"What was that, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asks – demands, in fact – after Tatooine is merely a fading speck and a sand-scorched memory.

Obi-Wan places a gentling hand over his Master's, the one curled tight around his upper arm, but Qui-Gon does not falter.

"You are not to belong to anyone."

"Master – "

"Obi-Wan."

Qui-Gon's tone stops him short. He meets Qui-Gon's eyes. They are fervent, and afraid, and frighteningly vulnerable. Obi-Wan aches, past his flesh into his bones into his soul, but he does not know why.

Obi-Wan finds does not know a lot of things, lately.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon says again, softer this time, and he breaths in, out, in. "After all this, come back to me?"

Obi-Wan nods, because that seems to be the right answer, but something in Qui-Gon's expression twists. His Master steps back, and there is a moment their eyes meet, before Qui-Gon leaves.

In the space and the silence, Anakin's presence rings clearly. Obi-Wan tries not to listen.


A/N: I'm sorry it's so short. Next chap will be longer, probably.