Secretly Normal

Social

  Putting Anakin Skywalker in a setting full of people that he didn't know and expecting him to act normal was, to say the least, expecting a hurricane in the middle of the desert. Yet, there he was, at one of his wife's friend's parties at some lush venue surrounded by stuffy senators in an outfit that was far from what he considered comfortable, but at her strenuous requests he'd agreed to wear it instead of his 'formal' Jedi robes, why? Because he considered himself a respectable husband who did like any good man should: whine and complain--but only in one's head, because at the end of the day it is her who matters and this was her party, plus with all the effort she'd put in and all things bound to go wrong, the least he could do was humor her by putting on some ridiculous pompous outfit and shut up about it for a few hours.

    "My, my! If it isn't General Skywalker!" Some female voice cooed beside him as he adjusted a button on his jacket. Turning to face her, it took a second to register her face and figure that she was not a person he knew personally, though she did seem familiar, most likely, he assumed because he'd seen her on the HoloNet somewhere in an interview. Without giving him a chance to greet her, she continued.
    "You certainly look dashing!"
Anakin did his best not to show his discomfort. "Thank you."

    A half hour into it, he was thoroughly exhausted. The politicians spoke of frivolous things that he discouraged himself from getting into and whenever someone did try to bring up the war around him, he intentionally dodged it and brought up other subjects. People never gave him a moment to breathe. Someone was always talking to him at every moment, so much so that he hadn't had a moment to talk to his wife at all. Groups of people were something he rarely felt a personal desire for. Even though he'd grown out of his awkwardness in socializing (at least in his mind), the fact that everyone was a politician, or that he was in normal clothing, or how people were over-complimenting him, or that he couldn't stand at his wife's side and be there to protect her from whatever men were staring just a little too long into her eyes, left him with an uncanny lack of ease. Despite this, he was a convincing enough actor to continue attracting various diplomats over for conversation.

Padme was off on the other side speaking to different senators, but he felt her eyeing him now and then. He'd node or smile to show good sportsmanship, but her smile back was brief and barely even visible. Although he knew she couldn't give much away, the least she could do was look in his direction longer than a half second. It's like she's keeping tabs on me. I don't like this. I need to be at her side. I don't know if I can handle this all night. The imagined image of her disappointment and despair afterwards far overruled his personal desire to flee  somewhere far away. Deciding instead to focus on her, he searched for her and found she'd moved to the refreshment table, laughing with another older, furry humanoid he'd never met before. Her glittering purple dress enhanced her features and was altogether mesmerizing, like looking into a star-filled nebula, and her hair wasn't ridiculous this time either, filled with a few simple gold pieces that swept her hair sideways in some elegant updo that, in his opinion, left too much of her neckline exposed. At least this dress wasn't opened-back. He hated the looks she got whenever she wore something too revealing, but for how beautiful she was regardless, people stared anyway.

They were so close, yet so far apart. She hadn't spoken to him once yet and it was tearing him apart from the inside. Hearing her voice, laughing along with people who were not himself, the overwhelming need to be at her side grew until he couldn't take it anymore. The moment he felt himself take a step forward, as if on instinct, she looked at him, flashed a full-toothed smile that caught him off guard. The bothan she'd been speaking to looked over as well, and he could sense the alien's surprise and delight at noticing a Jedi. Anakin gave a polite nod but on the inside he was filled with exasperation. The bothan walked over... Which meant socializing, not with Padme.
    She did this on purpose to keep me distracted.
Whether or not she meant for the interaction to ensue, it happened. The bothan cheerily came over and expressed his pleasure in meeting a Jedi and went on to praise Anakin's accomplishments, a little too loudly. More people noticed him.
    Perfect.
Before he knew it he was surrounded by three senators, exclaiming that they hand't recognized him. An elder, short woman with grey hair and swirling green robes looked perhaps a little less ecstatic, as he could sense her skepticism.
"Why are you here, sir?" She asked. "Are you present for security? Is something happening that we should know about?"
That sparked everyone's fear slightly -he felt it through the Force- though no one dared show it.
Anakin mentally prepared himself. "No, my lady, I am unfortunately present for the pure humor of my old friend." The surrounding beings laughed at his half-joke, but also he sensed a spark of interest in the friendship he spoke of. Before he could dodge it, the questions came.
"I didn't realize you were so close. Are you always at her personal parties?" A younger, light purple-skinned woman asked.
"No, in fact it's been quite a while." Why does it always come back to this? Why can't people just accept it when we say we've known each other a while?
Another, huskier voice chimed in, "If Skywalker were at every party he couldn't fight in the war now, could he?" A Rodian man said, making gestures as he spoke. Anakin felt himself relax enough to offer a smile.
"No, Sir."
The same man asked about the other Jedi, something about Kenobi, to which he offered whatever answer he could provide. The conversation made him completely oblivious to the fact that Padme was walking his way, two drinks in hand, glittering like a star.
"General Skywalker, it is a pleasure to have you here." She greeted, handing him a glass.
Startled, he turned to her and felt his heart stop. Everything about her was warm, bright; she was beaming.
    "T-The pleasure is mine, Senator. I am fortunate to have been available this evening." Cursing himself for stammering, he cleared his mind and did his best to concentrate on not making a fool of himself in public.
    "As am I. I thought it might do you some good. It's a pity none of your comrades could attend."
    "No, General Kenobi said he wasn't in the mood. And my apprentice was already asleep when I left."
    "Poor thing! Is she well?"
    "Yes, just tired. I'm sure she sends her best wishes."
This is how their public conversations went. Static, friendly, devoid of anything too friendly. Mid-conversation, he decided to sip on the drink she handed him and ended up making her laugh with his reaction at the overwhelming sweetness with the strong aftertaste.
    "What is this?" He blinked, although he was certain he knew.
    "Nabooian wine. My brother-in-law recommended it."
    "You know I don't drink."
    "Hush, this is expensive and really the best of the best. You don't have to drink it all."
He made a face, shook his head, and took another sip before he decided he was done. Drinking dulled the senses, and for a Jedi that meant not being in tune with the Force. It was highly discouraged at all times.
Realizing the others had dispersed and left them alone, Padme lowered her voice. "I've been watching you. I know you're uncomfortable, Ani, but I need you to loosen up a bit. It's a party, not a-"
    "Do I look that uncomfortable?"
She pursed her lips. "No, but I can tell when you're shy."
Of course she can. There was only so much you could hide from someone you were married to.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Bail's over there, do you see him? You could say hi and-"
"You look so beautiful."
"Anakin." She looked up at him sternly, but a rose tint had colored her cheeks matching the color on her lips. Oh, how he wanted to kiss her.
Sighing in defeat, he handed her back the glass. "Fine, fine. I'll go say hello."

Padme felt a sting as she watched her husband walk away to continue socializing. He really looked so handsome in the dark outfit she'd chosen for him, and she'd had his hair trimmed too--just slightly to clean up the split edges. They'd had a small argument about it earlier in the day, but it looked so much better, the way the soft layered waves framed his face accented his strong features. The deep midnight blue color of his vest brought his eyes out and almost made his eyes shimmer. For as much as she knew he was uncomfortable being here, the way he slipped into his element was amazing to her. The way he could make jokes easily and cause people to smile, he seemed less shy than he was before. It made her feel bad she coudn't spend more time with him, that she couldn't take his hand and dance with him and be proud to tell her closest friends here, this is a man who fights for me everyday.
With a soft exhale, she handed a droid nearby Anakin's glass and continued on with the party.
The rest of the party went by without much interaction between them. As usual. At some point he made a toast. Supposedly the venue was only booked for a few hours, which he was grateful for, as these were politicians not without the ability to become more than a little drunk if allowed to. Anyone who wanted to continue to party left to other, more social clubs geared towards nightlife.
Amidala? She went home.