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As Anakin and Isadora returned to the Jedi Temple, their steps heavy with the weight of their recent mission, they made their way to Master Windu's chambers to report their findings. The air between them crackled with tension, the silence between them thick and suffocating.
Master Windu listened intently as they recounted the events of the mission, nodding occasionally as they detailed their encounter with the bounty hunter and their successful elimination of the threat. But as Anakin spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Master Windu, pointedly ignoring Isadora's presence beside him.
Isadora bristled at his cold indifference, her frustration bubbling to the surface. She had hoped that their shared experience on the mission might bridge the growing divide between them, but it seemed that Anakin was determined to shut her out completely.
As the meeting drew to a close and Master Windu dismissed them, Isadora couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment wash over her. She had hoped for some semblance of acknowledgment from Anakin, some sign that he still saw her as more than just an inconvenience.
But as they parted ways outside Master Windu's chambers, Anakin walked away without so much as a backward glance, leaving Isadora standing alone in the empty corridor, her heart heavy with a sense of rejection and betrayal.
anakin pov:
As Anakin and Obi-Wan found themselves in the tranquil sanctuary of the Jedi Temple gardens, the weight of Anakin's inner turmoil seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment. He knew he couldn't keep ignoring the tumultuous emotions that swirled within him, especially when it came to Isadora.
"Master," Anakin began, his voice tense with frustration, "there's something I need to discuss with you." His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions.
Obi-Wan turned to regard his Padawan with a patient expression, his eyes filled with a gentle understanding. "Of course, Anakin," he replied calmly, encouraging Anakin to open up.
Anakin took a deep breath, his jaw clenched with the effort to contain his simmering anger. "It's about Isadora," he admitted, his voice tight with suppressed emotion. "I've been struggling with... feelings for her."
Obi-Wan's eyebrows lifted in surprise, though his expression remained composed. "Feelings?" he echoed, prompting Anakin to continue.
Anakin nodded curtly, his gaze fixed on the ground as he struggled to articulate the complex emotions swirling within him. "Yes," he muttered darkly. "But it's not what you think. It's... complicated."
Obi-Wan's brow furrowed in concern, sensing the turmoil that churned beneath the surface of Anakin's words. "Complicated how?" he inquired gently, urging Anakin to elaborate.
Anakin's hands balled into fists at his sides, his frustration boiling over as he struggled to put his feelings into words. "I... I slept with her," he confessed bitterly, his voice laced with self-loathing. "But not in the way you're thinking. It's like... she's under my skin, in my head, and I can't get her out."
Obi-Wan listened in silence, his expression grave as he absorbed Anakin's confession. "You mean to say," he began slowly, "that your connection to Isadora runs deeper than mere physical attraction?"
Anakin nodded grimly, his jaw set with determination. "Yes," he replied curtly. "But it's tearing me apart, Obi-Wan. I can't focus, can't think straight... and it's all because of her."
Obi-Wan laid a comforting hand on Anakin's shoulder, offering him a steadying presence in the midst of his turmoil. "I understand, Anakin," he said softly. "But you mustn't let these emotions consume you. Remember, the path to mastery lies in mastering oneself."
As they stood together in the tranquil beauty of the garden, Anakin felt a surge of conflicting emotions wash over him. With Obi-Wan's guidance, he knew he could face the tumultuous journey ahead and emerge stronger for it. And perhaps, just perhaps, find a way to navigate the treacherous waters of his heart without losing himself in the process.
isadora pov:
Isadora and Ahsoka found themselves in Isadora's quarters, surrounded by the quiet serenity of the Jedi Temple. As they reclined on Isadora's bed, the weight of their recent encounters with Anakin hung heavy in the air.
"I just don't understand him," Isadora muttered, her frustration evident in her voice. "One moment, he's snapping at me like I'm some kind of nuisance, and the next, he's giving me these... looks."
Ahsoka nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting a mixture of confusion and concern. "I've noticed it too," she admitted. "It's like he's two completely different people."
Isadora sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair in exasperation. "Exactly! One minute he's treating me like I'm beneath him, and the next, he's practically undressing me with his eyes," she grumbled, her frustration mounting with each passing moment.
Ahsoka frowned thoughtfully, her brow furrowing in contemplation. "It's almost like he's fighting some kind of internal battle," she mused. "But what could be causing it?"
Isadora shook her head, her frustration evident in her voice. "I wish I knew," she replied, her tone tinged with frustration. "All I know is, I'm tired of being jerked around by his mood swings."
Ahsoka reached out a comforting hand, offering Isadora a reassuring squeeze. "I understand, Isadora," she said softly. "But don't let his behavior get to you. You're stronger than that."
her frustration only seemed to grow. "And then," she continued, her voice tinged with annoyance, "he pinned me against the wall not once, but twice!"
Ahsoka's eyes widened in surprise, her expression mirroring Isadora's disbelief. "Twice?" she echoed, her tone incredulous. "What was his problem?"
Isadora shook her head, her frustration evident in every word. "I wish I knew," she replied bitterly. "One minute, he's pushing me away like I'm some kind of nuisance, and the next, he's practically throwing himself at me."
Ahsoka frowned thoughtfully, her brow furrowing in concern. "That doesn't sound like the Anakin I know," she remarked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Isadora nodded in agreement, her frustration mounting with each passing moment. "Exactly!" she exclaimed. "And then, when I was waiting outside his door, I heard... noises."
Ahsoka's eyes widened in surprise, her curiosity piqued by Isadora's cryptic words. "What kind of noises?" she inquired, her tone tinged with concern.
Isadora hesitated for a moment, her mind replaying the unsettling sounds she had heard in the hallway. "I'm not sure," she admitted reluctantly. "But it sounded like... moaning."
Ahsoka's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her expression reflecting a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Moaning?" she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Are you sure?"
Isadora nodded grimly, her frustration mounting with each passing moment. "Positive," she replied firmly. "And it wasn't just once. It happened twice."
Ahsoka's frown deepened as she considered Isadora's words, her mind racing with questions and concerns. "That's... strange," she murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Isadora nodded in agreement, her frustration evident in every word. "Tell me about it," she muttered bitterly. "I just don't know what to make of it all."
"You know," she began slowly, "it sounds like he might have feelings for you."
Isadora's eyes widened in disbelief, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the suggestion. "What?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disgust. "No way! Anakin wouldn't... couldn't possibly..."
But Ahsoka shook her head, her expression earnest as she tried to reassure her friend. "I know it seems unlikely," she conceded, "but think about it. The way he's been acting around you lately... it's not exactly normal, is it?"
Isadora hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. "Well, there was this one time," she admitted reluctantly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "When we were younger, he... he kissed me."
Ahsoka's eyes widened in surprise, her expression mirroring Isadora's astonishment. "He kissed you?" she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "But... why would he do that?"
Isadora shrugged helplessly, her frustration evident in every word. "I don't know," she replied bitterly. "Maybe he was just messing around, or maybe he actually meant it. But either way, it doesn't mean anything."
Ahsoka frowned thoughtfully, her brow furrowing in concern. "I'm not so sure about that," she murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Sometimes, feelings can't be ignored, no matter how hard we try to push them away."
Isadora shook her head, her frustration mounting with each passing moment. "I refuse to believe that," she declared firmly. "Anakin and I are just... padawan and master. Nothing more, nothing less."
But even as she spoke the words, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered a different truth, one she wasn't quite ready to confront.
As Isadora lay in bed, the familiar sound of Anakin's boxing reverberated through the walls, just as it had so many nights before. She sighed heavily, feeling a pang of frustration and annoyance at the relentless noise. "Of course," she muttered to herself, "he just can't help himself, can he?"
The rhythmic thuds against the wall echoed in her ears, each one a reminder of the tension that simmered between them. At least during their time at the hotel, she had been spared from the incessant noise of his training. But now, back at the temple, it seemed that Anakin was determined to resume his usual routine.
But as Isadora lay there, listening to the familiar sound, a thought occurred to her. Could it be that Anakin was deliberately boxing against the wall, knowing full well that it would annoy her? It wouldn't be unlike him to resort to such petty tactics, especially given their recent arguments and tense interactions.
Isadora's frustration boiled over as she stood before Anakin's door, her fists clenched at her sides. When he answered, shirtless and dripping with sweat, her resolve wavered momentarily at the sight of his imposing figure. But she quickly pushed aside any distractions, focusing instead on the task at hand.
"Would you shut up?" she snapped, her voice laced with irritation. "Why are you boxing at 12 in the morning? I'm trying to sleep, and you're going to have your padawan sleepless in the morning!"
Anakin's expression remained impassive, his demeanor unyielding as he regarded her with a cool detachment. "I have every right to train whenever I see fit," he retorted, his tone tinged with arrogance. "And if you can't handle a little noise, that's not my problem."
Isadora bristled at his dismissive attitude, her frustration mounting with each passing moment. "It is your problem when it's disrupting my sleep," she shot back, her voice sharp with annoyance. "Just have some consideration for once in your life!"
But Anakin merely shrugged indifferently, his expression betraying no hint of remorse. "I'll train whenever I want," he declared stubbornly, his tone defiant. "And there's nothing you can do about it."
With a frustrated sigh, Isadora resisted the urge to argue further, realizing that it would be futile to try and reason with him. Instead, she turned on her heel and stormed back to her own room, seething with anger at Anakin's stubbornness and arrogance. As she lay back down in bed, the sound of his boxing continued to echo through the walls, a constant reminder of the tension that simmered between them.
She stood alone in a dimly lit room, the air heavy with a suffocating sense of dread as she gazed upon her mother, who lay motionless on a cold, sterile bed.
"Mama..." Isadora's voice quivered with anguish as she approached the bed, her heart pounding in her chest. "Please, you have to be okay."
But her mother's expression was one of accusation, her eyes filled with pain and resentment as she turned to face Isadora. "Look at what you've done," she hissed, her voice laced with bitterness. "You're the reason I'm lying here, dying alone."
Tears welled in Isadora's eyes as she recoiled from her mother's words, the weight of guilt crushing her spirit. "No, Mama, I didn't mean to..." she pleaded, her voice trembling with despair. "I tried to save you, I swear..."
But her mother's gaze remained unforgiving, her anger palpable as she continued to lay blame at Isadora's feet. "You were always so selfish," she accused, her voice growing more venomous with each word. "You cared more about your own dreams than you did about me."
Isadora's heart shattered at her mother's words, the weight of her accusations crushing her beneath their weight. "I'm sorry, Mama," she sobbed, her voice choked with sorrow. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear..."
But her mother's eyes were cold and distant, her spirit already slipping away as she whispered her final words. "It's too late for apologies," she said softly, her voice fading into the darkness. "You'll always be alone, just like you deserve."
Isadora's cries echoed in the emptiness of the room as she watched helplessly, consumed by a sense of overwhelming despair. She reached out to her mother, but her touch was met with only emptiness, the cold reality of her loss searing through her soul.
And as the nightmare began to fade, leaving behind only the echoes of her mother's accusations and the lingering ache of her absence, Isadora was left alone in the darkness, grappling with the weight of her guilt and the haunting specter of her mother's final words.
Isadora sat bolt upright in her bed, her chest heaving with the remnants of her terror-filled nightmare. The oppressive darkness of her room surrounded her, casting eerie shadows across the walls as she struggled to shake off the lingering tendrils of fear that clung to her like cobwebs.
"Why... why am I having the same nightmare again?" Isadora whispered to herself, her voice barely above a trembling breath. She ran a hand through her disheveled hair, her fingers trembling with a mixture of confusion and unease. "I thought I left all this behind... I thought I was done with the nightmares."
But no matter how hard she tried to push the memories away, they persisted, haunting her like ghosts in the night. The image of her mother's accusing gaze burned into her mind, the weight of her words crushing Isadora beneath their heavy burden.
"I don't know what to do," Isadora murmured, her voice tinged with desperation. She wrapped her arms around herself, seeking solace in the darkness of her room. "I'm... I'm scared."
Isadora hesitated outside Anakin's door, her hand poised to knock but her heart racing with uncertainty. She knew she had no other choice; she needed answers, and Anakin was the only one who might be able to provide them.
With a shaky breath, she rapped lightly on the door, her knuckles barely making a sound against the hard surface. She waited, the seconds stretching into eternity as she braced herself for Anakin's response.
When the door swung open, Isadora's breath caught in her throat at the sight of Anakin standing before her, his expression dark and unreadable. The dim light from the hallway cast shadows across his features, highlighting the tension in his jaw and the furrow of his brow.
"What do you want, Padawan?" Anakin's voice was sharp, tinged with irritation as he regarded her with a guarded gaze.
Isadora swallowed hard, her nerves threatening to overwhelm her as she searched for the right words. "I... I had a nightmare," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I don't know what to do."
Anakin's expression softened slightly at her words, a flicker of concern crossing his features before he quickly masked it with a mask of indifference. "Nightmares are common for Jedi," he said curtly, his tone brusque. "You'll learn to deal with them."
Isadora's heart sank at his dismissive response, a pang of disappointment shooting through her chest. She had hoped that Anakin might offer her some comfort, some reassurance in her time of need. But instead, he stood before her like an impenetrable wall, his emotions hidden behind a facade of stoicism.
"I... I just thought... maybe you could help me," Isadora murmured, her voice wavering with uncertainty.
Anakin's jaw clenched, a flash of something unreadable passing through his eyes before he shook his head, his expression hardening once more. "I have my own problems to deal with, Isadora," he said tersely. "I suggest you find another way to cope with your nightmares."
With that, he began to close the door, leaving Isadora standing alone in the hallway, her heart heavy with disappointment and confusion. She had reached out to him in her moment of vulnerability, only to be met with rejection and indifference.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Isadora couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness wash over her, the weight of her nightmares pressing down upon her like a suffocating blanket. She knew she would have to find a way to face them alone, but she couldn't shake the feeling of longing for the comfort and reassurance that had eluded her once again.
anakin pov:
Anakin stood alone in his room, the sound of Isadora's quiet sobs echoing through the thin walls of the temple. He clenched his fists at his sides, a wave of guilt washing over him as he listened to her cries. He knew he should go to her, offer her some comfort, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. The emotions swirling inside him were too raw, too powerful to ignore.
He paced back and forth across the room, the weight of his guilt bearing down on him like a heavy burden. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was failing Isadora, failing to protect her when she needed him the most. But deep down, he knew that getting involved would only complicate things further.
As much as he wanted to comfort her, to hold her in his arms and chase away her fears, he knew that it was impossible. The walls he had built around his heart were too high, too fortified to be breached by anyone, even Isadora.
But despite his resolve to stay away, he couldn't shake the nagging sense of concern that gnawed at him from within. What if Isadora's nightmares were a sign of something more sinister? What if her mother was in danger, and he was the only one who could help her?
The thought sent a shiver down his spine, a cold fear gripping him tight. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to Isadora, of her suffering because of his own selfishness.
With a heavy heart, Anakin sank down onto the edge of his bed, his head bowed in defeat. He knew he should go to her, offer her some solace in her time of need. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to take that first step.
Instead, he sat alone in his room, listening to Isadora's cries grow fainter with each passing moment, a silent witness to her pain and his own inability to ease it. And as the echoes of her sobs faded into the night, Anakin couldn't help but feel a profound sense of loss, knowing that he was the one responsible for driving her
away.