New Identity ~ MCU/SWCW Story

// Chapter Thirty //

"How did it feel to be the one getting saved?" A melodious voice reverberated through the air, and a tingling sensation spreads across a young man's torso and back. A head rests itself flush against the back of his shoulders as the woman's arms wrapped around his abdomen. 

"Like I was the radiant and majestic damsel in distress," he snickered, a grin tugging at his lips as he turned away from the balcony to face the source of the taunting. "I certainly look the part, no?"

The woman gently shoves his shoulder away in a fit of laughter. "Maybe if the damsel had been locked away for months and had no recollection of how to use a comb." 

Instead of retorting back, the man lifted her up and spun her about his figure, eliciting harmonious laughter from her plush lips as her beautiful features contorted to joy. The pair traipsed across the balcony, and upon reaching the edge, the man carefully seated her atop the railing. A broad arm remained wrapped around her, pulling her in protectively and guiding the upper half of her body toward him. 

"So, will this damsel receive a kiss from his savior?" He teased, bringing his face in tantalizingly close to hers. His nose gently brushed hers, leaving crackles of electricity trembling in the wake of their touch. 

"Oh Ani, you flirt," Padme giggled, though she hastily obliged and met his lips with hers. Her hands wove their way into his lengthy hair, and in response, Anakin's arm tightened around her while his free hand cupped her cheek. Their kiss was tender and passionate, resulting from the tension that had built up in the previous days. 

"I would devote my life to singing your praises and entertaining you with flirtatious banter if it meant I could gaze upon your beautiful face every day," Anakin beamed, pulling back from their kiss enough to smile broadly. 

"You are too much," Padme sighed while shaking her head. She placed a sly kiss upon his forehead before sliding down from the railing and embracing her husband tightly. "Perhaps I should've left you in Dooku's custody and brought Grievous back to the Republic for detainment."

"You would do no such thing," he retorted, feigning a shocked face as his hand dramatically flew to his chest. "Who else would keep you company and distract you from the aggravating Senate members?"

"I suppose Obi-Wan and Ahsoka could suffice," she taunted, though the moment the words left her mouth, her face morphed into fear and regret. It was too late, the mistake had already been made. 

Anakin immediately stiffened against her, and Padme could sense his urges to storm off. She shook her head and quickly confined the Jedi within her arms. "Anakin, I'm so sorry..."

"It's fine," he murmured, though despite her best efforts, Padme could not get the man to look at her. "You didn't mean to. It's not like you're the reason she's gone, anyways."

"And neither are you!" Padme exclaimed, reaching up to his face with one hand and forcing his eyes to meet hers. "You can't blame yourself for others actions! These feelings of guilt and self-hatred will only lead to the dark side Ani, you know that."

"But I am the reason she is gone! I was her Master! I was supposed to protect her, yet I didn't! Just like how I didn't protect my mother! I failed her, Padme. Can't you see that?" 

Padme bit her lip to keep from crying. "You didn't fail Ahsoka. You had no way of knowing what the Son was going to do to her. Why do you always hold yourself accountable for events that were out of your control? You are not a god, Anakin. You are a young Jedi who is trying his best. Why can't that be enough for you?" She paused, pulling his head closer and resting her forehead against his. "It's good enough for me. You are a good man, Ani."