Invincible Together

Jacen comes and sits on the edge of her bed. He doesn't need to ask what's wrong, because he knows—because he is her twin, and he feels it, too.

So Jacen just strokes her hair until she starts to hurt a little less and finally falls asleep. He stays with her through the night because he knows that if he leaves, she'll wake and won't be able to sleep again.

And Jaina hears him whispering to her in her dreams, telling her that no one you love really ever has to die—not if you don't want them to. All you have to do is hold a place for them in your heart.

***

They can only keep wandering, alone together, trying not to be overwhelmed by their shock and despair. And Jaina senses through their twin bond that Jacen has other, more painful emotions. He is filled with shame and self-loathing because it was his lightsaber that removed Tenel Ka's arm—because he was so intent on proving himself to her that he failed to notice when her blade blurred with static, and half a second later her arm was lying on the ground.

So Jacen has lost something, too. And all Jaina can do is walk with him, to let him know through their twin bond how she sees him: a kind, thoughtful young Jedi who would never hurt a friend deliberately—a brave, resourceful brother whom she would rather have at her side than anyone.

***

This is the gift of their twin bond: that neither Jaina nor Jacen is ever truly alone. They share a connection through the Force that will always sustain them. When one grows weak, the other strengthens. When one hurts, the other soothes. It is a bond that cannot be broken by any power in the galaxy, as much a part of them as the Force itself.

***

Media: Pencil on Bristol paper.
Time: 16 hour.
References: Various shots of Han and Leia and the cover of Return Ord Mantell, but mostly imagination. Nothing was directly copied from any reference.
Details: [link]

Quotes taken from Legacy of the Force: Invincible by Troy Denning.

Note: Don't take this and claim it's yours. If you want to use it anywhere, ask permission, and credit me in some form.