ARCHIVED TWHLAY I:XXII
ARCHIVED
The Way He Looks at You Series
Act 1: The Way He Looks at You
Chapter 22: The Way He Defends You
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Story Master List: The Way He Looks at You Series
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“What in the-” Theo’s shocked voice rings out. “Oh stars! Are you seriously doing that here? I can’t believe-”
A deep sense of dread floods your veins as you hear Theo’s voice echo through the barren room. Both you and Cal immediately stop all movement and look at one another. Cal lets out a growl and your eyes widen in fear.
You can’t see past him as his frame blocks the door from your vision, protecting you from the intrusion. You immediately release your legs from Cal’s waist, landing on your tiptoes, allowing your skirt to flutter down to cover you up.
Your arms are still being held high above your head so you can’t put your feet flat on the ground, but you squirm until Cal releases you from his grip. You sink downwards, using his body to hide behind, your eyes cast downward in shame. Your face feels hot, burning red at being caught in such an intimate moment.
Looking up, you see Cal clenching his jaw as his eyes burn with hatred for the man who interrupted him again. Moving with haste, Cal tucks himself back into his pants and, in one motion, whips around while brandishing his lit lightsaber. A fierce red glow casts shadows around the dim room.
Theo’s mouth hangs open, and he has to focus to grasp and activate his own lightsaber. He raises his weapon and moves into a defensive position, but his thoughts appear elsewhere. You can’t see it, but you can imagine the look he is giving Cal. His eyes likely wide and confused, repulsion painted across his handsome features. No one speaks as the men size the other up.
You are fearful of the confrontation that will take place, unable to handle watching another lose his life to an Inquisitor. It’s as though every person you love must die from the similar red blades. Cal won’t allow you to defend Theo, but you aren’t sure how to carry on loving Cal if he kills Theo. You can’t handle watching more death, especially not at his hands. Cal’s back stiffens in front of you and you can assume he heard your thoughts.
“Step aside, Kestis.” Theo demands, having finally found his voice. His voice even, but speaking through his teeth when he says Cal’s old name.
Cal lets out a harsh laugh before speaking in an authoritative tone. “Never. She belongs to me.”
“Not when she is carrying my child.” Theo responds, his voice emphasizing his claim on your body.
“It could just as easily be my child, Jedi.” Cal sneers, his knees bending, preparing to attack. “After all, she has been doing such a good job taking my seed.”
You drop your head into your hands, covering your face at the embarrassment of what Cal last said. You want to disappear and leave the endless conflict behind.
“It’s not your child!” Theo shouts.
“Maybe, but it hardly matters.” Cal enunciates each word, his voice low and possessive. “She is mine. Her body is mine. Any child that grows in it will also be mine.”
You finally peek out behind Cal and give Theo a guilty look. The moment he notices your gaze, he lowers his lightsaber a few inches, and rotates his shoulders towards you.
“It is my child.” His words are slow and gentle. He gives you a sympathetic look, trying to make you understand. “I hadn’t realized you were here. When Cal accused me of not being able to feel you, I thought he was lying. But when I saw you with the Fifth Brother, I realized why I couldn’t feel you before, because you have changed.”
Cal cuts in, “Silence, Jedi! You will not speak to her again!”
Theo continues, ignoring Cal’s demand. “You have a connection to the Force now-”
Cal raises his left hand to throw a nearby shelf at Theo to silence him. Theo cuts through the metal projectile with ease and shouts the next part of his monologue.
“The life inside of you is Force-sensitive and I know that life came from me! It’s our child, not his! You can’t stay with him knowing this!” Theo’s voice sounds desperate, and his sorrowful eyes pierce yours, locking you in place.
Your stomach drops and time slows down as Theo’s words sink in. Breathing becomes difficult and you feel faint and nauseous. It feels like a repeat of when he dumped you. Everything feels cold and your body trembles; all thoughts become distant as your eyes glaze over. As though your mind refuses to acknowledge anything he says, trying to protect you from the pain.
Cal steps sideways to block you from Theo’s line of sight, putting up a protective barrier from the incoming stress. You feel mild relief at no longer seeing Theo’s face. A reprieve from acknowledging the man who will not get to see his unborn child.
“None of that matters now, Jedi.” Cal spits. “There is no need to cause her more distress.”
Theo laughs once. “You will cause her far more distress by killing our child.”
“Ah, but that is no longer a concern. I have made my decision to spare the child, even if it is unfortunately yours.” Cal says, and it sounds like he is smirking. “But I will offer you no such kindness. I will kill you and raise your child under the influence of the Empire.”
The lighting in the room shifts, and you are sure that Theo has raised his blade again. You lean against the wall for support, unable to keep up with the tidal wave of emotions. You know where this conversation will lead and you want to do anything to stop it. But Cal forbid you to argue further on the matter of Theo’s life. When you agreed, you didn’t think it meant that you would have to watch him perish in front of you.
The sound of explosions and fired shots ring out in the distance, giving you a momentary distraction. Cal turns his head to listen for the sounds that are nearing. When he determines that the threat is not immediate, he bends his knees further before springing into action. You wince as the blades make contact, filling the room with sounds of crackling energy.
The men swing at one another with haste and fury; you expect it from Cal. But even Theo has changed his demeanor and strikes out with equal force and accurate precision. The room becomes noisy with whirring and humming sounds, and the flashing blue and red light bounces off the wall, disorienting you.
You stumble sideways along the perimeter, trying to get further away from the dangerous battle. While you are sure that neither of the men would intentionally hurt you, you know they are both angry enough to lose focus on your safety. You make it to the corner and lean against both supporting walls, watching your worst fears play out before your eyes.
Cal leaps forward, and to your surprise, a second blade erupts from the other end of the hilt. Even more unexpected, he splits the hilt into two, dual wielding the angry sabers. You had never seen a lightsaber do that before, and the pure power of the action captivates you. If it weren’t Theo’s life hanging in the balance, you might enjoy watching him fight. Knowing that you belong to such a fearsome man makes you feel special.
He strikes out at Theo with each blade in quick succession, and Theo blocks them both before striking back. Cal spins his right blade to change his grip on the hilt while batting Theo’s attack away with the other blade. Cal stabs the newly adjusted hand forward. Theo barely moves out of the way as the hot plasma slices through the air and inch from where his chest had been a moment ago. A woman’s cry splits the air and Cal and Theo glance in your direction before preparing for the next attack.
Cal steps backwards and Theo doesn’t follow, as if they are no longer so sure about this fight. They both continue to glare at one another, but don’t move for the next swing. You watch in horror, praying that this will stop.
“Leave now, Jedi.” Cal says through his teeth. “I will not kill you if front of the woman I love, but I will hunt you every day until you are dead.”
You hold your breath, willing Theo to run while silently thanking Cal for not putting you through this again. But Theo does the worst thing you could think of. He laughs at Cal’s words.
“You love her? I sincerely doubt that!” He grimaces. “I don’t believe your kind is capable of love.”
Cal roars and lunges forward to attempt another few swings at Theo. All of which Theo easily blocks as his feet move through old footwork. He has always been best on the defensive side of battles.
“I love her more than you ever have!” Cal shouts back, huffing at the failed attempts to kill Theo for the disrespectful comment.
Theo’s expression changes, his eyebrows furrow, and he knocks away one of Cal’s blades before trying to swing at his midsection. Which Cal evades with his second saber. “Of course I love her. I loved her for years!”
“Is that why you abandoned her after using her body? Because you love her?” Cal hisses.
Theo ignores Cal and turns his head to look at you, signaling he is speaking to you. “I made a mistake and I am so sorry that my actions have led to this, to your pain.”
He looks back at Cal, ensuring he won’t risk an attack before speaking to you again. “I didn’t want to fall to the Dark Side. You make me feel things I never have before. Make me want things that question my ability to follow the correct path. I had to hurt you to protect everyone else.”
Theo’s voice shakes near the end, and your eyes fill with tears. You want to understand, but he put everyone else before you.
“I would have loved you forever.” You call out, your voice breaking.
Theo gives you a remorseful look. “I will care for our family. I will love them and you. Please, just come back with me.”
Cal groans in frustration before speaking. “She won’t be going back! You’ve lost her.”
“Let her speak for herself!” Theo snaps back.
Both men are silent for a moment, trying to give you the opportunity to say what you need to. Cal glances at you briefly, giving you a look that says he will not wait much longer before striking Theo down.
“Theo.” You say, your voice cracking. “I don’t want to spend my life loving someone who stays with me out of duty.”
“But he’s an Inquisitor!” Theo cuts in. “Your family died at the hands of-”
You hold up a hand, silencing him so that you can finish. “I know what he is. I also know that he has cared for me and loved me. Cal has given me everything that you couldn’t. Yes, he embraced his darkness, but it made him capable of loving. I know you care for me, but you will never love me the way I need.”
Tears are streaming down your face as you realize you are fully turning your back on the Rebellion. You are choosing Cal and the love he provides. Theo looks conflicted, his eyes sorrowful, but his jaw clenched.
“I see. I may not have a claim to you, but that is my child, and I will not lose him to the Dark Side.” Theo spits before leaping forward and attacking Cal.
Cal stumbles at the force Theo attacks with, barely able to keep up with the rapid swings. Cal ends up on the defensive and steps back to regain control of the fight. He cannot fight back, as Theo finds a pattern that prevents Cal from attacking back. You freeze in place, watching the man you loved overpower the man you now love.
You watch Cal take an opening and stab forwards with his left saber, but Theo foresaw this and releases his left hand from the lightsaber. Using the Force, he knocks Cal’s left blade out of his grip and the hilt flies across the room, deactivating as it hits the wall.
Cal grips his single lightsaber in both hands and manages a few swings before Theo repeats the earlier combination of attacks to lock him in place. You are screaming now, begging for Theo to stop. Realizing that it might now be Cal who dies at the end of this battle. You hear more explosions coming from outside the room but only barely turn your head towards the noise.
The whites of Cal’s eyes are visible as he defends against the blow. You don’t want this to be the last thing you see of Cal. Suddenly the worst happens. Theo lands a firm blow and simultaneously knocks the other hilt out of Cal’s hands with the Force, leaving him defenseless.
You let out a scream, “Theo no!”
But the strangest thing happens. Cal holds up both his hands and yells, your mind slows down time and you watch in horror as Theo swings towards Cal. But Cal simply steps away from Theo’s blade as it continues to crawl towards him. You blink, not believing what you are seeing. Theo appears trapped in time, only able to move in slow motion. It’s not your mind protecting you, it’s actually happening.
Cal holds out his hands again and both his lightsabers return to their rightful spot. He activates them and draws back to finish what Theo had started. You turn your head and close your eyes, not wanting to watch.
A loud sound causes you to scream and fall to the floor, your eyes opening just in time to see the ceiling collapsing down. You cover your head with your arms on instinct as debris crashes down over your body. The weight crushes you down against the floor and everything goes dark.
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