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❝ you'll be okay. ❞

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CARINA CAREFULLY RAKED her fingers through her hair before plopping down into her bed.

Her eyes gazed up at the white ceiling, attempting to pull herself into any memory that could save her from the boredom she was feeling.

The woman unconsciously began fumbling with her ring finger, her thoughts now plagued by a certain man.

"Miss me?"

Carina jolted up from her laid down position, her eyes meeting Obi-Wan's force ghost who smiled at her.

The brunette narrowed her eyes slightly, "Look who showed up."

Kenobi crossed his arms over his chest, "Did my absence leave you bored?" Carina huffed lightly, "Hardly."

"I'll make sure to pass by more often then." Obi-Wan tilted his head at the woman, "How's it going in your imprisonment?"

Carina rolled her eyes, "Wonderful, actually. Who doesn't love looking at the same four walls every time they open their eyes?"

Obi-Wan kept in his chuckle before glancing towards the door, "How is he?"

Carina schooled her features before sighing out, "You know him. Stubborn as can be."

Kenobi looked deep in thought, "He's changing."

The mother scoffed, "I wouldn't say that either." Obi-Wan turned his attention back towards Algora, "He is, and you know it. After all, it is because of you."

Carina tore her eyes away from him, suddenly finding the window more interesting at that moment.

Obi-Wan blinked before speaking, "I thought my friend was dead, I gave up on him." Carina raised her eyes to meet his once again, "But you never did Carina."

The brunette chewed on her lower lip while he continued, "No matter how much you tried to convince yourself otherwise."

Algora ran a hand over her face, her chest heaving lightly, "That's the thing, how can I still hold hope for someone who caused so much destruction and pain? What does that say about me?"

Obi-Wan's eyes grew soft, "You have a good heart, Carina. You have always tried to see the best in those you love. You knew him better than anyone, if there is any person who could get to him... it's you."

Carina pursed her tainted lips, swallowing thickly before her friend spoke again, "Carina."

Algora met his eyes just as he smiled, "Your compassion has always been the best part of you."

By the time she blinked, he was gone.

Carina rubbed her eyes tiredly just as a knock on the door echoed. She ran her hands through her chestnut locks before shouting, "What?"

The door clicked open, boots clacking against the floor as Carina turned her body to face him.

Vader tilted his head slightly at the brunette, feeling her anxiety radiate immensely, "Are you alright?"

Algora stood from her seat before reaching over to grab her brown leather jacket.

Darth watched her every move while she shrugged on the jacket, covering her muscled arms from view before tucking her long waves out from underneath.

"Fine." She muttered lowly, turning back around to face the male who shuffled on his feet almost awkwardly.

He raised his head before taking a step out the open door, gesturing at his wife.

Carina quirked up a brow, "Where are we going?"

Vader turned his head away from her, "I figured you might want to leave this room for a bit."

Algora narrowed her eyes, "Wow, how considerate. It's almost as if I'm not trapped in here because of you."

Darth knew he was in for a long day of backhanded comments, "Would you like to stay in here then?"

Carina stayed quiet for a moment, contemplating her option before slowly walking out of her chambers, avoiding eye contact.

Vader couldn't help the twinge of amusement that shot through him before he closed the door. The man began to walk down the corridor with Carina right beside him.

The brunette glanced around at her surroundings, "So, what is it exactly that doing?"

"I thought you could keep me company throughout the day."

Carina huffed lightly, "Right, like the good prisoner I have to be."

Vader abruptly stopped, turning toward his wife while looking down at her as she gazed up at him.

"We both know you could've been long gone by now, Carina. You're smart, you could've found your way out without anyone noticing until you were already light years away." Algora swallowed audibly while Vader tipped his head to the side, "Yet, here you stand."

Carina felt at a loss for words, not really having a way to retort with him statement— because he was right. As much as it pained her to admit it.

The brunette grit her teeth together, "Perhaps you don't know me as well as you think you do then." A blatant lie because she was constantly terrified by how well he still knew her.

Of course, Vader knew that.

The man leaned back slightly, and Carina imagined the expression he could be wearing beneath that wretched casque. Algora remembered the way his lips used to tug upwards in a sly grin while his eyes gleamed just a bit brighter whenever he caught her horrible attempt to lie.

Darth turned away from her to continue strutting down the corridor while Carina slowly followed after him.

The Algora woman rubbed her wrist as she watched every trooper straighten up the second Darth Vader came into their line of sight. Imperial Officers saluting the Sith Lord who didn't even acknowledge them.

Carina watched the way their eyes followed her curiously, perhaps because their leader wasn't known for escorting people personally, she pondered.

The brunette picked up her pace slightly when Vader approached a room but stopped at the entrance.

Carina caught up to him, standing slightly behind him as she watched him continue inside with her following shortly.

Her breath caught in her throat the second she saw three Inquisitors bow their heads at the man before her.

Carina flexed her wrist, recognizing one of them from a few years back when they had picked up her trail.

"Lord Vader." One of them spoke, his pale white features contrasting his rather dark suit.

"What is it?"

Carina turned her attention back to Darth, a bit taken back by how cold and emotionless his tone was. She could feel the annoyance radiating from him and she suddenly wondered the real reason as to why he brought her along.

Two of the Inquisitors glanced at the third, fear reeking off of them. Even a youngling could sense the terror emitting from them.

Carina slipped her hands into her pockets as she watched the scene intensely. She'd be lying if she said seeing the Inquisitors cower in their place wasn't the smallest bit amusing.

The man seemed to be gathering his words before hesitantly speaking, "We lost them."

Carina tipped her head to the side almost unnoticeably, confused as to who exactly was the 'them' the Inquisitors were referring to.

Vader raised his chin, his heavy distorted breaths weighing on the quiet atmosphere. The man looked back slightly, catching a glimpse of his wife from the corner of his eye.

"Pull our forces back." His voice finally cut the tense air.

The three Inquisitors didn't bother hiding their shock with his order, "Lord Vader, we can find them again—"

"Did I not make my words clear, Third brother? Do I need to repeat myself?" Vader's time came out hard, his words holding a threat behind them.

Carina blinked while watching the Inquisitors quickly nod in understanding, "Of course, Lord Vader."

The man turned towards Carina who finally placed her attention back on him, her eyes showing her confusion as to why he was merely standing in front of her.

Vader tipped his head slightly toward the door, a small gesture but it clicked in Carina's head what he was saying.

The brunette spun on her heel to exit the room with Darth following behind.

Carina darted her eyes up at the man who had fallen into her side. Curiosity ate away at her as she wanted to ask what it was they were speaking of, but a more reasonable part of herself knew it was probably best she didn't know the answer to that.

The mother tossed a glance over at the corridor just a few feet, watching a group of troopers tap their blasters in syncs as if making a beat.

"Lord Vader."

Algora tore her eyes away from the scene to see an Admiral walking at the male at her side, it was clear he had not seen her yet.

Vader let out a heavy sigh, "Yes, Admiral?"

"The prisoner has es—" the man finally allowed his eyes to find hers, his lips parting in shock while finishing his sentence slowly, "caped."

Vader folding his arms behind his back before glancing down at Carina who stood at her side, "She's with me."

The male darted his eyes between the two before looking back at the Sith, "My Lord—"

"Is there a problem?" Vader's sharp voice questioned, knowing precisely what the Admiral was about to say and truly wanted to hear nothing of it.

The Admiral bowed his head, "None, My Lord."

Vader walked past the man, not bothering to say anything more before Carina moved to catch up with the Sith.

The brunette clasped her hands together as the halls seemed to get longer the more they walked. Carina slowly raised her eyes to rake over the man's mask, her distaste for it clear on her features.

Darth Vader could feel his wife's eyes on him, burning into his skull before he spoke, "Something interesting?"

Algora tried to not let herself dwell on the way his tone was almost soft, completely different to the voice he used just minutes ago. The woman pulled her eyes away from him, setting her jaw before muttering, "Not at all."

Carina watched as a door came into view, the entrance sliding open before Vader entered followed by her.

Her gaze wandered around the room, taking notice a black pod that was stationed at the center of it. Algora pursed her lips, "What is this?"

Vader slowed in his steps, not glancing back at her as he responded, "My meditation chamber."

Carina blinked, her warm eyes suddenly taking in the room with more precision. She stayed quiet, not feeling the need to say anything before she took notice of the armchair pressed up against the wall.

The brunette didn't bother asking before she made her way over, plopping into the seat that was oddly comfortable.

Vader watched her cross one leg over the other before he went to his own seat.

Carina allowed her thoughts to wander for a moment. She couldn't take the urge she had to know what was under that mask, what he was hiding to fiercely.

"Do you ever take that thing off?" Carina's tone came out sharp when referring to his casque, always making sure to showcase her displeasure for it.

Vader shoulder tensed ever so slightly, the only indication he had heard her. The man didn't respond for a long minute, leaving the mother to assume he wasn't going to respond.

"Yes," his mechanic voice suddenly rang out, "never in front of others though."

Carina pursed her lips, watching the Sith turn towards her the slightest, "I'm more machine now than I am man, Carina."

The brunette pulled her brows together, indicating her confusion which signaled him to continue, "I thought you knew." he started, pausing when he noticed a familiar glint in his wife's honey eyes.

"Obi-Wan cut off my legs." Vader couldn't help the roughness that came out upon saying his old Masters name.

Carina parted her lips slightly, "On Mustafar."

The man nodded stiffly, "Fire burned my upper torso, this suit was built so that I may live. My lungs do not work on their own anymore."

"And the mask?"

Meant to shield his vulnerability, Vader thought. He didn't voice that response though, instead turning to sit before shutting his eyes.

Carina licked her lips, suddenly understanding why Obi-Wan had originally thought Vader to be dead. He'd left him to burn, though she couldn't blame him.

Obi-Wan had always been known for doing what had to be done, although she knew having to leave his old friend to an indescribable pain had not been easy. She saw how much it had weighed on him, the toll it had left behind.

Carina wrapped her jacket tighter around herself, a chill creeping up her skin. The brunette furrowed her brows, lips tightly pursed as she sat a little straighter while she felt someone call out to her.

"Hold on, Carina. Please, please be alive."

Her eyes went wide— Luke. He was calling out to her through the force, hoping she would give him a sign she was still there. Carina glanced up at Vader who looked to far away in thought.

Algora couldn't do much without risking being caught, so she merely sent a small tug. Just enough so that her son could still feel her presence.

Carina relaxed back into her chair, pulling her gaze towards her hands that were folded in her lap. An odd sensation washed over her and the brunette fought to shove it aside, absolutely despising what it insinuated as her eye lids began to grow heavy.

A yawn was caught in her throat before she reluctantly rested her head back, knowing the Sith would probably take awhile.

Two hours later and Darth finally reopened his eyes, a new sense of clam plaguing his senses before he darted his attention over to where he knew his wife would be.

Surprise ripples through him upon seeing the woman completely dozed off on the seat, her chest rising and falling every time she breathed calmly.

The sight left him stunned in his place, having thought Carina would have never fallen asleep in his presence because he knew her.

The mother could not fall asleep when people she didn't somewhat trust were in the room with her. It was something her mind simply did not let her do.

He felt his chest tighten, a familiar yet old emotion bubbling within him.

The man turned in his place slightly, he knew he probably shouldn't try and take her back to her room since she would most likely not want to be touched by him.

Though waking her up also was a definite no since it was what she hated most.

The whole scenery was too familiar to him, reminding him of a time when his wife would always be asleep in their bed while he worked on reports.

He truly had taken everything he used to have for granted.

But there was nothing he could do now, the damage had already been done.

—

AUTHORS NOTE,
yes i am slightly rushing this bc it is time to move on