boxofmisfits | Plucked From the Clutches of Death

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Plucked From the Clutches of Death

Ever since coming to the future, following the Force's whims had been something Altair had done less and less. He could still sense it, of course. Shutting himself off completely would be unacceptable to him, as it had always been his companion of sorts and while it would probably lead to less shenanigans, he could not close his eyes and cover his ears. He could hear the whispers, feel the threads of it weaving through the galaxy and it was beautiful. When he meditated whispers became a distant song, and threads became beckoning guides that wanted to lead him to far off places.

In the past, he would have let himself get swept along as time allowed, always certain that someone would be there to pick up any momentary slack. In this time, while he had faith in Thrawn's people and Thrawn himself, he couldn't justify taking the time to rush off whenever some new thread weaved itself into the galaxy's tapestry. There were no other Sith who would pick up his slack, and he had promised to assist Thrawn with his goal, after all. Tempting as it was to let himself drift in the river of fate to let it carry him to new and strange places, give him new and strange riches, he wouldn't, and couldn't.

At least that had been the case until a particularly insistent call in the Force had become too much to ignore.

It wasn't dangerous, was what he had said to Thrawn, upon seeking permission to leave for a time. Not dangerous. Not like the fleet, not like the Silencers, and Iokath. It just was. That nebulous concept had been what was most difficult to explain, really. But whether or not Thrawn understood didn't matter, because he had, at least, seen his seriousness and respected it.

Altair wondered what he'd think now.

The Force had led him to an ancient temple- Altair still wasn't certain if it was Sith or Jedi in origin- and that temple had led him to a strange place. Branching paths and moments in time. For a while he had wandered- admittedly he'd sought a way back to his own time. It would have broken his promise, which he hated doing, but still. A part of him would always miss his people.

He hadn't found it though.

But he had found many strange artifacts. Plucked them from moments in time whenever the Force felt like it was urging him to do so. Whether that was some kleptomaniac instinct or actually the Force though, he wasn't sure. Maybe both.

Through one such window into the past, he'd come across someone in a situation that wouldn't end well. Plucking items out of these moments was one thing- would maybe end in a bruised ego or two somewhere far in the past- but people? Still, it was the only glimpse that was truly an open door to be reached through. The Force was quiet, not urging him one way or another, despite its strong presence in the silence between moments and its somewhat subtle insistence that he claim artifacts before. In the end though, when given the opportunity to save someone, he had.

The idea of simply leaving someone to die when all he had to do to save them was reach out his hand pained him. He couldn't do it.

And so, outside of the temple in the dark and quiet night, he sat with the two people he'd rescued by the fire they'd built for light and warmth while they waited for morning to come so they could head for the ship he'd borrowed with the promise that he'd bring it back in one piece, without fear of anything that might be lurking in the blackness of the forest the temple was surrounded by.

It had been day when Altair had entered the temple and found his way into that strange place, and while he felt no more hunger than usual, Altair could somehow tell that this was not the first night that had passed since he first arrived. He assumed it had been a few days, at least.

He wondered how he was going to explain this one though.

A Chiss and a Jedi who- while remaining nearby- was perhaps expectedly standoffish in the presence of a Sith. Out of the two of them, Altair figured he'd have most luck talking to the Chiss, though they'd all exchanged relatively few words even now. Shock, Altair assumed.

Seemed the most likely explanation, and also understandable. Expecting death only to be yanked through the veil of death and time to safety was probably a lot to deal with for people who weren't used to it.

"You don't have to worry, you know. I have allies who will be able to help you. Wherever you may want to go, I'm certain it can be arranged."

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Thrass smirked knowingly at Altair. "That it does." He looked at his brother and saw his cheeks heating up, even as he kept that stoic look he always did. He swore he was about to knock their heads together at this point.

"Likewise, I was telling Altair how that lighter thread there is much like his own hair, and is equally lovely," Thrawn said, apparently oblivious to Thrass raising an eyebrow at him.

"I've already argued that he's out of his mind and that there's no way my hair is that vibrant," Altair said, though there was no bite to his words- he didn't mean them as an insult, after all. If anything there was a shyness in his tone, that showed ever so slightly on his face. Or rather, to a human it would be a slight look. On a Chiss, it was quite expressive indeed.

"I appreciate it regardless though. I can recognize a compliment when I hear one."

Besides Aden, Thrawn was probably the only other Chiss to ever compliment the light color of his hair in such a direct and honest way. No Chiss besides his parents and grandparents had ever said a bad word about his hair- how could they, when Altair ran the other way upon seeing one- but he knew that it had to be a sign of his mixed blood. And while he personally didn't mind being a half-breed, he'd never met any other mixed breed Chiss before, and so assumed they were rare and probably unwanted. So he figured his hair color would probably be seen as unsightly by most.

"My older brother is the only other person who's ever said he thinks my hair color is lovely. He said it in an unbelievably rude way though. I don't think he was capable of communicating with others in any other way, really."

With the exception of just one person, that was. But that was in the past, and hardly something he should waste Thrawn and Thrass's time with talking about.

"You left a brother behind in your time?" Thrass asked sadly. "Oh dear, Thrawn and I have been flaunting our relationship right in front of you." Even if it was unintentional, he still felt a sudden wave of guilt.

"You should tell us about him some time," Thrawn suggested. If he too felt that guilt, he was doing a good job of hiding it.

Altair smiled, because Thrass was truly a very gentle person, to feel guilt for such a thing. Altair didn't want him to feel guilty though, because their reunion was a joyous thing. Even though he didn't have his own brother with him, even though he still missed him, he was wholeheartedly happy for the two of them, that he could reunite them through that strange quirk in the Force.

"I'm glad for it. It makes me happy to see the two of you happy. I wouldn't want either of you to do anything differently. I don't want it now, either."

Altair missed Aden, more than he really wanted to admit, but still. His loss shouldn't put a damper on the brothers' joy.

"There's not much to tell, really. We didn't grow up together, we were bound through the Force and not through blood. When I first saw him, it felt as we were two pieces of the same soul, broken apart before our births by some strange circumstance, to be reunited in adulthood. He was incredibly rude, unsociable, and extremely violent. He was also the kindest man I've ever met."

For a given value of kindness, at least. But to Altair, he'd been perfect.

"I still don't know how I came to be in this time, but I am glad he did not come with me. I don't think I could have ever forgiven myself if I had taken him away from the man he loved more than life itself. Instead I content myself with the thought that he lived to be incredibly old alongside his love."

He shrugged, "Besides, my brother isn't the only person I left behind. I left behind my best friends. My first love, and my second, too. My people, and my Empire. If I was to feel sorrow for every single person I left behind, then I'd be doing nothing but drowning in it."

That was how he felt, anyway.

"Arriving in this time was unexpected, and there are times I wish I could find my way back, but there are people in this time I'd miss just as much too. People just as precious as any person I knew in the past."

"Even if he was abrasive, I would have liked to have met him," Thrawn said.

"As would I," Thrass agreed. "Still, I think I know how you feel. I too have family and friends that I will never see again." Thrawn had informed him that their mother had passed away a few years after his exile. Not to mention their adopted family members back at the Ascendancy, including the patriarch, whom Thrass had been close with. "And Lorana, all of her friends and mentors died in the Jedi purge." He wished there was a way they could all have what they wanted. Altair's friends and brother back, Altair's brother's lover with him, all one big family.

"We have all felt the pain of loss," Thrawn said. "I went decades having mourned you. I was simply lucky enough that Altair found a way to reunite us." He moved on to the next piece, which was a red clay urn.

"Abrasive may be too mild a word to describe how he was," Altair said, with a soft laugh. Abrasive was how Aden had been when he was in a good mood. Altair still missed his foul attitude though, because even though he'd been rude, he was that way in a way that still said he cared. He'd still try to do the right thing, even when it was a hassle, even though someone else with his disposition would just give themselves over to doing the wrong thing to make life a bit easier.

"I don't think there's a person in the galaxy who hasn't experienced loss. It's painful, and sometimes it's easy to be angry about it, to get stuck in those emotions... But it's best to keep moving. To grieve and accept that it's probably always going to hurt, but have enough hope to keep on going anyway, too."

That definitely was strange coming from a Sith, he knew. Sith were masters of stewing in pain and rage after all. Even Altair used his own every once in a while, like back when he had first met Thrawn and killed that warlord and his cronies. But had he given himself over to those feelings completely- the anger and the loss- then he wouldn't be standing here with Thrawn and Thrass now.

"I still have the hope that I won't always be sad about all that I've lost here too. I did say recently that by the time I could find a way back to my time, perhaps I'd have as many reasons to stay as to go."

He did briefly look to Thrawn as he said this, before turning his gaze to the clay urn.

"But that loss isn't always caused by such unusual circumstances as time travel." Thrass pointed out. They still hadn't quite figured out what they were going to tell the other Chiss when Thrawn presented his supposedly dead brother to them. Thrawn wanted to keep the existence of time travel a secret. Thrawn was currently leaning towards the story that he had cloned his brother.

Thrawn glanced at Altair, before turning back to the urn. Perhaps it was selfish of him, but he wanted to keep Altair in this time, and didn't want him going back.

Once they explored the rest of the museum, they finally hit the gift shop. Thrass went to look at some jewelry that caught his eye, while Thrawn looked at prints of the artwork he'd seen today.

The amount of different items available in the gift shop was suitably impressive. Both the things representing the items on display in the museum itself as well as unrelated items ranging from quite pretty to downright bizarre. Some was art made by local artists too, which was nice to see. Ancient art was lovely, considering all the history behind it, but Altair liked seeing more current art on display as well.

He eventually ended up in front of a display of keychains- drawn to one based on the rug they'd seen earlier, with those same lovely colors.

He really couldn't help but be tempted to buy it, even though plenty of other things were catching his interest too.

Thrawn considered buying a print of a watercolor they'd seen, or perhaps a miniature replica of a statue exhibit. He also thought of buying a print of something he hadn't seen at the museum, but was done by a local. He wound up wandering over to Altair while Thrass continued to ponder over what to buy.

"You really must have liked that rug."

"... Ah. Well. I really liked the colors," Altair said, feeling himself flush just a little, the purple color of his cheeks intensifying a little, and spreading to the tips of his ears as well, and he brought a hand up to awkwardly toy with his hair a little, curling pale strands around a finger. There had been plenty of other art he'd liked on display, and had there been something in the gift shop resembling that Sith relic he'd probably have gotten that too. But... Well, he supposed he really had liked that rug.

On the keychain, the part that Altair had liked the most- the part that reminded him of Thrawn's hair- was quite prominent.

It wasn't so strange that he liked the color, was it? It was pretty. It wasn't unusual to be drawn to quite pretty things.

"I'm thinking of getting one of those too," He said, in attempt to deflect a little, nodding towards some rather kitschy mugs on display.

"So I've noticed." And yet Altair's artwork tended to favor bright colors, with darker colors mainly being used in contrast, or if he chose a subject that happened to have darker colors.

"Those mugs are certainly nice, and would be suitable to hold your tea. There is also no reason you cannot get both the keychain and the mug."

"I know. But it's still early, and I'm certain we'll visit more shops today."

Altair was certain that as the day went on, they'd visit many shops and buy many things. Perhaps not together, since Altair was determined to let Thrawn enjoy his vacation alongside his brother, but still. Altair had already read up on some good shops to visit to buy art supplies, and he imagined that he'd buy a lot.

So best not to go crazy in the museum's gift shop, even if there were plenty of things besides the keychain and the mug he could see that he would like to get.

"I think I'll get the keychain. I like it more than the mug, anyway."

"Excellent choice," Thrawn nodded. He looked over his shoulder, "It looks like Thrass has finally decided on something too."

Sure enough, Thrass came over with a necklace in hand. The necklace was a silver chain, holding a small pendant with a rather simple sun design on it. It looked close enough to the Mitth sun symbol, which was no doubt why Thrass was drawn to it. Thrawn ended up picking out a book about artistic pottery, before they took their items to the check out stand to pay.

"Where shall we go next?" Thrass asked.

"How about going to get something to eat? It has been a while since breakfast."

That Altair admittedly had skipped- as usual, he'd only had a cup of caf as his breakfast, though there was no way for Thrawn and Thrass to know that, of course, given that Altair was in a separate room. It had been a very long time since Altair was a slave, but some habits just stuck with him. And the tendency to not eat- to hoard what food he did have- was a habit that stubbornly stuck with him.

"There's a café near here that looked pretty good."

Altair had looked that up before they went out. Making sure to choose a place with good reviews. But if that wasn't to Thrawn and Thrass's liking, then he was sure that they could find somewhere else to go too- plenty of interesting locations to be found, and probably a lot of different kinds of food too. Though Altair didn't think he personally would be eating much.

"There's also an open-air market not far from here we could go to."

Probably plenty of good food to be found at stalls there too, that they could eat while walking around.

"I think the café would be nice," Thrawn said.

"Me too," Thrass nodded, already taking the tag off of his necklace and placing it over his neck. "I could stand to rest my feet for a while after this little walk through the museum."

As they left the museum, Thrass nudged Altair. "I see you bought a little reminder of that rug."

"Then the café it is."

Altair could definitely go for a cup of caf or tea, depending on what the tea selection looked like. He was definitely a little bit pickier about his tea than he was about his caf, all things considered.

As they headed out of the museum, he looked back one last time- still feeling that relic off in the distance- and flinched a little as Thrass nudged him, but very quickly settled down- though he couldn't help but blush, turning a lovely shade of purple, "Yes, well. I liked the colors, so..."

That was all there was to it.

"Of course you did," Thrass teased him. "The fact that it just so happens to match my brother's hair and eyes has nothing to do with it." To think, they always said that Thrass would be the first to go grey. Technically the red matched all of their eyes, but Thrass remembered overhearing Altair liken the red to Thrawn's eyes.

He saw Thrawn's face light up as he blushed too.

"There's plenty of other colors on that pattern," Thrawn pointed out. Thrass knew what it sounded like when his brother was trying to convince himself of something.

Altair felt like he was being teased, and was maybe a little irritated because of it, an emotion that was quite clear in his expression even as he blushed. He was coming to the realization that he liked Thrawn. Not as a subordinate liked a kind superior, nor merely as two people who were friends. Not only was he attracted to him, his feelings were taking a distinctly more romantic turn too.

It felt similar to when he'd started falling for both his first and second love. And while controlling his emotions was difficult, he wanted to just let them quietly run their course. Loving someone and losing them was something he'd already experienced a lot. His first and his second love had been like that.

He didn't want to take a leap only to have his heart broken again.

Thrawn would never look at him that way, anyway.

"They're pretty colors. That's all there is to it."

The colors on his keychain, the colors of Thrawn's hair and his eyes, they were objectively beautiful. Nothing more really needed to be said.

"Once we've visited that café I think I'll be taking off on an adventure on my own for a little while."

"Oh, yes," Thrass replied, still keeping that knowing smile on his lips. "Clearly that's the only reason."

For two such smart Chiss, it was amazing how they kept living in denial about how they felt about each other, Thrass thought. He was close to just locking those two in a room and not letting them out until they confessed to one another.

"Where will you be going?" Thrawn asked. They soon reached the café and went inside, quickly finding a table. Thrawn looked over the tea menu.

"I don't know yet. That's half the point of one of my adventures," Altair replied, with a small smile. He knew more or less where he wanted to end up, but who knew what he'd get up to on the way there, or even if he'd get there at all without being sidetracked and ending up elsewhere. The Force wasn't calling him in any direction in particular, but his love for letting life lead him where it wanted to certainly was.

"Sometimes the journey is far more interesting than the destination."

Story of his life, really.

Once they were seated in the café, he too took a look at the tea menu, studying it closely. It wasn't a bad selection, really, and he figured he could give it a try, and then get caf instead if it wasn't up to his standard.

He was much more intimidated by the menu listing all the food available- and was pointedly ignoring going for it just yet.

"But what if something happens to you?" Thrass asked. "What if you get into trouble and Thrawn isn't there to assist you?"

"You underestimate the power of a Sith, brother dear," Thrawn chided Thrass. Plus, it wasn't as if they didn't have commlinks, and if Altair was gone for too long, then they would go out and look for him. "This planet is also peaceful, with no pirates or gang activities."

When their waiter came by, Thrawn and Thrass ordered their tea and food.

"Even if there were pirates and gang activities, I think they'd quickly come to regret messing with me," Altair said, simply. It was true, after all. Even a Sith could fall to unforeseen circumstances, but Altair was cautious and observant in addition to being powerful. Not to mention that he wasn't entirely certain that he could actually stay dead. One of those quirks of his life.

Altair ordered a cup of tea for himself, and asked for one of the smallest portions of food available. He still doubted he'd be able to eat all of it, but he should be able to eat most of it, at least, considering he'd skipped breakfast.

"How about the two of you? Have you decided on where you'll head off to?"

There were plenty of interesting places to visit, after all. Both places that were culturally meaningful and places where they could shop around for interesting things.

Thrass gave a concerned look at Altair ordering so little food. Was that why he was so short and skinny?

"I was thinking that Thrass and I could take a walk through a nearby park. There are flower gardens, a fountain, and a pathway alongside a river," Thrawn said.

"I'd like that," Thrass agreed. "I also hope you won't be gone too long, Altair. At the very least, you'll return in time for dinner, won't you?"

"Ah-" Altair cut himself off, closing his mouth quickly enough that there was an audible click of his teeth coming together. Flower gardens and a pathway along a river sounded lovely. Definitely the sort of place he'd naturally gravitate towards. Had he not cut himself off, he would probably instinctually have asked to go together with the two of them, but he really should give them some space.

"I see," He said, looking a little bit embarrassed, "That sounds like a lovely place to spend some time."

He'd have to check it out for himself later. Whether it was wilderness or carefully tended to gardens, Altair liked to spend time in places where flowers could be found. Admittedly odd for a Sith Lord, but he always felt so inspired when looking at that sort of beauty.

"I'll try my best to be back for dinner... If you two will do me the favor of bringing back a flower or two for me, should some manage to catch your eye."

His tone was a little playful, suggesting he wasn't entirely serious- but he was curious as to what type of flowers the two would gravitate towards. That could be a source of inspiration too.

"We can always take you by there later," Thrass suggested. "That way we can take you to all the best spots." By which he meant that Thrawn could take him by all the best spots. Because at this point he was close to just locking them in a room alone until they admitted the truth. Thrass might not have been the genius that Thrawn was, but he was just as good at manipulating others.

"And we will certainly get you some flowers," Thrawn promised.

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