Mara stood in silence, stunned by the boy’s reaction. She watched, expressionless as the tears formed in his eyes- unable to understand what was happening, only that they were having two very different conversations.
This boy, so familiar and yet a complete stranger. He reminded her of someone, but who? It lingered on the peripherals of her consciousness, taunting her with it’s mystery. Was that all it was? Simply that he looked like someone she knew?
No, he knew her. She felt him reach out to her through the force, clumsily grabbing at her presence through his scattered emotions. She could not block him completely, her abilities lacking where his clearly flourished. With a gasp, her eyes widened- feeling something from this indecipherable being that she had never felt before in her entire life. It felt like warmth, and safety. An unconditional sort of acceptance. Hope and admiration. A need for her that she didn’t understand.
This feeling….was it….love?
She always wondered what it felt like, and as the hot, stinging tears began to form in her own eyes - for half a moment she began to understand why everyone made such a big deal about it. Nothing had ever felt that powerful before, nothing that warm or soothing. That deep, aching hollow place inside her starting to fill up for the very first time. Mara almost reached her hand out for his, but something broke her connection- something….coming from around the corner.
“Get down!” she whispered- there was no time for them to run, they’d be fish in a barrel for sure. Mara threw herself around Ben, covering as much of him as she could with her slight frame as they crouched behind the wall. She closed her eyes tightly, centering herself to the best of her ability. She’d only heard about force users being able to cloak themselves from visibility. It was a long shot, but they didn’t have any other options at this time.
Mara sensed him, Captain Jethro of batch nine. He was a particularly cruel, sadistic specimen- and she hoped her nervousness wasn’t causing her shield to waver. The captain past them, and Mara held her breath. He stopped a few feet away, glancing around as though he knew something was wrong- but continued on his way regardless. Mara caught Ben’s eye and pointed out the walkway, signaling for them to make a run for it. She counted to three on her fingers, and lunged both of them forward with all of her strength.
“TRAITOR!” The captain had spotted them, and was fast on their heels. The blaster shots were rapid, and Mara reached for own weapon to retaliate- just long enough to take a hit to the leg. She stopped, wounded, crouching behind a charging station - but continued to fire back at the assailant in a blind rage. “RUN!” She called to Ben, and the severity of her gaze meant business.
his vision was distorted from the tears that kept his eyes glossy and unable to get a good look at the woman who was just standing here. what did he expect from this when he called out to her? when she was practically a stranger as he was to her? it was no different than shouting into the ether---- hoping that it would return his shout.
unbeknownst to the young padawan, his emotions were being shared to mara through the force. the grief, his loneliness, his long-held love and hope for his parents. he places a hand on his chest, clenching at the clothes he wore--- sobbing when he couldn’t handle it. ben was far from returning back to the young man who had just accepted his fate of living on for those who couldn’t. he was spiraling down into a newfound grief until he heard his mother mutter something he couldn’t quite hear----
suddenly, a warm body had enveloped him. he gasped, nearly falling down if it weren’t for his quick grip onto the woman who was now holding him. he was trembling in her hold, choking on the tears that he wanted to release. but he heard the heavy footsteps of an individual that had past by them. intimidating and powerful from what ben could sense. surely a fellow that wasn’t to be underestimated. and he followed mara’s lead---- keeping his breathing shallow, and eyes shut until he opened his eyes to see that was signaling for them to break for their escape.
everything was moving so fast that ben couldn’t completely figure out what was happening. he sprinted when mara counted down to the last second, the sound of blasters ringing in his ears, the sight of mara wounded and screaming at him to run------ truly, the young man felt like a boy again. fearful of everything that was occurring. he takes double takes from the man who was on their tails to mara. his mother. he was a stranger to her--- yet she was protecting him.
captain jethro only a few meters away from the pair, and ben could only do what he knew best. he reached for the hilt of his lightsaber that was latched onto his belt----- pressing it to life where it hummed smoothly, a familiar sound he knew too well. still, the captain stood there, shouting words that were not meant for him but for his mother.
❛❛ if you want her, you have to get through me, metal head!! ❜❜
he won’t lose his family----- not again.
gracieabrams
dailybridgerton
areudirty
2087
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