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Vader's POV
I sent (y/n) to her room with the clones as an extra set of protection and ran to the chambers, hoping my clones were stupid and it was a false alarm or maybe even catch him on my way here to keep him from getting far. But upon arrival, I was met with an unsettling sight: the cell stood empty, the force collar discarded carelessly to one side, and a broken bobby pin lay abandoned on the floor. How could I have been so stupid? "Son of a bitch."

"Nice work there, Emperor," a voice echoed mockingly through the corridor, prompting me to roll my eyes in frustration.

"Now is not the time for your games. Just tell me how long he's been gone," I snapped, stepping closer to the other man's cell. The absence of Obi-Wan's presence was disconcerting; how he managed to cloak himself so effectively eluded me.

The prisoner lounged on his bed, arms crossed beneath his head like a makeshift pillow. He yawned lazily before replying, "No more than ten minutes. You might want to check on your girl, though. Kenobi may be weakened, but he's furious about that blondie over there. I have a hunch your little pet is his first target, and he might just get inventive." He chuckled, and I responded with a frustrated groan, my fist connecting with the glass as I stormed out of the chambers.

(y/n)'s POV
I finished washing my hands after using the restroom and dried them on the black towel that hung neatly by the sink, its fabric soft against my skin. With a flick of my wrist, I turned off the light and made my way back toward the bed, but my steps faltered at the sound of a sharp knock on the door. Instinctively, I summoned my mask to my hand, slipping it on with practiced ease before walking to the entrance.

As I opened the door, I was greeted by a clone in a helmet. "What is it, soldier?" I inquired, leaning casually against the doorframe.

He cleared his throat, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet corridor. "The Emperor has requested that you be relocated to a safer area."

Pushing off the wall, I furrowed my brow suspiciously. "No, he specifically instructed me to remain in this room until told otherwise, by him." I crossed my arms, feeling the tension in the air as the clone let out a frustrated sigh.

"He changed his mind." He shrugged, reaching for my arm—a gesture that all clones knew was a grave mistake. A chill ran down my spine, and I realized this clone was not one of ours.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice steady as I attempted to summon my lightsaber, only to remember I had left it in the bathroom. In a flash, he drew a blaster, and I raised my hand, sending him crashing backward into the wall of the hallway. The shot he managed to fire barely grazed my arm, a stinging reminder of the danger. Without hesitation, I darted back to the bathroom, snatching my lightsaber from the sink. I ignited one end, the familiar hum filling the air as I stepped out, weapon poised defensively before me. But as I peered into the hallway, I found it empty besides two dead clones laying hidden around the doorframe. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath.

A figure emerged from the shadows, startling me to the core. Quickly, I leaped back, swinging my lightsaber in a defensive arc. The figure grasped my wrist, halting my movement. "It's just me," came the familiar voice of Vader. As he released my grip, a wave of relief washed over me; I had been so rattled that I hadn't even recognized him at first.

I retracted the blade, casting it aside, and shot him an irritated look. "Care to explain why someone in clone armor just shot me?"

His expression shifted to one of alarm. "He shot you? Where?" His gaze swept over me, finally landing on my arm. He moved to examine the injury, but I stepped back, shaking my head to deter him.

"Don't fuss over it; it's nothing," I reassured him, lifting my injured arm to reveal the minor burn. "Just a scratch," I said, lowering my arm to meet his worried eyes.

With a heavy sigh, he leaned against the doorframe. "It's not a false alarm as I was hoping. Obi-Wan is loose somewhere within the palace."

💚

Every crevice, shadow, and hidden nook of the place had been searched, yet all we uncovered was a barren lot where a ship once lay anchored. Rex stood before Vader and me in the lobby, his expression a mix of determination and disappointment. Clones without their helmets were filtering back from their searches, a precaution we had enforced until Obi-Wan was located.

"Ensure we have clones scouring the city, the skies, and the surrounding space," Vader commanded, his voice steady and authoritative. Rex nodded in acknowledgment. "Also, find out what ship it was; I may have a method to trace it."

"Understood, sir," Rex replied, urgency propelling him away to execute the orders.

Vader let out a frustrated sigh, raking his fingers through his hair. "I should have just killed him when I had the chance."

I turned to face him, arms crossed defiantly. "How did he manage to escape? You had him imprisoned for a whole year. What made tonight different?" The question had been on my lips since he first shared the news, but the urgency of the search had kept me from voicing my concerns about his negligence.

He groaned, letting his hands fall to his sides, casting a sidelong glance at me. "I left the body of a dead woman in his cell, and he used a hairpin from her to pick the locks."

I narrowed my eyes. "Brilliant move." I pivoted on my heel, distancing myself from him. As a woman, I could have foreseen this outcome; how could he have been so reckless?

"Don't walk away from me." He grasped my arm, spinning me back to face him.

I shook my head, annoyance flaring in my gaze as I wrenched my arm free. "You got cocky and careless," I ridiculed, watching as he dropped his eyes to the floor, guilt washing over him. He knew I was right. "Now you've unleashed a maniac who wants me dead, all because of some grudge he holds against you."

He stepped closer, placing his hands on my shoulders, his touch grounding yet unsettling. "I would never let anything happen to you; you know that." His hand moved to cup my cheek, masked though it was, a gesture I had never experienced from him before. But I was too afraid to dwell on the gesture.

I let out a weary breath, "I know, but I really don't want you hovering over me as if I'm some helpless damsel in need of rescue."

He pressed his lips together, contemplating, as he let his hand fall to his side. "Unfortunately, you will stay by my side until he is taken care of," he declared, raising a hand to silence me as I opened my mouth to protest. "I am fully aware and confident in your abilities to fend for yourself, but not when it comes to him. He is unlike anyone else—he is different than a regular enemy and possesses skills that match my own. He was my mentor, after all. Everything I've taught to you, he has mastered better."

I clenched my teeth, stifling the urge to argue, fully aware that he was right. It irritated me to feel as though I were being treated like a child, yet I couldn't deny the truth in his words. "Fine," I conceded, the word slipping from my lips with a mix of reluctance and acceptance.

A satisfied glint flickered in his eyes as he turned to Rex who had just returned. "If you hear anything, come directly to me. But with the ship gone, I'm confident he's already made his escape off the planet and heading to a rebel base somewhere. He's smart enough not to stick around."

Rex nodded his head, a look of determination crossing his features. "I agree, sir. Knowing Kenobi, he's likely busy amassing his resources and regaining his strength for a counterstrike. I'll ensure that our men are positioned around the palace at all times, guarding every exit and keeping watch near every window. He won't come within ten feet of this place without my awareness."

Vader let out a soft sigh, one that carried a weight of relief. "Thank you, Rex. I have complete faith in you."

Vader dismissed his clones with a wave of his hand, then placed a firm hand on my back, guiding me toward the staircase. "Where are we going?" I asked, curiosity lacing my voice.

"To rest," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

I shot him a bewildered glance. "But Kenobi just got away—"

"I know," he interrupted, rolling his eyes with an exasperation that was all too familiar. He seized my arm, pulling me down the corridor with a determined stride. "There's nothing more we can do tonight. I know my mentor well; he's already putting a large amount of distance between us. He'll do everything in his power to stay hidden from me. So, we're going to rest now, and tomorrow we'll prepare for when he inevitably decides to show his face again."

"That's your strategy?" I raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in my voice. "Just sit here and wait for him to come and kill me?"

His grip on my arm tightened, a flash of irritation crossing his features. I winced at the sudden pain, prompting him to loosen his hold, though he still kept me close. "You're not going to die, so stop saying that," he snapped, his voice sharper than usual. "The plan is simple: instead of wasting our energy and resources searching for him—likely in vain—we wait for him to come to us. I know he will; he's never been one to let things go."

Vader halted before a door, gesturing for it to open as he ushered me inside. "This isn't my room," I remarked, glancing around before turning my gaze back to him.

"I'm aware," he replied, removing his mask and placing it on a dresser just inside the threshold. "This is my room. I did mention that you would stay by my side, didn't I?"

My eyes wandered to the bed, which loomed larger than my own. "So, we'll be sharing the bed then?" I inquired, my pulse quickening at the implication.

He nodded, his gaze sweeping over me before locking onto mine. "I promise to keep my hands to myself, so there's no need to worry."

I swallowed hard, my eyes dropping to my attire. "What about my pajamas?"

In a swift motion, he retrieved a long t-shirt from a drawer and tossed it to me, followed by a pair of shorts—or perhaps briefs. "Wear these for tonight. We'll sort out your clothes tomorrow."

I gestured toward the door with my thumb. "Or I could just head back to my room and—" My words faltered under the weight of his glare. "These will do just fine." I awkwardly cleared my throat, wondering why he wouldn't just let me walk a couple of feet down the hall to my room, "Shall I expect you in the bathroom while I'm shitting too?"

"Just put the fucking clothes on (y/n)."