Here's the next chapter, see the bottom for author's notes. :)

Chapter 4

Vader eyed the slight figure that stood beside him critically, but tried to do so in a subtle manner. In the five days since he had taken Obi-Wan as his prisoner, the Jedi had become even paler than he normally was and unhealthily thin. Bruises covered what could be seen of his body, and Vader observed with some pride the bite marks that marred the graceful neck. He admitted to himself, reluctantly, that he was actually enjoying having the Jedi around. It was rather nice to have someone around that didn't quiver in fear at his first sign of ill-temper, and the sexual activity provided him much needed release. Certainly, he could have any number of attractive men and women in his bed at his whim, but that was hardly the point.

As if sensing his scrutiny, Obi-Wan turned his head up to look Vader in the eye. Vader looked away abruptly, inexplicably embarrassed at having been caught looking.

"Come," he said brusquely as he stepped out of his quarters on the Defiant and headed to disembark. Obi-Wan trailed after him reluctantly, still cuffed at the wrists but not otherwise guarded. They were on an Imperial ship docked at the Imperial Palace in Imperial City, and Vader knew that even Obi-Wan had the sense not to try any daring escapes here. As they headed out of the hanger bay, Vader considered, for the first time, what he was going to do with his captive. He had planned to kill Obi-Wan fairly promptly, and thus had not counted on having him around still by the time he arrived back home.

Yet here he was in the Imperial Palace, with Obi-Wan walking at his side. He wasn't quite sure when, but at some point in the past few days he had decided that killing the Jedi would not be the best course of action. He would enjoy the diversion that Obi-Wan provided, and told himself that death was far too kind a fate for his old Master, who seemed to almost welcome it. Better to degrade him by keeping him as a plaything of sorts.

Going over his options, Vader decided to go with what he already knew would work and keep Obi-wan with him in his private chambers; Force only knew they were large enough. Satisfied with his decision, Vader walked swiftly through the halls of the Imperial Palace towards his chambers, slowing his pace only slightly for Obi-Wan, who was moving slower than usual. Stopping so abruptly that Obi-Wan nearly ran into him, Vader pushed open the large doors to his private chambers and stepped inside, pulling Obi-Wan in after. He then turned around to face Obi-Wan. "Welcome home," he said mockingly, spreading his arms. "You had best get used to it."

Without another word, Vader turned and went into his office, leaving Obi-Wan alone in the sitting room, hopefully to wonder about his fate. The room was locked and secure; he wasn't concerned that Obi-Wan could escape. He sat down at his desk to prepare a report for is Master, but found his mind wandering to other matters that were both more and less important. More specifically, how to bring up the matter of Obi-Wan to his Master. Surely, the Emperor would wonder why he wanted to keep a Jedi, and Vader was absurdly reminded of how he had felt as a young Padawan asking his Master if he could keep a wild animal that he had found as a pet.

Banishing such ridiculous thoughts from his mind, Vader prepared his report, and finally sent it after several half-hearted revisions. Surely his Master would be displeased that he had taken Obi-Wan for himself, but Vader would deal with that issue when the time came. Having settled that, he turned his attention to more practical matters.

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Obi-Wan was somewhat at a loss. What had Anakin meant when he had called this place his home? He doubted that Anakin would keep him alive for much longer, and if he did he surely wouldn't keep him in his own private chambers. At least, he hoped not. Quite honestly, a hard bunk in a detention cell was looking downright appealing in light of recent events. But by the way Anakin was talking, it would seem that he planned to keep him here for more than just a short time, and Obi-Wan really didn't want to think of the implications if that was the case.

His battered, sore body was tired from the short trip and Obi-Wan allowed himself to sit down on the couch and close his eyes briefly as he let his body re-energize itself. He wasn't sure how long he stayed like that, but it seemed like only a moment passed before he sensed that Anakin had returned to the room. He didn't bother to open his eyes right away, but asked off-handedly, "Well, now what are you going to do with me?"

No reply was forthcoming, and he opened his eyes to see Anakin frowning. But not at him, surprisingly enough. "Surely you must be getting tired of keeping me around by now," Obi-Wan remarked, and the distracted frown on Anakin's face quickly turned to a scowl that was directed at him. That was more like it.

"You are more entertaining than you give yourself credit for, Obi-Wan," Anakin said archly as he moved closer to him, and at that moment Obi-Wan really regretted having let his guard down enough to sit. Anakin grabbed Obi-Wan by the wrists and pushed him sideways onto his back, and then got onto the couch and knelt over him. "I will be keeping you around for some time."

"And here I was looking forward to a nice, swift execution," Obi-Wan said dryly. "Dare I ask how long 'some time' is?"

"So sorry to disappoint you, my old Master." Anakin smirked. "But I have decided to keep you. You make a fine toy."

By the triumphant look on Anakin's face, Obi-Wan realized that he must have been gaping and quickly schooled his face into a neutral expression. Surely, it was too far fetched to believe. But then Anakin bent down then and began ravaging his neck again, and Obi-Wan suppressed a shudder. "A Sith, allowing a Jedi to live? Whatever will your Master think?" he asked admonishingly, hoping that the thought would distract Anakin enough to get him off of his neck, which it did. Anakin drew back abruptly, and Obi-Wan was startled by the dark look that his former apprentice wore.

"It doesn't matter what my Master thinks; you are mine, not his. I'm not his slave, and I can do what I please in this," Anakin said, sounding confident to the point of it being forced.

"How reassuring," Obi-Wan replied sarcastically, though he was not the least bit reassured. But then again, the way things were going with Anakin, he might actually prefer the inevitable torture and death that Palpatine would surely want to inflict on him. Surely, Force-lightening couldn't be much worse than what Anakin had done to him every night they'd been together so far.

"Good," Anakin breathed as he looked down directly into Obi-Wan's eyes. "Because tomorrow morning, he wants to see you. And I will allow it."

Obi-Wan sincerely doubted that Anakin could 'allow' Palpatine anything, but he didn't see any reason to tell him that just now. If Anakin hadn't figured that out already, then he was only deluding himself. Though it seemed highly probable that he, rather than Anakin, would be the one to suffer for it.

"Enough of this talk," Anakin said impatiently, getting up off of the couch. "I don't keep you around for that." He then pulled Obi-Wan up and dragged him into the spacious bed room for another long, painful evening.

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Obi-Wan was sore again, or perhaps he was still sore. He couldn't tell, but it was probably both. As always, he had resisted Anakin's sexual advances, and as always, his efforts had been rewarded only with bruises, bite marks, and aches. He winced as he sat up in bed, and rotated his shoulder experimentally as he accessed the damage that Anakin had done to it last night while pinning him to the bed. He turned his head to survey the room, which he hadn't gotten a good look at the night before, and nearly jumped in shock as he saw Anakin's sleeping form next to him. Uneasily, Obi-Wan slid out of bed, absently noting that he had not been chained to it.

Naked as he was, he paused briefly as he considered wrapping himself in a bed sheet, but then dismissed the idea. Anakin had more than seen him naked, and any display of modesty on his part would only give the young Sith further opportunity to humiliate him. He padded out into the sitting area and settled himself down on the floor to meditate, and release his thoughts of anger and hopelessness into the Force. Because as much as he needed a healing trance, he needed this more. The Force embraced him gently, allowing him to maintain the calmness and strength that he knew he would need today.

His meditations were soon interrupted as he felt the dark, turbulent presence of his former apprentice enter the room. He opened his eyes and looked up at the intimidating figure calmly, though Anakin didn't really look all that intimidating with his hair sticking up and his chest bare.

"Get dressed," Anakin said tightly. "You have an audience with the Emperor." He then stalked off to another room that Obi-Wan guessed to be an office or study.

Somewhat miffed that Anakin had assumed he would obey, Obi-Wan nonetheless rose and went back to the bedroom, and then gingerly pulled on the clingy blue tunic set that was laid out on the bed. Looking the clothes over, he concluded that they had not belonged to Padmé, as had the other clothes that he had been made to wear since his capture. No, these were new, and obviously very expensive judging by the tailoring and the feel of the fabric.

The thought of Anakin buying him clothes like this made him feel slightly ill. And lovely as they were, he would never wear them willingly.

Least of all to an audience with a Sith Lord.

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Seylin, Ice Dragon3, dragon shadows, Melanye, MissNaye, and WhiteDestiny: Hugs to you all for reviewing:) And happy birthday, White Destiny, I updated this at Force Haven on Monday so I hope you got to read it then! As for an uncut version of this story . . . there is none! I don't write explicit sex scenes, really, I tend to write "fade-out" type scenes. Hmm, maybe that's why no one's reading? LOL. And I will return to writing sweet/cute stories again; actually, the next story after this one is much lighter.

Still here? Thanks for reading!