The Nerf Nest, Two Levels Below The Surface, Coruscant, Saturday Afternoon

[suitably_heroic]

Not every dining establishment on Coruscant had the privilege of being housed on the top level; the Nerf Nest was hidden away in a street some two levels down. It was nice, though. Sunlight still reached this place. Also, the slightly longer walk was good for Sparkle, considering Atton had slightly toned down the workout today.

He had to make up for that somehow.

He felt a little lighter, being back here. It was weird. This week had felt like he was sliding back into whatever hole he'd been in last year, with an extra dose of weird paranoia. Kinda like the island was tired, and it was taking it out on Atton, or something.

Whatever. It was good to be out of that for a minute. He was having a hard enough time repressing the fact he was turning thirty today without the island messing with his head.

"I like this place," he said, as he stepped into the restaurant properly. "Doesn't get all pretentious about the layout or the music, but the food's great."

[[ for the kid. ]]

Comments

[suitably_heroic]

"Sparks," Atton said solemnly, "When I die, I expect you to make sure my tombstone reads 'He who kicked Anakin Skywalker in the balls and lived'."

[myownface]

The sound that Sparkle made after that announcement was vocalized on a register that was reserved for dogs to hear, and had a few patrons of the restaurant blinking over their way in time to see him drop his spoon and clap his hands in glee.

You just made his day, Atton. Made. His. Day.

[suitably_heroic]

See, that reaction made it worth it! ... He'd been too baffled that he'd gotten away with it at all, when it'd happened.

"...After which he slammed me against the wall and I think I bruised a couple of my ribs, but whatever, that's nothing."

The Atton hanging around an energy cage a year ago would have been appalled about that statement, but the Atton of now had kind of adjusted his scale of significant injuries.

[myownface]

Fortunately, Sparkle was still too busy losing his shit over the mental image that Atton had conjured up to be properly appalled, himself.

"How the hell are you still alive after that, man? Oh my god, that's beautiful. That's beautiful. Oh my god oh my god."

[suitably_heroic]

That's why he just casually snuck that in there while Sparkle was still celebrating. Don't tell.

"Would've been a worthwhile way to avoid turning thirty if I'd died over that one," Atton mused, "But nah, wasn't going to give him the satisfaction."

Also Anakin still thought of him as a friend.

Atton was a bad, bad friend.

[myownface]

Atton was Sparkle's favourite friend.

Please hold. Sparkle was doing more cackling and clapping, now.

"Oh shit, you are my hero."

[suitably_heroic]

"Ah, you know," Atton said sagely, smirking, "All in a day's work."