This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Dragondancer123 on 2025-09-05 03:00:12+00:00.

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“What do you mean ‘I’m bringing an extra person’!?” Kray’el asked in disbelief. “You can’t just DECIDE something like that!” He sighed as he kept listening. “I… okay, fine, just… don’t make kidnapping a habit, okay?”

“Not kidnapping.” Peter replied. “She’s probably going to be down for it.”

“PROBABLY!?”

“I’m on my way to ask her now. I’ll get back to you later.”

“Wait-” Kray’el grimaced as Peter hung up.

Tersei looked at him with a mix of amusement and concern. “Who’s he planning on kidnapping?”

“I don’t even know, man.” Kray’el groaned. “This guy is turning out to be way, way more trouble than he’s worth.”

“To be fair, we’re the ones who put him in this position in the first place.”

“Under the request of the Galactic Council, yes. But he volunteered! Maybe that should have been our first sign that this was a bad idea.”

Tersei clicked her tongue. “He’s never gotten us into a spot he couldn’t get us out of. And he’s gotten us out of several we got ourselves into, too.”

“I know, I just…” Kray’el rubbed his temple. “I feel like this isn’t going to end well.”

* * *

Peter slipped inside Lanir’s room from the air vent, his footsteps soft enough that she didn’t notice at first. She was brushing her long hair, staring into the mirror.

“Lanir?”

She froze, then slowly turned to face him.

“Peter?” She hesitated. “No, no you can’t be. This isn’t real. You’re a frae, or… or a dream. Peter’s dead. I know he is.”

“Is that what your father told you?” Peter asked. He so badly wanted to run to her, to hug her, but he couldn’t. If she didn’t believe it was him…

“You aren’t him.” She said again, her voice laced with sadness. “I don’t know who you are or why you’re here, but please, just go.” She turned back to the mirror.

“Do you remember the week before I left?” He asked quietly. “I helped you break out of your room. We went out to the hill next to the palace to watch the stars. But instead… we just watched the lantern moths.”

Lanir was still. What was she thinking?

“You said you could always see them from your window. That they looked like-”

“Stars that came down to dance.” Lanir finished, turning to face him. “You insisted we joined them.”

“And you laughed at me afterwards.” Peter smiled ruefully. “Apparently, I can’t dance.”

“That’s not what I said.” Lanir said. “I said your dancing was…”

“Unlike anything you’d ever seen called ‘dancing’ before.” Peter replied. “Pretty sure that wasn’t supposed to be a compliment.”

“It was another thing that made you different.” She replied softly. “Different from the stiffness. The silence. The chains.” She smiled. “It was another reason to love you.”

Lanir embraced him, her face burying into his shoulder. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt.

“Lanir, I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry I didn’t bring you with me last time. But I finally have the chance to fix that. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

“I can’t.” Lanir shook her head. “My father will find us.”

“Not on a shadow ship he won’t.”

Lanir’s head snapped up. “How… did you get onto a shadow ship?”

“I’ve had a wild few years.” Peter shrugged. “But that’s not important right now. I’m here for you, Lanir. Let’s go.”

Lanir released him, taking a small step back.

“I can’t always follow you, Peter.” She said.

“I know.”

“You won’t always be able to follow me, either.”

“I know.”

“I don’t even know what I’d do once I leave.”

“You’ll be able to find out.” Peter replied. “Lanir, I know you’re scared. I can’t blame you. But I also know that you’ll never be happy here.” He held out his hand. “This won’t always be easy, but you’ll be free. You wanted to spread your wings. Here’s your chance.”

Lanir took a deep breath. “Peter, I… I’ve been through so much since you left. My father said… he’d killed you. I…” She took his hand. “I never want to feel like that again. I don’t care where we go. Just as long as it isn’t here.”

Peter smiled. “Okay. Let’s do this.”