Standing at the edge of the docking bay, Anakin stared up towards the higher levels of the sinkhole where Grievous was holed up. He was all for rushing in and killing that monstrosity, but that hadn't worked in the past. More than once Grievous had evaded them, disappearing into the inky blackness of space just when it seemed he and Obi-Wan were about to defeat him. Anakin wasn't going to allow that to happen again, not when Grievous had Obi-Wan's lightsaber.
So in order to ensure he defeated Grievous this time it meant planning and lying low while he did that. Anakin had spent thirteen years in Obi-Wan's company and knew how to sit back and plan confrontations even if he often chose to ignore those lessons. He had sent Artoo away in the starfighter, instructing the astromech droid to pilot the ship to the next sinkhole and await further instructions. It was likely that Obi-Wan had used the same tactic upon his arrival on Utapau, but Anakin had a feeling that he was expected. Cyborg and Separatist though he was, Grievous knew full well who it was he'd killed and what the consequences of it would be.
The Hero with No Fear would avenge the Negotiator's death.
Skywalker would ensure that Kenobi's murderers were held accountable.
Anakin would destroy those who had taken Obi-Wan from him.
It surprised Anakin that he was the first to wake up as it was normally Obi-Wan threatening him from bed each morning. Taking advantage in the roll reversal, he stared at Obi-Wan from across the pillow, marveling at how much younger his lover appeared while he slept. A smile ghosted across Anakin's lips as he realized that Obi-Wan and he were actually lovers.
Moving very carefully so as not to wake the older man, Anakin snuggled closer so that his nose brushed against Obi-Wan's. Anakin stayed like that for several long minutes, content to simply breathe the same air as Obi-Wan. It was the most at peace Anakin could remember feeling in a very long time. Not simply since Obi-Wan had gone missing, but more relaxed than he had been since long before the war had begun; since before Padmé had reentered his life even.
It didn't matter in the least to Anakin that what they had done the previous night was expressly forbidden by the Jedi Code. Masters and padawans were not supposed to have relationships beyond the realm of mentor/apprentice and friendship. Anakin had long suspected that friendship was only tolerated because it was inevitable when two beings spent so much time in each other's company.
He must have been fidgeting without realizing it because soon Obi-Wan was scrunching his nose up and moving about as though he were on the edge of waking up. All at once Anakin was suddenly fearful of what was to come. Deep in the pit of his stomach he feared that Obi-Wan would attempt to explain away or deny what had happened between them the night before and that was something Anakin knew he couldn't take.
"You're projecting again," Obi-Wan yawned, still not opening his eyes. "And quite incorrectly, I might add."
"Obi-Wan?"
Blinking his eyes open, Obi-Wan regarded Anakin with a half-lidded gaze. "I have no intention of denying anything, Anakin. What happened last night was something we both consented to and I don't regret it."
Too relieved to find his voice, Anakin merely curled himself against Obi-Wan, tucking his head beneath the older man's chin. A smile tugged at his lips as Obi-Wan's arms wound themselves more securely about his middle, holding him tight. In that moment, Anakin would have been content to remain hidden away in that room, on that bed, and under those blankets for the foreseeable future.
Anakin had already watched the security footage of Obi-Wan's fight with Grievous, studying the fight in detail to ensure that he was as prepared as possible when he finally faced the durasteel monstrosity that had killed his lover. Anakin meant to do everything possible to ensure that Grievous met his end on Utapau, even if it took his own life to do so.
At his hip, Anakin could hear his comlink beeping as someone, most likely Artoo trying to forward a message from Sidious, attempted to contact him. When it began beeping again only a few minutes later, Anakin snatched it off his belt and threw it into a deep crevice. He was secretly delighted when he heard it plop into the water far below.
Obi-Wan cursed when Anakin failed to respond on his comlink. It had taken far too long for his liking to get close enough to receive a signal from Anakin's communicator, but with their bond severed it seemed the only way to get in contact with him. Regardless of whether Anakin was a Sith now, Obi-Wan still couldn't allow him to face Grievous unprepared. He wanted Anakin to survive.
Calming himself, Obi-Wan opened another connection, this time contacting Artoo in hopes that the droid would be able to get in touch with Anakin. Anakin needed to know that he was alive if for no other reason than to curb the younger man's anger. If Artoo got the message to Anakin in time he might even be able to prevent his lover from confronting Grievous.
Finding the droid's frequency, Obi-Wan tried contacting R2-D2, relieved when he received a response from the rebellious little astromech. "R2-D2… Artoo, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I need you to record this message, Artoo, and retransmit it to Anakin…. Stay away from Grievous, Anakin. I'm alive and I'm on my way to Utapau, but please stay away from him. I want you alive and safe…. I love you, Anakin. No matter what you've done. It doesn't matter to me, just please keep yourself safe."
Obi-Wan cut the transmission and leaned back in his seat, exhaling deeply as he brought a hand up to cup his jaw. He wasn't sure when Anakin would receive the message, but hoped that it would be in time to keep the younger man from placing himself in harm's way. Reckless as Anakin was, though, it would be a close thing to keep him in check long enough for Obi-Wan to get to him.
Returning once more to the cockpit, Obi-Wan slumped into the co-pilot's seat. "How long until we get to Utapau?"
"A few more hours at least," Cody responded, glancing over briefly.
"It will have to be soon enough," Obi-Wan sighed, scrubbing his hand over his mouth.
Obi-Wan sat next to a fountain in one of the many gardens in the Temple, listening to the calming sound of trickling water. It was soothing. After everything that had happened, Obi-Wan needed the chance to meditate. Between what had happened with Ventress and the new turn his relationship with Anakin, Obi-Wan felt incredibly out of sorts. He knew that he shouldn't have allowed last night to happen, but he couldn't have stopped it even if he'd wanted to. It was as simple as the fact that he loved Anakin and the night before he'd simply been too tired to push aside the emotions.
Now he had to find a way to prevent the Council from discovering what had become of his and Anakin's relationship. It would only draw unneeded questions that Obi-Wan wasn't prepared to answer. Nor was he ready to risk the Council separating them once Anakin was granted knighthood.
"Require much meditation you will to find peace with recent events," Yoda announced as he toddled towards Obi-Wan. "Yet proven you have strength and dedication to the Jedi ways."
Obi-Wan inclined his head briefly to the aged Master, relaxing his posture somewhat.
"Speak with you I would of your padawan," Yoda said without any preamble. "Concerned I am for young Skywalker. Unsettled he was by your disappearance. Feared we all did that fall to the Dark Side young Skywalker would."
"Anakin is stronger than any of you give him credit for," Obi-Wan said quite shortly. "He would have mourned my death, yes, but ultimately he would have done his duty to the Jedi Order and the Republic."
Before he'd watched the HoloNet reports about the fall of the Republic, Obi-Wan had fully believed that Anakin would remain true to the Jedi Order no matter what. Anakin had always been overly emotional for a Jedi, true enough, but Obi-Wan had never seen that as a hindrance where his lover was concerned. It was those emotions that had always given Anakin his strength even if it had taken Anakin a while to realize it himself. There had been many times when Anakin was still a young padawan that he'd been reprimanded by his instructors for being far too prone to giving into his emotions which had always upset Anakin.
Even now Obi-Wan could recall how absolutely crestfallen Anakin had looked the first time he'd been told that he would never be a proper Jedi because he was too competitive. It had taken place barely a week after their return from Coruscant after Qui-Gon's death and the two of them were still getting used to one another. Obi-Wan had felt hopelessly inadequate, not sure what to do to comfort the boy. Kneeling down in front of Anakin, he'd only meant to pat his snuffling apprentice on the shoulder, but a moment later he'd found himself with his arms full. Anakin's arms tight around his shoulders, Obi-Wan had done the only thing he could do and return the embrace.
"I promise I'll be better," Anakin mumbled against his neck. "I promise I'll make you and Master Qui-Gon proud."
Obi-Wan couldn't recall if he'd said anything in return, but had hugged Anakin to him in the middle of the training room. Obi-Wan couldn't remember there ever being that kind of affection between him and Qui-Gon, his own master having been equally awkward Obi-Wan himself when he was younger.
"I'll be in the back," Obi-Wan informed Cody as he rose from the co-pilot seat. "Let me know when we reach Utapau's atmosphere."
Knowing that he would have to be far more centered before they arrived on Utapau, Obi-Wan retreated to the small living quarters at the back of the ship. There were two separate quarters for the crew, Obi-Wan disappearing into the first to meditate. He hoped to not only calm himself, but to also find some way to break past the walls Anakin had set up between them. Even though he trust Artoo to get in touch with Anakin as soon as possible, the chance remained that it would take too long for the droid to make Anakin listen to sense. His lover was nothing if not stubborn.
"Decree on you the level of Master the Council does," Yoda said as Obi-Wan rose to leave the garden.
Obi-Wan was caught off guard by Yoda's statement given his own outrage only a short time before. Anger was very unbecoming of a Jedi, especially one on the Jedi Council. Obi-Wan knew that Yoda, or the rest of the Council, wouldn't be offering him the position if they'd known what he and Anakin had done the night before. In fact they probably would have him expelled from the Order for taking such liberties with his padawan. That he loved Anakin wouldn't matter in the least.
"Surely the Council can think of a far better candidate for the position," Obi-Wan finally managed to choke out. "There are far more worthy Jedi than I."
The aging Jedi merely chuckled and leaned forward on his gimmer stick. "A worthy candidate you are. Agreed on this the Council has. Await only your answer we do."
"Can I take some time to think about it?"
Yoda inclined his head and Obi-Wan continued his retreat from the garden. The earlier calm he'd managed to find had faded as soon as Yoda had interrupted him. He could also see the reasoning behind the Council's decision to make him a Master, the one they wished him to keep hidden. For all their talk, the Jedi Council was a highly political entity.
What better way to put the Chosen One in his place than to continually place barriers between him and his closest friend. Obi-Wan couldn't help but wonder if the Council suspected something untoward about their relationship.
Hovering on the edges of his consciousness, Obi-Wan was aware of Cody's presence. The clone had left the cockpit which meant they had reached Utapau. The trip had taken far less time than Obi-Wan had thought it would. He had hoped he would have more time to prepare for their arrival on Utapau. Obi-Wan still had no idea what was going to happen when he saw Anakin. He only hoped that the right words would come.
Though his blood sang with the desire to murder the thing that had stolen his life from him, for the first time he could remember, Anakin felt patient. Eager as he was to see Grievous die he knew that it was better to wait rather than simply charge in and hope for the best. Such rash actions had already cost him his right arm. So instead of charging in to face his opponent, Anakin hovered in the shadows as he awaited the perfect opportunity to strike.
Moving silently through the shadows, Anakin crept closer to where Grievous paced in front of a communication console where an image of Sidious hovered above the holopad. He couldn't quite make out what was being said, but the fact that Sidious had contacted Grievous was troubling. Anakin no longer trusted Sidious as steadfastly as he once had. As Palpatine, Anakin never would have doubted the man. The only person he would have trusted more than Palpatine was Obi-Wan. Now the only person Anakin trusted was Obi-Wan.
"… extremely vigilant. Things are not progressing exactly as I like them and I want you to keep me informed of what's happening on Utapau."
"As you will it, Lord Sidious."
Anakin managed to catch the very end of the conversation and did nothing to reassure him in the least. His new master was keeping something from him which made Anakin incredibly uneasy. Anakin couldn't help but wonder what else Sidious was keeping from him in order to ensure his own ends.
Palpatine lifted the still-steaming cup to his lips to take a brief sip of tea. "I trust that the Jedi Council gave you the appropriate commendations for your role in General Kenobi's rescue."
"I didn't do it for them," Anakin said, crossing his arms over his chest in a gesture he'd picked up from spending too much time with Obi-Wan. "I did it because my Master's life was in danger. That woman was planning on destroying him then making him a present for Count Dooku."
"My most sincere apologies, dear boy," Palpatine murmured, inclining his head slightly. "I know how you care for your Master."
Anakin pursed his lips, doing his utmost to hide his emotions from the politician. As much as he trusted Palpatine, ultimately the man was still a politician and Anakin didn't feel entirely comfortable around politicians. At times even his own wife made him feel equally uneasy. Anakin wasn't even sure he'd be able to look her in the eye after the night he'd spent in Obi-Wan's bed.
"Obi-Wan is my best friend. I couldn't just leave him to die," Anakin sighed as he leaned back in his chair.
"And rightly so. You are a very passionate young man, Anakin, and the restraint expected of a Jedi must be very difficult for you to endure," the aging Chancellor sympathized before taking another sip of his tea.
"I don't endure anything," Anakin insisted, rising suddenly to his feet. "I am a Jedi because I choose to be. I may not always agree with their Code, but I believe in what they stand for. I want peace. For myself and those that I care about."
Unable to contain himself any longer, Anakin snatched his lightsaber from his belt. He'd had it ignited before he took a step forward, the air around him crackling with anger. Just as he was about to swipe at Grievous' unprotected back, the cyborg whirled around, halting the blow with a lightsaber of his own.
Obi-Wan's lightsaber.
"Recognize this?" Grievous taunted before he was overtaken by a bout of wet, hacking coughs. "I took great pleasure in relieving that Jedi of his lightsaber."
All of Anakin's planning turned out to be for nothing at that point and he attacked without conscious thought of his actions. He fought with an instinct honed over thirteen years of training and three years of war. Grievous might have been trained by Dooku, but Anakin was a Jedi and had the Force to aid his movements. In the end his skill would be greater than the cyborg no matter what advantages brute strength offered Grievous.
"The Jedi Council will punish you for acting without their approval," Palpatine said casually as Anakin stalked towards the exit. "They're can't control you and that is a dangerous thing for a Chosen One. Have you not told me time and again how they don't trust you? Why should you put your trust in them when they would just as soon have left you in slavery on Tatooine."
"Obi-Wan trusts me and that is enough for me."
"And when the Council orders you to separate sides of the galaxy?" Palpatine mused aloud, arching an eyebrow. "General Kenobi is nothing if not a dedicated following of the Council. He would abandon you if it came to a choice between you and the Jedi Council."
"You are not helping your case, Chancellor," Anakin hissed as he turned once again to the exit. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have my trials to prepare for."
For all of his skill, though, Anakin was still a human who'd slept very little since learning of his lover's death. So while he was able to land a few glancing blows to Grievous' durasteel exoskeleton, he received an equal amount in return.
Spinning on his right leg to avoid a blow, Anakin lost his footing as he stepped down on a bit of debris. Going down on one knee, he was then knocked aside by one of Grievous' empty hands, landing hard on his right elbow. Hard enough to jolt the circuits in his prosthetic hand and send his lightsaber tumbling from his suddenly lax grip. Even as he extended his hand to call the weapon back to his with a Force-aided tug, Anakin could sense the downward thrust being aimed at him. He had noticed it too late, though, and knew that he wouldn't be able to roll away in time.
He was rather surprised when he was shoved out of the way by another body. Anakin didn't have time to see who his saviour was, his attention focused on retrieving his lightsaber to take advantage of the opportunity his rescuer had given him.
So it was a shock when he heard Obi-Wan's pained cry along with Grievous' mechanical chuckle.