Rebirth: New Beginnings

[Phoenix]

Corvo had all the mental capacities of a five year old right now and he had a panicked look on his face as Shae told him how his hand was gone. What was he going to do? He was so used to his hand! It was his hand!

I... lost it? But I was so attached to it... he said with such a sad tone in his voice. Oh but I got him! he said excitedly, staring at his arm still until she grabbed him and turned him to look at her, his big eyes looking widely at her. Weapons? he said, voice now carrying a hint of excitement as he raised his hand to look at it again. I wonder if I can like... crush metal with it or something? he muttered with wide eyes.

She leaned down down to give him a hug and he smiled, gripping her more tightly and quietly betraying his hint of fear. When she pulled back, he finally raised his hand and moved the robotic finger. His mind was beginning to clear up and he tried to sit up, nodding as she asked if he was ready to go. Uh... I think so, he said, glancing around to see if there were any medical personnel around. He was going to "elope" from the medical facility against medical advice, remembering that they couldn't stick around. Can you... he almost asked for help but was getting tired of having to rely on her so much. Suck it up, Corvo... or Kaz. That was going to take some getting used to.

He got his clothes back on and headed for the exit, poking his head out like he was being hunted by Sith. He headed for the stairs, slipping down toward the ground floor. We need to go to the bank on 86th and Towarsto... there's a safe deposit box there with everything we need, he said. We need to procure a speeder, he muttered.

 

[Sreeya]

---​

Several weeks had passed since the events leading up to the death of the Emperor. Shae and Corvo made the decision to hide away from the galaxy since then, various news channels reporting about their death. The whole experience felt surreal, and she had to avoid watching it, only thinking about how devastated some people in their lives would be. The Jedi were in deep mourning from losing not only their last Grandmaster, but also two of their top Generals. Though the Emperor was dead, this was a massive blow to the Jedi Order as well.

Leaving behind the Jedi and Sith entirely was not going to be easy on the couple. The most painful aspect of it all was not having told their daughter yet. Shae had been living away from her family, but Corvo hadn't been away from Ciri at all. She knew this would bother him significantly more, and they would have to strategize a way to tell her. In the meantime, they found a home in Aldera, nestled near the mountains and lakes. It was a modest home, nowhere near extravagant or noteworthy like their residence on Theed. In order to leave their lives behind, they had to blend in. As a result, Shae dyed her hair black to hide her trademark features. It took some getting used to, but the look worked well with her features. They also adopted new names, and that was taking getting used to as well. Despite everything, there was an odd sense of peace being away from everything. Though she had gotten restless before, this time she didn't think she would ever go back to it.

It was early morning by the time Shae returned to their new home, having worked all night at a local cantina. Fitting into civilian life was more difficult than she anticipated, and she had to fall back on skills she already had. She yawned as she walked through the door, looking around for Corvo. She knew he would be up by now, though he didn't have his own training area like usual. It had taken him some time to get used to not having an arm anymore and he had been adjusting to the prosthetic. Both of their lightsabers were locked away, their trademark robes also out of sight.

"Are you awake yet?" She called out as she began to change out of her tight-fitted and borderline scandalous attire, "I think the neighbors wanted to come by..." Another aspect of this new life that was not at all pleasing to them both was how social they had to be. Theed allowed them to completely be in an obscure location, but without the Jedi or Sith Order, they needed to live somewhere closer to civilization.

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo was up bright and early as ever, but the fact was, he was having a very difficult time adjusting to the new life. He had no training facility, no job yet, and no arm. All of it was giving him a hard time, but he was determined to keep his mind sane. He'd gotten up, done an improvised body-weight workout, practiced fine manipulations with his new arm (which he was still having a difficult time with when it came to fine tuned movements), showered, and made breakfast by the time Shae got home.

He heard Shae shout for him as she came in and he smiled, glad to hear her home. For all the differences, he was certainly enjoying seeing her every day and not having to leave her to go off and kill people. It had taken more than a little time for him to get adjusted to the sight of Shae's black hair, but she was as gorgeous to him as ever. Hey, love, I made breakfast for us, he said, glancing at her clothes. While he didn't mind looking at her in that outfit, he still bristled at the idea of others at her work ogling her. He pushed it out of his mind as he pushed a plate of pancakes across the counter to her. He made no mention of the numerous burned pancakes she would find in the garbage can, but these ones were good.

He wandered around the counter and kissed her on the cheek. He grimaced as she mentioned the neighbors. Ugh, come on, do we have to keep getting together with these people? It's exhausting... he said with a heavy sigh. He was about as unsocial as they came and the small talk was killing him.

So, I've been looking for jobs and I think I might be able to get a job at a martial arts facility here on world. It's hobby-ists, but it seems like it's better than wasting away here, he added. In the last several days he'd spent way too much time puttering around and taking in all the news of how the galaxy was re-shaping itself How was your shift? he asked, knowing she'd always enjoyed mixing in her spare time.

 

[Sreeya]

Shae looked at him with surprise as he mentioned having made breakfast, "Pancakes? I think I want you to stay jobless. I love this new husband," She grinned at him, pulling the plate over. She sat down and took a bite, her eyes widening in surprise, "It's delicious! You didn't burn them!" She was genuinely impressed, especially as he was still learning to use his prosthetic hand. As he came over to kiss her cheek, she gave him a one-armed hug before returning to her meal, "Yes, we have to make friends. That's part of being a civilian. You can't just go disappear into the Jedi temples for days at a time."

As he mentioned the job he thought about, Shae looked at him curiously, "I figured you'd want to look for something in local law enforcement. I didn't think you could ever keep from beating up bad guys," She grinned, eyeing him for a moment. Would he be able to adjust to this life? He was much more rigid in his lifestyle than she was. He was driven by constant purpose and goals, and he was always a part of the war. Could he truly adjust to living the life of a normal civilian while letting everyone else worry about the problems of the world? Shae shrugged at his question, "Shift was all right. There will be some big event with some sleazy politicians coming up, so I'll have to work longer tomorrow."

---​

Not even an hour later, the neighbors were over: a twi'lek woman and her human husband. They were the first to greet them when they first moved in, and they hadn't stopped bugging them since. Shae was already yawning, half zoning out the woman talking about some garbage topic. Meanwhile, the husband was eagerly talking about the news with Corvo, "-And the Emperor.. just wow! Boom! Just like that! Apparently Jedi took him down. What fascinating people Jedi!"

"Really?" The wife pitched in, "I think they're a bunch of freaks honestly."

"No way, Mina!" The man had a wide-eyed look on his face, "I've love to meet one! They're so rare and you hear about them all the time! And that Corvo Vis was my hero! Such a shame he died.." The man sighed, lightly nudging Corvo in the arm, "What about you eh? Ever meet a Jedi before? Seems so impossible..like meeting your favorite celebrity."

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo was quite proud of his little breakfast that he'd made and was glad to see Shae enjoying it. He took a seat next to her, sitting down to a rather uncharacteristic binge for him and eating a carb-loaded meal of pancakes. What was civilian life doing to him?

Corvo quirked an eyebrow as she mentioned law enforcement, perking up almost visibly. He'd not thought she would let him anywhere near anything to do with harm's way, but that idea had him more than interested. You'd... be okay with that? he asked, immediately wanting to get involved in such things. He grinned, Maybe I'll look into that then!

---​

Corvo almost groaned audibly as the doorbell rang, smacking his head against the couch as he got up to get the door. He hated this socializing and secretly wondered how long was appropriate to wait before beginning to ignore your neighbors.

They came in and sat down and Corvo passed out drinks - because he was certainly going to need one - before taking a seat to "chat." Some old instincts kicked in as he heard about "Emperor" and perhaps Shae would notice him instinctively looking over his shoulder more (something that would likely go unnoticed by all but her). The old habits wouldn't go away and thinking of that again just triggered it all again.

Yeah, those Jedi are really something. I met one once during the war, he said with a nod. Claiming to be a veteran was the only logical thing he could think of to explain the missing limb and scars on his entire body. They're really an interesting breed. Some good, some not so much. I think they're as much a mixed bag as any other profession, wouldn't you say, honey? he asked Shae, glancing over at her. I heard that Corvo had help. Wouldn't have been able to bring down the Emperor without his wife. She came to help him in the end. Shae what happened to them, isn't it?

I don't know why you're all so disappointed about it. Didn't those two, like, massacre a bunch of people? Burned alive and blown up? They seem as dangerous as the Emperor if you ask me, don't you think? The Twi'lek woman went on about the Vis couple. Still, didn't they have a daughter or something? Poor thing growing up in a family like that. I can't even imagine it.

 

[Sreeya]

Hours had passed since the obnoxious neighbors left the house, leaving Shae and Corvo in peace. Keeping up the charade of not knowing who Corvo and Shae Vis were was bizarre, and she had to actively keep remembering that they could never go back to that life again. She found herself back in their bedroom, glancing at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were back to green, lacking the animalistic yellow tint they had for years.

“It hurts to let it all go…” She glanced down at her hip, noticing the lack of a saber there. It was going to be a bigger challenge for Corvo than for her, “But it’s worth it if it means having you safe and with me,” She turned to face him, managing a sad smile. Their family wasn’t complete without Ciri, and she knew the girl was crying her eyes out believing her parents to be dead. The storm needed to settle before they could reveal the truth to her.

“I’m sorry for ever doubting this…for ever doubting us..” She wrapped her arms around his neck, gazing into the eyes that no longer held the darkness she had seen so many years prior and for so long, “I can’t even begin to ask you to forgive me for turning away when you needed me…when you tried so hard to make me see,” Shae remembered the time following her rescue and how distant she had been with him, “You never stopped believing in me and you never gave up on us.”

The ring he had given her was back on her finger, placed back there for the rest of her days. Their past was one they would have to work hard to bury and leave behind. The Force had been all she had known for her whole life, and she had to actively set it aside to blend into the life of a civilian. But she knew she wouldn’t be alone through it all, “I love you,” She smiled at him, a true smile, “I always have a home and a place when I’m with you. Even from that very first day you offered it to me so many years back.”

 

[Phoenix]

Corvo found these "outings" with the neighbors to be beyond exhausting. Even in this case, he had wanted them to leave almost as soon as they had arrived, but now he had to be "polite" instead of brooding all the time. He had followed Shae into their room, silently watching her with a slight smile on his face and wondering at the amazing woman that was his.

He caught her glancing at her hip and mentioning how hard it was to let go. He knew precisely what she meant and he nodded his head silently and walked toward her. He still patted where his sabers should have been every time he left the house and felt naked without them, but he told himself the feeling would pass. I know, love, he agreed quietly. He smiled as he leaned in to kiss her. As long as we're together, nothing will stop us, though.

Shae, no matter what happened, we're together now, and we will be. You pulled me out of my darkest hours because that's what we do for each other. You're my pillar, and without you, I'm lost. You're my world, he said, looking at her with a warm smile. He reached down, running his finger gently along the ring on her hand. Forever and without end, I'm yours and you're mine, he reminded her as he proceeded to pull her into a hug. And I love you, Shae.

He thought back to that pledge he had made as well as the hard days ahead of telling their daughter they were alive and adjusting to civilian life. They had set everything aside, even their old names, but he still held tightly to the one thing that matter to him more than anything else: the woman he would never let go of for all of his days. And you always, always will.

//Thread