During the days that passed, Fane expressed that he preferred to be left alone, though he also spent a lot of time with Brenum and Trylia rather than the others. However, he invited Talyc along for their discussions often, but Talyc could not accept, he could not bear to be in Fane’s presence in the state he was in. Meanwhile, Shadie and Knarf meditated by the Sphere, as it had closed itself up again, trying to communicate with it, trying to awaken it.
In this way, the Jedi could lay low deep under the waters of Manaan, while Talyc and Nriwe outfitted some of the other submersibles with beskar armour, keeping busy.
Talyc sat near a transparisteel pane, taking a well-deserved break, looking out at the ocean, and observing the little fish swimming by. Someone approached. Talyc looked over his shoulder; his heart skipped a beat.
‘Fane,’ he said. He looked back out at the ocean.
Fane sat beside Talyc. ‘I’m sorry, you know. I wish I could remember you. I see the way you look at me, and…I quite like it, to be honest.’
Talyc looked at Fane, his man’s smile was playful. ‘You’re so handsome, Fane. You’re my man, and yet right now you’re not.’
‘I’ll be honest with you, Talyc; I’ve never actually quite felt anything towards anyone. But with you…’ Fane seemed to struggle to find his words. He chuckled. ‘Look at me; I’m a nervous wreck. And it’s not because I know you’re my husband. I just, I can’t explain it.’
Talyc turned back to look out the viewport; he held in his tears.
‘Tell me, how did we meet?’ asked Fane.
‘On Mandalore,’ said Talyc. His voice was low and filled with the grief he felt. ‘Shadie was training you while you were in exile. I tried to distract myself from my growing feelings for you, and I had almost successfully dismissed them. But it was on Coruscant when I realised that…that…’ His voice cracked. He swallowed. ‘That I was in love with you when you… You saved my life. You keep saving my life.’
There was a brief pause.
Talyc reached for his datapad and showed Fane some holoimages of them together. Talyc retold the story of how they met for the very first time; about the night they both expressed their feelings for each other. Talyc showed Fane holoimages of their wedding night. He explained about his capture, the escape, about most of what had been going on.
‘That’s pretty amazing,’ said Fane. ‘You know, I’d be willing to start again if you’d like to go out with me when we get back to Mandalore.’
Talyc stared at Fane. There was something in his eyes, a longing deep inside him that Fane probably didn’t understand himself. It was the look Fane sometimes gave Talyc, and all Talyc wanted was his Fane back.
‘I’m willing to try that, yes,’ said Talyc. Fane smiled.
After staring at each other for another long moment, Fane leaned in to kiss Talyc, but Talyc quickly turned his head and stood abruptly.
‘I’m sorry, I can’t!’ He turned back around and looked at Fane. ‘I haven’t told you everything. I’ve done things, and I need to be honest with you before we…’ He paused.
‘It’s okay, whatever it is. I’m sure it’s not that bad,’ said Fane.
‘I kissed another man! And there is no excuse for it. I was angry, I was scared, I thought you might die. I drank, and drank, like I always used to do. I got myself more drunk than I think I’d ever been. And then I kissed Vax.’
‘And then I still married you?’ asked Fane. Talyc nodded. ‘I must be barvier than I thought, but it sounds like I forgave you, so why didn’t you forgive yourself?’
Talyc didn’t know what to reply. ‘You said barvier,’ was all he could manage.
Continue reading Chapter Eight
Bookmark Connections in the Force to catch every chapter
Catch up on previous Star Wars Fan-Fiction from the Protectors of the Force series
You might also enjoy other SWTOR fanfics, Dragon Age Fan-Fiction short stories, Mass Effect Fan-Fiction, or Stardust Destinies the High Fantasy Fiction series.
Binky Productions & Binky Ink 
You must be logged in to post a comment.