\\ set: around the end of phantom menace \\
Anakin quietly padded down the pitch-dark halls of the Jedi Council's current lodging on Coruscant, somehow awake at two in the morning. The sleeping area filled with Younglings that he had been placed in was crowded and annoying, and his borrowed pajamas were itchy and too small. However, his original mission in leaving the room had been lost, along with himself. Upon rounding a corner, faint sounds could be heard, a sharp contrast to the unfamiliar silence. Tiny feet crept closer as Anakin strained his senses. The sounds were sobs, wet and painful to listen to, emanating from one certain door. Unfortunately, outside this door was also a loose, curled edge of the old hallway carpet. Anakin's uncoordinated nine-year-old body fell flat onto the floor, face grinding into a bad smell. His heart rate doubled as the sobs abruptly stopped, and the distinct sound of a lightsaber switched to life.
Obi-Wan opened the door slowly, every muscle tensed for attack, breathing shallow around the lump in his throat. By the blue light of his saber, he could vaguely see a small figure rapidly getting up from the ground. He let out a deep sigh and turned off his lightsaber.
"Anakin?" he whispered into the dark.
"Yeah?" came the reply.
"What are you doing up so late?" asked the older Padawan, motioning for Anakin to come into the light of his room.
Anakin closed the door behind him and shrugged. "Couldn't sleep." Obi-Wan's room was nice, he observed, scanning his eyes around the walls. There were two double beds, one made neatly but not perfectly, and one messy, with rumpled sheets and a robe that looked too large for Obi-Wan sitting on top.
Oh.
"You miss Qui-Gon." It wasn't a question.
Obi-Wan sat down heavily on the neat bed. "Very much," he said softly, willing his tears not to fall.
Anakin settled himself onto the bed at Obi-Wan's side. "I miss my mom too."
Overcome by a sudden surge of affection for the boy, Obi-Wan wrapped his arm around Anakin's little shoulders, pulling him closer into a sort of hug. Anakin responded to this by snuggling in closer, feeling the soft fabric of Obi-Wan's robe against his cheek. He yawned hugely, bringing a small smile to Obi-Wan's face. "Anakin, you need to go to sleep. We have a big day tomorrow and I don't want you to be tired."
"But I don't wanna go back with the younglings!" Anakin whined. "They're too noisy, and besides, I'm too old to be with them anyway."
Obi-Wan gave a soft laugh, a sound that made Anakin feel safer in this crazy new world. "Well, I suppose you're right. You could sleep here if you like." Obi-Wan said, gesturing to the messy bed. "After all, you will be my apprentice very soon."
Anakin smiled almost shyly and bounced off Obi-Wan's bed, immediately tangling himself in the messy sheets on the other one.
Obi-Wan lay back in his bed and flicked the lights off using the Force.
"Obi-Wan?"
"Yes?"
"Good night."
"Good night, Anakin."
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