Ye olde shuttle parking [early afternoon]

[sith_happened]

After hours of sweaty work, Anakin had finally gotten the hyperdrive working again.

He's slept through most of Sunday--he'd needed the rest--and was looking almost like himself again.

Except for the nervous twitch he was developing as the time Rory normally showed up got closer.

Blurry - Puddle of Mudd

Comments

[sith_happened]

Anakin flopped back into his chair. "You could try to fly by flapping your arms, too," he commented. "It'll get you further."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I'm not a little girl."

Someday she would understand that he got that. Today was not that day.

[sith_happened]

Anakin tilted his head to look at her. "That's not why I worry. And I don't think you are."

He didn't try to kiss little girls, after all.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I can take care of myself," she said. "I don't need you to worry."

[sith_happened]

"Fair enough," Anakin said.

Which in no way implied that he would be changing his behavior at all.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"You're doing that thing," she said, frowning.

[sith_happened]

"...what thing?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Where you act like you're letting me win," Rory said.

[sith_happened]

"You're not giving me anything to worry about," he said calmly, "so you haven't lost. But if you think for a second that if you're ever in trouble I won't be there just because we aren't...what we used to be...you don't know me at all."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"No, I know," she said, smiling in spite of herself. "But you don't have to let me keep you up at night."

[sith_happened]

"..."

Anakin needed to remember that it was easier to talk when you used your vocal cords.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"...what?"

And then it clicked.

"...not dirty."

[sith_happened]

"Now you say that," Anakin muttered, drinking from his mug.

Mmm. Stone cold caf.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory was bright red. "I didn't know that wa...never mind. It wasn't dirty. You don't have to get all worked up worrying about me."

[sith_happened]

Anakin smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "...also not dirty?" he asked innocently.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Unless you want it to be," she said, arching a brow.

She was bluffing like a giant bluffing thing.

[sith_happened]

Anakin held her glance for a heartbeat too long to be completely teasing, then looked away.

"Too much past," he reminded her.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory turned even redder. "I was kidding."

[sith_happened]

"Me too," he said quickly.

Not really, no.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"...right," Rory said doubtfully. "Um. We should be getting home soon."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "I'll fly this leg," he said.

Distractions were good. Very, very good.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Rory said, moving. "I get to look out the windows, then.

Yay distractions, yay.

[sith_happened]

Anakin's hands flew over the controls as he flipped the shuttle through a neat loop and did a slow pass by the nebulae.

"Not a bad view," he admitted.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It's beautiful," she sighed, focusing on the view outside. "Thank you."

[sith_happened]

"I love seeing you happy," he said softly. "I'm glad this worked."

Then he focused just a little too intently on the instrument panel in front of him. He didn't like feeling so emotional exposed, even to Rory.

Hell, especially with Rory.