Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"The sun dragon is a beast that lives inside a star, guarding everything it treasures. Nothing could hurt it. Not fire, not flame. It survived through the most impossible circumstances, even life in the core of a star. Because the sun-dragon had the biggest heart in the galaxy, a burning furnace powerful enough to protect everything and everyone it loved."

It was a story that carried a far deeper meaning than those who heard it as nothing but a fleeting fairytale. It was also a promise, a reassurance, and more than that, a light to guide him on the darkest night. Anakin could understand that even if he was only four. He understood the hidden message most of all because his mother didn't have to tell him that he was the sun dragon for him to know that.

It was an energy that hummed beneath his skin, a constant burning knowledge, and whenever he delved deep enough into that... energy around him, that energy – whatever it was that helped him feel things, sense things before they happened, something that always surprised the other slave children – he would feel himself, shifting, transforming. He was the sun dragon, because a real dragon was hidden in his heart, every moment, even if no one knew it but his mother.

Anakin squirms around in Shmi's arms, trying to get a better look at the dark sky above them, stars dotting the endless expanse. Nal Hutta was never pretty like this at night.

"Why do the moons look funny?" he asks, eyes wide as he watches the usual brilliant light of the two largest moons transforming into something dark, fading to a pinkish red glow.

"They're the eyes of the sun dragon," Shmi replies, smiling faintly.

"It watching us," Anakin says, brightening.

"It watches over all of us."

"I be like it someday," he insists, a determination burning inside of him as fierce as the dragon that constantly hums under his skin. He will, and no one will ever hurt his mother or any of his friends again, once he's bigger.

"You already are like it," she reminds, softly.

"It doesn't hide," Anakin objects, staring up at the red moons – eyes of the dragon. No one can know what he is, that he's a real sun dragon, or the slavers will hurt him. Or they'll sell him away from his mother, and that can't happen.

"When the sun dragon was small, it couldn't reveal itself as openly as it is now. In time, Ani, you won't have to hide."

***

Anakin still remembers every moment of that conversation, even sixteen years later. Whether she had said those words because she truly believed them or because she was trying to comfort him when he was scared and lost, he... still hasn't found what she's promised yet.

He's spent his entire life hiding because he's too scared to do anything more. That's even more true now in some ways than it ever was before.

But it's still a reassurance he can turn, too, whenever he truly needs it, which is... much of time.

Even if it always feels like he's failing to be enough. He failed to protect his mother, and he failed to protect that – that Twi'lek girl. And he's had no one since. Not really. At least... not until now.

"Anakin?" a voice asks, dragging him out of the depths of his mind, back to the very real field of grass surrounding him. The moon that shines brightly overhead here lights up the grass, in much the same way the moons of Tatooine did a lifetime ago.

It's been so long since he was last there.

He blinks, turning to look at his companion.

"You appear to be on another planet," Obi-Wan says, tone slightly amused.

"That isn't inaccurate," Anakin informs him with more cheer than he feels. The longing is eating him up right now, as it often does whenever he looks at the stars. Whenever he wonders where his mother is right now. He hasn't seen her since he was nine. She's been all alone since, and anything could have happened to her in the last eleven years.

He was supposed to be the sun dragon, strong enough to protect everyone he loves, and yet, he can't even protect her.

The only person he can protect is... someone he doesn't know if he should care about with nearly the fierceness he does, but he can't make it stop, any more than he can cut the dragon out of his heart.

Obi-Wan shifts closer, holding out ration bars. "Here. I'm sure you're hungry by now."

Anakin nods gratefully, taking it from him, holding back the instinctive urge to thank him for it.

"You don't need to say that every time. Do you really think I wouldn't feed you? You're one of us," he'd said, the last time Anakin had done it, anyway.

He isn't one of them, though. He doesn't want to be, either. He doesn't want to become what they are, doesn't want any part with it at all, actually.

He... he's different. He's their weapon, their asset, even if he's... free. (He's supposed to be free. But then why does he feel like he owes them so much? Why does he still have no idea what that word means? He would have walked out already, but he – he's always had a master even if now it's unofficial, and the mere thought of just trying to walk out is... Besides, he knows how many out there still want him because of what he is, and it's... been best for him here. He's just... too scared to do anything about it.)

The criminal gang Obi-Wan is part of picked Anakin up only a couple months ago, rescued him from the slavers who bought him after realizing what he was. He was supposed to hide that he was a sun dragon until he was strong enough, but it... failed.

Someone was about to hurt his mother, and instantly the fury and desperation had overcome him. He'd lashed out, and that feeling had overcome him along with an overhwleming panic. He couldn't let himself transform into a dragon or they would know but trying to stop with simply his fear seemed to make the transformation happen faster.

Jabba sent his guards to pick him up, right after.

"Maybe once this is over, we can stop somewhere to have some real food," Obi-Wan comments reflectively, setting the canteens of water in the grass between them.

"That would be... appealing," Anakin supplies, almost robotically biting down on the ration bar in his hand.

He can feel Obi-Wan's blue eyes studying him, without having to look up. "Are you alright?" he asks, voice oddly gentle.

It's... strange. He never thought someone who wasn't a slave would talk to him like that. And Obi-Wan isn't a slave. He's... one of the gang members – the blaster, knives, and whatever other weapons he has stashed on him proof enough of that.

"I've been thinking," he replies, quietly, "About my mother."

"I checked that Toydarian's shop myself, Anakin. And who he said he... sold her off to. She wasn't there. Tracking her down isn't going to be easy."

He knows that, and it doesn't help. Except, it's a small comfort that Obi-Wan was willing to go look at all, when Anakin finally gathered enough courage to ask him in the first place. "I know." His gaze drops back to the grass, idly tracing patterns in the waves that ripple through it, when the breezes blow softly.

He starts slightly when Obi-Wan's hand lightly touches his shoulder, the gesture almost awkward like he doesn't really know how to show any physical affection. Probably, he's never been shown any.

Anakin leans into it just a little, briefly closing his eyes and just being for a moment.

He has to find her again, no matter how hopeless it seems. She's his mother. The only parent he's ever had. (He opts not to think about the tiny voice in his mind that disagrees with that, that whispers Obi-Wan is something of a parent figure too. As much of a father as he might ever know.)

The hand moves up after a moment, lightly touching his cheek. It's rough, calloused, speaking of the years of... crime he's lived in. (Sometimes, he wonders how much blood are on these hands. Sometimes, he thinks he'd prefer to never know. Obi-Wan isn't a slaver, but he's of a class of people that isn't exactly that much better. But Obi-Wan is... nice to him. He wishes he could pretend that was true for how he treats everyone else.)

"Once this mission is over, if we get the credits we're counting on, the boss might let us go for a while, and we can look for her," he promises.

"Can we?" Anakin asks, a surge of relief flooding him as he looks up.

"There's a chance."

He gives him a small, almost shy smile. "Thank you."

The emotion just seems to make Obi-Wan uncomfortable, though, because he just nods, pulling back.

It feels a little like a weight was just lifted from him, even if he shouldn't be getting his hopes yet. But half of why he's still sane is because of hope.

"Obi-Wan..." Anakin begins, in all seriousness, "You forgot the most important step before the mission."

He frowns, instantly worried, and Anakin tries very hard to smother his smirk. "What?"

"You haven't cleaned your boots yet."

The way Obi-Wan's expression flashes from worried to confused to annoyed makes it entirely worth it. "I thought you had something of actual importance to remind me of."

"But it is. It might ruin the image." Seriously though, he doesn't understand why Obi-Wan cares about cleanliness in some cases, when he it certainly doesn't influence his job choice. And it's not as if Anakin isn't used to always being dirty.

Obi-Wan huffs, though Anakin can sense his amusement. "Why do I tolerate your audacity?" he grumbles.

Anakin laughs.

"I'll take first watch," Obi-Wan volunteers, "You need to be ready to fly us."

Anakin nods, gratefully. He finishes downing his meal, before shifting to stretch out in the soft grass. He's slept in worse places before, like Jabba's rancor pit. This is comfortable.

It took a long time before he was... comfortable enough to sleep in front of Obi-Wan, without expecting a violent awakening, but he's... grown used to it. (Enough that he actually feels strangely safe.)

Anakin doesn't remember falling asleep, but he awakens to Obi-Wan calling his name, sometime later. The moon is setting now, plunging the already dark valley into almost complete darkness. "It's time to go," he says, moving towards him.

Anakin can only see him so well because his eyes have adjusted to the dark, and maybe a little because of the dragon inside of him.

"Are you ready?" he asks, shaking himself fully to wakefulness and standing.

"Yes. We had best get moving or the others will get there first." Why the gang leader, Azmorigan, causes this constant strife between members of his own gang, Anakin can't understand. It seems entirely ineffective.

He reaches outwards for the energy that he can also sense surrounding him, tingling at the edge of his senses constantly, and lets it flood through him. He doesn't know how to actively use it beyond this, the way he's heard in legends that the Jedi do, but he doesn't have to.

He feels the burning warmth of energy way inside of him flare to life, and the changing sensation starts spreading through him, twisting and transforming him. It's accomplished with the familiar ache as his body is twisted and contorted, but it's nothing for the kind of injuries he's actually used to. It's over in only a few seconds.

He's somewhere close to twenty feet high now at full height. The golden scales that now cover his entire body would glint brightly in the moonlight, if it hadn't already set. His tail is long, dragging many feet in the grass behind him.

Obi-Wan approaches, swinging onto his back, wrapping his arms around his neck so he doesn't fall. He can feel sensations through his scales, even if not quite as acutely as normal touch.

"Don't fall off this time," Anakin says, cheerfully, though to any normal human it would just sound like a low snarl.

But Obi-Wan can touch the energy, too, even if he's not trained in it. He's the only one who can communicate with Anakin in this form. He can feel it, as Obi-Wan nudges against his mind, to interpret what he's saying. "I did not fall off that time," he huffs.

"Yes, you did!"

"That time we fell into that nest of Gundarks –" Obi-Wan starts.

"You fell into that nightmare, and I rescued you, remember?"

"Oh. Yes," he concedes, grudgingly.

Anakin flaps his wings, running across the grass, wind whipping past his scales until he has enough momentum to take off, soaring into the sky.

No matter how much pain his dragon abilities have brought him, being able to fly like this is never something he could regret. Traveling through the sky with nothing to hold him back. It's the only thing in all his life that's ever made him feel truly free.

***

He can smell the death in the air, the bodies of the Zygerrian guards littering the ground, with still smoking blaster shots. It would mean freedom, if not for the slave collar around his neck, fitted large enough for his dragon size. But guards or no, he's still no less chained now than he ever has been.

The gangsters surrounding him all have their blasters raised, pointing at him.

They aren't here to free him. He already knows that, as vividly as he remembers Jabba's henchmen ripping him away from Shmi and dragging him to the palace. They threw him to the rancor to make him fight. It... was just an animal that he'd killed there, but something about the bloodiness, the fight to the death, always sticks out in his mind.

And then, they kept him imprisoned down there instead. As though they expected that by starving him, he'd somehow be willing to serve the same purpose that the rancors did.

He still remembers the first Twi'lek girl they threw to him, as if they actually expected he was going to hurt her, no matter how hungry he was. Even if the dragon in him – and whatever animalistic instincts it gave him – had whispered at him attack.

He waited, until because of the disappointed crowd, Jabba sent the rancor's former owner down there to make him... cooperate. He'd lashed out, killing him – the first person he ever killed. He was a slaver, but that was also a moment he never forgot. Never could forget.

He tried to escape with the girl, but they hadn't made it far. He thought they were both condemned to death anyway so it wouldn't matter, but it was only the Twi'lek who was. He still remembers the vibroblade running through her heart, before the guards dragged Anakin back to Jabba.

They were going to kill him, but a representative of another crime family stepped in. They... offered Jabba a fortune in exchange for him. So he could be their pet instead.

He's been passed off from owner to owner, sometimes stolen, ever since, until he reached the Zygerrians.

And now... until he reached the very gangsters who are surrounding him now. He doesn't know who they are or what they want, but no one's been much better than any of the others. They're always the owners and he's their... their pet plaything.

Anakin snarls at them, wings flapping, as they step closer, brandishing their weapons.

"Stop it. You're scaring him," snaps one of them, circling around to stand in front of him. He looks no less of a gangster than the rest, but... there's something about him that whispers of familiarity, though Anakin doesn't understand why. He's never seen the ginger-haired man in his life, before.

"We're not here to hurt you," he says, taking a few steps closer, lowering his blaster to the grass between them.

Anakin insticively draws his wings towards himself, protectively. He can't believe that. That's never been true before. If they don't hurt him, it's because they want him nice and shiny, and –

"C"mon, It's just an animal," one of the others scoffs.

The man shoots him a hard look. "No, he isn't."

Anakin watches him, warily, eyes flicking between the group in case someone else tries approaching. Not that there's anything he can do if they do. He already knows where this is going to go.

The man takes a few steps closer, and he feels something warm – like the energy that it takes to transform him into the dragon – nudging lightly against his mind.

The man... can do this, too? But he can't be a Jedi, or he wouldn't be in a place like this. Once, Anakin believed the Jedi would rescue him someday. Now he knows better.

"What's your name?" the man asks, pausing a few paces in front of him.

... What?

No one's asked him that in a long time. Why would anyone? It could be a trick question. It usually is. It was for the Zygerrian Queen, at least.

He tries to imagine saying it, saying the name he hasn't been allowed to say in months now, and he just –

Anakin insticively draws his wings closer to himself, as though they can somehow protect him from anything. "Vader." The word comes out barely more than a whisper.

The man studies him, taking a step closer. "Vader," he repeats, something calming in his tone. It might have worked, if not for how much Anakin hates hearing that name. "We aren't here to hurt you."

"What do you want?" he asks, even if it's a pointless question. Whatever lies the man tells, Anakin already knows what he wants. He's just a – a thing to anyone who isn't a slave like him.

"We're here to take you with us. You're free."

He's free? Anakin can't believe that. No one's told him that before, though. He doesn't know that that's a lie, but he's too scared to believe it.

The man steps closer, reaching out to touch him.

Icy cold fear flares up instantly, flooding him. Anakin jerks back, hissing at him. (He can still feel the unwanted hands on him, running over his scales, and he doesn't want anyone to touch him in this form again. If the man really isn't like – like the Zygerrians, then he won't press.)

The man starts slightly, but he takes a step back, holding up his hands. "Alright. Alright. I won't touch you." He sounds the tiniest bit miffed, but he doesn't push it. "Are there more... dragons like you?"

Sometimes, he wishes he weren't the only one cursed with this. (It's not a curse if he's like the sun dragon. He knows that, but it really doesn't feel like it sometimes.) "I don't know. I... shapeshift."

A hint of surprise flickers across the man's face. "This isn't your only... form?"

"No."

"Can you shapeshift back?"

It's been... so long since he was able to do that. He whines quietly, flicking his tail. "You have to take the collar off."

The Zygerrians wouldn't risk him taking off when he was in dragon form, and nor could they risk him turning back to a person with the much larger collar to flee. The collar is programmed to electrocute him on spot if he starts changing sizes while wearing it.

He did that once, by accident. Never made that mistake again.

"Alright. But I'm going to have to come closer to do that."

Does he really mean it? Anakin... doesn't know, but he reluctantly crouches obediently on the ground in front of him, lowering his head to reachable height.

"What are you doing?" one of the other gangsters asks, "Are you letting it go? It's gonna take off."

"He is not an animal," the man snaps, stepping up to him.

"If you lose it," one of the others retorts, "We're putting all the blame on you."

Anakin's scaled claws clench nervously in the dirt beneath him. The others definitely are here just to take him as their – their pet. Even if the man isn't. But Anakin knows better than to trust him right off just because he's nice. Slavers can play nice to get what they want sometimes, too.

The man reaches up, fiddling with the mechanism before the collar finally comes off. "You're free," he tells him, again.

Anakin still doesn't know if he can believe it.

***

The Zygerrians had attacked right after that, and he'd fought them off, under the promise that they'd protect him, that he was free. But it was that that... made Azmorigan's gangsters realize his use as a weapon.

Even if he's staying here of his own free will. (Is he, though? It's not like he can just walk out.) They – Obi-Wan at least – were protecting him from people far worse, taking care of him in the way no one else did in the past. He has more freedom to move here, to be, even if he... can't fathom doing anything other than what they tell him to do. He's never been able to before. He has no idea what that's like, what that would mean.

But he tries to let those thoughts slip from mind as he flies, feeling the wind whip past him. He's free at least so long as he's in the sky.

But he's coming up on the encampment now. Dots of light spot the tree line below, and Anakin dives for the ground, suddenly enough that Obi-Wan yelps.

He smothers a laugh.

"That was unnecessary. I tell you that every time," Obi-Wan grumbles.

"Brace yourself for it to happen again," he says cheerily, as he lowers himself to the ground right outside the heaviest part of the tree line. It's hard to land near them, with how much room his wings need.

Anakin turns his focus to that burning warmth inside of him, willing to travel back to his center, and he can feel himself shifting again, until he's human again.

They set off into the trees together, approaching the camp up ahead.

Obi-Wan behind some heavy brush, pulling out macrobinoculars to check out positions. Anakin can sense as much as see the frown that twists his face, before he looks up. "This isn't who we came here for."

"What do you mean?" Anakin asks, a prickle of unease running through him, though he can't fully say why. Something's not right. Not even just about this mission, but something more long-term.

"Republic forces weren't the ones holding the cargo. They must have seized it before we got here."

"Can I see?" Anakin asks, shifting closer. Obi-Wan passes him the macrobinoculars, and he zeroes in on the figures moving between the trees up ahead.

There are clones there, part of the Republic's mysterious army that appeared out of nowhere a year ago when the war broke out. The war hasn't affected him much, though, except that it means supplies are harder to come by for everyone.

And – Wait.

There's a Jedi there too.

A Togruta girl, who looks very young to be out here alone. She's just a kid. Everyone here is – Anakin's heard the clones age twice as fast so they're only half his age, and even physically, none of them are older than him, that he's heard of.

This isn't just another crime group that he's... okay with attacking since he doesn't have much other choice.

"We need to pull back," Anakin says, no matter how hesitant he always is about expressing... contrary opinions to anyone.

"What?" He sounds entirely confused, and the sick feeling that crawls through Anakin sometimes, thinking about the things he knows Obi-Wan's done, is...

"We can't hurt them," he insists, firmly. "If the Republic found this... cargo important enough to seize, maybe it's for the best."

Obi-Wan's expression twitches, and Anakin can tell he's distinctly not pleased. "Our mission was to get it no matter the cost, Anakin. We can take it without... killing anyone, but we can't leave it."

Could they? Maybe, but it would still be a fight and he's pretty sure the clones are slaves to the Republic and what would happen to them if he ruined their mission? Besides, this could be something dangerous. He doesn't know what it is. Doesn't even know if Obi-Wan does – they're simply following the orders they were given. "We'd still hurt them," Anakin argues, and he's perfectly okay with beating up other criminals to steal from them – he doesn't kill anyone even if Obi-Wan does – but he's not doing that to people who don't deserve it at all.

Obi-Wan shakes his head, stubborn as he always is. "There's no choice, Anakin. If we return without the –"

"Hey!" a voice calls sharply, and Anakin jumps, looking up as a spotlight falls on them, from a clone's helmet.

Kriff.

They've been spotted.

A rush of panic floods him a second later. There's no way this won't end in a fight, and then, he'll have no choice but to hurt these people, and he doesn't want to. He's so tired of being a weapon. It's a risk, but Anakin reaches inwards instantly, letting that energy flood him, shifting and transforming him in a second, He swings his tail at the clone, throwing him back before he can get hurt, then Anakin spins towards Obi-Wan, catching him with his front legs – ignoring his yelps and squirming – making a break for the nearest clearing where he can take off.

Blaster shots ring out through the trees behind him as he takes off, some narrowly missing, but that energy he always feels helps direct him as dodges the blasts, flashing brightly against the darkness of the sky, until he's safely out of range.

He doesn't land until they're a safe distance away, heart still pounding wildly. Sucking in any air, even without the wind whipping across his face is nigh impossible now.

He ruined the mission, right after he was warned against it. He – he's never tried disobeying direct orders before, not here, and one look on the stormy look on Obi-Wna's face when he turns to face him makes Anakin... quickly opt for staying a dragon for this conversation.

He won't hit him. He... won't. Right? But Anakin has no idea because Obi-Wan's never been angry at him before. Irritated yes, but not – not like this.

At least if he's a dragon, whatever happens won't hurt. Even if he's just as inclined to make himself small and invisible.

"Anakin."

He takes a step away, wings wrapping around himself, protectively. "We couldn't hurt them," he objects, desperately.

"Are you quite aware of what failure of this nature could mean?" he demands, sharply.

No. And he doesn't want to, either. "You told me I was free," he blurts finally, frantically. Because he has no idea what that means to not have to worry about upsetting anyone, and he's only realizing how true that still is now.

Obi-Wan's gaze flicks over him, and some of the anger fades just a little from his expression. "You are, Anakin, but that has nothing to do with this."

Nothing to do with this? Anakin doesn't understand how it doesn't, but he – he ought to be quiet, apologize probably – But he's so tired of doing that to everyone, always. "If I am –"

"This isn't a choice for either of us get to make, Anakin. We still have someone to answer to." Obi-Wan's afraid, too. It's not the first time Anakin's realized it, but he can clearly see it now, in the tightness of his expression – he just gets angry as a cover for that.

His own sheer frustration at the situation doesn't fade, but the slight pang of guilt worms its way through him, even if it's not – there was no other decision he would make. Better whatever's about to happen than hurting people.

"I'm sorry," Anakin whispers, "But I can't – we can't do that."

"It's too late now either way," Obi-Wan replies, tone clipped, "If we went back now, they'd be expecting us."

Maybe Anakin shouldn't feel so much relief at the words, but he can't help it. At least he... won't have to argue with him about this. He... didn't expect the night to go this way, and he... hates how he feels now, all the questions that he's buried for years dragged to the surface again, of what he... still is. And of what will happen next. He hates that uncertainty just as much. (There's no secret what happens to useless slaves, and he doesn't think he can keep pretending that he isn't one.)

"We'll have to return to base," Obi-Wans says shortly, turning away, "And this time, pay attention my lead."

He tries to ignore the way the words sting, the way they burrow under his skin with the quiet whisper of slave, that's all you've ever been. You're not the sun dragon. You're too weak for that. You always will be.

***

The pain in Anakin's wing is sharp and burning, and it hurts, even if he's used to far worse. He's never been shot in the wing before, to be fair. It's the first mission he's been sent on so it's not surprising he was shot that easily.

He didn't want to do it, but no one was really asking him. Beating up a group of Zygerrians and taking the things they get through slavery themselves isn't something he has a reason to regret, even if he doesn't know how much better the people that he's with now are. He hasn't seen any slaves here though, and that's... something.

"I wouldn't suggest shifting back," Obi-Wan says, appearing right near him, though he's always careful to keep a pointed distance between them.

Anakin is... grateful for that. He can't handle people being too close to him, in his dragon form.

"I know," he says, trying to stop his wing from automatically twitching. Moving it at all hurts.

"If you're alright with it, I can... treat it," Obi-Wan offers, a hint of concern in his eyes. Anakin can only guess what it looks like, the area around the hole burned black to ash.

He hesitates instinctively, but it... someone has to do it, and it's already confusing in and of itself that Obi-Wan is even offering in the first place. No one does that, except other slaves.

"Yes, thank you," he replies, a little shyly, twisting to rest his head on his front feet.

Obi-Wan approaches cautiously, finger trailing lightly along his wing near the injury – not close enough to hurt. He... hasn't been touched by anyone since the Queen (he'll never forget the feel of the hands running over him, when he doesn't want it) but for Obi-Wan it's... different. It doesn't have that twisted possessive you are mine, and you will always kneel at my feet where I want you feel that the Queen always did, when she kept him in his throne room, chained to her throne. Or when she rode him, as her favorite transport.

"Do you want any pain meds while this heals... Vader?" he asks, hands lightly brushing over the wing as he bandages the wound.

Anakin twitches slightly at the name. "Would it work when I'm transformed?" He doesn't really know how dragon metabolism would work in that regard. He's certainly a lot hungrier as one.

"Possibly," Obi-Wan muses, "It wouldn't hurt to try."

"It's okay," he replies, no matter how much he might like it, "We don't need to waste anything –"

Obi-Wan makes a clearly irked noise that Anakin can't entirely decipher the meaning of. "Vader, you won't be wasting anything. We're the ones who took you out there, and you were injured because of it."

He doesn't really know what to say to that. Doesn't want to push too far, either. "It's fine," Anakin assures, just to be safe.

Obi-Wan doesn't reply immediately; several long moments of silence drag by as he works. "Are you certain your name is Vader?" he asks, unexpectedly.

What? Why would he – Anakin stiffens, instinctively. "Why are you... asking?"

"You seem uncomfortable whenever I address you with that name."

Anakin's gaze averts to the grass, remembering the time the Queen heard he was using his birth name instead of the name she gifted him. Something he was apparently supposed to be grateful for.

Obi-Wan isn't a slaver. He's not... But that doesn't stop the fear that freezes him, no matter how furious he is at – at being forced to use a name other than the one his mother gave him.

But he's so sick of it, and he doesn't have a reason to lie about it, does he? He trusts Obi-Wan, even if he doesn't really know why. Even if he has no idea why Obi-Wan even cares what his name is in the first place.

"No," he breathes finally, "It... isn't. My name is Anakin."

He hums noncommittally. "You're free, Anakin," he tells him suddenly, voice surprisingly soft, "By whatever name you would prefer to go by."

... What?

Why does he care? "Why... does it matter to you?" he asks, confused.

"I know names can be... important to people," Obi-Wan supplies which answers everything and nothing at all, except as a reminder that Anakin really knows nothing about him as a person. He's just... nice to him, and Anakin contents himself with that for now.

"This should be set, but it'll be a while before you can shift back," Obi-Wan says finally, stepping back. Anakin flaps his wing just a little experimentally, nearly smacking Obi-Wan in the face in the process.

"Sorry," he blurts, instantly anticipating violence but none comes.

He huffs. "I'd recommend going easy on how much you're using that." Obi-Wan circles around to stand in front of him, holding out a...

Pain killers, he realizes.

"Hopefully this will be enough."

Why is he doing any of this? "Thank you," Anakin breathes again, leaning forwards to very awkwardly eat them out of Obi-Wan's hand.

"You can stop saying that," he says, and he almost looks uncomfortable, "There's nothing you need to be so grateful for."

Anakin rather disagrees, but he doesn't dispute the point. Nor does he object when Obi-Wan lightly reaches up, tracing a hand across the scales on his snout.

He's missed being touched so much, by people he actually feels safe letting touch him.

***

Anakin knew the conversation with Azmorigan wasn't going to go well. The red and yellow skinned creature – he has no idea what species he is – has a way of talking that... Anakin doubts anyone would take him seriously if he didn't have enough control over everyone to make them listen.

Especially considering that he's too fat to even walk properly.

"We were overrun. There was nothing else we could have done," Obi-Wan replies firmly.

"But you still failed," Azmorigan snaps, "My other reports indicate an entirely different story than what you're saying." Anakin tries not to stiffen. "You never engaged the Republic troops. Another band of my men made it there after you and saw you leaving."

"We didn't have the numbers, not when we saw how many were there," Obi-Wan replies, stubbornly. Anakin can't deny his swell of gratitude, that Obi-Wan isn't... pinning this on him.

"You were far more effective before you picked up Vader. Our success has hardly increased at all," he snaps. Anakin hates it when the others use that name, but that's the one they were told first and... He can't say the others don't treat him the way the Zygerrians did. Many times, at least. "If he won't live up to his usefulness as a weapon, there are other places his skills can be better used."

"This has nothing to do with him," Obi-Wan argues, stepping forwards.

"You were to make him useful," Azmorigan snaps, as though he isn't standing right here, but Anakin can see very clearly what he's always been, so it shouldn't hurt as much as it does. He's their property, as much as he always has been.

"He's one of us," Obi-Wan counters, eyes narrowed.

"He has yet to prove that, and now, he will pay for losing my credits," Azmorgian snaps, "You know who we answer to, and this failure is intolerable." He gestures sharply to the guards, and Anakin's heartrate picks up instantly as they step forwards.

"Stop!" Obi-Wan demands, starting forwards, but several of the guards roughly shove him back, the same moment another grabs Anakin's arm, dragging him forwards, shoving him to his knees in front of Azmorigan.

No. No – he's... he's been in a place like this far too many times, and he can only imagine one of the million awful things that could be about to happen to him. It's too familiar, and he keeps his head up out of sheer stubbornness, even if there's no way everyone doesn't know how terrified he is. That doesn't mean he'll show it to them. Even if with how hard is heart is hammering, he'd be more surprised if everyone in the room couldn't hear it.

"You're going soft," sneers one of the others Anakin doesn't recognize, but he works closely with Azmorigan. "What do you think the boy is? Your kid? He belongs to us, and he's failing his purpose. You were supposed to make him useful by whatever means necessary."

He can hear Obi-Wan arguing something. He sounds furious, but no one is listening, and the guards are blocking his way, and Anakin doesn't risk looking around, either.

That usually leads to attention and attention is bad because that usually means being hit or something worse. Not that he isn't pretty sure something 'worse' is about to happen, anyway.

One of the guards steps closer, holding something, and Anakin only goes even more rigid when he realizes what it is.

"Stop this," Obi-Wan demands again, trying to move closer but someone hits him with a blaster, and he stumbles a step back.

These people hurt each other all the time. Force, why does Obi-Wan stay here? Why would anyone, if they can do something better with themselves, if they even have the choice to leave, like he never has?

Anakin draws in a shaky breath, trying to brace himself when he hears the whip crack through the air.

***

Everything hurts. A quiet moan escapes Anakin, and he twists slightly on the cold floor, finally prying his eyes open enough to look around. The room is tinted red, which is about all he needs to see to know he's in a cell somewhere.

Imprisoned, locked away, like – like the animal everyone sees him as. (No matter how hard he tries, he can never manage to be the sun dragon, it seems. Because at the end of the day, he always finds himself back where he started. A slave, with no way out.)

He could try breaking out, though. He'd have nothing to lose, not really. He'd hardly care if they killed him, but... his mother might still be out there somewhere, watching the stars for him to come back. To come free her, even if she would never blame him if he never comes. But it would still haunt him forever.

And Obi-Wan... he doesn't know what would happen to him, if... Or what is happening to him at all, actually. The guards were hurting him for trying to stand up for him. But he has no idea how to feel about – about what Azmorigan said Obi-Wan was supposed to be doing to him, not that he truly expected deep inside that anything else was true.

The sound of the ray shield deactivating is what fully jars Anakin to wakefulness. He lifts his head just enough to see, despite how raw his back feels. He'd rather not know just how bad it is. But the way his clothes are sticking to him, and how wet he feels, aside from the sheer stinging, cutting pain of it says more than he wants to know, already.

Obi-Wan is stepping into the cell quietly, and Anakin didn't quite expect that – that relief to see that he's fine, even if he's also apprehensive to know why he's here in the first place, especially remembering Obi-Wan's anger from before. Though most of all, he's too tired to feel much of anything at all.

Anakin twists his head to the side, to look at him. Even if he's half expecting to be hit again. He's the one who got Obi-Wan in trouble, and he... doesn't really know if there's anything else that does matter to him. Even if he – he's clearly not as free as he pretends to be. Anakin knows that, too. Maybe that's why he trusted him so much, maybe more than he should've.

A hand gently touches the side of his face, lightly brushing back the curls hanging in his face. "Anakin," he says quietly, now crouched next to him, something pained and surprisingly not angry in his voice, "I'm sorry."

W-what?

Something tightens sharply in his chest, the sheer reality of the emotions that were strangling him before rushing back.

Anakin does care about him, maybe too much for what Obi-Wan is, but he can't help it. And if he's apologizing for – for some reason, his... niceness can't have been entirely feigned. He knows that, even if it's still hard to entirely trust. That doesn't stop the stinging betrayal deep inside of him, though. It doesn't change the... the power difference between them that he's always tried to ignore, no matter how much he knew it was there.

"You said I was free," Anakin whispers, tears burning his eyes. He doesn't bother holding them back. Why would he? Obi-Wan isn't the – the others, and he doesn't understand the notion of self-consciousness that most people seem to have.

"You were," Obi-Wan replies, hand still resting on the side of his head, "Supposed to be."

"You knew I wasn't," he forces out, though it comes out hoarsely between the tears spilling down his cheeks, and from how dry his throat feels. How long has he been out?

Obi-Wan looks mildly freaked out over his... emotional display, but Anakin can't hold it back anymore. Everything's been strangling him for so long, and he's always clung to the hope that someday he'll be free, but sometimes, it feels so ridiculously impossible, a child's dream. He's not going to stop believing, but – but now he can truly see why his mother never thought she would be, even if she always encouraged Anakin to dream. It's not... realistic. It's not, and he's just –

"Don't l-lie," he retorts, though it just come out shaky, "You – you knew what I always was."

"All of us here have to... prove our worth," Obi-Wan replies, fingers lightly trailing through his hair as though some awkward effort at comfort that he doesn't seem quite sure how to give. Anakin can... appreciate the attempt anyway, and the... small level of protected that it gives him. "That's how it works."

"But it doesn't have to. It shouldn't. You can leave, can't you?" Or is that the problem?

"This isn't something that you can just walk out of," he replies, and there's a touch of bitterness there now, "You'll be hunted down and... dealt with, if you do. That's how it is."

"Do you... want to leave?" Anakin can't help asking, careful to keep his voice low.

Obi-Wan glances away from him, hand stilling for a moment. "I'll get you out of here, Anakin," he says, voice low but Anakin still hears it.

It – what? That also doesn't answer the question, but maybe he's not really comfortable answering.

"What about you?" Anakin presses, shifting to try and push himself up.

Obi-Wan's hand is on his shoulder in a second, pushing him back down. "Stay still. You shouldn't be moving right now."

"Obi-Wan –"

He huffs out a strained breath. "This is where I've been most of my life, Anakin. I never had reason to... think about anything else. Until you."

Anakin blinks up at him, the tears slowing their pace a little. "Why?" That's what he doesn't understand. It's not as if there's something special about him, any more than the countless other people Obi-Wan probably could've at least tried helping.

He seems almost uncomfortable again. "I have never... seen anyone with the heart you have, Anakin. Here, that only gets people killed. I... saw it as a weakness."

That... is not what he expected, but it's obvious from how the other gang members treat each other that that's... true. "You never had a family?" Anakin asks, uncertainly.

"Long ago, before I was... lost from them."

... What? What happened to him? "You don't ever... want to go back to them?"

"It was so long ago," Obi-Wan replies, tone unreadable, "I hardly remember them anymore. And I didn't come down here to talk about this. Your injuries need treatment. I'll... have to get your shirt off. Try to stay still."

Great.

Exactly what he's not looking forward to, now that the blood's already starting to dry, but Anakin nods anyway, bracing himself as Obi-Wan gets to work, trying to pry the fabric off.

He's decently certain from the sharp pain that flares up that it got ripped open in several places, but it's not as bad as it could've been. At least it's off now, and he hears Obi-Wan breathe in sharply as he looks over the wound.

"I've had worse," Anakin supplies, in case that would help.

Obi-Wan's expression darkens. "Who did worse than this to you?" he demands.

Anakin can't quite make sense of the fury in his voice. "The Queen. She was angry that I – I wasn't using the name she gifted me."

"Vader," Obi-Wan realizes, and Anakin nods, about as much as he can.

"I'll kill her," he says, flatly, "If she comes anywhere near you again. If any of them do."

He... has no idea what to say to that, or to the knowledge that someone would do that for him. He doesn't want people dying because of him, but for people like this – Well, the galaxy would be better off without. (And if the Queen was gone, he'd be able to rest easier at night, without the knowledge that she could come after him again. The other slavers were... bad, but for her, it was an obsession about him personally. It was different, and he has no doubt that things could've eventually gone... further than they did, with how she often acted.)

Anakin opts to stay silent, as Obi-Wan works, gently putting bacta on his back. It hurts, but at least it'll be healing now.

"I think that's the most I can do right now," Obi-Wan says grimly, finally sitting back.

"Thank you," Anakin breathes.

He sighs, something heavy in his gaze again. "We're the... ones who owe you far more than this, Anakin. Would you like some water?"

"Yes," he rasps, gratitude surging through him instantly at the question. Though how he'll even manage that is another story entirely.

Obi-Wan's hands are already on his shoulders though, helping him upright. Every movement hurts, but he clenches his teeth and forces himself to keep moving anyway. He's used to pain. He'll just have to deal with it. The bacta's already taken an edge off it.

Anakin gulps the water down the moment it's offered, almost wishing there was more.

"Do you want to eat anything?" Obi-Wan asks, sitting quietly next to him. Anakin appreciates the mere presence more than he could ever say, right now.

Maybe, but he doubts he could stomach it. "No."

"Not even something light, like soup?" he asks, "I don't know when I'll be able to come down again."

Something clenches uncomfortably inside of him, as realization dawns. "You're not supposed to be down here."

"No," he agrees, tightly.

Anakin considers that a moment before hesitantly nodding, though he probably shouldn't keep him much longer if there's a risk of... more trouble from it. "I can have a little. I will attempt not to decorate the floor with it."

"That is hardly amusing, Anakin," Obi-Wan grumbles, passing the soup container over to him.

The soup is mostly liquid, which is probably for the best because it takes the rest of the edge off his thirst. And it's probably the only reason he's able to keep it down right now.

He's handing it back to Obi-Wan, the very moment he suddenly hears something. Maybe it's partly his dragon senses that always pick it up so soon, or maybe it's also that energy which tells him things no one else understands.

"Someone's coming," he hisses, heart rate picking up. This is bad. This is exactly what they had to avoid. But there's nothing they can do anymore.

Obi-Wan's already standing, striding to the door. He's about to activate the ray shield again, but he doesn't get there fast enough before a group of guards round the corner, Azmorigan waddling along behind.

"Yes, here you are again," he says in something that's between a laugh and a growl. Anakin can genuinely not tell.

"He won't be an asset to you at all if he's dead," Obi-Wan snaps.

"Watch your tone," he hisses, "And I'm well aware that he's become a distraction to you. I've found other uses for him."

Other uses?

Anakin... doesn't like the sound of that at all. What if they give him back to the Zygerrians? What if – He doesn't want to think about it, but it can't be anything worse than he's already faced, can it? (It could be, if he's about to lose one of the only people he's been able to get attached to, all this time. Especially if he's handed off to an actually cruel handler and isn't even around any other... slaves he can talk to.)

The discussion carries down the hall so he can't make out anything but indistinct loud voices, but he still has the strong feeling that this is about to get much worse.

Sometimes, it seems like that's all that ever happens.

He only thinks that's even more true when the guards come again sometime later, dragging him out without a word, shoving him down the hall.

Obi-Wan is nowhere to be seen.

He has no idea where they're taking him now or if he'll ever see Obi-Wan again, or – or if he's even going to survive whatever's about to happen.

Chapter Text

The sound of cheers ringing out around him is loud enough to make his dragon ears twitch uncomfortably. They're far sharper than when he's a human, and the noise is deafening.

It only serves to fuel his mounting frustration and bitterness and helplessness at the situation, as his gaze darts around the arena. Everyone here is happy, excited, to watch the... fight to the death that's about to unfold.

Azmorigan evidently was entirely serious when he said they would find uses for him where he actually would be forced to be of use – because in this gladiator ring, he has no doubt he'll be forced to fight to the death whatever animal or... person they decide to throw in here. It won't even be like Jabba's palace, where he and that Twi'lek girl were actually able to try and escape together even if that lasted an all of a few minutes.

Here, he won't have a choice.

The collar around his neck yet again speaks loudly enough for that. He's back where he started before he was rescued in the first place. He doesn't know why he ever thought that he wouldn't be sold off to someone else eventually. Why did he ever believe that phase of his life was over?

He's thrown into an entirely unfamiliar territory again with no one like has happened so many times before. (He misses Obi-Wan already, and he has no idea if he's ever going to see him again. He doesn't even know if he's okay.) He wants to scream, or – or cry or something, but if he started doing either, he'd never stop. (It's easy to see now, how so many people finally break under this, after they've lost everyone so many times over, but he can't do that. He won't. No matter just how close he feels to that right now.)

The gate at the far end of the arena opens with an agonizingly loud clang again, and Anakin spins towards it, tail flicking as he watches it opening. He has to be ready for this, whatever's about to happen.

Except, he's not at all expecting who's actually shoved through the opening, before the guards behind her retreat from sight.

It's the very same Togruta girl he saw that night with Obi-Wan. The Jedi kid who was with the clones.

Now that he can see her clearly in the light, he can see how young she is. She must be barely in her early teens, and she's so small. Something about how she feels in the energy gives him a sensation of what he can best describe as rose petals, but he can feel how scared she is, even if outwardly, she's too stubborn to show it.

She has a collar around her neck too, marking her as a slave like him. From her sheer panic and how lost she looks, it's obviously something she's never had to face before. Anakin's dealt with it his whole life and he knows how to act, has been forced to learn how to face it, but she... has no idea. And she's just a child, who deserves so much than this – not that that isn't true about all the slaves he's ever met. But for her, she's... really the first child he's ever had time to interact with in years. He wasn't kept near any on Zygerria.

He's never felt that overwhelming urge to protect the way he does now – he wants to do that to everyone, to help everyone he can, and he always has, but something about this is a little different.

Not to mention her clothes, which certainly aren't designed to give her any protection in a fight. They look more like they're designed to... show her off,and it disgusts him.

Anakin takes a hesitant step towards her, and she throws up her hands, an invisible energy slamming into him, throwing him across the plaza. He catches himself halfway, wings flapping to slow himself, ignoring everyone cheering. They'll probably cheer no matter who's winning. All they want to see is a fight. They don't care what happens to any of those they throw in here. To them, everyone here is nothing but animals – and even animals deserve better than this.

Turning towards her again, Anakin reaches out, nudging her mind.

He feels her flicker of surprise, the way she responds to him the same way Obi-Wan does, but something about it is far less sloppy. Like she actually knows how to use the energy consciously, which... of course she does, if she's a Jedi. The first one he's ever met. Once, he thought of them as legendary beings, but they're just as much mortals as he is – and she needs his help and protection far more than he needs anything from the Jedi.

"I didn't realize you were sentient," she says, hands dropping to her sides though she still looks wary, jittery. After everything she's been through, there's no shock there.

"I am. My name is Anakin."

"I'm Ahsoka," she replies, taking a few cautious steps closer, "I've never seen a dragon before. Except once."

Probably, she saw him flying over the clone camp, right before the other gangsters showed up and took her. "That may have been me, too."

She frowns. "You were near the camp...?"

"Yes. Long story." Probably not something they can really talk about right now.

Anakin can already sense the observers' distinct unhappiness that nothing is happening. That... doesn't mean anything good, but there's nothing he can do. With the collars on, they'd never make it out of here. He's not stupid enough to try.

"What do we do?" Ahsoka asks, voice quiet enough that he's probably the only one who can hear her.

He doesn't want to look this child in the eye and tell her he doesn't know, that she's trapped here forever in this life like he is. "I will find a way to get you out," Anakin promises, because he doubts he could get himself out, but at least her –

And now, he can entirely understand how his mother always felt, about him.

Ahsoka reaches up lightly, touching his snout. The touch is soft, almost featherlike as she trails a hand along his scales. At least he can finally appreciate the feel of being touched again.

Except, they don't even have a moment to linger in it, because he sees several guards approaching the railing up above, talking to each other. One brief glance at them is enough to say what they're about to do.

Anakin doesn't have the chance to warn Ahsoka, not that a warning would've served any purpose.

Her collar activates the same second that his does, the hiss of crackling electricity ringing in his ears as the burning pain consumes all his senses.

***

Anakin would've stayed a dragon on the trek back to... wherever these people are taking him, if he were given a choice, but they re-fitted him with a human-sized collar before taking him there – which is enough to say that it has the same capabilities that the collar the Queen always used had.

Everything still aches, and his neck feels like it's on fire – it's probably burned almost raw, after all – and walking without limping is nigh impossible. The guards shoving him forwards every two seconds for stumbling is only making it worse.

They reach a hall of cages, bars dividing each from each other. At first glance he thinks most of the beings down here are animals, but when a low growl draws his gaze to the far end and he spots a Wookie, he reconsiders that. Maybe most of them are animals. Certainly not all.

They shove him in one of the cells and he lands on the hard floor on his knees, looking up as the door clangs shut behind him and they lock it. The hall is mostly dark, but there's still enough light coming in from the far end – a barred window? – that he can see into the cells next to him.

And Ahsoka is curled up in the corner on the floor right beside his. Her arms are half wrapped around herself, almost protectively. From the way her shoulders shake occasionally and from the quiet sniffles, he can tell she's crying.

It hurts to see, and he desperately wants to do something, anything, to help her. "Ahsoka," Anakin calls softly, scooting to the edge of the bars so he's as close to her as he can get.

She starts slightly, looking up.

"It's me," he explains, "As... human."

"Anakin?" she asks, voice still slightly shaky but she practically sags in relief.

"How are you holding up?" he inquires. Asking her if she's alright would be senseless. Even in the dim lighting he can see the bright red marks tracing across her neck, too. Talking even hurts him, but they have to talk about this.

"I hate this," Ahsoka bites out, voice breaking again, "I have to get out of here and I don't know what to do. Every time I try, they –"

He can well imagine the rest. "You need a plan, first," he cuts in, "This place is designed so no one can get out."

"Has anyone?" she asks, a hint of desperation in her voice. She scoots closer, so nothing but the barred wall and the darkness is separating them.

Does anyone get out of this life? He's never known anyone who has, not in anything beyond dreams. Or legends. "There are... legends," Anakin answers, slowly, "It is not impossible if you truly believe in it. That was something my mother always used to tell me, along with the legend of the sun dragon."

"The sun dragon?" Ahsoka echoes, confused.

He nods. "She would tell me that story almost every night. The sun dragon is a beast that lives inside a star, guarding everything it treasures. Nothing could hurt it. Not fire, not flame. It survived through the most impossible circumstances, even life in the core of a star. Because the sun-dragon had the biggest heart in the galaxy, a burning furnace powerful enough to protect everything and everyone it loved."

She listens to it silently, her breathing evening out a little. "Why are you... telling me this?"

"I don't know you, but to stay this... strong, I know you're brave. And determined. Like the sun dragon my mother always told me about. And that means there is a way for us to get out of here."

Us.

For the first time, Anakin's actually included himself in that. For the first time since he was ripped away from Shmi, it actually feels like there might be a chance for that. He doesn't know where this sudden swell of determination is coming from, strong enough to force back the underlying hopelessness that's been overwhelming him all these years, but it's a strength he's missed for so long. Something he forgot he could even feel anymore.

Maybe it's having Ahsoka here, someone relying on him, who he can't help looking at as something of as... a younger sister maybe? He wondered sometimes, what it would feel like to have a sibling, or even to be raising a child, and he's only known for an hour max, but the urge to protect is already overwhelming.

Ahsoka looks up at him, her blue eyes locking with his, and he can see the stubbornness burning there. She's not going to give up, not this easily. "You've been here longer than me. What do you know about ways we can get out?"

Anakin pauses, considering. "We'll have to get our collars off first. Perhaps you could do that with the... whatever it is you use?"

"The Force?" she asks, smiling faintly.

"Yes. That." He didn't realize that's what Jedi call it. "But we would have to wait until we are certain we can break past their ranks, or there will be no second chances." He hates having to wait even a moment longer, but he needs to consider this realistically. "I could probably break the bars as a dragon, but we may want to wait until we know more about the guards' positions. It's a risk, but... one we will have to take." Trying and failing entirely would be worse. He can only hope they won't be separated.

Ahsoka flops back against her cell wall with a huff. "I don't want to wait. I know we need to, but –"

"I know," he assures, soothingly, "But to start with, we will need our strength. You should rest."

She glances around the small space they're trapped in, looking none too happy, but finally shifts so she can stretch out on the floor. Anakin curls up close to the bars next to her, long accustomed to the uncomfortableness of the location. But it's better than a rancor pit.

The crisscrossing bars are close together but not too much that he can't squeeze his hand through, reaching out to take Ahsoka's. It's the most comfort he can really offer her.

She blinks in surprise, but returns the grip with surprising fierceness, clinging to him. The feel of her small hand in his is grounding for him too, as he drifts off to sleep.

The peacefulness of it doesn't last long.

Something jerks his wrist hard, and Anakin's eyes fly open, immediately trying to sit up, wrenching his wrist nearly hard enough to yelp.

... That was stupid.

Sleeping with his hand stuck through tiny bars he can barely get through isn't necessarily the smartest decision. Especially not when Ahsoka is still clinging to it, but from how much she's moving around – and endeavoring to drag him through the bars – she's obviously having a nightmare.

"Ahsoka!" Anakin calls quietly, tracing his thumb over the back of her hand in an effort to wake her. "Ahsoka."

She finally stirs at the sound of his voice, eyes flying open with a quiet gasp.

"Ahsoka," he calls again, and she twists around in the darkness, gaze locking with his, "It's alright."

She's breathing hard, but her grip tightens on his hand, and she scoots about as close as she can. He can only imagine what she's seeing, and there's no way it's something she wants to focus on a second longer.

"I didn't mean to wake you," she mumbles, staring up at the ceiling above them.

"It's fine," he promises. It's not as if he doesn't have nightmares nearly every night, too.

Ahsoka shifts restlessly next to him, though she doesn't reply.

"Sometimes my mother would sing to me, when I was going to sleep," he tells her.

"Hmm?" she asks, rolling onto her side to face him.

"It might help," he explains.

She looks curious and uncertain, and he gives her a small smile, before he... starts singing. It's in Amatakkan and nothing Ahsoka needs to understand, but he knows it was always calming for him when his mother did that, and it doesn't take long before she's drifting off to sleep again.

***

A single ray of sunlight falls across the hallway between the cages when Anakin awakens. He didn't bother waking up early – there wasn't a point for that. Sitting up, he sees Ahsoka sitting cross-legged in her cell, eyes closed.

"You're... meditating?" he guesses, when she finally stirs.

Her eyes lock briefly with his. "Yeah."

"I've never met a Jedi before," Anakin comments, "Until you. Once, I wanted to be one."

"I don't know how you didn't end up as one," she replies, "You're... strong. I don't think I've ever felt someone so bright in the Force, before."

Anakin blinks. That – he didn't know that. "Am I?"

She nods.

He tries to imagine it, a universe where he was a Jedi. Where he didn't spend his entire life as a slave. He really can't imagine that, not anymore. "The Jedi never came to Tatooine, where I lived. They never found me. But I can still sense things sometimes, that I have never seen anyone else able to."

Ahsoka eyes him, curiously. "Most people close themselves off to the Force once they get older. But there might be a chance you could still reach it."

Anakin perks up. Not that he ever questioned it, but it wasn't a real thing – to think someone could teach him to use that energy, in any way other than transforming himself. "Could you tell me how?" Anakin inquires, "I would like to try. If I could learn, maybe it could help us get out of here."

Ahsoka looks uncertain and eager at once. "It would," she agrees, "But I don't know if it would work. We always connect with the Force when we're young because that's the best time to open our minds to it."

"It couldn't hurt to try, right?" Anakin suggests, hopefully.

"True," she concedes, though she still seems slightly hesitant.

"What?" he asks, finally.

"It's not disallowed to teach others about the Force if they aren't Jedi, but it's not really done," she explains.

Anakin doesn't really get why that would be a deal, but he doesn't understand Jedi beliefs, either. "It's only so we can escape." Though on that note... "What's the chance other Jedi will come out here looking for you?" He surprised they haven't shown up already honestly, unless Azmorigan is that good at covering his tracks.

Ahsoka practically deflates. "I don't know," she replies, something frustrated in her gaze, "Master Plo would look for me, but he wouldn't know where or what happened, and he wouldn't expend too many resources searching."

But that's – "Plo is your... guardian?" he clarifies, frowning.

She nods.

"Then if there's a chance something happened to you, why would he ever stop searching for you?"

"As Jedi, we can't put the needs of just one over many, and he's leading the war effort," she replies, even if there's a distinct unhappiness to the way she says all of it. She's not happy with her life, he realizes abruptly. He always thought of the Jedi as heroes. He never considered that they might be... dissatisfied with whatever their life is like.

"But you're like his child, aren't you?" Anakin argues. He doesn't really understand what she's saying, either. His mother always told him to help everyone if he could. Obviously, there's times you can't, but that's never a reason not to try.

"Padawan," Ahsoka corrects, "Jedi don't have parents."

"I don't know much about the Jedi," he admits, "Except what's in legends. I can see I don't know much about what they're... like."

"Things were... more different before the war," Ahsoka replies, expression scrunched in long-buried frustration, "Now I have to lead my men into battle constantly and they're always getting killed because of my orders, and I don't know how to do this. I wasn't even able to defend that kyber crystal shipment."

That explains what was so important about it. Anakin knows kyber crystals cost a fortune on the black market, and hearing all this, he's never been gladder that he refused to attack. Though if he had, the clones' lives might've been spared even if they lost the shipment. Maybe. That doesn't mean things would be any better in the long run, though.

He has no idea how to feel either, about the fact that Ahsoka is only fourteen,and she's being forced to lead in a war.

"We have to adjust to the times," he tells her gently, because it's the brutal truth, even if it can be hard. If he hadn't adapted to trying to survive on his own, he would've died long ago. "If it's war, people will always die. It's... the reality of command. That doesn't make it all your fault."

Ahsoka leans back against the back wall, crossing her arms. "It's not that simple. And now I'm just stuck here,and I don't know how I'll even get back to them."

"Can you teach me about the Force?" he asks, again. "It may help us get out of here."

Ahsoka nods, straightening. "I'll teach you."

***

Trying to open himself back up to the Force when he's unconsciously closed himself off from it is hard – and it's especially hard to reach into the energy without feeling the urge to start transforming into a dragon – but Anakin's starting to get used to trying.

Once he actually understands how she's trying to tell him to connect with it in the first place, it comes naturally in a rush.

He's always sensed things strongly, but he never realized how brilliant the universe was around him until he's actually able to reach into it more actively.

Anakin has no idea how long they've been trapped here, but he's spending all the spare time he has focusing on trying to connect with the Force. There's been an occasional time that the guards come, dragging him back to the arena to fight against an animal. The animals are starved wild and always attack without hesitation, so he has to fight back, but it – At least he hasn't had to fight another person. Yet.

He doesn't doubt that it's coming.

They've taken Ahsoka a couple times, too, to put her up against animals, and every time afterwards, she's further withdrawn on herself when she comes back. Bitter. Angry.

He can see the signs, the way her simmering fury is starting to grow, and he's admittedly worried about her. But there's nothing he can do but try to learn more about using the Force, while he mentally maps out the best way to get out of here.

What will happen after that, he has no idea. (He misses Obi-Wan. He misses Mom. He wants to find both of them, but he doesn't even know where to start, for either one.)

"I was hoping our situation could speed this long," Anakin says, as he focuses on trying to levitate a rock in an unoccupied cell opposite them.

"That's not how it works," Ahsoka replies, a hint of amusement in her voice, despite the usual tightness of her expression recently.

"I know." The more frustrated he gets, the harder it gets to actually connect with the Force. And Ahsoka's warned him repeatedly that Jedi are supposed to be calm, because acting on negative emotions "leads to the Dark Side". He doesn't fully understand why it's such a bad thing, but she's the one who should know what she's talking about.

That's part of what worries him so much, because for all that she repeats the importance of being calm, she's been anything but calm, and as the days go by, it only gets worse.

Anakin closes his eyes again, focusing on the Force flowing around him. He can imagine the feel of the rock in his hand, imagine being able to lift it, and all he has to do is be able to move it.

He always feels so much, and trying to find a center of calm away from his emotions isn't always easy, but he tries focusing on...

Ahsoka, and whatever it is they're forming. She's so much like a little sister, what he always imagined having a sibling would be like, but she's also more than that, with the protective feelings he has for her. Maybe. It's not like he knows what it's like to have a sibling. Or a child, for that matter.

Obi-Wan, and how much Anakin was starting to look up to him. He hadn't been able to feel safe around anyone the way he could when they were together.

And of course, his mom. She took care of him, was all he had for years, and gave him a strength to keep moving that nothing else has. He'll never forget the story of the sun dragon.

He's supposed to be strong enough to protect everyone he loves, and even if he's failed every single time before, he's not going to fail to take care of Ahsoka.

"Open your eyes," Ahsoka says, a hint of eagerness in his voice.

Anakin does, to see the rock floating off the ground.

He can do it. It floods him with a rush of elation, and more than that, hope. His mother told him he was the sun dragon, and he – he's going to be, whatever it takes.

Which happens to be the very moment Anakin suddenly senses something off. It's a flicker of warning from something far off, but it's coming closer. Something's going to happen. He can feel it.

"Something's coming," Anakin warns, lowering the rock to the floor.

Ahsoka stiffens, and he can see that shift in her expression, when she's reaching out to sense something. "What is it?"

"I don't know." Not yet.

The faint sound of a blaster shot, from somewhere close, but muffled through all the walls, rings out. It's quickly followed by several more shots, until they're going off almost constantly.

A gang fight?

Or something close, at least.

The hall is dark now, the sun already disappearing below the horizon a while ago. The perfect time to try to escape if they have the chance.

And then he feels the slightest nudge from the Force, and he knows. "It's time," Anakin says, tensing. He's afraid, but he won't let that stop him. They might never have a better chance. Even if he knows all too well what will happen if they fail.

"You mean to... go?" Ahsoka asks, gaze darting around the hall.

He nods. "Now. We'll let out the animals to cover our tracks."

Without waiting, he closes his eyes, reaching into the Force, focusing on the collar around his neck. It's not hard to find the mechanism and feel it, and he nudges it hard, daring to breathe a sigh of relief when he hears it snap off. Ahsoka has already realized the same thing because she gets her own collar off. Anakin delves deeply into the Force like always, drawing it in to him, twisting and transforming himself into a dragon. There's hardly room to move, but his strength is enough for him to rip the bars down on the front of the cage, forcing himself out, ignoring the way the metal screeches and groans, and the way it scratches along his scales.

He rips Ahsoka's cage open next, and she scrambles out.

It's the first time they've been side by side in person – other than the arena – without the cage bars separating them. The Togruta lingers for only a moment, lightly touching the scales of his snout before they take off, starting at the far end of the hall to let all the animals out before they make a run for it.

Anakin rounds the corner sharply, throwing the guards standing right around the corner in the wall, hard enough to knock them unconscious. But there's definitely supposed to be more of them here. The sound of blaster shots is louder out here, but it also sounds like it's growing more intense. The other guards probably already went to deal with whatever's happening.

Unease twists inside of him, as he shifts back to his human form. The less noticed they are right now, the better. Anakin has no idea who's attacking this place, after all. Probably, it's people just as awful as the ones currently holding them so they don't need anyone to see them. But escaping has never been that easy before, and he's wary of thinking it actually will be this time. There are one million things that could go wrong, and –

The animals they freed are running loose through the halls now, as he and Ahsoka run.

They round another corner abruptly, only to come face to face with another group of guards. Anakin fires several stun blasts on them instantly, with the blaster he picked up along the way, but there's too many and with so many weapons trained on them –

Maybe, he should've stayed a dragon after all.

"The slaves are escaping!" one of them calls, "We need to warn –" He cuts off mid-sentence with a strangled choking sound, hands going to his neck, as he and another guard in the front are lifted off the ground.

Anakin's head whips around, to see Ahsoka standing there, hands raised, a desperate fury burning in her eyes.

"Ahsoka –" he starts to say, but it's not fast enough to stop her from snapping their necks.

He can't say he has much sympathy, but it was entirely unexpected, and he's worried that Ahsoka would do it. But there's no time to stop and talk about it right now. All they can do is keep moving until they finally find a back entrance.

The blaster fire is much louder now, as they dart outside, into the cool night air. An electric fence surrounds the place, so they'll have to find a way to get over that. Or Anakin could transform again and fly them over, but there's numerous ships surrounding the place on all sides, and they don't want to be seen by those people, either.

Definitely a gang fight of some kind, and he yanks Ahsoka back against the wall when someone from one of the ships nearly shines a light right at them. Escaping is going to be nearly impossible.

But they have to move, before the people make their way around here. Through the darkness, Anakin can just make out the shadows of the people attacking, and then his blood runs cold.

They're Zygerrian.

Force.

No.

This can't be happening. Not right now, not here. No, no, no – He was free from her. He wasn't supposed to have to go back. He was –

No.

"Anakin," Ahsoka hiss-whispers.

Right. He needs to focus on something other than his wildly pounding heart and how it feels nearly impossible to suck in any air right now. There's an open area between several ships up ahead that they might be able to make it through. There's no better opening they're going to find, if they're serious about escaping.

Anakin gestures to the spot, a wordless communication with Ahsoka before they both break into a run across the field.

"I'll throw you over the fence," she calls, when they're half way there.

He does not want to cross the fence before she does, but there's no other option. It's electric. They can't climb it. This better not be a fatal mistake.

Anakin sprints ahead, drawing the Force to him as he jumps. It helps a little, but it doesn't get him nearly far enough, until Ahsoka catches him with the Force, throwing him the rest of the way.

He catches himself, turning as she Force-jumps over, landing easily on the ground. They break into a run again, but not fast enough. A light falls right on them. Air freezes in his lungs for a moment, but he doesn't slow. They've been spotted already, but maybe the guards will ignore them. He can hope, but he doubts it already.

"It's him!" he faintly hears one of the Zygerrians calls, and then he knows. They were here for him, weren't they? Someone must've recognized him in the arena.

Which means, the Queen must want him back.

Stun blasts whiz past them seconds later, and he swerves sharply to avoid it. Golden light flashes behind him seconds later, and he knows it's one of those stunshots before he even has time to dodge. Except, it's not him the blast hits. It's Ahsoka.

She lets out a strangled yelp before she falls. Anakin jerks to a stop, spinning around, fully intent on picking her up to keep running, but the guards already have their blasters trained on her.

"Another step, and she dies," warns one of them.

He knows better than to test it. He thought they were going to escape, and instead, he's ending up right back where he started, somewhere worse. And it's going to be far worse for Ahsoka there than here, which is saying something.

He failed again, the way it always seems like he does. Why does it feel like that's all he ever manages? He's not going to give up yet, though. There might still be a chance, but he – he'll watch for it, but he can't truly let himself hope for it, not knowing how unlikely it is. Especially not when the guards move forwards to put that collar on him again.

***

Anakin's heart is pounding loud enough he's almost sure everyone can hear, as he's shoved forwards onto the main Zygerrian ship. He already knows who's here, even without having to reach out with the Force to feel her sickening Force presence. He never wants to see her again, and for all the things he's seen her do, he thinks she's the one person he could kill without remorse. If only to feel like he can sleep at peace at night again.

Did she seriously come all the way out here for him? Or was she just in the area, maybe to attend the arena? He has no idea, and he frankly doesn't want to.

Sure enough, she's sitting at the front of the room, with one of her birds perched on her shoulder. The gentleness she treats them with, for how she treats all her slaves is downright sickening.

He doesn't miss that gleam in her eye, the pleased look on her face, when she sees him.

"Vader," Miraj purrs, and he tries not to outright flinch at hearing that name again, in that voice.

It never fails to flood him with a helpless fury that she forces him to go by a name she chose, but his second thought only a moment later is a panicked once Ahsoka wakes up and tries to find him, Miraj's going to know he's been going by a different name than Vader.

Not that he probably isn't about to get beaten, anyway. He's faced that countless times before, though. He's more afraid of what else could... come later.

"It's been a long time without you. Aren't you going to greet your Queen?" she asks.

He wants to throw up, actually. Or smack her in the face with his dragon foot. "Your Majesty," he replies finally, evenly, careful to keep his voice quiet.

"I'm pleased to have you back, Vader. I won't let another steal you from me again," she goes on, as though he's somehow supposed to agree with her.

Several thumps echo loudly outside the door suddenly, and Anakin stills. That sounded way too...

Something's coming, but with all the chaos, he never even noticed that Force presence until this very moment. That familiar feel of the coming rain, and he knows who's about to enter right before the door bursts open.

Several blaster shots ring out, and the guards on either side of the door drop to the floor, dead.

Obi-Wan himself is standing in the doorway, blaster held in one hand, pointing at the Queen.

Anakin sees a flare of alarm in Miraj's eyes, before she glares him down. "Another intruder, I take it?" she asks, evenly.

How did he even get here?! How did he –

But Anakin's never felt quite so relived in his life, both to see him here and to see that he's alright.

"Your reign is at end, Zygerrian," he shoots back, sharply.

"Oh, I'm afraid not," she replies, "The rest of my forces will be along shortly to deal with you."

"They're otherwise occupied," he says, something almost smug in his gaze.

"Vader," Miraj says, a sharp edge to her voice, "Kill him,and you will be greatly rewarded."

Does she genuinely think he's going to obey that? Anakin stands his ground, no matter how hard his heart is pounding, with disobeying a direct order like that.

Obi-Wan's expression darkens – it's something that promises violence. "I think," he replies, steely, "That you will regret the day you first learned Anakin existed."

Miraj jolts to her feet, sudden anger in her eyes. "I will not be ordered about by the likes of another scum like you."

Obi-Wan fires.

Anakin starts at the suddenness of it, even more so when Miraj tumbles to the floor with a scream, a smoking hole in her leg.

Obi-Wan did that intentionally. It wasn't intended to kill. He can't say why it makes him so sick, when it's not like he really feels bad for her. He's just glad that she can't hurt him anymore, but that doesn't –

"Anakin," Obi-Wan says, never taking his eyes off the queen, "Get to my ship. I'll catch up later."

"Are you sure –" he starts to object, except pauses when Obi-Wan holsters his blaster, hand lingering near his knife.

Never mind. He's going.

"Yes," he replies, "I'll be fine."

Anakin nods, not even sparing a glance over his shoulder before he reaches out with the Force, detaching the collar from his neck as he runs. Most of the Zygrerians out here have either been stabbed or stunned, probably to avoid making any noise.

He sprints to the prisoner area where he saw them taking Ahsoka, tackling the few unsuspecting guards he runs into on the way.

Ahsoka is unconscious behind a ray shield, but she looks otherwise unharmed. Deactivating it quickly, he lifts her into his arms, sprinting for the outside of the ship. It's still on the ground, a distance away from any other Zygerrian ships.

They're still fighting with some other gang members, and it only occurs to Anakin right now that he has no idea where Obi-Wan was planning to take him. but he doesn't have anywhere better to go, and he – he wants to talk to Obi-Wan again.

Ahsoka's starting to stir by the time he gets on board, laying her down on a bench in the hold. He doesn't know what Obi-Wan is doing, but he better be here soon. They need to get out of here before it's too late.

His hand lingers on the Togruta's shoulder, when she finally opens her eyes, blinking in a confusion, with a quiet groan. "We're safe," Anakin promises.

She blinks again, eyes focusing on him as before she rolls over, slowly pushing herself upright, pressing a hand to her head. "What's going on?"

"We were nearly captured, but a... friend of mine showed up to help get us out. He should be back soon."

Ahsoka blinks again, gaze darting around the hold. "Thought you didn't have any friends."

"I didn't know he would come. I did not... know if I would see him ever again." But he's never been quite so happy to be wrong. Now, he just needs to find Mom again. And get Ahsoka home, though he realizes, with a sharp pang, that that will mean they won't be with each other anymore, and he doesn't want to leave her. But they'll worry about that... later.

Anakin senses as much as hears it when Obi-Wan appears in the doorway, traces of blood on his clothes.

He's not going to ask. Definitely not. "Are you alright?" Anakin asks anyway, just to be certain.

"Yes," he assures, throwing a questioning glance at Ahsoka, but doesn't ask, "And the Queen is dead. Come on. We should go."

"Where are we going?" Anakin inquires.

"We can speak on the way," Obi-Wan replies, which Anakin entirely agrees with. He scrambles to the cockpit, taking the pilot's seat as they take off. Several ships are giving chase, but Obi-Wan enters what seems like an entirely random hyperspace jump, and they make the jump before the Zygerrians can come anywhere close.

He – he's free.

Anakin stares at the swirls outside the cockpit window for a long moment, too overwhelmed to feel much of anything. It's the first time this has felt entirely true, and he doesn't even know what that means. Doesn't know how Obi-Wan ended up here either, though, or what he might want. Did he come here just for him, or –

There's a weighted look in Obi-Wan's eyes when he turns to face him. Something considering, but there's also a visible lingering affection there. "Where do you want to go?" Obi-Wan asks.

"I..." Anakin hesitates, glancing back at Ahsoka who's standing behind their seats. He's rarely been asked what he wants by anyone, except by other slaves. Usually, that question is loaded, indicating that he's supposed to answer in a specific way, but he thinks this time the question is genuine. "This is Ahsoka, a... Jedi I picked up. Ahsoka, this is... Obi-Wan. We need to take her home."

"What are you going to do after that?" she asks, crossing her arms.

"I... want to go back to Tatooine, to look for my mother," he replies.

The Togruta hesitates a moment, as though considering something. "Maybe if it doesn't take long, I can help you find her first," she proposes.

The offer catches him a little by surprise, but maybe it shouldn't have. Ahsoka already doesn't want to fight, and with how much he knows she's struggling with what she went through, maybe she needs some time before she ends up back on the fronts. Though, a break to fight more slavers probably isn't ideal. Unless it's the kind of fight she actually wants to fight in.

"If that is what you want," Anakin replies, "Do you want to let... Plo know that you're alright, first?"

She nods. "Yeah. I'll let him know I'm getting you to safety, before coming back."

He has to say that he's glad, because he doesn't want to let her go just yet, even if it's inevitable eventually. Probably.

Obi-Wan disappears to one of the rooms in the back of the ship to 'change his clothes', and Anakin is hard pressed not to roll his eyes considering that he was the one who messed them up in the first place, but it gives him a moment alone with Ahsoka.

"Are you alright?" he asks, studying her.

She blinks, as though slightly taken by surprise at the sudden question. "Yes. We're finally out of there."

"Yeah," he agrees, touching her shoulder, "But I know the effects of something like that will take time to fade." He can't imagine how they ever could, actually. He's supposed to be free now, but he's more lost at what that even means, more afraid that it isn't going to last than anything else right now.

She nods, expression shifting to something more subdued. "I know."

Bringing up directly what happened with those guards won't help, when he already knows she must be struggling with that and everything that led to it. Or maybe, with the fact that she doesn't regret it at all even if she feels like she should. And Anakin can entirely understand it if she doesn't. "It's easy to... lose control sometimes," he tells her, "There are many who break under it."

"I used the Dark Side," Ahsoka replies, looking away, "It was everything against what I've been taught, and I don't even... regret it. Not really. Just that I don't." Like he expected.

"I cannot say those guards didn't deserve it, even if it isn't for us to make those choices," Anakin responds. That's what his mother would tell him. "Even if you did something against your Code, that does not mean it's something you'll repeat in the future. It was a... difficult situation, and I understand why you did it."

Ahsoka nods, not really answering.

"Thank you for offering to help me," Anakin tells her, sincerely. He can't believe there's finally a chance he'll be able to find his mother again. "Are you certain you want to do this?"

"This is what I want to help with," she says, "I want to help the people, not fight."

He nods, lightly squeezing her shoulder. "Well then, you'll have that chance."

***

Ahsoka is curled up on the seat next to him, fallen asleep now, when Obi-Wan comes back into the room. It's been a very long day for her – only this morning, they still didn't know when they would ever get out, or if, so it's not surprising she's totally out of it. He's exhausted, too, but he can't rest yet.

"Obi-Wan," Anakin greets, giving him a tired smile when he reappears, crossing the room to sit on Anakin's other side.

A hint of concern is lingering in Obi-Wan's eyes as he studies him. "How have you been holding up?" he asks.

"I... have had worse before."

"I'm not letting any of them hurt you again," Obi-Wan promises, fiercely.

A small flare of warmth spreads through him, along with that feeling of protected that it's been so long since he's truly felt... protected.

"Thank you," he says, almost shyly. He still doesn't really understand what he means to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan touches his shoulder, and Anakin leans into it, just a little.

"What about you?" Anakin asks, "I know they were... upset at you for standing up for me. Are you... alright?"

His expression shifts, to something grimmer. "They might have taken action if I hadn't left to search for you, when I did. And now that I'm gone, they're going to start looking for me, but disappearing should not be too hard on a place like Tatooine." He's already planning to stay with him then, to help search for Shmi, and Anakin has no idea how to feel about that, what he could even begin to say to that.

"I didn't mean for you to – to leave everything because of me," he blurts out, finally. He can't shake the tiniest thread of guilt, even if it's not like any of what Obi-Wan was doing was good for anyone, including himself. If he's not doing the same anymore, it's definitely for the best that he left, but it's still... something Anakin felt like he needed to say.

Obi-Wan's grip on his shoulder tightens. "Anakin," he says, firmly, "I never realized how... meaningless all of what I have done was, until you were gone, and I did not know if I would ever find you again. Meeting you was the best thing that... happened to me. Never apologize for that."

Anakin gives him a small, shy smile, unsure how to respond. No one's ever told him that he mattered to them, not like that, and he has no idea what to say. He hasn't felt like this about anyone since his Mom.

The most he can think of to even begin expressing how he's feeling is –

He leans forwards impulsively, wrapping his arms tightly around Obi-Wan.

It's Obi-Wan who nearly freezes for a moment, but he returns the embrace with surprising fierceness. Neither of them speaks, but they don't need it. That moment says more than words ever could.

Anakin hasn't had anyone in so long, but now, he has Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, and he... doesn't want to lose either of them. And for all that he's afraid of Ahsoka going back to fight and never seeing her again, he doesn't entirely think that will happen, even if he doesn't know why it wouldn't.

But finally, for the first time, he can truly understand the meaning of the sun dragon legend his mother told him so long ago. Because for once, he actually was able to protect someone – he saved Ahsoka, and he... helped change what Obi-Wan was becoming, and that's... something.

Maybe Anakin still has a very long way to go, to figure out what being free even means, but there's nowhere else he'd rather be.