Counting Stars

[Hira Mitsae]

[member="Bethany Kismet"]

The words came and Sardun smiled softly in response.

"You never needed me nor Hal for that matter." The retort came gently, but sternly. "But I am glad you had us anyway, someone had to chip away at your lack of humor."

Humor tinted his tone. Finally, the Jedi moved his arm from her shoulders and instead offered a hand, palm upwards to her. For once Michael felt just as calm as he usually projected himself. Her hand - with some hesitation - rested easily on his palm, but it did underline how small she was compared to him.

For some reason that only made Sardun more amused.

Silence floated up, but as always it was the comfortable silence, between two people who were - more often than not - on one line on most matters. The important ones anyway and wasn't that all that mattered? Pick your battles wisely, his Masters had often said, learn when to push.

And when to let go.

 

[Bethany Kismet]

As her hand settled against his, she looked for a moment, having a rare moment of feeling dwarfed by him. Even as he followed her, watched over her, she never felt like his lesser- as though he thought of her as weaker than himself. If anything, when she was with him, she felt the opposite. Like she could take on anything. No, she didn't need him. But he helped her be better than she might have been alone.

Her fingers curled around his palm, giving his hand a small squeeze before looking up at him again.

"Maybe I don't," she said, her tone simple and direct. "Need you that is. But. I'm glad you're here too."

Lacing her fingers through his, she leaned against him again, her head resting lightly on his shoulder. She stared out over the valley, knowing that sunrise was closer than either of them would care to admit, but not paying it much mind. They'd go back before day break, before anyone worried about where they had gone.

They sat comfortably. Quiet, serene. And for the moment at least, at peace above and below.

[member="Michael Sardun"]