Author's Note: Enjoy the angst😉
Obi-wan wasn't sure how long they'd been alone in the dark.
Their arms had been pulled tight to the wall so they had no freedom of movement, and the long-held position had left their shoulder and underarm muscles aching. Though he was thankful that the gags had been left off this time.
Anakin had been quiet for awhile. But judging from the groaning and shifting that had just started, the drug paralyzing him must have finally worn off.
His ears pricked as he heard the Knight shift again.
"I could do it."
Frowning at the hoarseness of the low voice, Obi-wan searched out his Padawan's gaze. "Do what, Anakin?"
The Knight swallowed roughly, seeming to be picking his words very carefully. "I could… connect… to the Dark Side. Get us out of here."
"Anakin!" Obi-wan didn't even try to modulate the utter shock in his tone. "Absolutely not! Not only would that be a violation of everything you've been taught, but I could never ask you to risk yourself in that way."
"Risk myself?" Anakin bit out. "You mean like you do for me almost every day? Or at least every day we're on the same battlefield. I've practically lost count of the times you've pulled me out of the fire."
"Often literally," he deadpanned, immediately wondering why he'd felt the need to interject.
But Anakin went with it. "Exactly!"
A pause. "Master, I can't– " His Padawan's voice broke slightly, his breath hitching, and Obi-wan struggled to hear such a tone from his usually overly-confident friend. "I can't do this… much longer. I don't care about the pain, Obi-wan. You know I've dealt with worse. But…"
The control. The words remained unspoken. No need to give voice to that which all parties already knew.
He lowered his eyes, feeling shame build up in his heart. "Anakin–"
"Don't you dare," came the hoarse reply. "This is not your fault, Obi-wan, and you know it. But we have to get out of here. Before he–" Breaks us. "... wins." A muffled bump reached Obi-wan's ears as Anakin thumped his head against the wall, expression resigned. "We've tried everything else. There's nothing to pick the chains with, no way to send a message for help, and even if we could manage to get outside this cell, there's no way we could fight anyone off right now. Using the Force is the only way. You have to see that!"
Obi-wan shook his head. "No, Anakin. I would not have you throw everything you've worked for away like that. I would not have you taint yourself like–"
But Anakin scoffed. "Oh, come on. You know that's already a lost cause." Now his voice lowered in shame. "We both know… I've always been closer to it than I should. Some days– sometimes it's so hard…" He looked away.
Obi-wan hardly knew what to say. But he made sure his voice was gentle as he asked, "Anakin. Why did you never tell me that you… that you were so close to…?"
"And tell you what exactly? 'Oh, sorry Master! Your worst fears have been realized! Your precious too-old-to-be-a-Padawan is even more of a screw-up than you already thought!'" He huffed. "Yeah, right."
"Oh, Anakin, you have never been a screw-up."
"Aren't I? I'm supposed to be the "Chosen One", but when has that ever really helped us? You do remember Mortis, right?"
He winced at the memory. "Yes… but–"
"Good! Because the parts I remember were not exactly the best of my life. And that's saying something. That's why I have to be the one to do it. I know I'll never be the perfect Jedi, it's already been proven. There's no reason for you to become damaged too."
His answer was cold and biting, swift as the podracer Anakin had once saved their lives with. "Damaged? You mean like seeing your Master killed in front of you before you even passed the Trials? Having to try and kill a highly skilled Sith whose sole purpose in life is to exterminate your kind? Alone!"
"Yeah, that didn't take by the way."
"I hadn't noticed."
A brief second of levity, each smiling softly at the other… before Obi-wan's smile fell. "And then having to try and train the Chosen One, against the wishes of the Council. With almost no help. No former Master to show me the ropes, to ask for advice when I've tried everything I can think of to get you to clean your quarters." The smile was back, and Anakin, though he rolled his eyes, couldn't contain a snort of amusement. "Or when you had feelings for Padmé." His face turned regretful. Anakin's became guarded. "I know I was harsh with you then. Harsher than I would've liked, looking back on it. I've always regretted it since." He shifted slightly, giving his former apprentice a resigned smile. "You don't have the monopoly on pain, I'm afraid, my once-Padawan. Though they may look different, we've both had our struggles. So no. We will not give into Maul's wishes. We are strong enough to hold out until the Order finds us. And whatever we do… we will do together."
Anakin nodded. Eventually. Though he could tell from the tension in the boy's shoulders and the hesitant frown on his face that it was grudging. "Fine. But if help doesn't come soon–"
"Then we will… discuss the matter again."
The Knight snorted. "Sure we will."
Obi-wan gave a small smile, not replying as Anakin closed his eyes, clearly going to try and sleep again.
Besides. There was really nothing more to be said.
He had dozed off shortly after Anakin. It had seemed the logical course of action, given that one: there was nothing else to do. And two: he was absolutely exhausted.
So it was with great reluctance that he slowly returned to the waking world. Something was different. Something had woken him. He squeezed his eyes tighter, frowning, trying to pinpoint the disturbance. There was no hold upon his throat. No light being shone in his eyes. No one calling out Good morning! You've been rescued! Nothing other than the sound of his and Anakin's breathing–
No, wait. That was it.
There was a third set of lungs in the room.
Full wakefulness rushed back to him in an instant, and he snapped his eyes open–
To see Maul standing just inside the doorway, silently watching them.
Obi-wan knew he hadn't made a sound, and yet Maul's head turned toward him from where he'd been – fondly? – appraising Anakin's sleeping form.
The Dathomirian grinned upon meeting his gaze, holding a finger to his lips. "Sshhh. No need to wake the dear boy. After all, he's had a bit of a hard day." He winked.
Obi-wan felt his blood begin to boil. Hard day? That was one word for the horrendous torture that he had put him through. He shifted upright as much as possible, attempting to quash the anger that rose inside his heart. "What's the matter, Maul? Afraid we'll have somehow slipped away while you weren't looking?"
"My dear Obi-wan," Maul answered, moving closer, keeping his voice low. "It should hardly surprise you to know that I am always watching. For example, you and your Padawan certainly have a lot of very… heartfelt conversations. Not the sort of thing I would expect from Jedi, normally. But then, the two of you have never been normal… have you?"
He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of Maul's darkly happy tone. And it only served to discomfit him further when Maul began to chuckle. "Nooo. The Master who brushed the Dark Side at a young age to…" He gave a delicate cough. "... kill me. And then spent the rest of his life building a reputation against it. And of course." Maul gestured to Anakin. "The Padawan, found at such an old age and always causing problems because of it."
Obi-wan bristled at the possessive look Maul gave the Knight. "Anakin may be a magnet for trouble, but he is also exceptional at getting out of it. Not to mention generally rescuing several people or planets along the way."
Maul gave him a long, indecipherable look, and suddenly he found himself trying not to squirm.
His captor's voice was thoughtful as he finally answered. "'Getting out of it? Rescuing people.' Yes, perhaps for now. But something tells me…" He looked back at Anakin, a frown appearing between his eyes. "… not for long."
Obi-wan shivered.
Maul looked back at him, once again his usual malignant self. "Not if what I've sensed in him is true. And don't try to deny it," he added as Obi-wan startled. "Your last 'un-Jedi-like' conversation proved my suspicions correct." He gave a feral grin. "There is darkness in the Chosen One."
"No." He spoke the word before it had even formed in his head, his voice cracking through the room like a whip.
"No?" Maul said, a tone of gleeful incredulity stoking Obi-wan's ire. "Obi-wan, I heard you confirm it yourself!" He lowered his voice conspiratorily, moving right into the Jedi Master's space as if to hear a dreadful secret. "What did happen on Mortis? I confess I'm dying to know."
Unable to pull away, unwilling to answer, he merely set his jaw tight and shook his head.
Maul leaned even closer, their faces only inches apart now.
His jaw tightened further.
"Tell me." The persuasive whisper felt like poison on his skin. But a poison that you'd gladly take, if only for the intense pleasure you knew it'd provide before the end. It was the poison of the Dark Side.
He clenched his eyes shut, shook his head harder. You are strong. You are strong. You are strong.
The taint of persuasion grew stronger. "Tell. Me."
Flash.
The image of Anakin standing before the Son and Daughter, hands flung out, forcing them to their knees while fear thrummed palpably in the air. He fell from the Daughter's talons–
And landed in the middle of fire, trying to reach out to his apprentice through the heat of the magma. Instead catching glimpses of Anakin's vision. The vision that gave him a tortured expression… and yellow eyes.
So many people. So much pain and anguish, so many lives destroyed… because of Anakin?
Obi-wan's heart had rebelled but he could not deny the visions he was seeing with his own eyes. But… but Anakin could never… Anakin could never…
He wouldn't.
He felt Maul's hot breath on his neck– and snapped.
Fear and anger clawed their way up his throat, and he latched onto the feeling of power that came with them. His palm flew open–
And Maul flew backward, landing in a stunned heap by the door as Obi-wan thrilled in the feeling that success sent humming through him.
Pleasure at pushing Maul back, at not giving in to his demands, at beating back the fear and instead returning some of the pain he'd been put through. That Anakin had been put through. Oh yes, he felt good as Maul slowly raised his head from the floor, a stunned and confused expression on his face before–
Before being replaced with a look of savage glee.
Obi-wan froze.
And the pleasure turned to ice in his veins, the feeling of power souring inside his blood until it was all he could do not to vomit.
I just used the Dark Side.
Maul stood up slowly, clearly reveling in the expression of horror that Obi-wan knew must be plain on his face. Oh Force, what have I done? His breath was ragged as he tried to find air, but there was none to be had. Someone had sucked it right out of the room.
Maul idly brushed the dirt from his robes, not even looking at Obi-wan as he spoke. "When you first arrived I told you that I would keep you here until either you used the Dark Side… or died." Obi-wan raised his head, body trembling as he met Maul's gaze. "I believe I should refine that statement now." They stared into each other's eyes, Obi-wan sure his beating heart could be heard throughout the room. He blinked, and suddenly red and black filled his vision, Maul's hand around his throat as he choked and spluttered. The growl of his enemy filled his ears. "You will never leave this place unless I deem you a fit apprentice of the Dark. I may kill you anyway. But not until, one way or another, I have broken you beyond repair." Through his own choking, he heard the uncontrolled fire leave Maul's voice, replaced by the barely contained angry hiss that he most often seemed to revert to. "And you have given me the most exquisite way to accomplish that, Kenobi. All I have to do is continue to… lavish, shall we say, attention on poor Skywalker. All I have to do is press the right buttons, make the right cuts, break the right bones… and your bond does all the work for me!"
The hand left his throat, and he sagged forward, gasping and coughing like he never had in his life, the sick feeling of the Dark still trying to send bile up his throat.
"The Jedi Order always told you attachment led to the Dark Side. It appears, in your case… it's true."
Words rang in his head like a gong, blocking out all coherent thought.
Apprentice of the Dark…
Broken… beyond repair…
Exquisite way…
Lavish attention…
The right buttons, the right cuts…
Attachment leads to the Dark…
Your bond does all the work for me!
He shut his eyes, still gasping and heaving in air like a dying man. Because that's what he felt like. With every cut, every slice, every indignation Anakin was made to suffer, a piece of Obi-wan was torn away. Being pushed to use the Dark… something he'd sworn he would never do again… had crushed the one hand he had left clinging to the precipice. And now…
Now Obi-wan was falling.
The sour, sick feeling of the Dark filled his veins.
"I would remember that feeling if I were you, Kenobi," Maul said, a lazy grin fixed on his face as he turned toward the door. "It will make it much easier to replicate in the future. For never fear." His voice turned to a satisfied hiss. "It's true what they say. One taste is never enough."
Anakin woke from a deep sleep with the glaring feeling that something was wrong.
His eyes flew open, and sure enough, there was Maul– leaving? He frowned after Maul's retreating figure, only becoming aware of the odd sound in the room after the door had closed behind him.
Following the sound, his eyes landed on Obi-wan… and widened. What did that monster do to him?
Anakin had never seen his Master so distressed. His eyes were locked in position on the floor, unseeing. His body couldn't seem to stay still; it kept twitching. And his breathing… the distress there wasn't loud and obvious. No, Obi-wan still remained subtle and unassuming in everything he did. But, at best, Anakin would describe his breathing as… erratic. It was like he kept trying to draw air in at just the wrong moments, and with every hitch and catch, Anakin grew more and more concerned.
"Obi-wan," he called softly. I don't want to startle him.
No response.
Well, that's not unnerving. Not taking chances this time, he not-quite-yelled, "Master!"
Obi-wan's head jerked upright, eyes immediately locking onto his own.
"Hey," the Knight continued, softer this time. "My turn, okay?" He just managed to tilt his finger downward, vaguely pointing in the direction of his chest before he began to take deep, exaggerated breaths. It took him a minute, but eventually his Master caught on.
Slowly the tension in Obi-wan – and the room – began to slip away.
But even after it did, and the odd – he would've said scared if it had been anyone else – look on his Master's face drained away, he refused to talk. No matter how much he begged or pleaded – "We need to stick together, Master." – "So what, you get to help me, but I can't help you?" – Obi-wan's mouth stayed closed, his head turned away. As much as it could anyway.
Eventually, he had to give it up as a lost cause.
Which left him wondering the whole rest of the night: what on earth had Maul done?
Author's Note: If you've been enjoying the story, please don't forget to leave me a comment! I love hearing what you guys have to say