“There is no need for that kind of formality here, dear Kader.” Revan said, moving to sit beside her son and reached to pull him into her arms, one hand moving to begin absently petting his hair. “And I agree, this could make this very difficult for us.”
“It’s not about formalities.” He muttered out as he leaned into her hands, “Anakin is alive, my Father is who knows where, and your pet is going on a rampage.” There was a pause, “If he finds out the truth about me… about everything..” He ended up trailing off, “I will be on the hit list.”
“Obviously, I don’t seem to care.” A snort escaped his lips, “What I chose to do is not something you should consider, but rather I am doing what I want to do. if you don’t like it? Well, we might have a problem.”
Revan sighed, her head dropping again, though this time she reached to catch him in her arms and tug him into her embrace. Leaning her head against him, she gave another sigh. “Yes, I can see how that would be considered betrayal. But you can’t blame him for running away, not after what they did to him.”
She pulled away then, though she stayed close. “I’m…not quite sure I know what use he has for me that you would find repulsive. And you can’t say you didn’t expect me to protect him.”
Kader couldn’t help, but scoff after she let go. Yes, he enjoyed her embrace, but he didn’t enjoy having to be told what he should or shouldn’t expect, “Really, Mother?” He asked with a scoff.
“Do you really think that running solves anything? No, it doesn’t solve anything, and all it does is simply cause more problems.” He then chewed on the inside of his lip, “If I could leave the Knights I would, but I can’t…. you know that.”
She narrowed her eyes and let out a hiss at the use of her name rather than mother. Oh, that stung, but she was quick to cover it up. “You’re just as bad as your stepbrother Arcann. And I don’t like your tone either.”
Revan gave a harsh laugh. “Oh, yes, things will change once we get bodies. We will return and put our arrogant son in his proper place.”
Oh, that was rich — richer than he had even expected, “Proper place?” He couldn’t even stop himself from full out laughing, “Your proper place is in the ground, but do tell..”
He gestured toward himself, “Tell me what is my proper place?”
“Oh, you’re not a usurper are you? Your father and I, as well as quite a number of others on Zakuul and elsewhere, would beg to differ. After all, the definition is of someone who seizes a throne, usually by violence. It doesn’t matter that you were intended to gain it eventually. The fact that you killed us to get it has condemned you in the eyes of many.” Revan replied.
“Condemned me? I am not a usurper, this is my place, and you won’t take it from me, Revan.” He hissed out the name like acid, “I would have eventually obtained it, but for now? No, I don’t think I care for your tone.”
There was a pause, “When you get your bodies back, things my change, but for now? This Empire is mine.”
Revan turned to look at her son, a frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Did you say why?” she asked, even as she gestured for him to come closer to her.
“He didn’t say why.” He grumbled out, “All he said is that he was going and with out me.” Kader than rolled his eyes as he moved towards her, “I don’t know why he left… he should have took me.”
Kader leaned back against one of the walls with a grunt, Malak was gone on mission, and Kader wasn’t allowed to go with him. In truth, he would have wanted to go with his father, but he was ordered to not follow him, and that was something he couldn’t even deal with.
“He left me home again.” He hissed out, “It’s not FAIR!”
Revan didn’t even bat an eye as her son snuggled her, despite the fact that she was in the midst of a particularly difficult negotiations. Instead, her arms wrapped around Kader, one hand moving to gently pet his hair.
A light purr escaped Kader’s lips as he moved to lean into her hand, “I love you mommy.” He muttered out as lightly as possible.
It was painful, so very painful, for Revan to listen to Kader’s voice right now. Both it and the Force conveyed just how terrible and scared he felt and it honestly hurt her to see him stuck here as he was. However, she knew there was nothing she could do for him beyond the occasional visits and making sure he was treated well.
Her own eyes closed as she sighed. “I promise, I won’t leave you here for any longer than necessary.” Of course, she knew very well that the length of her son’s stay here wasn’t just up to her. She knew, too, that she’d have her work cut out for her in trying to coax Valkorion to bring their son home.
“Please don’t…. I don’t want to be forgotten here like the rest.” He was actually tearing up at this as he moved to actually snuggle into her for a few moments; he needed to get out of here, but the only way to do that was to keep himself sane.
However, keeping himself together was harder than he originally thought as he forced himself to pull away from her, “Just….I love you.” He managed to get out lowly; he meant it… he really did.
“Obviously, I don’t seem to care.” A snort escaped his lips, “What I chose to do is not something you should consider, but rather I am doing what I want to do. if you don’t like it? Well, we might have a problem.”
Her head lowered slightly. “Your father is indeed a traitor to the Jedi but I wouldn’t say the same for the Empire and the First Order, though I’m sure he is viewed as such.”
Revan looked up at her son then, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “As for me, well…I’m just as surprised as you are that he hasn’t run from me. But he said he wouldn’t, and he’s kept to his word on that at least.”
“He gave oaths of loyality not just to the Empire, but the First Order as well. I know the stories — he betrayed the Empire and he also betrayed the First Order by leaving.”
There was a huff, “I bet he only hasn’t run since he has use for you. A use that I find repulsive, but in truth? You protecting him means nothing to me… I will find him one way or another.”
A low whimper escaped his lips as he moved to cling to Revan, the young boy didn’t want to go to bed as he shook his head even though he didn’t really want to sleep.
“I wanna stay up!” He managed to get out lowly.
“That’s what I thought.” she told him, continuing to pet his hair and smiling softly when he pressed into her hand. “Perhaps if you do well on your next assessment I’ll take you for a trip to Korriban.”
“I will!” He managed to squeak out before letting out a slight giggle, “I like Korriban. We should go there more often.”
“Oh, trust me, I’m sure I can.” Revan replied, reaching to take hold of her son and tug him so that she could tuck him against her side. Beginning to pet his hair as she had done since he was little she continued, “Both myself and your father are very good at simply got giving a fuck about what other people think.”
Revan laughed again. “What’s a few years to an immortal being? I’ve seen centuries go by, and you?” she shook her head. “You’ve only seen a small fraction of that. And I can assure you, your father never crawls back to me, though I suppose I can see how it would appear to be that way to you.”
She smiled at her son and stepped closer to her, reaching out to gently brush her fingers across his face. “I do know you wish to leave, but it seems I am a selfish mother. You can’t blame me for wanting to keep you safe, can you?”
A low hiss escaped his lips as her fingers touched his flesh, he wanted so badly to just smack her, but knew deep down that it would only make the situation worse as he went into silence.
There was no need for an answer; he knew she was selfish, but as for keeping him safe? No, he wouldn’t let her know the answer to that — there was no need for the moment.
She laughed again, a smirk twisting across her face. “The throne might be your birthright, but you are still nothing but a child compared to your father and I. And you may have knights, but I’m sure there are still those who are loyal to us—-after all, you are a usurper, child of the Emperor and Empress though you might be.”
“I am not a usurper, Mother.” He hissed out the name in disgust, “I am the Emperor, I will not leave here anytime soon, and in reality? It is your time that is done not my own.” He ran his right hand over his chin for a moment, “However, you do have a point; there are those still loyal to you… they could prove to be problematic.”
