democraticqueen.

                        _{The ice that had seemed to unfurl within her chest the moment his voice had broken through it seems not only to harden, but seep into her very bones, leaving her unable to move any further. Her eyes follow the softness of his gaze ( yet why is he not looking at her! She longs to see the blue that has not only been her ocean but the anchor that keeps her from being swept away ), & pale fingers instinctively trace where she’d felt a kick mere hours ago ( theirs, their child, ) weak smile on her lips as if to reassure him. His eyes caress her in a way she longs for his fingers to match ( hold me like you did in Naboo — when there was nothing but our love. ) She almost asks again, before a shiver wracks her spine & she swallows her words, instead showing him as she slowly but surely closes the gap between them. ❛ Ani — ❜ fingers tentatively reach beneath the hood he has yet to remove, gently caressing the ( cold, too cold! Not fine ) skin beneath with a feather-light touch, as if to ascertain the truth to his words herself. ❛ How can that be? The news, the Holonets — ❜ & Obi-Wan. ❛ & when you weren’t here I thought — ❜ the worst ( yet he somehow wasn’t here still. ) ❛ Why won’t you come inside? ❜}

                          death is heavy on his shoulders   :   _{the rush of power long gone ,   corrupted darkness merely leaving shattered pieces in its cruel wake.   FOR HER ,   FOR HER ,   FOR HER   —    repeated mantra when faced with the opportunity to change fate   ;   when leaving the council chamber ,   when saving chancellor palpatine and slaying the younglings and destroying the separatists.   IT’S ALL FOR HER.   oh ,   but the simple thought of what he has done would terrify her  !   how can this be right  ?   she grazes cool skin and he shivers ,   fingers on shadowed features are a burning flame   —   such tenderness he does not deserve.   yet he gives in   :   allows himself to relish on her touch ,   if only for one heartbeat.   and then he’s gone ,   spiriting stiff form away from her hand   (   from her love ,   her acceptance   —   her ignorant relief  !   )   and into the cold.   inside their room he now stands ,   back to his very life and soul as gaze loses itself on a corner full of nothing.   SOMETHING TUGS AT TENSE EDGE OF CONSCIOUSNESS.   screams what he’s yet to realize ,   what he’s too numb to fully grasp.   without turning around lips part ,   toneless voice cutting through the dark ,   emptiness clinging to each and every note.   ❛   you don’t need to worry ,   padmé.   ❜   has her name ever sounded wrong  ?   has it ever failed to soothe his mind  ?   ❛   you will be safe.   ❜}

democraticqueen.

              _{The horrors of the night ( such terrible things she had heard ) were only eclipsed by the one thing she feared more — his life, his safety. She waited in the dark, eyes on the fire & destruction, heart aching, fingers resting on the spot where he would lay without even being aware of doing so ( surely she would know if he were — ) Beating heart leaps in her chest, breath catching at the back of her throat as the door slides open ( for the briefest of seconds, she thinks it isn’t him, cannot recognize him this way, shrouded in darkness ) & the sound of her name on his lips is all she needs to hear. ❛ Oh Anakin, I was so worried. ❜ She had heard horrible things — but surely he has seen worse, endured enough. Burning questions are swallowed, saved for later, for her concern is not alleviated, the ache in her chest remains. ( How can it when he’s here? Yet his voice cracks ; it is not warm, seems almost unfamiliar. ) She is on her feet in seconds, trying to close the distance between them, belatedly realizing he isn’t. ❛ Are you hurt? ❜}

                                 _{when she stands ,   no reaction is evoked.   lays still betwixt shadows of the night ,   unresponsive as she approaches ,   though gaze does raise to meet her own.   blue irises take everything in   :   delicate frame slowly moving ,   soft hair spilled over thin shoulders ,   her beautiful features   —   and her swollen stomach   (   their child inside of it  !   those he would kill to defend ,   has killed to protect   ).   darkness corrupted by a ray of light ,   glorious presence once quickened the beating of his heart.   soothed any worries swimming through his mind.   WHY IS IT DIFFERENT NOW  ?   his fingers should grip proffered hands ,   caress her skin as countless times before   —   but not tonight.   he’s tainted ,   torn soul screams at the horrors he’s committed.   and his chest  !   it burns and it aches and wonders why.   IT’S HEAVY ,   INTERWINED WITH ANAKIN SKYWALKER’S GUILT.   such part of him is shoved aside ,   suffocated for this   (   this is the right thing to do  !   )    is the path to saving her.   foreign shame at her questioning ,   he forces himself to stare ahead ,   faux smile curling pale lips.   ❛   i’m fine ,   padmé.   ❜   whispered notes sound vacant even to his ears.   ❛   ——   the war is finally over.   ❜}    

                                                      _{silent are his footsteps in the cloak of night ,   covering still world for a new dawn to be born.   brown hood shadowing his features   —   it hides blurred identity ,   edges which remain frayed ,   ripped.   is it not wonderful how life goes on  ?   only for him has time stopped   :   jealousy murmurs that their existence is much simpler ,   darkness argues that they do not possess his power.   IGNORANT OF SUCH PEACE HE HAS BROUGHT UPON THE GALAXY.   skilled fingers raise ,   a motion known and practised flowing with ease ,   causing familiar door to slide open.   inside she awaits ,   the only person capable of returning missing air to his lungs.   broken whisper cuts through the atmosphere   ;   a plea ,   a request ,   a prayer.   ❛   ——   PADMÉ.   ❜}  

_{❪   @democraticqueen​  !   ❫}