Barriss x Caleb one-shots

Krell part 11

The battle of Umbara concluded with a riotous end, where the republic has once again, established their significance in the clone wars. With the enemy gone, Barriss had braced herself for yet a final triumph. Where echoing within her brains, was the spiteful question of whether she should exploit the child for his intrusive actions, or not.

Conflicted. Barriss Offee has decided to return Jedi traitor Pong Krell to Coruscant, where he shall face his grievous punishments, for the penalising acts towards Padawan Caleb Dume, and his pernicious turn to the dark side.

"A great service, you have done for the republic, Padawan Offee. Return to Coruscant with Master Krell, you shall."

"Yes Master, we'll return as soon as possible." She affirmed, before the hologram disintegrated into plain blank.

Shortly after, Barriss invariably pampered Caleb for his atrocious injuries, scoping his entire body when suddenly, the Padawan leapt onto her tall stature as she gradually staggered onto a nearby stool. Where inordinate squiggles of tears squirted out of his tot frame, arms draped aback her waist. Face clouded by the tangible ratios of her chest.

She assiduously squandered with the child by virtue of patting his perturbed presence. Soothingly rubbing his cheeks and kneading his sombre eyes. As extravagant tatters of tears tumbled out. The rapid breaths perpetuate, accentuated among consistent agitations from his knees. While the perceptive presence of his perspiring sweat channeled from his quagswagging. Its preceding exorbitance aroused with frantic teems of acute nibbles.

"What's wrong Caleb? What's wrong?" She murmured.

"I don't know, it...it just f...feels like everything but n...nothing at once. And I c...I can't hold it in anymore." He stammered with transparent abbreviation.

"That's okay. We can figure it out together, yeah?"

"I th...think it's just because I've been...I've been bullied by Master Krell for...for...for...and I just couldn't tell anyone until now."

"I see. I see." She consoled, "And that's why you never told me. You were afraid he'll kill you if I found out."

"No not...not just you it was...everyone would have died because of me."

"Shhhhhh. It's okay."

"Well the next time you're being bullied by anyone just tell me, okay? And I promise I will put an end to it."

"Okay."

"And Caleb."

"Yeah?"

"I want you to know that no harm will come to you as long as I'm around. I will never let anyone hurt you Caleb. Never. I promise."

"Mmm." He nodded, eyes transfixed with hers."

"But what would happen to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I...I've...you said I...I turned to the dark side and. And I've...I've gotten used to the ways of the dark side and..."

"But...But what if I hurt people and..."

"That will never happen, Caleb. It won't happen. You're a good Padawan Caleb. You'll do what's right, I know it."

"Then...Then what if...what if the council found out and I get expelled? I'll be...I'll have no..."

"Shhhhhh. Don't worry about that. I swear I won't tell them. We can keep it a secret and they never have to know. As soon as we're back, I'll pledge myself to teach you how to resist the dark side. Soon, you won't even remember anything has ever happened to you. Does that sound alright?"

"Okay."

"Thank you Barriss. Thank you so much for everything."

In the trance of their exchanged indulgent looks, Barriss cowered over the boy, defending him with exorbitant arms and an exceeding conjunction of warmth. And there he laid, restless, though finally attaining warmth after five vast, prolonging months of torture.