𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚. 𝐬𝐤𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐫

21

THE QUIET hum of Coruscant's early morning traffic began to trickle into the air, gently stirring the stillness. Aruna awoke slowly, momentarily forgetting that she wasn't alone.

Then she felt the warmth beside her, the subtle rise and fall of breath, and her eyes shot open.

Anakin lay sprawled across the other side of her bed, one arm draped over his eyes to block out the light, his tunic rumpled from sleep. For a second, she couldn't help but marvel at how peaceful he looked—no furrowed brow or haunted shadows clouding his expression like usual. But reality snapped back quickly, and Aruna's heart leapt into her throat.

"Anakin," she whispered urgently, giving his shoulder a nudge. "Wake up."

He groaned softly, barely stirring. Aruna sighed and leaned closer, voice firmer this time. "Skywalker, if someone finds you here—"

Anakin finally opened his eyes, blinking up at her with a sleepy smile. "Good morning to you too, Aruna."

"This is serious, Anakin," she hissed, glancing towards the door as if expecting a Jedi Master to appear at any moment. "You need to leave. Now."

He shifted onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow, his smile turning lopsided. "Relax. No one's going to barge in here. It's still early. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'd hear them coming first."

Aruna crossed her arms, fixing him with a stern look. "That's not the point, and you know it. This—" she gestured between them, frustration lacing her words, "—is crossing a line. It's reckless, even for you."

Anakin rolled his eyes, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He raked a hand through his messy hair, but the teasing glint in his eyes didn't fade. "You worry too much. Jedi aren't supposed to be afraid, remember?"

"I'm not afraid, I'm—" She paused, flustered, her cheeks warming under his gaze. "I'm being practical. And unlike you, I actually care about not getting into trouble."

"Sure, practical." Anakin smirked, leaning in just a fraction closer. "And I suppose you being practical has nothing to do with wanting to keep me around last night?"

Aruna's mouth opened in protest, but the words stuck in her throat. The truth was, she hadn't pushed him out the moment he showed up, and they both knew it. But she wasn't about to admit that to him, not when he looked so smug about it.

She straightened, fixing him with a glare. "Don't flatter yourself, Skywalker. You were a mess. I was doing you a favor."

He chuckled softly, leaning back against the headboard, clearly enjoying her flustered state. "A favor, huh? Guess I should be grateful, then."

Aruna threw up her hands, exasperation mingling with something else—something warmer, something she didn't want to name. "You should be grateful, yes! Now get up and leave before anyone finds out you're here. Last thing we need is Obi-Wan giving us one of his lectures."

Anakin's smirk faded slightly, a more serious look crossing his face. He glanced down at his hands, tracing a finger over the seam of the blanket, and then back up at her. "I didn't want to be alone last night, Aruna," he said quietly, the vulnerability from before slipping back into his voice. "I know this isn't exactly... proper. But it helped. Just... being here. With you."

The sincerity in his voice took her by surprise, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. She had grown so used to their bickering, their constant push and pull, that hearing him speak with such honesty caught her off guard.

Her expression softened, and she let out a slow breath. "I get it, Anakin. I do. But you can't keep doing this. It's risky. For both of us."

He reached out, his fingers brushing against hers where they rested on the bed. The touch was light, almost hesitant. "I know. But I'd take the risk if it meant... this. Even just for a few hours."