Reckless

by the Yellow Dart

Rated PG-13

Obi-Wan Kenobi pulled his hood up to cover his head and took a few steps down a busy skyway near the edge of Coruscant's Senate district. Like a rushing sea, beings of many different species pushed Obi-Wan along the skyway. With considerable effort, Obi-Wan pushed through the rushing tide of commuters until he reached the edge of the skyway. From there, he had a clear view of the city surrounding him.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," he muttered. A Twi-lek woman next to him gave him a strange look, but Obi-Wan barely noticed. His padawan was missing. Again.

"Anakin?" After a moment, there was still no response, and still no Anakin in sight.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and let the Force's calming waves rush over him. Almost immediately, he was able to redirected the Force's energy until he felt Anakin's strong presence nearby.

Letting the Force guide him to Anakin, he muttered, "I'm the Master. He should listen to me." When he turned left into a dark alley, Obi-Wan muttered, "The other padawan learners --"

"-- Master?" Anakin's cheerful voice called from a junk heap at the end of the alley. "I'm over here."

Obi-Wan sighed when he saw Anakin knee-deep in a pile of discarded bolts and sheet metal. "Don't move. I'm coming."

#

In a makeshift junkyard behind a tall, gray building, Anakin Skywalker grabbed a sheet of shiny metal that had caught his eye. Suddenly, he felt a slight tremor through the Force. "Oh, Master, a Jedi should not feel such anger. I've heard it's a path to the Dark Side." His voice came out a bit louder and more sarcastic than he had intended.

Anakin looked at the bolts in his hand and tossed the extraneous few down into the junk pile. They made a satisfying, high-pitched click, clack when metal hit metal.

"Speak of the Jedi," he muttered when Obi-Wan's bearded face appeared around the corner.

Obi-Wan crossed his arms across his chest and stared at Anakin with his annoying, calm, unbothered look. He cocked one eyebrow and said only, "So?"

When Anakin looked up, he forced a smile and made sure to use a sickeningly sweet voice. "Master, I saw this pile of junk parts and I thought I might find something useful."

"So you did," Obi-Wan replied with the corners of his lips turned up into a resigned smile, which he quickly turned into his familiar stern scowl. "But, Anakin, that is still no excuse --"

"-- Master!" Anakin rolled his eyes as he stood and shoved the scrap parts into his robe. "Spare me the lecture."

"Let's go," was all Obi-Wan said in return.

"What's the hurry? I thought we had a free afternoon."

"No matter, Anakin. How do you know I don't have something to do . . . without you?"

Anakin turned so that he looked straight into Obi-Wan's eyes. Folding his arms across his chest and cocking his head to the side, he reached into the Force. After a moment, he declared, "You're lying."

"Am I?"

"Absolutely. I can sense it." He shrugged and took a few steps toward the Temple. "I have more power than you realize."

Obi-Wan put an arm around Anakin's shoulders. "You, my very young apprentice, cannot know what I am really thinking."

"I can read your thoughts right now, Master."

Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, really? What am I thinking right at this moment?"

Anakin flashed a teasing smirk. "You're thinking, 'I want to punish my padawan, but how? Physical pain?" His grin widened. "No, not physical pain. You are going to send me to the Archives for an afternoon with Madam Nu."

"You're wrong again, Anakin." The sparkle in his eyes betrayed the amusement behind Obi-Wan's stoic façade. "I wasn't thinking that at all."

"Sure you were. You just don't want to admit I was right."

Obi-Wan shrugged as he said in a teasing tone, "Actually, I was thinking of sending you to meditate with Master Yoda."

"You wouldn't dare." Anakin picked up his pace and turned onto the busy pedestrian street, ducking underneath a large, tri-horned humanoid and trying to blend into the rush of traffic.

Obi-Wan nearly ran into the same humanoid as he tried to follow Anakin to make sure that they didn't get separated again. When the large, horned humanoid grunted, Obi-Wan turned to him and flashed an apologetic grin.

Without wasting any more time, Obi-Wan slipped into the ocean of pedestrians and pushed through beings until he was behind Anakin. He put his hand on Anakin's shoulder and said, "Why do I get the feeling you will be the death of me?"

Anakin spun to face Obi-Wan with a grin spread across his face. "I was right! You do want to hurt me."

"Keep walking."

"Fine." Anakin bit his lower lip to keep from laughing; he knew Obi-Wan was doing the same thing.

After a few paces, Obi-Wan grabbed Anakin's shoulder and said, "If you want to become a knight, you need --"

"-- Self-discipline, patience, selflessness, humility."

"You do not need that arrogance."

"Master, you cannot tell me you aren't the slightest bit arrogant."

Coming to an abrupt halt, Obi-Wan took a step back and folded his arms across his chest, as several dark-skinned humans nearly ran into him. He tilted his chin up when he declared, clearly and succinctly, "I'm not, nor have I ever been, arrogant."

"Liar! You're . . ." Anakin's voice trailed off as they passed a back entrance to the Senate building. There he saw a young woman standing on the bottom step, surrounded by a group of men and women, waving her hands passionately as the others seemed to hang on her every word. Then he saw her face. And he couldn't tear his gaze away. "Wow," he whispered as he drifted off the walkway and toward the building.

Before he got too close to the woman, Anakin felt a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Close your mouth, Anakin; you're drooling."

Anakin closed his eyes, trying to center himself. He shook his head and tried to focus on Obi-Wan's voice. But he couldn't. "Who is she?" He moved his chin in her direction.

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, but said, "If I am not mistaken, that is Senator Amidala of Naboo."

"Amidala," he repeated, letting each syllable float off his tongue. Anakin knew Obi-Wan disapproved, but he couldn't stop staring.

"Anakin, a Jedi must not let his raging hormones control his actions," reprimanded Obi-Wan with a frown.

Anakin stared at Obi-Wan out of the corner of his eye. "Master, are you saying you never notice a beautiful woman?"

Obi-Wan's cheeks reddened somewhat. "I did not say that . . . " He coughed for a moment then added, "I merely meant that I don't drool over a woman in the middle of the city. To be a Jedi, you must --"

"-- I know; I know. Control my emotions."

"Even if Jedi could have these feelings, she is too old for you, anyway." Obi-Wan kept his expression neutral. He grabbed Anakin's shoulder and tried to lead him toward the Temple.

Anakin did not budge. "Too old? Impossible. . . And how do you know her?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "Some of us watch the holo-news. She is quite a vocal member of the opposition."

"I see," Anakin said with little inflection. In his mind Obi-Wan had issued a challenge. One that Anakin was more than willing to accept.

Obi-Wan put his head next to Anakin's ear and whispered, "Be mindful of your thoughts, young one. They betray you."

"What?" Anakin jumped at the sound of Obi-Wan's voice. "Right. I mean, I know."

"Anakin, what did I just tell you?"

"Uh --" He tried to think of an appropriate lecture for this situation. "-- that I should watch my thoughts?"

Obi-Wan tapped Anakin on the shoulder and marched away, muttering, "He never listens. Why did I get the most headstrong padawan . . . ?"

Anakin didn't hear a word Obi-Wan said. While Obi-Wan moved towards the Temple, Anakin ambled toward the young senator, who now stood at the edge of the steps and seemed to be staring at him.

The young senator turned her head; her brown eyes locked with his, and he couldn't think about anything else. It was like the rest of the world dissolved around him and all that remained was Senator Amidala.

#

Padmé Amidala looked into the bright Coruscant sky and forced herself to smile. Her current conversation with several of the most shaak-headed opposing senators was driving her crazy.

"Senators," she said in a strong voice. "We have to realize the impact a standing army will have on our very way of life. Just consider the ramifications."

She lost her train of thought as a strange feeling washed over her and made her shiver. It was as if someone -- or something -- was staring at her.

"Senator Amidala," the large, bald senator said, jarring her thoughts back to the matter at hand. "We will consider your request."

She touched his arm and nodded, keeping her professionalism even though her thoughts were elsewhere. "That is all I ask, Senator. Thank you. I look forward to our cooperation. We must work together for the sake of the Republic."

The contingent turned away, and Padmé took a deep breath. She knew the meeting had been pointless. Not one of these shaak-headed senators would change his position. At least not yet.

When the group moved into the Senate building, Padmé turned and locked eyes with a man -- a very handsome man. He looked like he wanted to devour her with passion, and she was shocked to realize that she wouldn't protest if he tried. She closed her eyes and tried to collect her thoughts.

"Wow," she whispered.

When she opened her eyes, he was the only thing she could see. She took a few steps forward with an unseen force guiding her to him.

"Be careful, Senator," a young woman exclaimed when Padmé banged into her.

Mortified, Padmé covered her mouth. "Oh, sorry, Cordé." She broke eye contact with the man and turned toward the handmaiden she had almost trampled.

"What are you looking at?"

"Who is that man over there?"

Her two handmaidens turned to follow her discrete signal. "Who?"

"Him. The one with the light hair, the dark cloak." She grabbed Cordé's hand. "The one who's looking at me with those smoldering blue eyes."

"Do you mean the Jedi?"

Padmé examined the young man for the first time. The long braid. The flowing robes. The lightsaber attached to his belt. Her hand came up to her chest. "He *is* a Jedi." She turned to Cordé and frowned. "Why would a Jedi look at me like that?"

"I don't know, m'lady. Why don't you ask him?"

"I think I will." Against her better judgment, she slipped away from her handmaidens and took a few steps toward him. "What am I doing?"

"I don't know," the young man's soft, deep voice answered in an accent she didn't recognize. She jumped, but he flashed a warm, crooked smile when he said, "I keep asking myself the same question."

Padmé inhaled sharply. He could hear her. "Oh!" She covered her mouth with her hand.

"Hi." A shaky grin spread across his face.

She returned his nervous smile. "Hi." She looked down at her hands. On the Senate floor, she was renowned as a great orator. Now, faced with a handsome young man, she was so tongue-tied, she couldn't even introduce herself.

He extended his hand. "I'm Anakin."

"Padmé." She touched his proffered hand.

When their hands met for the first time, she stared into his eyes and felt something she couldn't describe, but wanted to last forever. It was intoxicating, like nothing she had ever experienced.

But, too soon, the moment was broken.

"Anakin!" an older man with a neatly trimmed beard exclaimed. "How did you get away again?"

"My Master," Anakin groaned apologetically. "I have to go." He still clung to her hand.

Padmé smiled. "Goodbye, Anakin." Without conscious thought, her fingers unclenched. It was as if something not of her own power had made her drop his hand. "Will I see you again?"

"Count on it," he breathed. "I'm going to marry you someday."

Then, before she realized what had happened, as quickly as he had appeared in her life, he was gone.

"Marry me?" she whispered. Her hand came up to cover her open mouth as she watched Anakin and his master disappear into the crowd.

"Senator!" one of her handmaidens called. "What are you doing? The committee meeting is going to start without you."

She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to regain at least some air of professionalism. "Sorry. Coming." And with that, she turned on her heel and strode through the Senate's large, metal doors and into the antechamber.

#

Obi-Wan put a hand on Anakin's shoulder and turned him away from Padmé. "Walk. Now," he said in a harsh staccato.

Taking a final glance at Padmé's retreating form, Anakin sighed with contentment. As she took the last steps into the Senate building, he marveled at the way her hair swayed in time with her skirt. "Wow," he said under his breath. And then, she was gone.

"Wow is right, Anakin. I thought you were right behind me," Obi-Wan's startled voice continued.

The only thing that could wipe the lovesick smile from his face was the sound of his master's voice. Anakin took a moment to collect his thoughts, then turned his attention to the irritated Jedi next to him. "I was. Until I got . . . distracted."

"Distracted, indeed." Obi-Wan continued walking without turning his head. "It will never happen, Anakin. You are a Jedi, she's a senator."

Anakin's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond.

Obi-Wan shook his head and muttered, "How did you get away from me again? You were right behind me."

After a pause, Anakin said, "I'm behind you now." His eyes twinkled with mischief, knowing Obi-Wan was in no mood for teasing.

"So you are. Let's go!" Obi-Wan held a piece of Anakin's sleeve in his hand as he dragged the young man toward the Temple.

"Do I need to follow you around like a youngling?

"Anakin, you are still my padawan learner. Until you become a knight yourself, you must do as I say."

Anakin stomped and tried to squirm out of Obi-Wan's grasp. "But do you really need to drag me? I can walk by myself."

"I don't trust you. I have lost you too many times today. I'm not letting go until we reach the Temple." Although he was hiding it from Anakin, Obi-Wan's lips turned up into a smile.

"But I'm an adult." Anakin squirmed to get Obi-Wan to let go of his robe. "That means you should treat me like one."

"Young one," Obi-Wan said wearily, but clearly, "you still have much to learn. And you are going to learn. Even if it kills us both."

Anakin narrowed his eyes. "What else do I have to learn?"

"You know very well." He paused for a moment, but when Anakin made no move to say anything, Obi-Wan continued, "Preparation for knighthood involves far more than simply skill with a lightsaber --"

"-- I can already beat you at any sparring match. And how many times have I saved your life? Three?"

"Two," Obi-Wan answered. "Let me finish. You are exceptionally gifted in battle, but you don't have the maturity, the inner peace a true Jedi needs."

"Sure I do." Anakin tilted his head and glared at Obi-Wan.

"Oh, you do?"

"Absolutely."

Obi-Wan tugged on Anakin's sleeve. "Being a Jedi takes a profound commitment and a peaceful mind. And I don't see that in you yet. You are still too rash, too arrogant, too headstrong. Too impatient." He laughed. "Too willing to disregard your master's orders."

"At least I listen to the important things you say." Anakin paused, amending contritely, "Sometimes. I use my . . . discretion."

"Exactly. You see, words like sometimes and discretion should have no place --"

"-- I'd pass the Trials right now if you let me try."

"You think so?" Obi-Wan laughed sardonically. "I don't think you'd last two seconds with Master Yoda or the rest of the Council."

"I know I would." Anakin shrugged. He again tried to use the Force to make Obi-Wan let go of his robes, but to no avail; Obi-Wan was anything but weak minded.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Anakin, being a Jedi Knight is not something to be taken lightly or jumped into heedlessly."

"I know, Master. I don't know how many times you've told me that."

"Ah, so you do listen."

Anakin shrugged. "I told you, I listen to the important things." The two turned around the corner and headed down the last stretch before they reached the Temple. "When you repeat it enough, I'm bound to learn something."

Obi-Wan groaned. "That tells me you are not yet ready to become a knight." He ran a hand along his beard. "Remember, I was quite a bit older than you are now when I finally became a knight."

"I know." Anakin grinned. "But we both know I'm better, so I should get to become a knight far younger than you did."

Obi-Wan glared at him. "You insolent little . . . Why do I put up with you?"

"Because you know you love me." Anakin flashed a cocky smirk. "I know, I know. Jedi neither love nor hate. Although --"

"-- Anakin!"

"I'm just saying. Love and hate are . . ."

Obi-Wan ran his free hand through his hair. "How many times do I have to tell you? Love and hate are passionate emotions. Showing any kind of passion leaves you open to the Dark Side."

Anakin sighed. "But showing passion also makes me human. Sometimes it seems like these rules were made long before any humans became Jedi. Maybe they were all like Master Yoda -- beings who do not need love. I mean, can you imagine Master Yoda in love?"

"I cannot. And the simple fact that you can scares me."

"Hmm," Anakin replied, knowing it was better not to argue.

"Patience. Your time will soon come."

As Anakin and Obi-Wan strode into the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan dropped Anakin's sleeve, and the pair went their separate ways, each lost in their private thoughts.

Once Anakin was free of Obi-Wan's watchful eye and annoying lectures, he allowed his thoughts to drift back to Padmé, the beautiful young senator from Naboo.

"Be careful, young one. Your thoughts betray you."

"Oh well," Anakin muttered. He wanted to wallow in daydreams of the woman he would marry someday. Even if Jedi weren't allowed to have feelings of love nor harbor any attachments, he would do it anyway.

After all, he didn't have to follow the stupid rules.