Lay Your Weapons Down - A Star Wars Fanfic | Obikin

Chapter 2

He tells Sidious that Obi-Wan doesn't matter anymore and he doesn't lie much. After all, his capture is now no longer the main goal of Vader. He turns off his comlink and leans back in his throne, almost relaxed, almost peaceful. This stupid "almost" ruins everything. Occupies his thoughts, poisons his soul, sits in the very heart of his castle. Or rather, he is sitting in a prison cell, but this doesn't make things any easier. He would kill...

"Don't you even think."

***

Previously.

Obi-Wan drops to the ground beside him, and Anakin's eyes pop open with difficulty.

"Master..."

"Anakin? Is that really you?" Obi-Wan's voice trembles as he reaches out, gently touching his damaged helmet, the Force all around him filled with hope.

"I missed you," he tries to smile, but his throat constricts with a spasm and he chokes on a hoarse cough. The life support panel on his chest sparkles.

"Hush," Obi-Wan props him under the head. "Just breathe."

If only it was that easy.

"Won't you leave...?" Anakin gasps for air, coughing again. "Will...will you stay with me?.. Until I d..."

"You're not going to die"

He notices the unshed tears in Obi-Wan's eyes.

He wants his wise Master to be right this time, but ... it's too late. He can barely breathe, and his strength is not enough to maintain life in this exhausted, crippled body. His eyelids droop again.

"You will kill us both."

And this nightmare will finally end. This is not life anyway. Dragging a miserable existence and nothing more.

"Weakling".

Yes, whatever. But all this suffering will end.

"Anakin?"

He feels a touch in the Force, soft, soothing, blocking all the pain that he feels now, and at the same time, the hope, which was present there, is replaced by already such familiar grief and guilt.

"I can save us."

Vader can indeed. The strength of his hatred and anger is enough to get out of here and return to the ship, where he'll be able to replace the damaged parts of the armor, thereby saving his life. But is it worth it?

"Anakin, can you hear me? I won't leave anymore."

"Do you want to upset the precious Obi-Wan one more time?"

His heart stops for a moment. Vader plays dirty, knows where to push to get his way, and he succeeds. Anakin had already caused so much pain. He doesn't want that anymore, he doesn't have the right. He...gives up.

Vader opens his eyes. He takes a hoarse, heavy breath. He tries to exhale, but he is attacked by another bout of coughing. And something changes in his appearance, in his presence in the Force, because Obi-Wan frowns at him. Reaches for the bond again, but Vader blocks it.

"Anakin, what are you..."

Vader raises his arm and uses the Force to push Obi-Wan away from him.

"That's not my name," he says angrily through his teeth, slowly rising to his feet. He's still weak, but no longer dying. "Get the kriff out of here while I am giving you that chance."

"I've told you," Obi-Wan gets up from the ground as well, his voice firm and his face set with determination. "I won't leave you anymore."

"Old fool," his fury flares up, he balls his hand into a fist, and Obi-Wan clutches at his throat, which is clenched by the unseen hand of the Force. He pulls Obi-Wan closer. "So much the worse for you," he hisses right into Obi-Wan's face.