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Ahsoka comes back from her altercation with Deathwatch more spirited than usual. As she makes her report, Anakin thinks it’s just from the threat, from being on her own, maybe. But as soon as the official briefing is over it becomes clear it’s something else.
“And if I ever see that stupid slimeball Bonteri again—“ she grumbles under her breath, crossing her arms. Her boots scuff against a wall as they walk. Anakin tries not to think about how young she seems, now, an adolescent up-in-arms over a boy.
“What happened?” he asks. He’ll regret giving her the opening.
—
“The whole trip, it was like he thought I’d be charmed. As if! Charmed by that Separatist Hutt-spawn? I’d rather kiss a monkey-lizard.”
“He kissed you?” Anakin tries to tamp down his protectiveness.
“And he’s lucky I didn’t punch him for it, that’s for sure. But I got him back good, I think—“ She begins to tell him of having to act docile as she served soup to Lux and the Deathwatch operatives.
“So I handed it to him and said—be careful not to choke on your stupidity.” She acts it out as though she’s playing herself in a holodrama.
—
It’s only another of Ahsoka’s little quips, but he thinks about it again later. His padawan always has some cutting thing to say when she senses danger. Now, when he thinks back to the first time they met, he sees her cocky attitude as a defense against fear. Still, he can’t help but smile when he remembers her asking Rex if she outranked him.
A good Jedi Master would caution her away from those feelings. He should tell her to keep her emotions in check, find peace in the Force. He isn’t a good Jedi Master. He’ll say nothing.
—
When the Order is struck down, he refuses to think of her. She left. Her decision haunted him then, and enrages him now. She had walked away from him. Now, that decision may be what saves her.
He could have his men find her. The orders could be sent out in an instant. His Empire is at the height of its power, and there would be no escape.
He remembers her words. “You’re stuck with me now, Skyguy.” He wishes that was true. It would have been good to have an apprentice.
He doesn’t send the order to find her.
—
It’s not often he remembers his old life. But being Darth Vader does take some…adjusting. He adjusts to the pain, his lack of breath, his red-hued vision. To his name. But he does adjust.
It’s after a briefing that he slips into old habits. He was tired of dealing with his generals, an assortment of doddering fools and conniving scum. As the bay doors slide shut he turns, looking down to his left at someone who isn’t there anymore.
“Can you believe the mouth on that laser brain, Snip—“
His own voice startles him. He won’t make that mistake again.
—
The situation with Orson Krennic is displeasing. He had dared to hope that his operatives could carry out a plan, and yet was disappointed, like he so often was. After allowing a critical breach in security, one which could cost them their battle station, the man still had the gall to beg and grovel to keep his station. Vader had had enough. He lets the Dark Side wrap itself around his traitorous throat.
“Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, Director.”
He could almost smile, under his mask, as he remembers similar words. Hope you appreciated that one, Snips.