He
had been given more freedom, Obi-Wan wasn’t sure what to feel about
that.

After
the incident with Darth Maul, Sidious had been summoned of course as
the zabrak had complained to the Sith lords above all.

To
Obi-Wan’s shock, kneeling at Vader’s side with his head on the
man’s lap, Sidious had just cackled loudly when he was told the
story, amused and maybe impressed with Vader’s ‘control’ of
Obi-Wan.

He
hadn’t punished anyone and anyone who would listen could hear
Sidious gloatingly going about telling people how his apprentice had
a pet Jedi.

Vader
looked smug and powerful in all of it as Obi-Wan stayed close to his
side, feeling yellow eyes lingering on him at all times in public.

But
there was a change.

Before
it had been lusty, hateful looks that mocked.

They
were still hateful of course and still lusty but now they were also
considering, less licking of lips and more thoughtful eyes
that scanned him.

Obi-Wan
wasn’t sure if that was better or not.

And
he was uncertain about the freedom he now enjoyed.

He
was wearing the collar Vader had given him, he was wearing a tracker
of course but Vader had given him less sheer clothes even if they
still revealed a lot and
Obi-Wan was allowed to walk about as he wished instead of staying in
Vader’s vicinity at all times.

If
Vader was busy, Obi-Wan was released to walk the Sith temple, had his
own comm and a map of the temple, of green lit rooms he was allowed
to go to.

He
had even been allowed to go to a large bathing section and after
scouting it out for a few days, Obi-Wan had dared to enter when he
knew there was next to no Sith there that had interest in humans.

He
had been stared at of course, with interest and consideration but he
had been left in peace for bathing, taking a long soak and even a
swim in the large pool much to his own delight before returning to
Vader.

The
man had taken a long hour just to nuzzle and sniff Obi-Wan after the
wash, his eyes intrigued at Obi-Wan’s own pick of washing scents
and maybe also just to check that no one had touched Obi-Wan on his
time out.

It
was… nice.

Nice
to get out.

Well,
not out out
after all but still, the Sith even had gardens, several of them and
large and Obi-Wan had to admit he enjoyed the water garden and he was
actually walking to it through
one of the less traveled hallways he had managed to identify
when suddenly he was slammed hard against the wall, the only warning
being a flash of pure wrath and the pitiful light side in the Sith
temple trying to warn him.

To
late, Obi-Wan hit the wall hard, gasping for air as he wrapped his
hands uselessly around his throat as his eyes bulged out from the
lack of air, Maul walking into the his line of vision as the zabrak
glared at him hatefully.

“Finally,”
Maul sneered, closing the distance with the clicking noise of his
mechanical legs. “I
got you, you little whore.” He sneered, clenching his hand.

Obi-Wan’s
gaze darkened as his vision swam with the lack of air before Maul let
him breath some as he still held him up against the wall.

Kicking
his legs uselessly, Obi-Wan wheezed at Maul, mentally screaming
because he didn’t want this to be it.

He
had only just started to get his freedom back, for all that he was in
emotional turmoil, he had started to work towards something of an
understanding with Vader and no-

He
gave a choked cry, tears of pain and the lack of oxygen starting to
roll down his cheek as Maul sneered up at him before the Sith reached
out and roughly ripped Obi-Wan’s silky purple tunic off, throwing
it to the ground with a flutter.

Unable
to think, Obi-Wan felt horror bloom in his veins as even like this he
understood the others intention, more tears and also snot now
trailing down his face.

He
screamed mentally once more only to choke and struggle when Maul’s
hand reached into his leggings, cupping him harshly.

“Well,
you’re not that impressive here, are you, you little slut,” Maul
sneered before his hand moved, reaching back. “Let’s see if
this is where Vader finds your worth, show
me
how
loose you are who-” Before he could however, Maul went flying into
the wall, crashing into the opposite wall to Obi-Wan as the Jedi hit
the floor on his knees, choking and coughing as he wrapped his hands
protectively around his neck.

Coughing,
Obi-Wan looked up as dark boots stepped into view, blinking up at
Vader’s back as the other stood in front of him like an avenging
angel of death, a snarl more fearsome than any rancor on a rampage on
his face.

Obi-Wan’s
protector had arrived.