Walking

[Kuzo]

Where he was ready to waltz in, take back all of it, in a rare moment.....

Irajah wasn't.

It was literally a life time ago. It wasn't that she feared the sense of what had happened in this building that day. There was no dread, per se. But she looked up at the structure, the dubious expression on her face unmasked and unhidden.

This was where so much of it had started, she realized. Not Gideon, those wheels had begun long before she was even born. But it was here- with Ghorua- that she had made the decision to potentially explore her force sensitivity. She hadn't decided it then and there, but he had planted the seed. The events here had led her to stay on Coruscant, to offer aid in the wake of the fall of the former Sith despots. Here, she had found [member="Boo Chiyo"]. And with him, for him, she had chosen Dosuun... chosen the First Order.

And it was her work with the First Order that had brought her to the attention of the Zambranos.

When she had walked into that building that day, she had never intended to stay on Coruscant. Lip gloss..... and Ghorua..... had been the catalyst for the entire cascade of events that had ultimate led to her death.

It wasn't merely the memories of that day. Those she had come to grips with a long time ago.

But there was something.... full circle.... about setting foot there again.

And she wondered for a moment, hesitating, if it was merely closing a loop, or starting something all over again.

Reaching out, she slid her arm into his.

"For all I know Cait's daughter doesn't even like that lipgloss anymore," she said, a false lightness in her voice doing very little to conceal the turmoil beneath.

They both knew that it wasn't the lip gloss that sent her into that building with him.

They walked in silence for a minute, the rebuilt center soaring above them, light and airy as if it had never been brought low with murderous intent. Happy shoppers, families and couples and hurrying solo figures moved to and fro, talking on communicators or checking lists.

"It's..... a little surreal," she finally murmured, not looking up at him. "I remember it better as it was..... after. But this is what it was like for the majority of its existence."

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

The pair got strange looks as they walked slowly through Jeruba Complex.

Ghorua felt a churning in his stomach, put to rest only by the comfort of his friend at his side. Even something so simple as walking into the building brought back memories long forgotten. His deep black eyes lingered on passersby, as they went about their business. Some did double-takes at him and Raj, but continued their actions without a care.

Ghorua didn't look down as she spoke, neutral as he looked forward.

"Everyone seems so happy."

It was all he could contribute.

Neither leading the other, the pair gravitated toward the turbolift. Ghorua looked up at the frame, hesitating a moment before ducking inside.

Ghorua stood in silence as the elevator flew upwards, rising to where it all began. He could almost convince himself he was back in time, when everything happened. He could almost believe that when the doors finally opened, they would be greeted by the sight of fire, broken stone, and terror.

The Shark squeezed Irajah's arm lightly, looking to her for strength. Like he had so long ago.

Then, the turbolift eased to a halt. Ghorua braced himself for the worst.

The doors hissed open.

- [member="Irajah Ven"] -

 

[Kuzo]

They stepped out onto the main promenade. Light trickled down through the glass ceiling, perfect and crystalline above them. People moved about, the greatest care on their faces if they had recorded that holoshow last night or did they leave their credit card in the last store....oh no, there it is, in the wrong pocket, dear.

Ghorua and Irajah moved like a pair of ghosts through the scene. People saw them, but gave them wide berth and if they could, ignored them. It was bad luck, after all, to see a ghost and it was clear that something about these two made them very out of place.

"I half expected it to look like it did," she murmured sheepishly. She'd been holding her breath in those final seconds before the door had swept open, and now here they were.

"It's better," she said suddenly. "If I had to choose. Between not having experienced that.... having been anywhere else that day....."

She looked up, a slightly crooked smile on her face as she squeezed his arm in return.

"Or getting to meet you? I'd pick that."

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]