2.3k words

Vader's POV
I sighed as I leaned my head against the doorway of the medical room she was in, keeping a watchful eye on her weakened state. Her chest rose and fell slowly in awkward movements due to her irregular and shallow breathing.

"Emperor Vader," The doctor approached and gave me the update I sent the nurse for, "It wasn't easy, but she's stable, for now. The poison did significant damage to her body, mainly her stomach and esophagus."

"But she'll be okay?" I asked, never daring to tear my eyes away from her.

He sighed, "I'm not sur-"

I cut him off with the raise of my hand, the sound of his choking filled my ears, "You better make sure doctor. I hired you because I hear you're the best in all of Coruscant, do not disappoint me. Because if she dies, you die." I released my grip and turned around to leave, "Call me when you have news and it better be something good." I walked out of the room and closed the door behind me. Two of my clones stood in front of the door, keeping anyone but me and medical professionals out.

All I can do is wait, so I needed to pass some time and I knew just where I wanted to go.

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I made my way down to the chambers where I keep my prisoners and passed the empty rooms until I got to the cell I was looking for. I tapped on the thick glass to get their attention, "Miss me?" I took my mask off so they could see my smile. I enjoyed seeing them like this, so pathetic, so helpless, so broken.

They sat up from the bed and eyed me with disgust, "What do you want?" They stood and banged against the glass with their first. There was so much hate in their eyes, "Come to kill me yet?" They asked with a hint of hope in their voice.

I shook my head, still holding a devilish grin, "Oh no, not yet. You need to suffer first." I glared into their eyes. If only looks could kill.

They sighed sadly as they looked to the floor, "Haven't I suffered enough down here, it's been over a year. Please, kill me and get it over with." They begged as they sat on the edge of the uncomfortable metal bed and placed their head in their hands. Over a year they've been my prisoner here. They shouldn't have been stupid enough to get caught.

The scars and bruises I've given them are were clear as day; covering their face, neck, torso, pretty much everywhere. You can get a lot done in a year.

"Not nearly enough," I continued tapping my fingers on the glass, knowing how much it irritates them, "I don't plan to kill you until I find those little friends of yours, cut their heads off, and deliver them to you with a bow attached." I slammed my fist down onto the glass. No doubt I looked like a mad man, but that's exactly what I was.

"Leave them alone Anakin. You have me, is that not enough?" They asked in a somber tone with a small sigh of defeat. The fire they used to have when I first brought them here has dulled significantly. They no longer fight, they no longer cry, and they no longer held hope in their eyes for a rescue. They know they're going to die here, I've just been taking my time.

I shook my head, "No it isn't, I want your spirit to shatter like broken glass so I can watch you cut yourself on all of the pieces. Then you'll have your wish." I shrugged as I dropped my hand down.

The prisoner shook their head at me with a look of pain, anger, and resentment, "Look at you, you are so far gone. You have no heart, you have no soul, and I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a thing in this galaxy that you actually cared about. You're a monster." I wanted to laugh, did they really think that those words would affect me in anyway? They're opinion of me stop mattering the second they turned their back on me.

"Thats not true," I sung, "I care about about some things," I rolled my eyes, "I care about my Empire, breaking you; specifically for the sake of my own enjoyment, and..." I stopped before I accidentally said her name, it was on instinct.

"And what?" They asked with sudden curiosity as they stood up and walked closer to the glass that separated us.

"And nothing, those are the only two things." I lied, they don't need to know anything about what's going on upstairs. Their life is down here now, where they belong.

They scoffed, "This wouldn't happen to be the apprentice I've been hearing about?"

I narrowed my eyes, "And who have you been talking to, to hear such a rumor?" Whoever it is, is dead, no one is supposed to be talking to this person. This is the only one in this building, besides Rex, Fives, and Echo, who knows my real name. Which is the reason why (y/n) is not allowed down here. Those clones would never betray me and spill my secret to her, but this fucker would.

They rolled their eyes with a sigh, "No one, it's all talk that I overhear from the clones that are guarding this little devils playground of yours." They looked around the room and outside of the glass in disgust.

I chuckled and began tapping on the glass again; their face twisted in irritation, "What goes on in my wonderful life is none of your business." My com began to beep and I glanced down at it to see that it's from the medical bay, "Well this was fun, but I need to go. I'll be back later for you though, I'm feeling torturous today. Take the time that I'm gone to decide on either fire or good old fashioned knife play." I winked as I placed my mask back on and left them in the cell.

"I hate you, you son of a bitch!" The sound of their frustrated yells filled the hallway; which only made my smile grow more.

(y/n)' s POV
I slowly tried opening my eyes, but they weren't agreeing with me. I felt a burning sensation in my throat and with every breathe I took; it felt like my lungs were on fire, "How are you feeling Apple?" I heard the voice of Rex and I groaned in pain as a response, Apple is the name some of the clones call me since apparently apprentice is too long. I hated it at first but it's starting to grow on me, "Sounds good to me." He teased.

"Would she like some water?" I heard a woman ask.

I remember the last time I accepted water from someone I didn't know, "Fuck no." I choked out. My voice sounded rough and broken. I heard a chuckle in the room and I recognized the sweet sound, "Master?"

"Yeah I'm here." I heard his voice coming closer to me, "Rex you go get her water." He instructed him and I heard the sound of his footsteps leaving the room, "This is one hell of a drastic measure to get me to forgive you (y/n)." I felt his hand on mine.

I chuckled even though it caused me pain, "What can I say? I've always been one for the dramatics." I joked back, earning me a chuckle from him, "I'm killing them all by the way."

"Who?" I heard confusion in his tone.

"The women you've slept with, they're obviously insane."

He let out a loud laugh, "That might take some time."

I groaned, "You're such a whore." Why did I feel like crying?

He chuckled again, "I'm kidding, possibly it can be arranged." I heard his voice come closer, I didn't even realize how close he was until I heard him whisper into my ear, "All of that aside for now, I'm really glad you're okay, you gave me quite a scare."

I smiled weakly, "Does this mean you forgive me?" It better be, I almost died because he couldn't keep it in his pants.

"Yeah, I forgive you, but we're still going to have to talk about it once you're better." I nodded slowly to show I understood, even though I feel like we talked about it enough, "Good, I'll come back soon. I have something to take care of." He held malice in his tone and I couldn't help but wonder what poor soul is about to be in his presence.

I slowly tried to open my eyes again to look at him, but they burned so I gave up and sighed, "Okay, but please come back soon."

"Sleep, I'll be back before you know it."

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"What is this?" I asked Rex as he placed a small bag in front of me. I've been feeling a little better, enough to open my eyes and sit up on my own. I give thanks to the amount of drugs I have in my system right now.

He shrugged as he turned around and closed the door behind him, so no one could peak in and see me. He's seen me without the mask after him and Vader came to my rescue, so thankfully I don't have to wear it around him anymore, "Not sure, the Emperor had it delivered and I'm just bringing it to you."

Speaking of him, he hasn't come back yet.

But suddenly my senses were taken over by a sweet familiar smell, "No, way." My eyes widened when I grabbed the bag and opened it. Rex was eyeing it curiously when he saw my joyful glow. I pulled out a little box and opened it to see the same pastry I got from that bakery, "He got me this.. thing." I spoke with happiness and I still had no idea what this was called.

Rex raised a brow, "A cinnamon roll?"

I looked up at him as I shoved a piece into my mouth, "Is that what it's called?" I spoke with a slightly full mouth not caring how I looked. I was starving.

He chuckled, "You've never had a cinnamon roll before?"

I shook my head as I swallowed the contents in my mouth, "Nope I barely tried it for the first time during my little rebellious adventure." I smiled and then the door to the room opened, I peaked over Rex's figure to see Vader entering and he closed the door behind him.

He sighed as he sat down in the chair next to my bed, "Sorry it took me so long," He grabbed one of the napkins from my tray and wiped what looked to be blood from his hands, "I got carried away." He chuckled as he set the bloodied napkin back on my tray, where my food was.

"Excuse you." I flicked the napkin and it hit his stomach, he looked down at it with a scowl, "I'm eating here." I grabbed my food and began eating it some more, "And thank you by the way." I smiled as I took another bite.

"How are you feeling?" He asked with sincerity in his tone.

I'm still in some pain, but better than before. Is she dead?" I asked although I'm sure I knew the answer.

He nodded, "Yeah she is, and you know what's funny? I don't even remember sleeping with her." He shrugged as he leaned back in his chair.

I narrowed my eyes, "Yeah I'm sure it's difficult for a guy like you to remember them all." I rolled my eyes with a huff as I turned back to finish my food. Why did I feel like crying again?

I felt a hand on my jaw and he turned my head to meet his amber gaze, "Aw don't be jealous, it just means that they weren't worth remembering. You no doubt would be." He flickered his gaze down before looking back up.

"Okay, that's my cue to leave." Rex turned away and left through the door, Vader and I never acknowledged him; our gazes stayed on each other til the door closed.

"I'm not jealous," I lied, "Jealousy involves feelings, which I don't have." I eyed him up and down and I have to admit, I sounded rather convincing.

"So you were just looking to have my body the other day, how distasteful," He let go of my face and leaned back in his chair again.

You're one to talk.

I sighed internally and decided to ask him a question that's been in my mind since I've learned of his distaste for any kind of commitment, "Have you ever loved before; Or have you always been this emotionally closed off?"

He looked away from me for a moment, before finally looking back to me, "Once." He admitted and I felt that familiar ache.

"Can I ask what happened?"

He sighed as he leaned his head back; his eyes remained on me, "Shes dead, there's not much else to tell." He shrugged like it didn't matter.

Now I was going to ask another question; and I was afraid of the answer, "Do you still love her?"

"No," He smirked and gave off a little chuckle as he shook his head, "I'm the one that killed her."

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