Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/305846.

Rating: Teen And Up AudiencesArchive Warning: No Archive Warnings ApplyCategory: F/MFandom: Star Wars - All Media TypesRelationship: Padmé Amidala/Anakin SkywalkerCharacter: Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, Obi-Wan KenobiAdditional Tags: Drama, RomanceCollections: Fandom StockingStats: Published: 2011-12-28 Words: 655

Flee From All Things Tainted

by Queen of the Castle (queen_of_the_castle_77)

Summary

Anakin retreats from the darkness by stepping into it.

Notes

Written for leni_ba. Set sometime post-'Attack of the Clones'.

Anakin can’t imagine that Padmé ever spent a single moment in the shadows before they sharedtheir first kiss. She’s the light itself, as far as Anakin’s concerned. It breaks his heart to see herhaving to lurk off the side of the crowd waiting for him to find a moment to break away and joinher; she can’t reveal her presence without both of them having to reveal so much more. Shewasn’t made to hide away in darkness. It’s only her relationship with him that’s brought that uponher.

They have no choice, though. Between his missions and her Senate trips, they already have tospend long enough apart. He can’t stand the thought of seeing her even less often, and if anyoneever discovered their relationship they’d be completely separated if the Council had their way.

He hates that he can feel Obi-Wan discreetly glancing after him, questioning, as Anakin slinksaway from the throng. He knows all too well that if Obi-Wan realises where he’s actually headingand why, then separation from Padmé will not remain just a distant fear that he can’t quite shakeeven though he knows he should release it to the Force. He’d normally be more cautious aboutbeing caught by his former Master because of that. Right now, though, he needs Padmé too much

to hold himself back any longer, despite the risks.

He rounds the corner and barely has time to take in the sight of her glowing smile before she pullshim through a door and out of sight. Even though he knows she can barely see his expression inthe dim light of the corridor she’s led them down, he still hides his face against her neck. Heinhales the pure scent of her and tries not to allow anything but that essence in.

“I missed you,” she breathes. Anakin’s matching response is muffled against her smooth skin ashe runs his hands over her back and presses himself closer. It’s just as well. There aren’t reallywords to express it. This moment is more necessary to him than oxygen.

Padmé has ample experience with the politics and even the disregard of human life that’sassociated with the war, and the violence of it hasn’t left her completely unscathed either, but she’sstill managed to personally experience so little of the truly unadulterated brutality out there in thegalaxy. He wishes that particular brand of innocence could wash over him and make him equallyclean of that darkness as well. Then he might be able to feel completely like a Jedi, let alone like aman deserving of her.

She thinks he’s deserving, though. He tells himself that that’s what matters.

He lets her kisses draw his mind away from where it’s been dwelling on the terrified face of thewoman who accidentally met the slash of his lightsaber just days ago. He hasn’t told Obi-Wanwhat happened, and he certainly has no intention of burdening Padmé with the knowledge of hisactions either. He promises himself that he’ll confess to Chancellor Palpatine instead, as he’salways willing to lend a sympathetic ear, and he understands better than anyone else couldanyway. In the meantime, Padmé’s touch and unconditional love will be enough to sustain him.

He smiles slightly, and for the first time since that horrific moment when he felt a completelyinnocent life fade beneath his hands, it’s not entirely forced. It never could be with his wife soclose to him.

He can feel the tempting curve of her lips sloping upwards against his jaw, returning his smile.Though he can’t see it, he bets there’s a mischievous glint to it, given how she’s reaching for thetie around his tunic.

She presses him back against a wall, taking charge, and for once he finds that he’s glad that thetwo of them are hidden alone together in the dark.

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