Coruscant- Friday

[notconflicted]

The longer Atton had been gone, the more Sia had worried. He was perfectly capable, he didn't need her worrying, so she'd been Sia about it and gone about things like everything was fine.

And then earlier this week she got a message that told her that her instinct was correct. She made sure there was a bed ready in the medical ward, she made sure she'd be notified the instant that he arrived, and then she just had to wait.

It'd been a tense few days for her.

When he actually arrived, Sia got word pretty quickly. A medical team was on the way already since they didn't know what state he'd be in, though when she got there she saw that he'd made it to one of the inner hallways before they got to him. Of course he did.


[For that guy!]

Comments

[notconflicted]

"That's specific and terrible," Sia said, leaning forward in her seat. "What happened?"

[suitably_heroic]

"I fell off a cliff, hit my head on a rock, and nearly blew myself up with the cave I was in," Atton said, because he had to be Atton about it. "Diplomatic assignment. Turned out... not so diplomatic."

[notconflicted]

It was actually a relief that he was Atton about it today.

"You do like making friends," she said evenly.!

[suitably_heroic]

Atton sucked in a breath. Weird how that went way more easily than before, and yet it still hurt like anything. "Not my fault this time," he said. "You know how some places just wind up-- tripping on the dark side?"

He'd been on Earth too long.

[notconflicted]

Sia frowned. "I've experienced it, yes."

She'd never been assigned there on purpose, but she remembered Korriban.

[suitably_heroic]

"Untrained Force sensitive lost someone close to her in the caves," Atton managed. "Screwed up the whole area."

[notconflicted]

"Was this the witch?" Sia wondered.

[suitably_heroic]

"No, the witch is Kreia," Atton muttered, "Who's decided to take up shop in my subconscious. Just won't listen when I tell her to get out of my head."

[notconflicted]

Sia watched him carefully. "You do have a head injury," she said. "Is this related?"

[suitably_heroic]

"I don't know," Atton said, squinting at her. "I have a head injury."

[notconflicted]

Her reaction would have involved more eye rolls if not for, you know, the head injury.

"When did this start?"

[suitably_heroic]

"Right after I got to that planet," Atton said. "Thought it had to be... whatever was going on there..."

[notconflicted]

"It would make sense," she said thoughtfully. "Are you still hearing her?"

[suitably_heroic]

"I was when I got here," Atton said, squinting at the ceiling. "Right now it's quiet."

[notconflicted]

"All right. Will you tell me if you hear her again?"

Not that she knew what to do about it if he did. But she was absolutely going to worry.

[suitably_heroic]

Atton sighed. "Sure," he said. "But I can, like. Handle her. Stupid Kreia..."

Stupid Kreia which was probably really stupid his subconscious torturing him about stupid everything.

[notconflicted]

"I know you can," she said, and mostly meant it, aside from not knowing what exactly it was.

But of course she had to ask, "What is she saying?"

[suitably_heroic]

"Just lecturing me all the time about literally everything I do, as per usual," Atton said.

Totally not evasively.

[notconflicted]

"Mm hm."

She'd known him a while.

[suitably_heroic]

Atton... would ignore that.

In favor of asking a question he didn't really want an answer to.

"Have you heard from Sparkle at all?"

[notconflicted]

"I haven't," Sia said, almost apologetic. "I don't know that I'd be someone he would reach out to."

[suitably_heroic]

Atton let out a long, drawn-out sigh, and returned his attention to the ceiling.

"Yeah."

[notconflicted]

"It doesn't necessarily mean anything," she told him. She was sure that wouldn't help, but it was still true.

[suitably_heroic]

I don't know what to do now. Tell me what to do.

Atton's eyes slid shut, pushing the thought down. Remember? That's what she kept needling you about.

"Probably not," he said, after a moment.

[notconflicted]

"What do you need right now?" Sia asked quietly.