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Current Mood: depressed

(no subject)

He enters from the House of Arch, having accepted Tom's offer to stay and been keyed to the charm. He looks haunted, if well rested. He has spent most of the past two days sleeping, trying not to remember.

He takes a seat at the bar and pulls a small device out of his pocket. He toys with it, looking down at the bar.

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He looks at the recorder, then back up at his father. "What is it?"

He gropes for words. He doesn't know what to tell Luke. Finally, he takes another deep breath.

"I talked to Tom. You should listen to it."

"What do you mean?" He tries not to think I know it's something I don't want to hear; if Anakin wants him to listen to it, he will. But forewarned is forearmed, right?

"I...we...," he lapses into incoherence, unable to articulate it. It was hard enough telling Tom, but Luke? He does not have the strength, despite the fact that he *must* be able to tell the boy.

"It's important," he manages to blurt out.

Luke looks down at the recorder once more and sighs. "If you want me to listen to it, I will. But... not here. In private, tonight."

Anakin sags on his barstool in relief.

"Thank you, son. Thank you."

Luke tucks the recorder into his satchel and gives his father what he hopes is a reassuring smile. "Was it... did it help, at least? Talking to Tom?"

He thinks about this. Had it helped?

"Not really. It just brought up old pain." How can he wash so much blood from his hands? He downs some brandy.

"Then why do you want me to listen to it?" He bites his lip. "I don't want to cause you pain, Father. If that's all this would do..."

Anakin loses it. He begins to cry into his brandy. Luke is so *kind*, so good, and it just hurts him to know what he has done to him.

"It's *important*," he says through his tears.

Luke tries very hard not to automatically go into AAAAAAAH mode. Really, he does. He reaches out and gingerly lays a hand on his father's shoulder, looking slightly terrified. "I... I didn't mean to. Um. I'll listen to it. Really. I'm sorry. I swear I will."

The tears slacken, but don't stop.

"No, no, don't apologize." He puts his hand atop Luke's. "Such a good boy, such a kind boy..."

He bites his lip again. "I'll... do you want me to go and listen to it now?"

He nods. It will be better if the boy leaves. "Please."

"Goodnight, Father." He stands, still uncertain that it's wise to leave his father like this. "If you need me, I'm not hard to find."

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