Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

8.

Obi Wan: "What took you so long?"

Anakin: "Oh you know Master...I couldn't find a speeder I liked...with the open cockpit, and the right speed capabilities." (this is my all time favourite quote of Ani's)

Rain and Anakin had been back on Naboo for a couple of days now, and in that time, Anakin had barely spoken to her. The silence between them was thick, heavy with unspoken grief and pain. She understood why—he had just lost his mother, the only family he had left. The bond they shared had been severed, leaving him adrift in a sea of emotions that he wasn't equipped to handle. Rain could feel the distance growing between them, and it hurt more than she cared to admit.

She had tried to engage him in conversation, asking him questions to draw him out of his shell, but his responses were curt, distant. Each time he pulled away, it was like a knife twisting in her heart. She wanted to reach out to him, to help him through his pain, but she didn't know how. They were both orphans now, connected by their shared loss, yet separated by the walls he had built around himself.

The days passed slowly, each one blending into the next. They hadn't heard back from the council or Obi-Wan about the senator's return, so all they could do was wait. The waiting gnawed at Rain, the inactivity making her restless. She wasn't used to this—to being idle, to feeling so helpless. The monotony of their days only added to the sense of isolation that had settled over her.

* * *

This morning, Rain woke just as the sun was rising, the soft light filtering through the curtains of her room. She slipped on a thin silk covering, its cool fabric brushing against her skin as she moved. The air was crisp, the early morning silence almost peaceful. For a moment, she could almost forget the turmoil that had taken hold of her heart.

She walked quietly down the hallway to Padmé's room, her footsteps light on the polished floor. As she cracked the door open slowly, she saw that Padmé was still fast asleep, her figure peaceful and serene beneath the soft sheets. Rain felt a pang of envy—Padmé seemed so at ease, untouched by the emotional storm that raged inside Rain. Closing the door gently, she made her way back to her own room to get dressed.

Rain had returned to wearing her Jedi robes, the familiar fabric a comfort in these uncertain times. The robes were a symbol of her duty, of the life she had chosen—a life that often felt like it was slipping through her fingers. Once she was dressed, she stepped out onto her balcony, breathing in the fresh morning air. The view was breathtaking—the green meadow outside her window bathed in the golden light of dawn, with colorful flowers dotting the landscape like scattered jewels.

She walked down the stairs from her balcony to the meadow, the grass soft beneath her boots. It was beautiful here, a place of peace and tranquility, so different from the chaos of the galaxy beyond. Rain found herself smiling, enjoying the freedom of the open space. The meadow was a haven, a place where she could momentarily escape the weight of her responsibilities.

As she walked through the tall grass, she couldn't help but think about the future. Once she became a full Jedi Knight, she would be confined to wherever the council sent her. The thought brought a slight frown to her face, the weight of that realization pressing down on her. But she quickly wiped it away, choosing instead to focus on the present moment. She watched as butterflies fluttered past her, their delicate wings shimmering in the sunlight, and for a brief moment, she felt a sense of contentment.

The Shaak moved lazily through the meadows, their large forms grazing peacefully on the lush grass. Rain watched them with a smile, their gentle presence a reminder that there was still beauty in the world, even in the midst of all the pain.