A/N: This is a long one! Almost 6,000 words. *Collapses*
Upon their return to the Coruscant, there was cheering and questions from the people who'd stayed behind but the survivors of the battle were quiet and withdrawn, the deaths of their comrades heavy on their minds. Padme hated herself for how Anakin's parting words to Obi-wan lingered in her mind as people around her were informed of who'd been left behind. She couldn't stop herself; it was all she could think about. The way Anakin's eyes had lingered on her as he'd spoken about wanting something… A shudder raced beneath her skin as she remembered he heat behind that gaze.
Suddenly, all the noise in the room died as Obi-wan reared around and punched a wall. Everyone stood wide-eyed at their usually calm leader's outburst until Mon came forward clearing her throat loudly. "Alright… This has been a… Trying time. Let's allow the group unwind and get on with the day's duties."
Her commanding voice ushered people out of the room without much fanfare, though Padme watched Mace Windu wheel himself over to where Obi-wan lingered, holding his no doubt aching fist. The two men exchanged some quiet words before Mace's dark eyes travelled the room to find hers. They were emotionless and still save for a slow blink, then, the quiet man shook his head and pushed himself away toward the door everyone else had disappeared through.
Only Bail, Padme and Obi-wan remained in the room after the heavy brown door shut behind Mace. The trio was silent for a long moment until Bail came forward from where he stood by the barred doorway to throw off his coat and leave it in the chair. "We all heard what he said… And I think we all know what it meant too. He wants Padme." The raven-haired man gestured weakly in her direction.
The Rebel leader was silent and yet his lack of words spoke volumes enough.
"No matter what happens, Obi-wan you have to make sure Skywalker doesn't get his hands on her."
"Stop!" Obi-wan seethed, still clutching his wrist. "Just – I'm trying to think."
"What can there possibly be to think about?" Bail argued. "You can't do that to her. It's unthinkable. God only knows what he wants to do with her… It certainly can't be anything good."
Obi-rubbed his uninjured hand over his face. "Maybe it could be…" He muttered quietly, "at the very least Anakin is good at keeping his people alive and safe. We lost four people out there today, Bail…"
"Safe?" Bail was incredulous, "He may keep her safe from the creatures outside but he is the worst monster of them all!"
Obi-wan opened his mouth to respond wearily but Padme strode forward into the area the two men stood arguing over her fate. "Wait, wait, wait!" She held up a hand to quieten them both. "Isn't anyone going to ask me how I feel about any of this?"
"You're right." Bail smiled apologetically, "of course, I apologise, Padme."
"Yes," Obi-wan nodded, "Sorry, but I think there really is only one option here." He placed a hand on Padme's shoulder, "You need to get out of town."
"What?" She cried, "That's – that's ridiculous! You can't just send me away!"
"I'm not sending you away, Padme, I'm keeping you safe. Look, I have an old friend who lived here once but she got out… Managed to make her way over to Canada. She might be able to help you start again over there."
For a few seconds, all she could do was splutter. Canada? Padme had never been to Canada in her life! She'd never left the country before. Travelling had always been something reserved for the future, after graduation as a reward for all her hard work… Granted, Canada was hardly the furthest place to go but she liked her life here and she knew the area… Who knew what the situation there was like?
"I can't go to Canada, New York is my home!"
"It can't be anymore… It's not safe for you to be here now that Anakin has set his sights on you." Obi-wan slowly made his way toward a battered red sofa and sat down heavily. "I promise you, my friend will take care of you. Her name is – "
"Bail," She pleaded, "Bail, come on! You can't think this is the right thing to do, surely? Anakin's just a bully and you're both letting him win if you send me away." They couldn't send her away to a foreign place with a stranger because of Anakin Skywalker. Padme wouldn't have it. He probably wasn't all that interested in her anyway – liked the chase more than anything else, she was willing to bet. Well, she wasn't about to lose her home because someone like that wanted amusement.
"You're right." He nodded, "he is a bully. But that bully controls the majority of the food storage in this side of the city and probably the other half too. He has his own pet creature and gang willing to do anything he says. He could set it on us or starve us out if he wanted to." Bail drew closer. "I… As much as I hate to say it, Padme… You leaving the Rebels is as much for our safety as yours."
Padme's eyes began to burn. "Obi-wan?"
The other man didn't meet her eye and the silent confirmation felt like a fist to her stomach. She was putting her friends here in danger by staying. People could die because she selfishly wanted to hold on to New York and the routines she'd built here. How could she have been so stupid? Of course, there'd been more to it than just her protection, Obi-wan was in charge of keeping everyone in this building alive not just Padme. Sola had used to say she could be self-centred when she'd been alive… Maybe she was right after all.
Batting the tears off her cheeks, she nodded. "How long before your friend can get here?"
A moment passed and then, "if I call her tonight she could arrive by tomorrow if she sets off right away."
Tomorrow. By tomorrow Padme would no longer be a Rebel, part of the group… Her home wouldn't be The Coruscant where she felt safe and wanted. It made her want to scream and cry and throw something at Anakin Skywalker's smug face. She wanted to hit him and shout until he understood. You took my home from me. You ruined what little life I had left. You took away my last family.
"I'll get my things ready." She muttered and turned for the door. The other two men were silent as she left and shut the door behind her again. Sabe and Dorme sat on the once-grand staircase together whispering. Dorme noticed Padme's approach first and leapt to her feet, nudging her sister by the elbow.
"Hey – hey she's out. Padme! What happened in there?"
Sabe nodded her curiosity even as Padme felt her lip begin to tremble at the thought of saying the words out loud. Instead, she shook her head and forced a deep breath through her lips, gathering herself. Everything was so sudden, she hadn't even thought about telling anyone about her departure. She'd already lost people she loved without getting to say goodbye, somehow, this felt worse.
"I…" She stuttered. "Did you hear what Anakin said to Obi-wan today?"
The twins shared a glance, it was Sabe who nodded. "About wanting something? Yeah. I just figured it was a piece of Rebel turf or some weapon we have that they don't. Why? Do you know what it is?"
She did and she wished that she didn't. Padme wished, not for the first time, that she'd never met Anakin Skywalker. How many other lives had he ruined or was she just that special? The thought sickened her. Shaking her head, she tried to push back tears. "Me."
The word was small and barely a full syllable and yet forcing it past her lips had felt impossible.
"You?" Dorme repeated, "what do you mean he wants you?"
"Wait, I don't understand…" Sabe frowned, "We're talking about Anakin Skywalker, right? The Imperial guy? What does he want with you?"
"I don't know!" Padme cried, "We went to school together and he hated me. I hated him too, he was horrible. Now, Obi-wan and Bail think I need to leave to keep everyone safe." Both twins looked at her sympathetically before Dorme pulled her quivering body into her arms tightly. A moment later, Sabe wrapped her arms around the pair of them. She hadn't been embraced like this in so long… Suddenly all she could see and feel was her mother and Sola.
The thought was almost enough to spill the tears in her eyes over to her cheeks.
When the three women pulled apart, Dorme brushed a stray lock of hair off Padme's face. "Hey… Everything I've heard about Anakin Skywalker tells me he's not a good guy… Maybe it is for the best you get away from him?"
"It's not… Easy to leave things behind, believe me," Sabe interjected, "but it's possible. We did it when we were seventeen."
"You left home?" Padme said, glancing between the twins.
Both women were silent for a few moments, their pretty faces paling at no doubt unpleasant memories they'd been running from all this time. "Yeah," Dorme said. "After our mom died, our dad started drinking…"
"He wasn't a good person." Sabe finished, smiling sadly. "Raised his hands to us constantly and for any reason he could think of. See this?" Her long pale finger traced a slight bump in the middle of her nose. "He gave me this for flunking a chemistry test. That was the final straw."
Padme's eyes followed the crooked line of Sabe's nose and tried not to gasp… She'd been fortunate growing up. Her family had been loving, kind, understanding… Everything a family was supposed to be. Everyone heard stories about abusive families, sure, but she'd never had any real experience with anything like that. She knew exactly where to shoot a creature to kill it but had no idea what to say in a situation like this.
"Oh, Sabe…" She uttered quietly. "I'm so sorry."
"What we're saying is," Dorme spoke up, "sometimes it's better to get away even if it means leaving something behind. Look at us! We've done pretty well for ourselves, I would say."
It was certainly hard to disagree with that. "Obi-wan has a friend from Canada, he says she'll take me there. I've never even left New York before."
Sabe whistled, "I heard that Canada's in a much better state than here. Might be the best thing for you."
"Maybe the monsters are nicer there too?" Dorme sniggered. Sabe snorted and pushed her sister for the stupid joke. It was amazing, Padme thought to herself, that these two could come out alright after everything they'd been through. She'd been lucky to get to call them her friends even for a little while.
"Thank you." She took one twin's hand in each of her own. "You two have come to mean a lot to me in my time here."
"The feeling's more than mutual, Padme." Sabe stroked her hair affectionately, "if Canada really is better off, you'd better get your ass back down here and pick us up."
Somehow, she laughed and drew the two women into another embrace. "I will, I promise."
The next morning, the small bag filled with her meagre possessions was packed and ready to go. It hadn't taken her long. In the old world, a move like this would have taken Padme months to prepare for. There would have been clothes to sort through, shoes, bags, books and countless other possessions she'd have to pack up. How things change. Now, she had three pairs of pants, a couple of mended tank tops and sweaters for when the weather got colder, her boots, coat and gun. It was all she needed and all she had to take.
Slowly, she trudged downstairs with the bag slung over her shoulders and made her way to where Obi-wan stood with Rush, Mon, Bail and an unfamiliar girl. Her long dark hair was expertly twisted into two thick braids that reached her waist, that was the first thing Padme noticed. The second was her black long-sleeved shirt, burgundy skirt and knee-high boot outfit combination. She hadn't seen anyone dressed in a skirt for a very long time. It was strange.
"Ah," Obi-wan spied her approach over the girl's shoulder. "Padme, here you are." The girl turned to look at her too and she was struck by how young she appeared. This was his friend from Canada? She couldn't have been any older than eighteen! She'd thought that – well, she'd just assumed that – that it would be an adult she'd be travelling with. "This is my old friend, Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka, this is Padme Naberrie."
"Pleasure." Ahsoka nodded once. "This is the one Anakin likes?"
"Unfortunately." Rush sighed, folding his arms petulantly over his chest.
"Yes," Obi-wan drawled, "and we both know what he can be like once he wants something."
Padme couldn't help herself, stepping further into the room she dropped her bag to the floor and looked at the younger girl. "You know him too?" If this girl was from Canada then how was it possible to know Anakin Skywalker? Surely, his reputation didn't carry that far?
At her question, Ahsoka grimaced and suddenly appeared older than her young age. "He was a friend of mine… For a while." Her big blue eyes slowly made their way up to meet Padme's surprised gaze. "Obi-wan didn't tell you, huh? I was an Imperial once."
"You were an Imperial?" Padme scoffed. There was no way! This was a child and she was a friend of Obi-wan's – he would never mix with an Imperial, former or not. They did terrible things to people constantly. He hated them. "That can't be right."
At that Ahsoka smiled wryly, "they weren't always so bad…." The smile fell away from her face, "he wasn't always so bad…"
Padme wanted to roll her eyes and tell Ahsoka she was wrong, that she'd known Anakin years ago and he was just as terrible then as he was now… But the sadness in the girl's eyes caught the words in her throat, there was a pain there, a heartache she didn't dare worsen. It passed after only a moment but she'd seen it.
Ahsoka met her eyes again and narrowed her gaze, fixing Padme with an intense stare for a moment. "Wait a minute… I've seen you before."
"What? Where?" She asked. Searching her brain, she tried to remember a time where they could have run into each other but drew a blank. Ahsoka didn't look familiar at all. Maybe she was confusing her with someone else?
"It was back when I was with the Imperials…" The girl came closer, still eyeing Padme up, "We were fighting a group of monsters and about four of them took off down the street out of nowhere. They were chasing a girl. It was Great Jones street – the one where that fancy bakery used to be – they were red and green things around my height."
"I… I remember that…" Padme uttered, "It was a few days after my family died. They were chasing me but I lost them."
"You didn't lose them." Ahsoka rolled her eyes, "Anakin insisted we followed them even though they didn't care about us anymore… I'd never seen him so eager to kill monsters before." Everyone looked at Padme as she opened her mouth in surprise but no words came. Something horrifying twisted inside of her stomach – how many times had Anakin Skywalker saved her life? Is that why she survived for so long before joining the Rebels, even though she had been completely unskilled?
"So then it's true…" Mon whispered. "Oh, you poor girl."
"I can't believe it." Rush spat. "You have to leave the damn country because Skywalker has a crush on you."
"Listen to me, Padme," Ahsoka began, "you have to run. If all this is true and he catches you – he will never let you go. Believe me… Getting out of the Imperials was hard enough as his friend, never mind as his…" She trailed off with a wince.
Suddenly, finally, the true sense of the danger she was in began to dawn upon Padme. "Alright, then let's just go right now. I don't want to bring any trouble to you." She looked at Obi-wan.
"I've sent out someone to fill up a canister of fuel from the gas station ten blocks down. It's the only one remotely nearby which still works… Never thought we'd have any use for it these days." He said. "You should be on the road in about an hour at most."
Padme nodded and felt a hand on her shoulder suddenly. Rush stepped into view with a sad smile. "I'm going to make my way up to Canada too, I've decided. If it wasn't so difficult to get people out I'd ask to just come along."
"Rush, are you crazy?" Padme had to put effort into not raising her voice, "Getting all the way up there is almost impossible without a car! Why would you want to take such a risk?" She slapped his chest softly, annoyed by such ridiculousness. He had a good life here in New York with the Rebels, what could possibly make him do something so short-sighted?
His face softened and she felt the hand on her shoulder squeeze slightly. "Padme, you must know that I – "
"Obi-wan!" Sabe burst into the room suddenly, panting, "It's – it's Anakin! He and his whole crew are on their way over. Dorme and I spotted them while on the supply run. They have their pet with them!"
Panic exploded into the room. There was cursing and pacing as everyone reacted to the news. Anakin and the Imperials never stepped into Rebel territory unless to call for a code red. It wasn't done. And there was certainly no need to bring their monster along.
"We can't go anywhere without the gas." Ahsoka grit her teeth. "We're stuck here until it comes. Obi-wan, how long ago did you send your guys?"
He glanced at the ornate grandfather clock against the wall. "About twenty minutes ago."
"They won't even be on the way back!" The younger girl cried.
"Why would he bring the monster?" Bail asked, "there's no cause that I can see. No one's had a run-in with any Imperials lately?"
"Not that I know of." Obi-wan ran a hand through his hair. "Mon, go make sure everyone has at least one weapon on them… If this turns into a fight then everyone must be prepared."
"Right." The redhead nodded and ran from the room.
"Sabe, how long do we have?" Obi-wan asked.
"A few minutes at the most."
"Padme, don't worry," Rush pulled her aside from the crowd, "I'll make sure he doesn't come anywhere near you with that thing."
She wasn't given a chance to respond. A feral roar from the street pulled everyone's attention to the window on the left where the sound had come from. Bail pushed aside the gauzy drape and grit his teeth. "They're already here… At least fifteen of them."
"Why so many?" Padme asked.
"There's a reason he's here…" Ahsoka grimaced, "something must have set him off."
Obi-wan curled his hands into tight fists and stormed ahead, barging passed Padme and Rush as he made toward the door. Everyone followed their leader, some holding their weapons, ready to fight whilst others lingered near the back of the group. The Rebel leader didn't hesitate before ripping the heavy wooden bar that held the door closed off and throwing it to the floor with the dull thud. The door swung open as he charged outside, Bail a step behind.
Across the street, Anakin Skywalker stood proudly with Aphra on his right holding the silver chain leash that held his monster's jaw shut. On the left was a tall, broad man Padme recognised as the one to raise the code red. He looked as grim as Anakin did smug. It didn't bode well at all, like a thunderstorm darkening the sky.
"Anakin!" Obi-wan yelled louder than she'd ever heard him. "This is Rebel territory, what are you doing here?"
Behind her, people whispered frantically between themselves, growing frightened and fretful. The Imperial's had never dared come this close to the Rebel base before now… It had to mean something and it couldn't be good.
"Well, well, well!" Anakin adjusted the collar of his black coat against the cool wind. "Who do we have here? It's Snips! You a Rebel now, Ahsoka?"
Beside her, the girl's breath caught in her throat. "I'm just passing through."
He chuckled then, mirthlessly. "You always were a terrible liar, Ahsoka. One of my people saw someone filling up a tank of gas while we were out hunting and there's only one person I know who still uses a car…" His hand gestured toward the younger girl. "I know why you're here." His sinister blue gaze flicked to Padme. "Taking a little trip up north, Naberrie?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Padme called out. She watched him closely, this young man, as he smirked and intimated people younger and older than him as easily as breathing. He was absolutely magnetic… He scared her as much as he fascinated her. As much as she hated to admit it, there was something about him that made it difficult to look away. A moment later, he caught her looking and smiled before returning his eyes to Obi-wan.
"I am here for a reason," Anakin declared proudly, "I want to make a deal, Kenobi and it's a good one."
"Is that so?"
"Mmhm. Remember the convenience store on the upper East side? I'll give it to you – in fact, I'm willing to give you that entire block… For a price."
"And what price would that be?" Obi-wan called back.
That area was filled with stores still stocked with food and water… It was stupid of Anakin to even consider letting it go. It didn't make any logistical sense at all. People around her murmured just that to one another, intrigued by the possibility of better supplies.
"All I want in return… Is her." Anakin lifted his right hand and pointed directly at Padme. Her stomach dropped while her heart leapt up into her throat at the same time. No, no, no… She'd been so close to getting away. This was exactly what they'd hoped to avoid.
"Forget it!" Obi-wan seethed. "We have plenty of food supplies of our own."
"Is he serious?" Someone behind her said, "we need that extra food, it'll be winter soon!"
"I mean, I like Padme, but c'mon, this is ridiculous! Just send her over." Another muttered.
Sabe reared around suddenly, "Hey! I hear another word like that and I'll feed you to that thing over there myself!"
"I'll help." Dorme glared viciously at the group behind them.
Anakin chuckled lowly and took three steps closer to Obi-wan. "Alright, you drive a hard bargain, old man… How about, I give you half of that block and I don't set my pet off on you all right now? Hmm?"
"How about you go to hell!" Rush cried. "We have guns; we'll shoot the beast down."
The two men shared a glance before Anakin pointed at Rush, looking back to Obi-wan again. "One more word from him and he dies first."
"Rush!" Padme hissed, "Don't make things worse!"
"It's no deal, Anakin. Take your group off our territory and don't come back." The auburn-haired man growled. "I don't want to hear you talking about Padme again."
"That is a shame," the blonde Imperial Leader drawled, "It really is a shame… Aphra." He looked over his shoulder and nodded. The raven-haired woman grinned wildly and reached down to the hook that held the beast on its leash, ready to flick it open and unleash hell.
"Obi-wan, come on! You can't let him do this!" Someone cried.
"You're going to let us all die just to keep one woman?" Someone else screamed.
"Stop it, all of you!" Dorme spoke up again, "If he takes Padme today then what's next?"
"Obi-wan as much as I hate to say, perhaps it's the right thing to do…" Mon glanced guiltily between Padme and Anakin.
Voices came from every person at every angle and all blended into one sharp noise. The leashed creature shrieked and reared up on its hind legs in protest as Padme massaged her temples with both hands, trying to think.
"Enough!" She screams and everyone quietened down at once. "This is ridiculous! I'm not worth all this nonsense."
Anakin held up a hand to pause Aphra who huffed and stood straight again. "Oh, come on, Obi-wan… It'd be a shame for you and your little club to die over something so trivial."
"Trivial?" Obi-wan huffed, "Padme's life is not trivial!"
"For once we agree on something." Anakin laughed, "Don't worry about it; I don't want to kill her. I won't hurt a hair on her pretty head, I promise."
"Your word is hardly trustworthy."
Anakin slapped a hand over his heart dramatically, "You wound me."
"I don't care. I don't care what your intentions are because it's not happening."
Finally, the Imperial leader's jaw set tightly and his eyes narrowed. He was losing patience and it showed. "You know, honestly? I think part of me was hoping you'd say that. Aphra, unleash – "
"Wait!" A voice surged out and it took her a moment to realise it was her own. It was louder and stronger than she expected, the kind of voice she'd hoped to develop as a lawyer one day with practice but that day never had a chance to come… Until now. Everyone turned to look at her again, some incredulous, some relieved and in Obi-wan's case, furious. Despite it all, the whispering, Ahsoka shaking her head and the excitement that took light in Anakin's eyes, Padme pushed her way through the crowd.
"I want to talk to you." She called to Anakin, "Alone."
"Padme, Padme, don't do this!" Obi-wan hissed. "He's crazy. Go back inside where it's safe."
"Come here then." The Imperial raised a curious eyebrow before turning and ushering his group backwards a few steps.
It was stupid, incredibly stupid, but Padme stepped out onto the sidewalk and then the road towards him. She was done just standing around listening to others decide her fate. It'd happened too much in her life… Whatever came of this conversation, she was taking the control back. If it meant her friends and fellow Rebels could be safe, she would gladly hand herself over to Anakin and the Imperials. She just hoped he made good on his promise.
Slowly, step by step, she made her way toward him, steeling herself the entire time. He let her come to him at her own pace, patient again, something dark dancing in his eyes. She stopped a few feet from where he stood and looked around at his gang. They all watched her intently but Padme could only focus on Anakin. She hadn't been this close to him since the incident in the convenience store. He was so imposing, so much taller than her… Something alluring and dangerous radiated off him and Padme felt like it was going to swallow her whole.
Bracing herself, she spoke up. "I said alone. You aren't exactly alone."
He looked at her for a moment before chuckling; it made him look years younger. "Little spitfire," he murmured before turning back to his crew. "Everyone move back there to the stop sign."
It was a few meters away and gave just enough privacy for their words to go unheard. His followers did as they were told, directed by the man who'd stood to Anakin's left. They were still surrounded, the Rebels on one side and the Imperials on the other. It was the closest she would get to alone.
"There." Anakin took a step closer to Padme, "now talk."
"I have to know, why did you save my life?" Before any of this could continue she had to understand why he'd sought her out and saved her. More than once too. There had to be a reason, a purpose behind it… Anakin Skywalker never did anything without his reasons, she'd gathered that much.
He smiled. "Which time?"
"How many times were there?"
"A few."
"I don't understand." She shook her head. "You don't even know me." At that, he scoffed which made her stiffen. "Just because we shared a few classes in school – "
"Four." Anakin interrupted her, "We shared four classes. You sat in the fourth row in homeroom – that was my favourite. You always pretended to be listening but you weren't – you kept scribbling little notes on that week's Debate Club meeting in your notebooks or reading 'Romeo and Juliet' for the thousandth time. The apocalypse could have hit there and then and you wouldn't have noticed."
Padme stared at him, gaping, as her heart pounded in her chest. How could he have possibly remembered all that? Why would he even have noticed? She thought he'd disliked her – in the few interactions they'd had at school he seemed like he'd hated her.
Why did it feel as though her blood was racing through her veins?
"I… Is that why you're doing all of this? Because you had a high school crush on me?" She stammered.
He rolled his eyes, "don't be ridiculous."
"Then what?" It was Padme who moved closer now, "Why are you doing this? What do you want with me?"
"Does the reason even matter?" He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Yes!" She cried, incredulous. "You want me to come with you, I need to know why."
Anakin took another step toward her and Padme's heart picked up its pace. They'd never been closer not even in the store the other day. She could feel the heat from his body and felt her breath catch. "Alright, I'll tell you why," he said, his voice quiet, almost tender. "I want you to come with me because, with me, you'll stay alive. Kenobi and his band of merry Rebels are good enough but ultimately, he'll let you die. I won't." She didn't know what to say. She'd had no idea what his reasoning could have been but was still surprised. Anakin glanced over his shoulder and gestured toward his followers. "We're survivors, Padme." He said proudly, "We'll do whatever it takes to live and to live well. We're not hiding like the Rebels, shaking in fear over the monsters. We seek them out and we cut them down before they can get to us."
"How is that safer?" She scoffed.
"Fear isn't a shield. It's a handicap. Stare at death in the face – and death won't take you, death scares you – you scare it right back. It's the only way to win."
There was a fire, a determination in his words that made Padme's stomach clench and her heart beat so fast that it hurt. Anakin seemed to notice and smiled. His hand reached forward to brush some hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear gently.
"Come away with me," he whispered, "come back to the Empire and live well with us. You don't have just get by day to day… I'll make things the way you want them to be and I'll make sure you never have to worry about the monsters again. I'll rip them apart if they come near you, you know I can."
Padme remembered him, brutal, wild and blood-stained on the battlefield and she couldn't help but feel tempted to follow him, despite her better judgment. She didn't understand why, why he wanted her, why he decided to go up against Obi-wan to protect her… Nothing about any of this made any sense.
"I gave you a reason… Now the choice is yours." He finished and stepped back three careful steps. Padme's head pounded. Temptation and fear battled each other in her heart and mind. He was dangerous but he was also safety. He could destroy the Rebels if he wanted to… It would only take one order, one hand gesture and his followers would release the monster.
Because that was why he had brought it along in the first place, wasn't it? Not just to frighten them, no, if Padme disagreed and returned to the Rebels, Anakin would set his beast on them. He almost had earlier! How could she have let herself forget, even just for a moment that he was a monster too? He was despicable. Horrendous.
He looked so utterly triumphant because he knew that she was caged, trapped… How could she ever choose to remain here with the Rebels when she knew it would seal their fate? Padme hated him suddenly – it didn't even matter that he saved her life anymore. Anakin Skywalker was vile; he was awful, completely rotten to the core…
He said the choice was hers but truth be told, there was no real choice here.
"I'll come with you." Padme declared.
Anakin's smile was so twisted he hardly looked human for a moment. He turned back toward the Imperials, took a half-step and extended his hand toward her. It was over, the deal was done. Padme's life for the lives of the Rebels. She was afraid but held no regrets, this was the right thing to do.
She took a long breath and slipped her hand into Anakin's.
"Padme!" Obi-wan cried.
"Padme, no!" Rush was louder.
"Don't do it!" Sabe yelled.
And the rest was one wall of multiple voices mixed together so that no words escaped the crowd.
"She's made her choice!" Anakin called over his shoulder. "The upper East Side block is all yours."
"I swear, Anakin if you hurt her!" Obi-wan shouted, fury laced through every word. "I'll kill you myself!"
He pulled her close and laughed. "She's one of us. She'll be fine."
Padme hardly dared to look back at the Rebels as Anakin began to pull her away but forced herself to take one last glance. Dorme and Sabe looked angry and shocked, Ahsoka seemed darkly resigned, Rush looked heartbroken, Bail guilty, Mon passive and Obi-wan more upset than she'd ever seen him. He knew and he knew that Padme knew there was nothing he could do. He couldn't fight back or change things… He could only watch as she was pulled away from them forever. He had to sacrifice her for the sake of everyone else.
This world was that cruel.
Anakin and the Imperials led Padme through the streets, keeping his hand entwined with hers the whole time. The morning's light was bleak and grey as if sensing her mood. It wasn't warm or bright – it was grim, cold and unforgiving. Padme shivered in the cold wind and felt Anakin's hand slip away from hers. A second later, his jacket fell over her shoulders.
Padme felt like she could cry as his scent enveloped her suddenly, like a poisonous cloud.
Who would have thought in this new world where the monsters reigned, a world brimming with death and blood, it would be human man, ultimately, who would devour her. It was almost worse to know he wouldn't even do it with teeth or claws, no – he'd do with his heart, his dark, blackened, selfish heart.
Over this, Padme thought as tears brimmed in her eyes, she'd rather take the monsters.
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