Private The Call

[Aiden Porte]

Naboo
Theed
Evening-1900
Jun Chiyo

Snow was lightly falling near the palace. That's where the location was set up, lucking he had some friends that were helping him with this task. It had been some time since he had last saw Jun, or even had spoken with her. The events that had taken place on Hapes, when he kissed her he felt he alienated her from him. Thus the netherworld opened up and the festival in the mountains. So much had happened that he had to take a long look at himself, and also repair what was damaged in his heart and mind. Several weeks had passed afterwards and he knew he couldn't push this off any longer.

"Thank you guys for doing this.."

Aiden said with a small as he placed a box of small crystals that he had found while searching the caverns of Naboo. He knew Jun was fascinated by artifacts and the like. Granted these were just crystals, he felt energy emitting from them. Perhaps some sort of feat that only she could figure out. They would be a gift for her...

"Are you kidding?!" Owen said with a laugh as he looked to Astraa who was sitting in the front of the sleigh. "We couldn't think of anything better that we would want to do."

"It's so romantic..." Astraa spoke with a sweet smile as she looked between Owen and Aiden. as she rubbed her belly slightly. She almost full term and would deliver her and Owen's baby soon.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Aiden said with a nervous laugh, as rubbed his hands together to keep them warm. Owen then took the seat next to his wife at the front of the sleigh. Aiden had acquired the services of his friends to help chauffeur Jun and him around Theed to look at the lights and even potentially across the plains. Lights had been set up for and wide, as Life Day was approaching and everyone was in the festive spirits.

He had invited Jun to Naboo and she graciously accept to his extreme happiness. He missed her greatly, and regardless of how she felt after the kiss. He would always be there for her. That was never going away.

Aiden was bundled up rather cozy he thought, as he checked up on the box that held the crystals as if they were going to run away. But also on the hot chocolate that was being kept warm by the thermos mugs.

 

[Jun Chiyo]

Tags: Aiden Porte
Location: Naboo

​

Jun replayed the moment Aiden kissed her on Hapes dozens, if not hundreds of times since the night of the gala. In the heat of the moment, she’d excused herself and let the rest of the night slip away… much to her regret. She’d spent so much time walking herself away from suitors whether she liked them or not, since, until now, they’d all been Atrisian noblemen selected by her father based on their family background.

Some were kind, handsome even, but it was never a true connection. Not even the most genuine of the boys her father had found were truly interested in a relationship with her and her alone; it always boiled down to clout and prestige.

Not Aiden, though. He kissed her without the promise of credits or political favors to seal the deal. And in her flustered idiocy, Jun left him by the fountain. Oh she could hear Inhye Oh-chai telling her how silly that was. For that reason, Jun had kept the situation close to heart. She only had herself to consult, and that was proving too much. Jun was just about to break down and invite Aiden to her home on Adras when he beat her to it with an invitation of his own to Naboo.

She wasted little time, and soon, she was walking toward a familiar Padawan and a sleigh reserved for the two of them.

“H-hi,” Jun stammered a bit when she got closer. Aiden was bundled but she could still see his face. He looked a bit older, as if he’d really been through it over the last few weeks.

“Thanks for having me. I wasn’t sure if I’d hear from you again…”

It sounded a bit dramatic, but she really was worried. Atrisian nobles would have scolded her for such a thing. Jun didn’t give Aiden much time to respond; she nodded to the sleigh and asked, “Are we traveling in the city or somewhere else?”

She wouldn’t mind either way, so long as she got a chance to smooth things over and explain herself.

 

[Aiden Porte]

“H-hi,”

"Hey, Jun!" The Jedi Padawan said with a big smile, almost breathless at the sight of her just made him happy.

“Thanks for having me. I wasn’t sure if I’d hear from you again…”

“Are we traveling in the city or somewhere else?”

Aiden giggled and wave her words off. "Ah stop it. You are my best friend Jun. That's never going to change. No matter what silly things....I-I do." Aiden said with a laugh, while trying to keep things as lively as possible to dissuade any awkwardness. Perhaps he felt it was wrong of him to do what he had did, it was easy to say he was caught up in the moment, if they had one. Primarily he wanted to make sure they were still good, her friendship meant a great deal to him. The Padawan did not want to ruin that.

"I was thinking we could go around the city a bit, there are usually pretty good sets of lights and such that are up. Then perhaps if we haven't frozen to death, take a ride across the Naboo plains." He held out his hand, for her to take, if she needed help up on the sleigh.

"I got you a gift, as well. I just hope I am as good of a treasure hunter and explorer as you are." Aiden said with a small smile and a nervous giggle. "Oh, and there is some hot chocolate too."

Aiden could feel himself turning red, but he played it off that it was the cold. And truth be told, it was pretty cold out this night. He knew he just needed to breathe and everything was going to be just fine.

Jun Chiyo

 

[Jun Chiyo]

Tags: Aiden Porte
Location: Naboo

​

Jun pouted with her bottom lip when Aiden tried taking the blame for what had happened between them on Hapes. She knew that it would be easier on them both if she just told him how she felt, but Jun wasn’t sure such forwardness would be appropriated… or, maybe it would? Aiden would tell her not to hide her feelings, she knew that. And moreover, her feelings were mutual - he wouldn’t be mad.

So why was this so hard?

While she mulled over what to say and how to say it, Aiden went on to share his plans for the evening. Jun smiled and nodded. “That sounds lovely. Really lovely.”

She climbed into the sleigh and settled in, taking a cup of cocoa into her chilly hands. The warmth spread quickly through her palms and up her arms, thawing her skin. When Aiden joined her, Jun scooted closer to him, hoping to snuggle up. Extra warmth, she would explain, if he asked her why.

“Are you quite familiar with Naboo?” Jun asked. “I only really know what I’ve read. Confederate stronghold before the Cataclysm and now the birthplace of a new Republic.” She glazed over the more recent Second Cataclysm, which she knew Aiden was present for. His assignment to Queen Kalantha had required him in Theed when it happened. Jun wasn’t sure if it was still a sore subject, so she left it alone.

 

[Aiden Porte]

“That sounds lovely. Really lovely.”

"I'm glad you think so." Aiden said with a big smile, he was worried that this might have been too cheesy or something of that sort. But with training with the Vanguard, opening up to his friends and such over the course of the last several weeks. The Jedi could feel his strength nd hope return. Not just for what could potentially be, between Jun Chiyo and himself. But overall for his own future. His future as a Jedi, as a man. Hope had begun to completely fill his heart and he believed it wouldn't it wouldn't ever be compromised again.

"Let's get going." Aiden said as he settled in next to Jun and he spoke towards Owen and his wife who were sitting up further ahead.

“Are you quite familiar with Naboo?”

“I only really know what I’ve read. Confederate stronghold before the Cataclysm and now the birthplace of a new Republic.”

He felt her scoot closer to him, and he instinctively did the same. Granted there wasn't much more closer they could get, it was just good to see that she wasn't repulsed by him. And honestly he couldn't help but chuckle on the inside about it. He had a though to put his arm around her, however he held off for the time being.

"My father was born here, I did a bit of reading on Naboo back when I was on Coruscant and I didn't fully get a deeper meaning of things until the first Cataclysm happening and I met the future Queen of Naboo. I saw the pain and hurt in everyone's eyes. I did as much as I could to help, granted I was still young then. It wasn't until she was elected Queen that I decided to stay and help. Naboo has been through so much, yet it still stands a beacon of hope and beauty, unique in its own way." Aiden took a small drink from the cup before setting it down again.

"Similar to Coruscant, if that is the central hub of the core worlds. I would believe Naboo is the central hub for here close to the outer rim territories. The formation of a New Republic out here, thing are look so bright. Despite the constant threat to this place."

Aiden hoped he wasn't rambling too much, but when he thought of Naboo he couldn't help it. He was starting to sound more and more like his father when it came to talking about Naboo. The carriage was moving at a nice steady speed, there was a small light snow that fell around them. The lights that lit up the streets and even beyond were truly beautiful.

"I do need to say something though, Jun." Aiden said with a smile as he looked over to her. "I'm, I'm not sorry that I kissed you. Your my best friend, and I care about you very much." The Jedi Padawan spoke then took another drink from his mug before setting it back down. "But, if you don't feel the same way, I completely understand. Your always going to have my in your life no matter what. I promise." He said with a big smile as he looked back to her. Putting her mind at ease in the case that she didn't feel the same way as him.

 

[Jun Chiyo]

Tags: Aiden Porte
Location: Naboo

​

Jun felt her heart drop. She knew it would come up eventually, but that didn’t make it any easier. The embarrassment of how she reacted mixed with the guilt of leaving him confused and painted her cheeks a deep shade of red, much redder than they already were from the cold. She put her hand tentatively on his forearm and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Oh, Aiden,” she said softly. “I’m not sorry that you did it, either. Truly, I’m not. It just… scared me, is all.” Jun didn’t want to dig into her childhood, not when she’d already shed light on how things were back home, but she thought that perhaps it would better explain her behavior lately.

She looked at him with misty eyes as she searched for the words. “When I was a little girl, I was told that it was my duty to bring honor to my family - and that the way I was destined to do so was by marrying into a powerful family of the royal court. I had to keep my hair long and straight, wear makeup and uncomfortable dresses, and pretend to enjoy the company of the noble boys at royal galas and dinners. I hated it so much, and I…” she trailed off, sniffling.

“I hated my father for making me, instead of listening to me. I wanted to study history and strategy. I wanted to be an advisor to my people’s leaders and generals, to help shape a better future for Atrisia by learning from its past. But instead, I trained to be a bride for someone who I wouldn’t even get to know until after we were married. All so my father could rise through the court.”

Jun swallowed hard. She’d already survived two clashes with her father’s scions, elite spies from the Atrisian court who hunted for runaways like her. She didn’t want to risk attracting unnecessary attention, but she had to tell Aiden the truth. She could trust him.

“I ran away. I cut my hair and changed my name and ran away.”

She looked over the side of the carriage and watched as the beautiful vistas of Naboo passed by. It was hard to understand why anyone would want to destroy such a place, until she realized that Naboo’s story was not unlike her own; a place of peace and calm, constantly haunted by those who seek to undo it. It was just like her.

“Your kiss was my first kiss,” Jun finally said. “I liked it, and I like you - a lot. I just didn’t know what to do. I was afraid, and foolish, and now I’m just sorry.”

 

[Aiden Porte]

“Oh, Aiden,”

“I’m not sorry that you did it, either. Truly, I’m not. It just… scared me, is all.”

“When I was a little girl, I was told that it was my duty to bring honor to my family - and that the way I was destined to do so was by marrying into a powerful family of the royal court. I had to keep my hair long and straight, wear makeup and uncomfortable dresses, and pretend to enjoy the company of the noble boys at royal galas and dinners. I hated it so much, and I…”

“I hated my father for making me, instead of listening to me. I wanted to study history and strategy. I wanted to be an advisor to my people’s leaders and generals, to help shape a better future for Atrisia by learning from its past. But instead, I trained to be a bride for someone who I wouldn’t even get to know until after we were married. All so my father could rise through the court.”

Her hand reached for his forearm and gave it a gentle squeeze, he placed his hand on top of hers gently. The last thing he wanted to do, was make her cry. He knew that this was something that was driven deep with her. Something that shook her, and it was then she told him of her past. Of what she went through. What her father would make her do, just to advance his own position.

Terrible things to put your daughter through, especially for such a reason.

Selfish reasons...

"Jun...." Aiden said in a somber tone, his arm reaching around to pull her in. He couldn't have imagined what that was like, and the fact that her father was sending spies after her. To bring her back, drag her home. Who does this? Why? He had know knowledge of this individual who claimed to be her father. But the more she mentioned, the more he wanted to punch him in the face.

He would take her....

Aiden would not allow it....

“I ran away. I cut my hair and changed my name and ran away.”

“Your kiss was my first kiss,”

“I liked it, and I like you - a lot. I just didn’t know what to do. I was afraid, and foolish, and now I’m just sorry.”

The fact that she said she liked him, it made him incredibly happy, but the revelation about her father and what he had done to her. It was the overwhelming force right now. What kind of father was that?

"Jun...." Aiden leaned in and placed a soft kiss against her cheek, giving much reassurance in his actions. "You have nothing to apologize for, this couldn't have been easy to tell me." Aiden took a deep breath as he glanced around for a brief moment, trying to find his words. "I'm glad that you did though. You are not foolish, you are....." Amazing, strong, silly, there were so many words he could have used to describe her in this moment. Ever since he had met her, she was incredible.

"I....I'll protect you, if you would let me." Aiden gave her hand a small gentle squeeze. "I will follow you to the end Jun, I'll always protect you...."