Touch Starved

Chapter 2 - Confrontation

Author's Note: Two things. One, this is not a Vaderwan story, okay, so none of y'all need to be worried if you don't like that ship. Vaderkin and Obi-Wan are, and always will be, a father-son-brother-soulmate duo. Lol. Platonic soulmates, of course. :)

Two, though I never suggest songs for fics, there are two that fit this one perfectly. Broken by Noelle Johnson and In the End by Beth Crowley. Listen to them when reading this. Seriously. You'll never emotionally recover, though. ^-^ 

Also, one additional note: This book will alternate between Vader's and Obi-Wan's perspectives, one chapter from each. :)

WARNING: Depression (major depression), suicidal tendencies, slight (or more than slight) possessiveness.

~ Amina Gila

Obi-Wan takes a physical step back as if it might protect him from the sheer rage that Vader is now radiating into the Force. The – the Sith is practically vibrating with a suppressed fury that is making the Dark Side burn around him like a star gone dark. And he wonders how he didn't notice it sooner, the way the darkness is clinging to the walls in here.

"Vader," he whispers, almost uncomprehending.

Somehow, the anger deepens, twisting and writhing around the young Sith. "You too," he states flatly. He shifts, awkwardly pushing himself to his feet as if he's unused to doing so, and that makes Obi-Wan hurt in a whole other way. He buries the memory of (his brother, his son, his former Padawan) Ana- Vader screaming from the agony of being burned alive as quickly as it arises in his mind. Vader had to accustom himself to a whole new body, and it makes sense that he doesn't know how to function normally in his human one now that he has it back.

And beneath his shock and horror, Obi-Wan can feel the first stirrings of resentment. Resentment towards Vader for taking Anakin away from him for the second time. He – if Vader wasn't here, he could have had Anakin back. But no. Vader had to end up here too, because of some stupid, impossible twist of fate, and of course, of course, he took Anakin away from Obi-Wan again. Of course, he did.

He knows he needs to control his feelings, control his instinctive urge to lash out at Vader, because if he does that, then Vader wins. He knows that it's what Vader wants him to do: give in to his anger, but he won't do that. He's better than that. He's a Jedi Master. (He can't hurt someone who is wearing Anakin's face, even if Anakin is already gone.)

"Apparently," Obi-Wan answers with a deliberate lightness.

(He tries not to remember how Vader screamed for him when he walked away and left him there a second time, how he heard Anakin's voice in the cry, how he forced himself to leave because if he looked back, he didn't know if he'd have the strength to keep moving.)

"Unexpected, but not... necessarily unwelcome." Vader stands, poised, ready to lash out and strike if given the chance or reason. "Will you kill me then, Obi-Wan? Here to finish what you started?" His expression twists into something almost mocking, though the effect is somewhat ruined from the still visible tears on his face. (Vader cries? Why would Vader cry? What would he have to cry about?) "Or are you too much of a coward?"

Obi-Wan says nothing, narrowing his eyes, ready to reach for his lightsaber if he needs to. "Why do you want me to kill you so badly?"

"Because I know it will destroy you, and my revenge will be complete," Vader answers with a malicious smile. His yellow eyes remain empty though, devoid of any feelings, and his Force signature, too, remains oddly still. It makes Obi-Wan wonder if it's merely... a front, if Vader is faking this, manipulating him, for some unexplainable purpose.