Ye old shuttle parking [early afternoon]

[sith_happened]

Not that he thought Lucas might be right--at all--but it never hurt to give the shuttle a complete inspection every week.

And a new coat of wax.

Though the "crooning to it" part he was engaged in at the moment was strictly optional.

And frankly, pretty dorky.

[OOC: For the omgjustafriend, plz.]

Comments

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Rory said, flying even slower and more carefully than usual.

[sith_happened]

And if his hand twitched out occasionally to move some of the larger, scarier asteroids out of the way, he certainly wasn't calling attention to it.

"You're doing very well," he said with a small smile.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"You really think so?" Rory asked happily.

[sith_happened]

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't," Anakin said, giving her a shy smile.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Yay," Rory said contentedly, feeling herself blush.

[sith_happened]

"You're cheeks are pink," Anakin noted.

Nothing got past him, nope.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"My cheeks are often pink. I would think you'd be used to that by now."

[sith_happened]

"I used to think I knew why," he said, biting his lip.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Same reason," she said, concentrating on her flying. "Just because I'm being smart about this doesn't mean my body is listening to me."

[sith_happened]

Ouch.

Anakin turned his head away and held in a sigh. Why do you have to be smart about it? he murmured in her head, just loud enough to be heard.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Because that's what I do, she replied softly. Doesn't mean it's easy.

[sith_happened]

When have we ever done easy? he asked.

So much for his promise to Aeryn not to push this any more.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

You have no idea how much I want --

Rory's cheeks heated even more.

...we've never done easy.

[sith_happened]

Anakin's eyes locked on hers, everything he wasn't ready to say--or even think--there to see in his expression.

"I'll stop asking, then," he said, voice resigned.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"It's better this way."

She didn't really believe that.

[sith_happened]

He didn't either, but he'd gone about as far out on a limb as he was willing to without getting a response.

He turned away again and rubbed at the sudden headache springing between his eyes.

"Yeah," he said softly. "Jupiter should be coming up in the next few fifteen minutes if you push the engines a bit more, now that we're out of the asteroid belt."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"You want me to go faster?" Rory tried for levity. "You've met me, right?"

[sith_happened]

Anakin really, really tried to smile. "I'd like to get back to school before I'm old enough to legitimately have grandchildren," he teased.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Technically you could if Luke was...ew, no, can't think about Luke. Sex is now ruined forever," Rory said, still trying to lighten things up.

[sith_happened]

Anakin looked incredibly weirded out. "Well, now it is," he pouted. "Ew."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory laughed.

Problem solved, then, she whispered warmly in his mind, and it was pretty obvious that Rory wanted to look anywhere but at him.

[sith_happened]

Anakin cracked up despite himself. "I've been celibate for almost nineteen years," he snorted. "I'm good for at least another twenty now. Thanks for nothing."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"...it's only been since August for me, and my hormones are killing me," Rory blurted out, staring at him. Her cheeks flamed up, but she ignored it. "Poor you."

[sith_happened]

"Like anyone was going to sleep with Darth Vader," Anakin said, rolling his eyes.

And blushing to his ears.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"You aren't Vader anymore."

Pause.

"...um, look at the stars. They're pretty."