Title: "Sidestroke"
Author: Shaitanah
Rating: G
Summary: Darth Vader hears voices.
Disclaimer: Star Wars belong to George Lucas, George Lucas is a genius! ;)
A/N: Just a little one-shot about Vader being paranoid. ;) Please R&R!
SIDESTROKE
'Do you hear voices in that suit?' a voice asked me. That was when I realized I've been doing this for quite a long time. Hearing voices.
They say if you kill too many people they start to haunt you. They're right.
Today I hear your voice. It's a sidestroke: I never expected you to do that to me.
Your voice tears through my nightmares, puts out the fire in my heart and I thank you.
I put out the fire of your life. I blew you out like a candle. You have been shining for me like a homing beacon, but I stopped it. Now you live in me.
My memory is a dark place. I'm afraid to look, but you force me to look. You envelop me with your sweet scent, and your beautiful eyes, and your charming smile, and tour tender kisses, you bind me and you whisper to me in the Force itself. 'Listen to me, Anakin'.
That name no longer has any meaning to me, I reply. I am no Anakin. At least, not the one you used to know.
'Listen to me, Anakin'.
No, I shout. Leave me alone! I'm paying for my crimes every day.
This is the first time I've snapped at you. Your voice fades away. Your shadow dissolves. No more you.
Days pass. I'm ready to cry. I call you back, but you've abandoned me. Come back, sweet love!
There is no going back. You left me.
I go after the boy.
Damp fear, I feel. Shame. Heartache.
The boy wanted to save me – and he did. He pulled me back from the deepest chasm of despair – back to you.
'Hello, Ani', I hear your voice.
Ani. Yes, I'm Ani.
The boy is good. He has his mother's eyes. There's also the girl. She'll have to take time to forgive me, but she will. She's every bit as wonderful as you are.
I feel a raindrop on my lips. Sweet, delicate droplet. No… it's not rain. It's… The boy is weeping. Somebody is weeping for me.
'I love you, Ani'.
I love you too, Padme. Our boy is weeping for me. Not for my crimes, not for the ones I've murdered, but just for me.
'Are you coming?'
Yes.
Goodbye, boy. Tell your sister you were right all this time.
May 22, 2006.