7-Wise Choice
Quick note; I feel like I should have clarified this earlier, but yes Lilith's breathing sounds exactly like Darth Vader's. It's just the talking that sounds different. I'm sure most of you already figured that, but I thought I'd mention it just in case.
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Anakin's POV
I pushed myself off of the metal floor, only to fall back down when the ship shook again; violently, "Let's hope your crash landing skills are as good as you claim they are." Cal taunted me from his restrained prison. I groaned in irritation; pushing myself off of the floor again, and rushing out of the room towards the cockpit; but not without destroying the tracker in my metal hand.
I reached the cockpit, and paused as soon as I entered when I saw an imperial ship right outside of my window. The windows to the ship were black so I couldn't see inside, but I already knew who was there, I could feel her.
I was frozen in place; scared of the situation that I got ourselves in, and nervous that I was actually in her presence for the first time since Mustafar. I could feel that same darkness that I felt on that day, only this time; the darkness has grown and I could hardly feel anything else.
My Princess wasn't there anymore; shadowed over like she was never even there. The only evidence that she ever existed, were my memories of her; and I plan to always keep them alive, to cherish them so I never truly lose her.
Flashback(Age: Anakin-15 y/n-13)
"I swear (y/n) if you make me fall into the pool again, I won't talk to you for a week." I threatened nervously while my best friend guided me down the halls; blindfolded.
She insisted I put it on, and that she had a surprise for me. Which I stupidly accepted even though the last time she did this, she walked me right into a pool; then proceeded to laugh so hard she nearly peed herself.
She chuckled, squeezing onto my shoulders, and guiding me around a corner, "I've heard that threat before; and did you or did you not give up after only three hours?"
I sighed, yes I did, "Only because you kept pouting and looking at me with those manipulative puppy dog eyes."
Even though it was a clear manipulation tactic, I still gave in. But how could I not have? Her (y/e/c) doe eyes have always been my greatest weakness. Every time I get lost in them, I always want to give in and finally tell her that I have feelings for her, that I always have. But my anxiety and worry always held me back, terrified of getting my heart broken by my best friend.
She chuckled again, "Because they work on both you, and on Master Yoda." She brought our steps to a halt, "Every single time." She let go of my shoulders and I slightly cringed; expecting her to do some kind of prank since it's basically tradition to prank the other on their birthday.
But instead, she removed the blindfold and I noticed that we were in the cafeteria; only it was empty, "What are we doing in-" I paused when my eyes landed on the table in front of me; noticing a brown blob, "What the hell is that?" I pointed at it.
"It's your cake!" She exclaimed with excitement.
I furrowed my brows at the awkward looking brown cake, before glancing to look at the face of my excited best friend, "It looks like something that would come out of the Hutts." I teased, and she immediately smacked me on the arm with an adorable pout.
"Stop, I've never made anything before," She looked at the disastrous creation, and I could see that she was amused by its appearance as well, "But I swear it tastes better than it looks, and I made it chocolate, your favorite." She turned her head to bless my eyes with a sweet smile.
Then her words finally sunk in, "Wait, you made this for me yourself?" I asked; feeling butterflies fluttering in my stomach. It felt dumb getting excited over something as simple as this, but I couldn't help it; it was so thoughtful of her.
She nodded happily, "You should see the mess I made in the kitchens, just don't tell anyone it was me. I think they're blaming the younglings." She shrugged; turning her attention back to the table.
I continued to watch her in awe, I couldn't believe that she went to the lengths of actually making it for me. I'm going to have to step up my game for her next birthday, it has to be incredible; she deserves nothing less, "Thank you (y/n) I love it." I beamed, with my heart pounding as she turned back around; shooting me a crafty grin.
"Don't thank me yet, open your present first," She held a black box in her palm; holding it out to me. I eyed it suspiciously, the way she was smiling made me feel uneasy, "Don't worry nothing is going to pop out, I promise." Her smile grew while I slowly accepted the small gift.
I held it away from me, and slowly took off the golden bow, then I removed the top lid; peering cautiously at the contents in the box. Well, she wasn't lying, nothing popped out. But I wasn't exactly thrilled in the slightest with what was inside either, "Sand (y/n)? Seriously?" I glared at her, I knew I never should have told her about my dislike for it. I wouldn't be surprised if she uses it against me in an argument later in life.
(Reference to Chapter 9 in Tormented when she actually does use it against him in an argument for those of you who don't remember lol)
She chuckled; grabbing the box from my hand, "It's not just any sand Ani," She placed her fingers inside and pinched the grains, "It's the coarsest," She stepped closer to me, and I backed away; noticing the mischievous glint in her eyes, "Roughest," She added, dropping the grains back into the box, "Most irritating sand there is."
Then she did the worst thing she could have possibly done..
She threw it on me.
She avoided my face, but I felt the tiny grains enter my tunic, and some even slipping through down my pants, "And it truly gets everywhere."
I shot her the most irritated glare I could muster up, "You're gonna pay for that." I growled through gritted teeth.
She giggled with excitement; clearly entertained by my vexation, "Only if you can catch me."
And before I had a chance to get her, she spun on her heals and dashed out of the cafeteria, "(y/n)! Get back here!" I ran after her, and even though I was completely annoyed; I found myself laughing, enjoying this day with her, just as I was hoping to.
Flashback ends
Song on top starts here, I highly recommend it 🥺♥️
Tears brimmed in my eyes, and I began to make my way to the pilot seat; hoping to somehow get us out of the this situation and away from her. But I paused when the communicator on my dashboard turned on; white noise played on the speaker. But the noise kept changing, almost like it was switching stations, until it stopped; and there was a ghostly silence.
Then, I heard it; a deep mechanical breathing coming through the speaker. The unfamiliar sound made my blood run cold, and a chill slithered up my spine. There was something menacing about; something inhumane.
"You would be wise to surrender." She spoke in a voice that hardly sounded like her own, and the tears I was holding back were begging to be set free.
It was her, it was really her.
I knew I'd have to come in contact with her eventually, but I didn't expect it to be now, and I didn't expect it to hurt this much. It was like my very soul was cracking; almost like Lilith's dark presence alone brought an imbalance to my spirit. Which was the complete opposite of what (y/n) made me feel, she always made me feel whole; complete.
I took a deep breath and quickly composed myself; remembering that I had other people on this ship that I needed to protect, I couldn't afford to have a break down, "I think we both know that I've never been one to surrender." I sat down in the pilot seat; my cautious gaze never leaving the ship in front of me.
There was a moment of silence, the only sound being that horrific breathing, "Dantooine is nearby; accept your fate and land there, before I make you land." She threatened emotionlessly.
"You won't shoot this ship down Lilith, not with Sin on-board." I challenged her, bringing my hands to the controls; preparing for anything.
"He's survived worse." She immediately fired a shot, and I quickly turned the ship to the side; dodging it to the best of my ability. But it still scraped the exterior, but nothing too damaging.
I heard a short scream from behind me due to my sharp turn, and I shot my head around quickly to see Ahsoka holding onto the wall for support. Her worried gaze met mine, "Get on the guns snips, now; And where is Obi-Wan?" I spoke with urgency, turning my attention back to the window, and panicking when her ship was nowhere in sight. Where the hell could she have gone?
"I don't know, I ran straight here from my room." She clicked her belt in place while she situated herself in the gun-mans seat, "It's her isn't it?"
"Yes it is, can you see her through the-"
My words were cut off by the ship being jolted upwards from below. I flew up from my seat and hit my head against the metal ceiling; dropping back down and landing roughly on the floor, "Fuck." I uttered, gripping my head with my gloved hand, and placing my other hand on the dashboard to pull myself up.
"That's why you should wear your belt Maste-"
"Not now Ahsoka." I held my hand up to her, before getting back into my seat.. locking in my seatbelt.
I grabbed ahold of the controls, and began to quickly fly around the dark surrounding space, "Shes right behind us." Ahsoka informed me.
I nodded and pulled my ship upwards. I didn't have a single plan in mind, well, at least one that didn't involve killing the woman I love, "Hold on snips." I prepared her for my next trick, I just hope Obi-Wan and Artoo are somewhere secure, or they're about to be thrown around whatever room their in.
I quickly flipped my ship up and flew inverted above the imperial ship; shifting the controls into a reverse so I flew backwards and brought myself back down behind her with another flip, "I have a clear shot." Ahsoka told me nervously.
I eyed the ship in front of me, expecting her to move in a different direction, so I could be the one following her instead of the other way around. But no, she flew straight in-front of me, it seemed too easy; almost like she was teasing us.
Before I had a chance to respond to my Padawan fired straight at Lilith's ship. Dread filled my heart as I watched it near her ships engine, only for her to pull up just as I did; the blast missing her by seconds, "You taught me to fly Skywalker, I know all of your tricks." She spoke to me once again, "And I can do them too."
My ship jerked forward due to a blast hitting the back of it , and I quickly turned us to the side; just in time to see another blast fly by, barely missing us.
Ahsoka turned the guns around and aimed them behind us; towards her, "Get higher!" She instructed me and I turned my ship upwards, then I heard the sound of the guns from our ship firing, "Did you really teach her to fly?" She asked over the loud noise.
I groaned; they practically forced me to when she turned seventeen, we weren't exactly friends at the time, so to say that it was awkward, was understatement. But I know I taught her well, too well it seems, "Yes, why?"
She sighed in irritation, "Shes dodging every shot, and she's dangerously close on our tail."
"How close?" I asked with a plan on my mind; inching closer to a meteorite; while occasionally dodging the blasts that she's been firing from behind.
"A little less than eight feet."
I smiled, "Hey Lilith," I taunted her name through the communicator, "Duck." I dropped my controls down, and flew under the decently sized meteor; hoping to lose her in this meteorite field.
Her flying skills have definitely improved, I'll give her that. I used to fly circles around her; now it's nearly the other way around. I made multiple turns, and sways to avoid hitting any of the meteors, and I never heard an explosion behind me; so I knew that she was able to get away from the giant rock quick enough—as I knew she would.
A low chuckle came through my speaker; prompting the hairs on the back of my neck to stand, "Hey Skywalker," My eyes widened when she was suddenly in front of me; facing my direction. How the fuc- "Dodge."
She fired a shot, and I quickly tried to maneuver away from it, but it hit us straight onto one of our lower engines. I began to lose control, and the ship shook violently while the lights and alarms flashed inside, "Fuck." I mumbled; controlling the ship as best as I could while I prepared for one of my infamous crash landings.
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I woke up to the sound of beeping, and the feeling of someone shaking my shoulder, "Anakin," I heard Obi-Wan's voice urgently calling my name. Then I was suddenly being sprayed in the face with ice cold water.
I jumped in surprise by the unexpected cold feeling, and my eyes snapped open wide, "What the-" I glanced down to Artoo next to me, "Did you just spray water on me?" I asked in disbelief.
He spun in a circle, and beeped a yes. As well as a few unkind words for my 'senseless flying'.
"Anakin come on, we need to get out of here now." I felt my Master undoing my seatbelt for me. I would've done it myself, but my entire body was aching from that intense landing.
I groaned from the pain, "Where the hell have you been?" I questioned while he pulled me up from the seat. His weakened state wasn't of much help though, and I felt myself about to fall over, but another set of hands aided him in holding me up.
"Calling me; It appears you needed our help General," Rex spoke from the other side of me; revealing himself to be the other person holding onto me.
My head snapped to his, and I smiled as they leisurely carried me out of the damaged ship, "It's been way too long Rex," Nearly six months to be exact.
I was relieved to learn that the bad batch was able save him, Fives, and Cody. Now they've been on the search for any rogue clones who may have been able to resist the order. As well as removing the chips from any clones they happen to get their hands on. They were doing their best to save as many as they could.
I furrowed my brows, "Wait but how did you guys get here so-" I stopped talking when I noticed Ahsokas empty seat, "Where's Ahsoka?"I asked in a panic.
"Don't worry, she's with Wrecker; he carried her out," Rex calmed down my nerves while he and Obi-Wan finally got me out of the ship. I immediately recognized the planet as Dantooine; just where she was telling me to land.
I turned my head up at the sky and looked for her, but I couldn't see anything except for the dark night sky. That's probably why Obi-Wan appeared to be in such a rush, he was worried about when she was going to make her grand appearance.
"Wait," I stopped them when we were only a few feet away from the familiar ship; Hunter was currently standing outside of it, and Artoo was already with him, "Cal; you have to make sure he's okay." I looked to Obi-Wan who seemed reluctant to listen to my request, "Please." I pleaded. Ahsoka would never forgive anyone of us if we didn't at least check, I would want the same if (y/n) was in his place, "Then we'll go, she'll find him in there eventually."
He sighed in defeat, and nodded, "Alright I'll be back." He released his hold on me, and disappeared into the beaten up ship.
"General, I think we should get to the ship," Rex spoke with his gaze fixated in the sky. I followed his line of eyesight to see an imperial ship coming in through the atmosphere; aiming to land a few feet away from us.
"No," I told him with an insane plan in my head, but now was my only shot. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka can get out of here safely, and I can finally do the one thing that Obi-Wan has been holding me back from. I removed Rex's grip away from me; I struggled to stand on my own, but I managed it, "You go, I'm staying." I turned my gaze back to the ship, it was currently landing on the ground.
Rex gripped my shoulder, and turned my body to face him with wide eyes, "Are you insane, she'll kill you."
I shook my head, "Not right away she won't," I responded confidently, "But I have to try." I whispered, tears forming in my eyes, "Sidious ripped away my chance of reaching her when he took her from me that day. But now I'm here, near her, I refuse to let her slip through my fingers again."
He eyed me like I was completely delusional; and who knows, maybe I was. But I've lived without her this long, I'm not sure how much longer I can go, "General you can't do th-" I cut him off by waving my head, and using the force to aggressively throw him towards Hunters ship. He flipped in the air, and landed roughly where I wanted him to.
I heard the ramp behind me lower and I chose not to turn around to look, not yet.
Obi-Wan stepped back out, "Cal is fi-" He stopped speaking when his eyes landed behind me. Then his gaze snapped to me with a knowing look. This is something I've suggested doing so many times, turning myself in to her; believing that if I can talk to her, I can maybe reach her. But he always held me back from it for fear that I would fail, and I would die by her hand. But that's a risk I'm stupidly willing to take, "Don't-" He began to rush towards me.
But I did the same that I did to Rex; I flung him backwards towards Hunter's ship, "Go!" I ordered them while Rex helped Obi-Wan onto his feet, "Get them out of here Hunter, that's an order!"
I saw my former Master try to rush back towards me, but Hunter held him back, "This is suicide!" He screamed in a voice that was filled with rage, pain, and worry.
Hunter continued obeying my orders, even though he looked afraid for me as well, while he kept pulling Obi-Wan into the ship. Rex wasn't attempting to listen either, but luckily Wrecker had ahold of him, and kept him secure in the ship. His eyes were filled with anger and distress; all directed towards me.
The last visual I saw of the inside was of Obi-Wan and Rex fighting against the tight hold of our friends; yet failing miserably. When the entrance finally closed, muffling their sounds.
And now with the silence of their shouts, I could hear that same breathing from behind me, and it was dangerously close. I had no doubt in my mind that if she wasn't wearing a mask, I would feel her breath hitting the back of my neck. I swallowed nervously and watched Hunters ship ascend from the ground. I knew she wouldn't go after them, or even try to stop them; she only wanted me.
Then I turned around slowly, her face was barely a few inches from mine, and her yellow gaze glared into my eyes with little to no emotion. I took notice to the scar on her uncovered features, a scar left there by me; an act that I so deeply regret.
She didn't speak to me, but her gaze never left mine and the intensity of the amber made me nervous, "Hey Princess." I whispered with pain in my tone; a single tear rolled down my cheek.
In response; she slowly raised her hand, and placed it on my cheek gently. My chest tightened at the feeling of her skin on mine. And my nerves where her hand was, reacted in a way that an addicts system would react to a drug it's been deprived of. My drug being her soft touch, a touch I've missed so much and only dreamt of feeling again.
She stepped closer to me, her eyes never leaving mine, and her touch remaining, "Foolish man, yet a wise choice." She uttered through her mask, and soon, everything went black as I felt myself falling into unconsciousness.
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Hope you liked it ♥️
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