"Am I a burden to you?"
The question was quiet, hesitant. Obi-Wan could hardly believe his ears. Anakin Skywalker was anything but shy and doubtful.
"I told you long ago, my Padawan, you are only a joy."
Anakin shifted positions. "I'm to take my trials soon. Master, please. Don't lie to me."
Obi-Wan regarded the younger man with sympathy. "There have certainly been times when I wanted nothing more than to pull you by that braid and slap you," that elicited a chuckle from Anakin, "But no, you have not been a burden."
"There are times when... When I was younger, there were times I heard you talking to Quinlan Vos. Asking...asking if you should tell the Council that you couldn't train me."
Obi-Wan instantly felt horrible. "I didn't mean them the way you think."
"Then what did you mean?" Anakin's eye were wide and curious, the same they had been when he first held a lightsabre. His head leaned just a little closer to his master's to hear the response.
"I was practically a Padawan myself. I wondered if Qui-Gon only let me take the exams so he could train you." He smiled softly. "I always wondered if I was a burden on him too. But it seems that is common among the trainees. We all are worried that our masters are only doing this because they must."
"I spent many nights wondering if you were only honouring your master's last wish."
"I feared, when it came down to it, you wouldn't be able to do it. When I heard of your feat with your ship...I was comforted. I was worried that you would not like training to protect if it involved murder. After all, you were only a child. Yet you showed an enormous amount of bravery that day. I don't know why, but it comforted me. The thought that you could do what you must meant a lot. I had no qualms about training you after that. I might have still done so, if the Council had not given permission.
"Still, you have shown me an extraordinary lack of discipline."
Anakin smiled impishly. "Me, lack of discipline? I thought I got a little leeway, being the Chosen One and all."
"No, you don't."
Why did Anakin look guilty? Obi-Wan decided he didn't want to know. "Go to bed, Anakin. It's late. Tomorrow you practice for the tests. I would like to cut that Padawan braid off. You look absolutely ridiculous in it."