♢ S K A D I ♢ Anakin Skywalker x OC

E X H A U S T I O N

"Father, forgive me. I tried not to do it. I turned over a new leaf,
then tore right through it."

  ♢  

Chapter four

E X H A U S T I O N

Nicole took in every detail she could, of the halls she walked through. The kind man walked a few steps in front of her, leading the way. She was constantly darting her eyes around, taking in her surroundings, swallowing it whole. She trailed after him like a lost puppy; she had no idea of what this place was.

"This is the Jedi temple. Home to the Jedi order and where we train our younglings." The man slowed down his pace to walk beside Nicole. She looked at him startled. It reminded her of the situation in the circular room, in front of the council, when she thought to herself that she really wanted to leave and he said she would have to stay just a little longer. It was like he could see right through her...

"Can you... read my mind or something?" She asked him very gently, not wanting to sound like she didn't know her question was absolutely ridiculous. Her mind was a blur, she didn't know what she was talking about but come on, if you had been in the same situation twice, wouldn't you have asked the same question?

He turned his head to look at her with an amused look in his eyes and a small smirk playing his lips.

"No, I assure you young one, I cannot. Would be a cool skill though, huh?" He laughed to himself. Not to make fun of her, but to relax the atmosphere around them and to dull Nicole's distress over being in a totally new environment. It worked and even Nicole snickered in amusement over herself.

"I'm sorry, I just... sometimes you say things as though you can hear what I'm thinking." She shook her head at her own words. She really might just have hit her head harder than she thought.

"Well, I can sense your emotions if you will. Especially since you're not exactly trying to hide them." Nicole lifted her gaze to his face again and cocked an eyebrow.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she tried not to sound too displeased with him quite literally saying that she wasn't good at containing her emotions.

"I'm just saying that compared to other people here, you're emotions are very... out there... if you know what I mean. For an example, you're literally radiating dislike to my statements right now." He eyed her warily hoping that he didn't step on too much of a landmine.

"I'm not!"

"Yes, you are Nicole. Don't worry though, I can teach you to hide these feelings if you wish. I can show you the ways of the force and teach you many great things." He offered sincerely. Nicole eyed him up and down. He spoke of her as if she was a fault that needed fixing and Nicole definitely didn't like it. Was he offering to become her teacher? what was all this about? Was that why he had been so kind to her?

Was he trying to charm his way in to take advantage of her?

...

Her trust issues made their way to her mind, like a curse spilling all over her new friendship. Darkening every edge of her, Obi-wan sensed it. Sensed how she suddenly doubted his intentions, he didn't mean to make it sound like that.

"You don't have to at all. It was a mere peace-offering." Obi-wan backed down slightly. He figured it was clever to retract himself and give her some space. He had acted offensively to gain her trust and that was all he needed for now, and thus he fell passive, waiting for her to make the next move.