Chapter 2 - A New Master

Author's Note: Warning: Abusive relationships, and descriptions of Vader's injuries. Yes, that definitely needs a warning.

~ Tirana Sorki

The world stills around Vader as he stares into his once-master's face. "What?" It would have come out faint if it could have, if the vocoder didn't always make it so loud.

"She's alive. She and your children. I would have found you earlier, if I didn't fear Sidious discovering them."

What? Sidious had said she was dead. He said it and – and this doesn't make sense. He wouldn't lie about that. Why would he lie about that? "He told me..."

"He lied," Obi-Wan cuts him off, "As he always did."

Vader wants to protest, to argue, because that doesn't make any sense, but he doesn't. It's... Obi-Wan wouldn't tell him Padme is alive when she's not. And that's when something else catches up with him. "Children?" he asks.

"She had twins," he explains.

Twins. Children. His child survived.

He – he didn't kill Padme. He didn't kill his child. All this time he'd spent believing he did, and at the end of the day, it was that which made him hate himself the most. (He thought that's why Obi-Wan did what he did on Mustafar.) But they're alive, and... The implications aren't sinking in. He's tried not to think Padme's name in years, but she's alive.

He isn't Anakin anymore, though. Even if he was, it wouldn't matter. He can't be to her what he used to be. Not anymore. But his children... He needs to see them. They're – Force, he can hardly believe that this is real.

Vader can feel Obi-Wan's eyes on him, as though they're staring through him, assessing his reaction. He loathes more than he could say that he can't move. It's easier when he's in (an admittedly strange and uncomfortable) sitting position because at least they're on more even ground, but he still can't move, at least little beyond turning his helmet, and he hates it. He hates how helpless it makes him feel, even if he can still use the Force if he needs to.

"You want to see them," Obi-Wan states more than asks. And – and it occurs to Vader in that moment that Obi-Wan could deny him that too, if he wanted. He doesn't know where they are, and he can't do anything until his armor is fixed. Or if.

"Yes." He's scared to see them, though, but he does. His children, at least. He can't imagine seeing Padme again after all this time, not after what he did to her. But that doesn't mean it isn't good to know she's alive.

"We can discuss that later," Obi-Wan decides, "After you are... healed."

He doesn't know what that means, but he has questions of his own, and maybe he'll get some answers now. Also, he thinks 'repaired' is a more correct term than 'healed', but he doesn't comment. Maybe Obi-Wan doesn't yet realize the full extent of the damage. "Why did you Fall?"

Obi-Wan eyes him, consideringly. It's similar to the look Vader often gets from Sidious, and he hates it. Or maybe he's just reading into it too much, he doesn't know. (Or maybe it's normal for masters to look at their apprentices in that way.) "I was going to help with the Rebellion, but I realized the only way for us to win was to destroy Sidious. I searched for more about the Sith, to find a way to destroy him, and I went to a Sith Temple."

Obi-Wan willingly going to a Sith Temple? Vader keeps the disbelieving comment to himself. All of this is more than a million kinds of weird.

Obi-Wan pauses, as though considering his next words.

"And?" Vader prompts.

"The place was strong in the Dark Side, and I found a number of Sith holocrons there. They... showed me their power. I stayed there to learn more. Then I heard you were alive and came to find you."

He doesn't know what to say to that. It's... hardly what he was expecting. He also feels like there's more to the story.

And he can still hardly believe Obi-Wan is a Sith. Yes, Vader may have been entertaining the thought of finding and turning him – more than just 'entertaining' really – but he never thought Obi-Wan would Fall first. He was always the perfect Jedi.

So perfect that – that Mustafar had happened.

Obi-Wan's only here now because he Fell. It took all that for him to... come back. It leaves Vader feeling oddly numb.

"You want me as your apprentice," Vader states, repeating what Obi-Wan had said earlier. He doesn't know what to say to that. He doesn't want to give himself over to blindly serving another master, but what else can he do? When he thought about turning Obi-Wan, yes, he knew he would always be the apprentice and Obi-Wan the master, but now that he's here...

He's scared. He doesn't know what this will be like. He doesn't know what to expect.

"If you are willing," Obi-Wan agrees.

'What if I'm not?' he wants to ask but doesn't. He doesn't think he wants the answer. Especially not when he's completely defenseless. Obi-Wan might be outwardly acting calm, but he's upset.

"I am," Vader answers finally, after a long pause. His voice is modified enough that it hides the uncertainty in his voice. "... Master."

He's had new masters before his mind reminds him morbidly. He knows what to do in such situations. Be obedient. Never argue. Proceed with caution, until he knows the limits. He did it with Obi-Wan, too, in the past after first coming to the Temple. He knows how this works.

Obi-Wan nods, reaching over, touching the upper part of his arm lightly for a moment. He can't feel much anyway, but he can feel the brief pressure. Sidious would touch him sometimes, too. It feels like this has the same meaning. "We should get out of the open, Anakin."

"My name –" he begins.

"I will not call you what he did," Obi-Wan retorts, an icy note slipping into his voice as he stands, looking around. "The Twi'leks should be arriving with a shuttle shortly."

Did he already call them, or was he intentionally waiting until they finished speaking? Intentionally having this conversation when Vader was completely immobile with little choice but to agree? He keeps his morbid thoughts to himself. "You helped them plan this?"

"Of course. The only way to kill Sidious was to lure him off Coruscant and make him think he was the one in control."

It's clever, Vader has to admit. He still doesn't know how to feel about how Sidious is gone forever. Or that Obi-Wan is his master again. He still has no idea what to expect and only time will tell.

**w**

He is not remotely comfortable with this situation. No, his master hasn't hurt him yet, but he isn't a fool enough to believe it will remain that way. He lets his constant, never-ending fear fuel the Dark Side. Obi-Wan keeps glancing at him, frowning – he seems unhappy, and Vader doesn't know why. It would be easier if Vader had a place to go other than Coruscant, but he doesn't.

Obi-Wan's touch is oddly gentle, even if he's only touching Vader's armor. He can't feel it, but he can see and sense it.

The trip to Coruscant is quiet, though they have much to discuss. His... master insists they can worry about it later though, for which he is grateful, because he needs time to process.

Sidious is gone, and it leaves him feeling strangely lost. Sidious was the one who started all this, and for as grateful Vader is to have him gone, he has been loyal only to him for years. He doesn't know how to handle anything else. He isn't fully sure if he should feel as though he's free from him or lost him.

The entire situation makes him feel uncomfortable, to say the least. It reminds him of times long gone, where Obi-Wan would take care of him and... But that's all from another lifetime.

He hasn't had anyone else there when the droids repaired him in a while, and it was only ever Sidious who was present. Obi-Wan was – was the one who caused all this, and Vader does not feel comfortable letting him see. Vader doesn't want him here, not at all, but it's not his place to object.

It angers him, and he lets it fuel the Dark Side. This is much how he felt towards Sidious, he realizes. The same hatred and anger and fear and the occasional desire to hurt him, but he would never act on it, because he was loyal. The Apprentice does not betray the Master until their master shows sign of weakness. (He doesn't want to, anyway, though part of him craves to hurt his master, anyway, to repay him for – for what he did there.)

"I cannot fault you for being angry with me," Obi-Wan says, as they reach the atmosphere. "I only wish you could let it go."

"A Sith does not forgive," he answers. Sidious has told him that, time and again. That can't be different now, can it?

"Then we must learn to work it through, as we always have," is the only response he offers.

Getting inside the facility is complicated but the delays put off what's about to happen, even if it only prolongs the inevitable. Vader's used to feeling vulnerable and helpless and completely exposed, for as much as he loathes it. It's degrading, dehumanizing, but maybe he shouldn't be treated as human anymore, seeing all he's done.

Obi-Wan touches his presence, but it no longer soothes him as it once did. He can't find calm in it anymore. This presence only means pain. They'll have to take off all his armor, and he does not like the thought of being so... exposed in front of his master. Doesn't want to be so vulnerable.

"I don't like this any more than you do," Obi-Wan tells him, but Vader doesn't believe it. He can't.

He starts losing himself in the Force, delving deeper to drown it out. He knows better than to argue, even if his master will insist on being here the entire time anyway.

"I caused this," Obi-Wan says, looking at him again. "It is only fair I see. Unless you have objections?"

He most assuredly does. "No," he answers, pausing briefly, "Master."

"Very well," Obi-Wan replies, moving closer.

He is as zoned out of it now as he always is – especially with how much more it hurts right now, thanks to the electric burns he knows are covering his still extremely sensitive skin – and that makes the flicker of... anguish he feels in the Force even more prominent. The droids have just removed his mask, and he can see his master now, with his own eyes, for the first time in five years.

They haven't seen one another since Mustafar, and... Vader doesn't know what to feel, seeing his old master again. They were close, once, but that's not who they are anymore. And most of all, it hurts. All he wanted was his master to – to come back, but he never did, not until now, and he nearly killed him again.

"I'm sorry, Anakin," Obi-Wan says, softly, his voice shaking. And now, only now for the first time can Vader actually see how Obi-Wan's eyes are yellow, though they're currently slowly fading back to blue.

He doesn't know how to react to that, because what? Obi-Wan has never apologized to him. Not once. For anything. He doesn't because he's always (usually) been right and... he was right for what he did. Even if Vader doesn't understand how he could have – Obi-Wan showed him no mercy just as Vader didn't to the Jedi. What confuses him the most is how his master could have done it. He doesn't understand.

They don't speak again.

**w**

Somehow, they need to work out this master and apprentice thing, Obi-Wan muses. They both expect to see someone other than each other, and it's not... simple.

Anakin has always had struggles, but now he feels broken in more ways than Obi-Wan can possibly comprehend. That has always been true, though, hasn't it? He knew this would be difficult, after all they have been through, but it was worth it. He cares more for getting Anakin back than anything, and the rest they can figure out from there. They don't trust each other now, not in the least – he senses Anakin's fear and he himself is afraid Anakin will leave him again.

Anakin's is deeper and more personal though, and the more Obi-Wan sees of him, the more he knows why. He – he knew what he did was unforgivable, and he had acted out of anger. Obi-Wan had wanted to hurt him, though that came after Yoda told him to, and he thought Anakin would die there. He thought he had died there, for a long time. What he sees before him now is hardly better.

He is alive, now, but barely – truthfully, Obi-Wan doesn't think 'alive' is even the correct term. It's more like 'surviving', and he's at the brink of failing. Anakin is hardly more than a child. Obi-Wan himself was barely a Jedi Knight at this age.

And now he's... there's so much of him that's mechanical, even beyond his limbs. He has implants all over his body, and it's almost physically painful seeing the child he raised like this. Even when Obi-Wan first saw Anakin in the armor, he had no idea it would be this bad. Speaking of all that armor, there's no way it could be comfortable. He has to wonder how he's even able to move in it, for how heavy it seems to be.

Not to mention that the helmet has needles on it that go into his head. He assumes it's something to do with connecting the life support to his brain, but there's no way it has to be done so barbarically. It's downright appalling.

Anakin's skin already looks terrible, and seeing his condition makes Obi-Wan feel sick. It could have been healed if he was in bacta long enough, but instead, it looks as though many places on his body are still raw. The most recent burns from the lightning, however brief, stand out disturbingly prominently. Guilt twists sharply inside of him when he sees it – in truth, Obi-Wan came to find him expecting he would have to do worse to ensure his compliance, but that doesn't mean he wanted to. (He ignores the tiny voice in his mind that somewhat disagrees.)

It's worse when some of Anakin's already badly damaged skin comes off with the armor. (It would disturb Obi-Wan a lot less if Anakin had screamed when it happened, instead of this... numb silence, with only occasionally making a strangled sound. Just watching is making him feel sick – they've endured many hardships during the war, but this is different.)

He... he wants to do something about this. In this kind of state, he frankly has questions on how long Anakin could even survive. A couple more decades at most, most likely. But why is his condition this terrible? Wasn't there far better medical treatment available?

Or was keeping Anakin like this intentional on Sidious' part? Obi-Wan is hardly an expert on medical knowledge, but there's no way Anakin should be in this condition if he spent weeks in a bacta tank recovering after what happened. Which he clearly must not have. It would be horrific for anyone, but it's much worse, because this is Anakin. He's living in constant pain – Obi-Wan can feel it.

His anger burns fiercely, fueling the Dark Side. This – much of it – is Sidious' fault, and he almost wishes he was still alive so Obi-Wan could kill him again.

He knows much of it is his own responsibility, and he'll do what he can to make it up to Anakin. At least they're together. He won't let anything separate them this time. (But he can't control it if Anakin wants to leave him again, and...)

The Jedi – Yoda at least – aren't entirely free of blame for this either. Obi-Wan would never have done what he did then, if Yoda hadn't insisted that he had to kill Anakin. It had haunted him constantly, ceaselessly, from the moment he left Mustafar, until he couldn't even draw on the Force anymore without thinking of it.

When Obi-Wan felt the pull of the Dark in the Sith Temple that day, and the holocrons had shown him its power, he hadn't been able to resist it anymore. He doesn't regret it, either. He sees now, how little true emotional depth there was in the Light. Something he always had felt for Anakin even if then he thought he shouldn't have. He didn't realize until later, how meaningless his life was without Anakin with him.

He knows the Jedi's destruction was inevitable eventually, but that doesn't mean he's... happy about Anakin's betrayal. Because Anakin did betray him. There is no other term for it, and Sith do not take betrayal lightly. Obi-Wan never did as a Jedi, and he most assuredly doesn't now, but they can deal with it... later. Afterwards. Likely, Obi-Wan will never find it in himself to trust the boy (his son, his everything) again. It hurts, but it's what it is. He rightfully can't blame Anakin if he feels the same way. They hurt each other. It was mutual.

They will have to talk about it – it's the most they can do, and they won't be able to do that until Anakin isn't so scared of him.

Obi-Wan can't deny how there's still, traitorously, a part of him that wants to hurt him for what he did, but when he sees this, the full damage that was wrought on his body... he can't even think about it. He indulged in that the last time they were together, and it led to this.

It hurts, constantly, ceaselessly. Anakin's pain fuels the Dark Side like nothing else can. He shouldn't be in this state. It's wrong, and he intends to fix it.

They're very short on time right now, and he knows this might be a mistake for the galaxy, but Obi-Wan insists on the droids leaving Anakin in the bacta tank at least long enough for all the raw areas of his skin to heal over. It will take a lot more for his skin to actually recover, but at least he won't be in quite as severe pain.

Anakin seems to feel slightly better after they finish repairing him. He doesn't speak though. Anakin has always been extremely quiet, but this has reached a whole new level of it. It's disturbing. Whatever Sidious did to him, it has taken a serious toll.

It's an awkward situation for both of them, Obi-Wan muses. Anakin is feeling quite clearly uncomfortable when the droids finish putting his armor back on. He doesn't know what to expect, and Obi-Wan doesn't really know how to act. It's not as if he's ever had a Sith apprentice before, and when there's so much between them already, it's even harder.

There's a moment of tense hesitation before Anakin finally moves forwards, slowly lowering himself to one knee – it's a subservient position, one Sith masters often demand of their apprentices, Obi-Wan knows. It makes something twist painfully inside him, especially with the fear he feels.

"Anakin," he finds himself saying, "It's alright. We can speak of this as equals."

"... of what, Master?"

"Everything. The Empire. We need a plan. We will discuss this elsewhere under safer circumstances."

Anakin pulls himself to his feet, awkwardly, painfully. Everything about this seems to have been designed for discomfort and pain. Obi-Wan tries not to dwell on how sick it makes him feel.

They return to the ship where they are hopefully unwatched. At least it's safer there than anywhere else, and the entire way is spent in a tense silence, but the fact that Anakin is here again is enough. It's been so long.

"Who is next in line for the throne?" Obi-Wan asks as soon as they board.

"The former Vice Chancellor," Anakin answers. "The chain of command is... unclear. With m-Sidious' death, there will be a power vacuum."

"Which we will fill," Obi-Wan replies, "Until we can find a more suitable leader."

"The Jedi are still considered traitors," Anakin tells him. Obi-Wan doesn't miss the way his presence flicks and tenses afterwards, as if expecting something violent.

"Do you truly trust me that little?" he finds himself asking, with a sort of numb horror. What did he consider normal with Sidious?

Anakin doesn't answer, not that Obi-Wan expected him to. It's not a question he would be comfortable with answering anymore. He'd have had a hard time before, but it would be far more difficult now.

"Come," he requests, and Anakin moves a little closer. His posture is so much more difficult to read with his armor and all, but he's trying to look submissive.

As if he needs to more than he already does.

His mere existence is painful, and he's hooked up to more machines than Obi-Wan counted – he couldn't look more vulnerable than he already does.

"How complicated would it be for you to become the Emperor?" he asks. "From there, it will be easy."

"I – I do not know," he answers, uncomfortably. "I am not – that is not what Sidious had me do. They do not know me. They have no reason to trust me."

"We will give them one," Obi-Wan assures him. "The difficult part is getting in there unchallenged."

"I do not know how to – do this."

"I know you've never been good with people and politics, but you have observed Sidious for a long time, haven't you? They have seen you, even if they do not know you." Obi-Wan reaches for him again, stopping short when he feels the way his once-padawan's Force-presence twists with apprehension. "Anakin. I won't hurt you. Not again."

"Pain only brings strength," he responds – repeating words he's been told over and over.

"The Dark Side brings strength." Obi-Wan reminds, "And there is more to the Dark Side than pain and fear. It's fueled by passion, emotion. It contains... lighter emotions as well." Anakin doesn't pull back when Obi-Wan steps closer to him, reaching up to touch his mask – the ridges of it feel odd under his hands, and he wishes he could actually touch Anakin, but he's fairly certain it would be far too much if he were to ask him to take off his mask right here and now. "And I will gain your loyalty by whatever means necessary, but I should much prefer if it were through love rather than fear."

Anakin doesn't respond. He isn't really talking, and Obi-Wan doesn't know what to make of this. He would much prefer it if Anakin were angry, if he were seething with rage and lashing out instead of this all-encompassing fear.

"I missed you," he continues, staring into the red lenses of the mask. He can't see past them, but he knows what Anakin looks like beneath it, and it makes him feel sick. He... had wanted to hurt Anakin on Mustafar, but he thought he would die there. He thought that there wouldn't be anything left to speak of. It's so much harder to look Anakin in the eyes now, to see what he's become, knowing that if Obi-Wan had tried, he wouldn't have lived through this. "And I am sorry. I thought you would die there."

"It was my destiny. You gave me strength."

Is that how he really sees what happened there?! What has Sidious been teaching him? Or is it his way of coping with what happened? Obi-Wan himself had been close to trying to pretend it wasn't Anakin, because that made it easier, but in the end, it had been because of Anakin that he found greater strength himself. They mutually taught each other so much.

"It was cruel," he responds, dropping his hand to the hard armor of Anakin's shoulder. He misses him, misses this, and misses even more the days when Anakin would respond with the same affection. "I took your humanity from you. I took much of your power, didn't I?"

"... perhaps."

He came here for Anakin, for the same light Anakin he lost years ago, Obi-Wan realizes suddenly. Not... this. Whatever this is. They have both changed, darkened, and he's no longer so certain he likes who and what he sees. He doesn't know how to handle it. "I can't forgive what you did, and I don't expect you to, either."

Again, Anakin says nothing, but his helmet inclines slightly in a dull acquiescence.

There's so much more they need to say, but he doesn't know where to begin. He doesn't think now is the time, anyway. "I know quite little about the state of the galaxy. I have heard that the Empire has Inquisitors who are hunting down Jedi. They may be... useful to us."

"Fallen Jedi," Anakin replies. "Traitors to their kind. They serve the Sith. Formerly, Sidious and now you."

It's a start, anyway, but seeing as they were traitors to their kind Obi-Wan is skeptical of their value. "I imagine you will need to report back to the next in line that Sidious is out of action. You went there personally, and it would... look better." Hopefully.

"The power struggle may be difficult to counter," Anakin warns.

"No more difficult than the situation we ourselves are in." He smiles faintly, though it's strained. He misses what Anakin used to be like so badly it's almost physically painful. Maybe it is. Seeing him again, knowing how long they've been apart and that it wouldn't have happened if Obi-Wan hadn't left him there is... hard.

Anakin doesn't reply to that comment, and he almost wishes he would, because he wishes he knew what he was thinking. "I stayed at... the Imperial palace," he says, hesitantly, "I could... take you there temporarily."

The Imperial palace, former Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan is very much not looking forward to going there. But they don't have much other choice, not when it's probably better that Obi-Wan conceal his presence for now. "Very well," he agrees.

It's another part of their past that they'll have to confront eventually either way; it may as well be sooner than later.

(He misses Anakin. He just wants him back, and more and more, he begins to think that will never truly happen.)

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