UM…DO I HAVE TO?

Timeline: TPM (AU)

Genre: Humor

~*~

Obi-Wan stared at Anakin.

Anakin stared at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan knew Anakin didn't have any idea what to say, but he, himself, had a lot to say. He just didn't quite know how to start. Nervously, the newly appointed Knight, soon to be (he gulped) Master, tugged at the sleeves of his robe while sighing mentally to himself.

Just get it over with, Kenobi.

"The council has granted me permission to train you." The older Jedi looked into the younger boy's eyes. "You will be a Jedi."

A flash of surprise crossed Anakin's features and the Knight was not surprised at the reaction. Obi-Wan knew he was still struggling with the quick death of Qui-Gon. Force, he was still struggling with his Master's death and now he had to deal with...this.

"Uh, Obi-Wan?" A timid voice broke the Knight out of his thoughts.

"Yes, Padawan?" Though neither noticed, both wince at the name.

"Do I have to be an apprentice?"

"Well, of course not." Obi-Wan answered and then back peddled. "Wait! You don't want to be a Padawan?"

Anakin shuffled his feet and mumbled something Obi-Wan couldn't make out.

"What was that?"

The boy picked up his face. "Not your apprentice," he answered.

Obi-Wan felt his mouth drop open in a very un-becoming manner. "Wha...?" He managed to stutter.

Anakin began to speak very quickly. "Well, you know with Qui-Gon this was wizard and everything. I knew I'd get to have a lightstick-"

"Saber." Obi-Wan interrupted.

"Saber." The boy continued unfazed. "And would get to travel and fly and do...well...wizard stuff. But with you it seems like it will be...dumpy."

The Knight's brows creased in confusion. "Dumpy?" Okay, he may not be up on the 'lingo', but dumpy just did not seem like something 'all the kids were using'.

"Yeah. Boring, slow, repetitive, monotonous, dull..."

"I get the picture." The older Jedi interrupted while massaging his temples.

"Besides," Anakin added as if he finally found the strength to tell Obi-Wan everything and anything that was wrong with him being a Padawan to him, "you think I'm pathetic."

Now, Obi-Wan felt a migraine coming on. "Pathetic?" He echoed.

"Yeah," the boy nodded, "just a pathetic life form."

Damn, Obi-Wan thought. "Where did you get that idea?" He questioned and silently prayed that he would be able to get out of this mess.

"You said so yourself."

Damn, he thought again. "When?"

"With that talky-thingy-"

"Transmitter."

"Transmitter when Qui-Gon was at my house."

"Oh." Was all Obi-Wan could find to answer the boy with. There was really nothing else he could say. It was the truth.

Anakin crossed his arms as if urging Obi-Wan to argue with him.

He didn't.

"Well, if you don't want to be my Padawan, best of luck to you then." In reality, Obi-Wan figured, this worked out nicely. He wouldn't be bogged down with the brat and could be a Knight all by himself.

Anakin watched Obi-Wan walk away suddenly confused. He looked left then right and finally uncrossed his arms and let them fall at his side.

So, he reasoned with himself, what was he supposed to do now?

As Anakin stood contemplating his future, he could have sworn he heard whistling.

Happy whistling.

It sounded remarkably like Obi-Wan, too.

The End.