Sequel - A broken galaxy for us to fix

|| What do you have to Lose ||

Padmé felt every second that slowly ticked by. No one dared to speak, not while Satine was the definition of cold.

They all waited for her response. Yet the Dutchess felt content on waiting, as if she were formulating her thoughts.

Finally the duchess mused.

"I guess it's good to know that my supposed death bothered someone."

Padmé felt the oxygen leave her lungs as she dared a glance at Ashoka. She was already looking at her eyes brimming with worry.

Satine had turned colder than they had thought. Seeing her planet destroyed really had changed her.

Padmé felt her insides twist, she felt for her friend. She was just as concerned for her as she was for Obiwan.

And yet Satine... did not seem bothered at all. Was not worried what her being alive might do to him- what her being like this might do to him.

Clearing his throat Anakin said, what in Padmés opinion could have been the stupidest thing to say.

"You've changed."

Satines stare could have frozen over the sun. Padmé could basically see Anakin's heart beating as Satine hissed.

"When your people have been mutilated by the empire, when your planet lies in ruins, then you can criticise who I have become. I make no apologies for evolving into what my people needed. A stronger leader."

Anakin gulped, eyes flashing to Padmé as if she could help him.

Instead Lux cleared his throat, overgrown brown hair falling into his features as he took a step towards Ashoka, leaving his position from Satines side.

Ashoka ignored him. Padmé frowned, noticing the tension but Lux's voice dissolved her thoughts.

"I uh.. think we've gotten off topic."

Everyone was silent for one tense moment before Satine sighed.

"I do not see how the way I reveal myself to Obiwan is important"

Padmé could almost see the circles they were formulating with their conversation. This was going nowhere- Satine was not getting it and Obiwan would be here any moment.

Panic throbbed in the back of her head as she smiled at Satine.

"I do not think you understand how much you meant- mean to Obiwan."

Satines cool eyes assessed her until a friendly voice asked.

"How much who meant to me?"

Padmé froze as Anakin coughed hiding his surprise. Clovis paled, and Ashoka, she avoided the intense gaze Lux was sending her way.

Padmé turned to face Obiwan, ready to be a supportive friend but the Jedi Master had turned ghostly pale.

———————————

Obiwan had been sure he still had a couple of good years left in him.

After all despite Anakin's jokes, he really wasn't that old.

And yet, he had walked into the conference room expecting a young inexperienced Dutchess that he would have to impress.

A youthful face that one would expect to be filled with childlike innocence. One that would be roughed with eyes of wisdom, and lines that demonstrated just what this leader had already been through.

He already had his arguments formulated in his brain, his charm turned on ready to convince her to join their rebellion.

Instead he was met with choppy shoulder length blond hair. Cropped blond hair that made every single thought in his brain evaporate. A blond that almost shone in the overhead light, strands sticking out like the hair had just escaped the imprisonment of the helmet of horrors that was on the floor.