This one is a little silly and was inspired by a real-life conversation, which I won't get into detail about because the person involved would die of embarrassment...

As always, leave a comment, feedback is appreciated!

Day 8: Everything Hurts and I'm Dying

Prompt: Stomach Pain

Anakin was late. It was nothing new, but between the list of things they had to accomplish and the latest progress report he'd gotten from Anakin's instructors, it was just one more thing that irritated Obi-Wan.

The boy had been moody and stand-offish as of late, borderline aggressive at times, and reticent about, well, everything.

Quinlan had laughed at him, good-naturedly of course, at his concerns, offering very little in the way of advice in dealing with a teenager. His other friends, most of whom had little experience with padawans couldn't exactly help him either. It was really no wonder that he didn't often reach out for advice and preferred to handle things on his own.

Obi-Wan glanced at the chrono, sipping his tea, and was about to get up to go get him personally when he saw Anakin finally walk into the refractory. He got a brief glance of eye contact as Anakin searched him out and then nothing as the boy shuffled over, sitting down at the table.

He looked tired, nothing new given the early hour. If left to his own devices, he'd sleep well past the midday meal.

"Good morning," Obi-Wan said, cautiously. He edged the second tray over to Anakin, raising a brow as Anakin accepted it without enthusiasm. He sipped the tea and made a face.

"It would have been warm, had you been on time. Now eat up, we have quite a bit to do today."

"Yes, master," Anakin muttered, picking at the contents of his plate. Odd, that was usually the only thing that Anakin did with enthusiasm these days, was eat.

"Is everything alright?"

"Mmhmm." Anakin took a bite or two of food and set his fork down. "Not really hungry."

"You should at least try to eat, after class, we have to get your new boots fitted. If we don't do that today, you won't have them in time for our next mission."

"I know. You told me that yesterday." Anakin muttered, "I just don't understand why I have to go to class if we're leaving in a few days anyway. It's not like I can't do my assignments remotely."

Obi-Wan tried to contain the sigh. It was the same discussion they had had ever since being notified of the upcoming mission. He raised his datapad, "Your participation marks are abysmal, in every class except robotics and mechanics. That is why you have to go to class, and you will participate," He gave Anakin a pointed look, "Even in Master Sinube's class, do you understand?"

Anakin rolled his eyes, "He's so boring though." He muttered. At the look of warning he received, he sighed, "Fine, whatever can I go now?" Without waiting for an answer, he stood from the table abruptly, grabbing the piece of toast from his tray and turning to leave.

"Anakin—" Obi-Wan called, though it was in vain, Anakin was already half out the door.

This time he did sigh, "Good talk." He muttered, avoiding the glances of others around him as he gathered their trays.

Something was very much off with his padawan, more so than usual. He only hoped he'd be able to figure it out before they boarded the ship.

Obi-Wan waited for Anakin to emerge from one of the learning rooms. Other padawans were leaving in groups, chattering amongst themselves. Most of them acknowledged him with a respectful nod or greeting as they passed him by.

Obi-Wan was beginning to wonder if Anakin's schedule had changed when he finally emerged, seeming even more sullen than earlier that morning. His body language, the way he moved was almost lethargic and he seemed less than pleased to see Obi-wan standing there.

Obi-Wan held out a cloak to Anakin who shook his head.

"It's raining, we need to go into the city to get your boots, take the cloak, please."

"I'm already warm, I don't need it," Anakin told him as they began walking toward one of the entrances.

"It's not exactly warm outside, and I'm not going to carry it for you," Obi-Wan told him, trying to keep his patience. He was rewarded with another eye roll as Anakin practically snatched the cloak from him and put it on.

The ride from the temple into the city was silent for the most part. Obi-Wan tried time and again to ask questions about his classes but was rewarded with the shortest answers that Anakin could muster.

As they approached the shop, Anakin stopped for a moment, crossing his arms. "Why exactly do I need new boots anyway?"

Obi-Wan raised a brow, turning toward his padawan incredulously. They'd had this conversation, hadn't they?

"Your boots are beginning to fall apart and before we go on a mission, where we have no idea what the conditions will be like, you need a new pair."

"I don't want the same kind though, I want something different."

Patience Obi-Wan thought, patience. It was somehow becoming his inner mantra.

"You can choose the style, that's fine, but they need to be practical,"

"What, like yours? I mean what if I don't want boots like yours?" Anakin shot back.

"They don't have to be like mine, I never said that." Obi-Wan folded his arms and took a breath, trying to not let the exasperation seep into his voice.

"But you implied. I mean, I told you the kind that I liked, but you said they weren't practical enough, and now you are going to go in there and show me what I need to get." Obi-Wan remembered the boots Anakin had shown him. Sure they had been stylish, but not waterproof or meant for extended wear. As he pointed this out, his comments had fallen on deaf ears.

"Did I say that?" Obi-Wan asked him, it was a serious question.

"I mean basically." Anakin glanced away, evasive.

"You are welcome to pick out what you like, I'll show you what I mean but ultimately you'll make the decision," Obi-Wan didn't want to argue, he was open to a compromise, as long as the boots met certain criteria. Though at this point, he was almost willing to let Anakin pick whatever as a lesson.

"I think we're talking past each other, you don't get it."

Obi-Wan rubbed a hand over his face. He needed a drink after this or several.

"Let's just go in and look what they have."

In the end, Anakin had decided that the practical boots were better, although he had picked out the style and color.

They made their way out of the shop and Anakin seemed to be in a worse mood than ever. "Are you alright?" Obi-Wan asked him, genuinely concerned. He seemed pale.

Yet, Anakin actually looked at him, and he got half a smile. "I'm mad at you. Because you were right about the boots."

Obi-Wan stopped, a grin breaking over his face before he could stop it. "Wait. Can you repeat that? Can I get that in writing?"

Anakin smiled and shook his head, "Yeah, don't get so excited about it, it's not like it happens all the time. Or ever."

Obi-Wan did his best to smother the smile. At times, just when he thought he was getting nowhere with Anakin, that the frustration would kill him, something like this happened, where Anakin would show surprising growth or maturity. Obi-wan thought that he could glimpse the man he would become, not just the infuriating teenager.

He patted Anakin on the back, wondering for a moment when Anakin had actually grown. If he kept growing at this rate, he'd really tower over him.

"Shall we grab something to eat?" Obi-Wan asked as they began walking, thinking that perhaps they could catch an air taxi and head to Dex's before they went back to the Temple.

Anakin stopped, he seemed suddenly pale, shakey even. He had a faraway look in his eyes that Obi-Wan wasn't sure he liked. He was about to ask Anakin what was wrong when his padawan dashed to the side of the walkway and proceeded to vomit in the decorative shrubs. People on the walkway gasped and moved away appalled.

Obi-Wan moved over, crouching next to Anakin and rubbing his back as he heaved. He felt warm through his robes.

"It'll be alright, how long have you been feeling sick?" Things were starting to become clear to him. The lethargy, Anakin's overall mood, and his lack of appetite. He was irritated. This wasn't the first time Anakin had hidden an illness and he could almost guarantee it wouldn't be the last time.

"Everything hurts, and I'm dying…" Anakin managed to gasp out miserably.

"Now you're just being dramatic, padawan" Obi-Wan assured him, "It's most likely the flu. It's been going around. I'm sure everything hurts but you certainly aren't going to die."

"My stomach hurts," He finally admitted, sitting down. At that moment, he looked more like a child than a teenager. His face was sweaty and tear-streaked, his hair tousled.

Obi-Wan gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Let's go back to the Temple, I'll make you some tea and you'll feel better."

"Our mission though, " Anakin practically sobbed. "I didn't want it to get canceled."

Obi-Wan helped Anakin to his feet, letting him lean on him as he summoned an air taxi. "It won't be the last mission they ever send us on, I promise you that. And perhaps in the future we should stop talking past each other and just talk."