An Open Secret
A Star Wars fanfiction by Andrew Joshua Talon, Mandemon and others
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based parody. Star Wars is the property of Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. Please support the official release.
This takes place in the midst of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith...
Despite all he had been through, waiting outside Obi-Wan's door still made him feel like a nervous little boy all over again. Especially when it came down to the topic at hand. He took deep breaths, centering himself in the Force.
He could admit he had a lot of anger towards Obi-Wan. A lot of resentment. Over what had happened to his mother, over the faked death, over his silence when the Council would not grant him the rank of Jedi Master. It wasn't so much the rank, really: Anakin knew he was good enough for it. He'd developed an entirely new fighting form with the lightsaber, for Force's sake! It was that rejection that really stung. That he had to be a spy on his own Chancellor, his friend...
This is for Padme... This is for the future, he thought hard. He took a deep breath, and rang the door chime.
"Enter," came the response and Anakin walked in. There was Obi-Wan, sitting at a desk going over reports. He looked up and smiled at him.
"Anakin!"
"Master," Anakin said in greeting.
"Ah, Anakin. I hope everything is in good order and this is just a pleasant visit," Obi-Wan said, gesturing him to sit. Anakin did indeed sit in a guest chair, taking a few calming breaths.
"I'm afraid this is going to be little bit of... Everything," Anakin said, putting his hands together and lowering his head. "I'm... Not sure where to start really."
"Oh dear," Obi-Wan said, sitting opposite of Anakin. "Sounds like you have a lot on your mind. Perhaps try to start with... oh maybe the latest?"
There was his trademark deadpan humor, but Obi-Wan's eyes were kind and concerned. So Anakin took another deep breath, and looked at the floor as though it was the most interesting thing in the galaxy.
"I am going to be a father," Anakin said. He fell silent, waiting for Obi-Wan's response. He eventually raised his head and saw Obi-Wan having stopped in the middle of stroking his beard.
"Oh," he said finally. "If I were to guess, this would be Senator Amidala?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin nodded, a little weirded out. "So, I guess congratulations are in order. I had suspected you two were more than friends, but I didn't expect this."
"Yeah, it was kinda surprise for us too," Anakin said, chuckling to himself, before taking more serious expression.
"But there is something else?"
"Yes. I have been having... dreams. For some time now," Anaking said, looking away. "Of death. Of darkness. Of losing Padme," he shook his head. "I am not sure what I can do to make sure these... dreams don't happen."
"Oh my," Obi-Wan muttered.
"I hadn't talked to you before, because I... feared how you might react to me talking about this. And I guess I resented you too... A little."
"Resented?" There was real pain in Obi-Wan's voice, and Anakin realized how much it must have hurt him to hear it. However, he merely nodded.
"It's... a long story."
"It might be better if you tell it to me. I'll make some tea for us."
And so he told him. About secrets, about how strict Obi-Wan was for the Code, his love for Padme (although he left out the marriage), about how he had come to resent Obi-Wan due to various events. How he had killed Dooku. It had been difficult at first, but it had been like the floodgates had been opened and he poured out all his fears and anger out. Obi-Wan stayed silent most of the time, only asking few clarifications here and there. Eventually, the torrent of confessions ended. Anakin was left staring down at the floor, feeling almost hollow. Only the sound of breathing filled the suddenly small room. Then, Obi-Wan spoke.
"It sounds like... you had a lot in your mind," Obi-Wan said. "While I am saddened that you have held so much within you, I am also glad that you have finally chosen to come to me with this. May I ask what caused this? It can't be merely the dreams."
"This actually started with Shaak-Ti," Anakin said. There was a noise outside and Obi-Wan rose to look outside.
"Speak of the devil..." Anakin joined him and saw Master Shaak-Ti and Master Secura fighting. Two of them were engage in a rather fierce battle in the garden underneath Obi-Wan's window, much to the joy and excitement of several younglings watching. Moments later, Mace Windu appeared and the two Masters immediately stopped fighting. They spoke with the concerned Master Windu, before nodding and departing, all smiles.
"I wonder what that was about," Obi-Wan commented.
"I think I can guess," Anakin said wryly. Obi-Wan gave him a questioning look. "Both of them are... eager... to become godmothers for the child. This whole thing actually started when Shaak-Ti came to congratulate me."
"You told her?" Obi-Wan asked, sounding hurt. Anakin held his hands up.
"She figured it out herself," Anakin nodded, as two of them returned to their seats. Obi-Wan looked a bit more relieved, then adopted a frown.
"And I'm assuming Aayla did as well?"
"Yes," Anakin said.
"Anyone else?" Obi-Wan asked dryly. "Is Master Yoda planning a baby shower?"
"It wouldn't surprise me," Anakin muttered. Obi-Wan chuckled... A chuckle that grew into an incredulous laugh when he saw no sign of Anakin joking. "S-Seriously?!"
"Deadly," Anakin confirmed. Obi-Wan held his head in his hands. "Master?"
"Are you telling me that I'm the only one who didn't know?" Obi-Wan groaned.
"I can't speak to that," Anakin said, "but given how you can become... A little distracted-"
"Honestly Anakin, it's no wonder you've come to resent me," Obi-Wan sighed, "if this is what I thought was being an attentive master."
"It could have been worse," Anakin said with a shrug.
"Comforting," Obi-Wan sighed. "Well! I guess I can't blame them. The prospect of a Jedi family..." Here Obi-Wan smiled, "I can see the appeal of being part of it."
"Please don't tell me you want to be one too," Anakin covered his face, slumping down.
"Oh no no, I have no interest to compete with the others."
"Finally, someone who doesn't want to be the godparent," Anakin sighed.
"After all, I expect you and Padme get married soon," Obi-Wan said with a grin as he leaned forward. "I want to be the best man."
Anakin coughed.
"Yeah... About that..."
Looking back, it was probably the longest, most painful conversation they'd ever had. And yet, at the end of it, Anakin felt immeasurably better: Exhausted, but less burdened. His relationship with Obi-Wan had always been complicated, with so much he had to conceal and suppress. Things he couldn't talk about.
His link to Obi-Wan was stronger now, and he could feel that his mentor and best friend was equally relieved. It let his smile on his face grow, even more genuine.
"So," Obi-Wan started, a quirk on his lips, "Artoo was your best man? I'm hurt."
Anakin chuckled - and it felt good. "Well... To be fair, he has saved me a lot more than you have."
"I beg to differ," Obi-Wan said, with mock hurt in his tone. "Once you eliminate all the times he saved us both, I clearly have the lead."
"You have to count the times he saved us both," Anakin protested. "And Ahsoka. And the Jedi. And the Republic-"
"All right, all right," Obi-Wan chuckled, holding his hands up. "I can still feel insulted you didn't invite me to the wedding. Nabooian wedding receptions have the best food, you know!"
"I preferred the wedding banquet on Alderaan," Anakin said. "That was the only time the food made up for the stuffy politicians."
"And the Councilman falling into the chocolate fountain by 'accident' obviously had nothing to do with it," Obi-Wan said dryly.
"It's not my fault he tripped at the the very moment it would be most hilarious," Anakin said, the picture of innocence. Obi-Wan laughed again, and patted his shoulder.
"So, just chalk it up to the will of the Force?"
"That's how I justified it," Anakin said, laughing back. Obi-Wan nodded.
"Yes..." They fell into a comfortable silence... One interrupted by Obi-Wan's communicator beeping. He held his wrist up and tapped the control to answer. A miniature Mace Windu appeared in his palm, looking as inscrutable as ever.
"Master Kenobi, I have some details to discuss with you regarding our next operation," Mace Windu stated. Obi-Wan nodded.
"I'll be right there," he said. He shut off the holo, and looked over at Anakin with a smile. "I still expect a reception though. To make up for not being invited to the wedding."
"I'll talk to Padme," Anakin promised. "It'd be nice to have a party that isn't for stuffy politicians."
"That we agree on," Obi-Wan said. He stood up as they made their way down the hall. Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "You know... Obi-Wan is a good name for a boy... Maybe even a girl..."
Anakin rolled his eyes and grinned. "No wonder you don't care about the godparent position: You're jockeying to be the favored uncle."
"Well, there's a lot less competition in that realm," Obi-Wan chuckled.
To be continued...