Private Trapped

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

It was finally quiet at the Noble home.

The triplets and Eryx were asleep, and the other kids were all at the Temple or away on assignments. It was a much-needed moment of solace after the battle on Coruscant, which had left her bruised and exhausted. Every battle took its toll on the body and mind, but she had never expected something this severe to occur. Her enemy hadn't just been another Sith blindly following a Dark ruler — he was the son of the greatest enemy she had ever fought and taken down. That connection to Kyrel Ren had caused an unexpected problem and she still wasn't sure how to address it.

Then there was the death of Romi Jade .

Alone on the couch, Valery pulled a pillow tightly against her chest and tried her best not to tear up. Moments like these, when she was left alone with her thoughts and demons, were the hardest to get through. Usually, she'd find her comfort and strength in her husband when she felt her own control slipping away, but she knew he was kept busy with the defense of Alliance territory and she didn't want to bother him.

She just wished he'd make it home.

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

It'd taken him too long to get back.

Not literally, of course. The moment he knew Valery was finally heading home from Coruscant he'd taken the Bastion from the frontlines to immediately get home to be with her. Even as he made his way off the ship in a light jog or more full sprint inside. He said nothing and just lifted Valery up in his arms in a tight, firm hug. The kind that fully pulled her from her feet and into his arms.

"I'm sorry, Val."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

The Landing pad had been carefully placed away from their home to prevent the loud engines of the Bastion from waking up the kids if they came home late at night. So it wasn't until Kahlil reached the front door, that Valery knew he was home. Normally, she'd have sensed him long before he even reached the planet, but Coruscant had weakened her senses. Even their bond had felt more difficult to focus on.

But when the door was flung open, she knew.

Before she could utter a word, Kahlil had closed the distance and pulled her up from the couch. The pillow she had hugged against her body fell to the floor, but she paid no attention to it. Her arms wrapped around him and she buried her face into his neck to hide her pain. Even though she knew that she couldn't ever hide anything from him.

"She's gone," Valery whispered, "She's gone and I'm..." She swallowed hard and focused on her breathing to avoid her voice from cracking. There was so much she wanted to say, but she could only manage one thing for now.

"I'm glad you're home."

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I know."

Kahlil tightened his hold around Valery, hugging her firmly, protectively, to him. Romi and him hadn't talked much at all recently, but she was still his friend. Still one of the few Jedi who accepted him on his path early on. He'd felt her passing, in a war he hadn't been there to fight in. What he had been doing was just as important, to ensure their young were safe, to ensure the Dark Empire wasn't going to use them against the Jedi on Coruscant.

His grip lessened a little so he could reach a hand up to hold her cheek. Leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"I'm home, my love."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

She felt safe within his arms.

Kahlil tightened his hug and for once, she didn't protest at all. The pain of losing Romi and the scars her own battle had left on her mind and soul were too intense to address alone, and his embrace reassured her that she'd always be able to rely on him. That tomorrow wasn't lost, as long as they stood together.

"Are you okay?" she finally asked, as he eased up and reached for her cheek. She leaned into him, embracing the warmth of his palm as it spread through her cheek. The kiss against her forehead was a soothing touch and with her head gently resting against his chest, she found comfort in his steady heartbeat as well.

"I have a lot I want to talk about but first... I want to make sure you're okay." Her chin rose, so she could look him in the eyes, and a faint smile began to tug on her lips. She knew he'd put her well-being before anything else, but she didn't want him to neglect how he felt.

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I am saddened by the loss of our friends, but I'm alright. They didn't come after the younglings, likely because they didn't know fully where they were." He did not like being away from the battle, but at the same time he knew he had to. Jonyna Si was more than capable of defending the temple in his absence, after all. Right now, she was the one who was hurt. The fact he couldn't even just appear by her side as he always did to help was frustrating alone.

But she was here now.

"Tell me what happened."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"That's good," Valery said weakly, "The younglings feel safe with you there." She reached down to take his hands and held both of them up between their bodies. Her thumbs graced along his knuckles and her eyes fell to follow the patterns she drew. Being close to him allowed their bond to flourish again, even with something dark looming over her. He had that effect on her — a connection that went far beyond everything else.

"Let's sit down and talk." Valery stepped back towards the couch, sat down, and pulled his hands into her lap. Subconsciously, she continued to rub along his knuckles but her fingers curled around his fingers as well. Comfort through touch always worked for her like that, and he understood that better than anybody else.

"My plans for that day were nothing strange. I was going to defend the Temple and take down whoever slipped through our defenses. But..." she frowned and squeezed his hands a little tighter, "I was confronted by Kyrel Ren's son. It didn't bother me at first, but I felt something change inside of me the closer he got. Something that weakened me until I could barely draw on the Force."

She paused, frowned, and looked him in the eyes.

"Do you remember what happened after I struck Kyrel down?"

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil sat with her, gently taking her hands in his own to squeeze gently. "When we pulled the souls from him, yes. I don't remember exactly what he did to you, but, clearly this means it's lingering? His son has some ability to suppress you?" That was dangerous. Incredibly so. If she could be suppressed by Kyrel's son, then there was a chance he himself couldn't get to her side to protect her when she needed him.

That was dangerous, for many reasons.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

She kept her knees together and rested her hands on top of them, enveloped by her husband's hands. This was the big moment for her. She had tried to figure it out for herself or find some reason to not have to get him worried over what happened. But he should know before it could get her killed.

"When you pulled all those souls from him and tried to end him, he desperately tried to attach himself to me. You stopped most of it from happening, but ever since that day, I've felt like a small piece of him is still with me. I've always been able to suppress it, and most of the time, I practically forget he's even there."

She sighed and drew in a long, shaky breath.

"Until that fight. When I was near his son, I felt that piece of his soul inside me again. Fighting me and breaking me down, so I could not fight him. I felt weak in the Force, my arms and legs were wobbly and I couldn't focus anymore." She swallowed hard and shifted uncomfortably where she sat.

"Then he touched me, and..." images of the horror and pain she felt suddenly and unintentionally flashed through their bond. He had forced visions of Romi's death, of her husband's death, and every nightmare she had endured into her mind during their clash. Her eyes widened when she realized she had shown him, and she turned to him with an apologetic smile.

"I feel like I'm losing control."

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil listened. He nodded slowly, though, frowned as he did. He'd thought he'd protected her better against the remnant. He thought he'd done more than enough, and yet, he hadn't done nearly enough. She was almost killed because of it. He tightened his grip on her hands briefly before he let go to pull her into a gentle hug. What mattered right now was she was here, and safe. Home. They'd figure out the rest soon enough.

"You're alright now, Valery. We'll figure out how to remove this from happening again."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"It's not your fault," Valery said softly, as he pulled her into a hug. She rested her head against his chest, right underneath his chin, and pulled her legs up to curl up against him, "You know that, right?" she then asked, her gaze shifting up to look him in the eyes. She could tell that it troubled him at least a little. The idea that his efforts on Exegol hadn't been enough to keep Kyrel from attaching himself to her.

Without his help there, she would have been gone entirely.

"It was a combination of things that got me in trouble. Kyrel's son and his connection to his father, but also Romi's death. It happened right when I was losing control and I saw no way through the pain." She brought her hand up against his chest and slowly moved it in circles.

"I had to collapse part of the Temple on top of myself and Detritus to get out of there. BB-610 and Efret Farr thankfully found me and got me out before I ran out of air." She wanted him to know because they had saved her life. Just as much as she wanted him to know that none of this was remotely because of him.

He had done enough.

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I shouldn't have left the shard within you. I know enough to know how to remove them. My father had part of his soul in me, after all."

There was more he could've done, if he had thought on it. He hadn't, though. But, now they were aware. Now he could do something. They could both do something to ensure this didn't happen again. They would. He smiled as he nodded. It was good Bee was there to help. And Efret. He didn't know Efret Farr , but he would have to thank her soon for her help. And BB-610 , though he expected their droid to be close.

"Okay. Alright. Pancakes? Let's make you some pancakes." Moping wasn't going to help this, not now. They'd move forward, as they always did.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"I know, but remember what it took to get the shard out of you?" She asked and held on to his hands tightly as if that fear of him leaving again was still there, deep within her heart. They would find a way to get her through this, but she wasn't going to leave her family for it. That would cause her more pain than having to endure even the soul of Kyrel Ren being inside of her. No, they'd have to find a better way.

But that wasn't a problem they'd solve tonight.

"Pancakes?" Valery perked a brow and began to smirk, "Are you making those so I feel better? Or so you feel better?" she teased but quickly leaned in closer after that. Her hands shifted up from his chest until they cupped his cheeks before her lips closed the distance and pulled him into a kiss.

"Pancakes sound good, then maybe a bath and a massage?" she batted her eyelashes and did her very best to look cute. "I do want to talk a little more first, though. Maybe we can talk while you flip your pancakes?"

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"A mix of both. I don't like not being there for my wife."

He sighed a little, almost defeatedly, before smiling into the kiss as she pressed one to his lips. Kahlil was at least in a much better mood just from that alone before he stood and offered her a hand. "Tell me more while I cook, yes." It was a good way to get them food while she told him more, yes. He stepped into the kitchen, started to properly prep it all up so he could start to actually cook the pancakes needed.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"But you are here for me now, and that's what matters to me," Valery said before she closed her eyes and leaned in for a kiss. One that brightened up his mood and lifted a weight off of his heart. He really had been worried, hm? Valery let the kiss last a little longer and practically crawled into his lap to hold him close. They hadn't been apart for very long, but nothing made her feel more alive than kissing him after a brief dance with death itself.

She needed this as much as he did.

"It's good to see that kissing me still gets you in a good mood," Valery added with a playful smirk when the kiss broke. Her thumb passed over his cheek then, brushing gently through his beard until it reached the corner of his lips, "I've always loved your smile, so maybe I'll have to kiss you more." She chuckled and climbed her way out from his lap.

Massages, a bath, and more kisses could wait — it was pancake time now.

"So..." she began as he reached the kitchen. Valery sat down on a chair nearby and turned it to face him.

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"You have a way of making me smile, kisses or no."

Mixing came next as he whipped up what he needed, glancing about to ensure he had everything for pancakes ready. Busy hands and the like. He did pause to glance over towards Valery again, nodding his head. He was going to cook her all this food, of course, but she was going to have to be the one to continue!

"So."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

"Awwe, such a romantic husband." Valery beamed a warm smile and looked at him with her usual lovey-dovey eyes. Even something as silly as making pancakes helped her feel a lot better. It was a gesture of love and affection among Nobles, and she'd never stop appreciating it. But it wasn't enough for her to forget about what happened and she shouldn't. The situation was dangerous and if she didn't figure things out, she risked a lot of trouble.

So.

"Do you think I'm still fit to fight?" Valery asked bluntly. So bluntly, in fact, that she surprised herself and frowned. "What I mean is, I still feel weak. Like that feeling after a long workout when your arms and legs are noodles and you just want to sit down and do nothing." She sighed and began to rock back and forth in her chair. A sign that she was troubled.

"Maybe it'll pass but what if I can't be myself anymore?"

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"If you're still feeling that way, then you need more rest. You did just get back after being buried alive." Kahlil flipped one of the pancakes, glancing up from it to her with a faint smile on his face. "But I know you well enough to know that feeling won't keep you down at all. Even if it lingers, you'll find a way around it. That's just how you are." Someone who wouldn't let themselves be held back or brought down.

"For now, though? Pancakes and relaxing."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Niv Hani

​

Outfit: Wedding Ring

Valery sighed but she couldn't stop smiling. He was right. She wasn't going to let anything hold her back. Not when the Jedi and Galaxy needed her and this war demanded her to be within her role. The Jedi needed leaders and she was going to do everything in her power to lead them to an end of this conflict.

For a moment longer, she watched her husband flip pancakes with that same smile. He always knew exactly what to say to help her move past something that troubled her.

"I'll get some rest but I don't think I can find my way around this alone. I need your help, love. To remove that part of his soul, but also just... to keep me sharp. Maybe some training or, I don't know." She chuckled, rose from her seat and walked over to stand behind him. As always, her arms snaked around his waist to hold hom close.

"Maybe I just need extra hugs, a good massage and a bit of... Fun." She smirked and ran her hands gently over his abs.

"First, pancakes. How long do you guess it will take before the little ones know you made them?"

Kahlil Noble​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Training we can do. And of course I'll do what I can to remove the remnants." Of the two of them, of well the whole order really, Kahlil had the most experience with manipulation of souls. He leaned back a little in her arms as he flipped another pancake, snickering in the process. "Fun and hugs it is. Though, not now I imagine. Speak of them, and they shall appear~" As if on cue the triplets were making their way into the room, idly rubbing their eyes as they glanced to their parents.

"Go sit. Pancakes soon."

Valery Noble