Where Repercussions Begin
"Go see your wife. You need a break."
That was the line that currently had Anakin Skywalker, promising Senior Padawan and apprenticed to Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, stomping down the streets of Coruscant in a miserably irritated huff, fit to glare anyone into submission if they got in his way.
His master, Obi-Wan, had been in the Halls of Healing of the Jedi Temple for just over two weeks since Anakin had felt him out in the middle of nowhere and raced off to save him. This after being believed dead for months. Needless to say, after finally getting his master back (his real master. Not Master Mundi or any other member of the Order, because nobody could be his master the way Obi-Wan was...) Anakin had refused to leave his master's side for any reason, save using the refresher or getting changed to a fresh set of clothes.
Obi-Wan needed him. That first week back, Anakin's master had not been able to make the clear delineation between what was real and what was a dream unless Anakin started tugging fiercely at their bond, and even then there were times that Obi-Wan wasn't all there.
This was, of course, understandable, given what he'd been through. From the brief flashes that Anakin had seen and the words Obi-Wan spoke when he wasn't quite aware of things, he'd been through things that no living being in the whole galaxy deserved. And whenever Obi-Wan started to have these flashbacks, Anakin would reach through their training bond and yank all that pain, fear, desperation, worry, heartache, anxiety, uncertainty, etc. out and release it to the Force; because Obi-Wan was having difficulty.
Apparently, much to Anakin's horror, there had been a Mask. A terrible, cruel Sith Mask that had caused Obi-Wan more anguish than any other torturous, traumatic experience he'd been through on Rattatak; so much that his master was almost tentative at times to reach out to the Force and its welcoming calm and healing.
... Unless Obi-Wan thought Anakin was suffering. Then all thoughts on whether or not he could actually touch the Force were forgotten as he tried to do things he didn't really have the strength or balance to do yet, which just made Anakin worry all the more.
Obi-Wan was family; the only real family that Anakin had in the entire Order. He tried so hard to help him, but if Obi-Wan thought Anakin was in trouble, he'd come running. It was an instinct of his master's that Anakin really cherished some times, but at moments like this, he wished Obi-Wan had at least a little sense of self-preservation.
Anakin let out a long sigh.
Obi-Wan was doing better. The main reason he was still in the Halls of Healing had to do entirely with the sheer damage that had been done to him. Even after a few dunks in a bacta tank, the damage that the muscle maggots had done was extensive and damn near debilitating. Every day had three separate two-hour sessions with a healer and a Healing Crystal of Fire to repair and reconnect the damaged tissues from the tunnels the maggots had eaten. Master Yoda also came every day, just to help Obi-Wan with releasing the trauma to the Force.
Anakin had taken to meditating with them as well, so that he could help siphon the pain away. He meditated with Obi-Wan regularly after Geonosis, and it felt so good to be able to do so again. He'd missed it. He'd missed the solid, strong, glowing presence of his master in the Force. He still missed it, because Obi-Wan was anything but solid, strong or glowing. Instead he was trembling, weak, and shadowed. So Anakin would do what Obi-Wan did for Anakin whenever Anakin struggled. He would gently pull Obi-Wan through meditations as Yoda guided where to go.
He had vowed he'd be there for his family, especially since he couldn't be there for his mother. And for Obi-Wan to turn and tell him to go away? No way. No way in Correllian hell.
But no, Obi-Wan said that Anakin needed a break. A break.
"I'm supposed to take a break when you haven't had a break since Ventress got her claws into you? No, Master, I'm staying right here."
And Obi-Wan was grateful and appreciative. His shields so damaged that Anakin had no trouble at all picking up how his master, his father, his brother, was so infinitely glad that Anakin was there and not a dream.
"You need me, Obi-Wan. I'm not going anywhere."
But Obi-Wan, the famed Negotiator that the HoloNet loved to talk about had brought every skill and tactic to bear.
"You are correct, Anakin. I need you. But you can't help me if you're two seconds from passing out from exhaustion."
Anakin growled as he continued to stomp down the darkening streets as night fell.
"I need you. More than I care to admit. But you need the reserves to be there for me. And you've been draining those reserves since you found me."
Swearing heatedly under his breath, Anakin cast out his senses to make sure the coast was clear.
"And the best way for you to recharge, though I'd rather not think about how, is for you to go see your wife. Relax. Regain your equilibrium. When you come back in the morning, I'll still need you. Now go take a break."
Why, oh why did Obi-Wan have to make so much sense?
So Anakin was approaching Padme's apartment in quite the huff.
The one bright spot that he focused on as he started to move through shadows was that Padme hadn't heard that Obi-Wan was still alive. The reporters hadn't even known yet and so, to the public at large, Obi-Wan was still presumed dead. This had been decided by Palpatine the moment he'd seen Obi-Wan's condition, the Chancellor saying that the Jedi Knight would not need to be pestered during his recovery. The Council had agreed and was grateful that he would not even mention this to the Senate.
So Anakin took a little heart that he would be visiting his wife, not to cry in her arms again about the loss of his family, but to rejoice that Obi-Wan was alive and would make a full recovery.
A deep breathe. Release frustration. A deep breathe. Anticipate telling Padme the good news.
A grin spread across his face as a security officer for the building walked past. A Force-assisted leap, jump, and flip later, and Anakin had landed on Padme's balcony. A tap at the door and Threepio let him in and greeted him, chattering as he always did.
"Greetings, Master Ani," the golden droid chirped, already taking Anakin's hooded robe. "Mistress Padme is relaxing in her room. Shall I start a dinner for two?"
"That sounds excellent," he replied quietly, hoping to surprise his wife. "Make Padme's favorite. Tonight's a celebration."
Anakin had to admit: as much as he hated leaving Obi-Wan, his heart had lifted when he'd arrived.
"A celebration?"
He didn't respond, grinning as he silently padded down the hall, hearing the HoloNet on as Padme often had on when she was going through itineraries or papers that she didn't particularly want to.
"Of course, what we really want to know-" a female reporter was saying as Anakin leaned at the door, "is what Padawan Skywalker will do to his hair once he's knighted. We all know it can't be much longer till he clips that braid, and all the women that wish to woo him want to know what he'll do. Many Jedi wear their hair long. Will Padawan Skywalker do the same, or will he imitate his late, handsome master, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, and keep a short, neat style? Maybe he'll grow a beard as well, though I personally think his smile is too handsome to be hidden by facial hair."
"Such drivel," Anakin offered, a cocky grin spread across his face.
Padme looked up, somewhat startled, the datapad in her hand falling to the bed. "Anakin!" she cried out, getting up in a flash and hurtling her arms around him. She was always so glad to see him as he was her. Just feeling her in his arms, safe, and her joy bubbling through the bond he shared with her lifted his heavy heart, turning his grin into a full blown smile.
"Hey, Padme," he whispered into her hair.
Pulling back, she kissed him hard, throwing all her passion, love, and how much she missed him into the kiss. It was like a balm over the lingering headache he'd had since Obi-Wan's return. They stayed like that for some time, kissing fiercely, reacquainting each other with touch and breath.
They had only been married for just over a year, and with all the chaos and horror and wrong that surrounded them in this war, they both savored any chance they got together.
Anakin held her tight, relishing her presence and letting it sooth aches he hadn't even noticed. She sometimes seemed fascinated with touch. She always had his hand or was leaning on his shoulder. Even if they were out on a mission together with other Senators or Jedi around, she would find a way to casually brush against him, even with just a hand. Now her touch was going from a gentle caress to something a little more needy, and Anakin pulled away with a smile.
"Now, now, my angel, we'll miss the dinner Threepio's making."
She pouted, and leaned against him. "I've missed you, Ani," she said softly.
"I know," he replied, squeezing her tightly. "Come on. Let's have a seat and catch up."
They walked arm in arm to her common room and sat on her couch. Anakin was already pulling her feet up to his lap to massage them and she melted into it, sinking into the cushions. "This is the happiest I've seen you in a while," she observed.
Anakin's smile only grew. "I know. And with good reason."
"Don't tell me Master Mundi is sick of you and suggesting you be knighted?"
"Pfft. Please." He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as he kneaded the heel of his hand into the arch of her foot. "No, I have a far better reason to be smiling right now."
"Oh please share. I could use some good news. Things in the Senate have been awful this week."
Anakin grinned widely. "Oh? I wish to know how much my good news is needed. Tell me, what's been going on while I've been out in the boondocks?"
Padme scowled at him and tried to kick him with the foot he was massaging, though without much force behind it. "You're mean, holding onto this golden nugget of yours till I've filled you in."
"You know you want to rant and rave, angel."
Her bottom lip pushed out in an adorable pout and Anakin swore he just fell in love all over again.
Padme gave him one final glare before launching into just what had been going on while Anakin was fighting in the Outer Rim. Apparently frustration was mounting in the Senate and the democratic process was slowing from a bantha stroll to a slug's slithering crawl. Every vote, no matter what, several systems that were still in the Republic couldn't show up due to having to return to their systems because the war was ravaging their planets and they had to tend to their people. Why, just this week alone, there was a bill that Padme was against on the Senate floor and while there was a decent sized turnout for the vote, almost a thousand systems weren't there for the debate and, thus, were uninformed. So the vote went badly. And this was a continual pattern that seemed to be getting worse and worse.
This was to say nothing of all the new bills in the Senate about how to conduct the war effort that had nothing to do with the real problems that several Senators tried to address like hunger, poverty, piracy, and the normal interplanetary disputes that happened outside of the war. Everything had been muddled and nothing was getting done.
Just that day, Padme's home planet of Naboo had called, urging her to come home about some matter when there was an important vote in two day's time that she needed to be there for. It was all so frustrating.
By the time she finished her tale, the two were sitting at the meal Threepio had prepared, sipping some wine. Padme sat back with a huff, finally done recounting the week she had so despised.
"And I missed you," she muttered.
Anakin couldn't stop the soft smile on his face as he reached through the bond he'd made with her to pull some of her frustration and release it to the Force. It was not the easiest task to do, Padme was not Force-sensitive and her natural shielding was delicate. With time, he was sure her mind would let him help without resistance, but for now, especially with how new the bond was and how little it was used, he felt like he was trying to help a youngling with the most basic Force lessons that required a great deal of delicacy.
She didn't even notice what he was doing, but she did react by turning to him with a smile.
Threepio came in with the dessert plates and Padme gave a happy sigh.
"What prompted you to go with my favorites?" she asked, turning to him.
"Master Ani said that tonight was a night of celebration," the protocol droid answered, setting down the plates. "Shall I get you more wine?"
"No, Threepio," Anakin replied. "We'll be fine. Why don't you power down for the night?"
Threepio gave a soft sigh. "Of course, Master Ani. I'm sure I'll be informed of whatever good news you bear at some point, seeing as how I'm not worth being informed now." The golden droid quietly departed.
"So," Padme sipped her wine again. "You've had me ranting and raving all night and holding on to your good news for a couple of hours now." She dipped her head and batted her eyes. "So, Master Skywalker, would you care to share what has you grinning from ear to ear?"
Anakin broke out in another smile, happiness radiating off of him. "It really isn't that much," he said softly. "Obi-Wan is alive."
Padme stared at him for a moment, her face frozen in the sly smile she had been aiming at him. Then the news started to register. Her eyes widened, her smile slacked as her jaw dropped, her head sank forward off of the hand she'd been resting it on.
"What?" Her voice was the faintest whisper.
"Obi-Wan is alive," Anakin repeated just as quietly, joy bubbling up in him and he felt vaguely like just laughing in happiness and excitement. "He's alive and above all he's home." Tears were shining in Padme's eyes, but Anakin couldn't see them very well because his vision was getting blurry.
"He's alive," he said again, bringing a hand to his eyes and scrubbing at them as so much emotion suddenly swelled in him. "He's alive; he's alive; he's alive..." He gave a chocked sob and Padme's arms were suddenly around him, holding him as he fell apart. He hadn't allowed himself to break since he first felt his master along the bond that had been silent for so long. "He's alive," he whispered. Oh stars above, Obi-Wan was alive. Anakin had never really allowed himself to believe that his family was dead, but after so many months of nothing, hope had shrunken to the tiniest pinprick of light in a sea of dark despair. All the worry, heartache, frustration, sense of loss, everything that had been building during those long months his master was missing, was suddenly battling for his attention along with the sheer relief that Obi-Wan was alive and safe and home.
"Oh Anakin," Padme breathed in his ear. "I'm so happy for you. And me. And him." He held her tightly, feeling her relief match with his. "When can I see him? Is he okay? Where has he been? What happened?"
He couldn't answer her questions through the sobbing, as emotions were released through breath, tears, and trembling instead of quiet mediation and dedication to the Force. For a long time, they just held each other, feeling overwhelming emotions and letting them just go. An emotional storm that was just as needed as a Jedi's meditation or a Senator's tightly controlled appearance for things so strong and so large that hadn't been dealt with except in small bursts.
Finally, with a last sob, Anakin leaned back, rubbing a sleeve over his face and Padme dabbed her eyes with a napkin. He took a deep breath and chuckled. "Yeah, um, what were your questions again?"
His beautiful wife gave a watery laugh, still holding one of his hands. "Start at the beginning, Ani. How did you find Obi-Wan and bring him home?"
Anakin had no problem sharing the story. He tried to explain some of the more ethereal things about the Force, like how the bond that was cold and silent, but still there had suddenly jumped to focus, pain, and determination. He glossed over quite a few things, however. Padme knew that war was horror and death and blood. But Anakin himself couldn't repeat some of the things that Obi-Wan had let slip. He hadn't even dealt with it yet, knowing just what sort of horrors his brother/father had gone through. He couldn't deal with it yet, because he needed to focus on helping Obi-Wan deal with it first. Plus, Obi-Wan was a private person. This would be his to share if he wanted to, not Anakin's.
Padme got the gist, however.
"That does it," she said passionately. "I've been thinking of this after some of your horror stories, but this? What poor Obi-Wan has gone through? I'm proposing a bill to the Senate tomorrow to give all our soldiers, Jedi, clone or citizen, extended time off after such harrowing and debilitating battles. They need the time off to recuperate properly." She stalked back to the common room and picked up a datapad, already jotting down notes on what she would say and whom she would seek for support.
Anakin couldn't help but smile as his love for her surged forward yet again. Padme, so very kind and compassionate would fight for those who needed it. Her gentle heart seemed so rare in the galaxy. Every mission that Anakin went out on since he became a Padawan showed some of the worst that the galaxy had to offer. It wasn't that he didn't see good people, but he never saw good people at their best. Padme was the only person he'd ever seen who, even at her worst when facing down the Trade Federation, remained as pure as she was at her best. And she chose him to share her life with.
Anakin was so very lucky.
They talked about Padme's proposal for a while, Anakin offering some stories that both he and some of his troops in the 501st had been through and the time needed for sufficient recovery versus what was really given.
But eventually, a loving squeeze lead to a gentle caress. A caress led to a sweet kiss. Well, they were newlyweds.
Padme lay under Anakin, gorgeous and exposed as Anakin broke off his possessive kiss long enough to smile at her and rub a thumb along her cheek. She gave a pleading whimper and Anakin, as always, sought to make her happy.
Unfortunately, it was during this moment of shared love and happiness that Anakin lost sense of reality.
A sharp serrated knife was scraped along the bottom of his feet, methodically across, then up an down until the pads of his feet were a grid of bleeding. His chains were taken from the wall and yanked. He stood on his abused feet and walked, head held high. He was pulled from his cell, down the rocky, dirty hallway, to a cavern where a long table was heavily laden down with food.
"It's very simple," was the cruel female hiss. "You may eat your fill as long as you stay on your feet."
And suddenly his stomach was growling and reminding him that he hadn't been fed in... how many days was it? Yet there was no choice. So with quiet dignity, he stepped forward, leaving smears of blood on the floor.
"Anakin!"
With a blink, he was back in reality, head somewhere between pounding and exploding, Padme tightly clutching his shoulders. "Anakin! Ani, what's wrong?"
"Padme?" he asked, looking around, surprised to find himself in her apartment instead of that dirty, long hallway that had driven rocks, dirt and grit into the open wounds on his feet. Then he realized what had happened.
"Sith kriffin' hells!" he groaned, toppling forward, hands clutching his head. Gasping for breath, he focused inward, reaching along the bond with Obi-Wan, feeling the wisps of the flashbacks that were more powerful than anything he'd gone through since his return. He dug through the flashback, ignoring images of feet being cut open again as soon as Obi-Wan had used the Force to close the wounds, images of hands bearing similar cuts trying to grasp the food that was being offered, until Anakin finally reached the painful core where Obi-Wan was shuddering.
"Master," Anakin growled through the bond. "Snap out of it!"
Padme's hands on his shoulders tightened and she stopped trying to get his attention, letting him do his Jedi thing that she didn't understand. He was aware of her placing a kiss on his forehead, but that was all as his attention was focused on pulling Obi-Wan away from the flashback and back to reality.
"That's not real, Obi-Wan. You're safe dammit. You wanted me to have a break, and you'd kill me if I had to cut it short and come back, so wake up!"
And with a gasp, Anakin felt Obi-Wan jerk back to himself.
Ahhh, owww.
Obi-Wan! You're back!
Anakin? What...?
You were having a flashback.
Frustration. A deep sigh. I know I said I'd need you in the morning, I certainly wasn't planning this early.
Should I-
No, my dear Padawan. Stay with Padme. Enjoy yourself.
Anakin sighed.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, Master."
"Ani," Padme leaned over him.
He took a deep breath, trying to still his heart to a more normal heart rate. His head was still pounding, but he raised a hand and cupped his angel's cheek. "He was having a flashback. Horrible, evil, evil bitch. Doesn't even deserve a swift death," he growled, focusing on his breath. In. Out. In Out. "Dragged me through the bond. That bitch. That bitch. That damned bitch." In. Out. Release it. It was over. Release. "That fucking, kriffing bitch."
Padme leaned forward, kissing him softly. He let her love wash away his anger and almost unquenchable thirst for revenge.
"I had to pull Obi-Wan out of it." He ran a hand through her hair. "That's the first time I've seen more than an image or a feeling."
She leaned forward, putting her head on his chest. "It must have been horrible. You were screaming."
"Was I?"
"Uh-hm. Good thing I've already had the apartment soundproofed for other reasons."
He gave a soft chuckle. "Mind if I just hold you tonight?"
"Anything you need, Ani. Anything at all."
Author's Notes: Naughty Anakin! Shame on you for thinking you could enjoy Padme while Obi-Wan's struggling. And shame on Obi-Wan for thinking he could handle it himself! Now, what ARE the odds of a bond being deep enough that Anakin didn't just sense his master emotions and thoughts, but physically saw a flashback? Hm... (whistles innocently) If you still haven't figured out what Ani did, we'll hold off just a little bit more, but it will be mentioned, promise!
Some of you commented on seeing Padme earlier, and while the fic is undoubtedly Ani-Obi bonding, Padme will slowly start getting more scenes as her own role starts to spin in different directions than the movie. (Will she die in childbirth? Haven't decided yet... (We're lying, the fic is already done and written, but we're still not telling:P)) Regardless, we find it worthy of note that Anakin and Padme really ARE newlyweds, and one can only imagine what all those stolen moments were spent doing. Given how rarely they were together with Anakin's deployment, it's a miracle Padme got pregnant at all...
Some more allusions to Obi-Wan's torture, again cut down to the very bare basics. This is the last we'll touch on it for a while, but we will be referencing it again later in the fic (er, really; it's a life-changing experience, Obi's not going to shrug it off that easily. Neither is Anakin, for that matter :P
Next week: Padme pays a sickbed visit.