𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘿𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙇'𝙎 𝘼𝘿𝙑𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙀 • 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

TWELVE

            
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CHAPTER TWELVE

Of Promises and Threats
      
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THREE DAYS.

I had managed to avoid seeing Vader for three days after the night in my office. Whether it had even happened or not was yet to sink in, but the delicate bruising on my hips stood as painstakingly physical proof.

He had tried to get my attention in more ways than one, including leaving behind more chocolate squares on my pillow, but I was still in shock and slightly embarrassed at what happened and couldn't bring myself to face him.

"You okay?" Noa asked as I sat against the wall, looking up from the blueprints with a small smile on his face. "You've been pretty distracted these past few days."

Slowly rising up to my feet, I strolled over to the table, resting my elbows onto it. "Just a little stressed about the Hard Shot."

He took in my words with a nod, before dropping the blueprint and meeting my eyes. A look of determination grew on his face, his eyebrows furrowing. "I need to tell you something."

His words reminded me of the night we overheard Krennic's meeting, and I realized he never had told me. "What is it, Noa?"

Walking around the table, he stood beside me and took my hands in his. "You know that thing? That thing Vader has?"

The mention of Vader made my heart flutter, but I tried to remain focused on Noa. "What are you talking about?"

"You know," He sighed in frustration, rubbing his forehead. "His power?"

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. "Like... the Force?"

Noa clapped his hands together, nodding eagerly. "Exactly. Yes, that."

"What about it?" I pushed, placing my hand on his arm.

His eyes were fearful when they met mine, and he took a few seconds before answering me. "I have it- I, I can do it."

My first instinct was to laugh, so I did. "What?"

Sighing, he held out his hand to the blueprint he was looking at earlier and frowned. The veins on his neck were popping, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the sheet begin to move towards him. Then, it lifted up and shot into his hand, making me step back.

"Noa," I began with a whisper. "What the feke?" I had always known that he was wise, and seemingly one step ahead of me at every turn, but I didn't have an inkling that there was anything beyond normal about him.

"I've always had it," He revealed, his eyes downcast. "But I suppressed it. Your father wasn't the biggest advocate for the Jedi or any of that stuff, and even when he died, I knew that... I knew that I didn't want to be like Vader."

I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. Had Noa known what I let Vader do to me just three days earlier, he'd likely never look at me in the same way again.

"I don't want to learn how to use it," Noa went on to say. "I- I just want to ignore it. Will you-"

"Noa," I cut him off sternly, taking a tight hold of his shoulders. "Of course I'll keep it to myself. You don't even have to ask."

He gave me a small smile and a grateful hug. "I love you, Kyda."

"I love you too, Noa," I replied. "We're family. We're all we've got."