𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 || 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝘆𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

19-Across the Stars

2k words
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Anakin's POV
"I'm sorry about Aayla," I sighed quietly as Mando and I walked slowly along the lake line. I decided to catch up with him as Yoda spoke with both Cal and Ahsoka about the recent events that took place. I felt bad for not being the one to tell him, but I already found just thinking about her difficult. I couldn't possibly be the one to tell her father figure that she was gone for good - at least not without a breakdown.

So I chose to walk with Mando instead - I wouldn't necessarily call him and I the best of friends. We had only met a few times previously when he would work alongside Aayla, and I had the pleasure of coming along. The first time him and I met was actually the first time him and Aayla met as well, I was still a Padawan at the time. But I knew him decently enough to trust him, and to know just how deep his and Aayla's friendship had formed.

They were the best of friends, and I would say that him and I were on the borderline between friends and acquaintances, "I'm sorry too." His helmeted head lowered as he spoke in a sorrowful tone, "I heard you had a fiancé."

I twisted my head with furrowed brows, "How do you know about that?"

He chuckled; his beskar helmet causing it to come out muffled and deep. It sort of reminded me of my Princess and the way her mask altered her voice in the same way, "A famous Jedi General such as yourself defies the ancient code and gets engaged to another famous Jedi - news like that travels everywhere and fast."

I nearly forgot that everyone learned of my engagement after the heartbreaking disaster that was meant to be my wedding. At least I know now that that day wasn't my fault like I thought, nor was it hers. I know Palpatine did something to her head to get her to do what she did. Everything was apart of his sick plan to taint her mind, I feel so stupid for not catching onto it all earlier,

"Leave it to you, the reckless Padawan I met nearly six years ago, to be the one to break a scared code for a woman." He added in an attempt to uplift my somber expression that appeared at the mention of my gone love.

I chuckled with a shrug, "Well, if you had ever had the pleasure of meeting her, I'm sure you'd understand why."

"I'm sure she was lovely," Our parallel steps began to slow as the air grew thick between us. The question he wanted to ask lingered in the air until it left his hidden lips, "Did you lose her during the purge too?"

"Yes," From a certain point of view, I did, "I wasn't there for her like I should have been. She was in the temple, sick, and I was across the stars on another planet."

He remained quiet and I didn't need to see his face to feel the regret and pain coming from him - it felt similar to my own, "I was supposed to be there too you know," He revealed, and I furrowed my brows, unsure of what he was referring too, "On Felucia," He clarified, "Aayla asked if I would go to help her, and I said yes. But then last minute I backed out for.. personal reasons," He remained vague, although I already had a feeling of what those reasons were - I'm not blind, "And so I stayed at the guilds cantina and drank the night away with some other Twi'lek." His muffled voice was dripping with regret.

I placed my hand on his shoulder for comfort, "You would have most likely died too, the entire army turned against us and they would have attacked you if you defended her. I'm sure in her last moments she was glad that you weren't there."