sith_happened | Office hours, all day

Office hours, all day

After hearing the radio, Anakin headed for his office in case there were any post-mindwhammied students looking for a place to vent.

Or any teachers, for that matter.

The door was open, and there was even extra coffee, which was about as generous as Anakin got. Take advantage!

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Atton hadn't been mindwhammied. But for the past two weeks, this whatever it was had been stirring up echoes he thought they'd put to rest, and it was exhausting.

They were waiting now, anyway. To see what was going to happen when everyone snapped out of their barvy.

So he snuck out of the clinic when he found some time and made his way over here. Maybe talking shit at Anakin would help?

"...Do I smell coffee?"

"You do," Anakin said. "Would you like some? Only if you don't throw it at a window."

Atton threw him a look. "The squirrels are slandering me, all right?" he muttered, "Give me some coffee."

"Black?" Anakin guessed, pouring a mug full.

"Please," Atton said. He rubbed at his eyes. "Ugh, can we get this guy off of the island already? I could use about a week of sleep, here."

"Seriously," Anakin agreed, sipping his coffee. "I blame being a cat for not noticing this sooner but man, the headache..."

"I'd go ahead and call this worse than a headache, but that's me," Atton said. He blew out a breath. "Should've stayed on Coruscant."

"...said no one sane ever," Anakin said, gesturing his coffee mug toward a chair. "Talk to me."

"Are you playing shrink today?" Atton said. "Is that what this is about?"

Which didn't mean he wasn't sitting down and grabbing his own cup of coffee.

"I can track down Electroclash instead," Anakin offered. "Fifty-fifty odds on which of us is more sympathetic."

Atton rolled his eyes. ... In that case, he'd take his chances on the guy he glitterbombed once. "What does this feel like to you?" he asked. "This... thing hanging in the air. It's getting worse."

Anakin nodded. "It's a feeling of oppressive, condescending smugness," he said, closing his eyes. "At least for me. You?"

"Dying," Atton said. He looked down at his cup. "And hunger. Smug hunger, but hunger still."

Anakin bit his lip. "Bringing back bad memories?"

Atton heaved a sigh, and then he shooed the squirrels out of the office with a little nudge of the Force. "You know what a Force echo is?"

"Like when a planet explodes?" he asked softly.

"Yeah," Atton said quietly. He rubbed the back of his neck. "The creation of a wound in the Force. Be near it, and you might just be in danger of having it bounce around your skull for a good decade or so."

He took a sip of his coffee.

"Bao-Dur killed the echo of Malachor," he said. "It's the last thing he ever got around to doing. Bet he liked it that way."

Anakin nodded. "I've been around a couple," he said quietly.

Caused one. Oops.

"I'm sorry."

Atton let out a sigh. "I don't know about any of the ones you've been near," he said, "But Malachor? Malachor was screaming, death, hunger. Screaming, death, hunger. Screaming, death... you get the point."

He rubbed his temples. "I don't know what's going on is some stupid post-traumatic stress thing or I'm actually getting the echo back in my head," he admitted. "I swear, if I get the chance to punch Gaunt's face in..."

"I'll put you at the front of the line," Anakin promised. "I'm sorry. I didn't get hit quite that hard."

What with the self-loathing and being a Sith Lord at the time.

"I certainly didn't go back ever again."

"You're lucky, then," Atton muttered. "Or smart."

"Most people don't accuse me of being smart," Anakin said a little wryly. "It was too painful the first time to ever think about being in that quadrant again."

Plus Leia would probably strangle him with his own large intestine.

So would Atton, if he knew which planet Anakin was talking about!

"Oh, trust me, I never wanted to go back to Malachor again," Atton said. "I just met someone persuasive."

"Gaunt level persuasive?" Anakin asked.

Atton barked out a laugh. "No," he said. "Meetra Surik level persuasive. There's no one better - or worse."

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NFB

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