Hi! This is a fic that I started writing after having a million ideas of what Obi-Wan and Anakin did during their first few months being master and apprentice, and I love writing them. Some may be slightly OOC just because writing about their bond is so much fun, but nothing drastic. I'll hopefully post a new chapter every other day; if there are any scenarios you are dying to read about, let me know and I'll gladly consider writing it up! Thanks for reading!
"Master Kenobi -"
"Can't talk now!" Obi-Wan was still growing used to being called that, "I'll find you later!"
"But . . ."
The trailing voice of the Jedi he passed - who had it been? - faded as Obi-Wan raced on through the slightly crowded halls of the Temple, feet skidding as he slid to a halt and paced up another flight of stairs.
The passerbys, by most, stepped aside at his clearing cries, though some he gently whizzed by with an apology.
"Have you seen my Padawan?"
All denied, shrugged, or simply shook their heads, none needing to ask just who he was looking for. It had taken mere hours for the Temple to learn of the rumored Chosen One, none other than ten year old Tatooine vagrant Anakin Skywalker. Just ten years old he was, yes, yet stronger in the Force that anyone Obi-Wan had ever met - and possibly the strongest Jedi ever
recorded.
Some Jedi still doubted the boys lable of "Force-Balancer", but could not deny his extraordinary skill, one he possessed not even months into his training. Yes, the Padawan was skilled, that Obi-Wan had learned very quickly. He was skilled at disappearing.
"Have you seen Anakin?" Obi-Wan repeated as he jogged past another Master, who denied his cries. He fought back a curse as he turned about on his heels, running back the way he came.
It was the fifth time he had lost the boy, since he had begun counting at least, and he was not proud of it. Ruthless, curious, fearless - Obi-Wan wondered why his late Master would ever entrust him with such a task in so much opposition to him. Obi-Wan believed in order; Anakin, however, believed in disarray, for not even in the second day of sharing quarters had he completely unsorted every piece of silverware they owned, lost two shoes and three study bookchips, and spilled his tea six times - five of those times being upon his Master.
Acceptance, yes, Obi-Wan had known from the beginning that he had to learn it. He could not expect Anakin to live up to his ever reasonable yet sometimes difficult standards, for no one seemed to, much to Obi-Wan's bewilderment. If the option had been given, the newly Knighted Jedi would not have taken the boy to train, not because of their already prominent . . . unsimilarities, but because Obi-Wan felt unsuit to teach him.
The notion was not one without reason; even an experienced Master would find hardship in the training of such a prodigy, and one troubled at that, and such a task was entrusted upon him. How quickly had he become learner to teacher? In the blink of a moment that had came to be reality, one still baffling and saddening to him. One wound in him and the boy that had not yet fully healed.
Was he ready? Or truly, had he been? For then, Obi-Wan had not a choice whether he felt so or not, despite the mishaps and uncertanties that often robbed him of his sleep and caused him to run about the Temple like a madman. He accepted the one given humbly. His Master had trusted him, him and him alone with the one who may grow up to be the saviour of the Force.
Qui-Gon Jinn had not been a foolish man. That did not mean, though, that he did not have a sense of humor.
Obi-Wan nearly tripped over his own feet as he slowed to a stop before a youngling clan strolling by, who hid their giggles behind tiny hands at his winded condition. The Caregiver of the group, who happened to be none other than Master Yoda himself, turned to the children in address, "What has come upon us, young ones? Or who, should I say, hm? Master Kenobi, we must greet."
"Hello Master Kenobi." They echoed simultaneously.
"Hello." Obi-Wan gave a half bow, anxious to continue on, "Master Yoda, if you will excuse me -"
"Lost something have you?" Yoda looked to him, green face twisted a bit in teasing, "Or someone?"
Obi-Wan opened his mouth to say an excuse, but sighed. The younglings chittered and giggled again in response. "My Padawan has taken off again. I was speaking to Master Isleg outside of our quarters about the arrangements for the sparring tournament that is fast approaching, that I had agreed to assist before my Padawan was . . . my Padawan, and when I turned around, Anakin was gone."
"Running rampant, Padawans cannot be. Curiosity, overcome the boy again, I presume." Yoda smiled, "Much like another youngling I used to teach, not too long ago."
Obi-Wan returned the expression, "That was me, wasn't it? Funny how so soon I have forgotten."
"Forgotten childhood, Master Obi-Wan has young ones." Yoda looked to the children with a glint in his eye that Obi-Wan knew meant nothing good on his behalf. "Help him remember, you must."
At a wink from the Master, the younglings suddenly crowded Obi-Wan, tugging at his arms and legs and robes, and they took no time in pulling him to the marble floors, trying to tickle him and laughing themselves in glee. Obi-Wan feigned the attack as if it were real, letting them pin him down, but not without tweaking a few noses and ruffling a few heads of hair.
Master Yoda stood above him, his face nothing less than amusement, voice light as he spoke, "Young Skywalker, with the Initiates he is. Made a new friend, he has, one you may find familiar."
The depth of the statement caused Obi-Wan to twist his brow subconsciously, "New friend?"
"In the Archives, he is. Find out soon, you will."
Obi-Wan smiled to the children last as he rose, thanking Master Yoda again as he ran off.
Upon entering, the Archives were very noisy, noisier than usual. Young children strolled and skipped about the bookshelves and data computers, as did their respective Masters, but most, as Obi-Wan observed, were Initiates.
It did not take long for him to find Anakin, for he simply followed the sound of the voice he had quickly grown to recognize. The voice was bright, young and alight then in story, Obi-Wan could tell, as it most often was. As the Master rounded a shelf to see him, he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.
Anakin sat atop a stack of bookchips a good two feet tall, feet swinging earnestly and arms expressing the intent of the words he said. His sandy blonde hair had been cut but was growing fast, the small braid signifying apprenticeship dangling aside. Anakin was smiling the same boyish smile he had at their first encounter, back then simply a grimy slave boy and Obi-Wan nothing but bewildered at his Master for toting another "pathetic life form" along. The Jedi chuckled softly to himself, leaning against a shelf. Little did I know . . .
". . . and were they ever huge! They were probably bigger than this whole room, or just about half, and had giant turbo engines with so much exhaust you could smoke out a Hutt!"
"And you flew one of them?"
"Yep." Anakin bloated just a little, the look on his face an innocent pride. It was the same emotion Obi-Wan was still whittling away from him; haughtiness was one of his more troublesome aspects. "Right over the stadium, and let me tell ya they handle as smooth as Corellian ale - or that's how the dealer described them."
"No way! That's . . . what did you call it again?"
"Wizard!"
"Right, wizard!"
The one he spoke to, Obi-Wan did not recognize. Their back was to him, and he only saw a fall of curly auburn hair, stature causing him to suppose they were around Anakin's age. He listened intently to Anakin's story, recognizing it as one of their recent missions.
". . . but that was when my Master pulled out his lightsaber, and the thief sure was willing to stop very quickly."
"So, did he listen?" The other inquired.
"Oh yeah, are you kidding? No one out talks a Jedi, especially . . ."
Anakin looked up then instinctively and met his Master's gaze, smiling initially until he recognized the look on Obi-Wan's face. The boy winced.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Thank you for the compliment, my young Padawan, but it is in my nature to ask: what are you doing here?"
Anakin spoke quickly, as he often did, "Well, while you were busy talking with Master Isingel -"
"Isleg."
"Right, right, I saw some kids going into the Library, so I decided that while you were busy, instead of distracting you I could go talk to them until you were done."
"And had you any intention of returning in the next few hours?" Obi-Wan asked, folding his arms. "You realize you have not been in my presence for three."
"Wow." Anakin rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling softly, "Time flies, doesn't it?"
"We will speak of this later." Obi-Wan said, with solemnity in his eyes that meant "Later means tonight", knowing full well of the boys slippery skills. Anakin nodded. "In the mean time, why don't you introduce me to your friend?"
"Oh yeah!" Anakin sprung up off the teetering stack of books, pointing to the other, "Obi-Wan, this is my friend Aure'lia; Aure'lia, this is my Master, Obi-Wan."
The Initiate stood and bowed low, rising again to meet Obi-Wan with bright cerulean eyes. He paused, in a haze of retrospect for a moment, at a memory of his Master that flooded his vision.
It was a time Qui-Gon had been with him on an extended mission, underground on a system he could not recall. They had both been exhausted beyond measure and worn beyond belief and at the end of their ration stores and strength. Obi-Wan had, knowing the fate that dangled dangerously above them, finally expressed what he knew his Master would not: they were dying.
The man always had a way about him that made it seem that he could speak stars into existence simply by the force of his own stubborn will - and as unbelievable as it seemed, he could make others believe it to be true. Qui-Gon had turned a bit, face lit only by a weakening torch light, and gave the young boy a smile. His inset blue eyes had been shadowed, hidden slightly by his shelf of greying brow, but captured Obi-Wan's attention like they always could. It was like being drowned in a clear sea rolling with waves of wisdom, strength and kindness.
Obi-Wan was taken as the memory flooded back. It had been one of their first missions as a pair. He could see the images of his Master and him together, lost and unsure and so terribly hopeful it almost hurt. They had been so young -
"Master? He does this sometimes . . ." Anakin shook Obi-Wan with as much childish force he could, "Master! You in there?"
Obi-Wan looked to his apprentice, and back to the girl who searched him concernedly.
"Are you alright, Master Kenobi?" Aure'lia asked softly, though the eyes seemed to reflect what he felt, though they had just met.
"Fine," Obi-Wan managed, giving a smile, "Just fine."
"Good. Kinda thought you might have gone all Force crazy on me." Anakin laughed, and Aure'lia joined him in a giggle.
"And what do you mean by that?" Obi-Wan sensed the hidden joke, but the two only laughed harder. He rolled his eyes. Padawans.
"I was just telling Aure'lia of the first time I saw you sense a disturbance in the Force, and you went blank just like you did." Anakin spoke between chuckles, "And . . . I thought you went Force crazy."
They laughed harder then, Anakin holding his middle and Aure'lia covering her mouth. Obi-Wan still stared at them, perplexed.
"Well, lucklily for both of you, I am not, am I?"
"Sure." They said together.
Anakin gave a sigh, wiping tears from his eyes, "Aure'lia told me her class is going on a field trip today, right E'lia?"
Aure'lia nodded, "To the Senate. We'll be leaving soon."
"We won't hold you up any longer then." Obi-Wan saw from the corner of his eye what he presumed was the girl's group being lead by a Jedi Master make their way towards the Library doors, "Come, Anakin."
The three stood in silence for a moment. The Master sent his apprentice a look, one the boy needed no words to decipher. Anakin scowled.
"Obi-Wan -"
Obi-Wan cleared his throat at the improper address. Anakin nearly rolled his eyes, but corrected himself.
"Master, do I really have to leave? Can't I go along with them? I won't be a bother, I swear!"
Obi-Wan didn't give in, "I have a better idea. Why don't we go check out a study chip before we leave?"
Anakin made a face, "Another one?"
However, the boy again recognized the look on his Master's face, and gave a small wave to Aur'elia before finding his place at his Master's side and following in step with him.
Not soon after Obi-Wan had found Anakin, distracted by a group of sparring Padawan Learners, and practically dragged him toward their quarters, was the boy pressing him for answers to his flood of questions, like usual.
"So, you didn't go Force crazy - I mean, sense a disturbance earlier, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then what happened?"
"I was reminded of a memory."
"Oh, 'bout who?"
"It's not important."
"Was it about me?"
"No."
"Was it someone I know?"
"Anakin. You are going to make me very upset if you do not stop asking."
"But if it's unimportant, why can't you just tell me?"
"Because it does not concern you, and it's a very long story -"
"I'm up for long stories." Anakin looked up to his Master in hopeful suggestion, but Obi-Wan's steely gaze told the boy his answer. With a huff, the Padawan surrendered, raising his hands, "Fine, I'll stop. But just after this one thing -"
"I do not recall us yet talking about you running off today, have we?"
Obi-Wan looked to the boy, who had suddenly grown quieter than the halls orange with dusk, shadowed by skyscrapers. A smile pleasured the Master at the sound, and the two strolled in it back to their quarters, his mind in retrospect whether he realized it or not.
What if fate had changed its tune, and Qui-Gon had instead taken Anakin as his apprentice? The glimpsing reminder of the bond he had shared with the man not only filled him with nostalgia, but made him hope for such a thing for his own apprentice. Such clarity, such brightness. He savoured the thought, looking down at the boy he was just beginning to bond with. A boy destined for misadventure, for hope, for greatness. The young Master only hoped for such for the Padawan. It was what Qui-Gon would have wanted. Obi-Wan placed a hand on Anakin's young shoulder and rubbed gently
The will of the Force, he thought to himself, imagining his Master saying the words in succession.
The will of the Force.