Padmé Amidala (ex_senator18) wrote in parabolical, @ 2008-05-17 17:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | anakin skywalker, padmé amidala |
Who: Anakin and Padmé
What: Husband and wife go on an outing. Chaos ensues, as per usual.
When: The same time as this.
Where: The streets of Los Angeles
Rating: PG (to be safe)
Status: log; COMPLETE
While spending time with Luke and Anakin, as a family, was something that Padmé held very dear to her heart, the fact of the matter was that she had begun to feel a bit useless. From a very young age she had submerged herself in important affairs, mostly centered around helping and protecting the people of Naboo. So to suddenly go from Queen, to Senator, to nothing, was taking some getting used to. Granted she'd worked for a while as the liaison to Wolfram & Hart, but that hadn't lasted and now she was starting to realize she needed to find something to do to occupy her time. The fact of the matter was, she just wasn't cut out to be a typical stay-at-home mom and housewife.
The idea came to her late one night while she had been browsing through the message boards. She had realized that there were other small children in Los Angeles, much like her son, and not all of them were fortunate enough to have their parents with them. Granted other kind Samaritans had agreed to take them in, and offer them food, shelter, clothing, and protection. However, the simple fact remained that there weren't many places in this city that were equipped to handle the specific needs of the young ones. The Hyperion, for instance, while a veritable fortress now, was the center of operations for one of the largest group of assembled heroes in the city. It was under constant threat of attack, people came and went at all hours of the day and night, and no one was really in charge of the children who were there in any specific capacity.
It was while dwelling upon this thought that the realization came to her. She could take care of the children, quite easily. She had more than enough money to set up a shelter for the younglings and had enough experience dealing with bureaucracy that she was fairly confident she could handle whatever 'red tape' the government saw fit to toss her way. Granted she needed to learn the inner workings of such an endeavor, but she happened to know the name of a woman who might be able to help.
Anne, the woman who ran the teen shelter, had been more than willing to offer assistance when Padmé had approached her. They had chatted for a few hours and had ultimately agreed that Anne would work on gathering the necessary documents to make the place official, while Padmé focused her attention on getting the shelter itself set up and ready to open. The first step in that process, of course, was finding a location. Ultimately, Padmé had asked Anakin to go with her for this particular venture and had made a list of possible places that would work. Now she stood outside of her hotel room (after having sent Luke to spend the afternoon with Jaina) and waited for her husband to arrive.
Anakin was thrilled at the idea. He was proud of Padmé for finding a task that suited her so well. And it was just like her to find a way to organize some means of order and solace within the chaos that surrounded them. She was usually a pillar of calm in the face of such things; her presence had always been a soothing counter to the maelstrom of his own mind.
He'd rented a car for the day. It was a simple enough thing to navigate, and while he'd been utterly disappointed at the so-called 'rules of the road' (the idea of waiting for someone else to maneuver in front of him went against every instinct as a pilot), it would enable them to get around more quickly. And he'd selected a convertable - if he was staying within the atmosphere, he wanted the wind and the sun to remind him so.
He parked in front of the hotel and bounded up the stairs to Padmé's room. It felt strange not to be wearing his robes, but the slacks and shirt were comfortable and well cut. They also looked far more common than his black robes did. Even if they didn't supply quite the same freedom of movement. And the glove over his right arm was still in place. He wouldn't remove that here.
Arriving at her room, Anakin paused a moment, holding up his arms to indicate the black slacks, the pressed white button-down shirt, the good (if oddly shiny) shoes. "Well?" he asked. "Do I look respectable?"
Padmé smiled at the sight of him, the look one born of love and appreciation for the obvious effort he was making. She knew it had to be difficult for him to try to blend into a society such as this one, but she also felt that every step he took toward doing so took him one step further away from Vader. Which, in turn, brought him one step closer to her and if that wasn't a reason to smile, she wasn't certain what was.
"Very," she agreed with a nod of her head, stepping away from the wall she'd been lightly leaning against and moving toward him. The sun was shining overhead and there was a soothing breeze from the nearby ocean. It was shaping up to be quite a beautiful day indeed, and Padmé was looking forward to spending it with Anakin.
In a pair of form-fitted tan colored slacks and a simple patterned top, she appeared professional without overdoing it. After all, while what she was attempting was a business venture, she was hardly a typical business woman. Her hair was probably the most complex thing on her at the moment, and even it was simply pulled back in an upsweep that allowed a few tendrils to frame her face. She had made certain it was pinned enough to remain in place even when confronted with the wind during their car ride, but it also moved naturally so as not to appear stuck in the same spot on top of her head. Considering some of the more elaborate hair designs she'd worn over the years, this one really was quite simple. Compared to the lack of hairstyles in this place, though, it was something worth noticing.
"I've made a list of a few places that caught my eye," the young woman stated as she approached her husband. Pulling the list from her pocket, she gave him another smile. "I'm certain we'll find something that's appropriate. I can't imagine it will take too long." Not that she minded spending the rest of the day with Anakin. Far from it, in fact. However, she would rather they find a location quickly and have time to themselves to simply spend together as they saw fit. It felt as though it had been far too long since they had really done much beyond argue (when Vader was in control) and try to mend the wounds inflicted by the arguing (when Anakin once more became the dominant personality).
Anakin wrapped his right arm around her waist as she stepped closer, his hand pressed to the small of her back, smiling as he drew her in. "I hope not," he said, closing his eyes to breathe in the scent of her hair. It was easier to just be Anakin with her. The calm, gentle feelings from her were a comfort to them both. Vader had no desire to harm or upset Padmé. Anakin's love and desire to change for her had placed him back in the dominant position. Certain emotions, certain feelings were a struggle, but he was managing.
While he had her caught like that, he pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, just at the corner of her lips. Then he lifted the list from her hands, opened it up, and looked it over. "It shouldn't be too hard to find these places. The vehicle I borrowed for the day has a satellite system that will tell us how to get there." He sighed. "It would be much faster if we didn't have to stay to the crude road system they have on this planet."
Hand still about her hips, he began to lead her down the stairs. "Have you thought of a name yet?" he inquired.
She couldn't make the smile go away even if she wanted to, not with the feel of his arm around her. Padmé knew he was struggling with certain aspects, but she also knew he was trying. That alone spoke volumes to her. Her eyes slid briefly closed as he kissed her gently, re-opening them to peer lovingly upward at him. Part of her wanted to simply stay here with him, or possibly return to her hotel room, and forget about their plans for the day. She couldn't do that, though, and knew if she did suggest it that it would ultimately be something she'd regret. She needed to see this shelter idea through to the end. There would be plenty of time to spend solely with Anakin later.
Allowing him to lead her away from her room Padmé shook her head lightly. "It's going to be difficult enough convincing anyone who might recognize us that we aren't the actors who resemble us, or fans of those movies," she replied softly as they made their way down the stairs. "The more we can do to blend in, the easier it will be."
Thinking about his next question for a second, the young woman finally admitted, "I haven't really given a name much thought." A brief pause as she turned her head to look at him, eyes shining brightly. "You wouldn't happen to have any ideas, would you?"
"I'm not the best at such things. On Coruscant, the younglings were safe within the Temple." He wouldn't let himself think of that night, when he had-- "They were safe there, it was where they spent the early parts of their life. It was a sanctuary for them. And that is what you are looking to build here. Peace of mind. Safety. Stability. Sanctuary." As they exited the hotel, Anakin moved past his wife to open the door of the car for her. "A name could reflect such things, couldn't it?"
He watched her as she approached, caught off-guard by the way she moved in the simple, casual clothes. She could never be anything less than elegant in his eyes, always a picture of grace and beauty. The sunlight caught in her hair, shining like golden threads, the curls dancing against the gentle breeze. She moved like a dream, like an angel, and a part of him still wasn't entirely convinced those deep-space explorers had known the truth about angels. They were the most beautiful creatures in the galaxy, but sometimes, they came from Naboo.
"A Sanctuary," he repeated, eyes shining as he watched her. "Headed over by an angel. I know of no safer place in all the galaxies."
Padmé, too, didn't want to think about what had happened to those younglings. She didn't want to dwell on the past, and the pain that went with the memories. There were times when she could think of nothing but all that had happened. There were times, particularly when she was alone late at night, that the heartache became almost too much for her to take. Yet those times were becoming fewer and far more between now that Anakin was once again doing his best to walk the path of Light. So the decision to not reminisce was an easier one to make, and one she made without hesitation. The past was behind them, they needed to focus on the present and look to the future. All they could hope to do was learn from their mistakes, now. Which is precisely what she planned on doing.
Her attention re-focused on him, her smile brightening even more at his suggestion. "The Sanctuary," she decided with a nod, flushing shyly a bit at his compliment. She'd given up convincing him she was no angel long ago but instead opted to simply accept the comment with grace. "I believe it's perfect."
Then her attention went to the car Anakin had rented for the day, her smile turning fond. Leave it to him to get a vehicle that would guarantee they made an impression wherever they went. With a slight shake of her head, the smile still in place, she looked to her husband once more. For a moment there was a flicker of worry there, although it had nothing to do with the convertible.
"Luke will be safe with Jaina, won't he?" she questioned. "I know she's a capable woman, and I'm certain she's a powerful Jedi, but Luke - as you know - seems to have a knack for finding trouble." She was hesitant to leave, to spend the day enjoying herself and the time alone with Anakin, if there was even the remote possibility that their son could be placed in some sort of jeopardy during their outing.
Anakin brushed his fingertips against the line of her jaw. "Padmé," he said, his voice gentle for all the soft teasing. "If there is one person in all this world that I would trust Luke to beyond you or me, it would be Jaina Solo. And I'm glad to say, if there's any truth to her stories, that every ounce of stress and worry we may have over Luke was returned threefold to him while Jaina and her siblings were growing up."
He followed his fingers with his lips. "If anything was wrong, my love, I would know in a heartbeat. And no force in the universe would stop me from righting it." Then he gave her a warm, reassuring smile. "Come on. This day is for you."
She smiled in response, his words reassuring her in ways that little else could. Her hand went out, gently grasping his and squeezing lightly. "This day is for us, Anakin," she corrected him gently. "I'm going to need your help with this. I want you involved." Another tender squeeze of his hand and she rose on her toes, brushing her lips against his before slowly releasing him.
"Besides," Padmé added as she moved past him, to the car, "Luke isn't going to stand for you to be away from him for long. So, really, the decision has already been made by him." She glanced to him, smiling in a teasing fashion, but also meaning what she said. This was a project meant for her, to enable her to feel as though she was helping others, but she didn't want it to take away from her time with her family. Especially not when she'd just gotten them back.
Pausing at the passenger door, her brow furrowed for a moment. "Are you certain we shouldn't just walk?" she asked after a brief pause. "From what I can tell, the other drivers in this city aren't always capable." And, although she wouldn't say it, Anakin wasn't exactly known for being the most patient man around when it came to the incompetance of others. She didn't want to risk his temper flaring over something as insignificant as having to sit through a traffic light because the person in front of him refused to turn on yellow.
He smiled at her, close to one of those carefree and loving smiles that he'd displayed when he was younger, when he truly had believed that love alone would save them, that love alone was all they could want or need. The smile was different now, with an edge of experience that made if sweeter. "Then this day is for us. And I have no intention to let anything spoil it."
When she brought up Luke, Anakin's smile sobered a bit, and he nodded gravely. He understood the depth of what it meant to commit himself to this family now. He might not have understood it then, when it would have made a difference for the galaxy. But here, now, he understood. Here, maybe it could still make a difference for them.
When Padmé paused, Anakin was headed back around to the driver's side of the car. He frowned slightly at her concern. "We may be on the ground, Padmé, but I can pilot this vehicle as well as any other. If I can navigate traffic conditions in Coruscant, I think Los Angeles will be simple enough." Since he didn't have a ship, driving was the closest he could get to flying. "I promise that all four wheels will stay on the ground at all times."
One hand on the door handle, Padmé gave him a pointed, yet loving, smile. "It isn't your driving that worries me, Ani," she explained patiently before opening the door and getting inside. She knew she'd be safe with him, as far as that went. It was the others, and his reaction to them, that had her concerned. She resigned herself to not worry too much about it, though. After all, he'd said he wouldn't let anything spoil this day. That obviously included his own behavior.
Waiting for him to get in and situation, she glanced at him. "We have an appointment with the first man I listed. He's agreed to show us around and answer any questions we might have." Well, technically, Padmé hadn't told him that she was bringing her husband. However, she also assumed if the man thought he was going to get one over on her just because she was a female, she didn't want to rent any property from him in the first place.
"Anne said the location isn't ideal, but the price may well be worth it." Not that money was really that large of an issue, but if they could save some by getting a place that didn't cost a veritable fortune, it was at least worth considering. They were going to have quite a few other expenses as it was, and she'd already been warned that donations may be few and far between to start.
Anakin shrugged lightly, absently running his hand over the bruise that lingered on his jaw. "I'll be alright," he said, his voice softening in promise. He was continuing to try his best. The success in his duel with Jacen had been tempered by the failure it had also contained. Vader had been in control. He couldn't deny that. But he had wrestled the Sith and emerged the victor. Of his own demon, if not the battle itself. That was left unsettled, with Jacen fleeing the match. He wondered, not for the first time, if he would have to battle his grandson again. Likely, he would. The boy was far too much like Anakin had been. And from the way his eyes had changed, he would be ending up the same way.
He let those thoughts go, slipping into the pilot's driver's seat of the car, turning on the engine, scowling lightly at the sounds of the internal combustion engine. Still, as far as vehicles went, this one was good. He eased into the traffic with the same natural affinity he'd always had for flight. "You can put the address in on that screen," he said, gesturing to the GPS. "Did Anne happen to mention what does make a location ideal? So we at least have an idea of what we should be looking for?"
Busying herself with inputing their destination into the GPS, Padmé didn't answer him right away. Once she was certain the machine understood where they were going (and found herself questioning, yet again, why this planet was so advanced in some ways and so clearly behind in others), she turned enough in her seat to look at Anakin, rather than the road ahead.
"She suggested anywhere that might either be near her shelter, as the area is safer than some others, or near the types of things children enjoy. Parks, the zoo, the ocean." She gave a rather delicate shrug of her shoulders, absently turning her attention to the GPS. "It seems the general idea is to make certain the area isn't crime ridden."
Glancing toward the road, Padmé's eyes widened slightly as the car they were following suddenly slammed on its brakes - complete with the squealing of tires. A loud crash could be heard just ahead of it and she could only assume that the vehicle had crashed into the one it had been following. It would seem, she decided in that instant, that there really were some terrible drivers in this place.
Instinctively, with the guidance granted by the Force, Anakin downshifted the gears, slowing the engine and cutting the steering wheel right to move them into the next lane, where he just knew the vehicle there was going to cut a hard right as well. The convertible slid between the cars with ease and a handspan of clearance, coasting easily out of danger. But a few more feet forward, and Anakin had pulled right again, into an open parking spot, then looked back at the wreck.
"Wait here," he said, unbuckling the strap that secured him in the seat. "I'm going to see if anyone is hurt."
Having already unbuckled the moment Anakin pulled into the parking spot, Padmé merely shot him a look that said quite clearly she had no intention of staying where she was. Then she pulled out her cellphone and opened her door, getting out and maneuvering through the stalled traffic toward the accident.
At first glance, the wreck didn't look too terrible. In fact, it wasn't until Padmé drew close enough to smell the gasoline that was leaking from one of the vehicles that she realized she was also staring directly at a bloodied body with far more glass in their face than what was remaining in their windshield. Her stomach churning, a gasp passing her lips, the young woman immediately turned her attention to the phone in her hand and dialed the number for emergency services.
Holding the phone to her ear, she turned away from the wreck and began to walk away - in order to better hear the operator on the other end of the line - when the sound of a small child's crying reached her ears. Instantly she turned back to the scene and finally spotted a young girl, perhaps three or four years old, trapped in what remained of the backseat of the car that had been sandwhiched between the one it had hit, and the one that had hit it. A quick glance told her there was no possible way she could open the door to get the child out. In fact, making her way across the rubble, all Padmé could manage was to stick her hand in through the small opening that had once been the window and brush her fingers against the girl's flailing hand.
"Shh," she soothed, glancing over her shoulder for any sign of her husband. Looking back to the girl, she twisted so she could peer through the rubble at her and offered a gentle smile. "We'll get you out of there. Shh, now," she urged before this time calling her husband's name over her shoulder.
"Anakin!"
Anakin could smell the gasoline as well. The karking internal combustion engines! The fuel was flammable, and the vehicles had so much electricity... there was no time to marvel at the idiocy behind their design. He was checking on the passengers of another car when Padmé's voice brought him running. He saw where her hand was, and he could sense the presence of the terrified little girl inside the vehicle.
His first thought was to cut away part of the roof of the car to free the child. But he'd have to use his lightsaber for that, and all the people on the street made it a very, very bad idea. He filed that under 'last resort' and looked at the car again. There wasn't enough room to go through the side windows... but what about the back?
Anakin pulled off his suit coat and pushed it in Padmé's hands. "Feed that in to her and tell her to cover herself. I'll break the back window and get her out."
Of course a regular human hand would break every bone under that force. But Anakin's cybernetic hand was more than capable of it. With an easy use of the Force, he nimbly jumped over Padmé and onto the trunk of the car, ready to break the glass as soon as his wife gave the signal.
Taking his coat with her free hand - not wanting to pull her hand free from the girl's terrified grasp until she absolutely had to - Padmé slid the material through and released her grip on the girl just long enough to grasp the coat and hand it to her. "Let's cover you up," she suggested, the fear she was feeling missing from her voice courtesy of a lifetime spent learning how to speak while afraid without sounding afraid.
The girl sobbed but did her best to listen, Padmé helping as much she could. Once she was certain the child wouldn't be harmed by the glass she quickly withdrew her arm and announced, "Clear!" Even as the word left her mouth she was turned her head, bringing her own arm up to shield the side of her face from any glass that might make its way out the small slit.
Anakin drew back his fist, added what strength he could (not wanting to have to strike more than once) and rammed his fist into the rear window. The vehicle's safety glass shattered with the blow, spilling glass into the backseat. From there, it was easy enough to reach in. He put his real arm around the girl's waist, hoisting her gently out of the window, and quickly passing her around to Padmé, still wrapped in his coat, though most of the glass had fallen away now.
Then he quickly looked to the remaining cars. A powerful feeling came over him, and his body tensed with understanding. "Padmé, get her away from the petrolium. Now!" He threw himself off the car, hurrying to the driver seat. The person inside was extremely bloodied, but Anakin could sense a pulse of life within. If this was the child's mother, he needed to make every attempt to ensure they stay together.
The scent of the petrol was thick. His premonition was ticking off the seconds. There were still people lingering. "Get away from the cars!" he shouted, struggling to open the door, but it was jammed. "Get away from the gas!"
Holding the child tightly, Padmé had just enough time to turn her gaze back to Anakin when his orders reached her ears. She recognized the tone of his voice, knew that he'd realized something no one else had, and didn't hesitate to listen to him. Running to the sidewalk, she made her way to a nearby bench. Placing the girl behind the bench, she brushed her hair from her face and smiled at her. "Stay here," she ordered. "I'll be right back." The girl nodded and Padmé turned her attention to a young teenaged girl who was also crouching there.
"Y-you're... you're..." The girl stammered with wide eyes and Padmé suddenly caught a glimpse of her tshirt. 'Star Wars' was written across it in large letters. For once, the woman was grateful for the fame those films had brought her as she nodded her head.
"I am," she confirmed. "Now I need you to stay with her. Stay right here until I return." The girl nodded slowly and Padmé was once again on the move. Her mind was already whirling ahead, coming up with some way to both ensure everyone listened to Anakin's warning as well as help her husband free the driver of the car. Finally, she decided on a mixture of the two and, exhaling softly, pulled out the blaster she'd been given by Wolfram & Hart shortly after arriving here.
Taking aim at a nearby fire hydrant, she shot the valve off the side. There was a loud hiss as the metal melted away then a veritable line of water - the force behind it so strong to keep it almost parallel to the ground - shot in between the crowd of gaping onlookers and the vehicles. A woman screamed, a man bellowed his anger, but the entire group finally seemed to break out of its shock and people began moving backward at a rapid pace.
Blaster still in one hand, Padmé turned her attention to her husband, knowing there was little she could really do to help him remove the woman from the car unless she crawled into the vehicle herself and forced the door open from the inside. Which she would do without hesitation, if Anakin couldn't get the door opened fast enough.
Padmé getting into that car was not going to happen. Now that people were starting to move off, away from the waterspout, Anakin took the moment of distraction to draw his lightsaber. It was extended for no more than a second, just enough time to bring the blade across the door and slice it away from the body of the vehicle. He shoved the door aside and reached in. His cybernetic hand tore away the woman's seat belt, and then he lifted her into his arms. "Padmé," he said, "Go!" He could smell a spark. In his mind's eye, present and future were catching up into one solid movement.
"Go! Now!" He felt the flames an instant later, and concentrated his power into a shield, a wall of Force that would hold back the heat and fire long enough for them to get out of range. Then, a flash of inspiration occurred to him, and he changed the shield, extending it, wrapping it around the blast area in order to contain the fire itself. It would at least shield anyone else from any direct contact with the fireball that was already starting to erupt. He looked back at the area, the bloodied woman still held securely in his arms, so that he could focus his energy properly, letting the strength of the Force flow out of him and into the shield.
Anakin had the woman and Padmé turned her attention back to the bench. Her feet were carrying her quickly, even as she felt the heat from the flames trying to catch up with her, and she dove overtop the small girl and teenager still hiding where she'd left them. Her arms wrapped tightly around them as she waited for the explosion. The ground rocked steadily beneath her, the temperature rising quickly, and screams could be heard in the distance. She waited a few seconds following the quaking of the ground before daring to raise her head, her expression going from wary, to loving, in an instant at the sight of her husband protecting those around him as best he could.
Rising back to her feet, she used one hand to grip the bench as the ground was once more moved by the explosions taking place within the shield. The danger, however, was over for the most part. Anakin wouldn't allow the shields to fall. She was certain of it. So rather than return to protecting herself, she instead tapped the teenager on the shoulder and motioned for her to stand.
When the girl finally took notice of Anakin, her jaw quite literally dropped open a few inches at the very least. "It's him!" she whispered in awe, looking back to Padmé before quickly turning her attention back to the scene as it played out. "He's even better than he is in the movies!"
"Of course he is," Padmé replied softly. "Those are nothing more than actors and scripts. This is who he really is. The man the movies could never hope to properly portray." Allowing the girl a few more seconds to gape, she then placed a hand on her shoulder and murmured, "Now go about your business, please. And make certain you keep in mind what you witnessed here today, no matter what that movie may show you in a few weeks time."
The girl nodded, her smile turning almost shy as she looked back to Padmé, then she scurried away. The small child who had been rescued, meanwhile, whimpered and held her arms out to be picked up. The former Senator wasted no time in doing precisely that, holding the girl close to her as she turned back to Anakin with a smile on her face.
The shield was draining, but at least it wasn't necessary for long. The majority of the explosion had been contained. Anakin turned back to his wife. The woman in his arms was unconscious, but he hoped that the glass was currently the majority of her trouble. She had a little girl to take care of.
Anakin turned the woman in his arms slightly, just enough that it would be difficult for the child to see the mess that had been the face of her mother. There was no reason a child needed to see something like that. They would have to wait for an ambulance to examine her.
When he was within hearing, Anakin dropped his voice and asked Padmé, "Was that too obvious?"
Making sure the girl in her arms kept her head on her shoulder, her face pressed into Padmé's neck, the woman glanced around at the scene they were standing in the midst of. The water from the blaster-damaged fire hydrant was still spurting out enough liquid to coat the streets and flood the gutters, the explosion of the vehicles had clearly stopped at a given mark that defied all likely laws of science on this planet, and it was obvious that the driver's side door had been sliced away by something not of this world. Looking back to Anakin with a bemused sort of smile, she laughed softly.
"No more than usual," she replied lightly.
Anakin scowled a bit at her, then laughed. "Okay. I'll grant that. But it worked, right?" He could hear sirens in the distance, approaching. Looking wary, Anakin glanced at the woman he held, the bench, and then back at Padmé. He was glad for what they had accomplished, but this was not the old Republic, where they would go unnoticed for doing what came naturally. This was Los Angeles, and lightsabers, blasters, and cybernetic hands did not exist, save for stories and holos.
Anakin sighed. "Padmé, we... shouldn't be here if there is any media." Honestly, they shouldn't have been there at all. Not even for a police report. But Anakin knew that Padmé wouldn't want to leave the child. He didn't want to leave the woman until he knew she would be getting medical care. She shouldn't have been moved in the first place, but since dropping the shield, Anakin had been keeping her still through the Force.
There were too many things here that could no longer be explained away. Their names, first and foremost.
"I'm not leaving until help has arrived," she stated quietly, yet in a tone filled with hard determination. The sirens grew closer, an ambulance finally rounding a corner a dozen or so blocks away. The police followed soon after and she sighed in relief. The girl in her arms shifted, whimpering about the pain she was in, and Padmé ran a gentle hand through her hair and held her close. "Help is almost here," she assured her. "I promise, the pain will go away soon."
Glancing up from the child she held, her attention falling to Anakin, she silently begged him not to argue with her on this. "The media can't harm us, Ani," she said pointedly. "They can believe us to be actors or fans, they can mock us for things they do not understand, but they can't cause either of us any harm. These people... they need our help. We can't leave them. Especially not to simply protect our identities."
Anakin nodded, his own jaw set with determination. He hadn't expected she would agree, but her words still inspired a quiet, fierce pride in him. Padmé was never more alive than she was when fighting for what she believed in, when she was doing something right. Anakin wouldn't argue with her on it. Not when he agreed wholeheartedly. Though her altruistic tendencies did happen to get them into trouble sometimes. Like the time Padmé had decided that she going to save Obi-Wan on Geonosis, and Anakin would have to tag along if he wanted to fulfill his mission to protect her.
The emergency vehicles were coming. They'd arrive in another moment. In the meantime, Anakin looked at the little girl Padmé was holding. "Where does it hurt, youngling?" he asked, voice soft. He didn't have much healing ability in the Force, but he could at least try, right?
The child shifted closer to Padmé, one small, blood-stained hand snaking out of the coat still wrapped around her and clutching tightly at the front of the woman's shirt. Slowly her head raised a bit, her tear-filled eyes peering out at Anakin. "My tummy," she said softly before catching sight of the woman he'd helped out of the car. "Is she okay?" she questioned in a near whisper. "Is she... dead?" There was fear there, but not so much fear that Padmé thought should be present. Her brow furrowed slightly as she looked down at the girl.
"Is she your mother?" she asked directly, only faintly surprised when the girl shook her head a bit.
"She's my daddy's girlfriend. My mommy is gone." Then she laid her head back down on her shoulder, yawning a bit. "I'm sleepy," she announced around the yawn. "And my tummy still hurts."
Padmé glanced over the girl's head to Anakin, her eyes shining with worry. Internal injury was the only thing she could think that would explain the pain, since the girl didn't have any visible external wounds. She, too, knew Anakin's abilities to heal through the Force were limited at best, but the ambulance simply didn't seem as though it was getting there fast enough in her opinion. They needed to do something.
Anakin looked at the woman in his arms. "She's resting, youngling. She was hurt, and now she is resting so her body can heal." Which was true enough. She wasn't in shock, but unconscious. The medics would be able to tend to her, once they arrived. Anakin's concern for the girl was stronger. "May I see your tummy?" he asked the girl, his voice gentle, though with a touch of mental influence. They didn't have time for her to feel comfortable with him. He reached out his real hand, holding it palm-up so she could see he meant her no harm. It seemed to help, because she moved her hand to lift up the edge of her shirt.
Anakin could see faint bruising on her skin, low on the abdomen. His placed his fingers there, using as gentle a touch as he could manage, and closed his eyes, feeling his way by the Force, searching for damage. He was able to breathe a sigh of relief a moment later. "No bleeding. Some bruising to the organs, but no major damage." Focusing again, he did what he could to heal, to promote her body to heal itself. He wasn't sure how much he had done, but the area had felt less tense as he withdrew his hand again.
The ambulance was pulling in behind them. Finally. But Anakin still focused on the girl. "How is that, now?"
The girl offered him a watery sort of smile. "Katie," she said quietly. "I'm Katie, and I feel much better." With a decisive nod, she once more rested her head against Padmé's shoulder, her grip on the woman tightening as the paramedics drew near.
"Ma'am," one of the men stated as he approached them, "you shouldn't be standing. I'll take your daughter..." He held out his hands and Katie gave a whimper, trying to cling even more tightly. Padmé gently patted her back while giving the paramedic an even look.
"I wasn't involved in the accident," she said calmly. "And I believe Katie wishes to remain with me for the time being."
The man hesitated, glanced toward Anakin, then back to Padmé and nodded. "Okay," he said, his tone sounding slightly odd. He must recognize us, Padmé thought with a sigh, just in time for the man to insist she get into the ambulance, but pointing out that Katie would have to be looked over en route to the hospital.
Nodding her understanding, the woman turned her attention from him to her husband... or, rather, the paramedic now approaching him, and the police officer following not very far behind.
Anakin was in no mood to waste time on whatever opinion these men had concerning him or his fictionalized representative. At least the second man was approaching with a stretcher. When he had stopped it, locking the wheels, he helped Anakin to lay her down. "Do you know this woman?" the medic asked, and Anakin shook his head. "No. She was caught in the driver seat. My wife and I had just helped the child out of the back, and there was petrol on the ground. I would not have chosen to move her if there was no danger."
The medic gave him a curious double-take, starting to ask something else, but then shook his head and began tending to his patient. The officer moved up instead, to Anakin. "Are one of these vehicles yours, sir?"
Anakin shook his head, and pointed towards the convertable. "That one is mine. The rental paperwork is inside."
"Your driver's license?"
Anakin sighed, taking a breath to calm himself before reaching for the identification, glad that he had decided to wear contemporary clothing for today. He took the card from his wallet and handed it to the officer. The man looked at it, squinted, and blinked. "Mister... Skywalker?" He looked back at Anakin. "Anakin Skywalker. What the hell kind of joke is this?"
Anakin didn't want to do this. But the man wasn't leaving him any choice. Anakin lifted his hand, passed it before the man's eyes, and said, his tone even, "My name is Anakin Skywalker. This is not strange."
The man gave a light shrug and handed back the card. "Not strange at all," he echoed, jotting the name down on a piece of paper. "Mr. Skywalker, could you inform me, in your own words, what happened here?"
Recognizing what Anakin intended on doing, Padmé turned her attention to Katie and murmured softly, "We're going to the ambulance, now." Already she could feel Katie's grip on her loosening, her breathing becoming even, and sure enough by the time they'd reached the back of the ambulance, the girl was sound asleep. Handing her to the waiting paramedic, she cast a soft smile down at the girl before assuring the man that no, she really wasn't the girl's mother and that the woman on the stretcher was apparently her father's girlfriend. Then, excusing herself, she returned back to her husband's side.
Part of her wanted to remain with the girl and ensure she reached the hospital safely. She felt guilty, knowing Katie wanted her there, but ultimately knew that wasn't her place. The child would receive medical help and would recover. That alone would have to be enough.
Anakin was telling the officer what had happened, beginning with the slamming of brakes and how he'd avoided the wreck, coming back to find the child trapped, and breaking the window to free her, the heavy smell of petrol, and going back for the woman in the driver's seat when the scent of the gasoline was making him nervous. His wife returned about then and Anakin put his arm around Padmé's shoulders.
The cop frowned. "How did you get the car door open?" he asked, tilting his head.
Anakin hesitated, then frowned slightly. "I... pulled the handle? No, it was stuck..." He furrowed his brow, then said, "I cannot remember, sir. Heat of the moment."
She didn't like the fact that Anakin was lying, but also understood his reasons for doing so. Still, when it looked like the cop was going to question Anakin's claim of not remembering, Padmé decided it was time to speak up. She put on her best smile and asked simply, "Are specifics like that really necessary, officer? It seems to me that my husband saved that woman. How he managed it seems irrelevent, especially if he can't even remember himself."
The cop looked at her for a second, his frown deepening for a minute before he finally sighed and nodded. Making a few more notes on his pad of paper, he next said, "I'm going to need some way to contact you both in case I have anymore questions. And you should probably go to the hospital to be examined, just in case..."
Once more, Padmé interrupted him with a calm, rational reason that he couldn't really dispute. "As we weren't involved in the accident, I don't think an examination is necessary. Not to mention the fact that we were on our way to an appointment before this unfortunate incident occurred and I would rather re-schedule for later in the afternoon than an entirely new day. If you'd like to contact us..." Pulling out a business card that still listed her as an employee of Wolfram & Hart, she held it out for him to take. "My cell phone number is listed on this."
The cop took the card, stared at it for a moment, looked back to the duo, and nodded. "Right," he said quickly, immediately looking quite flummoxed at the situation. "Well, I think that's about it. I'll be in touch if I need something." And with little more than another stare in their general direction, he turned and headed back to his car.
Padmé watched him go then mused softly, "I wonder if the name of the law firm itself is what startled him, or if he was shocked at seeing my name in print." Twisting her neck so she could peer up at Anakin, she smiled, "Either way, I suggest we leave before someone else wants to question us."
Anakin nodded. "I agree. He didn't even want to believe me when I told him my name." He gave a shrug and sighed, taking her arm. "We should probably go home and change," he suggested, looking down at his ashen and bloodied shirt. He'd also lost his jacket, as the girl still had it. Katie. But he wasn't worried about that. It was only a jacket.
He glanced back once, while leading his wife to the car. His conscience was quiet. He'd lied to the officer, and used a Jedi mind trick on him. But Anakin felt no remorse for his actions. It was to serve the greater good, wasn't it? The people of this planet thought him a work of fiction. A fairy tale. To give them proof otherwise would damage their views of the universe.
For a fledgeling planet like this one, it was better for them to keep to themselves. The natives were simple enough that--
Anakin looked up sharply. That tug in the Force could only have come from one person: his son. Somewhere, Luke was having the time of his life somewhere, and this much joy was not from any simple outing. Anakin shut his eyes for a moment, pushing himself along that connection, and felt a familiar sensasion; flight. Luke was flying. Anakin let out a sigh. Jaina would have a good explanation for that. A very good explanation.
With a pleased chuckle, Anakin began moving back to the convertable, smiling at his wife.