#soft launch of my intricate high school au

[faerghusfucker]

totally understand why some ppl don’t like modern 3H AUs. totally get it. fodlan is an awesome setting and the time and place that the story takes place in is so integral to these characters and who they are. it’s such a well built world that it’s almost a character in itself. totally get why people don’t like to take the characters out of such a rich setting.

but consider the reality of sylvain working at mcdonald’s so he can have money to spend on weed bc yuri doesn’t wanna give him discounts anymore. consider THAT. imagine a world where byleth is a mere english teacher who the kiddos latch onto and won’t leave alone. get on my LEVEL

[prince-claremont-diaz]

Whatever We Become  (Final Chapter)

Summary: In Lucas’ final year of high school before he has to face the real world, he comes across the new identical twins, Eliott and Leo. Needless to say, Lucas falls head over heels for both of them. 

Or The twin au absolutely no one asked for

Word count: 3.2k

Warnings: none

Ao3 version

Chapter Twenty-One: All the minutes in the world

After break, Lucas had maths with Leo, who was already there at the table when Lucas arrived, typing something on his phone. He looked up as Lucas wandered over, grinning and sliding his phone into his back pocket.

"Hey, Lu, how are you?" he greeted, fist bumping Lucas as he sat down.

"Uhh, I'm good. I saw you talking to Eliott earlier," he replied, dropping his bag on the desk and opening it up.

"Yeah, just checking in after the last few days," he said, "How are things going with you guys now?" He leaned his elbow on the table between them, using his hand as a chin rest.

Lucas shrugged, slipping his bag onto the floor at his feet. "Pretty good. We had a bit of an argument yesterday, but we talked it over last night," he explained. "He's still pretty tired from his episode, I think, but we're taking it step by step, you know?"

"I'm glad you guys have had the chance to talk about it. He doesn't find that stuff easy." Leo put his hand on Licas' shoulder, squeezing lightly. "You guys will be okay. It's not always easy, but it's already obvious you're both willing to put all the effort into it and I think it shows how good you are for each other."

A pink flush crept up Lucas' face and he knocked their shoulders together. "Look at you getting cheesy about your brother again. How sweet," he teased, just barely dodging out of the way of Leo's elbow. Their laughter fizzled away as the teacher entered the room and Lucas dropped his voice, growing serious. "But really, thanks."

"Right back at you, buddy," Leo joked, plastering on a bright, cheesy smile. Lucas rolled his eyes, pulling the lid off of his pen to start writing

A few minutes later, while supposed to be going over their homework, a sudden memory floated into Lucas' head, gnawing at his thoughts and keeping him from concentrating on anything else. He put his pen down on the desk and turned back to Leo again. "I just thought of something…" he began, getting Leo's attention, "Remember a few weeks ago when you got in a fight? What was that about?"

Leo put his pencil down as well, chewing on his lower lip. "Charles was coming home with Eliott and I and we ran into some guys from our old school," he explained, voice low, "They knew about Eliott being bipolar and were making fun of him and I couldn't help it. I just punched one of them in the face. Charles got hit in the face by one of them when he tried to help me, but Eliott stormed away and refused to speak to me for hours."

"Why?"

Leo shrugged, glancing up to see if their teacher was watching. "I think he was embarrassed. He said he doesn't need me fighting people for him."

"Oh." Lucas cleared his throat. "I probably would have done similar." He lifted his hand, which was only just starting to heal, still badly scuffed and bruised.

"I guess we're both just idiots when it comes to Eliott. Or too protective for our own good."

"Probably."

They fell into silence after that, shushed by another classmate. They exchanged one last grin before turning to work for the rest of the lesson.

◇

Pale light flooded in through the half open curtains, the early morning sun glaring into the bedroom like a watching eye. Lucas scrunched his face up, turning his face away from the window and pressing his face into his pillow. He felt Eliott's stubbly chin rubbing against his bare shoulder blade, breath hot against his skin. One of Eliott's fingers was tracing small, intricate patterns into his back, giving Lucas goosebumps.

"You're awake," Lucas grunted, turning his head to the side so he could peer back at Eliott over his shoulder. A yawn escaped his mouth and he reached up to rub the sleep from his eyes.

Eliott lifted his chin from digging into Lucas' back, scooting to kiss him on the cheek. "I am," he whispered back, gently manhandling Lucas and rolling him around to face him. His hand gripped Lucas' waist and he kissed Lucas properly, tongue and all, pulling him tight against his chest. "Morning, darling," he breathed into Lucas' mouth, hold tightening on his waist.

Lucas huffed, pulling out of the kiss, cheeks bright scarlet. "Don't call me that," he whined, muffled as he stuck his face in the crook of Eliott's neck. "Why not?" Eliott asked, kissing his nose, his cheeks, his forehead. "Is it too weird for you?" He raised his eyebrows teasingly.

"It's cheesy and it makes me feel all tingly. I can't spend the rest of my life blushing."

Eliott cupped his face, kissing the tip of his nose again. "The rest of your life, huh?" he teased, smirking devilishly.

Lucas slapped his shoulder, sputtering, cheeks sweltering hot. "You know what I mean," he grumbled, pouting.

"I think you were right the first time." He grinned, kissing Lucas intently, teeth clashing and tongues touching.

They melted easily into each other, hands grabbing here and fingers dragging there, a tangle of skin on skin. The covers were stifling and the light was blinding but they simply fueled the fire. It was give and take, soft and nurturing and careful. Lucas was alighted from inside out, head spinning from the smoke and Eliott was a match and a fuse. Lucas kissed along Eliott's chest and Eliott tugged his hair and he crawled back up to meet his lips once more.

Eliott was now half sitting up in bed while Lucas rested his head on his chest, head rising and falling with his breath and listening to the soft thrum of his heartbeat in his ears. He watched Eliott toying with his hand, running his fingers along the rough skin of his knuckles and lightly prodding the yellowy-brown blotches over his fingers, an obscene fireworks display over skin. Lucas glanced up and Eliott's eyebrows were knitted together, lip between his teeth. He blinked, allowing Eliott to lift his hand, kissing every individual digit, achingly gentle and soft.

"What are you doing?"

"Doing what I should have done sooner."

"Do what? Kiss my fingers?"

Eliott shook his head, eyes intense and burning with something. "No. Taken care of you." He kissed Lucas' hand again and then bent his head, brushing his hair aside and kissing his forehead.

"It's okay."

"No it isn't. I wasn't there for you," he said bitterly, voice pulled high and taut, "I was too busy feeling sorry for myself in a hospital." His eyes turned to glass, a faint pink tinge in the whites of his eyes.

Lucas sat up, resting on one of his elbows. He shook his head and scooted up so he could hover over Eliott. "Do you know why it's okay?" he asked. Eliott shook his head. "It's okay because we have plenty of time to take care of each other. We have all the minutes in the world for that, yeah?" Eliott dove up for another kiss, pushing his shoulder onto the bed, digging into the mattress.

Lucas tugged him close by the small of his back, leaning his head up to meet his lips. Eliott pulled back from the kiss, searching all over his face, blue eyes twinkling. "Fuck, I love you so much," he blurted, hands clutching Lucas' cheeks.

Heart leaping, Lucas inhaled sharply, eyes bulging. "W-what did you say?" he clarified, stunned into the mattress.

When he replied, Eliott's voice was barely above a whisper. "I said I love you," he repeated, "And I know I'm probably moving too fast, but it's true. I can't and I won't take it back, but you don't have to say anything back." Eliott didn't expect anything from Lucas. A declaration, that was all it was. An announcement. He didn't need anything in return but for Lucas to know.

"I love you, too," Lucas breathed, blinking back tears. Eliott released a sigh of relief, eyes crinkling in the corners, kissing him again and again.

If they were a little late that morning because Lucas refused to get up after his alarm, well, no one was to know.

◇

As per usual now, Lucas and Eliott entered the schoolyard hand in hand, walking over to Yann and Arthur. Arthur was talking excitedly about something, hands flailing and eyes bright. They stopped next to Arthur, Lucas giving him a curious look.  "Arthur's just excited because there's a party on Friday," Yann explained, leaning in towards Lucas and Eliott.

"And I got invited by Marie. You know her, she's the hot girl we had Chemistry with last year," Arthur added, grinning with pride. Upon Lucas' confused look, he gasped. "Come on, you must remember her! She had the long blonde hair and always had a low cut shirt."

Lucas tried wracking his brains for a semblance of a memory of said girl, but he couldn't think of anything. The only girls he knew in his Chemistry last year were Alexia and Imane.

Eliott wrapped his arm around Lucas' shoulders. "I don't think Lucas will remember her, to be honest," he joked, turning to Lucas, "Not exactly your type, is she?" Lucas rolled his eyes and Eliott giggled, kissing Lucas' temple.

"Yeah, I think she has one too many X chromosomes for me to notice her," Lucas replied, making the other three laugh.

Basile arrived not 30 seconds later, immediately launching into a story about a Facetime call with Daphné the night before. Needless to say, Lucas zoned out of that conversation pretty quickly, instead turning to Eliott to ask, "What do you think? Up for a party this weekend?"

Eliott shrugged, taking a few steps from the rest of the group to talk more privately. "I don't know, to be honest. I'm still getting over last week, so I might not be up for a huge party," he said, frowning, "I was thinking of going home for a few days actually. My dad is supposed to be home and I didn't really see him much in hospital."

"That should be good seeing your dad," Lucas replied, "How's your mum doing?"

"The same, I think. I messaged her last night and she said she felt a bit better yesterday, but this morning she was sick," he explained, eyes falling to the floor in what Lucas now knew meant he felt particularly emotional. Lucas slipped his hand into Eliott's, squeezing. "How's your mum, by the way? Have you spoken to her lately?"

"Yeah. I, uh, I actually was out to dinner for her birthday the other day when… you know."

Eliott's face fell. "Seriously?" Lucas nodded, biting his lip. "And you still came? Even though it was her birthday and you hadn't seen her in months?"

"Of course. I can make it up to her," Lucas insisted, squeezing Eliott's hand again, "But if I had lost you that night, I don't—I don't know what I would have done with myself." He looked at his feet idly, feeling he had shared too much.

Eliott considered his words for a moment, sighing heavily. "I'm not going anywhere, Lucas. You're not alone either." He leaned over to kiss him shortly, only pulling away when the school bell rang. "Shit, I've got class on the other side of the building!" He exclaimed, letting go of Lucas finally.

"You better hurry then," Arthur commented.

"I'll see you at lunch." He kissed Lucas quickly again. "I love you," he added, winking and pecking him another time.

"Love you too," Lucas murmured, still stunned by those words.

Once Eliott was jogging away, the other boys turned on Lucas. "Was that the L word I just heard there?" Arthur asked, eyes wide, starting towards the school.

"Yeah?"

Yann slapped him on the back as Basile and Arthur shrieked. "Well, we're happy for you, man. You guys are really getting serious," Yann said, elbowing him in the side.

"Alright alright, I get it. I was sad and annoying and now I'm not."

"No, now you're just annoying," Arthur teased. Lucas scoffed, punching Arthur in the crotch and sprinting away towards class. "See what I mean?!" Arthur shouted, hobbling after him.

Lucas rolled his eyes, flipping Arthur off over his shoulder and joining the crowded hallway. He couldn't help but hope things stayed like that forever.

◇

Lucas was standing alone in the girl Marie's house, staring out of the window overlooking the back garden and holding loosely onto a bottle of beer. He could see Yann and the first year girl he liked sitting together on a bench swing, laughing and talking with their heads close together. Meanwhile, Basile and Daphné were making out feverishly against a tree and Arthur was nowhere to be seen. Lucas smiled, taking a sip of beer as he continued watching his friends socialise. Even a few weeks ago, he would have felt suffocated by the isolation, standing alone in the hallway with only the heavy thrum of the speakers downstairs to keep him company. But now he embraced it, allowing himself a moment of relative peace.

As he started to bring his glass up to his lips for another gulp of room temperature beer, he felt a hand falling onto his shoulder. Lucas startled, turning towards the source and making eye contact with a pair of grey-green eyes. A smile peeled over his face. "Hey, Leo. What's up?"

Leo grinned, slinging his arm over Lucas' shoulders. "Just coming to say hello. How are you?" he replied nonchalantly. "I'm good. I just wish Eliott could be here as well, but I get him not wanting to come to a party so soon."

Leo nodded, swallowing down a vibrant blue drink Lucas didn't recognise. "You know, you're really great. Seriously." He ruffled Lucas' hair. "Eliott has dated a fair few people before, but never quite as amazing as you. You give him the space he needs without question and I can see how you're trying. I appreciate how happy you make him."

Lucas' face flushed and he glanced at the carpet. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, man. He's never spoken about someone like he does with you. You've got my brother wrapped around your tiny finger."

Lucas scoffed, shoving Leo away, pouting. "I am not tiny," he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.

Leo snorted. "Yeah and I'm the next Pope," Leo teased, earning yet another shove from his friend. "You're tiny, Lucas, just accept it."

They fell into amicable silence after that, drinking their respective drinks and people watching out the window. Imane was talking to the boy Lucas recognised from a few weeks ago, Sofiane, fidgeting nervously with her grey hijab and smiling up at the curly-haired boy. (Lucas made a mental note to tease her about it later.) Basile and Daphné were gone now, though Yann continued to chat with the first year. The yard was lit dimly by multicoloured fairy lights, luminating the dark green grass and the stone patio in a blur of faint hues.

"This might sound weird, but I used to have a crush on you," Lucas admitted, eyes still glued to the garden. His cheeks were painted a faint rosey pink.

"Oh? Before you liked Eliott?" Leo asked, raising his eyebrows and smirking in amused interest.

Lucas shook his head. "Nope. I actually had a crush on both of you. It was a disaster."

Leo spat his drink everywhere as he burst out laughing, spraying blue liquid onto the window, carpet and their clothes. "So you're one of those types then? A twin kink, as one may say."

Lucas gasped, slapping Leo's chest. "Oh fuck off. I got over you pretty easily, thank you very much," he insisted, rolling his eyes. He took a drink of his beer, flipping Leo off.

"I can't blame you. You guys are much better together."

Lucas' phone vibrated in his back pocket and he swiftly pulled it out, muttering an apology under his breath. It was a message from Eliott. Lucas unlocked his phone and opened up his messages to find another drawing. For a moment, his heart thudded with the vivid memory of the last time he received one of them. However, the drawing was just a simple one. A raccoon stood with his back to Lucas, facing towards a grinning hedgehog.

Beneath that, Eliott had written Turn around.

Lucas spun around, another grin filling his face when he found Eliott standing in front of him wearing a bright smile and an olive green turtle neck under a leather jacket. Lucas threw his arms around Eliott, dragging him into a kiss of bumping teeth and alcohol. When they pulled apart, Lucas whispered, "What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming."

Eliott kissed him quickly and chastely, still beaming. "I thought I owed you some more minutes. I missed you," he replied, wrapping his arms around Lucas' neck.

"Hello to you too, by the way," Leo teased, scowling and feigning annoyance. Lucas stepped away, allowing the two brothers to hug each other. "So glad I'm important to you."

Eliott shook his head, a faint laugh falling from his mouth as he stepped away from his brother and hugged Lucas from behind. Lucas smiled, leaning back against him and holding onto his hands. Eliott rested his chin on top of his brown hair, squeezing him tight. "Of course, brother dearest, how could I forget you," Eliott said, rocking side to side as he held Lucas in his arms. "You trying to steal my boyfriend?" he added, plucking the bottle of beer from Lucas and taking a swig.

"Of course not. I wouldn't dream of it," Leo replied. Lucas took back his drink. "Unlike you and your boyfriend's beer."

"Fuck off, I'm thirsty," Eliott whined.

Their banter was interrupted a moment later by the arrival of a tall black guy who was smiling sheepishly at Leo. The other boy's face lit up as he saw him, turning away from Lucas and Eliott. "Hey, Andre. Here to save me from these two?" he gestured to the still hugging couple. Andre shrugged, winking. "See you love birds later." And with that, Leo took Andre's hand and dragged him away down the hallway.

"Well that was unexpected," Lucas joked, stepping out of Eliott's embrace to turn around and face him. He slung his arms over his shoulders, nuzzling their noses together. "So what was it you were saying about owing me some minutes?" he asked in a breath, "Any idea how to repay me?"

Eliott arched his eyebrows, smirking. "I've definitely got a few you might like…" he insinuated, beginning to walk backwards, eyes alight with passion.

"Whatever you decide, I'm down for it."

And as Lucas followed Eliott down the street towards the bus stop, fingers laced together and shoes slapping the pavement and dead leaves, Lucas knew it was true. He knew that whatever Eliott wanted, whatever he did, Lucas would follow him to the end of the earth without question. Whatever became of them was written in the stars twinkling overhead, falling rain and flickering streetlamps. Whatever became of them, Lucas knew it was together.

So that’s the end of Whatever We Become... I had so much fun writing it and I hope you guys enjoyed it as well I guess? But don’t worry, that’s not the end of me and my fics as I have a few others already in the making so look out for those in the next decade ;). 

[politicalpadme]

Pas De Deux, a Jedi Dance Academy AU (Part 7 of 7)

AO3 | First Position  | Second Position | Third Position | Fourth Position | Fifth Position | Jeté

It was the moment. The moment his whole life had been building towards.

Anakin took a deep breath, clenched and unclenched his fists. He felt the heat of the lights on his brow, caught sight of Boba upstage right, poised to shoot down the ramp and start the show. The boy's face was scrunched up with focus. Boba was the wildest of his students but also the most driven. He reminded Anakin of himself. They both had something to prove. The music began. Anakin and Boba both counted the beats to the entrance, the stage was dark except for the "moonlight" that allowed Boba to see the ramp. On cue he let go of the board and dropped onto the stage, the sound of the wheels careening toward the center nearly as loud as the orchestra. Artoo flipped a switch and a thousand twinkling lights danced as Boba completed a turn, kicked off his board and into a jump. The audience gasped audibly. As seven more boys on boards took the stage Anakin allowed himself a smile.

"Did you see, Mom? Did you see how high I got? I bet I could jump over a whale." Anakin had never seen a whale, but people took boats out to see them from the dock five blocks over and he was sure they were big.

Shmi smiled and agreed, "It was a very big jump." She grasped his hand and pressed his palm. "Did you feel it here?"

"In my fingers?"

"In your whole body. Fingers to toes."

Anakin frowned. "I dunno. What's that feel like?"

His mother knelt and met his eyes, piercing blue, like the waves and the sky. "Do you remember the thunder storm three days ago?" He nodded. It had rained all day. They spent a few hours in the library and another couple in an internet cafe. But at night they were huddled in the sandstone outcropping they called home. It provided a spectacular view of the lightning hitting the water. "When the thunder sounded and the sky lit up, did you feel it?"

Anakin closed his eyes and tried to picture the storm. The rough waves and the splashing rain and the lightning that seemed to shoot straight down from the stars. He remembered the weight of the air and how his face was wet from rain and spray both. He remembered how the rumbling thunder seemed to come from everywhere. He looked up to meet his mother's eyes. "I think so. Yes."

"That same energy is in you." She touched a finger to his heart.

The audience applauded as the boys scampered off the stage. Anakin clenched his fists one last time, raised up on the balls of his feet, and met Ahsoka's gaze across the stage. The lighting shifted from stars to a kind of technological latticework to represent the robot stronghold. Artoo designed all the effects from her own drawings. No one had ever allowed her to play the way Anakin did and she'd taken full advantage. The music swelled and Anakin stepped on stage, Ahsoka in sync across the way. They crept towards each other in circles, their bodies low and eyes alert. As the music picked up lights suddenly shot across the stage and they mimicked dodging blasts. The duo met in the center and the dance morphed into something more intricate as they stepped and out of each other's space. The lights changed again, Anakin and Ahsoka hit a button on their wrists and shafts of blue light burst forth. They continued the dance, leaping and spinning and lifting in a frenzy of play battle.

"I don't think they like me." He tried to say it with a scowl — who cared what a bunch of Jedi Academy losers think of anything! But the truth is Anakin cared. He wanted them to like him. He wanted to belong.

Qui-Gon patted his shoulder. "They don't know you. Give it time."

"I'm trying." He looked away and rubbed an eye with his fist. He was lonely and he didn't know how to talk to the other students or their teachers. "I don't know the right words."

"What words?"

"Like 'pirouette en dedans.'" Anakin rubbed his eye again but it wasn't working. He felt the tears welling up. "I know how to do it but I don't know the words."

Qui-Gon gave him a measured look. "Do you like your teacher?"

"Obi-Wan?" The social worker nodded. "I guess. He's nice to me."

"He was my student once."

"Really?"

"Yes." Qui-Gon's eyes twinkled. "He knows all the words but he's still learning how to set them free. I'm hoping you will help him."

Anakin frowned. "I don't understand."

Qui-Gon straitened. "Pirouette en dedans." Anakin's frown deepened but he stepped back and performed a spin turned inward. His teacher's teacher nodded. "You can learn the vocabulary. They will refine your technique. But you were born a dancer."

Anakin threw his leg back and dropped down as Ahsoka spun around him, the blue lights shooting from both her wrists cut across the stage, now bathed only in low light, the "robots" defeated. Finally Ahsoka turned into her final pose and the stage went dark.

Applause filled the auditorium but Anakin barely heard it. He returned to his place in the wings and focused on his breathing. The quiet rumble of the music for his dance with Padmé began. He lifted his eyes to watch her entrance as the strings launched the haunting melody. Her movements were quiet and small compared to what came before, but no less driven. And so beautiful his heart ached. The orchestra grew louder cueing Anakin to join the dance. His hand snaked around her waist and they danced as one.

"Anakin, something's happened." Obi-Wan kept talking but Anakin didn't remember the words. He remembered the sorrow in his voice and the softness. He remembered the sound of the rain still falling outside and the damp smell of the basement. He remembered digging his nails into the palm of his hands. He remembered the terrible knowledge that it was all his fault. It was four days before his sixteenth birthday. They were coming to see him.

The whole Academy mourned Qui-Gon. He was one of their own. Yoda's student and Obi-Wan's teacher before he left ballet behind to work in the community. The memorial was packed and the ceremony long. Anakin stood quietly beside his mentor.

Shmi's burial was much simpler. Just Anakin and Obi-Wan and the family who'd hired her as a housekeeper. Qui-Gon probably arranged that, too, but Anakin never asked. The Lars were kind. They considered Shmi family and Anakin was comforted she was happy. But he didn't know them and he wasn't sure he was ready to know who Shmi had been without him. Everything was awkward.

Anakin fell into a depression. He had trouble sleeping, he barely ate. He'd never been a great student but his grades plummeted, even metal shop, which he loved. And worst, he wasn't dancing. He went through the steps, with precision, but no heart. He couldn't give it up — it was all he had now — but he couldn't connect. He couldn't feel the lightning. And he couldn't cry.

A month and a half after his birthday he threw a brick through the window of the community center Qui-Gon founded. The glass shattered, littered the sidewalk and one shard lodged above his right eye. It stung. Anakin pressed his hand over the glass, pushing it deeper into his skin. The pain was the first thing he remembered feeling in weeks. Tears sprung into his eyes, his vision blurred and he dropped to the ground, too exhausted to stay standing.

"Are you okay, son?"

Anakin blinked at the officer peering at him with kind eyes. He shook his head and growled, "I'm not your son." He wasn't anybody's son.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan's worried visage appeared next to the stranger.

"They called you?" Anakin wondered how long he'd been sitting here. The sun was low in the sky.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Are you all right?"

"My head hurts."

His mentor tsked, and addressed the officer. "I'm taking him to the hospital." They started arguing, something about protocol and paramedics on their way. Anakin wasn't listening. He was looking at the way the broken glass glittered in the sunset. But Obi-Wan must have prevailed because now he was lifting him up off the ground. "Don't worry. We'll figure this all out."

Anakin was silent for the trip to the emergency room. He responded to the nurse's questions with one word answers. Obi-Wan hovered like a mother hen. "Will it leave a scar?" he asked the doctor.

"Most likely."

Obi-Wan tsked again. Anakin didn't care.

Stitched and cleaned and bandaged, he was released. Obi-Wan drove him back to school and watched him take two painkillers. "I'll come see you in the morning." He pressed Anakin's shoulders and started toward the door. The boy looked up suddenly, eyes bright, and he reached out to grasp his mentor's arm.

"Obi-Wan?"

"I'm here."

Anakin nodded, and swallowed, and started to sob. He fell forward into Obi-Wan's waiting embrace and cried.

When all the tears were spent, Anakin slept for three days. On the fourth he woke at dawn, went for a run and then headed to the empty practice hall. He grasped the barre, imagined sand beneath his feet and launched into a warm up routine. Obi-Wan arrived ten minutes before class time and watched from the door.

"How are you feeling?"

Anakin glanced over. "Better." He stepped into the center of the room and faced the mirror. "I'm ready." Obi-Wan nodded and motioned for music to begin. Anakin lifted his arms.

And he danced.

The music swelled to its final crescendo and Anakin lifted Padmé up over his head, to the stars. The music ended, the lights fell and everything was silent. Anakin lowered Padmé and grasped her hand. He was shaking, sweating, his heart pounding. The lights came up, he and Padmé lowered their heads and the applause finally began. It was thunderous.

The lobby was crowded with well-wishers. Sponsors and family — Anakin waved to Pooja — and representatives from every company he'd ever heard of.

"Well done, sir."

"Brilliant work, young man."

"I've never seen anything like it."

"And you, young Skywalker, we will watch your career with great interest."

Anakin wasn't exactly sure all of the comments were entirely praise, but enough were that it didn't matter.

“Ms. Kryze?”

“Yes?” She stood with the practiced posture of a former ballerina, her feet at rest in third position. Tall, quite attractive, and styled impeccably, while she’d seemed approachable from his perch backstage, now Anakin found himself oddly intimidated.

“I’m Anakin—”

“Skywalker,” she finished with a wide smile, and extended a hand. “Your dance was quite something. Extraordinary, really, the innovation.”

Anakin frowned. “Thank you?” That all sounded good, but Anakin had trouble reading her, and worried he was missing a tinge of sarcasm.

Satine’s expression softened, subtly. “I mean it,” she assured him.

“Thank you,” he repeated, with a smile. “I was hoping… I’d like to invite you to dinner.” Her eyes widened with confusion and a touch of panic. “With my partners,” he rushed to explain. “And my mentor.”

The panic faded but the confusion remained. “I’ve very little say in who is invited to join our company…”

“Oh! No!” Anakin flailed. “It’s not a—” A bribe? He wouldn’t know where to begin. “It’s nothing to do with that. It’s my—”

“Anakin, I told you to leave her alone.”

Satine and Anakin turned in unison, Anakin embarrassed, Satine surprised. Obi-Wan stood behind and between them, arms crossed, expression grumpy — but in his eyes was a vague, regretful, longing.

“Obi-Wan!” said Satine.

He wanted to apologize, for Anakin, for anything, but he stumbled over his tongue and barely managed her name. “Satine…”

“Master—” said Anakin.

Satine blinked. “He’s your teacher,” she realized.

Anakin nodded. “Since I was nine. And he’s never once told me stories of his time in school.”

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan objected, but his student ignored him.

“I was hoping you might fill in some gaps,” he finished, with a wide smile and twinkling eyes. Satine raised an eyebrow; the boy was entirely too charming for his own good. She glanced at her old classmate, friend, dance partner, and lover. She’d seen him now and then over the years — ballet is a small world — but never said much more than pleasantries, nor held a gaze longer than a minute. Now, he looked trapped. Afraid she’d say yes, but possibly equally afraid she’d say no. She flashed him a smile. The one he returned was tentative, but genuine.

Satine turned to Anakin, watching with a studious silence. “I would be delighted.”

He grinned. "Great!" He caught sight of Padmé, watching from behind a pillar. "Excuse me." Anakin ran to Padmé, picked her up into his arms and spun her around.

"Oh Ani! I know you'll have so many offers."

He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "I wouldn’t have any without you."

"Don’t be silly," Padmé laughed.

"I mean it." She quieted at his serious tone and met his eyes. "Not just you, lots of people." Mom, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Plo Koon, the skater boys, Ahsoka, Artoo, Threepio, even Master Yoda. "But you're special." She smiled with flushed cheeks. "I love you, Padmé."

She reached a hand up to touch his cheek. "I love you, Anakin."

The showcase closed the season, and completed their training, but it wasn't the end. This was only part of the story.