Author's note: Drabble, companion piece to Chapte 16 of Freefall. Anakin sees Ryn after the fight.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. The disheveled girl is mine.

You were dirty.

I looked at you through the clearing haze and saw your face streaked with blood and something I couldn't identify -- part of someone's drink, maybe. Your skin was even whiter than usual, and your eyes blazed like lasers against it.

You were holding a lightsaber you shouldn't have known how to use, and I'd never been so glad to see anyone stand up in my life.

You didn't look at me: you were too focused on getting the truth, finally. One way or another.

You were dirty, and roughed up, and the best thing I'd ever seen.