Chapter 4 – Captured
Author's Note: Sorry. Not sorry! :)
~ Amina Gila
Ever since Custos and Ani were shown to their quarters, Ahsoka has tried to distract herself with anything she can, so she doesn't have to think about the fact that they're right there. It's too odd, too unsettling to know that they're on the same Star Destroyer as her. In truth, she doesn't know how to feel about them being there. She saw Fallen Anakin on Mortis, and though she has no idea what led him to that state, she doesn't hold any resentment for his actions. She does trust Anakin with her life, and after she died there, it's especially true.
Anakin saved her. He brought her back somehow, and that, more than anything, proved to her that he is the Chosen One, because who else could have accomplished something like that? She would like to think that she's changed, become more open and understanding of others, especially after she was kidnapped by Trandoshans. Still, that doesn't mean that she's able to understand why Custos chose what he did. Obi-Wan has always been the light and level-headed one of the three of them. What could make someone like him embrace the Dark Side?
She doesn't want to know the answer to that. In fact, she doesn't even want to think about any of this. Ahsoka firmly pushes that thought to the back of her head, turning her focus on the training droids lined up in front of her. After working through the katas, she decided to try something a bit more in-depth to keep her distracted.
With a wave of her hand, they activate, and for the next few minutes, she's lost in deflecting blaster bolts and deactivating the droids. As the last one falls to the floor with a clang, she wipes the sheen of sweat from her forehead, deactivating her lightsabers. Anakin is standing in the doorway, watching her. His expression is approving, but something is clearly troubling him. She can see it in his eyes.
"Good job, Snips," he praises with a smile.
"Hey, Master," she greets with a wave, finally frowning. "You okay?"
Anakin makes a dismissive gesture with his hand, obviously not intending to tell her what's wrong. Ahsoka's not stupid. She can see that he's troubled. "Fine," he says with a shrug. "I had an encounter with our guests, and Obi-Wan went to give a report to the Council."
"Okay..." she draws out the word. Something isn't quite right, but she can't place it. "What are they like?"
"They're nice," he answers, obviously choosing his words carefully, "But I'm not sure if the Council will see it the same way."
"Do you think they'll do something to them?" she queries.
"I don't know," Anakin replies, shaking his head, expression pained. She can almost visibly see him drawing all his emotions back in and sealing them off. "Want to spar?"
He's obviously not planning to tell her anymore, not like she expected him to in the first place. "Sure," she agrees, reigniting her blades and falling into a fighting stance. Anakin doesn't hesitate, igniting his own lightsaber and attacking her, testing her, pushing her to her limits. It's what he always does. That's why she's as good as she is.
She lets herself fall into a familiar pattern of blocking and returning his blows, the Force dancing between them. Their duel goes on for a while before Anakin finally steps back, disengaging his blade. "I think that's enough for now," he states, "Since neither of us will be winning anytime soon, and Obi-Wan will probably be back from the briefing."
Ahsoka considers teasing him for a moment but decides better of it. He's still too wound up to properly respond to her, and she doesn't want to make him feel worse. "Fine," she agrees with a shrug. "I'll race you to our quarters." With those words, she bolts from the training room, racing through the corridors, laughing as Anakin chases her.
He wins. Of course, he does.
When she finishes in the 'fresher, she wanders back into the hallway, wondering if her master will want her to do some meditation next. Or maybe help him work on repairing his starfighter or the Twilight. Anakin is standing nearby as if waiting for her, a distracted look on his face. "Something isn't right," he mumbles, head snapping towards the hallway, raw panic flashing across his face. "Obi-Wan just got back, and he brought Windu with him. Come on. Let's see what's going on."
A chill runs through Ahsoka at his words. She doesn't think she's going to like whatever is about to happen next.
**w**
The Council debated for a long time, Obi-Wan telling them everything he knew about their two visitors from another reality – for that must be where they're from. He doesn't understand why Anakin was so upset, so worried for the duo. Something changed between them. Obi-Wan doesn't know what, but he doesn't like it either. It was... a shock to find Anakin there, much less curled around his young counterpart and freely letting a Sith hold him while he slept.
What in the name of the Force was Anakin thinking? He's not stupid, far from it, but he does irrational things all the time. Was this one of them? Somehow, Obi-Wan doesn't think so, because he knows how guarded Anakin is, how unwilling to let down his barriers. They can't have spoken for more than a few hours, certainly not long enough to make Anakin willing to let himself be so incredibly vulnerable with someone he hardly knows, much less a Sith.
And yes, he's disturbed, because irrespective of the fact that Custos is another version of himself, he's also a Sith. The Sith cannot be trusted; Anakin knows that. Maybe Obi-Wan is also having a hard time admitting that he felt a pang of... jealousy when he saw the three of them like that, Anakin's expression and Force presence more peaceful than he'd seen in a long time. He tries to tell himself that he's only worried about Anakin's wellbeing, because snuggling with a Sith is not normal behavior for any Jedi. But at the same time, he knows there's more to it; it's something he has no intention of exploring, because frankly, it doesn't matter right now.
He'll deal with his own stupid attachments a different day when Anakin isn't clearly on the verge of losing his sanity for whatever reason. Was it his choice? Or was he being compelled? Obi-Wan doesn't know. He does know that Anakin has undoubtedly been compromised by Custos, something which the Council naturally finds highly disturbing. The Council is fair. They have no choice but to arrest Custos and keep him separated from both Anakins. Neither of them can be allowed to fall under his sway. The Jedi cannot, in good conscience, let them remain in close proximity with a Sith when they are so vital to the future.
There's going to be a confrontation, a messy one. Custos won't go with them willingly. That's why Obi-Wan brought Windu with him. Together, they are more than equipped to handle a Sith. Anakin won't be happy, but it's not something which Obi-Wan is willing to think about, because this is necessary. Anakin doesn't understand the situation properly. He's not thinking clearly. Travel between realities is unheard of and given how close Obi-Wan and Anakin are, it's not at all unreasonable to assume that Custos has a strange, perverted Force bond with Anakin through which he's controlling him.
Anakin blocks their path before they can turn the corner to reach the cabin where Custos and his young charge are staying. His Force presence is shifting between determination and worry. There's fear lurking there too, muted enough that Obi-Wan can hardly sense it. Ahsoka is with him, expression guarded and uncertain.
"Master, what's going on?" Anakin asks, tone almost challenging despite the faint pleading to it. He's silently asking that this isn't what it looks like.
"The Council has reached a decision," Obi-Wan informs him in a level tone. "They want to question Custos personally."
Anakin's expression tightens, a flash of anger echoing into the Force for a second before it's gone. "You mean they want to detain him," he corrects, eyes flickering towards Windu before he squares his shoulders. "You can't do that. He's done nothing wrong, and he has a child who is under his care."
Obi-Wan fixes Anakin with his best disapproving look, as Windu stiffens next to him. Perhaps he underestimated the amount of sway Custos already has over Anakin. Never before would he have done something like this. "He is a Sith, so this is a matter for the Jedi Council to deal with," Obi-Wan points out. "He attacked me, or did you already forget that?"
"What?" Ahsoka squeaks, eyes widening with horror. "He did?"
Anakin glares at him. "You entered his quarters without even knocking. Of course, he was upset," he bites back.
"This is a matter which the Council will deal with," Windu interrupts, voice cold. "Let us pass, Skywalker."
For a moment, Obi-Wan expects that Anakin will back down as he always does, obeying the Council as is proper. Instead, he narrows his eyes. "What are you planning to do with him?"
"That is none of your concern," Windu answers.
Anakin swears, not even seeming repentant for doing so in front of a Council member. "It's my concern when he has a child with him who is a younger version of me."
Stunned would be an understatement for how Obi-Wan currently feels. This is... not Anakin. This is not how he acts or reacts to things. What did Custos say to him? What did he do? He's about to thoroughly chew Anakin out for his tone when the two guests in question walk around the corner.
Custos stiffens. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asks sardonically with a mocking bow at Windu when he sees him.
"They want to arrest you!" Anakin blurts out before Obi-Wan has a chance to talk. He doesn't miss how Ahsoka has carefully stepped to the side of hall, radiating discomfort, clearly unwilling to get involved in the argument which is probably about to become an all-out war now.
Custos grins, sharp and predatory, eyes bleeding yellow. "I'd like to see them try," he hisses.
"No!" cries the boy, panicked. Obi-Wan feels a pang of sympathy for him. He's probably never known anyone other than this Sith. He doesn't realize how much danger he's in every moment of the day. "You can't take Dad!"
What?! Dad? Obi-Wan doesn't miss the way Anakin tenses, a fleeting emotion flickering across his face. He doesn't recognize it. "You are not safe with him," Windu speaks up.
"He's not safe with you!" Custos fires back, drawing the child close to his side. "You'll use him! Like he's no better than a tool, a weapon!"
Anakin flinches. Obi-Wan only notices because he's spent so much time around him. He doubts anyone else would have noticed. He nudges him through their bond, but Anakin's emotions remain clouded, shielded off. He's intentionally blocking Obi-Wan for some reason.
"If you come with us willingly, it will be better for you," Windu warns.
"He's not going with you!" screams the child, sounding close to tears at this point.
Anakin shifts so that he's deliberately taking up a protective stance in front of them. "You can't do this!" he protests. "He's not a Jedi. He belongs with us." He winces immediately after he says it, raw desperation flashing across his face. "Ani needs him. You can't take a father from his son. That's wrong."
Windu doesn't back down, and nor does Obi-Wan. Neither of them can afford to. It's for Anakin's own good to separate him from this Sith. The same holds true for the child. "Anakin, stand down," orders Obi-Wan. "He's manipulating you, don't you see?"
A myriad of emotions flash across his face, too fast for Obi-Wan to figure out how he's feeling. It's obvious he's upset though Obi-Wan is unable to pinpoint exactly why. It doesn't make sense for him to be so attached to this Sith, or any Sith for that matter.
"You self-righteous, manipulative bastard," snarls Custos, his fury like a living thing as he lunges, red lightsaber hissing to life in his hand as he wildly swings, aiming to kill. Obi-Wan ducks, igniting his own lightsaber to block the next blow, Windu joining him only moments later. If they have to fight, so be it.
"I hate you and everything you stand for," he hisses, red blade locking with Obi-Wan's blue one. It's weird to see so much loathing in those eyes. Custos means every word he's saying. More than that, Obi-Wan can feel the other man's hatred and disgust as if it was his own. It unbalances him, making it harder for him to focus, but he manages. Custos ducks under Obi-Wan's return strike, bringing his lightsaber back around towards the Jedi Master's side, a blow with Obi-Wan blocks with ease.
Custos isn't fighting the way Obi-Wan used to; he's not really using one primary form at all, and a few of his moves are from Makashi. He's channeling his aggression into his fighting, something which is extremely risky without adequate training, but then again, this is a Sith. He must know how to control himself. Or not. His fighting is erratic, and he's avoiding trading blows with Windu as much as possible.
"Does it make you feel good to use him like that?" Custos sneers, shaking his head. "I can't believe I could ever have become as twisted as you. I'm glad I Fell! I'm glad the Sith captured me! At least I'm not pretending to be good when I'm not!"
His words take Obi-Wan by surprise, and he realizes for the first time that he doesn't even know why Custos is so upset. He'd thought – assumed – that it was because Obi-Wan had suggested to Anakin that Custos was manipulating him, but maybe not. Maybe it is something else, though he doesn't know what. "Considering that you gave in to the Dark Side, I think your judgement is clouded at best," he comments lightly, "And completely impaired at worst."
"You and your Jedi sanctimoniousness," Custos scoffs, stepping back, panting, his eyes glowing gold. He's the center of the storm, the Dark Side rolling around him far more dangerously than Obi-Wan has seen in anyone else.
For a moment, Obi-Wan's eyes flicker to Anakin, who has his arms wrapped around his young counterpart, face openly conflicted. Ahsoka is watching wide-eyed, seeming unsure if she should intervene, since her master isn't. Obi-Wan gives him a calm, satisfied smile which will absolutely drive Custos crazy the way it does everyone. "Given that you're a Sith, I think your opinions of the Jedi are rather skewed," he points out lightly.
Facing Custos is unsettling for many reasons, one of which is that he's acting like a rabid wild animal, snapping and snarling at everyone who comes close, everyone except the child... and Anakin apparently. Windu throws out a hand, and Custos is thrown into the wall hard enough to stun him. He slumps to the floor, limp. "Dad!" cries the child, his panic and horror echoing into the Force, pulling away from Anakin and dropping down next to Custos.
It sends a twinge of... something through Obi-Wan, but he ignores it in favor of pulling out a pair of Force-restraints and moving to put them onto the unconscious Sith. "Don't touch him!" yells the child, glaring furiously up at Obi-Wan. He's gripping Custos' sleeve tightly.
Obi-Wan exchanges a look with Windu before stepping forwards. The next thing he knows, he's flying through the air, crashing into the opposite side of the hallway. Well, that answers whether or not the boy has been trained. Interestingly, he doesn't seem to be using the Dark Side. By the time Obi-Wan gets back to his feet, Windu has cuffed Custos, and Anakin is holding his counterpart in his arms, expression thunderous. He looks furious enough that it sends a chill down Obi-Wan's spine. If Anakin were to attack them both right now, he wouldn't be surprised – that's how angry he is.
He doesn't, instead whispering something to the child who has his face buried in Anakin's tunic. Anakin glances back at Obi-Wan, nothing but loathing in his eyes as he turns sharply and stalks down the hallway, Ahsoka slowly trailing after.
Obi-Wan watches them leave, inexplicably feeling as if he's just lost something, before joining Windu in taking Custos back to the Temple.
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