A/N: Sorry to the few of you who are reading this that it took so long to update. Stupid exams, stupid background papers, stupid fellowship (Two Towers took up a large amount of my time recently…go see it if you haven't! It rocks!)
Also, please tell me in your reviews if you want this to lean more towards the romantic or just deep friendship side at the end. I'll probably have it be a romance but suggestions are always good!
And by the way, I do know that in the actual movies Obi and Padme don't hate each other this much. But I love the stories where two people literally can't stand each other, but end up falling in love anyway. So I'm messing with them a little.
Disclaimers:: Still not mine.
When the transport had landed, Obi-Wan and Padme both immediately shielded their eyes as they were met with the blazing desert sun of Tatooine. The pilot escorted them out, whispering to Obi-Wan, "Jedi scouts think it's somewhere in this general area, give or take maybe fifty kilos. Other than that, you're on your own."
The pilot waited expectantly, so Obi-Wan handed him a few credits and bowed goodbye. Grabbing Padme's arm, he pulled her into the shade of a cliff as the transport lifted off. She immediately started in on him, apparently forgetting the somewhat-peaceful conversation they had had earlier. "How in Sith's name are we supposed to find anything in this wasteland? Look at it! There's nothing out there!"
Obi-Wan sighed. He was determined to not lose his patience or his temper with her. "We're just going to have to try, OK? Tatooine's not as much of a wasteland as you may think. There are establishments, we're just far from them. And, it has some amazing vistas. I, for one, was hoping to see Beggar's Canyon sometime."
"…Beggar's what?" she asked, annoyed.
Obi-Wan just rubbed his eyes again from the blinding sun. "Never mind. We've got to start walking."
Padme laughed, a little sarcastically. "Which way? How can you possibly know where we're going, unless there's something you're not telling me?"
He turned to face her and grabbed her shoulders, using all his Jedi training to not yell at her to shut up. "Padme, there is absolutely nothing I'm not telling you. But we have to walk. The Sith aren't coming to us. So to both of us, let's drop the pessimism, OK? I know you're feeling worried…I definitely am too. We just have to get around that."
Something in his eyes obviously made Padme obey. Obi-Wan tended to have that effect on people. He could stare you down with no use of the Force whatsoever, and hours later you could still feel his eyes. So Padme was silent as she stared back at him and he released her.
That same awkward silence lasted for what seemed like hours, miles and miles of desert terrain. Obi-Wan was glad he had brought that extra water pack. The welcomed wind came rarely, and when it did, hardly at all. Padme had already shed the top layer - the black cloak. Obi-Wan kept glancing back at her, getting a little worried. The stress didn't bother him with all the training he had had, but he had not accounted for her.
Once when he looked at her, she had just stopped walking. Before he could ask her if she was alright, she whispered, "Obi-Wan…Obi…don't you think they'll know?"
Sensing her thoughts, he could immediately tell what she meant. She was afraid. That would definitely be a hindrance, if she didn't keep her guard up, the Sith would probably sense it. But more than that, he wanted to calm her fears. Somehow, it hurt him to see someone who had always been so strong pushed down like this.
"Know that we're not one of them? It's quite possible. But we've got to try. No matter what happens to us…well, the possibilities of what could happen if we don't succeed are far worse."
He could still sense her fear though. "Look, Padme, just keep up your guard. I know you can do this. How many times have you argued with me and won?"
She smiled slightly and nodded. She was crouching down, trying to get her breath from walking so far. "I know…it's just, I can't help thinking it, as you probably knew. I've been wondering, can Jedi actually read people minds?"
Obi-Wan smiled, slowing down his pace for her. He knew the real question she was asking…was he reading her thoughts right now? Most people made that assumption about Jedi - that they made unwelcome intrusions. That's why Jedi also tended to make people uncomfortable. They were considered to be all-powerful, too powerful for their own good. Obi-Wan generally just dismissed people like that as being too close-minded, but he had known Padme too long to think that of her. The only times she acted close-minded were around him, but in the past few hours, that too had begun to change. So she deserved to know.
"Don't believe that old myth. We can sense ideas, emotions…sometimes complete thoughts, but we don't knowingly read people's minds. That would be invasion of privacy. True, if they're screaming a thought so loudly that it's begging to be heard, we'll probably pick up on it. But other than that, we have to actually try. And don't worry, I'm not reading yours," he said, assuring her.
"But I thought you all were telepathic…" She looked a little more comforted now that she knew he wasn't in her head.
Obi-Wan glanced up at a small cave on a cliff. He could tell they were getting closer. Whenever the Dark side was nearby, Obi-Wan could feel it. It was as if the Force grew cold around him, like a warning of danger. And a shadow began to loom in his mind…trying to cloud his vision. He decided not to tell Padme, he didn't need to worry her further.
"We are only telepathic with those we have developed a bond with, who are usually close friends. Qui-Gon was the strongest bond I ever had. I can still feel him. That's how I know he's not all gone. Mace and I also have a pretty strong bond, we were best friends back at the Academy."
Padme said through heavy breaths, "What about Anakin?"
Obi-Wan looked down, not quite sure how to answer. He knew this was a delicate topic with her - one word could start a whole new argument. He certainly didn't want that right now. So he proceeded with caution.
"Well…it's a bit odd with him, actually. We do share a bond, as do all Masters and Padawans, but it seems somewhat one-sided. Like he's keeping me out, or there's something he doesn't want me to know. I'm not quite sure…it's just…well, all I know is, we're not as close as I wish we were."
Her voice took on that defensive tone he was so used to hearing. "I don't think he's hiding anything. I think he just wants to move forward, with more freedom from you."
He put out an arm, holding her back. "Padme, I really don't think this is a good time to argue. Activate your lightsabre."
She widened her eyes at him, then rose them to see what he was looking at. There was a cave high on a cliff, and Obi-Wan had been staring at it for some time. "What?!" she whispered, fear kicking in again.
Obi-Wan had already drawn his weapon, and was staring at the red beam. He was trying to get his mind around the fact that this was his weapon now, that in essence, he would have to BE a Sith. "Activate it. We're close now. Very close. They'll sense the lightsabres."
"Why don't you just do yours then?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from wavering.
"I want them to know there are two of us. If we start with a deception, it'll be straight downhill from there." He squinted into the distance.
"Padme…do it now," he warned, his voice cold.
Choking back her fear, she stopped questioning. But Padme had never wielded a lightsabre before, and the metal shaft felt oddly heavy in her hands. She slowly pressed the activation button, and nearly jumped to see the red beam of light shoot out.
Obi-Wan grasped her shoulder tightly, in a warning gesture to be still. He was watching the horizon, specifically a small black object headed towards them. A probe droid, hopefully from the Sith. With any luck, they would be found first. At least in this situation, Obi-Wan would much rather let danger seek him out than go looking for it himself.
Sure enough, the droid approached them, outputting some sort of scanning beam. He quickly whispered to Padme, "Whatever it does, let it happen. Don't fight it. And Padme…you've got remember to cover the truth in your mind. You're screaming it right now. Don't let them know."
Padme nodded silently, putting up mental barriers again. She held onto Obi-Wan for support, standing very still as the droid scanned them. Suddenly, the scanning beam went off, and they both felt a twinge of pain, and then blackness as they hit the ground.
The next thing Obi-Wan was conscious of was a dark cavern, and a familiar face looming over him…
Also, please tell me in your reviews if you want this to lean more towards the romantic or just deep friendship side at the end. I'll probably have it be a romance but suggestions are always good!
And by the way, I do know that in the actual movies Obi and Padme don't hate each other this much. But I love the stories where two people literally can't stand each other, but end up falling in love anyway. So I'm messing with them a little.
Disclaimers:: Still not mine.
When the transport had landed, Obi-Wan and Padme both immediately shielded their eyes as they were met with the blazing desert sun of Tatooine. The pilot escorted them out, whispering to Obi-Wan, "Jedi scouts think it's somewhere in this general area, give or take maybe fifty kilos. Other than that, you're on your own."
The pilot waited expectantly, so Obi-Wan handed him a few credits and bowed goodbye. Grabbing Padme's arm, he pulled her into the shade of a cliff as the transport lifted off. She immediately started in on him, apparently forgetting the somewhat-peaceful conversation they had had earlier. "How in Sith's name are we supposed to find anything in this wasteland? Look at it! There's nothing out there!"
Obi-Wan sighed. He was determined to not lose his patience or his temper with her. "We're just going to have to try, OK? Tatooine's not as much of a wasteland as you may think. There are establishments, we're just far from them. And, it has some amazing vistas. I, for one, was hoping to see Beggar's Canyon sometime."
"…Beggar's what?" she asked, annoyed.
Obi-Wan just rubbed his eyes again from the blinding sun. "Never mind. We've got to start walking."
Padme laughed, a little sarcastically. "Which way? How can you possibly know where we're going, unless there's something you're not telling me?"
He turned to face her and grabbed her shoulders, using all his Jedi training to not yell at her to shut up. "Padme, there is absolutely nothing I'm not telling you. But we have to walk. The Sith aren't coming to us. So to both of us, let's drop the pessimism, OK? I know you're feeling worried…I definitely am too. We just have to get around that."
Something in his eyes obviously made Padme obey. Obi-Wan tended to have that effect on people. He could stare you down with no use of the Force whatsoever, and hours later you could still feel his eyes. So Padme was silent as she stared back at him and he released her.
That same awkward silence lasted for what seemed like hours, miles and miles of desert terrain. Obi-Wan was glad he had brought that extra water pack. The welcomed wind came rarely, and when it did, hardly at all. Padme had already shed the top layer - the black cloak. Obi-Wan kept glancing back at her, getting a little worried. The stress didn't bother him with all the training he had had, but he had not accounted for her.
Once when he looked at her, she had just stopped walking. Before he could ask her if she was alright, she whispered, "Obi-Wan…Obi…don't you think they'll know?"
Sensing her thoughts, he could immediately tell what she meant. She was afraid. That would definitely be a hindrance, if she didn't keep her guard up, the Sith would probably sense it. But more than that, he wanted to calm her fears. Somehow, it hurt him to see someone who had always been so strong pushed down like this.
"Know that we're not one of them? It's quite possible. But we've got to try. No matter what happens to us…well, the possibilities of what could happen if we don't succeed are far worse."
He could still sense her fear though. "Look, Padme, just keep up your guard. I know you can do this. How many times have you argued with me and won?"
She smiled slightly and nodded. She was crouching down, trying to get her breath from walking so far. "I know…it's just, I can't help thinking it, as you probably knew. I've been wondering, can Jedi actually read people minds?"
Obi-Wan smiled, slowing down his pace for her. He knew the real question she was asking…was he reading her thoughts right now? Most people made that assumption about Jedi - that they made unwelcome intrusions. That's why Jedi also tended to make people uncomfortable. They were considered to be all-powerful, too powerful for their own good. Obi-Wan generally just dismissed people like that as being too close-minded, but he had known Padme too long to think that of her. The only times she acted close-minded were around him, but in the past few hours, that too had begun to change. So she deserved to know.
"Don't believe that old myth. We can sense ideas, emotions…sometimes complete thoughts, but we don't knowingly read people's minds. That would be invasion of privacy. True, if they're screaming a thought so loudly that it's begging to be heard, we'll probably pick up on it. But other than that, we have to actually try. And don't worry, I'm not reading yours," he said, assuring her.
"But I thought you all were telepathic…" She looked a little more comforted now that she knew he wasn't in her head.
Obi-Wan glanced up at a small cave on a cliff. He could tell they were getting closer. Whenever the Dark side was nearby, Obi-Wan could feel it. It was as if the Force grew cold around him, like a warning of danger. And a shadow began to loom in his mind…trying to cloud his vision. He decided not to tell Padme, he didn't need to worry her further.
"We are only telepathic with those we have developed a bond with, who are usually close friends. Qui-Gon was the strongest bond I ever had. I can still feel him. That's how I know he's not all gone. Mace and I also have a pretty strong bond, we were best friends back at the Academy."
Padme said through heavy breaths, "What about Anakin?"
Obi-Wan looked down, not quite sure how to answer. He knew this was a delicate topic with her - one word could start a whole new argument. He certainly didn't want that right now. So he proceeded with caution.
"Well…it's a bit odd with him, actually. We do share a bond, as do all Masters and Padawans, but it seems somewhat one-sided. Like he's keeping me out, or there's something he doesn't want me to know. I'm not quite sure…it's just…well, all I know is, we're not as close as I wish we were."
Her voice took on that defensive tone he was so used to hearing. "I don't think he's hiding anything. I think he just wants to move forward, with more freedom from you."
He put out an arm, holding her back. "Padme, I really don't think this is a good time to argue. Activate your lightsabre."
She widened her eyes at him, then rose them to see what he was looking at. There was a cave high on a cliff, and Obi-Wan had been staring at it for some time. "What?!" she whispered, fear kicking in again.
Obi-Wan had already drawn his weapon, and was staring at the red beam. He was trying to get his mind around the fact that this was his weapon now, that in essence, he would have to BE a Sith. "Activate it. We're close now. Very close. They'll sense the lightsabres."
"Why don't you just do yours then?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from wavering.
"I want them to know there are two of us. If we start with a deception, it'll be straight downhill from there." He squinted into the distance.
"Padme…do it now," he warned, his voice cold.
Choking back her fear, she stopped questioning. But Padme had never wielded a lightsabre before, and the metal shaft felt oddly heavy in her hands. She slowly pressed the activation button, and nearly jumped to see the red beam of light shoot out.
Obi-Wan grasped her shoulder tightly, in a warning gesture to be still. He was watching the horizon, specifically a small black object headed towards them. A probe droid, hopefully from the Sith. With any luck, they would be found first. At least in this situation, Obi-Wan would much rather let danger seek him out than go looking for it himself.
Sure enough, the droid approached them, outputting some sort of scanning beam. He quickly whispered to Padme, "Whatever it does, let it happen. Don't fight it. And Padme…you've got remember to cover the truth in your mind. You're screaming it right now. Don't let them know."
Padme nodded silently, putting up mental barriers again. She held onto Obi-Wan for support, standing very still as the droid scanned them. Suddenly, the scanning beam went off, and they both felt a twinge of pain, and then blackness as they hit the ground.
The next thing Obi-Wan was conscious of was a dark cavern, and a familiar face looming over him…