When the Bad Batch first shows up in The Clone Wars, Kix and Jesse are discussing their success rate, and one of them says “it’s not that they win, it’s how they win that concerns me.”
At first I remember thinking he meant they did things that were morally questionable. Very shortly we find out that he actually means they’re fucking crazy
YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAD HAPPENED! I FOUND THE ORIGINAL COPY OF THE ROYAL FAMILY!!!
Oh pleeease Beth Munson!!! That would be so super cute!!! 😍
I was married to that name! My only problem is that there is a Dad!Eddie Munson series out there and his daughter’s name is Beth in that one. I don’t want to make it like I’m stealing the name. Idk what do you guys think???
Summary: Returning to the senator's home, the Bad Batch quickly realizes that they are under attack. They have to act fast if they want to catch the shooter.
Warning: assassination attempt, destruction of furniture, various weapons used, sniper/shooter mentioned, someone getting shot, slight talk of blood, slight moment of panic for reader, concussion symptoms discussed but not confirmed
Pairing: Hunter x Fem!Reader Senator
Type: Short Series
Word Count: 4.8k
Series Masterlist
Only a few hours later, the sun had dripped below the line of the horizon and the moon began to rise into the skyline. Though the hours of the night fell over Coruscant, it was a place that truly never slept. The planet's skylanes directed the air-traffic of airspeeders via auto-navigation system that moved the speeders along preprogrammed routes.
In the Senate District, Senator Rayna possessed an apartment in one of the high-rises. Her place was situated on Level 60, which meant it was a little over halfway until one reached the top of the high-rise. Upon entering the apartment, there was a large spacious living area adorned with fancy plush couches, custom woodwork tables, and dainty priceless knickknacks.
A single bedroom was located near the back of the apartment. In the living room and bedroom, there were grand windows that overlooked the vast expanse of the city. It was quite similar to the architecture of her office not six blocks away. These windows were installed to promote plenty of sunlight during the daytime and a scenic view of the city lights during the nighttime.
It was a quite spacious and luxurious space; a fitting living situation for the planet's senator.
Walking into the apartment by following the senator, the Bad Batch took a moment to take in their surroundings. They felt out of place like they didn't deserve to even step foot into the apartment. Everything looked too expensive to touch.
"Smells weird," Wrecker noted. His nostrils flared at the odd scent.
"Because it's clean," Echo retaliated.
The senator only smiled at them. She gestured towards them with a wave of the hand, silently inviting them to take a few steps further in. She saw the door close behind them.
"This is my place. I don't really spend a lot of time here," Senator Rayna insisted. She took note of how each of them were looking at something different. Whether they were glancing out the window, examining a random figure on a table, testing the feeling of various textures, or looking directly at her.
Given that she was finally home for the day, Y/n had lifted her leg behind her until she felt her shoe come in contact with her hand. She steadily removed her heel before mimicking the notion with her other leg. Once her shoes were removed, her stance dropped down another inch in height.
The senator proceeded to remove the tie from her braid. She weaved her fingers through her hair to undo the braid and work out any knots. As her hair began to fall around her face, Hunter felt this fire ignite in the pit of his stomach. He thought her hair looked much better down.
"We'll give you some privacy," Hunter quickly noted.
"Make yourselves comfortable. There is food on the table if you're hungry," Y/n stated. She gestured to the table where a bowl of fresh fruit lay.
"I'm always hungry," Wrecker claimed. He eagerly made his way over the the table and grabbed the nearest fruit. He stuffed it into his mouth without hesitation.
With that, the senator went to turn towards her private quarters. She did not catch the way the sergeant's eyes followed her form as she entered her room or how they stayed on her until the door was fully closed. His mind was still lost until one of his brothers spoke up.
"Your thoughts are painfully loud," Crosshair grumbled from across the room. He was currently standing beside the large window, which was an indication that he found a decent perch for a sniper's view. He began to assemble the parts for his rifle.
"I don't know what you mean," Hunter lied through his teeth. Looking over his shoulder, Hunter had a feeling that Crosshair was rolling his eyes at him from behind his helmet.
"Oh please. Don't play innocent," Crosshair scoffed. He proceeded to remove his helmet, setting it down on a table beside him. He plucked a toothpick into his mouth. "You're practically drooling all over her."
Meanwhile, the other three clones watched the brothers interaction. Their gazes switching between the two of them. They often didn't get along so this was nothing new to them.
"You jealous?" Hunter teased. An all knowing smirk graced across his lips. He always knew how to push his brother's buttons.
"Not in the slightest," Crosshair went to cross his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall behind him. He further explained himself. "Not my type."
"What? Coruscanti?" Hunter wondered.
"Politicians," Crosshair corrected him.
"Fair point," Hunter agreed. He redirected his attention to look back at the closed door.
"Be careful, brother. Don't get too attached," Crosshair warned. His voice sounded like it was laced with venom, but his words rang in his brother's ears.
Ignoring this comment, Hunter went to approach the window in the living space. His gaze lowered towards the city below them, looking at all the airspeeders moving rapidly. He remained stationed by the window, but his senses picked up what was happening next door.
Behind him, Wrecker continued to consume the entire bowl of fruit greedily. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, somewhat content with the quality he had eaten. Then there was Tech who was currently fidgeting with his data pad. He made some minor adjustments with a miniature screwdriver.
By the window, Crosshair had just finished setting up his sniper's rifle. He opened the window before carefully lifting his long rifle to rest on the ledge. He peered through the scope to examine the city. Finally, Echo was still taking in some of his surroundings. He found himself walking around the spacious room, glancing at little figurines and art pieces on the walls.
For a brief moment, Hunter silently wondered if he should tune out what he was hearing. He glanced down at the helmet in his hands, which was customized to help him drown out noises if he switched a setting. Tech had made this feature for him a long time ago. This helped the sergeant when his senses grew overloaded, bringing him a sense of calm and comfort.
After some contemplation, Hunter chose to not put his helmet on. He closed his eyes to focus in on the sounds he was hearing, permitting his heightened senses to take over. The first thing that he noticed was a soft humming voice coming from the other room. His lips twitched into a smile.
The sergeant also heard the soft patter of feet making its way across the bedroom, accompanied by the soft swish of a fabric. As the footsteps grew a little louder, Hunter turned his head to face the door as he presumed she was walking towards it. Sure enough, the bedroom door opened to reveal the young senator wearing a long white nightgown. A blue silk robe hung over her shoulders.
Without thinking, Hunter's eyes dragged down the entire length of her body. He tried to commit the littlest of details to memory. He quickly placed his helmet over his head in hopes of hiding the way he was staring at her. He cleared his throat.
Opening the bedroom door further, Senator Rayna invited him into the confines of her room to speak privately with him. He silently obliged to this, shifting forward in order to enter her room. They left the door open, but kept distance away from the doorway for the privacy they sought. The two of them turned to face one another.
"So what's the game plan for tonight?" Senator Rayna intrigued. She crossed her arms over her chest, hoping to maintain a modest appearance for her sergeant.
"We think it would be safe for us to stay here one night," Hunter stated plainly. "Get a feel of things. Make sure you can get some sleep tonight," Hunter added.
"Alright," Y/n agreed with a firm nod of the head.
"Tomorrow, we will only have one person stay with you. We'll rotate and take turns," Hunter further explained. "Clone barracks are only three blocks away should we need to call for backup."
Upon hearing this, Senator Rayna felt the air getting sucked out of her chest. She inhaled sharply. Her body grew quite tense. Almost immediately, Hunter saw the uneasiness in her expression. He heard how fast her heartbeat picked up. He was quick to reassure her.
"Not that we expect to call for backup regularly," Hunter tried to bring up her spirits.
"No, but it is good to be prepared for anything."
"I agree," Hunter nodded.
Unbeknownst to them, a masked figure had made their way to the rooftop of a building across the way from the high-rise. With a large package in hand, the mysterious person made their way to the ledge of the rooftop. They peered over the edge to look down at the steady flow of traffic.
Setting down the package and unlocking the box, the pieces to a rifle lay incased within it. They quickly began to assemble the sniper rifle, clicking the parts into place. Now looking over the side of the ledge, the sniper raised it's weapon to rest on the ledge. They focused the scope to get a better view.
The scope's view shifted past the various windows of the high-rise, searching for one in particular. It eventually settled on the right window, spotting the infamous senator standing in her own quarters. It looked like she was talking to a clone though it was awfully hard to see his armor.
The sniper took the time to watch the clone turn around in his place and begin walking towards the door to the room. He only got a few steps away before the sniper proceeded with their original plan.
Lowering the scope slightly, the unknown sniper fired a single shot at the window. However, it wasn't a blaster shot. It was a small magnetized explosive. The explosive latched onto the surface of the window without difficulty, activating a timer that blinked red.
In that exact moment, Hunter can to an abrupt halt in his steps. He could hear the steady beeping sound of the explosive from outside the window. He surveyed his surroundings, searching for the source of the noise.
"Sergeant?" Senator Rayna inquired from behind him. "What is it?"
Upon realizing what the sound was, Hunter only had one second to act quickly. He spun around on the heels of his feet and ran directly for the senator. Next thing she knew, a body had forcefully slammed into her and tackled her to the ground. She felt her head hit the floor hard, but she didn't think that mattered at the moment.
Because the explosive had suddenly detonated and destroyed the window glass. A million shards of glass threw across the room, landing as far as the other side of the bed. With the shock from the explosion, Hunter did his absolute best to use his body as a shield as he lay on top of the senator. He covered her head with his hands, keeping her face tucked into his chest.
In the other room, the other clones had seen the explosion through the open door. As if this was a battle simulation, they drew their weapons and quickly got into their respective positions. Wrecker had grabbed the large wooden table and hoisted it up onto its side. He dropped down to take cover behind it with Echo and Tech following suit.
By the window, Crosshair had the smallest bit of coverage by a pillar. He peered through the scope of his own rifle, desperately searching for where the explosive could have been fired from. His scope focused on every single rooftop.
Wherever the assailant was, they suddenly began firing blaster rounds into the now open window. The blaster shots began striking the back wall where the senator had once stood. They hit nobody.
Hearing the blaster fire directly above him, Hunter could only heavily rely on the protection provided by the bed beside him. He could hear it drawing closer as it now grazed the blankets on the bed. Attempting to keep the senator safe, Hunter pressed his body further into hers and squeezed her tightly. He could feel how desperately she clung to him.
Finally, Crosshair's scope was able to find the exact rooftop where the assailant was located. He could barely see a figure peeking from the ledge, but he saw the rounds firing from the weapon. He fired a single shot, which struck the ledge right below the weapon. The assassin quickly cowered out of view.
Knowing this was far from over, Hunter went to press the comm attached to his wrist. He spoke over the comms. "Bad Batch Plan 100," Hunter ordered.
Receiving their orders, Wrecker and Echo seized the opportunity to leave the apartment in order to pursue the assassin across the street. The two of them began running as fast as they could. The plan entailed them hurrying to capture the assassin while the others tried to distract them in the meantime.
Suddenly, the unknown assassin popped their head over the ledge once again. However, this time, they fired a single shot towards the window in the living room. The explosive latching onto the window once again. With little time to waste, Crosshair took cover right beside his brother who was still behind the table. The explosion shattered the glass, sending it across the room.
Now, the assassin began firing blaster rounds through both of the open windows. They seemed to be alternating between the two rooms, firing a round of shots before switching to aim at the other room. The shots kept coming with the clear intention of trying to hit someone.
"Tech," Wrecker's voice sounded over the comm channel. "Where is this guy? Have you gotten a lock on his location?"
"I'm working on it," Tech replied back.
He sneakily peered around the edge of the table. He pressed the side of his helmet which dropped the scanner over his eyes. A very distinctive red heat signature appeared on his scanner on the same rooftop. The smoke spewed out of the tip of the rifle, signifying it's overuse.
"West Tower Level 64 Mark 329," Tech called out.
"Roger that," Echo replied through the comms. "In pursuit."
Switching targets, blaster fire began pouring through the living quarters. It began striking the back walls, destroying the paintings, and ripping holes through the furniture. In response, Crosshair and Tech remained hidden behind the table in hopes that it would continue to provide them with protection. They couldn't hold out forever.
Recognizing that the blaster shots weren't coming through the room at that specific moment, Hunter carefully placed his forearms on either side of the senator's head. He pushed himself upwards slightly, pulling his armor plated chest off her own and peering down at her small frame.
The small specks of glass were sliding off his back and falling to the ground around them. He could feel his muscles aching in pain, which pulled a soft groan out of his mouth.
"Are you alright, senator?" Hunter inquired after her well-being. His ears were burning from the sound of the blaster fire streaking through the room next door. "I need you to use your words, sweetheart. Are you alright?" Hunter asked once again.
"Y-Yes. I-I-I'm alright," Senator Rayna stumbled over her words. She nodded franticly. It almost felt like her heart was about to burst out of her chest from how rapidly it was beating.
"Everything is going to be alright," Hunter reassured her. "I'm gonna get you out of this."
Peering around his own body, Hunter spotted his two brothers in the other room. The two of them took turns firing shots around the table they had taken refuge behind, shooting blindly at the assailant on the rooftop. They took cover again just as the blaster fire was returned to them.
"As much as I enjoy this position," Hunter spoke while turning back to face the senator laying under his body. "I need to go help my brothers."
"What about you? You're going to get shot if you go out there," Y/n exclaimed.
"Don't worry about me. Our mission is to protect you and that is exactly what we are going to do," Hunter replied.
Finally, Hunter further lifted himself up until he wasn't laying on her anymore. He brought himself into a crouching position for a brief second before switching to lean against the side of the bed for more cover. He retrieved the blaster from his holster.
"Stay here. Stay low," Hunter ordered.
When Tech went to look around the table, he felt a single blaster shot whiz right past him. He just barely managed to dodge the shot, sitting back against the table to maintain coverage for the moment. That shot was much too close for Hunter's liking.
"Wrecker, Echo," Hunter called for them over the comms. "How are we coming along here?"
"We are nearly at the top," Echo replied. He glanced up at the long staircase, guessing that they only had a few more floors to go. They had been climbing the long staircase for a few minutes now.
"So many stairs," Wrecker panted from behind him. He went to lean his body against the railing, wanting nothing more than to take a short breather. The two of them continued to climb the staircase, getting higher and higher with each step.
"We need to do something; we can't just sit here." Crosshair explained from his position. While Tech agreed with him, there was little any of them could do until the others reached the shooter.
By lifting his head, Hunter spotted the light hanging from the ceiling in the other room. Without hesitation, he raised his blaster to shoot the light out. The sharp shards of glass shattered around the light, falling to the floor. Naturally, Crosshair and Tech flinched from the sound of glass breaking directly above them. They covered their heads to protect themselves.
"What the hell are you doing?" Crosshair shouted at his brother from the other room.
Ignoring his comment, Hunter proceeded to shoot out the light hanging above the bed. The sound of glass breaking filled the room and blaster fire halted momentarily. Both of the rooms were now protected under the veil of darkness.
"Can't shoot if you can't see," Hunter explained. Even though Crosshair rolled his eyes at his remark, he only did so because he knew he was right.
Sure enough, the shooter had a hard time finding a target in the darkness. They moved the rifle to point at one room before switching to point at the other room. The shooter tried to look for any sign of movement, eyes narrowing behind the scope.
Seizing the opportunity, Hunter moved upwards until he was just peeking over the edge of the bed. He pointed his blaster, firing a couple shots in the general direction of the shooter. Though Hunter's shots missed the target, they did get dangerously close to the shooter which caused them to cower behind the ledge once again.
The sergeant returned to his position behind the bed, thinking carefully about their next move. He knew that the shooter wasn't hiding anymore and had gotten back behind the scope. Then it suddenly clicked in Hunter's head: the shooter was watching for movement.
Formulating a plan, Hunter realized that he might actually be able to take his guy down if he played his cards right. He'd have to distract the shooter, fire his shot, and hope that the others reached him before he could get away. He knew what he had to do. He turned to face his brothers in the other room.
"Stay down," Hunter commanded them. They gave a nod.
Now, Hunter went to pull his vibe-blade out of his wrist holder. He reared back and tossed the blade into the other room. The blade was propelled forward and lodged itself into the wall on the far side.
Upon seeing the movement through the corner of their eye, the shooter quickly moved their scope to face the other room. Their eyes searched desperately for a target and their finger shifted to the trigger.
With the shooter distracted, Hunter rose to stand at his full height. He aimed his blaster and pulled the trigger to fire a single shot. The blaster shot managed to strike the shooter directly in the shoulder, sending them to the ground. A wave of relief washed over him.
A moment later, Wrecker and Echo burst through the rooftop door with their blasters drawn. They looked around the rooftop to survey the site. From the high-rise, Hunter watched his two brothers walk around cautiously. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Talk to me," Hunter asked them.
"That's just it," Wrecker replied. He shrugged his shoulders in defeat. "There is no one here."
The shooter had disappeared behind the ledge when the sergeant shot him, but he couldn't imagine him getting too far with his injury. He would have seen him stand up so he must have crawled away. It didn't make any sense.
"Search the place," Hunter ordered them. Echo knelt down by a small patch of blood on the ground. "He couldn't have gotten far."
Knowing Wrecker and Echo could handle themselves, Hunter decided to direct his attention back to the person he was assigned to protect. He saw that she hadn't moved from her position, laying on the glass riddled floor and propping herself up on her forearms. Her eyes twinkled with fear.
Approaching her, Hunter heard the glass breaking and cracking underneath his boots with each step taken. He knelt down beside her, knowing that she was feeling extremely uneasy. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder in hopes that it would bring her some comfort and calm her nerves. He also removed his helmet to set it down.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Hunter questioned.
"I-I'm fine," Y/n's voice quivered. She pulled herself into a sitting position with the sergeant making sure she didn't hurt herself on the glass.
For some reason, Senator Rayna couldn't seem to bring herself to look him in the eyes. She could feel her heart beating so loud in her chest that it was almost painful. She tried to use every muscle in her body to stifle a whimper from escaping her lips so she covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself. But the tears began swelling in the corners of her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. She was so overcome with emotions that she was falling apart.
"You don't have to be," Hunter reassured her. He stared down at her with the utmost sympathy behind his eyes.
Wrapping her arms around herself and drawing her legs to her chest, Senator Rayna began rocking back and forth subconsciously for comfort. Her head dropped down until her chin touched her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut just as the sobs began to rack over her body, causing her shoulders to shake violently.
Knowing words would bring little comfort, Hunter brought his arms around her body. He had one arm looped behind her backside and the other one slipped under the crook of her legs. He hoisted her body into his arms, rising to his feet in order to carry her. He went to turn around in his place and entered the other room.
"We can't stay here tonight," Hunter explained to them. "We'll go to the Marauder for now."
"We'll lead the way," Tech agreed with a firm nod of the head. He made sure to keep his blaster drawn just in case they ran into the assassin.
"Rendezvous at the Marauder," Crosshair spoke through the comm system for the others.
"Copy that," Echo replied. "No sign of our shooter."
As they made their way to the platform, Hunter glanced down at the weary senator in his arms. She had stopped crying, but her eyes were still red and shiny from her tears. Her head was resting against his solid chest plated armor and her hand was pressed against where his sternum would be. He readjusted her slightly in his arms, lifting her up a little more to take sure he wouldn't drop her.
With great caution, the Bad Batch made their way to the landing platform on the other side of the high rise. They secured the perimeter as well. The ramp lowered for them; they ascended into the ship's main hull. They made sure to secure the ramp behind them, locking them in for the night.
Entering the cockpit, Hunter brought the senator over to one of the chairs beside the control panel. He lowered her body into the seat as carefully as possible. He took a single step back away from her to allow his younger brother access to assess her.
Now Tech kneeled down right in front of the senator with a medkit in hand. He riffled through the box in attempts of finding the tools necessary for a thorough examination. When Tech lifted his head to look at the senator in front of him, he faltered slightly upon seeing her red eyes. He quickly rifled through the medkit again before retreating a single tissue.
Slowly, Tech offered the tissue to the senator which she gladly took to wipe her tears away. The other clones watched the interaction from a few steps away.
"I am going to perform an examination to take sure you are unharmed. Will that suffice?" Tech inquired. She nodded her head in agreement, but didn't look him in the eyes.
For a brief moment, Tech took his time looking over her body. He gently lifted each arm to inspect under it before switching to the other one. After checking every seeable part of her, Tech had come to a conclusion. He typed the data into his device.
"You are unscathed. I am surprised you weren't hurt from the glass," Tech noted. The senator's eyes slowly drifted up to the sergeant who sent her a small smile.
Carefully, Tech took hold of the senator's wrist. He pulled the sleeve of her nightgown back to reveal more skin on her wrist. He pressed two fingers there to feel her pulse. He waited a minute before recording his findings on his data pad once again.
"You're heart rate is rather fast," Tech concluded. "Understandingly though."
Reaching back into the medkit, Tech pulled out a small flashlight. He clicked the button the activate the light, raising it slightly to shine it in the senator's eyes. He hummed quietly to himself.
"Are you perhaps feeling dizzy or are you having trouble seeing?" Tech wondered. He put the flashlight back into the medkit.
"No," Y/n spoke softly. "Why?"
"Hunter says you hit your head," Tech stated. He recalled their brief conversation when they were walking back to the ship. It was the whole reason why Tech decided to do an examination in the first place. "I am merely making sure you don't have a concussion. Though we can monitor your vitals in the next couple days to see if any symptoms arise."
"Right," Y/n nodded.
"Everything appears to be in order. My only concern is the severe sleep deprivation," Tech explained. He saw the heavy bags under her eyes. "You need sleep."
"I-I don't know if I can. Not after that," Y/n tried to make them understand.
"You can sleep in my bed," Hunter offered. "I'll take the first watch."
"That will do nicely," Tech agreed.
After a few minutes, Hunter escorted the senator into the back room where all of their bunks resided. Luckily, Hunter's bed was the lowest one with Echo's bed directly above him and Tech's bed right above that one. He pulled the blankets away, which allowed the senator to crawl into bed.
Hesitantly, Senator Rayna laid down with her head resting on the pillow. Her sergeant brought the blankets up to cover her body, checking to make sure she was extra comfortable. It did feel nice to be in a bed even if it wasn't her own.
"Just try to get some sleep," Hunter requested. She nodded her head in agreement. He took a single step back. "We will be in the cockpit if you need us."
Just as Hunter turned to walk away, Senator Rayna sat up in the bed. She called his name frantically. He looked back at her expectantly, raising his eyebrows in question.
"T-Thank you," Y/n sputtered. "For saving me."
"Just doing my job, ma'am." Hunter stated professionally.
“Please,” Y/n spoke softly. She wanted to roll her eyes because she was so used to being addresses like that. “Let’s not worry about formalities.”
“Alright,” Hunter agreed with a curt nod. “Get some sleep, Y/n. We’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“Thank you.”
The door to the bunks slid open which granted him access to step into the cockpit. He left the room without another word. The door closed behind him and the bunks fell into a soft darkness.
Slowly, Senator Rayna proceeded to lay back down on the bed and pulled the covers up to her chest. Shifting to lay on her side, her head sunk into the soft pillow and her hand slipped under it for extra padding.
The sergeant's natural scent invaded her senses, bringing her an odd bit of comfort. It smelled rather woody, which was fitting for his personality. Even though the bed was stiff, the senator found herself drifting off to sleep and dreaming of the sergeant.
In a dark alleyway, the wounded assassin was resting his body against the wall. He nursed the wound inflicted to his shoulder, wincing in pain. The rag he used soaked up more blood and the stinging sensation grew with the smallest touch.
This particular person wasn't well known in the galaxy for bounty hunting because he was still new to the scene and was trying to make a name for himself. He pulled off a few jobs until he finally found someone who'd be willing to pay a hefty price for his services.
The first few attempts were orchestrated to instill fear into the senator with the enemy's desire ultimately being her resignation. However, Senator Rayna refused to step down from her position in the senate. She was stubborn after all.
The next attempt ended up taking the lives of her guards, which meant that she would be without protection. This made it the perfect opportunity to strike, but now, there was a new problem presented before the enemy.
Lazily, the mysterious man pocketed the dirty cloth and placed a bacta patch over it instead. A moment later, he proceeded to retrieve a device out of his pocket. He pressed a button on the side which ignited the familiar figure of Count Dooku.
"Is the deed done?" Count Dooku inquired with a cocked eyebrow.
"Afraid not," the assassin hissed from the pain in his shoulder. "She's got a new security detail with her now. A batch of clones like I've never seen before."
"A poor excuse for failure," Count claimed.
"You didn't see them. They're smarter, stronger. One of them protected her before the bomb detonated."
"Hmm," Count Dooku hummed to himself. He pondered carefully as if trying to understand what he was now up against. "How many are there?"
"Five, sir."
"This creates a unique dilemma," Count began. He stroked the beard on his chin in thought. "The senator is scheduled to present her at the end of the quarter. I had hoped to have her silenced before she'd be able to sway the senate's vote."
"I-I can take her out," the assassin reassured him; the eagerness to prove himself was the main thing driving him.
"No," Count Dooku shook his head in denial. "I will contact you when the time is right to strike. Until then, lay low and learn more about these clones."
"You have my word, Count Dooku."
CHAPTER FOUR HERE
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THIS IS NOT A DRILL
Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...
Warning: mentions of war
Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader
Type: The Royal Family Series
MASTERLIST
The country was divided into four separate kingdoms, whose names were correlated with the four cardinal directions.
The Northern Kingdom had the most desirable and admirable land out of all the kingdoms. The location was prime. There were a series of mountains that stretched across the western part of the kingdom, which was a good defense mechanism against the notorious barbaric westerners. There were three major rivers that streamed through the land, providing cool and rich soil for the farmers in the area.
The northerners were able to trade with the other kingdoms, specifically the Eastern and Southern Kingdoms. They liked to trade wheat and silk with the easterners. They would trade wood, leather, and spices to the kingdom in the south. They didn’t really trade with the westerners, but if they did, they would mainly trade them fish and rich furs.
The Northern Kingdom also had an excellent military force. The Northern Army could possibly match the Western Army. There were thousands of soldiers guarding the border in the west. There were plenty of soldiers stationed at the palace, who were ordered to protect the current monarch. The rest of the soldiers were situated in the various towns, whose duty was to protect the ones who couldn’t protect themselves.
The King of the North was a strict and stern business man. He was known for trading goods and services to the lesser kingdoms in his general vicinity, in exchange for portions of their land. He was liked by his people. He also had four sons of his own. He would later pass the mantle to his eldest son, but he didn’t know if he was really ready for the task and duty of becoming king. The Northern Kingdom was currently living in the golden age of its time.
The Southern Kingdom was mostly known as the fishing industry. They were the only kingdom that was connected to a large body of water. They didn’t have very good soil for planting or farming. Instead, the southerners would send ships to other kingdoms so that they might be able to trade with them.
The King of the South wasn’t the most ideal monarch. He would rather spend his days drinking and gambling instead of helping his kingdom flourish through trade. He had many illegitimate children with various women, none of which would receive the title of ‘king.’
His advisors had greatly urged him to marry someone of status and wealth. He had taken their advise, settling down to marry a nasty woman just like him. Nevertheless, the Southern Kingdom was a decent place to live for most people. They did have a lot going for them.
The Eastern Kingdom was the most elegant and respectable kingdom out of all of them. The people were very smart and classic. The land had simply been an open country. The palace had architecture like no other in the district. The reigning monarch some three centuries earlier had shipped in an architect from an overseas district.
The palace was decorated with pure gold and white marble. The floors were made out of marble. The stair rails were ornate mahogany, carved and polished so that it shined. The family portraits were painted in oils and hung in gold frames. The furniture was all handmade by master craftsmen in the local village. The air was scented with fresh flowers every day of the year. The food was always perfect and served precisely on time. Each room was just as big as the next. And the rooms came equipped with an intercom system to call for service.
The Eastern Kingdom was very rich. There were a bunch of mountains behind them, which were mined on a daily basis. They would find solid diamonds and heavy lumps of gold. Most of the gold would be expertly fashioned into lightweight armor for the soldiers. They traded their goods specifically with the northerners, who found their diamonds very desirable. They would exchange their goods for silk.
The only downside of this kingdom could be found with the current monarch. The King of the East was a warm and gentle older man. His dear wife had passed away nearly eighteen years ago. He was left to raise his only daughter. She would become the very first female monarch in her kingdom. This was easily translated as a ‘weak point’ that could ultimately result in a takeover for the throne. The overthrow of the monarch meant that the land and the trade would be lost, granting full power to the kingdom that took over.
There were rumors and whispers that the Western Kingdom would be the one to ultimately take over the Eastern Kingdom. It was only a matter of time until the king was pronounced ‘dead.’ They would strike at the earliest convenience.
The Western Kingdom was known to be despised by all the other ones. The palace happened to be surrounded by an entire series of mountains. This made their land practically impossible to get to, whether that be for an attack or for trade. They were very protected. They were also able to harvest solid iron and silver to make suits of armor. They were growing in power and size.
The King of the West was a notoriously barbaric man. He was also greedy and selfish. He only ever sought out one thing in life, which was to reap war on the other kingdoms. He would be able to accomplish this very soon because his numbers were growing in the mountains. He was training his soldiers for battle, ordering new styles of armor to be made, and gathering his forces for a march. He wanted nothing more than to become the first king to govern the four lands. He would stop at nothing to accomplish that either.
Until one day, the King of the North would contact the King of the East with a business proposition that would prove to be beneficial to the both of them. They would conjoin their countries by arranging a marriage between their eldest children. There would be unity between them. That way, the two kingdoms could join together to defeat the harboring kingdom in the west. At this point, they didn’t really have any other option.
Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...
Warning: flirting, courting, kissing, dancing, mentions of a pervert, mentions of illness and death
Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader
Type: The Royal Family Series
MASTERLIST
The lingering light was obliterated by the rapidly falling night. A canopy of luminous stars materialized amongst the ocean of blackness. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence now and then, but there was an adequate amount of shimmering stars to illuminate the dark, moonless night.
The lake glistened, mirroring the dazzling assemblage of glittering stars and the luminescence from the small houses in the villages across the land. The faint wind brushed against the water's surface, the ripples ruffled the stillness of the surface, and shattered the reflection of the harbor.
The entire royal family was fast asleep, laying in their comfortable beds with their heads resting against the soft feather pillows. One tiresome soul was tossing and turning in his sleep, feelings sudden pain of discomfort in his chest.
The King of the East slowly leaned forward, sitting up in his bed. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and placed his hands on the mattress, staying completely still for one moment. He closed his eyes and groaned to himself, wincing in an uncomfortable pain. He reached up and placed his fingers against his chest, pressing against his throbbing heart.
The king slowly stood to his feet, placing his hand on the side table for support. A tingling sensation coursed through his veins, briefing numbing his arms. He grunted in pain, pressing deeper into his chest in hopes to relieve himself of some pain.
The king turned his head and grabbed the small glass of water on his side table. His old and wrinkled hands wrapped around the dainty little cup, bringing it towards his chapped lips. He could feel the fresh and cool water dripping down his throat, relieving himself of the dryness.
When the king set down his empty cup, he couldn't help but look at his wrinkly hands. He turned them over and examined his palms. He breathed a small sigh. The king was getting older and older every day. It was only a matter of time before...
The king closed his eyes, pushing the negative thoughts into the back of his head. He laid back down in bed, pulling the covers over his body again. He stared at the ceiling and shook his head slightly. He didn't want to think about the possibilities of one's life ending shortly. He had to force himself to think more positive. He needed to make the best of these last few days he had on earth. He had to make the most of his time.
His mind drifted to his daughter, thinking about the events that would happen if he were to die soon. She would most likely have to move to the southern kingdom. She would be forced to live with her future-in-laws. She would have to live in a foreign place without any help or assistance. He closed his eyes because he couldn’t bare to think about all the changes she would endure within the next couple weeks. He could only pray that the good lord didn’t take him instantly.
The king secretly wished that his parting would be painless; that the king of the heavens would take his soul as he slept peacefully in his bed. He was afraid of death. He didn’t want to leave this cruel world for the sake of the only family he had left which was his own daughter. He didn’t want to leave her, but he knew that he would have to soon enough. Little did the king know, death would be knocking on his door much sooner than he would have ever expected...
The young princess was currently seated in her father's chambers, gazing at her father as he looked at himself in the mirror. He reached up and straightened his royal attire, fitting it to his liking. Three servants crowded around him, stitching and sewing the new fabric together to the exact specifications.
"It will be any day now," the king of the east said, smiling widely.
The young princess looked up at him, furrowing her eyebrows in contusion. The king gazed into the mirror, looking at his daughter with teasing eyes. Her shoulders slumped slightly, lazily glaring at the king.
"Pretty soon," the king said, nodding his head. "The prince of the north will be getting down on one knee for you," the king said, stepping down from his high place. He turned around and walked towards his desk, grabbing a few documents.
The princess looked down at her hands, hiding the evident blush creeping onto her face. The king turned his head and looked at her, smiling softly at her sheepish demeanor.
"Afterwards, the prince will most likely have to change his title to the king of the north. I suppose you'll have to move to the southern kingdom with your new spouse," the king added. The princess slowly lifted her head, looking her father with saddened eyes. "There...you can raise a family together."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, papa." The princess said, standing to her feet. "He hasn't even proposed yet," she said with a gentle smile on her face. She took a few steps forward and reached out, grabbing her father's old hands in her own.
The king tilted his head to the side, gazing* his daughter with loving and caring eyes. He shook his head in disbelief. He chuckled softly to himself, wishing he was dreaming. He no longer saw his little girl. She was a young woman know who would most likely be engaged in a few short days. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"My..." the king's voice trailed off. He raised one of his wrinkled hands towards her face, cupping it gently. The tears were forming in his eyes, threatening to fall at any moment. You are looking more and more like your mother with each passing day. My little girl is all grown up now. She's not a little girl anymore; she is a woman. She won't need me anymore."
“You know that's not true, papa. You've helped me in more ways than one. I don't know what I would do without you,” the princess said, shaking her head slightly. “A-And I am sure I can visit you. We might be able to come here in the summers or winters. That way, we would be able to see each other at least twice a year. That wouldn’t be so bad.”
The king looked down as the tears streamed down his face, dripping onto the floor. He slowly nodded his head understandingly. The princess's eyes softened as she looked at her broken father. She reached forward and wrapped her arms around his large and round figure, hugging him tightly.
The king closed his eyes as the tears streamed down his face. He buried his face in her, soft hair, breathing in the sweet scent of wild daisies. He couldn't help suppress the growing smile on his face.
“The prince is a good man. He will take care of you, and he will love you. He will keep you safe," the king whispered in her ear. The princess smiled to herself.
“I know,” the princess said, nodding her head in agreement.
The princess's little hands rubbed up and down his back reassuringly, soothing him into a form of contentment. They simply held onto each other for a few moments, savoring the sweet time they had together as father and daughter. It very well could have been their last.
The young prince was seated at his writing desk, scribbling on a piece of paper. He raised to paper upwards and looked at the words. After reading, he shook his head in disapproval. He crumpled the paper in his hands, tossing it aside. He pulled out a fresh piece of paper, starting over.
"My dearest Y/N," the prince said aloud, writing the words neatly on the paper. "From the moment I first met you, I...knew there was something special about you. You make my heart flutter with joy. Your smile brightens my day. My love for you is unconditional and everlasting. Would you...do me the honor...of becoming...my wife?"
The poor boy had been practicing his long speech from the moment they started their courtship. He probably went through at least a million sheets of parchment, perfecting and correcting the speech to his own liking.
He didn't want to come off as a cheesy romantic with his silly little words. He wanted this moment to be perfect. However, from the way his speech was turning out, he was beginning to doubt himself.
"You make my heart flutter with joy," Thomas repeated, pondering the words for a moment before shaking his head. "No, that sounds too cliche." He crumbled the paper into a small ball, tossing it.
The prince fiddled with his pen, dipping it into the small or of black ink. He leaned forward and placed his elbow on his writing desk, settling his chin into the palm of his hand. He pursed his lips together in thought.
"What to say?" He whispered to himself.
The prince thought long and hard, running over a million different instances on how to express his true feelings to the love of his life. He started smiling to himself, imagining how happy they would be it she accepted his proposal.
Suddenly, a thought entered his mind. He furrowed his eyebrows and straightened his back in posture. He shook his head, hoping to deny himself from the negative thoughts.
What if she said no?
However, the prince's father and brothers walked into the room before he could pursue the question further. He shook his mind free of the negative thoughts, throwing a fake smile on his face as he looked at his small family.
Prince Sam walked towards the lounge chair, flopping down on it. He lifted his book towards himself, burying his time into the book. Prince Harry strutted over towards his older brother, grabbing a nearby chair. He swung the chair around and sat down, pushing his chest into the back of the chair. He folded his arms over the back of the chair, leaning forward.
The king of the north walked towards the window, putting his hands behind his back as he stared out the window. His oldest son looked up, gazing at his father from across the room. He picked up some papers, pretending to be focused on something work related instead of having to listen to his brother’s taunting voice. He ruffled the papers around in his hands, trying to distract himself.
"You’ll have to propose," the king of the north said, keeping his gaze on the outside gardens. The young prince did not look up, but he nodded his head in agreement.
"I know," Thomas said.
The king turned his head and looked at his son with concerned eyes. The young prince quickly turned his head, diverting his gaze back to the blank paper in front of him. He cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking up.
"I am working on it," Thomas explained.
"Do know have any idea what you are planning on saying to her? Do you have a little speech prepared? Are you going to take her someplace special?Are you going to get down on one knee or are you going to ask her standing up?" Harry's questions were flying out of his mouth at a rapid pace.
“I-I don’t know. Maybe,” Thomas said, shaking his head slightly.
The king of the north walked around the room, kneeling down to grab the crumpled pieces of paper. He unraveled one and tilted his head to the side, reading the small speech. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. His son's writing wasn't so bad.
"Why are you not using these drafts?" The king asked, lifting the crumpled piece of paper. The young prince sunk back into his seat, feeling the heat burning his cheeks a vibrant red. He didn't say anything fore moment.
"I-I don't want to use those," Thomas said, stumbling over his words.
"And why not?"
"They are not that good. When I propose to her, I want to be able to speak from my heart. I want to speak freely to her. I want to express my thoughts and feelings without any difficulty. It’s best that I just don’t write it down,” Thomas said, fiddling with his hands.
The haunting thought came back to him, making him feel sick to his stomach. The one syllable word with only two letters was his one big fear. He wouldn't be able to bear hearing that word escape through her lips after he would ask herthe most important question in his life. The word...
No
The young prince grabbed his small pen, twisting it between his fingers. He could barely look into his father's worried and concerned eyes. The probability of rejection was just as equal as the probability of acceptance. The thought of rejection scared the young prince.
"I-I am afraid that proposing is not going to be so easy," Thomas said, stuttering. The king stepped forward and furrowed his eyes together in confusion, tilting his head to the side.
“Why is that?”
"B-Be...Because I am not sure she will say yes," the prince said. He could feel the hot tears filling his eyes, threatening to fall at any given moment. He clutched onto his little pen tightly, holding it close to him.
"But at least you will know that if she says yes, it will be with her heart. You will never know until you ask her, Thomas." The king of the north said, tilting his head to the side. His eyes were filled with love for his eldest son.
The king raised his hand into the air, summoning his other two children. They scurried to their feet, following their father. The king looked over his shoulder, gazing at his eldest son one last time before they exited the room. They left the room and closed the door behind them, leaving the young prince to his own troubling thoughts.
The prince walked through the hallways of the palace, looking for one of his brothers. He rounded the corner and nearly collided with the king of the east. The old man grunted slightly, startled in the young prince’s sudden appearance. The prince’s eyes widened in realization.
“Oh! Your Majesty, I am so sorry,” Thomas said, stumbling over his words. He reached out and touched the king’s arm, making sure the elderly man wasn’t too startled. He hoped he hadn’t given him a heart attack. The older man placed his hand on his heart, feeling the sudden pain return. “I am so sorry. Are you hurt?”
"No, i-it's nothing,” the king said, shaking his head in denial. "I was actually coming to find you. I would like for you to give these invitations to your family members. We will be hosting a ball this next upcoming week, and you are all invited," the king said with a proud smile on his face.
The prince took the four small invitations into his hands, reading the titles of names on each one. "Thank you, sir. Might I ask for what occasion?" The prince tilted his head to the side in confusion.
The corners of the kings' lips tugged into a smile. "I think you know the occasion," the king said, smiling uncontrollably. Thomas could feel the blood rushing to his head, the heat warming his cheeks.
"I-It wouldn't happen to be an engagement party, would it?" The prince asked, almost afraid of the answer. The king nodded his head in confirmation. The prince closed his eyes, mentally cursing to himself.
"I wanted to give you this," the king said, reaching into his pocket and grabbing something. He pulled out a small velvet box, opening it up to showcase a priceless diamond ring.
The prince gingerly reached forward and grabbed the box in his hands, examining the breath-taking ring. "I-I don't know what to say. It's beautiful," Thomas said, shaking his head.
"It was her mother's ring," the king stated. "Her mother wanted me to give it to her the day she got engaged. My little girl used to gaze and admire that ring, fiddling with it on her mother's dainty little finger. I think...she secretly hoped it would be her's one day. I want that to come true.”
Carefully, Thomas closed the little ring box and held it in his hands. He pursed his lips together in thought He turned his head and looked at the king with worried eyes. He breathed a nervous sigh.
"I hope to be a good husband to her," Thomas said, nodding his head. The king reached forward and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, smiling at him reassuringly.
"You will be," the king said, reassuring the boy not to be so nervous. The corners of the prince's lips lifted into a small smile. His brow was wrinkled because he was still afraid of the possibility of rejection. "She thinks very highly of you," the king stated.
"Really?" Thomas asked, looking at the king with a surprised expression. The king nodded his head slowly, confirming his little question. The prince looked down at the ring box in his hands, moving it around slightly.
"She talks about you as if you put the stars in the sky," the king said, smiling profoundly. The prince looked down at his feet, feeling the heat rising to his cheeks for about the hundredth time that day. "You are a good man, Thomas."
The prince lifted his head, gazing at his future father-in-law. The corner of his lips tugged into a brief smile for the next moment; it disappeared entirely. He moved the little box around in his hands again.
"I know you will take very good care of my daughter. I want you both to know that I am very proud of you. You have made my little girl very happy, and for that, I am forever grateful. Thank you," the king said.
The prince couldn't seem to form any words. He pushed his lips into his mouth and gazed down at his feet, nodding his head in acceptance. The king reached out and patted the young prince’s shoulder. The king stepped forward, walking down the hallways of the palace.
The prince turned his head to look over the small stretch of his shoulder, watching the king’s retreating figure. The king had lifted his hand to touch his chest, pushing slightly to relieve the pain. He grunted to himself, hoping and praying that the pain in his chest would go away. He pushed a little harder, successfully relieving himself of the pain.
The night of the grand ball, the princess was standing in front of the mirror in nothing but her corset. The servant was kneeling behind her, tugging at the strings tighter and tighter. The woman breathed a small gasp as the forest tightened around her waist. As the corset was tied off, the princess looked at herself in the mirror.
The servant stood to her feet and approached a chair, grabbing the princess' light pink ballgown. She turned around and carried the dress back towards the princess, slipping it over her head. The servant walked around the princess, fitting the dress around her small body nicely.
"Tell me something," the princess said, furrowing her eyebrows together. "Do you...do you think the prince handsome?"
In response, the servant looked up and shrugged hershoulder in defeat. She went back to fitting the dress around the princess's frame. "I-It's not in my place to say, your highness."
"I am asking you," the princess defended. The servant pursed her lips together in thought, wondering if she should freely speak her mind in front of the royals. She lifted her head, meeting the princess's stare in the mirror. She swallowed the nervous lump in her throat.
“Then...” the servant’s voice trailed off. “Yes. He is very handsome.”
The princess's lips lifted into a smile. She turned her head and looked at herself in the mirror, smoothing her hands over her pink dress. She tilted her head to the side as her smile left her face.
"Do...do you think he might propose tonight?" She asked.
"One could only hope, your highness." The servant said. The princess stepped off her stand and walked towards her vanity, sitting down properly. The servant walked towards her and grabbed her brush, working it through the princess's long hair.
"I will never forget the moment I fell in love with him," the princess said, sighing with a smile on her face. The servant briefly looked up before grabbing a few silver pins, placing them in her hair to hold it up. "A few months ago, I sprained my ankle."
"I remember."
"The prince carried me over the threshold. He carried me effortlessly throughout the palace, insisting that he escorted me to my room. I had grown to like him a lot, but it was in that moment thati truly knew...that I loved him," the princess added.
"You must be very happy," the servant said.
"I am," the princess replied, nodding her head in agreement. She stood to her feet as soon as her hair was fixed. She walked towards hertable, grabbing a few white daisies and placing them in her hair.
The princess turned around and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hands smoothed over her dress, wringing out any wrinkles or creases. Her soft pink lips lifted into a gentle smile. She turned her body towards the door and opened it, leaving her chambers behind.
The servant smiled to herself as she watched the princess leave the room. She reached down and grabbed one of the little daisies on the table. She brought it to her nose and inhaled its sweet scent. She gently placed the flower in her hair, feeling like a little princess herself.
The grand music streamed throughout the entire ballroom. The room was nearly full of guests from across the land, arranging from friends and family. The beautiful arrange of different colored dresses swung around the room in tune with the music, dancing with their partners.
Some people stood off the to side, watching the younger people dance with a kick in their step. The rich champagne was passed around the room on silver platters from the servants, offering each guest a glass.
As the music dialed down and the song ended, the princess looked down at the small tag attached to her wrist. She narrowed her eyes, reading off the next person she was supposed to dance with. She looked around the room before spotting a tall man walking towards her; her partner for the next dance. She politely curtsied, and he bowed his head in response.
The music started up, the violins and flutes singing their own little tunes happily. The people danced in time with the music, swaying around with their partner. As they held each other for the dance, the man couldn't help but drink in the princess's breath-taking appearance.
On more than one occasion, the perverted man looked down at the princess's cleavage, sneaking a little peek. His one wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. The princess was more than uncomfortable in this situation. His breath reeked of the alcohol that lingered on his lips. ››
The prince could not keep his eyes off the young princess. Though he wanted to spend time with her, he had not reserved a dance with his lover. Not even one.
The various people crowding the room, talked amongst themselves. They were mostly talking about the young couple, spreading gossip and talking nonsense with each other.
The two kings turned their heads and looked at the prince who was staring at his lover from across the room. The king of the east smiled to himself, looking at his future son-in-law. He nodded his head in approval.
"He is such a fine looking boy," the king said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Yes, he is," the prince's father said, nodding his head in agreement. The man couldn't help but smile, gazing at his eldest child with the utmost pride swelling in his heart.
Some eldedy ladies were standing across the room, whispering amongst themselves about the young prince. The three ladies leaned closer together, talking of nothing but pure gossip.
"Do you see how he is gazing at her?" One of the duchesses said with a giddy smile on her old face. The two other ladies nodded their heads in agreement.
"What is he gazing at though? Is he gazing at a princess or a future spouse?" The other elderly woman said. The ladies chatted amongst themselves, talking about the prince and the princess.
The prince watched from afar, observing each dance carefully. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, looking at the perverted man trying to get under the princess's skirt. But he wouldn't have that happen.
"The princess looks uncomfortable," a woman said, whispering to her friend. The prince turned his head slightly, listening in on their private conversation. The other woman nodded her head, stuffing a little cake into her mouth in the process.
“She has a courter. Why is she dancing with all these men then?" The other woman asked, shaking her head and eating another little cake happily. The woman shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
"It's not required that she dance with her courter for every dance. She can dance with anyone she likes. I have heard that the prince of the south was supposed to propose tonight," the woman gossiped.
"Really? That can't be!"
"It's true. I heard it from the king myself," the lady said, lying to her friend's face. "Personally, I think that the prince backed out of the proposal. He got cold feet, and he decided that he wasn't going to ask her after all. That's why he isn't dancing with her. He probably doesn't even love her anymore," the lady said, scoffing slightly.
The prince clenched his fists in anger, spinning around to glare at the two women. The ladies froze in their place, seeing the young prince standing before them. Thier mouth's dropped open, and their eyes widened in disbelief.
“Y-Your Highness,” they said, simultaneously curtsying. They kept their heads low for they were ashamed to even look the royal in the eye. The man gritted his teeth together before speaking to them.
“You...have no idea how much I love that woman,” the prince said angrily.
“O-Of course, your highness. W-We were foolish to think otherwise. We do apologize,” one of the ladies said, fumbling over her words. She nudged the other woman in the stomach.
“Y-Yes. We do apologize,” the other one said.
"I do not want to see you two ever again. Begone with you," the prince said, throwing his hand into the air. The two ladies were quietly escorted out of the palace by the guards, never to set foot in it again.
The prince turned around and looked at his lover, making sure she was still there. In response, Thomas's eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight before him. He clenched his fists together upon seeing the strange man with his grubby hands all over the princess.
Suddenly, the man's hand sneaked a little lower than need be. He was nearly groping at the princess's arse. The prince could hear a number of women gasping in disbelief around him, saying that the strange man's actions were quite scandalist.
The princess's eyes widened in lean She squirmed around in the mans embrace, desperate to get away from him. He squeezed her tighter, pulling a small yelp out of her.
That was his breaking point. The prince charged up towards the man and placed his hand on his shoulder, pulling him away from the princess. He stumbled back slightly, clearly drunk out of his mind.
The music slowly dialed down. An awkward silence stretched throughout the room with all eyes on the little accident. The prince looked around before nodding his head at some guards. They walked towards them, bowing their heads politely.
"I want you to escort this man out of the palace," Thomas said quietly so nobody could hear him. The two guards nodded their heads and stepped forward, grabbing the strange man. They dragged him away from the party, forcing him to leave the palace for good.
The man argued with the guards, saying that he was a duke of the west and that they had no right to throw him out. The guards ignored his ranting nonsense and forcefully shoved him out of the grand palace.
A soft, familiar tune streamed through the air as the musicians started playing a waltz. The prince quickly stepped forward, looking at his lover with concerned eyes. She placed her hand on his arm, smiling at him reassuringly.
"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" The prince asked.
"No, I am fine. Thanks to you," the princess said. Their lips tugged into a smile. The prince looked down at his feet, contemplating whether or not he should ask her to dance with him.
"May I have the pleasure?" Thomas asked, reaching out a hand. The princess looked down at her small tag before looking around the room. She nodded her head hesitantly, making sure nobody was suppose to dance with her.
“I believe this one is free,” she said.
The princess reached out and took hold of the prince's hand. He led hertowards the center of the room, wrapping his arm around her waist and slowly pulling her closer into his embrace. Their hands entwined together. His other hand rested on her hip while her other hand rested on his shoulder. They swayed to the music.
"You dance beautifully," Y/N said, furrowing her eyebrows in slight confusion. She didn't know that he could dance, let alone very good. They swayed in tune with the music, dancing with each other happily.
"I think...before...l was afraid," Thomas admitted. His voice was low and deep, coming out in a whisper. The princess furrowed her eyebrows together in confusion, looking at the prince questionably.
"Afraid?"
"I was afraid of humiliating myself in front of you. I didn't want to step on your little toes,” he whispered, leaning closer. “Sometimes...it can be hard to find the right rhythm, but not with you.”
“Thomas,” the princess whispered.
“Come with me,” the prince said, pulling away from her. He reached out and offered his hand which she gladly took hold of. The prince led the princess away from the party, leaving the palace to go and walk through the gardens.
"Where are we going?" The princess asked, feeling the darkness surround her. He pulled her through the gardens until they came across the fountain. They turned their heads and looked at the palace from afar. Nobody seemed to notice their sudden disappearance. "What are we doing out here?"
"There is something I need to ask you Thomas said. The princess placed her hands on her ones, hoping to bring herself some form of warmth. Her lips parted slightly.
"I...I-I...I-I..." the prince couldn't seem to form any words. His breath had caught in his throat, preventing him from speaking another word. He thought fore moment, collecting his words.
Instinctively, Thomas reached forward and cupped Y/N's face in his hands. He quickly leaned down and smashed his lips against hers. She stumbled back, taken back slightly by his sudden actions.
Slowly, she melted into the kiss. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His arms laced around her waist, holding her against his body. He tilted his head to the side, deepening their connection.
When they pulled apart, the princess panted heavily in hopes to regain her breath. The prince leaned forward, pressing his head against hers. He stared at her lips, thinking of how badly he wanted to kiss her lips again.
"I love you."
Those three little words effortlessly rolled off his tongue. The princess pulled away from him, staring up at him with disbelief. Her lips were slightly parted. She blinked a few times, pondering his words.
"W-What?" Her voice quivered.
"I love you," he said. His voice did not waver once. It was steady, solid. He looked her straight in the eyes. He wasn't lying at all. He meant it. He really did love her with all of his heart
The salty tears streamed in the princess's eyes. A small smile stretched across her face. "I love you too," she said. The prince lifted his head and looked at her surprised.
"You do?"
"Yes," the princess said, nodding her head. The prince reached forward and cupped her face in his hands, feeling the tears begin to fill his eyes. His tears blurred and clouded his vision, but he needed to speak his mind.
"When I say I love you more, I do not mean I love you more than you love me. I mean I love you more than the bad days ahead of us. I love you more than any fight we will ever have. I love you more than the distance between us. I love you more than any obstacle that could try and come between us. I love you with my whole heart," the prince said, looking her in the eyes.
"Thomas," she said with a broad smile on her face. The tears in her eyes streamed down her face, dripping onto the flooring beneath them. The prince shook his head, silencing her with a simple gesture. He wasn't done yet.
"Ever since I met you, nobody else is worth thinking about. I always think of you before I fall asleep. The words you have said, the way you looked. The things we laughed about, the silent moments we shared together. And when I dream, I dream of you. Because its about you. It has always been about you,” Thomas added.
The smile on her face only grew with each words corning out of his mouth. He used his thumb to wipe away her happy tears. She reached up and grasped onto his wrist, holding it in place as he continued speaking.
"I may not get to see you as often as I like. I may not get to hold you in my arms all through the night. But deep in my heart, I truly know you're the one that I love. You are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. And I can't let you go because I love you with all my heart," he said.
The princess closed her eyes, pushing the tears down her face. The prince dipped his head down and looked her in the eyes as soon as she opened them again. He smiled down at her.
"Something tells me that I am going to love you forever. I don't think I will ever stop loving you. You are my future. You are my life now. A-And I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he said.
Slowly, the prince lowered himself to the floor, getting down on one knee. The princess smiled uncontrollably, holding his hands in her own. The prince reached into his pocket and pulled out the black velvet box, holding it in front of her. He opened the box, drawing a small gasp from her lips.
"Thomas!"
She had recognized the ring. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was slightly open, staring at the ring with disbelief. The prince smiled at her little reaction, finding it the cutest thing on earth.
"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
The princess nodded her head in response. The tears were effortlessly streaming down her face for she almost couldn't control herself. "Yes," she said happily. The prince straightened his back in posture upon hewing her positive response.
“Come here, darling.”
The princess moved slightly, sitting down on his perched knee. He carefully pulled the ring out the box before sliding it onto her dainty little finger. She covered her mouth, admiring the ring's stunning beauty. It was a perfect fit.
The young woman turned her head and wrapped her arms around the were neck, pressing her lips against his. She was still crying out of pure joy and happiness. They pulled away from each other. She rested her newly dassled hand on his chest, staring into his chocolate brown eyes.
"I love you,' she whispered.
"I love you," the prince said. They wrapped their arms around each other's figure, holding one another dose to their bodies. They buried their faces into the crook of each other's neck, breathing in their intoxicating scent. They stayed there for what seemed like an eternity, embracing each other like a lifeline. What a way to end the night...
The celebration had ended hours ago. The young couple finally showed up near the end. They walked towards the front of the room and gathered everyone's attention, publicly announcing their engagement. The people were beyond thrilled, expressing their congratulations throughout the rest of the night.
A few hours later, the guests had left the palace. The servants were currently cleaning up the mess downstairs while the royals were all fast asleep in their own cozy beds. The night was quiet, peaceful, tranquil.
The king of the north felts sudden tight pain in his chest, stronger than ever before. He gasped for air, clutching his chest in attempts to relieve himself of the unbearable pain. The pain was overwhelming, draining the king's life.
The elderly man wheezed for air as he slowly lost feeling in his body. A final breath escaped his lips before the pain came to a halting stop. The king's eyes were wide open, staring at the ceiling of his chambers. The life drained from his eyes. His soul had left his body in the most painful way possible. He didn't think that death would be knocking on his door to soon. The king of the north was dead. He only wished he had said goodbye...
Can this short summary rejog anyone’s memory? I know it’s a long shot but I’m having problem remembering...
Summary: Peter Parker’s childhood best friend is an artist, she paints and draws like an expert despite being blind. When an opportunity arises for her to undergo a surgery to give her back her eyesight, it takes Peter to convince her to actually go through with it…
Can I be added to the Baby Munson taglist please??
Absolutely!!!