I love you."

"Goodnight, I love you too." I closed my eyes tight to try to keep myself from crying.

Once the call ended, I threw my phone onto the bed and finally released my cries—overwhelmed by everything going on around me.

🦋

I stood behind the bar, slowly polishing a few glasses while my mind wandered back to the events of the previous night. First Clovis, and now this new complication. With Clovis, the guilt didn't weigh as heavily on me, but the truth remained: I had taken two lives in the course of this job, and the depth of the pit I was digging for myself filled me with dread.

Each glass I polished felt like a reminder of the choices I had made, the lives I had altered irreversibly. The clinking of the glassware echoed in my mind, a haunting symphony of regret.

The sudden sensation of arms wrapping around me startled me, but I relaxed as I recognized the familiar warmth. "Someone seems a bit on edge today," Anakin chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my neck before turning me to face him. His lips met mine in a soft kiss, a gentle moment that momentarily chased away the dark thoughts.

His touch was so soothing, it calmed the chaos within me. "No, you just surprised me is all," I replied, forcing a smile as my gaze lingered on his features, especially the scar I had given him. What would he do or say when he finds out it was me who did that to him? It wasn't a matter of if he finds out, that part is inevitable, it's a matter of when and how.

"Today's going to be busy," he said, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "You and Ahsoka will be behind the bar, and Brandon will be there to help out."

I raised an eyebrow, confusion creasing my forehead. "Brandon?"

"He usually works as a weekend bouncer, but he knows a lot about bartending. I thought it would be smart to have him assist you two today in case things get a little out of hand." As he spoke, his fingers wove through my hair, a gesture so intimate it felt as if we had been together for ages rather than weeks.

I nodded thoughtfully, contemplating the truth of his words or if there was some hidden motive behind his decision to assign a bouncer to our shift. It was an unusual move for him; he typically kept the staff to just two bartenders, no more, no less. "What leads you to believe today will be busier than usual?" I inquired.

"It's Friday," he replied with a casual shrug. "Plus, there's an event happening at the convention center just down the road. We always see a surge in customers when they host something; it seems everyone craves a drink afterward."

"I'm sure it's nothing we can't handle," I said with a reassuring smile, intertwining my fingers with his. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but I held onto the belief that this difficult time would eventually lead to something meaningful and real.

He playfully pinched my cheek, a warm smile lighting up his face as he looked at me. "You just get more and more beautiful every time I see you," he said, his admiration clear, "Loving you and having you love me in return makes me a very lucky man."

The way he makes me feel was—unbelievable. This is the love I have always dreamed of having. Like the one in the movies.

Our sweet moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat, pulling our attention away from each other. We turned to see a familiar woman standing across the bar.

"Padmé?" Anakin's voice was filled with confusion as he withdrew his hand from my face, leaving my skin feeling cold. "What are you doing here?"

She glanced between us, her gaze settling on him. "I need to talk to you about something. Can we go to your office?"

A flicker of jealousy ignited in my chest, but I quickly pushed it down. If he learned the truth and things fell apart between us, would he go back to her? "Uh, sure," he replied, still puzzled, before looking back at me. "I'll be back soon." He pressed a quick kiss to my lips before turning away, leading Padmé up the stairs to his office.

I watched them ascend, my heart racing, and noticed her glance back at me. "That's nothing for you to worry about," Ahsoka said suddenly, appearing beside me and startling me.

"Jesus, do any of you make noise when you walk?" I chuckled nervously, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my stomach. Ahsoka's presence was a welcome distraction, but the sight of Anakin and Padmé together was still fresh in my mind, gnawing at my confidence.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Ahsoka said, her tone light but her gaze sharp on the pair that disappeared upstairs, "I wonder why she's here though, she never shows up like this."

As I made my way back to the counter, a tired sigh slipped from my lips. I picked up the task of polishing the glasses, eager to finish the monotonous chore before the doors opened for the day. "Well," I started, "not long before our little getaway, she had asked him to get back together."

Ahsoka raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Really? That's odd, considering she was the one who ended things." She joined me at the counter, her hands grabbing a glass to help with the cleaning. "You're not feeling anxious about this, are you?"

"A little, if I'm being completely honest," I replied, a knot of unease twisted in my stomach. Both he and she had reassured me moments ago that there was nothing to worry about, yet the reality remained that she had called it off, leaving his feelings unresolved. Deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that she might be the better match for him—after all, she wasn't deceiving him like I was.

Ahsoka let out a dismissive snort. "You shouldn't be. He's as loyal as a hound, and he's completely obsessed with you. I promise, I'm not just saying this to make you feel better—he wasn't even like this with her."

I paused, setting down the glass I had been polishing and meeting her gaze. "But what if he still has feelings for her?" The fear of being a temporary distraction loomed large in my mind, casting a shadow over the relationship we had built in our short time.

She halted her movements, casting a glance of irritation my way. "You really need to cut that out. Seriously, what did your last relationship do to you?" The question, though clearly rhetorical, struck a nerve deep within me. Perhaps that was the root of my current distress; my self-worth had taken a shit after Connor cheated on me.

"You're right, you're right," I dismissed the feeling, forcing a smile. "Everything's fine. I just need to stop worrying."

With a playful yet firm pat on my back, she added, "Exactly! You're hot, so just exude a little confidence."

Once we wrapped up our task, Anakin and Padmé descended the stairs. Padmé headed for the exit without sparing us a glance, while Anakin approached, his expression a mix of confusion and contemplation as he rubbed his lips thoughtfully.

"What did she say?" Ahsoka inquired before I had the chance.

Anakin lifted his gaze, swallowing hard. "Sheev is looking for Clovis. He reached out to her to find him and she was just letting me know." His eyes shifted to me, a serious look settling on his face. "And you, we need to talk." He gestured toward the staircase, urging me to follow.

We climbed the staircase in a heavy silence, the weight of unspoken thoughts lingering between us. Each step felt like a mile, the air thick with tension, as if the very walls were eavesdropping on our unvoiced fears. I could feel my heart racing, a relentless drumbeat in my chest, echoing the anxiety that gnawed at me. What if he had discovered the truth? What if everything I had worked to keep hidden was about to unravel?

It wasn't until we entered his office that I mustered the courage to shatter the stillness. "Is everything okay?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

He turned to me, leaning against his desk, his body tense, as if bracing for impact. The lines of worry etched on his face deepened, and I felt a chill run down my spine. "Padmè came to discuss Clovis, but something else happened that I need to tell you." His voice was steady, but I could sense the undercurrent of anxiety beneath his calm exterior. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly distressed. "She—kissed me."

"Oh." The response escaped my lips, a mere breath, but it felt like a declaration. My mind raced, grappling with the implications of his revelation. A thousand questions surged forward, each one more urgent than the last. How could this happen? What did it mean for us?

"Did you... did you kiss her back?" I managed to ask, my heart pounding in my ears.

"No," He finally answered and it felt like a weight had lifted from my shoulders, "I just wanted you to know, but I swear I would never betray you." He was now in-front of me, his hands cupping my face, "I promise."

I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, a wave of relief washing over me. For a moment, the desire to tell him everything grew strong, to reveal all the secrets I had kept from him. The words danced on the tip of my tongue, begging for release, but just as I was about to speak, the sharp ring of his phone shattered the moment, pulling me back into reality..

"What the fu—" he snapped, grabbing the phone from the desk with urgent intensity. "What?" His voice was laced with irritation, a stark contrast to the warmth that had just enveloped us. However, as he listened, his expression shifted to one of confusion and sorrow, the light in his eyes dimming. "Oh, do you know how?" he asked and he was silent while the person on the other end spoke, "Okay, we'll thanks for letting me know," he said quietly before ending the call.

"What happened?" I asked, concern threading through my voice, my heart racing as I sensed the gravity of the situation.

"It's Derek, one of my bouncers." He set the phone down, his brow furrowing deeply, the lines on his forehead etching a story of worry and dread. "I hadn't heard from him in a while, so I had some people looking for him. That call was to inform me they found him." He rubbed his temples, a heavy sigh escaping him, as if the weight of the news was too much to bear. "In a morgue. He's dead."

"Anakin, I'm so—"

"It's fine," he cut me off, dismissing my words with a wave of his hand, but the pain in his eyes told a different story. "I need a moment alone. I'll see you downstairs in a few hours, okay?" His voice was steady, but I could hear the tremor beneath it, the raw edge of grief that he was trying to mask. He pressed a gentle kiss to my temple, a fleeting gesture of affection that felt both comforting and heartbreaking. I nodded, complying with his request, though the guilt settled like a stone in my chest.

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