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Star Wars: Annihilation
Story
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
There was a brief moment where Obi-Wan considered just getting out his lightsaber and hacking 2224 down... but then he realized that wouldn't be prudent. Then he would be in trouble for killing an Imperial Star Trooper as well. Although the people of Tatooine might find this high amusing, he wasn't sure they would keep his location secret... Therefore he just smiled thinly at Cody and just mused on what it was exactly Vader wanted... He probably wanted to kill him... Well. He had even less time for that than he did for being arrested.
Cody continued to call orders out to some of the other troops for several minutes, in the room with Obi-Wan, before a private came in, and told him his presence was needed in the control room. It wouldn't take long to get back to the Emperor's ship. It wasn't far off of Tatooine.
Sure enough, they arrived with relative speed, and, escorted by about five troops, Obi-Wan was taken into the room Vader stood in. The chamber echoed with his breathing, and though he could sense his former mentor, the Sith that had once been Anakin didn't turn to face him.
Obi-Wan stood there, easily ignoring the urge to say something. He had nothing to say, actually. Vader had brought him here against his will, now the Jedi would wait to see just what the hell he wanted.
"What do you think of your handy work?" Vader wondered, finally, staring through his infrared eyes at Kenobi's reflection. "Or, the results of it."
"Could have been better." The older man replied mildly.
"You left me to die there." Vader stated, finally turning, and giving Obi-Wan a nice, clear view of the helmet covering his former apprentice's face. Or, what was left of it. "And, I'm failing to see a reason to treat you any differently." He couldn't take him back to Mustafar, that wouldn't be painful enough. Maybe he'd just have him tossed into space...his blood would boil, and he'd explode...that might be a suitable punishment for his treason...
"Yes, I left you to die there." Obi-Wan murmured idly.
"I do not find that remotely pleasing." Vader informed him, clasping his hands behind his back, and beginning to pace. "Now...what should be a suitable punishment for you...?"
"Could rip me into a few pieces and leave me in a cell to slowly starve to death, if you like, Lord Vader, siiiir." Obi-Wan drawled quietly under his breath.
Obi-Wan couldn't tell, but Vader offered him a rather dry look.
"No...I think I'll interrogate you, before killing you..." He decided finally. Yes, that would do nicely.
"You do that." The older man murmured.
Vader was quiet for a few minutes. This was a rare opportunity...The only sound in the room was his loud breathing, until he spoke again.
"My Master told me Padmé died." He stated slowly. "But...tell me...did the baby live?"
"How did he know she died?" Obi-Wan asked, hedging around the question of the baby.
"I shall be asking the questions here." Vader informed him, glaring even though Obi-Wan couldn't see it. He had a bright, humming lightsaber drawn and activated, he was sure, before the traitorous Jedi knew what was happening. The sizzling blade didn't touch his former friend, but it was uncomfortably close.
"There is no baby." The Jedi snorted, not really wishing to be killed at the moment.
"I am NOT," The Sith lord snarled at him. "Stupid. She was pregnant. Now, did the baby live or NOT?"
"She's dead. The answer to that should be fairly obvious." Obi-Wan said mildly. He would die before he let Vader anywhere near either of those children...
Vader was perfectly still for a moment, and he would have DEARLY loved to run Kenobi through with his blade. But, the shadow of the Force that he still knew was telling him that the older man wasn't telling him everything.
"Take him to confinement." He ordered, the ruby blade flickering away. "I'll deal with him later."
Obi-Wan sighed tiredly. He did have other things to do... really...
Vader crossed his arms again, and returned to the view window. He wondered what he could do to make Obi-Wan talk...there was something important that stupid Jedi was hiding from him...
The 'stupid' Jedi just went where the storm trooper led him until they came to the containment room. Obi-Wan promptly sat down, back against the wall and closed his eyes in thought. He needed to go back to Tatooine, to be close to Luke, and he needed to get to his training... Vader was being highly inconvenient with this hissy fit of his...
Several hours later, Vader set out to find Obi-Wan again. He knew what to do now...Jedi weren't exactly talented in working past their fear, even though they most certainly tried. He'd just hit Kenobi where he was most frightened...and, Anakin Skywalker knew what that was.
Obi-Wan didn't even open his eyes-when he heard the door open and then the telltale sounds of heavy boots and breathing-though.
"I can tell you lied to me." Vader informed him, upon arrival. "Which is, I probably don't need to tell you, another thing I don't appreciate. So...why don't you just tell me the truth, before I just start looking."
"I didn't lie about anything." Obi-Wan replied coolly, and truthfully. He hadn't exactly lied. Vader had asked about a baby. There wasn't a baby. There were two babies. There was a distinct difference that Obi-Wan had played to it's utmost literal.
"If I promise not to go looking for it, will you tell me the truth?"
"Your promise isn't worth anything."
Vader paused, before talking again. He wasn't getting to his fear this way...maybe he could use guilt...
"Have I broken one to you yet?"
"Not personally." Obi-Wan sneered a little. "But I trust you about as far as I can throw you." He peaked open an eye. "And with all that equipment you've got now, physically, that's not very far at all."
"Which is your fault." Vader supplied in as dry a tone as his vocabulator would simulate. "Now, it's PADMÉ'S child, NOT yours. I deserve to know if it's even alive."
"You deserve nothing." The Jedi snorted.
"Again, your fault." He was silent again, apart from his breathing, before finally supplying a bargain. "If you answer...two very vague questions, I'll let you back out on Tatooine." This was a big deal. He wasn't a man of mercy.
"Ask and we'll see what my answer are." Obi-Wan murmured, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes again.
"One, it is alive? Two, is it a male or a female?" Depending on those answers, he'd make a demand, before releasing Kenobi again.
"I can't tell you male or female." Obi-Wan shrugged. "That should answer your other question too."
This was getting irritating...
"IF it is male," He conditioned slowly. "I know you took my lightsaber, off of Mustafar. Give it to him, when he's old enough." Then, he turned and left. He'd have to tell his clones to turn around. He fully intended to leave Kenobi there. He'd said he would, and he would.
The older man watched after him idly and snorted. Stupid morals... he hated having morals... and feelings. They were so irritating.
"Get rid of him." Vader commanded Cody, once they were back in the planet's atmosphere. He didn't intend to do it. He'd leave that to the inferiors.
"Yes, Lord Vader." Cody agreed, before turning to go do that. He was sure Obi-Wan would like getting off too.
"So nice to see you again." Obi-Wan commented dryly when the same storm trooper came to get him again, he could tell by the number on the arm of his suit. He wasn't so snarky after that and shook the imperial off once they were on the ground. "I do believe I can take care of it from here." He murmured. Damn it... He cursed to himself. It was dark now. He'd have to rent a room actually in town... Obi-Wan officially hated Tatooine now.
He could feel it all he wanted, he still didn't know about Leia and hopefully never would. In the meantime, Obi-Wan was going to spend his time trying to protect Luke as much as possible.
While he did that, Vader paced around his private chambers, on the ship. Stupid...damn Jedi...he should have left him on Tatooine. Not bothered to arrest him to begin with...he'd been totally useless, and he had stirred up memories that he'd been trying so hard to squish out. Memories, like when he'd first met him, on the Nubian ship...
-Begin Flashback-
It was SO cold! Padmé had given him a blanket, but it wasn't helping much...So, a nine year old Anakin Skywalker decided that it would be a good idea to try to find a warmer room. He got up, and went through the door, to the hall. He'd...honestly expected everyone to be asleep, at night. But then, maybe it wasn't night. They weren't near a sun, it might be the middle of the afternoon. Either way, he'd been wrong. He wasn't the only one awake.
The engine room of the ship was indeed more to Anakin's taste, nice and warm. Not so much Obi-Wan's though... but he wasn't entirely satisfied with the equipment and was poking around subtly. They had WON it on Tatooine for the Force's sake... how could Qui-Gon possibly think it was completely reliable...
The little boy paused, when he got in there to find the older padawan also present.
"I can help with that, if you want." He offered. He needed movement, to warm up. "I'm a good mechanic."
Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder at him in surprise. He raised a bemused eyebrow.
"You should be sleeping, little one, or else when we arrive on Coruscant you won't be able to stand up to the excitement."
"I can't." He stated, shaking his head, and wrapping his blanket tighter around his shoulders. "It's too cold."
The older beckoned him over. "Come over here then, the parts are warm." He smiled. "I just wanted to make sure everything was all right with the new parts..." Obi-Wan murmured, returning his attention to what was in front of him.
"Watto wouldn't sell you faulty parts." Anakin assured him, padding over and sitting down to get to work. "He wouldn't want to give up the money, if you returned them."
Obi-Wan shook his head in amusement. Tatooine... He was glad his master had gone instead of him.
"It's for my own peace of mind then." He said quietly, leaning forward to gently tap a wire.
"Well, you can trust ME." The little boy promised, grabbing a screwdriver. "I know every part in that shop like the back of my hand, unless he got a new shipment in."
The young man chuckled.
"Right." He said, "And if you like, you can most certainly help me check to make sure all of this is at least hooked up right." Obi-Wan didn't want to admit it, but he HAD been in a hurry to get it all together... he wouldn't be surprised if there was a minor problem or two. Not one inhibiting flight, but could potentially cause any number of problems.
"I can do that." Anakin confirmed with a nod, and very small smile, shifting slightly, to be able to get a better look. "I built my pod racer myself." He informed the soon to be Jedi. "And, a protocol droid, for a friend, and to be able to help Mom."
"I'm impressed." Obi-Wan replied to the child. He had still been masterless in the Jedi Temple at Anakin's age...
"Yep. See-Threepio." He frowned, and made a small adjustment in the engine. "I didn't get to finish him, though. He still doesn't have a cover."
"He'll just get a little sand in his wires." Obi-Wan smiled, laying down so he could scoot under the appliance.
"He's really self-conscious though." Anakin admitted with a light blush. His droid sounded crazy..."Artoo decided it would be a good idea to point out the fact that he was," He paused, and bit his tongue, as he made another, trickier adjustment. "Naked." He finished, with a triumphant grin.
The Jedi made a little face. "I've been discovering that astromech is rather mouthy..."
"I like him." Anakin shrugged, and continued to poke around. "He's hard to understand, though. Not impossible, but hard."
Obi-Wan snorted. He usually understood the droid perfectly, and wished he didn't.
"His design's kind of simple, though..." Anakin continued, making a small ah hah noise, as he found something else, and tweaked it a little. "He doesn't have much extra stuff..."
"He has what he needs..." Came the older's muffled reply.
"He has a screwdriver." Anakin offered him an odd look. "I think he'd like extra stuff...Especially if he's going into space. Some lazars, or hooks, or claws, or...something..."
Obi-Wan laughed and more of his upper body disappeared into the machine as he continued to poke and prod various wires and bolts.
Anakin lapsed into silence, and pulled his blanket back up, from where it had fallen down. After several more minutes, he put the screwdriver back down, and curled up on himself, to preserve the heat.
"You did a pretty good job." He complimented.
"For being in such a rush... I'd have to agree..." Obi-Wan said, finally crawling back out from the tangle of electronics. He eyed the cold little boy for a moment.
"I could find you another blanket... Master Qui-Gon has more than he actually needs." The Jedi had seriously been hogging them. Other people on the ship were cold too!
"You can?" He looked up hopefully. He missed Tatooine's desert climate. And no wonder! He'd been there for most of his life!
"Yes." The padawan grinned as he stood. He stretched until his shoulder's crack. "Stay here and I'll be right back." It would just be a matter of commandeering one from Qui-Gon... but maybe he would just give it up if Obi-Wan asked nicely...
Anakin nodded in agreement, and curled up a little closer to the engine. He was grateful for the blanket Padmé had given him, but it wasn't very thick. Another one would help, he was sure.
After a short discussion with a rather tired Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan got his hands on that blanket and came back with it for the boy, dropping it carelessly over the child's head.
Anakin almost fell forward, and did let out a soft "oof", when it landed, but he managed to keep his balance.
"Thank you." He mumbled, curling up in that one too, now. NOW this was more like it. It was getting closer to Tatooine's heat, at night...
Obi-Wan smiled down at him and then went to stand over by the window. Like most of the others, he was used to space... Qui-Gon was too. His master was just being a jerk and teasing everyone by hoarding blankets. He would have to have a talk with him about that... Sometimes Obi-Wan felt like he was the responsible Master, rather than Qui-Gon.
"Have you been a Jedi for a long time?" Anakin wondered, laying down by the engine, and doubling the larger blanket as a pillow, as he did so.
"I've been training to be a Jedi since I was very, very little." The padawan leaned against the window pane and looked over at the boy. "I'm not really one just yet."
"Is Mister Qui-Gon your teacher?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan nodded.
"He's nice." Anakin smiled again, shivering despite himself, and pulling his blankets a little closer still. "He freed me."
Obi-Wan was unable to suppress his smile and went to sit by the cold thing.
"He is very kind." He agreed.
"He told me...that he tried to free Mom too. But, Watto wouldn't go for it..."
Obi-Wan ruffled the exposed mop of hair. "I'm sure if he could have, he would have freed her too." The older assured him.
"I'll free her, someday." He vowed softly, with a small yawn. "I'll go back, and free them all. Mister Qui-Gon told me he's going to take me to the Jedi Council, to see if they'll let me train."
Obi-Wan frowned in response to that one. The kid was too old, no matter what Qui-Gon said. He wasn't going to tell that to Anakin of course.
"I hope they do..." His eyes drooped a little. "I'm gonna be a GREAT Jedi. The strongest ever."
"I wouldn't doubt it..." The older murmured. Actually he doubted Anakin would be a Jedi at all, the child could have the benefit of the doubt. He chuckled as Anakin fell asleep and considered picking him up... but then he realized this was the warmest place on the ship and the little desert boy was comfortable right where he was.
Yes...the warmest place on the ship. That was the problem with flying AWAY from the nearest sun...
-End flashback-
Vader mentally scolded himself. There was no use in dwelling on that. Although, it did make him more bitter, which strengthened his darkness considerably. But still! It was principle!
Bitterness was a shared trait between Vader and Obi-Wan. They had both been the major contributing factor to each other too... Interesting how these things work.
And, there was plenty of bitterness to work with too. That memory had spurred more of them for Vader. He checked in with Palpatine, he went back to his room, to sulk some more. Stupid Obi-Wan...bringing all these thoughts up with his stupid presence...
-Start Flashback-
"Master!" A now twelve year old Anakin called, in a panicked tone, pretty much tackling his teacher to the ground, as a blaster beam flew over their heads, missing by inches. "Uh...duck." He warned, belatedly.
"Oh. Yes. Thank you, padawan." Obi-Wan grumbled a little, glancing over his shoulder in search of where that shot had come from and getting his lightsaber WHILE pulling the child a little bit closer to him. As much faith as he had in Anakin, he was still a child and still only had two years of training.
"Droid." The boy supplied, unclipping his own weapon, and nodding over his shoulder. "From the Trade Federation. It didn't look happy." How he could tell if a droid was displeased or not, no one was sure. Of course, it might have had something to do with being shot at...
"We haven't even done anything yet..." Obi-Wan sighed internally, getting back up and pulling Anakin with him into cover while he thought up a new strategy. Apparently they wouldn't be sneaking in.
"Apparently, we're not as stealthy as we thought." He whispered, unnecessarily. "Or, they knew we were coming to begin with."
"We'll need to get into an elevator then..." His master murmured, looking around the mostly open room, the droids were discussing something and looked like they were about to storm over any second. "Try really hard not to get shot, Anakin..." He requested as they edged out of their hiding place, getting ready to make a mad dash for this elevator.
"Or..." Anakin grinned, an idea obviously coming to mind. "We COULD just kill them." He suggested, raising his eyebrows.
"That's not why we're here!" Obi-Wan warned. "We were specifically told to get in and get out as quickly as possible with as little risk as possible.
"It's MORE risky to leave evidence!" Anakin hissed at him, frowning. "Destroy that, we can get in, get out, get home, and no one gets hurt. Except for the droids, but they don't count."
"They already know it's us, Anakin, evidence isn't the problem and we don't have the time to discuss this!" His master replied tartly.
"This," Anakin muttered under his breath, getting ready to follow him. "Is a bad plan."
It was a bad plan. But Obi-Wan wanted Anakin in the safety of the elevator and he would not be swayed. Once they were there, reason returned to him and he ACTUALLY began to think.
"Anymore droids we encounter we cut down..." He murmured. "Once we get that document we leave..."
"And, we couldn't just cut those two down, because...?" His padawan wondered dryly. "That would have assured that they wouldn't be there, when we get back."
Obi-Wan glared down at him and didn't answer that one. He just waited for the elevator to halt on the floor they were looking for and then they were running down the halls in search of the right room. They might have to find a living being in order to do that... but in the meantime, any droid was destroyed on sight.
"Master," Anakin tugged on his sleeve, pointing toward a door. "That one. That's what the Force is telling me."
The older man went into the room and was pleased to see a package sitting on one of the consoles. After checking inside it, he smiled and motioned for Anakin to hurry back towards their ship so they could get out of here.
Of course...those first two droids were killed, on the way back out, and a couple more near the runway, but other than that, it went smoothly enough. Anakin felt like gloating, but he bit the urge back. He'd only be scolded, if he did.
Obi-Wan glanced down at him when he didn't hear any gloating. Once they were on their ship safely he ruffled his padawan's hair and smiled.
"You did a good job." he assured the blonde.
Anakin offered him a grin, at the encouragement.
"Thank you, Master!"
They had a rather long and boring ride back to Coruscant, and once they were there, Obi-Wan had a rather long and boring meeting to go to... At least the Senate and the Council were excited about having that particular bit of legal work...
-Change flashback-
Anakin cursed. Loudly. He wasn't even SURE which language it was in-he'd heard so many on Tatooine. Either way, he was sure that no one else in the room could understand it. The intent was clear, though. He was SO frustrated! His training had been going so well, he had been learning so much! Then Obi-Wan had just stopped! He SAID his padawan needed to practice what he knew already, but Anakin didn't buy it. He KNEW this stuff! Hence the cursing...
The cursing would get him nowhere though. Obi-Wan wasn't going to be swayed. Anakin needed to learn the discipline to practice and train himself and that obviously wasn't going to happen with Obi-Wan helping him.
"Master, I KNOW this!" Anakin absolutely raged at him, as he paced around the training room. "I know this form TENFOLD what more than half the Knights do! I'm ready to move ON! All you're achieving by doing this is holding me BACK!" He wanted to punch something...but, for a training room, it was suspiciously lacking punch-able items.
Obi-Wan just watched him with an infuriatingly mild look. He didn't care. Another lesson Anakin still hadn't learned was to just do what he said and trust that there was a reason behind it.
"You can test me, if you want!" Anakin offered, with a small shrugging motion. "What can I do to prove to you that I know what I'm doing?"
"That isn't the question at hand, Anakin." His master replied softly.
"Then what IS the question?" He demanded, eyes blazing, voice much louder than it actually needed to be. "What are you trying to prove?"
"I'm not the one who needs to prove anything." Obi-Wan sighed. "Your patience is lacking, your acceptance is lacking, and your discipline is lacking."
"PATIENCE?" He repeated, pausing to stare at Obi-Wan in bemusement. "Who has time for patience on the battle field! It's skill that matters out there, don't bother denying it."
"Not everything revolves around the battle field."
"We're WARRIORS!" Anakin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "That's what we live for, to protect the Republic! How are we supposed to do that, besides on the battle field?"
"Haven't you ever listened to Master Windu?" The Jedi asked dryly. "We're not soldiers. We're keepers of the peace."
"It's the same thing." He waved a hand impatiently. "We keep it on the battle field, the politicians keep it in the court room. We're still warriors."
"There is still more than just fighting to battles, Anakin." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"Like?"
"Tactics, strategies, and not every mission is a battle." Obi-Wan sighed. He wasn't cut out for this, he was beginning to think.
"It still takes skills." He pointed out, still quite furious with his schedule being interrupted. "Skills that I HAVE. Patience comes with experience."
"And this. Is one of those experiences."
"Master, this isn't fair!" Okay...so he was whining a little. So what? "Did Qui-Gon ever hold YOU back when you knew you could do more?"
"Anakin, you and I are not the same person and I am not Qui-Gon." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "That kind of comparison is baseless."
"I'll take that as a no."
"I'm not holding you back, Anakin." His master finally stated flatly. "I just want you to practice. That's not too much to ask."
"But, I already know it!" He repeated, now just looking frustrated. "I can learn MORE! I can be BETTER than this!"
"And you will be." Obi-Wan calmly. "But not, if you don't do what I'm saying now."
"Master, I'm already sixteen!" This was so infuriating! "I started later than the other Padawans, I have to work harder!" He had another reason too...but he wasn't sure he was going to just toss that out, without being asked. "I have to be better! Stronger! I'm not READY to do what I have to yet!"
"You'll be fine, Anakin." Obi-Wan repeated. "For now, just do as I say."
"You don't understand!" He insisted, finally just slamming his fist into the wall, in lieu of having something more comfortable. It left a dent, where it hit.
"You could have done the form twice by now if you would just stop arguing with me."
"You. Don't. Understand!" He repeated, glowering at him. "You'll NEVER understand!" He called Obi-Wan something rather insulting, but he made sure it was in Tatooine, before he spat it. It wouldn't do to insult his master in a language he actually spoke.
Obi-Wan stood and gave up arguing. He'd leave Anakin here. If he didn't practice, then he didn't practice.
Oh, he'd practice. But, not before he finished yelling.
"I have to save my mother!" He pretty much shrieked after Obi-Wan. "I SWORE to her that I'd go back and save her, but I can't go steal a slave yet!"
The older man cast a look back at him which very plainly communicated 'keep practicing'. Then he left Anakin in the practice room.
He did...he finished his hissy fit, but by the time Obi-Wan came back to find him for dinner, he'd gone through it at least thirty times. (And was sweating considerably from it too, as proof.)
Obi-Wan smiled at him. "Good job, padawan." He commended.
"I," He panted lightly, as he went through the last few motions of the form, again. "Am not," His light saber buzzed loudly as it swished through the air. "Speaking," His foot slid forward as he jabbed the saber forward a bit harder than he actually meant to. It left a nice, white hot hole in the wall. "To you." He finished finally, turning the saber off, and clipping it back to his belt.
Obi-Wan gave him an amused look before just shrugging and turning again.
"There's food at home when you're hungry." His angsty teenage padawan could not speak to him as much as he pleased.
Anakin tossed a glare at him, over his shoulder, but he didn't say anything. Just got back into stance, to go over the form again. He'd calmed down considerably, by the time he returned an hour later. Of course, that might have had something to do with being so exhausted...But, either way, Obi-Wan still got an apology out of it.
"I'm deeply sorry, Master," Anakin mumbled, sinking tiredly into a chair. "For what I called you."
Obi-Wan gave him a bemused look. "And you are very forgiven." Maybe Anakin had learned some of what the Jedi had wanted him to...
"Thank you, Master." He murmured, slumping against the table. He vaguely considered eating, but...that seemed like an awful lot of work, to be perfectly honest.
Obi-Wan reached over and ruffled his hair. "Go to sleep, Anakin." He suggested. There would be plenty of time to eat and such in the morning.
His padawan looked up at him, through his eyelashes, but he didn't move.
"When I'm ready...will you go to Tatooine, to save my mother, with me?"
"Of course." His master nodded.
That drew an actual smile out of him.
"Thank you. I think..." He paused for a yawn. "That she'll like you."
"Maybe." Obi-Wan chuckled. "Now, go to bed, or should I carry you?" He wondered dryly.
"That won't be necessary, Master." Anakin promised him, forcing himself to his feet. (He was tempted to do that in a literal sense, but he knew Obi-Wan wouldn't approve of the misuse of a Jedi technique...not that he usually cared...)
Obi-Wan watched after him idly for a moment before going to clean the kitchen. The great Obi-Wan Kenobi... cleaning the kitchen..
Anakin made it to sleep that night...but not for any great amount of time. That was when his dreams started. That was really irritating...One of the few nights he was truly tired, he couldn't sleep...It was so typical, he could puke. But, either way, that was how he ended up sitting in the dark, in the small living room area, at somewhere around two in the morning...The amount of disturbance radiating off his padawan easily dragged Obi-Wan out of his own peaceful sleep. Dratted angsty Anakin... He thought to himself before just going to see what the newest problem was. Anakin blinked at him, when he felt him wake, and then saw him in the doorway.
"Why are you up, Master?" He wondered.
"Because you are." Obi-Wan told him simply.
"Oh..." Well, now he felt bad about waking his master up, in addition to being bothered by his dream. "I had a...nightmare."
The older man came and sat down on the couch by him.
"Those are rather bothersome."
"No joke." He sighed, before continuing. "It was about my mother. And...she was in so much pain..."
Obi-Wan sighed, Anakin was really laying the guilt on thick.
"We'll go free her soon, Anakin." At least he hoped so. They were involved in this war though... when they would be able to do so was a big question.
He glanced up at him, and just nodded.
"Alright."
His master patted his shoulder companionably.
"Try to go back to sleep soon." He suggested as he got back up to do just that himself
"I'll try, Master." Anakin agreed, even though he already knew that when morning came, he would still be sitting here. Brooding. Not asleep. It was rather inconvenient...
Anakin's nightmares happily multiplied until he ended up with Obi-Wan sitting on the edge of his bed looking at him in concern, upon waking.
His padawan sat up, panting, and in a cold sweat, barely even noticing Obi-Wan for several minutes. This...SUCKED! He was so tired, he'd barely slept in over a week. Mumbling some sort curses, he wiped his brow, with the back of his hand, and finally glanced over at Obi-Wan.
"I'm worried about you, padawan." Obi-Wan confessed upon meeting eyes with the boy.
Anakin continued to watch him for a moment, before letting out a thin, humourless laugh, and shaking his head, before letting it hang, staring at the rumpled sheet below him.
"I...I can't make them stop."
"But you have to realize they're just dreams."
"I know that." He confirmed, nodding slightly, and trying to still his trembling hands. "But, that doesn't help. At all."
Obi-Wan carefully took a hold of said hands, holding them still.
"I'll try to get us out there, Anakin, but we're supposed to be helping the council. I don't know if we can leave."
Anakin glanced at him, before nodding. Yes...seeing her alive, and healthy would help tremendously. Yes...
"Thank you, Master."
His master sighed and actually hugged him loosely with one arm.
"Don't worry about it."
Anakin nodded, and swallowed, trying not to lean against him, and regulate his breathing at the same time. He was still shaking too...it was irritating him.
Obi-Wan upgraded to a full hug when he felt the boy's whole body trembling as it was. Anakin let out another one of those odd little laughs, and finally let himself relax completely against his mentor.
"I...I'm sorry, Master." He mumbled, closing his eyes slightly. "I'm being stupid about this, I KNOW I am, but I can't help it."
"I understand, Anakin." The older man murmured. "But part of being a Jedi is working to overcome your fears."
"I've been trying!" He would have yelled, but he didn't have the will or energy. "Every day and night since I came here."
"Then stop being angry about it and keep trying." Obi-Wan almost laughed.
"I'm not angry..." Anakin protested, slightly subdued again. "I'm SCARED, but not angry."
Obi-Wan felt like he was comforting a child. A very obstinate and ornery child.
"Don't be." He said quietly. "It's over for now."
"Yes, yes." He agreed with a small sigh. "For now. But, that doesn't change the fact that I've gotten like, what? Four hours of sleep over the past week and a half? Five?"
"We could go to the Healing wing and see if they have something to keep you asleep." His master replied, idly loosing his grip on the boy as he felt his tremors lessen.
Anakin pondered that, for a moment, before nodding.
"Alright."
Obi-Wan smiled a little. "There, that was easy."
"But," His gaze seemed a LITTLE more hopeful, as he looked up at him. "Will you stay with me?" He felt like a complete baby...running to Obi-Wan over a nightmare...Well, technically, Obi-Wan had come to him, but...it was the same damn thing! "My mother used to let me sleep with her, when I was little, and had a nightmare."
"I will humour you, this once, Anakin." His master replied dryly.
"Thank you, my Master." He smiled a little bit, for the first time since these dreams had started, and gave him a hug back, before pulling away from him, and getting to unsteady feet. He hadn't been exaggerating the lack of sleep he'd been getting...It was starting to take it's toll on him.
So Obi-Wan herded him back into a bed and crawled tiredly into himself. He was tired too, considering the time of night.
It took him a few more hours, but with the frankly comforting warmth of another body, Anakin did manage to fall asleep. After that...it was just a matter of getting him up the next morning.
"Anakin." Obi-Wan said flatly, looming over him.
"It can't POSSIBLY be morning yet." His padawan grumbled, sinking further under the covers.
"I can very possibly be morning." His master replied.
"This," Anakin decided, burying his face into his pillow. "Is ridiculous."
Obi-Wan leaned over and spoke straight into his ear.
"It's still morning."
Anakin jumped a little, and turned an irritated look onto his teacher.
"That is just mean."
"I know, I'm evil, now up."
"You promised we'd go to the Healer's wing, to see if they can do anything about my dreams." He reminded him, pretty much literally rolling out of bed, and landing with a soft 'oof'. "And, you said you'd talk to the Council."
"I remember, padawan." Obi-Wan nodded.
Anakin nodded, and picked himself up from the floor.
"Just as long as the plan's clear."
As promised they went to the Healer's Wing and acquired some useful sleeping pills. Then Anakin was sent to meditate while Obi-Wan spoke to the council.
"Tatooine?" Mace Windu echoed, when the idea was proposed. "You and Skywalker want to go to...Tatooine?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan confirmed. Mace's tone wasn't making things look promising.
"WHY Tatooine?" It was a reasonable question. They were on the verge of a war, and two of their strongest Jedi wanted to go to a gang run no where desert planet, for no particular reason.
Obi-Wan sighed internally herein lied the problem. It wasn't a good reason. It was important to Anakin, but it wasn't a good reason.
"To retrieve his mother."
"For the cause, needed you are." Yoda pointed out, with a soft sigh. "Duty comes before desire, this young Skywalker should by now know."
The younger Jedi bowed in acknowledgement. He knew that and Anakin knew that. They'd tried anyways and gotten their answer.
When he got back to their quarters, where Anakin was waiting to find out, he found the exhausted boy fast asleep on the couch. He'd tried to stay awake for him...it just hadn't worked very well.
Obi-Wan smiled at the sight and was actually a bit pleased Anakin wasn't awake. We wouldn't have to tell him what the council had said immediately that way.
He wasn't asleep for long, though. The Force was telling him that Obi-Wan was back, and that something wasn't pleasing him.
"Master?" He wondered, not opening his eyes. He could feel where he was, he didn't need to see him.
"Hello, Anakin." The older man greeted pleasantly.
"What did they say?"
"They need us here."
His eyes opened to that, and they shone was barely grasped disappointment. He understood that his duty came first. That was the way of the Jedi.
"Oh."
"I'm sorry, Anakin." Obi-Wan told him quietly.
"She's been waiting for me for seven years, Master..."
Obi-Wan sighed. "It wasn't my decision."
"I know." He confirmed, getting up off of the couch, and walking over to a window. "And, I'm not angry with you." He was angry with the Council, not Obi-Wan. "I know that duty comes first."
The older man followed him over to the window and gently put his hands on his shoulders.
"You and Qui-Gon both described your mother as a strong woman, I think she'll be alright until you can go to her." He soothed.
"I've had dreams like this before, Master." He admitted, trying to make the muscles in his shoulders relax. "And, they came true. I...I dreamt of Qui-Gon coming to get me, and becoming a Jedi...I don't want this one to come true, too."
Obi-Wan hugged the child hesitantly.
"We can't always live in fear of the future."
"I know that." He confirmed with a small nod. "It was one of the first things you taught him. But...Master, I want to be able to save everybody. Especially those I love."
"You can't, Anakin. Death is a natural part of life, you can't fear it. Not for yourself, not for those you love." His master told him.
"I'm not afraid to die." He protested a little, crossing his arms over his chest. But...losing others WAS the one thing he truly WAS afraid of.
Obi-Wan chuckled a little a released the boy.
"Don't go." His padawan didn't particularly appreciate being let go of...
"Hmm?" The older man blinked down at him.
"Don't go." He repeated, uncrossing his arms, and leaning against the window sill, his hands fisting on it. "Don't...don't go anywhere. Don't leave me alone."
Obi-Wan turned him around gently and hugged him around the waist.
"I'm your master and your friend." He smiled. "You couldn't get rid of me, even if you wanted to."
"My best friend." He corrected, turning around to face him. He just...hadn't thought that Obi-Wan was QUITE that close. As it turned out...he was close enough that when his padawan turned around, their lips brushed. This led to an awful lot of blushing on Anakin's part.
"Exactly." Obi-Wan murmured. "And you're stuck with me."
"Uh..." His cheeks were still bright red, and he shrunk back toward the window a couple inches. "Well...good...because, I'd feel really stupid right now...if that weren't true."
His master gave him a bemused look.
"That was an accident, Master." Anakin promised him, turning back around, again. "I didn't mean to kiss you. I promise."
"Oh?" Obi-Wan wondered teasingly.
"Of course not...that would be going against the code...almost directly..." He mumbled, trying to calm down, wracking his brain for the exact wording at the same time. "There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no passion; there is serenity. See? Wanting to kiss you would be very...very bad."
"Very good, Anakin." Obi-Wan commended him biting down his snickers. He wondered if he could let the boy go now or if he would give him another 'don't go' speech...
"Your patronizing isn't helping."
"Ah, forgive me." The man said solemnly and released him all the same and went towards his room.
"You just said you wouldn't leave!" Anakin frowned in bemusement after him. "Will you make up your mind?"
"Oh, you meant that literally?" Obi-Wan chuckled back.
"Well...yes?" He turned a bemused look on him, blush fading. "How many ways can you interoperate 'don't leave me Master'?"
"Well, you see, Anakin. I was up in the middle of the night with you." His master explained mildly. "I was going to make up for the sleep I lost. You're free to come along if you really don't think you can be without me." He was plainly teasing him.
"Someone," Anakin informed him dryly, even though he launched off the wall, to follow him anyway. "Is going to hit you for that mouth someday."
"I used to tell Qui-Gon the exact same thing." Obi-Wan replied with a little smile as he continued on towards his room.
"I thought you said that you and I aren't the same person as your and Master Qui-Gon."
"We're not, but it appears, despite myself, I've picked up some of his more infuriating traits."
"So it appears." Anakin agreed, grabbing a book off of a shelf, before following him into the room. He realized, on some level, that he was being horribly clingy, but he didn't really care. Being with Obi-Wan made him feel better...so, that was where he wanted to be.
-End flashback-
Obi-Wan sighed as he trudged through the desert. His night in Mos Isley Port had been less than enjoyable and now he was off looking for a remote place to settle. His thought drifted over the Jedi Temple. It had been his home since before he could remember. He'd trained with Qui-Gon there and then he'd trained Anakin there. He rather missed it... After nearly half a day of wandering around he came to the large cave set into the stones. This would do... the few things he'd managed to save, that were in the pack on his back would fit in here. His dinky little excuse for a bed included... He looked over the sorry thing once it was laid out. He rather missed his old one at the Temple...And who, for several years, he'd shared it with. Not the black, armoured machine that had had him arrested, but the young blonde man who had been so terrified of losing his mother...Who would grow up to be the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy.
-Begin flashback-
"I love you." The words came as naturally from Anakin's lips as 'I'm hungry', or 'what was Master Yoda talking about'. It was relatively late at night, and the only light coming into their room in the Jedi temple was from the stars, peeking in through the closed blinds. "I love you so much."
Obi-Wan peaked open his eyes at the younger. "Well, I'm mostly certainly glad to hear that." He chuckled, once again reminding Anakin that his master's mouth was indeed going to get him smacked some day...
"That wasn't exactly the reaction I was going for, Master." Anakin pointed out, with a sigh, wrapping his arms around Obi-Wan's waist.
"So sorry to disappoint, padawan." Obi-Wan returned.
"Master?" Anakin offered him a dry look, and inched up a little, to silence him with a kiss. "Now would be a good time to hush."
Obi-Wan got his fingers into Anakin's soft, would be curly, hair and urged his face closer again so their lips locked. Since he was to hush, that would have to be his response.
Anakin loved moments like this. Completely unplanned, in the dead of night, where they couldn't possibly get caught. Moments like this didn't hold the stress that trying during the day did. During moments like this, he felt totally untouchable. The rest of the world didn't exist. It was just him, and Obi-Wan. There was no war, there was no Order, there was no Code...none of it mattered.
"You weren't asleep, were you?" He wanted to make sure, once the kiss broke again.
"Not entirely." His master replied, letting his head rest listlessly on the pillow again.
"Good...I didn't wake you up, then..." He would have felt bad about that, no matter how wonderful these times felt. Even his nightmares didn't bother him quite as much, when they were like this.
"I wouldn't have entirely minded if you had." Obi-Wan said, giving him a bemused look.
Anakin offered him a small smile, and rested his chin on the older man's shoulder.
"I'm glad to hear that..."
Obi-Wan put his arms around Anakin's back as his eyes slipped shut. He was feeling a little tired, but it was still nice having his padawan there.
"I love you, Master." Anakin repeated, before closing his own eyes. Hopefully...visions of his mother's demise wouldn't haunt him tonight...He certainly hoped not, although after a year of them, he was getting used to running on very little sleep...
Anakin heard Obi-Wan softly murmur his echoed love and then soon the two Jedi were both asleep, leeching warmth from each other.
-Change flashback-
It could only last so long, though. One day, Obi-Wan came home to find Anakin pacing around their living room, an expression somewhere between glee and dread on his face.
"I heard Padmé's coming back." He announced, upon feeling, and hearing, Obi-Wan come in.
"She is." Obi-Wan nodded mildly.
"Do you think I'll get to see her again?" Anakin wondered hopefully, glancing up from where he'd been watching his boots.
"The Council will probably have us watch her." His master replied.
"I HOPE I get to see her..." He murmured, looking back down at the floor again, and continuing to pace. "It's been so long..."
"You could always just go." Obi-Wan suggested. "I'm sure she would see you."
"If she remembers me..." He laughed humourlessly. "I'm sure...between being Queen and a Senator she's forgotten by now..."
"I doubt it."
"Do you really think I made that big of an impact?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan sighed. Anakin was acting like a teenager... An irritating teenager.
Well...technically...he was nineteen. He WAS a teenager.
"I'm sorry, Master." He apologized quickly enough, upon feeling his mentor and lover's irritation. "It's just that...well, it's been so long."
"Don't worry about it and just go see her." Obi-Wan shrugged.
"Well...she's not here yet, is she?"
Obi-Wan gave him a dry look. "You could always go wait for her."
"She's going to have security all over her...and she'll probably be tired...maybe I should wait a bit..." He frowned. He was acting like he wasn't in love with Obi-Wan. That wouldn't do at all...
Obi-Wan gave up trying to talk to him. If he wanted to act like a lovesick teenager, that was Anakin's problem.
He wouldn't have to wait long, though...Because, as it turned out, the Jedi Council ORDERED them to go see her. Not for a visit, though. No...it seemed that for all her security, it wasn't enough. There had STILL been an attempt assassination...that was irritating...But, either way, he and Obi-Wan got to play body guard, it seemed. Anakin really wasn't paying much attention, though. As soon as he saw her, all hope of that flew out the window.
And she recognized him.
"Ani! Oh my goodness!" She cheered, smiling broadly at him. He'd gotten so huge!
"Hello, Senator." He smiled at her, and nodded, taking a step toward her. He felt a warmth spread through himself, at seeing her. She hadn't changed a bit...well...maybe she was prettier, but other than that...
Obi-Wan forcefully ignored them and went to talk to the rest of security right away.
"It's so good to see you." Padmé smiled giving Anakin a short hug.
"And you, my lady." Anakin assured her, stopping himself from hugging her back. "You haven't changed at all, apart from growing more beautiful...well...for a Senator, I mean..." He flustered slightly. He'd NEVER gotten like this with Obi-Wan. Not even the first time he'd kissed him had he felt THIS awkward.
"Oh yes, I know, all us senators really should be ugly old hags." She teased, sticking her tongue out at him.
"T...that wasn't what I meant..." He felt his cheeks flush. "I just...I'm a Jedi...and..." And what? Being a Jedi hadn't stopped him from sleeping with Obi-Wan for the past two and a half years. But...Padmé was a public official! Wasn't it different?
"I was kidding, Ani." She smiled.
"Oh...uh, yes...of course you were..." He coughed discretely, and mumbled something to the effect of 'I missed you', before quickly turning to Obi-Wan, before she could reply. "Master, what's the situation look like?"
"Looks like we'll be keeping a close eye on the lady for a little while." He murmured. It was sort of secure, but... not exactly.
"Hello, Obi-Wan." Padmé waved at the Jedi Knight happily. He smiled politely and nodded.
Anakin felt so awkward around her...it almost HURT to be around her...Mostly because he knew...that NOTHING could EVER come of ANYTHING with her...
He was going to be around her a lot though. Watching her all the time, to make sure she wasn't assassinated.
But...it was easier, with Obi-Wan there, to remind him to whom he belonged...and then, of course, they were split up. That was annoying... Which was why Anakin was once AGAIN pacing around their rooms, the night before they were both to leave. The poor floor...he was going to wear a hole in it...
Obi-Wan came home and gave him a bemused look. He called a short greeting to him and then headed towards his rooms. Anakin apparently felt he belonged to Obi-Wan, but the Jedi no longer felt any such connection. He planned to go to sleep now, he had to get up early.
"Master," Anakin protested, as he walked past him, turning abruptly to follow. "Don't be like that. I know you're upset with me, but we're going to be apart for the Force only knows how long!" He reached out and grabbed Obi-Wan's sleeve. "Can't we make tonight special?"
"I'm not upset, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied calmly. "And we both have to get up in the morning."
"You are too." His padawan frowned at him. "I can feel it. And, I don't care. I don't want to leave you like this. It's been at least a week."
"Since what." His master inquired dryly.
"Master," He flushed darkly. "You know perfectly well what I'm talking about."
Obi-Wan bit back what he felt like saying. Which really left him with no reply at all. He was feeling decidedly snarky at the moment...
"Master," He felt a little like whining right now...But, he bit back the urge, and moved forward, hugging Obi-Wan from behind. "No matter how I felt about her, when I was nine, now I belong to you and you alone."
The older man sighed and leaned back against his taller padawan.
"Of course..." he murmured, not all that convinced. He wasn't blind. Padmé was an appealing creature when compared with himself.
"I love you." He continued, looking up at him meaningfully. "And would like to make my last night with you, for quite some time, count." He didn't know at the time, that it would be his last night with Obi-Wan, in general.
"Yes, padawan..." Obi-wan replied finally.
Insert porn/change flashback-
It's fairly needless to say that their relationship wasn't quite the same, after the whole Geonsis/Naboo thing. Anakin took to sleeping on his own more often, and after Padmé moved to Coruscant to 'be closer to the Senate', he just started disappearing all together...
And it wasn't that Obi-wan didn't know where he was. He just tried not to think about it in general. He had no proof and as long as he didn't know, it didn't hurt him.
Anakin did still stay with him sometimes, though. This was one of those nights.
"I'm sorry, it's been such a long time, Master." He mumbled, settling down next to him, in the bed. He'd told Padmé he needed to stay at the Temple for Jedi business. Which...ironically, was the same excuse he gave Obi-Wan when he WASN'T in the Temple. He was pretty sure neither his wife NOR his boyfriend knew what was going on...and, it wasn't that he WANTED to cheat on them...he just loved them both so much, it didn't seem fair to either to chose.
Obi-wan mumbled something around a yawn as his head flopped onto his pillow.
"I've missed you." Anakin continued, rolling on top of him.
Obi-wan flat out laughed at him there.
"And whose fault is that, Anakin." He replied dryly once his mirth was under control. "I've been here for the most part."
"Well...yes...but...I..." He frowned, and sat up. "Maybe I should go." He'd been sleeping in his own room so much recently...another night wouldn't make any difference.
"If that would make you feel better, padawan." Obi-wan sighed.
"It's not about what makes me feel better." He protested, frowning. "It's about you."
"Ah, yes, forgive me for my error."
"So," He leaned forward, and placed his hands on Obi-Wan's shoulders. "Do you want me to stay or go?"
Obi-wan used his heavier weight and simply rolled over settling himself comfortably once more and letting his head rest on the younger's chest.
"I should take that as a stay?" Anakin assumed, with a small smile at him.
"I knew you weren't a complete idiot, Anakin..." Obi-wan yawned.
"Gee," He snorted, wrapping his arms around Obi-Wan's waist. "Thanks."
"But of course..." The older man murmured, hoping they would both fall asleep soon.
Perhaps it was for the best, that the Council seemed to think that it was best for Anakin and Obi-wan to go out on missions...The war was actually, officially happening now. They needed their top men out there. And, by the time they got back from rescuing Palpatine from Dooku, things seemed to get better...at least a little.
Except not. Then Padmé was pregnant. First thing you tell your husband. 'I'm pregnant'. This seemed pretty normal and reasonable except... she didn't know about Obi-wan.
Which was why, when he heard it, Anakin froze. It took him a moment, before he could process it enough to be happy. This was long enough to worry her, but not too much. He assured her that he was pleased. However...that night, he had another one of his disturbingly realistic dreams. Only this time, it wasn't about Shmi Skywalker...no...this time, it was about Padmé.
But when he awoke and looked, the woman was still sleeping peacefully next to him...
That didn't stop him from panicking, though. It had been YEARS before his mother had died...and...Padmé only had a few months...So, that was why he was leaning against a chair, staring out at Padmé's private landing platform.
Eventually she woke up and blinked in surprise at her husband who... wasn't in bed. She came after him, putting a gentle hand on his arm and looking at him in concern.
"Bad dream." He explained, with a sigh. "Like the ones I used to have about my mother."
"Oh?" She wondered quietly, letting her cheek rest against his arm.
"And...it was about you." He could barely force the words out...after all they'd been through, since Naboo...Hell, since she'd come back to Coruscant! It was going to end...like THIS?
Padmé frowned a little, but she wasn't exactly frightened of her own death. It would come eventually, her only goal at the moment was to make sure her baby got into the world.
"You're going to die in childbirth." He continued, taking a deep breath, and shifting a little, to make his discomfort less obvious.
"And the baby?" She asked worriedly.
"I don't know." He admitted, shaking his head. "I couldn't tell."
It was alive for now though. Obi-wan wasn't stupid either. He knew who the father was, but he only revealed this fact to Padmé once he had to... and by then... Anakin was lost to him and he needed to go kill the boy.
Yes...killing Anakin Skywalker was easier said than done. But...by the end of it, it would be easy enough. What with Anakin laying limbless on the ground, pretty much frothing at the mouth. It really stung Obi-wan... seeing him that way too... He had loved him. Padmé had loved him and Anakin had just turned his back on them both... Padmé really had put it best... he gone straight down a path that neither of them had been able to follow.
"You... were my brother, Anakin." He called down to him finally. "I loved you." And that was all he could manage. He needed to get Padmé off the planet.
"I HATE you!" Anakin...no...Vader snarled after him, eyes glowing blindingly bright with the dark side.
-End flashback-
Which...was how he'd come to be how he was. It was ALL fucking Kenobi's fault, Vader decided, looking up in irritation as he heard someone knock on his door.
"What?" He demanded harshly, upon opening it. At least his vocabulator didn't transmit emotion...
"Lord Vader," The clone saluted him. "The Emperor has put in a holocall for you. He says it's urgent."
Stupid, useless Palpatine. Vader didn't say that aloud, though. Until the time was right, Palpatine was his superior. So, he just stalked past the clone, and went to answer the call. The time would be right eventually, though. And, when it was, the 'Emperor' would burn.
-End-
