The deal By Mireille

June 2005-2012

A funny thing happened to me in 2005 well, it made me smile anyway ;P I was watching Batman Returns while reading L/V fanfic during the ads, and around the middle of the movie, a strong similarity between Bruce/Batman and Anakin/Vader struck me :) They both have two lives, the difference being that in Batman, both lives are going on at the same time while in Anakin s case, it s not :) So, it got me thinking what if Anakin were Vader in secret and that he willingly disguised himself in the mask to serve the Emperor, yet was also a regular citizen with Padme and the children the rest of the time when he finally returned home ;P What if he pretended to be a military officer only (like in the clone wars) ;P

Yup, the plot bunny bit me hard all right (I think it drew blood this time :)

So on with my new delusion of imagination ;P

Disclaimers: Nothing in the Star Wars Universe belongs to me; everything belongs to George Lucas. Anything related to Batman s universe (like the secret lair ) belongs to DC Comics and Bob Kane.

I'm only writing stories for fun.

For the readers: the basic idea is a crossover, but the story is definitely set in the SW universe and deals with what would happen to their family life ;P _

Prologue:

The battle had been fierce, and he had almost lost to his treacherous ex-master, but in the end, Vader had been victorious.

Now that the adrenaline of the fight was receding, though, he was slowly growing aware of what 'just' he had done and he was horrified by what he was becoming.

Indeed, he had summarily executed the separatist leaders – although they had had it coming – had then almost killed Padme because of his uncontrolled anger - his worst crime ever against everything he believed in - and he had just left for dead the man who had been like a brother to him - thus committing fratricide, yet another hideous crime against his true self and most sacred values.

In short, he felt nothing but painful self-hatred, and, as he walked up to the still unconscious form of his pregnant beloved, self-loathing truly began to choke him with his own guilt.

What had he done?

It wasn't who he truly was, was it? It wasn't what he had wanted... It was all Palpatine's fault! He raged and let out a heart-rending roar of pain.

He then fell to his knees, his tear-filled eyes resting on the unconscious features of his angel, and he made up his mind.

He was Anakin Skywalker, and he would always be.

Picking up his wife in his arms, he swiftly climbed aboard her ship and rushed back toward the Sith Lord who had tried to destroy him.

He left Padme at the medcenter and went with all haste to Sidious' office. Once there, he Force-shoved the doors open with his frustration, ramming the now red-clad senate guards through it as he did so.

He then stalked through the makeshift opening and stood squarely in front of his tormentor. "What are you doing to me?" he accused him without preamble.

Behind him, the still-groggy guards were fighting to get back to their feet, ready to defend their master.

"Leave us," Sidious' gravelly voice ordered after a moment.

Anakin waited impatiently for the guards to leave them alone before he pulled his lightsaber and turned it on. "This ends now, Sidious," he challenged- and instantly regretted his threat as he found himself blasted back into the wall and held there by painfully biting bonds of lightning bolts. He squirmed and struggled, feeling his anger and hatred tug at his resolve, begging to be given free range once again.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Lord Vader," Darth Sidious mock-scolded him as he stepped closer to his unruly servant. "There is no turning back and you know it. Besides, you are growing powerful, as promised. Can't you feel it?"

Anakin gritted his teeth against the agony. "It's not… not what I want!" he spat vehemently.

He yelped anew as his bonds tightened around him, truly biting into his flesh now.

"You are my apprentice, Lord Vader. You are bound to me now, with no possibility of ever changing your mind about our association. Besides," the despot shrugged and gazed out toward the nearby building of the medcenter, "you wouldn't want your precious wife to suffer again because of you, would you? Remember your Vision? It can still happen..."

Despite the haze of pain that currently clouded his brain, Anakin registered the threat and belatedly understood how he had played right into Palpatine's hands. "It was you… You… sent the Vision… manipulated me. No!" He screamed in outrage and struggled past his torment to free himself from Sidious' control.

To no avail.

"We have made a deal that you may not alter, Lord Vader. Not without dire consequences anyhow," Palpatine reminded him, turning back to glare menacingly at him.

Anakin stared into those soulless eyes, and then shut his own as everything became clear to him. He should have listened to Obi-Wan when he had been warning him against Palpatine. He shouldn't have… He stopped struggling and reluctantly gazed back at his master.

His pain subsided somewhat but the Sith didn't let him down yet.

"I... I don't want… Padme to know about the monster that I have become, but I cannot live without her either."

"Ah," Palpatine answered even as he twitched his hand toward him.

The lightning bonds vanished and Anakin fell back to the floor where he remained subservient.

"I have a suggestion then, Lord Vader. Come with me."

Anakin reluctantly followed his master toward a side wall and into a hidden room. The lights then turned on above a menacing black figure and the Jedi recoiled despite himself.

Palpatine noticed his reaction and smiled thinly in satisfaction. "This would be so much more the face of Darth Vader, don't you think, my young apprentice?"

Anakin felt sick all of a sudden as the other's plan became clearer to him in their horror. What 'had' he been planning for him?

"Your young features, however scarred they are, simply don't instil fear, my boy. However, with this armour and mask to hide your features, your authority as my right hand would be instantly respected. You would be a fearsome being, as well as a dangerous mystery."

Anakin only wanted to slash the offending suit to pieces, but he now understood that he had sold his soul to the Sith. He swallowed hard, trying to wet his dry throat. "What... what do you want of me, master?"

"Give life to this armour, Lord Vader, to its terrifying presence and display of power, and your wife 'and' children will always be left in your custody."

Children?

"Oh, yes, she is pregnant with twins, or didn't you know?" Sidious smiled maliciously. "Obey my command and wear this guise as Darth Vader, and I shall make arrangements for general Anakin Skywalker to remain alive and return to his family every once in a while." He then stepped closer and generated new lightning bolts yet kept them around his hand for now. "Defy me, now or later, and you will witness their unceasing torment while they are forever punished in your stead."

Anakin swallowed hard once again even as images of Padme in pain assailed his mind, courtesy of the Emperor's Force manipulations. He couldn't, wouldn't endanger her or their children in any way.

He had no choice but to bow once again to the Sith's orders.

Hesitatingly – reluctantly - he stepped closer to the waiting armour and mask and gazed at what would become his new face when he wouldn't be with Padme.

So? how was that? Intrigued yet? PLease, read and review, and if you're not intrigued, I'd like to know why (via private message perhaps?)

Thanks! And May the Force be with You!