𝕮𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗩𝗘
━━ 𝘼 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙀

━━ 𝘊𝘙𝘠𝘓𝘓𝘌𝘚
𝟸𝟹 𝙱𝙱𝚈

A/N: y'all aint READY 👁️👁️

"So, just that I'm getting this right, you went in there without an actual plan about what you were doing?" There is a deep crease between Obi-Wan's brows.

"It was our mission to gather more information, and we did," Selyn says defensively, crossing her arms.

Nadia pats Obi-Wan's arm. "Relax. I'm sure they knew what they were doing, or at least had a general idea." She winks at Selyn. "The point is, we have more information now."

"We have." Anakin leans forward, laying his hands on the table. They have gathered in the living room connecting their quarters to discuss today's events. Nadia had been so thoughtful and organized some food since they had missed dinner. Selyn is starving, and so she loads her golden plate with vegetables cooked in brown butter, meat so tender it melts in her mouth and fluffy bread. Dim evening light filters through the swaying curtains, causing the goblets to throw long shadows across the dark wood of the table.

Anakin begins telling them about the events in the headquarters of Serpent and Bone whilst Selyn digs in. He explains it briefly and effectively, leaving out none of the important details. From time to time Cleodys, who has joined them as well, or Selyn chime in to add. When they're finished, Nadia and Obi-Wan sit for a while, considering what they just heard.

"This is alarming," Obi-Wan muses, bringing his hand to his mouth, lost in deep thought. His face is covered in specks of golden light that falls through the ornate patterns carved out on top the windows. Nadia nods beside him.

"The Seperatist Alliance interest in Crylles is not something to be taken lightly. It seems we have underestimated the scale of these events until now," she says. Selyn's stomach turns into ice upon her words. "The Alliance' interest in crucial resources is truly alarming. The Galactic Republic is in no open conflict with them until now, but I fear that in light of recent events it becomes clearer we might be steering towards one."

"As for the situation at hand we have to reconsider," Obi-Wan says. "If we trust Serpent and Bone's leader it is likely one of the Clans controlling the mines or the intergalactic trade is acting on Count Dooku's behalf. Which Clans would that concern?"

"Fire and Dunes, most likely." Cleodys folds her hands in her lap. "They control most of the mines on Crylles, mainly the ones in the Great Expanse and the Bleeding dunes as well as the northern hemisphere of the planet. But it is the Clan of Scales and Blood that oversees the trade of Sol City and other smaller cities that export intergalactically as well. As Dooku pointed out, these two will be the ones taking the greatest losses due to the Republic's tax."

"How come that the Queen is not concerned about the tax?" Anakin asks.

"She is. She cares for her people," Cleodys defends her passionately. "She knows about its effects and will do everything in her power to ease the consequences. But she also values the Republic and will continue to believe in its democratic system despite the flaws."

"Alright, Obi-Wan and me will inform the Queen about this new turn of events later tonight," Nadia concludes. "We must keep an eye out to the other Clans."

Selyn notices hurt flash over Cleodys' face upon being excluded from the meeting with the Queen. Her sister is deeply loyal towards her, Selyn has just witnessed the great affection with which she spoke of her monarch. And after all Cleodys has been a vital catalyst for today's mission.

Nadia must have noticed the change in mood, too, because she says warmly: "You're welcome to join us, Cleodys."

Her sister smiles. "Thank you."

The rest of the improvised dinner passes in rather glum silence with the recent news weighing heavy on the group. The atmosphere between Anakin and Selyn is strangely charged, they haven't had the chance to talk since the situation on the market today. Their conversation feels forced and Selyn is all-too aware of the fact that they're sitting next to each other, close enough so that their thighs brush against each other whenever they reach for a dish on the table. If Obi-Wan notices their awkward behaviour, he keeps his thoughts to himself.

They don't speak a word during their training fight this evening. Anakin is clearly troubled, his moves are more forceful, brutal even and sloppier than usual. Selyn would have easily won if her mind wasn't so preoccupied, too. Her thoughts have been racing ever since this morning, and so she puts all her effort into the movement of her lightsaber, trying to channel this nervous energy into physical power.

It works a bit at least. When they're done, she's panting and covered in sweat, legs and arms trembling from Anakin's heavy blows. But her mind is clearer now.

She joins him in sitting at their usual spot. His feet dangle down the ledge, boots hitting the golden metal covering the roof repeatedly. Selyn settles down in cross-legged manner, facing him. For a while she is just content looking at him, secretly admiring his profile as he gazes into the distance, the dark lashes and his furrowed brows. The red light from the sun paints his face in a warm light and again she finds herself unable to avert her eyes.

Sometimes, when she looks at him, she thinks she feels too much. When his blue-eyed gaze meets hers, when he smiles at her or says her name, her heart is too full.

Too full of what? A little, nagging voice asks in her head. She tries to shut it out, to ignore it, because she can't allow herself to answer. Not to this question. Even if that response is already brewing within her, something forbidden and beautiful that spreads within her bloodstream with every beat of her heart, steady like waves, pulling, luring her in. But she can't allow herself to be taken by them, however much she wishes to.

Instead, Selyn tries to dislike him. She tries to conjure up some feeling of aversion, their old rivalry.

She tries to hate for what he does to her, for what he makes her question. She tries and tries until her heart jumps in her chest whenever she looks at him.

Just as it does now. Anakin must have noticed her looking because he turns towards her.

A smile tugs on his lips. "It's rude to stare, you know."

"I wasn't-" she tries to argue, but sees that it's pointless. "You look troubled," she notes instead.

Anakin just shakes his head.

"What's on your mind?" she tries again.

"Too much," he says. "It's all so confusing, and consuming...and..." his wandering gaze finds hers. "Not the Jedi way," he says. "I don't think you would understand."

Selyn holds his gaze, surprised by her boldness. "Try me."

He shifts his feet nervously. "I've been thinking a lot about the code, what it says about attachments. I am in conflict, in deep conflict...I feel things I shouldn't, Selyn. There's a reason that feelings like those are forbidden, but I just can't help it," he looks at her, and the raw, desperate look in his eyes takes all the air out of her lungs. "I don't think we can deny it much longer-"

"What do you mean, we?" she cuts him off.

"Oh, stop pretending you don't feel it, too!" He exclaims, slight impatience lacing his voice now. "I know you strive to be perfect; I know you want to become a great Jedi, but it seems that there are some things even you can't run away from."

Her heartrate speeds up as she realizes what he is implying.

"What you're suggesting is...it's totally absurd!" Selyn is fumbling for words, trying to defend the long-lost cause of her devotion to the code. But she feels heat creeping up her cheeks as upon his words forbidden images and desires flash before her eyes. She rises to her feet in a desperate attempt to flee the situation.

"You're lying to yourself." Selyn feels a sudden rush of adrenaline upon his low voice. He stands up, too and slowly comes closer.

"You may have convinced your mind that there is nothing between us." Selyn holds her breath as his fingers close around her wrist. She knows she must be blushing madly by now.

His fingers trace patterns on the sensitive skin inside her wrist, and her eyelids flutter. "But your body is betraying you."

She feels as if she is gravitating towards him, his pull so strong that all she wants to do is to let go of it all and press her lips on his. Anakin is so close right now, the scent of his skin so intoxicating that she can't think straight.

„You can fool yourself. But you can't fool me, Selyn."

She shakes her head, evading his gaze, trying not to look at him at all as if that could break the spell he has worked on her.

"Come on. Do it. Tell me we are just friends. Tell me to stop, I dare you," he whispers, his eyes capturing hers.

"I-" she manages weakly.

They are so close now; she can feel the heat of his body. She looks at his eyes, his lashes, his cheeks, the line of his jaw. His lips.

Somehow she musters enough strength to pull away. "We can't do this!" she cries. "We're betraying everything we worked our entire lives for."

He is breathing heavily. Even within safe distance from him and his eyes, she can still feel the ghostly touch of his hands around her wrist.

"Fine," he says. A slight smile tugs on his lips, triumphant and dangerous. "But you couldn't say it, could you? You couldn't say that we're just friends."

Again, she is at loss of words. He truly must have worked some strange spell upon her, stripping her of all defences, of all rational thought. Baring her soul, her mind before him.

"I promise you this," he says, stepping forward again. Selyn braces yet again for the impact of his touch, the overwhelming sensation of being near to him, but he simply places two fingers under her chin, lifting it up and forcing her to look into his eyes.

"I promise you this, Selyn Val'aeon," he repeats softly. His fierce gaze sends shivers down her spine. "I will not let you walk away from this. Not from me, not from these feelings between us."

Selyn swallows hard, the gentle touch of his finger on her chin making her knees so weak she finds it is a miracle that she is still standing.

"Is that understood?" he asks, his gentle voice in stark contrast to the fire burning in his eyes.

Somehow, she manages to scramble together her last scattered remains of self-control and forces herself to nod weakly.

With one last glance that threatens to dissolve her into nothing but a puddle on the floor, he just turns away and goes. Down the roof and out of her sight.

Selyn collapses onto the ground, back against stone balustrade.

Skies above.

She is in trouble. She is in so much trouble.

✧･ﾟ:* 𝕬𝘜𝘛𝘏𝘖𝘙'𝘚 𝘕𝘖𝘛𝘌 *:･ﾟ✧

AHHH

somebody call a doctor! and yes, for me, bc I might have died a little writing this scene 😩

hgnngng they make me feral 🤭 ugh I love them so much and it would have been absolutely valid for Selyn to just pass tf out bc I sure would have 😭 like DAMn I couldn't handle the sexciness

also i'm sorry i HAD to give our boy a bit more rizz than in aotc bc i struggle enough already writing romantic scenes and it would be even harder with someone who flirts with the fucking sand method...so yeah now we have this unhinged sexy boy 😙✌️

I know there's probably quite a few silent readers (and i appreciate y'all) but i'd love to hear what you think, what are your thoughts?? 🫶🫶 how are we liking these new developments?? tell me tell me I'm curious!! 😙😙

See you next chapter 🫶

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