POV: Anakin Skywalker

The sandstorm swirled around us. Our eyes burned heavily, tears slipping from them. Even as we pulled our hoods up, it seemed like a feeble attempt to do absolutely nothing. Instead, we strode like we had all the way here. We made our way through the sharp pricking of the sand and found the hut that was holed into the ground as the Toydarian told me. Huh, I suppose he was somewhat reliable after all. "Here it is," I said, stating the obvious as Obi-Wan took his last few steps to close the distance between us.

"You don't say?" I cringed at the dripping sarcasm laced into his voice and tore my gaze from his sand-ridden self. Part of me wondered what I'd done wrong now. As far as I knew, I was doing everything we came here to do, which always pleased him. At least until today. I didn't understand what had happened earlier on the ship, but I...I had strangely enjoyed it. "Aren't you coming?"

I lifted my eyes from the sand on the ground and met his, coming back to the harsh reality. He was already descending into the hole, but he'd turned to make sure I would follow him. This man we were going after was surely dangerous and I definitely didn't want Obi-Wan to take him alone. "Yes, Master," I whispered, trudging over to him in large strides. I followed as he led us down the spiral stairway that ended up leading into a bunker.

"Fascinating," he said, truly and utterly fascinated, which was beyond me. There was nothing fascinating about this. This bunker had gone undetected for quite some time, which made this entire section a blind spot. "How do you think they were able to construct this below a tremendous amount of sand? How could they dig beneath it and not be suffocated by the sand overhead?"

I shrugged. "I don't think like the Separatists do, Master." He turned and the look he gave me sent shivers up my spine. He looked utterly disgusted and my stomach churned at the thought that perhaps he was disgusted with me. He began to make his way towards the bunker, only to be stopped by my gloved, mechanical fingers grasping his wrist. He turned, cocking an eyebrow in question. "What's going on between us?" I asked bluntly. There was no sense in beating around the bush if someone had already burned it from the inside out. Something had burned us from the inside out and I had clearly missed those flames as well as the smoke from the aftermath.

"There's nothing going on between us, Anakin. Come now."

I startled myself with the defiant, dark tone I replied in. "No, Master." He was startled as well and my grip on his wrist tightened unwillingly. "I want an answer." I wanted the answer that he was evidently unwilling to give. Why was he being stubborn? Never in his life had he been this stubborn, especially with me. When he was unhappy with something I'd said or done, he'd never let me see the end of it. What had changed now?

He tried to break the lock my fingers had on him, but it was essentially futile. "Can't we discuss this after we've completed the mission?" he asked, exasperated. That wasn't good enough because I knew him too well by now. He would never talk about it after the mission was over. He sighed and shook his head, clearly knowing that my answer would most definitely be a no. "Anakin, I-"

The blast doors of the bunker opened, revealing a very, very large bulk of droids. It was nothing Obi-Wan and I couldn't handle. We'd seen so much worse before. I guess he got what he wanted, the bastard. I released him and my mechno's fingers slid down the length of my body to grasp my lightsaber, quickly pulling it to chest height, activating it. I wanted to swear. I wanted to curse so loudly. I wanted to rage on with a string of profanities so vulgar that he would never forget them, but then I remembered who I was thinking such things towards. This was a man I cared deeply about, a man I trusted wholeheartedly, a man I loved...as a brother, I think. I don't even know anymore! Force damn it! He was making me want to shove the lightsaber through my twisted, confused brain. I couldn't read him anymore. He wasn't so much of an open book to me now.

His blade ignited moments after my own and we'd somehow ended up back-to-back instinctively. This was how we fought most times. We would always cover one another to the best of our abilities. That was the upside to our bond. Our bond. I sensed something shift in it and I...worried. He spun to my side and I felt his fingers briefly slide over my right side, just above my hipbone. He was the one to make the first move, something very uncommon with him. Normally, I was the one beginning to attack.

Either way, I called on the Force and leapt to join him. I kept my eyes on him as I fought my way through a cluster of these damned droids. I looked away only for a moment as a result of a droid distracting me, only to look back and see my former Master had vanished from my sight. My heart pounded in my chest and my mind raced faster than I'd ever flown through hyperspace. "Obi-Wan!" I cried out, my eyes darting in all directions in search of him. My distraction had been a detriment to myself and I fell to my knees as I was overwhelmed. My lightsaber deactivated and rolled away from me as I cried out so loudly that my ears begged me to hush.

Electricity coursed through me and I knew who my attacker was without having to look or sense. Just as quickly as the shock came, it was gone, replaced by a deep laughter. "Young Skywalker," he said, his voice mocking me entirely with those two words. I pushed myself up, grunting. Pain coursed more so through my right arm as a result of the metallic replacement from the elbow down. "Where is Master Kenobi? Is he not here to defend you? Has he deserted you?"

No, I wanted to scream. Obi-Wan would never desert me. I paused, thinking thoughts that made my stomach churn. What if he had deserted me? Something had changed between him and me. Something that I was unsure of. I didn't know whether or not the change had strengthened or weakened us. I chose not to answer, instead attempting to pull my lightsaber back into my grip quickly. I was able to do so and activate it in time to deflect the second barrage of lightning. "Fuck," was the only thing I could say under my breath. Dooku had gotten stronger since our last encounter.

I tried to reach out to Obi-Wan, to plead, as much as I loathed doing so, for him to help me. I don't know if he received my waves of fear, but I was trembling, falling to a knee beneath the older Sith's lightning. He chuckled, finding my performance amusing. My fear transformed in that moment from utterly afraid of being killed to angry that I couldn't do this on my own, that I had to beg my former Master to come to my rescue. I was too damn old for that now. I swung my saber, hoping to shift the lightning so I could move. Fortunately, it worked - somewhat.

I was able to get back on my feet and leap towards him, holding my hilt tightly between both of my hands. I slammed down on his crimson blade and stared at him, my anger coursing through me. "Ah, and that is what I was waiting for." I hissed through my teeth, my entire body seething. "Your emotions cloud your judgment, your rationale, Skywalker." I was slightly confused, that is, until his saber swung out and came crashing back towards me. I was a bit too delayed to react and my hip took the beating. I screamed as I flew back and collapsed, holding the searing and smoking part of my body. "Though," he began thoughtfully, "I'm not sure if it is of your own free will or because you've no idea where your precious Master is."

I couldn't even talk. I was too busy gasping, trying to hold the gasps in, and trying to push the pain away like Obi-Wan had taught me numerous times in the past. Right now, despite my age and experience, being used loosely, I wanted Obi-Wan here more than anything. I needed him here because I knew that, without the shadow of a doubt, he would protect me like he'd always done. He still held his lightsaber in hand, completely unsheathed. He stalked towards me slowly, observing me in my pathetic state. I wanted to move. I really did, but the pain was horrible. Even the slightest movement brought the heat back in bulk. I watched him, my eyes burning holes into his figure. He raised his lightsaber and I was about to react, only to get what I'd been hoping for.

As his blade came down on me, it was halted by an azure blade. Dooku's composure had diminished greatly as Obi-Wan began to duel him, moving him away from where I was on the ground, holding my hip as pathetically as I had ever been before. I, once again, tried moving. I managed to crawl slightly in the direction of my lightsaber, pulling it into my hand. I shifted myself painfully to look for Obi-Wan, only to have him coming back to me. "Anakin," he breathed, worry in his voice.

I gritted my teeth, knowing that, once again, I had fucked up our mission. "He's getting away!" I cried helplessly.

"Let him!" he hissed. I was taken aback by that. I, for the first time in a long time, was silent as he observed my wound. "This is..." he trailed off and I sighed, wishing he'd just tell me what I already knew. "It's pretty deep, Anakin. Obviously, not fatal, but..."

"I swear I'll go mad if you keep pausing like this," I said through my teeth. I actually meant that. I hated when he'd shift like this. He seemed uneasy every time he'd had to inform me of injuries I was already aware of. "And where the hell were you?" I thought I'd just throw that out for the hell of it because I wasn't in much control as it was. The pain took over whatever rational thought I'd tried using to speak. I sounded bitter, resentful, and he looked pained.

"I found the Separatist leader," he whispered. He didn't seem very happy with the fact that our mission had been somewhat of a success. I knew that was my fault. "He's in the back," once again a whisper. "I cuffed him."

I nodded once and tried to get myself up, only to have him coddle me in a way he knew I loathed. He helped me onto my feet, gingerly wrapping his arm around my waist. I tried to pull myself off of him, but he, as tender as his touch was, had a firm grip on me, so I gave in. He half carried me to the back where he'd left our Separatist leader. "Damn Neimoidians," I grunted. He seemed slightly amused by that. Slightly.

"I'll tell you whatever you want!" he said, more pathetic than I was. I felt embarrassed to have my former Master carry me in such a way, especially in the face of an enemy. Obi-Wan's hand, on my good hip, squeezed gently. A tingling sensation coursed through me. It was very...unlike the sensation of lightning flowing through me. It felt almost...loving. I pushed it aside and tried to muster up as much of my dignity as I could.

"We've been ordered to bring you back to the Core for further questioning. You have nothing of importance to us in particular." Obi-Wan glanced at me, shocked that I'd actually been able to speak calmly, yet aggressively at the same time. I was no negotiator and the time for negotiations had passed. He wouldn't be released for whatever information he would possibly give us. To me, it meant nothing. To Obi-Wan, I'm sure it meant quite a bit.

"Anakin, can you -"

"Yes." I already knew he was going to ask if I could walk on my own and I hadn't even had to think twice about it. I wanted to get off of him. I wanted him off of me. There was a time and place for things like this and it certainly wasn't right now or right here. He cautiously let go of me, steadying me before stepping back to make sure I wouldn't topple over. I glared at him, wanting him to knock it off. I got tired of him treating me like a child. I'm not his fragile Padawan learner anymore. I'm his - I stopped myself. I'm not his. Why was I even thinking like this? Oh, fuck it. "Come on, Master. Let's get this sleemo back to Coruscant."

We'd managed to drag his sorry ass all the way back to the ship, cuffing him in the back where I sat to watch him. I sat on Obi-Wan's cot, my arms crossed over my chest, fresh bacta on my hip - courtesy of my very worried Master. He, surprisingly, had offered to fly us back to Coruscant. I wouldn't argue if he was willing.

About an hour into the flight back, the Neimoidian ended up falling asleep against the post I'd cuffed him to. I myself was beginning to drift off because this was such a dull task. I jumped when I heard the soft whisper of my former Master. "Anakin, may...may we talk?"

I stared up at him and nodded. He held his hand out for me to grasp and I stared at it like it was an alien limb. He shook it, urging me to take it. I swallowed slowly, fighting the...odd feeling in my stomach. I lifted my mechno and gripped his hand. He pulled me up and his other hand rested on my forearm while he melded our fingers together, my hand willingly staying in his. "Master?"

He shook his head and nodded at the Neimoidian in the corner, leading me back to the cockpit where we'd have a bit more privacy, though I didn't know why he was so eager to get me alone right this moment. He still held my hand and it was odd. Not in the bad way though. It was just unfamiliar to me. He's been more...affectionate since we've gone on this mission. "Anakin, there's something I need to tell you." He looked and felt nervous as hell. He could trust me with whatever it was. I urged him on with my eyes, staring directly into his. Uneasiness rushed out of him as he glanced down at our entwined hands. "Anakin, I..." I waited patiently, as patiently as I could anyway, for him to collect his thoughts. He heaved a heavy sigh and lifted his free hand to stroke my cheek, much to my surprise. "I love you, Anakin."

"I, uh, I love you too, Master."

Something changed in his eyes and I could tell that it wasn't good. "No, Anakin. Listen." Great, he was going to give me another lecture because I was apparently deaf. "I love you, Anakin."

He waited for it to click. It did, but I didn't want to acknowledge it. I didn't know how to acknowledge it. I'd never guessed that he'd felt this way about me. The emphasis in his voice made my stomach react the way it had been when I'd gone to Naboo with Padme to marry her shortly after proposing the idea of marriage to her. She called it...butterflies, I believe. "Master, I-"

"Never mind," he said, removing his hands from my face and my mechno, waving one as if to erase what had just been said. He began to move towards the pilot's seat and I stopped him, knowing full well why he'd shifted like this so quickly.

"Obi-Wan," I ground out. He looked back at me, just as I knew he would. He didn't want me calling him Master right now. This wasn't the time or place to. He looked pained, as if he'd been betrayed, as if he were being judged under my gaze. Damn his eyes. Damn them. I stepped closer to him and held the right side of his face with my gloved, flesh hand. Damn me for acting on impulse. I gently brushed my lips against his, surprised by how soft they were.

He didn't even feel the slightest bit surprised. In fact, he was elevated. He was happy, delighted, overjoyed. Take your pick. He was so much happier than he'd been in quite some time. The only thing that ruined the kiss was when his hand rested on my burned hip and I hissed, breaking the light kiss. He quickly apologized, moving his hand up slightly. "Do you feel the way I do?" he asked. It was obvious that he was hoping I'd say yes.

I nodded and he smiled, stroking the sides of my face with both of his hands. "I love you too, Obi-Wan." His smile widened. My heart raced as his soft fingers delicately traced my cheekbones. I wasn't sure where these sudden feelings of mine had come from, but I hoped it wasn't my mind being sick and twisted enough to trick him. In fact, I did love him. I just wasn't sure to what extent. I'm pretty sure my impulsive kiss meant that it was more than I'd told myself.

"Oh, Anakin," he sighed, his smile breathtaking. Literally. I hadn't realized that I'd stopped breathing as he stared up into my eyes after observing my lips for a short time. "Anakin, breathe," he commanded. I exhaled and he looked concerned. "You were turning blue."

I chuckled nervously and shifted my eyes away only for a few seconds before dragging them back to meet his. "How long have you felt like this about me, Mas- Obi-Wan?"

He blushed sheepishly and I raised an eyebrow. "I've loved you since you were sixteen, Anakin." Sixteen. Wow. He'd waited six years to tell me this. I was baffled by that for sure. He gently lowered my face to his tilted one and my eyes slid to a close without my consent. His warm lips were against mine again and moving slowly. He was being so seductive right now and it was certainly affecting me in more ways than one. My face probably turned a dark shade of red at the bulge in the lower portion of my body. My face was on fire. I loved his lips. I loved his hands as they roamed over my chest and shoulders. I loved that he loved me.