The Persistent Song
Defer Raven moved slowly across the walkway, her head and hair hidden by the cowl of her outer robe as she made for the dilapidated apartment building that she used to call home. She went inside quietly, her feet used to this path, although her heart felt lighter than it had in some time. Carefully, the Jedi made her way up a few flights of stairs before pausing in front of a door. Raven pressed the chime and removed her hood.
The sound of locks being unhooked scratched behind the door, and a small, disgruntled Bothan peered out, her features showing distrust. "Oh, it's only you Ash," the furry female sighed, pulling the door open. "I was a little worried when you didn't pay your rent last week. The C'xons said they hadn't seen you, and you weren't in your loft. You're not one to miss deadlines."
The Bothan eyed Raven for a moment, her head fur rippling as she noticed the Jedi tunics and belt, as well as the outer robe. "Well," she said softly, incredulity in her voice, "I can't say I've ever had a Jedi live in one of my rooms. Never doubted you'd the heart for it though."
Raven smiled in return and produced a credit chip from one of her belt's compartments. "Here, my rent and a little extra for the wait. Also, there's enough to cover next month's rent. It's been a good stay, but I must leave now. I realize I'm supposed to give you two weeks' notice, but I'm afraid I can't. Hopefully, the credits will make up for the inconvenience." She gave a slight bow and handed the Bothan the chip.
"Think nothing of it," the landlord replied kindly, glancing at the chip. "You always were a good… Five thousand credits? Are you sure you can afford this, Ash? Your rent is only one thousand a month!"
The Jedi waved her away. "I made good money running and have no need of it now. Take it and enjoy." Raven left with the Bothan still making disbelieving noises, her fur rippling in surprise.
She walked up the flights of stairs to her room one last time, enjoying the solitude of the moment and the echoes her boots made in the empty staircase. It wasn't long before she reached her own floor, the top one. The hallway was empty as she traversed it. Raven keyed her code, and the door slid open with a hiss.
It was as she had left it nearly two weeks before. The healers had only just recently allowed her to leave the Temple so she may close up her affairs and return for good home, except as the Council deemed fit. Methodically, she transferred the information from the multiple datacards scattered on her table to one she had brought with her then deleted it, the copies bound for the Jedi Temple. Raven left everything else where it was, most of her running gear at the Temple from her last adventure with Qui-Gon. The only thing she took with her besides the data was her master's ratiuar.
Raven left the room, not looking back, and came to stand in front of the C'xons' door. She could hear nothing, although she could sense someone was home. The Jedi palmed the chime and stepped back slightly, waiting for the door to be answered.
Dane himself opened it and immediately embraced her, his face showing happiness and amazement. Raven grunted slightly in response, easing him away. "Careful there," she replied, a little embarrassed, "I'm still a little tender around the midsection."
Dane pulled back, shaking his head a little. "But you are alive, and that is enough," he replied. "Your friend – Jinn, is his name? – didn't seem overly confident when last I saw you. It's good to have you back."
"Not for long, friend," Raven replied quietly, her features quirking slightly. "I am to go back to the Temple once I have taken care of my affairs here. Are Ava and the children here?"
Dane shook his head, his joy at her recovery fading at her revelation. "No, Ava is asleep, and I sent the children to play with friends a few floors down to give her quiet. Her back has been giving her pain." He fell into silence, looking concerned. "I'm sorry to hear you'll be leaving."
"As am I, but I have my duty, one I have neglected for long enough." She produced another credit chip from her belt. "Here, this is all of the money I have in the world. I won't need it at the Temple, and I can think of no one who deserves it more than you and my family."
"I don't want your money," Dane replied a little gruffly.
Raven shrugged. "Take it anyway. Find yourself a large home in a better part of town. Please take it."
Dane took the chip from her and turned it over in his hand, not even checking its amount before he slipped it into his pocket. "For the family, I suppose. I'd rather have you around." A sad smile twitched around the corners of his mouth. "At least I knew if someone abducted me, I knew I'd be taken care of."
"Without me around, who would want to abduct you?" she impishly goaded him.
"Thank you for my life," he said suddenly, peering into her green eyes.
"It's nothing you haven't done for me," Raven responded slowly. "You gave me somewhere to land when I left the Temple and kept my secret for me. That was worth much to me."
Dane drew in a breath and gave her another hug. "Then find your destiny, Raven Suul. If you ever need a true friend, I am here always."
Raven returned the hug and smiled at him when he pulled away. "I have no doubt about that. Likewise to you, Dane C'xon. May the Force be with you."
"And with you, Raven."
She smiled again and gave him a full bow. Then she turned and disappeared into the hallway to go home to the Temple.
Defer Raven moved slowly across the walkway, her head and hair hidden by the cowl of her outer robe as she made for the dilapidated apartment building that she used to call home. She went inside quietly, her feet used to this path, although her heart felt lighter than it had in some time. Carefully, the Jedi made her way up a few flights of stairs before pausing in front of a door. Raven pressed the chime and removed her hood.
The sound of locks being unhooked scratched behind the door, and a small, disgruntled Bothan peered out, her features showing distrust. "Oh, it's only you Ash," the furry female sighed, pulling the door open. "I was a little worried when you didn't pay your rent last week. The C'xons said they hadn't seen you, and you weren't in your loft. You're not one to miss deadlines."
The Bothan eyed Raven for a moment, her head fur rippling as she noticed the Jedi tunics and belt, as well as the outer robe. "Well," she said softly, incredulity in her voice, "I can't say I've ever had a Jedi live in one of my rooms. Never doubted you'd the heart for it though."
Raven smiled in return and produced a credit chip from one of her belt's compartments. "Here, my rent and a little extra for the wait. Also, there's enough to cover next month's rent. It's been a good stay, but I must leave now. I realize I'm supposed to give you two weeks' notice, but I'm afraid I can't. Hopefully, the credits will make up for the inconvenience." She gave a slight bow and handed the Bothan the chip.
"Think nothing of it," the landlord replied kindly, glancing at the chip. "You always were a good… Five thousand credits? Are you sure you can afford this, Ash? Your rent is only one thousand a month!"
The Jedi waved her away. "I made good money running and have no need of it now. Take it and enjoy." Raven left with the Bothan still making disbelieving noises, her fur rippling in surprise.
She walked up the flights of stairs to her room one last time, enjoying the solitude of the moment and the echoes her boots made in the empty staircase. It wasn't long before she reached her own floor, the top one. The hallway was empty as she traversed it. Raven keyed her code, and the door slid open with a hiss.
It was as she had left it nearly two weeks before. The healers had only just recently allowed her to leave the Temple so she may close up her affairs and return for good home, except as the Council deemed fit. Methodically, she transferred the information from the multiple datacards scattered on her table to one she had brought with her then deleted it, the copies bound for the Jedi Temple. Raven left everything else where it was, most of her running gear at the Temple from her last adventure with Qui-Gon. The only thing she took with her besides the data was her master's ratiuar.
Raven left the room, not looking back, and came to stand in front of the C'xons' door. She could hear nothing, although she could sense someone was home. The Jedi palmed the chime and stepped back slightly, waiting for the door to be answered.
Dane himself opened it and immediately embraced her, his face showing happiness and amazement. Raven grunted slightly in response, easing him away. "Careful there," she replied, a little embarrassed, "I'm still a little tender around the midsection."
Dane pulled back, shaking his head a little. "But you are alive, and that is enough," he replied. "Your friend – Jinn, is his name? – didn't seem overly confident when last I saw you. It's good to have you back."
"Not for long, friend," Raven replied quietly, her features quirking slightly. "I am to go back to the Temple once I have taken care of my affairs here. Are Ava and the children here?"
Dane shook his head, his joy at her recovery fading at her revelation. "No, Ava is asleep, and I sent the children to play with friends a few floors down to give her quiet. Her back has been giving her pain." He fell into silence, looking concerned. "I'm sorry to hear you'll be leaving."
"As am I, but I have my duty, one I have neglected for long enough." She produced another credit chip from her belt. "Here, this is all of the money I have in the world. I won't need it at the Temple, and I can think of no one who deserves it more than you and my family."
"I don't want your money," Dane replied a little gruffly.
Raven shrugged. "Take it anyway. Find yourself a large home in a better part of town. Please take it."
Dane took the chip from her and turned it over in his hand, not even checking its amount before he slipped it into his pocket. "For the family, I suppose. I'd rather have you around." A sad smile twitched around the corners of his mouth. "At least I knew if someone abducted me, I knew I'd be taken care of."
"Without me around, who would want to abduct you?" she impishly goaded him.
"Thank you for my life," he said suddenly, peering into her green eyes.
"It's nothing you haven't done for me," Raven responded slowly. "You gave me somewhere to land when I left the Temple and kept my secret for me. That was worth much to me."
Dane drew in a breath and gave her another hug. "Then find your destiny, Raven Suul. If you ever need a true friend, I am here always."
Raven returned the hug and smiled at him when he pulled away. "I have no doubt about that. Likewise to you, Dane C'xon. May the Force be with you."
"And with you, Raven."
She smiled again and gave him a full bow. Then she turned and disappeared into the hallway to go home to the Temple.