Anakin's Fortress - Book II (temporary cover)

Eight - Inconcievable

The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them...even when everyone else has betrayed you.
Year 10

———————

Kat

Anakin takes me upstairs and helps me into the bath. I try to insist on letting me shower on the shuttle, but he's more stubborn and has more strength than I do. Neither of us talk much. I'm rather numb, letting him help when he wants to.

My body hurts, from my stomach to my head. By the time I have clothes on, however, my mind feels clearer, at least.

I avoid looking at my reflection.

Apparently, I can't eat more than 1,000 calories and nothing solid. Not that I'm going to complain—or that Anakin is going to let me suffer. He had the kitchen make me the smoothiest smoothie I've ever tried. I tasted jogan fruit and meilooruns, which I love. But who doesn't?

While I sip it down, I send a message to Letty.

I'm sorry. Thank you for taking care of me. I love you, Letty. I'm taking an actual vacation. Don't worry, you can take one too.

A reply comes back almost immediately: You have a lot of explaining to do. I love you too.

Oof, she's mad.

I don't blame her.

Anakin is watching me. I can feel him over my shoulder.

I'm respecting his choice to leave the planet before I speak up—but it's killing me. I can't meet his eyes and only do so when he forces me to by holding my face. Every time, I almost blurt out that he has fucking twins.

Apparently he can't read my mind after all.

My body aches and I feel sluggish and jumbled, but I don't say anything. What right do I have? I'm also not ready to believe anything he's telling me, because once he finds out what I kept from him? Yeah, game over. It was only a week, but I know Anakin. A lie is a lie. Betrayal is betrayal. He's been lied to and betrayed enough.

Soon enough, we're in his shuttle above Mustafar. I watch him set the nav coordinates and try to stop him. I need to tell him. But he insists, giving me a deadpan stare.

"Kitten, my home is rich with the dark side. It feels my shift. I need to get away from here." Surely being outside atmosphere is far enough... Then again, the Inquisitor's fortress is on Nur. Maybe the whole system is off balance.

I think I'm going to be sick, but I remain quiet as he jumps. Every second feels too long.

Once the blue swirls surround us, I look over at him. I will absolutely combust if I don't tell him.

"Anakin," I say softly.

"You know, Kitten, I'm thinking Hosnian Prime. How's that sound?"

What? He already jumped. "Great, but Anakin—"

"You would really like Alderaan, too, I think," he adds thoughtfully as he scrolls a star map. It's his turn to avoid my eyes, it seems.

When I realize he has no intentions of letting me speak, I stand up and stomp my foot like a child.

"Damnit, Anakin, I have something to tell you, and it cannot wait!" It takes effort to hide the wave of nausea that takes over from the sudden movements.

He looks shocked, but I know what he's doing. He's worried about what I have to say. Maybe thinks I want to quit my job or something. That I don't want his love.