Authors Note: A huge thank you goes to Cariel for beta reading this for me! D

Also it should be noted that this AU fic plays on the idea that Anakin wasn't discovered by the Jedi and Dormé never became Padmé's handmaiden.

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He could feel the effects of the candy wearing off and it added to his already foul mood. It was always the same, a soft whisper here a flicker of strange auras there; a sense of foreign emotions –none his own mocking his thoughts.

Then without further warning the storm would come.

A flood of emotions, auras and voices would cascade his every thought threatening to drive him utterly mad. At the age of sixteen Anakin was certain he had tried every type of illegal dust, crystal, pill and hallucinogen vapour known to the black market. Anything he could do to rid himself of his sensitivity.

His deceased father once told him he was sensitive to the Force. It was a gift, a higher sense meant to open his mind and heart to the life essence of the universe. As a youngling his sensitivity fascinated him. Tatooine though bustling in its own right wasn’t nearly as overwhelming as Naboo.

But as he aged his body wasn’t the only thing that matured, his sensitivity to the Force too expanded and grew. While Naboo was more peaceful than Tatooine for the troubled young man it was a nightmare turned reality. His mother’s death only further encouraged this mindset, thus began his use of illegal substances.

Though most sought to broaden their horizons with hallucinogens Anakin sought to do the opposite. But the more he tampered with the potent mixtures, the more he needed to use in order to receive the desired effect. Varied amounts and mixed compounds weren’t always guaranteed to work. It didn’t stop him from trying as in his mind it was the only way he could ever hope to find peace.

It was a costly habit, one that left the young man resorting to desperate measures to rid himself of the gift bestowed upon him. It was for this reason Anakin found himself staring up at the ceiling of his cell while trying to resist the urge to scream.

He needed an icoti, he needed his fix, and he needed to get out of here.

Two men were dead because of him or so the Naboo security said so now here he was detoxing as he waited for his step-father to do something about it. Only this time Anakin knew he wouldn’t be coming. Not this time, not anymore.

Anakin uttered another curse as he ran a hand through his coloured black hair. How he hated them all! Why couldn’t anyone just accept the fact that he literally had no memory of what happened? Security was just pinning this mess on him because he had a bit of a record.

He wished his real parents were around, they would at least hear him out, nevermind understand that it wasn’t his fault. But no, of course his step-father had to be difficult about it all.

You only have yourself to blame! You want to be treated with respect you need to earn it first. And going around with all that black make-up and metal all over your face while wearing a scowl that is enough to make a youngling cry isn’t helping any either. Don’t even get me started on your nails! Goddess help me I have a son who wants to be a girl!

Anakin cursed under his breath to the thought as he bit his lip. He didn’t bother trying to explain to his father that he only wore all that echuta to keep people away. That and his ex-girlfriend thought he looked attractive with it. Too bad she found his other supposed friends just as attractive and left him for them. Anakin still wore the scars of that relationship’s demise.

How did everything go so wrong he couldn’t say but Anakin was certain he was entirely innocent of all fault. Everyone was out to get him, and he knew it, though he couldn’t say and this also added to his frustrations. It was so unbelievably unfair and the thought filled him with another wave of rage.

This time Anakin gave into his desires and screamed in rage as he flew from his cot and proceeded to tear the mattress off it. It didn’t solve his problem but it did make him feel a little better.

The cell door slid open then and Anakin’s attention was momentarily captured. The buzzing of emotions, surface thoughts and kaleidoscope of auras and energies made it hard for him to remain focused. It was even harder to clear his thoughts of the heaviness that lingered; an after effect of the drugs he used. Though it numbed his sensitivity it always left him feeling moody, depressed and always out of sorts. Now it only added to his confusion.

“What the frak is going on?” Anakin asked as the guards entered his cell to collect him.

“You’re being transferred,” The elder guard stated clearly displeased by the admittance. Anakin’s eyes widened in horror and soon he was racing to the door.

“Iquicha-we! I’m not going there! You hear me? I’m not going--” he screamed as he raced to the door before security stopped him by force. The boy screamed and kicked, arms thrashing as he struggled to escape his captors. A tranquilizer shot tended to the matter immediately and soon Anakin was being carried out with force.

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Elsewhere a message was sent, and received by another who sat back in his chair and sipped on his tea. He was incredibly disappointed by the discovery, but the Sith Lord wasn’t about to give up hope just yet.

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Anakin awoke some hours later with a throbbing head, aching bones and the familiar whispers, colours and emotions brought on by his sensitivity. He had no idea where he was or how he got here, save one minute he was in a white walled containment cell, the next he was here in another cell. This time the walls were an off shade of blue and he had a real cot instead of a metal frame with a thin pad that could qualify as a mattress.

Only after taking in his surroundings did he register that he wasn’t alone. Watchful amber eyes studied him from beyond the force shield walls that divided them and it was this that truly caught his attention.

“What the iquicha are you staring at?” he snapped in annoyance.

The girl smiled impishly which made the freckles on her cheeks dance.

“What? What’s so funny?” Anakin pressed on in agitation as he glared at her.

The girl appeared to be about his age, perhaps even younger, yet her eyes bore the weight of someone who had seen too much and been through even more. Unfortunately, this was entirely missed by the frustrated young man who was already defensive by nature.

“Tell me what is so damned funny before I—” Anakin began when the young woman didn’t respond right away. He faltered then, realizing that there was nothing he could do as the force field separated them both. The soft whispers and colours flashed about in his thoughts and he scowled, struggling to keep up his tough image to protect his ego.

“I’ll read your mind if you don’t tell me what is so funny!” he finally threatened as he folded his arms. Anakin didn’t bother admitting that he could already feel her emotions, just as he could hear the whispers of her mind mingling in with the others that resided down the hall. He’d give anything to silence them all, but for now such a possibility wasn’t available and this made Anakin even more irritated.

The petite brunette giggled in reply, clearly finding his threats amusing.

Baffled, he could only stare at the girl in confusion. Either she believed he was fooling her, or she was insane. Or perhaps she can’t speak, Anakin wondered to himself in curiosity.

“Are you always like this?” she asked in amusement, her accented voice almost musical to his ears.

“What business is it of yours?” Anakin replied haughtily unable to find a better comeback.

“Why are you so defensive?” she asked, not bothering to play along.

He opened his mouth with the intent of making another smart reply, none came and soon he closed his mouth and returned to his cot with a scowl. “I’m not defensive,” he finally replied while running painted fingers through his dyed hair. “I just want to be left alone.”

The girl nodded in reply. Though she fell silent, her amber eyes continued to watch him.

It wasn’t long before Anakin found himself wishing he hadn’t turned her away. He didn’t want to talk to anyone, but the silence was unbearable. The whispers were louder now, while the colourful auras were growing brighter. Even the emotions of the guards and the girl in the other cell were growing stronger. The more Anakin tried to wish it away, the worst it became.

He was at his wits end. He could feel his body growing tense and his thoughts turning frantic in his need for an icoti. Anakin didn’t even want to think about how desperate he was for a shot of the dust that would silence the strange sensations he had come to despise. He swore to himself he would never forgive his step-father for abandoning him like this. He’d make his step-father pay, along with the poodoo security who framed him for a crime he never committed.

“My name is Dormé. What’s yours?”

The musical voice of the strange girl immediately pulled Anakin’s thoughts back to the present and he paused in mid-thought to glare at the girl named Dormé. “What part of leave me alone do you not understand?” he began before briefly falling silent. She had done nothing to deserve his rage, so why was he taking out his frustrations out on her? After all, she might just know a way out of here.

“I’m Anakin,” he murmured finally.

The young girl was all smiles at his reply and while Anakin didn’t really give a damn what Dormé thought, he was unable to look away. Despite the tacky garbs worn by prisoners, in that moment, she looked utterly breathtaking.

“You’re new here, aren’t you,” she stated in factual tones.

Anakin sighed as he felt his cheeks warm. “Is it that obvious?” he asked after a pause.

The petite woman gave a small nod, her expression turning serious. “If I were you, I would remove the makeup, your nail varnish too. The others here won’t like it much and they might even try to hurt you,” she warned quietly.

Ever defensive, Anakin curled a lip in disgust to the suggestion. “I’ve killed two men, Dormé. I’m sure I can handle a few bullies,” he replied in haughty tones.

Dormé, on the other hand, felt there was reason to be concerned and furrowed her brow finding his cocky retort hardly assuring. “This isn’t about what you’ve done you isthab! They’ll gang up on you and it won’t matter anymore just how strong or tough you are,” she professed in frustration.

Despite what his pride was telling him, Anakin could feel from her powerful emotions that Dormé wasn’t exaggerating. The images that danced in the outskirts of his mind revealed only hints at what Dormé had been through and even that was enough to startle him into silence.

“If you want to survive, you must be careful,” she cautioned in sincere tones.

Hardly in the mood for such advice, Anakin simply rolled his eyes in reply. “Echuta-we, you sound like my step-father,” he sulked. “I’ve only woken up and already you’re telling me what to do! You have no right to boss me around. I’m not a damned child, nor am I your servant!” Anakin hissed. His need for a smoke and the dust served to worsen his already foul mood.

Just then, the guards arrived at their cells as the loud announcements over the comms informed the prisoners that it was time to depart for the yards. Anakin didn’t dwell on Dormé’s warning further and grew hopeful about the possibility of finding icoti or more exactly dust.

The yards were spartan in design, save for the occasional structures commonly used for both entertainment and exercise. It was the other inmates however that truly caught his attentions. Their emotions, surface thoughts, and auras were powerful, twisted, and cold. Anakin didn’t like how the older boys were looking at him, their eyes calculating, mocking and cold. The girls who resided on the other side of the fence that separated them appeared even more hardened than some of the male prisoners. Their gazes were even more unnerving and he was quick to look away. He wished he could find Dormé, but for all intents and purposes it was as though she wasn’t even there.

“You’re in the wrong area, princess! The girl’s side is over there!” one boy mocked causing other’s to laugh.

“Are you here for some entertainment, or to be our entertainment!” another jeered in amusement.

Anakin had no idea what they were talking about, but remembered Dormé’s words and tried to keep away from the other prisoners. It was hard, especially given his appearance and the fact he knew no one save the beautiful girl who was currently nowhere to be found.

It wasn’t long before he was surrounded by the burly older teens who believed that Anakin surely had dust on hand or at the very least icoti. They wanted his stash and didn’t care how they got it.

The first punch was anticipated, yet Anakin couldn’t avoid as the rush of emotions, thoughts, and auras were too distracting for him to react. The second and third punches caused his mind to reel and by the time he was able to react—for there were so many of them—it was too late. Anakin dropped to his knees as the punches turned more vicious, all the while coughing up blood and struggling to stand. He tried in his desperation to explain that he had nothing for them to take. It was no use as the only words that escaped his lips were moans of pain. The lack of drugs or icoti did little to stop them. In fact, the beatings grew worse as they sought to vent out their frustrations on the fallen boy.

Before he had a chance to succumb to his wounds, Anakin heard a series of shouts and the sound of flesh pounding against flesh. It wasn’t his own body that was taking the beatings and that alone was a relief.

Even with his eyes swollen shut, Anakin felt as though the ground were spinning beneath him. His head throbbed wildly, along with the rest of his body, while stars danced behind his eyes. Anakin soon after felt someone grabbing his arms and legs and Anakin tried without success to open his eyes. It was the only form of struggle he offered as it hurt too much to move, nevermind resist.

Just as his mind began to slip into a state of unconsciousness, Anakin heard a familiar voice calling his name and apologizing for not being able to get help sooner. He could hear her promising that soon the medical droids would tend to his wounds and that she would remain as long as they would allow her.

Just knowing that Dormé was near was enough for Anakin and it wasn’t long before he slipped into a state of unconsciousness as a small smile played on his broken lips.