01 | AOTC

ANAKIN AND PANDORA had left the Chancellor's chambers almost immediately, neither of them speaking. Anakin was almost afraid to even voice his slight concern from her, the puzzling look on her face freezing him in time. She was gorgeous, even more so as the sun beat down on her face in the Senator's room, the way her dark eyes almost seemed light, the way they glinted as though she was figuring out a puzzle in her mind. His soul longed for hers, the issue was, knowing if her soul longed for his. This assignment was the best place for him to figure it out, secluded on the planet Naboo, Padmé doing other things in the security of her own home. Pandora could hear the senator speaking to Jar Jar Binks, who would be taking her place in the senate as they were taking care of her.

Pandora tried her hardest not to smirk as Padmé walked up, her face tight, as if the idea of being under protection was too much for her to handle. "I do not like this idea of hiding."

"Don't worry. Now that the council has ordered an investigation, it won't take Master Obi-Wan long to find this bounty hunter," Anakin said, trailing after Padmé, trying to convince her that them being there was the best thing for her.

"I haven't worked for a year to defeat the Military Creation Act, to not be here when its fate is decided," she said, turning about the room, packing her bag.

"Sometimes we must let go of our pride and do what is requested of us," Anakin said, keeping his eyes downcast and walking around the room. He was never one to just sit around, always constantly in motion.

Pandora let out a laugh, looking up the Skywalker boy, her eyes narrowed. "When has that ever been soemthing you do. Sandboy. Last I remember, you have never listened to a word out of anyone's mouth," she snarked, leaning up against the wall, propping her foot up. Pandora watched as the boy looked at Padmé, his eyebrow raised up, wishing for her to challenge him on this. She wondered if he liked her, but her mind immediately left that place, understanding that the feelings coming from him were ones of comfort and known presence. He had known Padmé years ago, so of course she was going to be comforting presence.

"Anakin, you've grown up," Padmé said, looking up at the boy that had grown from a nine year-old to the young man standing in front of her. She continued to think of the boy as a younger brother, watching the way he would always look at Pandora whenever she wasn't watching, the way his eyes would also find her when something was funny, wanting to see if she laughed, and most importantly, the way his eyes shined whenever someone brought her up. She was it for him, not matter how wrong it was, Padmé was going to play matchmaker, even if it killed her.

"Master Obi-Wan manages not to see it."
"Seeing is believing, maybe act like this around him."
"And you are so much better?"
"Yeah, I am a Knight, you are still a Padawan."
"I was found at nine, you were found early."
"And? Sounds like an excuse."
"I'm gonna strangle you."

"Careful there, Sandboy, I may enjoy it," Pandora said, sending the boy a sly smile, taking enjoyment from the way his face turned beet red, not be able to follow up with her comment. Deep down, she meant it, but even the idea of it coming to reality made her sick. There was no way in the force she was going to fall in love with this boy. "Don't look at me like that," she snapped, not enjoying the way his eyes were tracing over her face, as if trying to memorize everything he could.

"Sorry," he said, snapping out of the trance he was in, choosing to focus on the city in front of him, searching through the force to find what she was feeling. He could feel annoyance ( which was always floating through her when he was around ) and slight yearning, which confused him. He had never felt her yearning, which made her wonder what was causing her to feel this way. He knew it couldn't be him, she hated him, it didn't matter she was the other part of his soul, she would never complete him, and he was willing to live that way, so long as she was in his life.

( ...☄️...)

THEY HAD GOTTEN Padmé situated, leaving the room and heading for the ship they were set to board. Having such an intense couple of hours for Padmé was definitely taking its toll, no matter how much she denied it. Pandora could see a slight dimmer with the fire that encapsulated her eyes, her tiredness winning out on her. Pandora and Anakin watch as Padmé says goodbye to everyone that was surrounding her in the capitol, Obi-Wan turning to the two Jedi, trying to make sure they understand that they cannot do anything rash. "Don't do anything without first consulting either myself or the council," he said, turning to Padmé, ensuring that he will find whoever is doing this.

Pandora and Anakin each grab some of Padmé's bags ( the woman had brought her entire closet on this protection detail ), causing them to each wince slightly at the weight of all the clothes in each bag. "I'm suddenly afraid," Padmé said, not even bothering to look at the Jedi that surrounded her.

"I have Anakin under control, and we have R2 with us. My very favorite droid," Pandora said, winking down at the astromech, receiving a pleasant chirp in response. Pandora loved the little droid, hoping she would be able to be around him more as he made her smile. Anakin's eyes lit up at the sight of her and the astromech, which escaped Pandora's sight, but not Padmé's.

The rest of their walk was filled with silence, as they headed towards their awaited transport, Pandora's nerves in edge. The bounty hunter could be anywhere and Padmé was not exactly someone who could blend in. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the senator, knowing that it would do absolutely nothing for them, but she was walking around with a pretty distinguishing hair style. Her eyes were drifting along the crowds, searching the force for something with a dangerous tint, nothing catching her feel. She was going to be on edge until they got to Naboo. Pandora ensure that Padmé was situated, not even bothering to check on Anakin. She sat clearing her mind, meditating while focusing on her surroundings, only moving when it came time for food to be served. R2 had gone to grab extra servings, only to be scolded while Pandora chuckled, sitting in between Padmé and Anakin.

The food that she was currently eating wasn't the best, but it certainty wasn't the worst she had ever had. Her face screwed up at the first bite, looking over to see Anakin having the same facial expression, the both of them shuddering slightly while making the contact. Anakin had gotten used to food that tasted good, having been away from Tatooine and the dried food he had been living off of for years. He tried his hardest not to point out how cute Pandora looked as the rough taste of the food entered her taste buds, not wanting her to bring out her lightsaber and kill him where he sat. The two of them barely registered R2 coming back, focusing on the idea of finishing the food that had been placed in front of them, knowing that they had eat in order to protect the senator. "I don't know what this is, and I don't want to know," Pandora said, her eyebrows knitting together as she took another bite of her food.

Padmé let out a small chuckle, having sat in silence too long, she decided to try and start conversation, especially one that could give her an insight to Pandora and Anakin's relationship as they sat before her. "Must be difficult, having sworn you life to the Jedi, not being able to visit the places you like or do the things you like," she said, her eyes dancing between the two Jedi sat before her.

"Or be with the ones you love," Anakin said, his eyes darting to the side, trying to pick up the reaction of the brunette to his right. He was expecting her to say something rash, something that would cause him to stop talking, but she didn't.

"Being a Jedi is all I have known, I never knew a mother's love, a father's protection. The only thing I knew was my Master. Being a Jedi halters you from exploring things that can bring you love, but not people that can make you feel love," She said, looking at Anakin, her mind racing as to what she truly felt for the boy, as every passing day she spent in his company the urge to kill him stalled.

"Are you allowed to love?" Padmé asked, her question serious as she didn't know what to think after what Pandora had said. She couldn't figure out what the girl felt for the Padawan, nor did she know the true workings of the Jedi. "I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi."

"Attachment is forbidden," Anakin said, his gaze straying from Padmé, landing onto Pandora. "Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is essential to a Jedi's life." He let out a little smile, his eyes twinkling. Damn that boyish smile. "So you might say that we are encouraged to love." Who knew a sentence could change Pandora's way of thinking. And who would've thought it would come from someone she had hated not too long ago.

- authors note

WELL WELL WELL. we seem to have some updates in the course of feelings on pandoras end. actively me while writing this scene as if i didn't plan it.....but ANYWAY i love padmé as cupid and being a supportive girlfriend to little pandora. i would kill for pandora. but this is gonna be going slightly slower than padmé and anakin's love story as im gonna add some certain scenes into them to make sure we get some cute little baby moments. but expect a reaction pic from now own bc they make me feel better about absolutely flying through all my chapters! also as i get to planning future acts, what clone wars episodes would you like for me to incorporate?