Hopes

Chapter 33.

Anakin's POV

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I snatched Asajj's wrist before she flew into a frenzy and did the undoable. The movement sent pain shooting through my side, but I gritted my teeth and hung onto Asajj's hand. She yanked in my grip, her eyes a mix of fire and ice, loving and loathing.

"I have to do this, Vader," she begged, her fingers fumbling for the saber on her belt. "He has to die! He's too dangerous to be kept alive."

"No, don't," I said softly, though I didn't loosen my grip. My gaze rested on my stunned friend, taking in the shock and the joy that hid behind his glazed eyes. She must have told him – good. "Leave him be, Asajj."

"No," she cried, tears still streaming down her cheeks, "he deserves this! He deserves to die!"

"No, he doesn't," I reprimanded her gently. "No one does. Let him go, and let's get out of here."

"What?" she asked breathlessly, confusion dancing in her dilated pupils. "What do you mean?"

"I know what you want," I continued, keeping my voice low, glad that Obi-Wan's surprise had rendered him unable to hear my words. I didn't want him to know. "I'm offering it to you. If you let Obi-Wan and his family live in his peace," I took a moment to glance at Ahsoka, Padmé, and the others as they waited, unsure of how they could help, before looking back to Asajj, "then I'm yours."

Her confusion froze, icing over into shock and then thawing as it melted into nervous joy. The murderous flames simmered, dancing with the coolant of hope. "But I need to teach him a lesson. He hurt you."

"Don't worry about that," I reassured her, then coughed weakly. I gripped my side as pain momentarily paralyzed me, then exhaled slowly. "Let Obi-Wan be, and I'll come back with you. I'll live with you. I'll choose to love you every day, and I'll never leave you – for the rest of your life. I'll give you what you want."

Her eyes flicked between mine, reflecting a mixture of disbelief and hope. "Would you?"

I smiled, despite listening to the cracking of my heart, and nodded. "I would. I will, if you'll let these guys live happily and undisturbed." Past Asajj's tensed shoulder, I could see Obi-Wan's eyelids fluttering. His brain was catching up, and he would tune in to our conversation at any moment. "Let's not wait. Let's go now. Let's leave, and not look back."

"Okay," she said breathlessly, then began to stand. Immediately, her face changed, a dark cloud passing over it. "You can't walk." She took my hands, then drew in a deep breath. "Don't worry, I'll fix you."

I shut my eyes, dreading what was coming next. Would I be strong enough? Could I taste the power necessary to heal a fatal wound and resist it? What if sensing such unchecked energy was too much? But I had a promise to keep. I had promised Asajj myself in return for my friends' safety. That was a price I would pay again in a heartbeat.

Even the slightest noise in the quiet room dulled as a suffocating presence closed in around me. The thump of my heart and the echo of Asajj's breaths were the only sounds that met my ears, and the coolness of her fingers on my burning side was the only sensation I acknowledged. A fizzing feeling sparked from her fingertips, burrowing into my wound, and knitted, mended, and healed. The Dark Side surrounded me, supporting me and infiltrating me in a way I had once invited but had since discarded. The desire to gain control of this untameable force seized me, and I wrestled with the craving to utilize the so-called unlimited power.

"You're going to seal your future with Asajj," a confident voice reasoned. "You might as well join her in the Dark Side. It will be unbearable to live so closely with one who has immersed herself in it without accepting it yourself. Take it! Let it in! It will be easier that way."

The buzzing sensation spread throughout my body, flowing down my arms and legs and tingling in my fingers and toes. My shallow breaths evened out, and the pain subsided, washed away by the energy that Asajj so freely gave me. I squirmed as the wound closed over, sealing shut, just like my future. And, like my new life, the wound left an ugly scar. I would never forget how I came to this point, but I knew, no matter what came my way, I would never succumb to the Dark Side again. I would rather live a miserable life, would rather be estranged from my friends forever, and would rather take whatever sorrows my choice threw at me, than give in to that cruel dictator again. I couldn't ignore my conscience any longer.

I gasped as the wound fully healed over, and a final shot of pain raced through my body. Then all was still.

I let out a slow breath, then smiled at Asajj. She returned it with a dizzy one of her own, collapsing back onto her knees as the exhaustion of such an expenditure of energy overtook her. But the battle wasn't over yet.

Leaning forwards, I whispered to the dazed Dathomirian, "For this to work, I'll need you to grant me one last wish. And thanks for the lightsaber." I grinned lopsidedly as I showed her the weapon I had borrowed earlier. Technically, she had given it to me weeks ago, but in the chaos, it had ended up in her hands again. I had meant to use it, but things hadn't gone the way I had expected. So I just delayed my plans and figured it would work just as well, if a little later.

"Obi-Wan, get up," I growled, the sudden fierceness of my tone enough to jolt him properly from his shock. He must really have been having a bad day for him to have been so distracted.

He frowned at me, a hundred unasked questions on his tongue but unable to be spoken.

"There's no time," I insisted, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet.

He jerked his arm from my grip, watching me in confusion, disgust, and curiosity. What was I up to? I wanted to ask the same thing.

"Ahsoka," I shouted across the room, then hurled Asajj's saber towards her, "catch!"

I didn't stop to see if she obeyed my command, instead spinning around, my own lightsaber burning, to catch the weapon that bore down on me. 

Fire flashed before my eyes, carrying danger on its wings. The blaze of its fury spluttered as it crackled against my blade, and it groaned, struggling for dominance. Neither flame could achieve victory, but neither wielder would allow room for error. I pushed, and he pushed, but it was to no avail.

Our sabers were locked against each other, and I knew deep down that this combat would turn deadly. 

We were fighting for our lives.

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Wow wow wow, what just happened? Did Ani get healed, Asajj get a forever friend, and Obi get a fighting partner? And is Anakin's gut right? Will someone actually die?

So, imma take the view that this isn't technically a cliff-hanger ending, but I'm sorry nonetheless. *laughs nervously* Seriously, though, thanks for reading. I really appreciate it! You guys are awesome! ^.^

Dedications:

Wikluk/Cam_Skywalker_501st/General_Skywalker/the_space_raiders/x_-_-_-_-_-_x/anakinpadmeforlife