Quick preface/sort of synopsis:
I got this idea from episode two of Kenobi (the whole episode, not just one scene or anything) and decided to write this out before I stopped caring. So basically, stuff happens and doesn't happen. Vader isn't in the suit, just really likes hims some black robes and stuff, as well as hoods because still virtually no one knows that he was Anakin. For some reason, Obi-wan is traveling with a 10 year old Luke and Vader finds them, boards their ship, yadda yadda yadda. No, I don't think this is realistic, just an exchange I thought would be fun to write so don't come at me with continuity or character accuracy. Pls.
(Btw this is the first fanfic I've ever posted, so if you have any constructive criticism then please by all means let me know. It would be greatly appreciated :))
Obi-wan hid the boy behind him, unsure of what was to come. Their ship had been disabled and caught in a tractor beam, and he had absolutely no doubts as to who was behind those events. He was afraid, but not of what Vader would do to him. He knew there would be no way out of this.
He quickly turned around and hugged the boy—the boy who looked so much like his father—and shakily said to him, "Luke, do you trust me?"
"Yeah Ben. What are you gonna to do?"
"Don't worry about it. But whatever happens to me, trust in the Force. It's unlikely that I'll make it out of this alive, but I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you do."
Obi-wan could see the tears welling in Luke's eyes, the gravity of their situation finally hitting him. All too soon, their heartfelt moment was cut short as Luke's eyes darted to the hatch when the hiss of depressurization began.
Fear for Luke's safety and future knotted in Obi-wan's gut. He stood back up and turned to face the hatch, prepared to once again come face to face with Darth Vader and his Inquisitors.
The door slid open, revealing three tall figures clothed head to toe in black robes and armor, who seemed to command the dark. The blackness surrounding the figures seemed to seep through the doorway and into Obi-wan and Luke's ship.
The lights cut out, leaving them all in pitch black. The two passengers were able to see nothing but faint yellow glows where the figures eyes should've been under their hoods.
In true Anakin drama, was Obi-wan's last forlorn attempt at humor. He knew that this was it. The moment that he would die, and the moment that Luke would too.
Or
The moment that Luke was at last be united with his father.
Obi-wan's heart started beating rapidly at the thought of giving up the secret to save Luke's life, but he saw no other way to ensure the boy's survival.
*
At that moment, the figure in front—Vader— stepped over the threshold and leisurely surveyed the ship before his eyes finally landed on the old man and the cowering child behind him.
"Sweep the ship for any surprises," he said over his shoulder to the two inquisitors behind him.
As he looked back, a deep chuckle began in his chest as he looked at the fear written on his old master's face.
"What's wrong Obi-Wan? Finally run out of places to hide?"
"I never hid myself from you. I only fulfilled my role as a protector."
A mirthless smile graced Vader's face, "And what were you protecting, old man? Your pride?"
Obi-Wan said nothing, but gave him a hard stare in place of a response.
"Oh I see. Not a what, but a who." He said with feigned interest, as his eyes fell to the child behind Obi-Wan.
A small boy with blond hair. His eyes glinted in the dark, but Vader couldn't quite make out the color. The child held himself with foolish confidence, though Vader could feel his terror through the force.
He began walking towards the duo, pacing in front of them in a taunting manner.
"Who is this child, Obi-Wan? What's so important about him? He's certainly not yours."
"You're right," Obi-Wan paused for a moment as he seemed to choke on his next words before he was able to get them out. "He's yours."
Vader froze in his tracks and his head whipped up sharply to Obi-Wan's face. He could feel the shock rippling off of the child as well as another laugh escaped his throat, but this one was full of apprehension and anger, rather than glee at finding his prey.
"You should know better by now, old man. You should know better than to try and make me angry."
"I'm not lying to you. Search your feelings, search the Force. You know I'm telling the truth."
"I've heard enough lies come from your mouth to know what they sound like," the anger finally becoming obvious in his voice, "what you say… isn't possible. She died on Mustafar."
"No she didn't. She died on Polis Massa."
*
Obi-Wan didn't have to be a force sensitive to feel the anger radiating off of Vader at that moment, but the doubt that was starting to creep through it was all the he could focus on.
"She died alone, with nothing to comfort her save the cries of her newborn son."
Obi-Wan felt an invisible hand close around his windpipe and his weight being eased off of his feet as Vader lifted him into the air. Luke let out a small scream and backed away, and Obi-Wan tried his best to comfort him through the Force.
"How. Dare. You." each word punctuated by a gasp from Obi-Wan, "I felt her die on Mustafar. I know she died there and I know you're lying."
"But did you—" the strangled gasp left his throat, "feel the baby… die too?"
Vader seemed to think a moment as the doubt became more prominent, more obvious. Then he looked deep into Obi-Wan's eyes, walked toward him, and quietly said into his ear, "I will relish this, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan felt the snap-release in his neck, then all he knew was blackness.
*
Vader let his old master's body fully crumple to the ground before turning to face the boy.
"What's your name?"
"L-Luke sir."
Vader could feel his enjoyment over the loss of Obi-Wan quickly fading as he got a closer look at the child. "Luke who?"
"Skywalker."
He felt all the color drain from his face while every single thing that Palpatine had told since Mustafar him became overshadowed with doubt.
Barely above a whisper, though he already knew the answer, he asked, "What was your father's name, Luke Skywalker?"
The boy shrunk as far away from him as possible, terror now evident in his stance too, "His name was Anakin Skywalker, sir."
And with that one, shaky admission, every lie that the Emperor had ever told him shattered one by one into a million different pieces.