Anakin's Fortress - Book II (temporary cover)

Three - Climacteric

The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that no one really even notices it, so you can have a tactical advantage over everyone else.
Year 9

———————

Kat

For a while, nothing really changes for me. The main differences are seeing Anakin more often since he doesn't hide behind his mask, and spending occasional downtime in his quarters, even when he's off-world. But my job has stayed the same.

Even our relationship hasn't changed all that much. I am more confident calling him out when he's a jerk, and he seems to have lightened up, for the most part. Without fail, his eyes are yellow when he comes home. One time, they were blue almost immediately; another time, I thought they would never turn blue at all, but they did after a couple days. More commonly, they're blue after he fucks me senseless.

It's been almost two years since I learned he's Darth Vader, and I'm almost confident in our...unusual relationship. Perhaps we may get a few more years of ease, a few more years in our comfort zones.

I'm in my comfy chair in Anakin's library, enjoying an afternoon to myself. The door opens, making me jump. Anakin laughs at my surprise, earning him a tight-lipped glare from me. I didn't know he was home, which means he knew he would scare me.

He ignores the look completely and strides across the room to my little setup. "What are you doing, Kitten?" he asks once he takes in the screen next to me.

"Reading," I say with a smile. He chuckles, my favorite sound.

"Is this your droid's feed?" There's something I don't recognize in his voice, but I can't decipher it.

"Yeah. Letty is getting parts from Corellia for me. I like to virtually go with her." Annie went on her second trip, and I found I quite enjoyed taking peeks at their journey. Once I got Letty's permission for her third trip, she started talking to Annie like it was me and making Annie look at things so I could see. Currently, they're walking through village roads in a little town tucked behind a main city.

"You send her places now," he notes. "You never used to."

"She doesn't wish to leave her position for reasons that baffle me, but I hate the thought of her missing out."

"She wants to work for you, Kitten," he says before finally looking away from the image to meet my eyes. "What about you?"

"What about me?" I ask, wondering if what he said is true. Letty never mentioned anything about me when we debated her contract renewal.

"Are you missing out?" I shrug because, maybe? I don't really feel like I am.

Then he does something that fully shocks me—he takes my book and drops onto my lap, wrapping his arms around my neck. It makes me laugh. How unusual!

"You should go next time instead of watching from Annie." I smile because he's so close, holding onto me in a way that makes me think he really can be playful.

I've debated it, but I'm far from sold on the idea. "Well, there is something I found on Tatooine—"

He stiffens in my arms, causing me to stop.

"No," he says after taking a breath.

"Okay..." What did I say?

He shakes his head and stands, leaving me feeling empty. "It's dangerous."

There is more, but I know not to press. As far as I'm concerned, the matter is closed.

"Wait," I call out when I realize he's leaving. He stops and gives me a wary look, probably assuming I'm about to argue about Tatooine.