Woman without a Country

Atton walked over to the far west side of the camp, where Ludmilla and Bao-Dur were helping to repair the ravages of the Dxun jungle on the perimeter walls. He sat down on a pile of plassteel blocks nearby and watched them working.
Ludmilla was wearing just a tank top, and there was a colorful butterfly on her head. Another one of the little jewel-like insects settled on Atton as well, and he laughed quietly. She turned at the sound, and smiled at him, her happiness lighting up her face. She shifted the block she was putting into place so that she could wave to him.
Atton smiled back. A movement at the end of the line of workers caught his eye, and he saw part of the wall move. Purely with instinct, he stood, and used the Force to hold the wall in place before it collapsed.
There was a horrible roar just outside the wall. "A zakkeg!" someone shouted.
Ludmilla looked around, and her eyes instantly took in the situation. "Get my lightsaber," she commanded Bao-Dur, and without waiting, jumped up and over the wall.
Atton cried out before he could stop himself. He closed his eyes and tried to figure out how to make the wall stay in place now that the zakkeg wasn't pushing against it. He heard Bao-Dur shouting, commanding, felt the strain on the wall lessen. Bao-Dur ran up to him, and shoved a bundle into his hands.
"Go help her!"
Part of Atton wanted to keep hiding, to let the Mandalorians keep thinking he was weak and harmless. But she was out there alone, fighting one of the apex predators of Dxun with nothing but her bare hands and the Force because she was waiting for him to come help her. Atton took the lightsabers and her armor, and ran, jumping on the blocks to get over the wall, flitting like a butterfly, jumped down into the jungle beyond.
Atton ignored the noises from the shocked Mandalorians, and ran up to where Ludmilla was holding off the zakkeg. He tossed her lightsaber to her and activated his own. He focused, trying to remember Kreia's instructions, and threw a blast that stunned the beast long enough for her to reach his side.
Ludmilla smiled with joy, the thrill of battle dancing with her pleasure in having Atton at her side, watching him overcome his fears and self-doubt. She shrugged on her armor as quickly as she could, and then charged the zakkeg again, her lightsaber flashing. Atton followed, moving swiftly and following her blows with his own, and together they ripped through the giant lizard's tank-like armor plating. It swiped uselessly at them with teeth and claws, never landing a blow on the two Jedi. Weakened, it drew back for a charge, and Atton held it in place while Ludmilla leapt into the air and brought her lightsaber down on its head. The zakkeg shuddered once and fell over.
There was cheering, from the Mandalorians who had gathered on the wall to watch the fight. But he couldn't hear anything but her breathing, softly whispering his name. He was in her arms, or perhaps she was in his, and there were more of the brightly colored butterflies surrounding them as their lips met. He flinched suddenly, at the feel of warmth on his hands, and pulled away.
"You're hurt!"
Ludmilla grinned in surprise. "Am I?" She looked down at herself, turned slightly. "Oh, I guess I am." She pulled off her armor again, and looked ruefully at the gash in her shoulder, the red stain trickling down her arm and her back. "It got me while I was dodging."
Atton turned white and swayed slightly.
"Hey!" Ludmilla moved, but he fainted before she could say anything more.
Atton woke up later, in a quiet, dark room. He sensed, rather that saw, Kreia sitting at his bedside.
She laughed softly as she heard him stir. "What a curious little boy you are."
Atton flushed. "What happened?"
"You fainted at the sight of her blood." Kreia laughed again. "I wonder what your past victims would think, to see you exhibit such a weakness."
"Shut up."
Kreia couldn't stop herself from laughing again, not that she tried very hard. "If it helps, the Mandalorians all thought it was terribly romantic."
Atton turned to face the wall, and wished that Kreia would just go away.
"At any rate, you have served your purpose. The damage to the wall necessitated a trip to Onderon for new materials, and I persuaded her to let you rest while she took the next steps on her path."
"Is she all right?" asked Atton nervously.
"Of course she is, little fool. Using the Force to heal is second nature to most people." Kreia laughed again. "There, there, boy. Rest. She will come back soon." She waved her hand, and Atton fell into a dreamless sleep.
Kreia waited patiently, and the door opened.
Ludmilla peeked into the darkened chamber. "Is he still sleeping?"
Kreia nodded, and moved away from the chair so that Ludmilla could check on him for herself. "I have put him to sleep again," she explained. "He worries about you very much, beneath his façade of carelessness. I wonder what damage he suffered in his past to leave such a wound. It must have been very severe."
Ludmilla frowned without answering. She bent over Atton's sleeping form, and kissed him. Even in his sleep, he drowsily put his arms around her and returned the embrace, before settling back among the pillows with a soft smile on his face. Ludmilla rearranged the pillows slightly, so that he would be more comfortable.
Kreia laughed slightly. "Go, the boy will still be here when you return. Let him rest. You can finish kissing him in his sleep later."
Ludmilla blushed, then laughed before leaving the room, pausing to take one final look at Atton before she left.