Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

6.

"Mos Eisley spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."- Obi-Wan Kenobi

After a heated discussion, it became clear to Anakin that Rain was determined to accompany him, no matter how much he protested. Her resolve was unyielding, and though he knew it would complicate things, he also understood there was no changing her mind. The thought of her coming along filled him with a mix of concern and a quiet, unspoken relief—he wouldn't be alone in this. Eventually, he relented with a resigned sigh, a flicker of worry still shadowing his eyes.

The ship they hired was small and unassuming, just another vessel in the bustling docks of Coruscant. Inside, the space was tight, with barely enough room for two. As they prepared for takeoff, Anakin settled into the pilot's seat, his hands moving over the controls with practiced ease. The hum of the ship's engines thrummed through the floor, vibrating beneath their feet. Rain took the seat beside him, her presence steadying yet also stirring something within him that he couldn't afford to acknowledge.

As the ship lifted off, Coruscant's endless cityscape fell away, the sprawling metropolis shrinking beneath them. Anakin's focus was on the flight, but his thoughts kept drifting to the conversation he knew he needed to have with Rain. The silence between them grew heavy, filled with unspoken words and tension.

After a few moments, Anakin finally broke the silence, his voice careful, almost hesitant. "So, Rain, I've been meaning to talk to you about yesterday afternoon... and what you saw—"

Rain raised a hand, cutting him off before he could continue. Her expression was guarded, her voice firm but not unkind. "Say no more."

Anakin's jaw tightened as he watched her. He could see the effort it took for her to push the memory aside, to put on that brave face. It made him feel both grateful and guilty—grateful that she wouldn't press the issue, and guilty that he had put her in this position.

"I honestly don't want to know," Rain added, her voice a little softer, "and if you're worried about me blabbing, don't be. I won't."

There was a finality in her tone that left no room for further discussion. Anakin nodded, swallowing hard as he turned his attention back to the controls. His shoulders felt tense, a weight pressing down on him. The memory of the kiss lingered in his mind, a reminder of how complicated things had become. He was a Jedi, bound by the Code, but his feelings—his feelings were something he could no longer ignore. And now, Rain was caught in the middle of it all.

After a long silence, Rain's voice broke through his thoughts. "So, where'd you learn to fly?"

The shift in conversation was a welcome relief, and Anakin found himself smiling despite everything. He glanced over at her, grateful for the change in subject. "I taught myself when I was a small child on Tatooine."

Rain's eyes lit up with curiosity, the tension between them easing slightly. "Could you teach me?" she asked, her voice hesitant, as if unsure of how he would respond.

"Of course," Anakin replied, his smile growing as he motioned for her to stand beside him. "Come over here."

Rain stood and moved closer, feeling the subtle shift in the atmosphere between them. There was an intimacy in the moment, in the way he guided her hands over the controls, that made her heart beat faster. Anakin pointed to a bizarre-looking handle on the control panel. "This here controls the speed," he explained, his voice steady.

"And this controls how high or low you fly," he continued, his tone gentle as he walked her through the various levers and controls. Rain listened intently, absorbing every detail. The knowledge came to her naturally, and she felt a thrill of excitement as she began to understand the ship's inner workings.