Chapter 4 - Division

Author's Note: In which Anakin runs into a certain youngling and sees Sidious again. :')

~ Amina Gila

It's been a few weeks since Anakin came to the Jedi Temple, and he... doesn't necessarily like it here, but it's better than Tatooine, and he'll survive.

He hasn't heard a word about his master.

Obi-Wan trains him most of the time, and whenever that's not happening, he's in his room, which is... it's lonely, mostly because he's not used to it, but Anakin is starting to adapt to it. He doesn't like being surrounded by people he doesn't trust, but he can't deny that he cares for Obi-Wan, either.

He doesn't want to. Hasn't meant to, but he does, and he doesn't know how to feel about that. Sidious would be disappointed in him. Anakin is supposed to be a Sith, and he isn't managing that very well.

But Obi-Wan isn't bad, and Anakin can't pretend he is. He's a Jedi, and Anakin is wary of him, but maybe he's just... misguided? He's not a bad person. Anakin knows him, and maybe he isn't always nice, but he tries to be, and that means a lot.

That means everything.

He usually is with Anakin wherever he goes, and he's finding that increasingly preferable to being alone. Whenever Obi-Wan isn't here, it's when Anakin is in the main areas of the Temple that are considered common parts. Everyone – at least all non-Initiates – roam these halls freely.

He's wandering right now, admittedly a little aimlessly, but Obi-Wan asked him to go to the training room again, and for once, he's heading there alone. After what happened the last time he was alone, he's a bit wary about it, but he doesn't think Obi-Wan would tell him to do something that would hurt him. He never has, and it's – it's weird. Sidious was gentle with him, but never like Obi-Wan is.

It didn't give him a feeling of home and calm, of rightness which he's felt ever since Obi-Wan came into his life, like this is something that was always meant to be.

That's when he senses someone nearby, someone... watching him? There's someone else here with him, though Anakin doesn't know who. The presence is brilliant and untainted, implying it's someone young. A youngling? He can't tell clearly from the presence, but he can't help thinking it's young to be a padawan.

Not that Anakin even understands how the Jedi operate. He doesn't care to, either.

He pauses, glancing over his shoulder, and whoever it is darts behind a pillar out of sight. They're small, and Anakin didn't get a good look at them, but they're definitely young, if they're humanoid.

It's gentle and so soft, even if it vibrates with energy.

Anakin keeps moving, opting to ignore it, because Obi-Wan is waiting for him and he needs to hurry.

He's not foolish enough to take the Jedi's seeming kindness for granted and test his limits. Or anyone's. (He cares about Obi-Wan, and Anakin wants Obi-Wan to care about him, too, and he doesn't know why that matters so much. This is a Jedi. He shouldn't feel so... relaxed. Shouldn't feel the desperate need to... serve. That was supposed to be saved for Sidious alone.)

He hears footsteps behind him again, and whoever the child is, they're definitely stalking him. It's kind of adorable, and Anakin hasn't had anyone follow him out of genuine curiosity before. It's always wariness, of trying to make sure he can't hurt anyone. That's not what he senses from this... child.

They're just curious – he can feel it.

"I know you're following me," Anakin says finally, turning around.

They're trying to hide behind a pillar again, but he can still see the bright white and blue stripes of – it's a Togruta. She's tiny, probably about half Obi-Wan's size. She's about up to Anakin's elbow. He hasn't seen children in a long time. Almost forgot how small they are. She's skinny, too, but there's a fire in her bright blue eyes – such a similar shade to his own – as she looks up at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asks, crouching. His mother used to do that when he was little, so he could see her at eye-level when they spoke. He... liked it, and wished Sidious would do it sometimes, but his master is... his master, not his father, and Anakin sometimes doesn't think Sidious ever had a family of his own.

He can't imagine what that would be like.

"You're a Sith," she says, tilting her head, studying him intensely, with a hint of confusion.

She's so cute, and he has to try hard not to smile. "I am."

"I thought you'd be bigger," she says, very seriously, "Or more scary."

Anakin laughs. He can't help it, and it strikes him a moment later that he hasn't laughed in a long time. He feels freer here and hates himself a little for feeling like that without his master who's still stuck in prison. "We're people, too. Just like everyone else the Jedi are supposed to protect."

"You're evil," she insists, staring at him practically unblinking.

Sidious told him that about the Jedi, too. It's not exactly what he's seeing, though. "No, we just help... differently," Anakin replies.

"But Sith don't help," she argues. "They destroy."

"It takes destruction to rebuild," Anakin points out, "And... we do more than destroy. What's your name?"

"Ahsoka," she answers, "Ahsoka Tano."

"I didn't know younglings came to this area."

She looks adorably insulted by the insinuation. "I'm not a youngling!" As if she isn't barely up to Anakin's elbow. And he is small for his age.

"Initiates?" he amends, "I thought that's what they're called?"

Ahsoka still looks grumpy, but she doesn't argue that. "Yeah."

"What are you doing here?" He should go, but he finds talking to Ahsoka way more interesting, and she's the only other person who hasn't been outright hostile. Maybe it's just that she's so young, and it feels easier to talk to her.

"I heard about a Sith," she explains, "I wanted to see if it was true."

"Well," Anakin replies with a teasing smile, "They were."

"You don't look like a Sith." Her expression scrunches a little. "You don't feel like a Sith."

Doesn't he? "What do you think Sith are supposed to feel like?"

"Dark. They're supposed to be dark," she says flatly, assuredly, as if it's something she actually knows instead of just growing up hearing. "Not... bright."

Bright? That certainly isn't the term Anakin would use to describe his presence, but he doesn't really know what it feels like, either. He knows it's strong, but he can't feel himself, so he'd have to ask someone else.

"What do I feel like?" he queries curiously.

"Bright," Ahsoka repeats, "Like a star. I've never felt anyone so strong before."

Huh. Maybe there's more truth to the claim of Anakin being abnormally powerful than he realized. Sidious told him, and he always knew, but it's still different to hear from someone else. She's a child, and Anakin knows she wouldn't lie to him.

His comm beeps before he can say anything else – a message from Obi-Wan, asking where he is. He's late, per usual, which isn't ideal, but he certainly doesn't regret talking to Ahsoka, either.

"I gotta go," he tells her, standing. "I assume you know the way back to the Initiate's area?" He'd have to ask Obi-Wan if she didn't – he certainly doesn't know himself, but he thought they weren't supposed to wander.

"Of course," Ahsoka insists, nearly insulted, "How else could I've gotten out?"

"Fair." This is a very strange day, and he admittedly really wants to see her again.

**w**

Obi-Wan usually takes him back to his room, but he didn't today – stopping a couple halls down to say he had other things to deal with. It's the first time Anakin's been in this part entirely alone, with no one else to see that he's already supposed to be back in his room.

And that's when an idea hits him. Well, he entertained it before, but it wasn't practical, or something he thought he'd able to do in months, really.

Probably, it's a really, really stupid idea, but it's been well over a week since he last saw Sidious, and he has no idea what's happening to him. Doesn't know what the Jedi are doing to him, even if they claim they don't hurt prisoners. And his master is probably worried about him; there's no way the Jedi have been giving him any updates.

Anakin could... try to find him, himself.

Maybe.

It's stupidly risky. He has no idea what will happen to him if he's caught, what they'll do to him, but he's good at sneaking around if he needs to. If he... gets caught, he doesn't know what'll happen, but if he's being honest, it feels like it would be worth the risk.

If he's going to do this, he has to do it now, before someone notices he's not where he's supposed to be. Anakin glances around to make sure no one's nearby, before he darts for the nearest lift, sticking close to the walls near the windows, pretending as though as he's supposed to be here, whenever he senses someone passing. There are so many people here, it's not likely any of them will really notice him, but it's still possible.

His heart is pounding, as he steps into the lift, pushing a button for the lower levels. This could go very, very badly, and it's too late to turn back. Someone could stop the lift any time and see him, and they'd know he's not supposed to be here, and he has no idea what he's thinking, but he has to know if Sidious is really alright, or –

The lift doors open, and Anakin steps out cautiously, only half sure where to go from here. He's never been entirely alone here before, and if the Jedi find him, Anakin doesn't know what'll happen. Maybe this is a stupid idea. Maybe he needs to just go back, but he – he needs to make sure his master is really alright.

Anakin has no idea what's been happening to him, if anything at all, or whether he knows that Anakin is fine. He must be worried, and Anakin has to... get to him. Somehow.

The halls are towering and winding, and Anakin genuinely has no idea which way to go. He doesn't know anything about this, or where he's supposed to be heading. All he knows is that this looks like a maze that was carefully designed to make people get lost.

What if Obi-Wan comes looking for him? What will he do then? What if the Jedi find him? What if they decide he's too much of a risk and just... have them both executed?

He doesn't care what they claim – he's not going to believe that below them.

They killed Maul.

That's not something Anakin can forget, either.

He still feels his master's presence, though, for as muted as it may be, and Anakin tries to follow that as he searches.

He doesn't know where to go. Whether he can sense his master or not, the halls are large and long, and he doesn't know which way to turn.

But he needs to go down further, to the part he can tell is off-limits, and he can sense movement up ahead. Temple guards are here. How is he going to get past them? Trying to disguise himself as one wouldn't be very believable, and he wouldn't have a way to get the disguise anyway. Not like he'd ever risk attacking one to take their robes – the Jedi would probably kill him for sure, then. He wouldn't put that past them either, considering how they were treating them on Naboo.

Anakin's still discreetly watching the guards' movements, waiting for a way to get past them, when he suddenly senses someone approaching from behind. And there's nowhere he can get to fast enough.

He ducks behind the nearest pillar, crouching back against the wall, heart pounding as he hears the footsteps growing closer. And he knows a second before it happens that it's too late.

"Anakin?" a voice asks. It's the Kel Dor – Plo, he'd heard his name was.

His breathing hitches, and he freezes, blood turning to ice. Why, why, why did he ever think coming here was a good idea?

He was almost there, almost, but not far enough, and now...

"I –" He won't be able to come up with a remotely believable excuse. He shouldn't even bother trying.

"What are you doing down here?"

Anakin can't bring himself to look up from the floor, even if he edges slightly out from behind the pillar. He can't find his voice at all right now because he has no idea what they're going to do to him, and even Sidious being angry with him was easier than this. At least he knew what to expect. At least his master would sometimes accept an apology. This –

"You're here to find Palpatine?" Plo concludes when he doesn't reply. He doesn't sound upset, but that means nothing.

"I need to see him," Anakin blurts in a rush. He's almost certain this isn't going to go anywhere, but he has to say something. "It's been weeks, and I –"

Even mentioning that Sidious is probably worried about him would be stupid. He doesn't need to give the Jedi anything else to use against them both.

"He has been well-cared for," Plo assures, "You shouldn't be down here."

Desperation claws at him, nearly as overwhelmingly as his fear. "Can't I see him first? I won't take long." It's not like he could try breaking him out anyway, with so much security.

Plo's quiet for a long pause. "Alright, but it will be supervised."

He's... agreeing?

That... is not what he expected, and he's both confused and grateful, and upset that he even has to be grateful about that. But at least he'll have the chance.

Being down in the prison level is unsettling, especially knowing how easily he could still end up here, too. Plo leads the way to the cell, stepping back to let Anakin approach the ray shield. (And he already knows from keeping a close eye out on the way down here that any escape attempt would be pretty much impossible. Unless maybe if he went on a massacre, and that... He doesn't want to do that.)

"Anakin?" Sidious asks, tone carefully controlled as always. He obviously knows they're being watched, though.

He looks alright at least, even if it still isn't easy seeing him like this. Being locked up in such a small space with no one else would be enough to drive anyone crazy. "Master," Anakin breathes, stepping as close to the ray shield as he can. He wishes he could touch him – even if it was something he rarely did before because Sidious didn't really reciprocate it – but he can't get any closer than this. Doesn't know when he'll be able to again. "Are you... okay?"

It's bizarre to even ask him that, but he wants to know if they've done anything to him, tried to get information out of him, or –

Sidious's expression is dark, but it's closed off enough that even Anakin can't read him very well. "You should not have taken their offer."

"What else should I have done?" Anakin asks him a little desperately. He has no idea. He was just so lost, and giving in felt like it made so much more sense than trying to fight when he wasn't even sure what he was fighting against. "I thought – maybe we could get out if..."

"You truly believe they would let us go if you aided them?" Sidious asks, bitingly. He's furious, and Anakin's not looking forward to facing it when they're alone together again. (If. He roughly shoves that thought away. He can't believe it won't happen again even if – if – There's clearly something wrong with him, for being almost glad he doesn't have to worry about that yet.)

"I didn't know what else to do," he protests desperately, drawing back a little from the ray shield. He has no idea what to do now, and he's been trying to convince himself all this time that doing this will give them a chance to get out, but talking to Sidious now makes him feel stupid for even considering that.

And he didn't want to come down here to talk about that. He just... wanted to know if Sidious was alright. Wanted to feel like he's not entirely on his own here, hoped that someone might care if something happens to him.

"You should have followed my lead," he replies, sharply.

Yes, he probably should've. He hardly knows what he was thinking, not doing that, but people needed help. It wasn't just about the Jedi. "And let them keep both of us down here permanently?"

He should stop questioning Sidious. It's not his place, and he – But he doesn't understand what his master could possibly have in mind for getting them out of here, and he's so tired. Tired of fighting this and feeling like he's doing it all alone.

Sidious' expression only darkens further.

"I believe this is enough," Plo interjects, stepping forwards. Sidious promptly turns his glower onto the Jedi instead.

Panic claws its way into Anakin's chest because they can't be about to force him to leave. He's hardly talked to Sidious at all, and what he really wants is his master to tell him what to do, to – something, so he knows what he should try doing. But they can't talk about that openly, and...

Sidious is all he really has, and Anakin is terrified of losing him, of what being away from him will mean. He doesn't know. His entire life has been defined by trying to prove himself to his master. How is he supposed to do anything else?!

"Are you well?" the Jedi queries, turning to him, and the question throws him. Anakin has no idea how to respond to it.

"Why – I – I'm fine," he blurts out, and it sounds entirely unconvincing, and frankly, downright stupid.

"Your master does not appear to be pleasant company," Plo replies bluntly, "Come. I'll take you back to your room."

Anakin throws a final glance at Sidious, before slowly following the Jedi. It still feels like he's abandoning his master here, that he should do something about it, but he has no idea what.

Nor does he know what to think that the Jedi hasn't mentioned doing anything to him for disobeying their rules so blatantly. Maybe he just plans to have Obi-Wan deal with it. He can't say why he so desperately doesn't want him to even know about this, except that he doesn't want it to ruin whatever they've formed, even if it's not real anyway, is it? (He doesn't know what to think that Plo has only seemed... worried about him. That doesn't make sense.)

"You don't know him," Anakin argues, the same thing he told Obi-Wan over and over, but... he finds himself thinking that too, sometimes, even if it's selfish. Sidious freed him, and Anakin owes him everything. He could've just left him, but he didn't. He didn't have to help.

Of course, that's not something the Jedi would ever understand. He doesn't need anything other than being a Sith. He shouldn't feel like he wants it, either.

**w**

When Obi-Wan heard he'd be supervising a Sith he never expected Anakin to be anything like he is. He's broken all of Obi-Wan's former assumptions about him, and it admittedly makes him wonder how much he understands, or more likely, that Anakin is just... special. Different.

But he's still a Sith, even if Obi-Wan finds himself growing fond of him – he's Light in a way that no Sith should be, and he bears a passion that Obi-Wan finds... unique. It's not something Jedi have, and Obi-Wan hasn't really seen it among anyone. Anakin has a surprisingly strict sense of justice, which isn't something he understands.

Darth Sidious is a typical Sith, exactly what he's heard of them as. Just like Darth Maul.

Anakin – is that his real name? Obi-Wan never asked, but he can't quite imagine it being a Sith name – isn't like that.

It's intriguing, and the longer Obi-Wan knows him, the more he wishes he could give him... more.

Something other than what he has.

He doesn't deserve to be destroyed by Sidious.

Sidious is blinding him, keeping him from seeing the truth. The sway the Sith has over Anakin is great, and Obi-Wan has no doubt it's only a matter of time before the extent shows up again.

He can't get comfortable.

And, with that in mind, he's not surprised when Master Plo Koon calls him.

"I found Anakin in the prison level," Plo tells him.

"What was he doing?" Obi-Wan asks warily. He doesn't trust Anakin – he'd be foolish to, but he can't imagine him being willing to hurt anyone, either.

"I believe he was attempting to see his master again."

This is what Master Windu was afraid of. He hadn't liked the idea of a Sith in the Temple, and none of them really did, but they were desperate, and Anakin is an apprentice. The least they could do was deal with the Sith before Abeloth found and allied with them – assuming they aren't already. Anakin doesn't know about it if they are.

He doesn't know why his first thought is to ask whether Anakin is alright. They need him to end this conflict, that's all.

He doesn't care to question how afraid he is of Anakin not being with him. It doesn't matter. He's a Sith, and what happens after Abeloth has been dealt with doesn't matter. Shouldn't, anyway.

"Where is he now?" he queries instead.

"He returned to his quarters," Plo replies, "I permitted him to speak to his master for a few minutes."

"They didn't try to break out?" That's one thing he's admittedly a bit surprised about.

"I was present," he replies, "Though it is... concerning to know how much sway Sidious has over him."

"Yes," Obi-Wan agrees, "That is always a concern. Is he still loyal?"

"He is focused," Plo assures, "Though I question how far."

"I will speak with him," he reassures immediately. He doesn't know what it was like for Anakin to grow up raised by a Sith, but it's obvious he cares for his master very deeply. It's strange, and Obi-Wan can't imagine why. Sidious hurt him. He knows that, can see it, and he doesn't understand how Anakin can...

It says a lot about how good he is, and Obi-Wan doesn't want to see that change. He'll... talk to him, even if he doesn't know how much that'll help.

"He is a child," Plo tells him, "And he may be a Sith, but he needs our help."

Yes, help, that Obi-Wan has no idea how to give.

**w**

Anakin is restlessly disassembling and reassembling the holoprojector for the third time – he should probably stop before he breaks it – when he hears a knock on the door. It's only been about an hour since his excursion, and he's still nervous about what could happen.

"Come in," he calls, even if he'd much rather tell whoever it is to go away. He doesn't want to talk to anyone right now, and he has no idea if he'll be in trouble for that or not. Doesn't want to find out, either. Obi-Wan has been... nice to him so far, and he doesn't want that to change.

Obi-Wan steps inside, an expected frown on his face.

Anakin hasn't seen him actually angry before, but he still finds himself expecting it. Wondering, at least.

"Are you... alright?"

Why do people keep asking him that? A part of him wants to believe it's genuine, but especially after what Sidious reminded him, he... can't. He can't trust them, and he needs to stop forgetting that. "Yes." No, definitely not.

"Master Plo told me about your conversation with your master," he says, approaching. He seems uncertain what to say, or maybe he's waiting for Anakin to say something?

"I know that was against the rules," he offers, finally, hoping it'll help something, "I know I shouldn't have done it." He doesn't need to be told that. He just wants things to start making sense again, but Anakin is quite honestly starting to doubt that'll ever happen.

Probably, it would make more sense if the Jedi was here to hurt him. To... hit him, the way the masters always would on Tatooine, but he doesn't think he is, and that throws him off-guard more than anything else.

"Yes," he agrees, "But I... expected it. That's not what I find concerning."

"... What?"

"He... does not treat you well."

It's certainly nothing like how his mom did. But it's – Yes, it bothers him sometimes but it's selfish to be angry when Sidious is just trying to make him better, trying to... He's done a lot for him. "Why do you keep saying that?" he asks, frustrated, "Why would it concernyou?"

Obi-Wan huffs out a breath, though he doesn't seem exactly annoyed. "Despite what Palpatine may have told you, if you... want help, we are willing to give it, regardless of what happens with the mission you're assisting with."

That – what? That doesn't make sense. Does it? If they wanted to help, if they were actually concerned about him, why didn't they free him and all the slaves on Tatooine years ago? Or at least try to help them? "But I'm a Sith," he objects.

"You may have been training to be a Sith, but you are still... a child. You aren't the same as him."

Anakin doesn't know what to say to that. Obi-Wan sounds like he's being genuine, that he actually does care, and he... doesn't know how to feel if that's actually true. Doesn't change that they're still holding him prisoner here, but it – it still matters more than it should. Not that there's anything they can help him with, because he's a Sith because he wants to be, and he wants to go back to Naboo with his master. (Does he, though?)

"What – what will happen when the mission is over?" He's scared to know the answer, but he's tired of not knowing. And that will answer if they're truly genuine.

Obi-Wan is quiet for a much too long pause. "I don't know what the Council decided, but I know you will be... well cared for." It feels like the truth, at least.

That means nothing, except that they aren't planning to kill them. Which is something, but being trapped here the rest of his life is not what Anakin wants. And they can't seriously leave Sidious down there forever.

Anakin looks away, frustration overwhelming him again. He feels so lost, and nothing makes sense anymore. The Jedi aren'tall bad the way Sidious said, but that doesn't mean they're right, either. He doesn't even know what he wants anymore; it would help if he did. It would make more sense if the Jedi were hurting him, instead of offering to help.

Obi-Wan touches his shoulder, lightly.

Anakin nearly jumps at the suddenness of it, but it's surprisingly gentle, and he doesn't really want to push it away. He hasn't been touched by anyone offering comfort – is that what he's doing? – in a long time. Sidious does occasionally, but it's different. His touch always whispers of possessiveness, of you are mine, and that's – it's different.

Anakin wants to know that he means something to his master, but it's different with Obi-Wan. Here, he feels more like he can... be free, figure out what that means, and try to make his own choices. That's a thought as terrifying as it is relieving.

He's never been able to do this before, and he doesn't really want it to stop, and he really has no idea what he does want anymore.

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