[ He turns away without answering and it's not just because he isn't actually certain himself - he wasn't supposed to move the prisoner at all - but first and foremost... that's such a typically Claude thing to do, to straighten up and demand a little space for himself, as much as he dares. That small act of defiance - even if a laughably bad strategic choice on the other man's part if he actually wants to live and maybe he doesn't, really - goes straight past all the implants in his body, the burns, the festering wounds and hits him harder than any of it. It makes Anakin Skywalker resonate.
After all, if anyone believes in facing the darkness as opposed to letting it conquer you, it's Claude.
Anakin used to believe in him.
Though he's behind his back as they walk out and beyond his field of vision, Claude takes up all available space within his mind now - behind the mental shields he's erected to keep Sidious challenged, if not to keep him out, there's just the residual image of the other man in that cell, looking older (two years, it's been only two years) and resigned to his faith. Claude. Claude.
Claude who is dead.
Claude, who is alive.
He walks onwards, past security personnel, his breathing seemingly louder than ever in the stillness between them. He doesn't know what to say. He wants them both off this forsaken planet, off and away, he wants to pick him up and hold him with the hands he's got left. He doesn't want them to be here. That's all he knows. This place, this planet, gives nothing to anyone, it takes and inevitably, you lose. They've had enough of that, the two of them.
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After all, if anyone believes in facing the darkness as opposed to letting it conquer you, it's Claude.
Anakin used to believe in him.
Though he's behind his back as they walk out and beyond his field of vision, Claude takes up all available space within his mind now - behind the mental shields he's erected to keep Sidious challenged, if not to keep him out, there's just the residual image of the other man in that cell, looking older (two years, it's been only two years) and resigned to his faith. Claude. Claude.
Claude who is dead.
Claude, who is alive.
He walks onwards, past security personnel, his breathing seemingly louder than ever in the stillness between them. He doesn't know what to say. He wants them both off this forsaken planet, off and away, he wants to pick him up and hold him with the hands he's got left. He doesn't want them to be here. That's all he knows. This place, this planet, gives nothing to anyone, it takes and inevitably, you lose. They've had enough of that, the two of them.
No, he will tolerate no further losses. ]