The Shadows Star: Book 2

27: Close Calls

She took Anakin's hand and guided him through the corridors until they reached a door. Pushing it open, she let out a deep breath and released his hand, making her way to the bed and flopping down with a sigh of contentment. "Ugh, I miss comfortable beds. I never want an assignment without royalty," she remarked, stretching out and allowing a small, content smile to grace her face. "Do you remember the night before we left Naboo?"
Anakin gazed at her affectionately. "Of course, I do. I remember sensing your fear and going to find you, but..."
"...but I was already outside your door," she finished with a grin, propping herself up on her elbows.
He walked over to the bed and stood in front of her, nervously adjusting his cape. "You stayed with me all night," he continued, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "We promised never to forget each other, to try to stay connected. But then..." He let his words trail off sadly.
Sombra noticed the shift in his expression and sat up, gently taking his hands. "Anakin, please look at me."
He met her gaze, and a hint of a frown appeared in those deep, cerulean eyes. "I did try to connect with you, I truly did my best, but I could never quite reach you. I saw you in my dreams, but I couldn't speak to you. You must know that I tried. I never forgot."
His troubled expression softened as he listened to her earnest words. He reached out and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, a tender smile forming on his lips. "I believe you, Sombra. I've always known that there was something between us, something more than just chance."
Her eyes sparkled with emotion as she squeezed his hand. "The force brought us together, you are my other half."
He leaned in closer and cupped her cheek with his hand, their noses nearly touching. "And you are mine, Sombra."
As the intensity in the room grew, Sombra became acutely aware of the diminishing distance between her and Anakin. His presence exuded an electrifying energy, quickening her heartbeat. However, a sudden beeping from her bag disrupted the moment. She realized how close they were and pulled away, a flicker of disappointment on Anakin's face.
Rummaging through her bag, she retrieved a small holopuck, her cheeks burning with a flash of blush. She pressed the flashing green button, revealing a flickering blue image.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes, my love?" Salvador's mischievous voice crackled through the comm. He had noticeably grown over the past few years, towering over her with a well-built, muscular frame that attracted attention everywhere. However, his sweet eyes and adorable dimples remained.
Rolling her eyes, she attempted to suppress her smirk. "How's it going, Salva? Long time no see."
Anakin, feeling spurned from the interruption, wandered around the room. His heart clenched at the obvious familiarity between Sombra and Salvador.
"Oh, you know me," Salvador replied with a grin. "Smuggling, piracy, and crimes galore. Nothing new. What about you, doll? I'm on base for a few nights, and I was hoping we could go out. What do you say to a night of fun, angel?"
Anakin turned suddenly at that, his eyes filled with possessiveness and a hint of jealousy that she couldn't ignore. Glancing between Anakin and Salva, she explained, "I'd love to, but I'm out on a mission, Salva. I'll be off-planet for a while. Go have fun, though, and I'll tell you all about it when I get back."
Salvador's expression shifted to a teasing one. "Mmm, that's too bad," he mused, "I haven't had a good night since you left. I had hoped maybe..."
Anakin, not hiding his feelings, interrupted with a firm tone, "She said we're on a mission...Busy."
Salvador's mischievous grin persisted, clearly enjoying the subtle tension. "Ah, competition, huh? Nice to meet you, blue eyes." Salva gave him a wink, "Well, take care, both of you. We'll catch up when you're back planetside. Bring blue eyes around too, he seems fun."
As the holo faded, Anakin's gaze lingered on her but he turned out the window to hide his face.
"Sorry about him," she said, her tone apologetic.
Still grappling with the interruption and the conversation, he cleared his throat. "That's him, isn't it?" he asked, his voice wavering slightly. "A few years ago, I had a vision of you kissing a boy with black hair in a city. It's him."
"Ani wait. It's not that at all."
He whipped around to face her, his expression pained. "Are you sure about that 'doll'?"
"It's a complicated history, but he's just an old friend now. A flirt, for sure, but just a friend."
Anakin's eyes held a mix of confusion and hurt. "Old friend, yet he talks like he's more than that. I felt your joy and love as soon as he appeared. You...you love him..."
She sighed, realizing the depth of the misunderstanding. "Anakin. Salvador and I, it's an old chapter. We've talked about this, you need to trust me."
Anakin studied her, searching for reassurance. She hesitated before speaking, her tone earnest. "Being a Jedi complicates things; we had a relationship and tried to work it out, but our paths are too different. We have a love for each other, but it'll never be anything but friendship." She hesitated, a hint of uncertainty in her voice, "Love like that isn't possible for people like me."
His expression softened as he understood the internal conflict she faced. "Well, being a Jedi doesn't mean shutting out every possibility. If the right person came along, someone who is on the same path as you, maybe it could work."
Sombra sighed, conflicted but touched by his understanding. "Anakin, it's not that simple."
He reached out, gently cupping her face. "Maybe it doesn't have to be simple. We can navigate the complexities together."
"We?" she questioned, her eyes searching his.
Anakin nodded a determined glint in his eyes. "Yes, we. We're a team, bonded for life. If anyone could make it work, it's you and me."
She felt the conflict within her intensify. His words stirred a longing in her, a desire to embrace the possibilities. A part of her wanted to run into his arms, say yes to it all, rules be damned. Just as strongly, another part urged her to run away—the anxiety yelling at her about disappointment, the disapproval of her master, the fear of failure, and the potential ruin of everything she had worked so hard for.
In a heartbreaking moment, Anakin sensed the turmoil within her and became confused, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes. Thinking he had crossed a boundary again and took his hands away, starting to apologize, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean— "
She interrupted, her voice firm yet filled with inner turmoil. "No, Anakin, it's not your fault."
She stepped away from him, the distance providing a necessary breather. "I... I need to pack. This mission, it's important, and we should focus."
Anakin, still grappling with the sudden shift, nodded solemnly. "Of course. I understand.".
As he handed her a bag, a conflicted expression fell on her face. While her heart longed for the closeness they had shared, she tried to convince herself that she had made the right choice. With a sigh, she began packing. "Don't worry, this won't take long."
As Anakin moved around the room, he couldn't help but study the surroundings, which were filled with traces of her life. "You have a lot of things here," he observed.
Sombra nodded as she carefully placed a few clothes into her bag. "Well, yeah. I've spent some time here. When Padmé stepped down as queen a few years ago, I was here to help protect her during the change in power. The Naberries were kind enough to offer me a permanent room." She opened an armoire and waved him over. He looked in to find a small collection of trinkets, pictures, holopucks, and credits. "The rooms at the temple have no warmth and were not allowed possessions. But, I feel good here. I feel at home, with all of my things"
Anakin paused, his gaze fixed on a holopuck that looked older than the others on a nearby shelf. He presses a small button and the image flickers on. A small girl with a wide smile had her face smudged with red and black markings. The red zabrak man behind her, with prominent horns crowning his head, held the little girl on his lap, his expression filled with pride. "Is this you?" Anakin asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
She looked over and saw the hologram of herself and her father, smiling fondly at the memory. "Yeah, I was only 4 then. My father had left for a mission, and I used berries and charcoal to try and look like him. Imagine his surprise when he returned to find me all stained, the color didn't leave my face for weeks. Back then, I would have done anything to be like him; he was my whole world."
Anakin picked up another hologram, this time of a smirking teenage Sombra. His eyebrow arched in amusement as he examined it closely, noting the bounty listed at the bottom. "Sombra, is this a wanted poster? Why in the Force is there a wanted poster with your face on it?"
Sombra burst into laughter. "Oh, I forgot I had that! It was an extended op on Florrum. I had to join a pirate crew for about a year. Some local authorities tried to arrest them, and I didn't want to blow my cover. So, I might've vandalized one or two cruisers."
"Might have?!" Anakin exclaimed, his eyes widening in amusement. Her laughter was infectious, and he began giggling along.
"It was amazing! Plo was so furious, but I somehow convinced him to keep the holo. That was one of my favorite missions."
Anakin couldn't help but join in her laughter and poke some fun. "And Obi-Wan thinks I'm the impulsive one! If he only knew his precious Sombra was just as reckless!"
She grinned mischievously. "Don't tell him that! I like being Obi's favorite." As they continued to pack, their laughter filled the room, spilling into the hallway where Padmé and her family listened with wide smiles.