ARCHIVED TWHLAY Bonus II:V
ARCHIVED
The Way He Looks at You Series
Cal Kestis Week Bonus Content: In Another Life
Chapter V: Of Course It's You
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Chapter Summary
Tumblr celebrated Cal Kestis Week, I used the dialogue prompts for each chapter.
This chapter uses: "Of course it's you."
This mini series is what life could have looked like if Reader (lovingly nicknamed "Light" by Cal) had never lost her memory in the final battle of 'The Way He Looks at You'.
Rating: 18+
Words: 1.2K
Trigger Warnings: Suicidal Thoughts
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Weeks pass as Cal lives his typical life as the Thirteenth Brother. It’s the same as his life before Light. The very same life that was driving him mad. Though he pushes a majority of his feelings away, the bitterness in losing her eats at him. It mostly comes out in his work, a few stormtroopers have lost their lives to his temper.
But at night, when he sleeps in the bed that still smells like her, he should really wash the sheets, he cries. There is no relief from the pain of being away from the woman who is saving him from the life that consumes him. Everything feels wrong.
Some nights he considers ending his own life. But despite ending their relationship, he cannot end their chances of rekindling so permanently. So instead, he pays her bills, sends credits, and stays away from her. He can at least show that she still loves her. He just can’t be with her.
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After months of keeping up the routine of his new and old life, Cal can take no more. He wakes in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. All he can think about is Light. He is drawn to her, and his mind will not allow him to spend another moment away from her. It is clawing at the inside of his skull to get back to her. So he does the only thing he can think of. He packs.
Very little of his possessions matter, no more than one bag. He looks around his quarters once more, ensuring nothing of hers was left behind. Cal exits the two sets of doors, stepping into the dark and empty hallways of the tower.
He walks with purpose, resisting the urge to break into a sprint. He only stops moving when he hears the telltale click of a door being closed. He whips his head around, unsure if the door was nearby, or simply echoing from another hallway. Too many seconds pass, his heart pounding in his ears, making it difficult to hear. When no further noise or movement follow, Cal resumes his mission, though the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Once outside the tower, Cal sprints to his Scythe, anxious to get into the sky before someone notices his strange behavior. He tenses as the ship roars to life, hoping the raging winds will disguise the noise. The ship lifts into the air, and it appears that Cal has escaped without question.
As he flies, he thinks over the implications of leaving the Empire. He will be hunted down, but not right away. There will probably be time before his absence is noticed. He can’t lead his Brothers and Sisters to Light by going to her. Instead, he will need to throw them off the scent. It would be wise to leave a trail elsewhere.
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To his dismay, Cal spends another month wreaking havoc across other parts of the galaxy, ensuring his face is seen and there are survivors to tell the tale. He goes as far as to stage his own death, force choking an innocent with his appearance and dressing the poor man in his old uniform before dropping the body into a trash compactor.
He abandons his Scythe, buying a smaller and more common transport. The salesman doesn’t question the credits placed in his palm by a man dressed in completely normal civilian clothes, which may or may not have belonged to the man laying in a compactor.
He boards the new and unimpressive ship, pulling his lightsaber from his bag. Cal can’t bring himself to abandon the lightsaber, too fearful of being unarmed if his plan doesn’t work. He takes off into the sky, ready to finally see the love of his life, his Light.
After far too long, Cal touches down and runs to the house where she is living. His focus is so narrow he misses the Force aura of another. Swinging open the door to see a wide eyed Light, backed against a corner while Fifth Brother picks at his nails on their couch.
Fifth perks up. “Thirteenth!”
Cal reaches for his lightsaber. “Of course it’s you. How did you find me?”
Fifth remains seated, grinning at the ex-Inquisitor. “I saw you the night you abandoned the Empire. Watched the murders on the news, quite the spectacle.”
“How did you know she lives here?”
“Oh yes! I followed you, when you came to visit her months ago. I assumed you would be back once you were done trying to prove your presence elsewhere. And I was right!”
Fifth sneers, rising from the couch. Cal wraps his fingers around the hilt of his lightsaber, preparing to fight to the death after his betrayal. Fifth doesn’t do the same, instead wandering around the living room. It’s been more decorated since the last time Cal was here. Books and nicknacks strewn about in a tasteful manner.
Cal speaks through clenched teeth. “What do you want?”
Fifth pays no mind to Cal’s raised hackles. “We are friends, I told you before.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t want much, only your continued friendship.”
Cal lets out a short laugh.
Fifth finally meets his eye. “I suppose I should tell you that I’ve been instructed to hunt and kill you.”
“I assumed.”
Fifth reaches for his lightsaber, grasping it and setting it on the coffee table. “But we’re friends, and you know I cannot go back empty-handed.”
Cal tenses, looking to Light once, then back to the threat.
“I don’t want the girl, but I need proof of killing you.”
“What do you mean?”
“A body part should do. I’m sure they’d prefer your head, but I can make do with a hand. I’m quite good at spinning a tale to suit my cause.”
Cal relaxes his arm, but his back feels tight. “Why would you help me?”
Fifth sighs. “How many times must I say we’re friends? You’re making me look pathetic. I do not wish for the only man I hold any respect for to be eliminated from the galaxy. I’ll help you, and in exchange, I’m sure I will need your help someday.”
There is a long silence. Fifth waits for Cal’s agreement to the bargain. He doesn’t need to tell Cal the only other option.
Cal holds out his left hand. “I agree to your terms.”
Fifth looks at the hand, picking up his own lightsaber. “You must remove it yourself, Cal.”
One nod, then a stern look at Light. “Go upstairs, now.”
She scurries off, preferring to not have to witness his mutilation. Cal activates the bright red blade of his saber, raising it into the air. He can see the excitement in Fifth’s eyes. A quick pry into the Inquisitor’s mind tells him that Fifth is not using this to weaken him. He will take the hand and leave.
With a yell, Cal brings the blade down, removing his hand at the wrist from the rest of his arm. The pain is excruciating, his brain firing the same way it did when he was first tortured into becoming an Inquisitor. It makes sense, unbearable pain to get in, unbearable pain to get out.
Cal drops to his knees, deactivating the humming blade as Fifth steps forward and picks up the hand, tucking it into his cloak. “Nice doing business with you. Enjoy your life…what was your name again?”
Cal grunts. “Cal Kestis.”
Fifth smiles, but it doesn’t feel friendly. “I’ll see you around, Cal Kestis.”
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