Destruction of the Innocent (Anakin Skywalker)

~45~

    R2's whirs and beeps fill the silence of the cab as we glide toward the other side of the city.
I fidget with my necklace in worry and stare out the window.  Everything will be fine once we figure this shit out, I thought to myself.

"Are you alright?"

I close my eyes and block him out, slowly opening them again.

"I had heard stories growing up", he finally mutters. He shrugs and looks out the window. "I did'nt fully believe. A little part of me wanted to."

I swallow hard and my throat feels like sandpaper as I shake my head. "I did'nt want to either. But then things kept happening to where I just could'nt ignore it anymore."

We turn to share a glance. His jaw tightens as he looks away.

"When you looked at me earlier...what did you see?", he asked. I feel my body tense up but forced myself to relax. 

"I'm not sure."

"Yes, you do", he said."And so did I...because when I saw you, I saw the same thing."

My eyebrows knit together and I sneak a look at him. I blink the thought away that we are anything alike and turn to look out the window once again.




"You really think were the two witnesses?", he looks over at me. I turn to share a glance, a wave of tingles shimmy through me as we lock eyes. I say nothing and am the first to look away. He inhales deeply and releases a tired sigh.

"So what now?", he asks. I stare ahead and shake my head.

"I'm not sure", I repeat in a whisper. My eyes travel over the city and find mine and my parents castle in the middle of it. Half of it was demolished, flames licking up the side of the tower with every second. I feel my eyes grow wet with angry tears and turn away.

"This is it. Set us down", I order.

       We arrive on the cliffside overlooking the sea. The ship lowers and the roof hisses open above us. I jump over the side to exit and walk over to the edge of the cliff. It had been a few years since I was here last. Somewhere my dad took me to go swimming and fishing before he was invested in the war entirely.

I kick my boots off and bend to grab them as Anakin scans the area around us. Throwing them into the ship, I sigh and look to him.

"Can you swim?", I ask. His eyes find me and he blinks a couple times before leaning down.

"Excuse me?", he responds with a cocked eyebrow.

"Can you swim?", I ask again, making my way to the cliff.

"W-well, yes.  Of course", he shrugs."But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Alot,  actually", I answer. I turn on my heel and walk towards the cliff edge.





As he watches me, his eyes fall shut in annoyance. He turns away,  releasing a frustrated breath and pinches the bridge of his nose- but turn to follow after me.

My gaze locked on the waves below me, he stands beside me.
"What is it?", he asks. I shake my head.



"I know what awaits us down there...I just hope that I'm wrong", I answer honestly. He stays quiet, and when I turn to look up at him his eyes are already on me."The moment I step off this cliff,  there is no stopping. There is no going back. I'll never be able to stop running or hiding."



His eyebrows furrow as he turns his body toward me, the color of his eyes turn from icy blue to match the ocean waves below us.

"You don't have to be dragged into the Nine Circles of Hell with me...It's only a matter of time before they hunt us all down", I shake my head.

"I made a promise. An oath to not let you out of my sight", he nods. "I intend to see it through."

"I made a promise, too, ", I counter."I can't let them down...but I can't guarantee this is going to be easy."

He closes the space between us and leans down with a smirk. His amber/leather essence fills my airwaves but I refuse to move.

"Nothing worth fighting for ever is, Your Highness...but I place my trust in you that you will lead us to great victories. Can you place your trust in me that I will get you there?"


   I stand there, staring into his dark blue eyes under the moonlight as a thousand thoughts race through my mind. Never in a million years did I think my life would lead up to this moment.

 Standing on a cliff edge with my partner in crime, preparing to save our world and time itself.

 The fate of our world lay between us. In our hands. 

 But...it did'nt scare me. The fact I wanted more-that was what scared me. I had him. And as long as he was with me, that was all I needed.

"Do not fail me", I finally whisper.



His smirk deepens and his head dips lower into a bow.

Lights bouncing off the cliff walls grab our attention and we turn to each other with the same look. I run to the ship and grab my lightsaber. He grabs the book and puts it in one of the pockets on his uniform for safe keeping.

"R2, answer to no one. See if you can buy us some time", he demands. "Stay strong, I believe in you."

R2 whirs nervously, but does as he is told.

He is hesitant, but tears his gaze from his droid. We exchange a look as the sounds of the clones get closer. As we saunter up to the cliff edge, we exchange one last look before giving a nod of affirmation and jumping into the waves below us.