Torture And Tranquility

 

A.N. – So, to counter what I cranked out last time, here’s some of the other end of the spectrum. Comparatively tame, the only real warning is fluffy-angst... if that makes any sense. :)

Enjoy!

 

If asked later, Obi-Wan could never have explained the torrent of emotions that washed though his mind as the door slid open with a hiss, revealing his padawan’s crumpled body on the gleaming floor of the corridor.

“Ani? Anakin?!”

Hands flew, eyes roved-  no burns, not anywhere visible, so it wasn’t a blaster; no head trauma...

“Unnnh... hmmmnn...”

It was just a quiet, mumbling whimper, but one that spoke of a being at the threshold of bodily endurance – and enough to make Kenobi go white.

The boy was barely conscious, and as his master gathered him up in his arms his head rolled back, displaying a flushed throat, glistening with sweat, and he whimpered again...

The couch cushions enfolded him gently, as Obi-Wan brushed back damp curls – and snatched his hand away as if he’d been singed...

“Force- Anakin- Anakin, look at me – look at me...”

Fever-bright eyes met his own, exhausted and worn, and the older man bit back the rage threatening to surge off his tongue – at the council’s perceived responsibility, and his own carelessness...

Weak arms twined around his neck as he lifted the boy again and began the journey to the fresher – a lump gathered in his throat...

*

 

Drifting back to a sub-state of awareness, Anakin found himself floating in lukewarm water, the unbearable chill having settled in the pit of his belly and his head...

A hand stroked his brow, and every muscle tightened – before grey-blue eyes swam into focus overhead, saturated with concern.

“That’s better?”

He couldn’t summon the energy to do more then nod.

The water lapped gently at his limbs, coaxing them back to life, though his head still throbbed like a drum...

“Force, you’re burning... I told the council, it would greatly lessen the risk of incoming disease if all immigrants were screened, regardless of rank...”

The voice swelled and vanished, and suddenly Anakin opened his eyes to find his master covering him in thin blankets like a child...

“Shh, shhh – close your eyes young one, just try to sle-”

Any continuing words were swallowed as Anakin reared up from under the covers, every muscle aching, and wrapped his arms around Kenobi’s slight frame.

Warm breath heated his scalp, and the steady thrum of the heartbeat under his cheek became a soothing, grounding presence... Force, he’d not done this since he was a child...

 

Obi-Wan seemed stunned for a moment, before the blood rushed in his veins and he cradled his boy to his chest, losing himself in the delicate scent of dark gold curls... He’d always loved holding him, even when he’d been a child – firm, full, and warm... though at the moment he seemed more likely to burst into solar flame, his skin burned so savagely... The was a faint, mumbling noise against his tunics, coupled with a burst of wet heat, and his fingers combed gently through the boy’s hair...

“Hm?”

Blue tinged lips detached themselves from his chest, and the grip around his ribs tightened slightly.

“Love me.” The boy whimpered softly... pitifully.

Obi-Wan groaned with something like physical pain... and heart-stopping grief.

“No, Anakin... no...”

“Please-!” he all but sobbed, nuzzling at the skin he’d bared. “Please – please love me – don’t make me sleep and remember everything they did to me – please, please don’t make me-!”

“Shhhhh... ‘ts alright little one.... they’re gone, they can’t hurt you...”

“Y-yes they can! They – I-I can’t go back, I don’t want to go back- !”

Kenobi pressed a heavy kiss to his scalp.

“Shhhh, I know, I know... You’re never going back love, I promise you, that’s all over, I’m here, you’re safe... you’re safe...”

The boy sobbed softly, and made a pleading noise against his master’s loosening tunics, but man remained firm...

“Anakin, you’re feverish... do you truly think it would be wise?”

He didn’t answer, but the hot tears trickling down his face told enough of a story....

Stars, what was this?! He thought Anakin had been making progress,  he’d even coaxed him into talking about... all of it... a little, but there hadn’t been such a complete loss of control –of emotion – in months... What in the name of all could have shocked him enough to send him relapsing so far?....

“You –you’re not like them Master, you’re soft... you’re like ‘Oona, she was soft... and you don’t like it when I don’t... they liked watching me hurt, watching me blush... And screaming, they liked it when I screamed, she liked it, she hurt me, she didn’t care that she hurt me, it still hurts – Oh Force, hurts so bad-!”

His breath caught, and it took Obi-Wan a moment to realize he was in true physical distress...

“What is it love, what –?“ He went silent, as Anakin drew his legs up against his own, revealing twisted joints and bruised flesh...

“Oh f-force – No, it’s alright love, I’ve got you, I’ve got you, now just – just lie back...”

He did as he was told, shaking as though he’d been caught in a power coupling, and when Kenobi took a gentle grip on his injured foot he wailed...

“Please -!”

“Love, I’ll be as gentle as I can –“

“Let go! – Hurts-! - LET GO!”

“Anakin, it’s likely been sprained or broken and needs to be looked at – we might have to call for one of the healers- “

“NO! Just – just leave it! Please- !”

His mind torn between his duty as a master and his sympathy as a – a past lover, Obi-Wan resigned himself to simply caressing the damaged skin in a way he hoped was somewhat soothing... Yellow bruises lined the bone, which was twisted at a grotesque angle that nature never intended...

He made to rise, but a desperate hand seized his arm in an unforgiving force-grip.

“Don’t leave me-!”

“I’m only –“

“Don’t – leave me-!!”

Breath shuddering, he lowered himself back to the bed, summoning some replicating ice and a chilled rag from the conservator... Anakin gasped as the coldness met his skin, the fabric clamping the ice down firmly, and for a moment Obi-Wan wondered if he would have to silence panicked screams...

The force swirled about the room, frantic and distraught, but Kenobi was unsurprised when it ignored him completely and surged about the boy’s trembling body... It only made sense... after all, he was the force’s creation... the force’s child...

Go on... he needs it... as do you... go on... please... please... please...

“Please...”

And with that one, soft whimper, Obi-Wan shattered.

“Alright, just... just relax, little one...” he muttered quietly, tugging the dark sleep pants down the boy’s slim hips...

“O-Obi – oh...” he mewed, as the fabric was pulled away, and the jedi kissed his way up shaking thighs before resting his cheek against the boy’s still flaccid cock...

“ ‘m cold...”

“Alright... shhh...” he whispered, reaching down and drawing the blankets over them both, leaving himself in a cave of warm darkness as he suckled gently at the limp organ, slowly and gradually beginning to understand... The boy didn’t actually need the physical release of the act – just someone he loved and trusted, that he could feel safe, and intimate with...

Force, those monsters on that dust-world had stolen so much from him... Things that so many took to be common nature, even basic right... dignity, self-control... even... no, Obi-Wan halted his mind – there was no use in thinking about that, mourning over that. There was no giving the boy back his virginity – no chance for him to gift that one day to someone he truly loved...

A tear spilled down the jedi’s face, landing in a warm drop on Anakin’s hipbone... Force, he was still so thin...

He’d been destroyed. It was that simple.

Stars, even his force connection barely worked anymore... the aura about him that had once burned like a supernova had been reduced to little more than a faint glimmer, and there were moments when his force signature became so weak it could barely be traced –or it disappeared completely.

No wonder the energy was so... distressed. It’s only link to it’s child had begun to die...

Heated lips pressed a kiss to the smooth skin of a torso, coupled with a silent, heart-broken promise that didn’t need to be uttered...

TBC