An AU where instead of the duel we have on Mustafar, we have a bamf Vader playing hide and seek with his prey at a hangar. Oneshot. Nonslash (but you could still read it that way, I guess.)
Written for "Summer Of Whump 2022", prompt: "Chase and Catch". I guess this turned out to be more as "hide and seek" rather than a chase, but that's the best part of writing, I guess. Reality can be whatever I want :3
Heavily inspired by the chase in Jedi: Fallen Order and the hangar scene in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
I don't own Star Wars.
All reviews are appreciated.
"Hiding is futile," Vader says, his voice echoing in the hangar. "You are smart. You should know the outcome."
He begins walking, his boots torturing the metal platform with every step.
"Why give into foolish hope?"
Thump, thump.
"Why not make this easier for yourself?" He laughs then, erratic. He is just playing with his prey, isn't he?… "Come now, and here I thought we had an understanding."
"I was the master of getting caught, remember?" says Anakin.
Fond memories of a comrade, a brother, surface in a flash. Not that Vader would care for them… Vader only uses them to taunt him again, of what once was… He's successful too; despite his best efforts, Obi-Wan cannot stop himself as he projects that longing in despair. A fatal mistake, to give away his location… Now he knows. Steps get lauder, faster.
Thump, thump, thump.
"Naturally, I know all the ways one can be caught." says Vader.
Thump, thump.
"I won't kill you, if that's what you're afraid of."
Thump, thump.
"I won't torture you either, not unless you give me a reason to."
Thump, thump.
"I have… other uses for you. As for you, there is no way out."
Drawing closer, the steps slow down.
Thump.
"No open doors."
Thump.
"No escape."
Thump.
"No hope."
Thump.
"I have won."
A final thump… The boots are standing right in front him. He swallows, pressing his lightsaber into his chest in a prayer. Force, take me.
"And you, Jedi, will submit."
The boots turn with a screech, and then the crates he is hiding under are removed, exposing the hunkered down Jedi Master.
Found.
"Never," Obi-Wan hisses. In a blink, his lightsaber is out and ignited, sapphire lands on crimson red. Then he is grabbed with the Force, invisible pressure around his throat building, until he starts choking. Then it's gone, he falls on knees, reaching out to the Force for comfort but finding only crushing pain instead, desperately gasping for air.
"That's better," he looms over him, satisfied.
"I'll never submit willingly," he says, on his knees. "You won't have my fear, Darth." he mutters, as collected as he can be.
Vader kneels next to him. "I don't need your fear."
A hand reaches for the face, firmly placed on the cheek. "With my new powers, I don't need anything."
A thumb wipes the tear sliding across his face. "There is only want, now; only passion… only strength, and power, and victory, and my freedom…"
Vader raises Obi-Wan's head, yellow eyes boring into his, promising sickly power and more grief than one man is equipped to handle, even when the Force tells him that is what he was meant for, for infinite sadness… Those eyes hurt too much, because they remind him too much of what they once were. It hurts too much to see how that pure, blue ocean glimmering with resolve, now corrupted into this amber fire.
"…so you will submit."