"You will never hurt anyone I love again."
Anakin blinked once. Twice. Because, quite frankly, that was a sentence he'd never imagined coming out of Obi-Wan Kenobi's mouth. Especially in front of him.
"Master?" he rasped.
"It will be alright, dear one," said Obi-Wan, never taking his eyes off Maul. "We'll be home soon enough."
Anakin nodded, heart hammering in his chest as he watched Maul casually spin his staff and slowly begin to walk around the room. The Force screamed in his ears and he felt suffocated by the cloud of darkness enveloping the room. Instinctively, he reached out to his Master, grasping for his serene presence, but to his surprise he was met with a wall. Obi-Wan had closed himself off, wrapped behind shuddering shields. Anakin shivered. Though he and Obi-Wan often closed themselves off temporarily, he had never felt the undercurrent of anger that threatened to seep from behind the older Jedi's powerful shields.
"It's rather unfair of you to make promises you can't keep, isn't it Kenobi?" said Maul, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Did you tell your dear Master something similar before I delivered him back to the Force?"
Obi-Wan inhaled sharply but said nothing, merely adjusting his position to ensure he was between Anakin and Maul at all times.
"Step aside, Kenobi," purred Maul. "Can't you see your apprentice is suffering? Let me kill him quickly. Mercifully."
"I beat you once, Maul," said Obi-Wan through gritted teeth. "I have little doubt I will do so again."
"But even then you failed. Your Master died. And I lived. I lived and because you let me live, your apprentice will soon die." He laughed faintly. "I'm grateful for our short acquaintance, of course. The hours of rapture I spent carving his flesh, you should have heard his screams- "
"Master," whispered Anakin, watching Obi-Wan with wide eyes. The undercurrent of anger he had sensed before was rising to the surface, and Anakin could see his master starting to shake with rage. "Obi-Wan, it's alright. I'm fine, I'm gonna be fine- "
"Oh yes, once I skewer you I'm sure you'll live in the afterlife quite peacefully," laughed Maul.
"That's enough!" snarled Obi-Wan. He shifted his stance slightly and Anakin realized that Obi-Wan was preparing to take the first strike, a move that the normally patient Soresu master rarely used. The fury Anakin felt in the Force was bubbling now, and all his senses screamed through the haze of pain that something was wrong with Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan, who always cautioned restraint, who never let volatile emotions impact his strategy, who spread his calm and peace through words before he ever touched his lightsaber, Obi-Wan who never let his anger show.
"That's enough, Maul," Obi-Wan repeated. "I know that Anakin and I will never be safe as long as you breathe. So, this time," he said tensing ever so slightly, "I'll be sure to finish the job."
"Master!" screamed Anakin as Obi-Wan leapt across the room, Maul raising his staff just in time to block Obi-Wan's strike with a feral growl.
"Good," said Maul, "I cannot wait to see you fail again."
What am I doing? Calm yourself!
Obi-Wan grunted as he blocked Maul's attempt to swipe at his legs. The Sith wasn't holding anything back and Obi-Wan was having trouble analyzing his opponent's style. It was strange. He remembered quite well every detail of Maul's fighting form, his turns, his strikes, his leaps. Their battle on Naboo had been burned into his mind from the hundreds of times he had lain at night going through the fight, wondering what he could have done differently.
Why am I so unfocused? Concentrate!
He could attribute his difficulty to predicating Maul's movements to a dozen things, be it time or Maul's new legs, but he knew better. The Sith was ripping free a darkness that had sprung from his grief a decade ago, tearing at a wound Obi-Wan had tried desperately to heal with time.
Maul hissed as Obi-Wan's lightsaber grazed his arm. "Having some trouble, are we Master Kenobi?" spat Maul as he threw Obi-Wan across with room with a Force push.
"Not at all," panted Obi-Wan, quickly recovering and leaping to the side as Maul slashed through the wall he had landed on. "I'm just being considerate. After all, you had such difficulty beating a mere apprentice the first time we met. I wouldn't want to you to try anything too difficult just yet."
Maul growled, moving into a succession of strikes. "Your wit won't save you or your Padawan."
Obi-Wan parried. Barely. "No," he said, "Fortunately, this a battle of sabers, not wits. I would hate to challenge an unarmed opponent."
"Funny," said Maul, slashing at Obi-Wan's stomach, "Where was this delightful banter the first time we met? I suppose watching your idiot master fall was quite the distraction."
Obi-Wan ignored him, trying to quell the anger rising inside as he swung at Maul's neck. The Sith blocked him easily and laughed, throwing the Jedi Master against the wall again. "Yes, perhaps I'm using the wrong tactic." The Sith grinned and turned to where Anakin was watching the fight breathlessly.
"I do think you'll fight much better with a loved one dying on the floor."
"No!" shouted Obi-Wan as Maul stretched his arm out to Anakin and pinned the young Jedi to the wall with Force, Anakin helplessly clawing at his neck with his left arm as he writhed against the wall choking.
"Release him!" cried Obi-Wan eyes widening as he watched Anakin gasp for air. He began to run at Maul only to have the Sith laugh and hold out his other arm to Obi-Wan, signaling him to stop.
"Take another step and I'll snap his neck," said Maul and Obi-Wan skidded to a halt some feet away from the Sith lord, eyes darting between Maul and Anakin.
Obi-Wan's heart was hammering in his chest. He could feel Anakin's presence in the Force, already so fragile, fading rapidly as the young Jedi's struggles lost strength. Grief welled inside him as he saw the flames of Qui-Gon's funeral pyre in his mind's eye, the flames growing brighter as he pictured Anakin lying on a pyre beside him, burning.
Obi-Wan squeezed his eyes shut, the sound of Maul's laughter and Anakin's choking gasps fading out as time seemed to slow around him. He focused on his anger, drawing it up from the depths he guarded ferociously, and let it burst, his rage giving him a razor-sharp focus and power that he felt settle around him.
He would not lose to Maul.
He would not lose anyone today.
He was going to kill Maul.
Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open. Sensing a shift in the Force, Maul turned toward Obi-Wan, eyes widening as he took in the sight of the Jedi Master. Without lifting his arms, Obi-Wan marshalled the Force around him and whipped it towards Maul, launching the surprised Sith into a wall as Anakin collapsed on the floor, coughing.
Calmly, Obi-Wan walked over to where he had dropped his lightsaber, carefully lifting the weapon up and dusting it off before turning to Maul. "Get up," he said, quietly, "We have a battle to finish."
Maul grunted in pain, the powerful attack having left him with at least a few broken ribs. He looked up at the Jedi Master, who stood before him with tattered robes and a calm expression on his face.
But the Force was swirling dangerously around the Jedi, the man's peaceful light mixing fiercely with currents of dark anger and hatred. Looking at Obi-Wan's face, Maul saw flecks of gold glinting in the Obi-Wan's normally grey eyes.
And for the first time in years, Maul was afraid.
Anakin winced in pain as his coughing agitated many broken bones and burns. He blinked a few times, trying to regain his bearings. He could hear Obi-Wan talking, and though his voice was steady and calm, as it always was, the Force around his Master felt different.
It felt dark.
Squinting, Anakin saw Maul slowly get up, one arm wrapped around his chest as he summoned his staff to him with the Force. Anakin frowned. The Sith had seemed like he had the upper hand just a few minutes ago, but now he was looking at Obi-Wan with something like fear in his eyes. Anakin supposed he should feel relieved, but instead he felt a cold uneasiness settle over him.
"Obi-Wan," he whispered, looking at his Master. He felt his breath leave him as he looked at Obi-Wan's face and saw the man's kind eyes flickering between gold and grey. "Obi-Wan, no…"
But Obi-Wan didn't hear him. He ignited his lightsaber and easily blocked Maul's attack as the Sith sprang from the wall. With a flick of his wrist, Obi-Wan sent Maul crashing into the wall again, the dark side riding on his shoulders like a cape.
Maul launched himself at Obi-Wan, furious that he had lost ground and desperate to end the fight, but Obi-Wan, always a daunting opponent, countered every strike with a precision and focus amplified by a deadly passion. His attacks were difficult to predict, and Maul soon found himself with several cuts on his body as Obi-Wan mercilessly exploited every hole in his defense.
But with every strike that Obi-Wan landed on Maul, Anakin could feel the darkeness in his Master growing.
Anakin knew he was no stranger to the darkness himself. He had mostly resigned himself to the fact that his soul would always be tainted by the pull of the dark side, especially after the massacre on Tattooine all those years ago.
But Obi-Wan was a creature of the light. To imagine him even grazed by darkness… it was unthinkable. Obi-Wan thrived in the light. Anakin, even in his worst moments, loved to feel the kind and generous light of Obi-Wan's presence soothe him, washing him with a peace that he rarely managed to attain for himself.
Anakin had given up on himself a long time ago. But Obi-Wan had always anchored Anakin to the light. Now Anakin would do the same for his friend.
"AHHH!" screamed Maul as Obi-Wan cleanly sliced away his right arm. Anakin watched as his Master took another step forward and easily cut through the Maul's robotic legs, and then his other arm. The Sith shrieked with rage and hit the ground with a painful thump, looking up at Obi-Wan with crazed eyes.
"Master," called Anakin as strongly his could, ignoring the firey pain in his throat. "Master, don't kill him. Not like this."
"I will do what I must, Anakin," said Obi-Wan softly, never taking his eyes off the creature before him. "He will not stop until he's dead."
"He's unarmed. We'll take him back to the Jedi Temple," pleaded Anakin. "Or," he said desperately, "Let me kill him. It doesn't matter if I Fall. But I can't let you kill him like this, Obi-Wan. Please. Come back."
"No," said Obi-Wan. "I will end this now. I won't let him hurt anyone again." He took another step towards Maul, lightsaber raised as the Force screamed around them.
"Obi-Wan!" cried. Anakin. He summoned what little strength he had left and sent all of his love for his Master through their bond. He held nothing back. His gratitude for Obi-Wan's patience, the joy of their shared laughs, the comfort they found in each on the battlefield. He sent him memories of the day he taught Anakin how to swim, the day of Anakin's knighting, the day Obi-Wan had accidentally married a princess during one of their diplomatic missions, all memories filled with light and love.
Obi-Wan froze as Anakin's feelings washed over him, battering away the rage and passion swirling around him. His eyes flickered.
"Obi-Wan," panted Anakin, recalling the cherished dream he'd had not long ago. "Remember the day I taught you to sew? Remember? We fixed it together. Please. We can fix anything together. Just- don't do this. Come back. Please."
The seconds seemed to stretch into hours as Anakin watched Obi-Wan tower over Maul, sending all his love for the man who had raised him through the Force. This had work. It had to.
"Anakin," murmured Obi-Wan. "I-" He closed his eyes and held onto Anakin tightly in the Force, allowing their two signatures to meld together. The Force sang with joy as they connected more strongly than they had even before the Rako Hardeen debacle. Their signatures shone in the Force and for a moment the universe collapsed around them until they were the only beings left floating in the ruins, their souls beaming as one.
Gently, gently they released each other. Obi-Wan took another breath, and Anakin's heart leapt when he saw Obi-Wan's clear grey eyes open once again. His master was radiating with the light of the Force, his power even more prominent than it been before. He deactivated his lightsaber and with a calm wave of his hand sent Maul into unconsciousness.
"Master," smiled Anakin weakly, slumped on the floor. "You-you did it."
"I think I have you to thank for that, dear one," said Obi-Wan smiling down at him as knelt beside his former apprentice and pulled him into his arms. "Thank you, Anakin. Truly."
"No," murmured Anakin, through half-closed eyes as he pressed himself against Obi-Wan's chest. "Thank you, Master. For everything. I-I'm sorry. I've been terrible-"
"Anakin-"
"No," said Anakin closing his eyes. "R-really. I'm sorry." For so, so, so many things.
Obi-Wan sighed and gently pressed a kiss to Anakin's forehead. "You have nothing to apologize for. We can talk about everything later."
Anakin nodded, feeling his broken body start to shut down. He was exhausted beyond belief.
"Anakin?" prodded Obi-Wan worriedly. "Try to stay awake, okay? We need to get you out of here and check you over."
"What about Savage?" mumbled Anakin cracking his eyes open.
"Ah, I, um, believe, Ahsoka was taking care of him," said Obi-Wan sheepishly as Anakin's eyes widened.
"You brought Ahsoka-"
"It's a long story," sighed Obi-Wan as he searched for the little Togruta's presence in the Force. Sure enough, he could sense her speeding towards their location. "I think she's on her way."
No sooner had he spoken than Ahsoka burst through the door, taking in the battered room and spotting Obi-Wan and Anakin on the floor.
"Master!" she exclaimed rushing over to them. "Are you alright?" she asked kneeling down beside Anakin and placing a gentle hand on his chest.
"Never better, Snips," grinned Anakin weakly, wishing he could pat her hand but too tired to move more than his mouth.
"Really?" said Ahsoka lifting an eyebrow. "Because you look even uglier than usual."
"It's called being 'ruggedly handsome,' Snips," said Anakin, eyes closing again despite himself.
Ahsoka looked at Obi-Wan with concern. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"I'm not sure," said Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka could hear the worry in his voice as well. He shifted Anakin slightly in his arms, preparing him for transport. "I don't think Maul will be awake for a while, but we should probably tie him to something before we leave. We'll send word to the Council for another team to come pick him up."
"I don't think he could do much damage even if he was awake," said Ahsoka skeptically as she saw Maul's limbless body. "But I'll take care of it while you get Anakin to the ship. I don't think Savage will be waking up for a while. I collapsed a hallway on him with my detonators."
"Good girl," smiled Obi-Wan but his smile vanished when Anakin moaned softly. Sending a pulse through the Force, Obi-Wan's heart began to race. Anakin was truly in bad shape.
"We have to get him to the Temple. Fast," said Ahsoka with wide eyes, sensing Obi-Wan's concern. "He needed medical attention yesterday."
"The Temple's too far," said Obi-Wan, standing with Anakin in his arms. "It'll take too long to get him proper attention if we try to make it back."
"Where else can we go?" said Ahsoka worriedly. "I don't think Ithor has the best medical facilities…who's nearby that'll help us?"
Obi-Wan thought for a moment before his lit eyes up. "Mandalore's nearby. I have contacts there."
Ahsoka nodded. "Mandalore it is."