Chapter 3 – Revival

Author's Note: In which things come to a close.

To thephantompanther: I hope you enjoy all of the fluff in this chapter! Those two definitely deserve it! Lol.

~ Amina Gila

Surprisingly, Obi-Wan wakes up before Anakin. The suns overhead are blindingly hot, and he groans slightly as he sits up. His head feels fuzzy, probably an aftereffect of his death. His robes are stiff with dried blood – it has been nearly half a day since it happened – and the shard of durasteel which ended his life is laying on the sand beside him. So is Anakin. He's unconscious, though his breathing is distinct enough that Obi-Wan isn't worried. His Force signature is blindingly bright, blazing through a bond which feels ten times stronger than it did before. This was... not a side effect Obi-Wan had considered; he hadn't even realized it would be one, since Anakin had neglected to inform him of the life bond which would exist between them.

A swell of fondness rises up as he thinks about Anakin. For so long, Obi-Wan had felt himself an inadequate master, since he didn't know how he could give his Padawan the support he needed. Of course, Anakin is different; he was never raised like the rest of the Jedi, so he could never truly fit in among them. It's not until seeing Anakin's mind that Obi-Wan realizes how lonely his Padawan feels. He doesn't really have any close friends, except him and Palpatine – and that's a whole other matter which he needs to address – and now Padme – he can't believe that they're married; what were they even thinking?

Now, Obi-Wan knows and understands everything that makes Anakin who he is, and... he's glad he knows, he really is, but there is a part of him which wishes that it didn't have to happen this way or at all. Anakin never deserved the life he lived, and Obi-Wan regrets whatever he's done to hurt Anakin, regardless of whether or not it was intentional. It never was. He would never have willfully hurt the child under his care, the child who has come to mean the world to him. He did though. Repeatedly.

He knows now, and it's not too late to make it right. Obi-Wan realizes that he was hopelessly incompetent when it came to raising Anakin. Truthfully, he's not sure if any other Jedi could have done better, especially since none of them could even begin to relate to Anakin's childhood. He grew up a slave; they grew up in the Temple. Their childhoods shaped them, and they would struggle immensely in dealing with a child who was so different from what they perceived to be the norm for Jedi. Anakin can never be a "proper" Jedi who follows the Code. It's against his very nature.

But all Obi-Wan wants is for his Padawan to be alright, to be happy. If – if Anakin wants to leave the Order to be with Padme, Obi-Wan will let him, even if it kills him to do so. He doesn't want to let Anakin go. He doesn't know how he could live without feeling that bright presence in the back of his mind at all moments. Previously, he wouldn't have been able to do it; he would have done everything to keep Anakin with him, but now, after experiencing Anakin's life though his eyes, Obi-Wan knows that he's changed.

And he doesn't even mind. There's nothing he wouldn't do for Anakin; he knows that now. It should scare him, the depths of his love for this child, but it doesn't. Oh, Anakin isn't really a child anymore, but Obi-Wan will never not be able to see him that way. He raised Anakin, took care of him from the time he was a young child. In his heart, Anakin will always be... his son.

The Force sparks suddenly, and Obi-Wan turns away from Anakin to see the necromancer woman sitting upright. He blinks, but she's clearly alive. He could have sworn she was dead...

She catches his gaze and laughs lightly. "I have experienced worse than a backlash from a ritual gone wrong," she tells him. "I know how to bring myself back, and I will continue to do so until my body gives out on its own." She rises, moving with extreme grace despite her elderly age. "You should go now," she continues, glancing at Anakin. "I have seen... you two have a great future ahead of you."

Obi-Wan's fingers brush Anakin's sleeve almost of their own accord. "What did you see?" he asks, curious.

The old woman smiles mysteriously. "That is for me to know and you to learn." Then, she turns her back on him, bending over to pick up the magically imbued objects from where they lay strewn on the sand.

Seeing that he won't be getting any answers, Obi-Wan dismisses her from his mind, focusing solely on Anakin. How did he go on for so many years without knowing Anakin's deepest, darkest secrets, without acknowledging the extent to which they've come to care for one another? Once, perhaps, Obi-Wan would have resented Anakin if he chose to leave the Order, leave him, even if he would have followed. He had made a promise to Qui-Gon, after all. Now? Anakin is... the center of his world, and Obi-Wan will follow him anywhere, to anyplace.

He reaches out, lifting Anakin's unconscious body into his arms and carrying him towards the shuttle. It is a good thing that he landed it a distance away, or it, too, would have been destroyed. That would have been rather problematic. Obi-Wan settles Anakin down on a bunk, pulling a blanket over him as he heads to the cockpit to take off. They'll have a few hours in hyperspace to figure out what to do. There's no way that the Council – or Yoda, at least – didn't feel some of what transpired. The only question is: now what?

Obi-Wan doesn't want to subject Anakin unnecessarily to the scrutiny and criticism of the Jedi, but at the same time, he doesn't want to outright lie, thereby making the Council distrust both of them. In the past, he discredited Anakin's comments about the Council not liking him because of their attitude towards him, but he can't say that Anakin was wrong. Not anymore.

By the time Obi-Wan has programmed the navicomputer, made the jump to hyperspace, and changed into clean robes, Anakin is stirring. "Master?" the Padawan mumbles, jerking upright as he recalls what had happened. Obi-Wan puts a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

"I'm here," he replies.

Anakin's bright blue eyes meet his, and for a long moment, neither of them moves. Their bond pulses, alive and warm and unnaturally powerful. It's unbreakable, and Obi-Wan rather likes the sound of that. He's already grown too used to it, even if it's only existed for less than an hour with this intensity.

Anakin exhales finally, lowering his head. It's a submissive position, Obi-Wan realizes with a pang. If not for seeing Anakin's memories, he would never have known. "I'm sorry for disobeying you, Master," he says quietly.

His regret echoes strongly into the Force, and Obi-Wan knows with surety that Anakin feels more guilt about how the ritual unfolded than he does about using the Dark Side. He is... oddly alright with that. "I know, Anakin," Obi-Wan murmurs. "I know."

"I got you... killed." Anakin nearly chokes on the word, and he refuses to look up, body tensing further, as he crosses his arms, right hand clenching. "I failed you, you know that now."

Obi-Wan's heart feels like it's breaking as he takes Anakin's body language, the way he's behaving and holding himself subconsciously. It's a result of his childhood, of his time as a slave. For so long, Obi-Wan had genuinely begun to believe that Anakin was somehow moving past those traumas, until something unseeable would provoke him into lashing out. He never understood the why; he often couldn't even understand the when. But he did learn how to handle those incidents, and in time, Obi-Wan had grown so accustomed to Anakin's instinctual behaviors, that he had forgotten – well, not forgotten, but the idea is similar – from where they originated and that it was not natural or even normal.

"Oh, Anakin," he sighs, wishing that when it comes to emotions, it was easier for him to express himself. He's so used to hiding everything, to suppressing it, that he doesn't know how to show it, even when he needs to. That... isn't normal either, he realizes ruefully. Perhaps the both of them are messed up, more so than he realized.

Obi-Wan briefly rests his hand on Anakin's cheek as he sits down next to him on the bunk, both things he would have refrained from doing in the past, because they are arguably gestures of attachment, especially since there is nothing casual about either. Anakin leans into the touch, pressing closer to his side, though his hesitancy echoes sharply through their bond. "I'm not angry at you. I promise."

Anakin lifts his head, eyes darting towards Obi-Wan for a moment as he licks his lips. "You're not?" he asks faintly, fiddling with his sleeve as he looks down at his lap again. "Not even about..." His voice trails off, but the thought filters through their bond. The Raiders.

"I will not deny that I am... displeased that you massacred the Tusken Raider village, but I understand why you did it," Obi-Wan tells him. He picks his words carefully, knowing exactly how easy it would be for him to slip up, hurting Anakin instead of helping him understand. "I know that the Raiders are not viewed kindly on Tatooine, since they torture and kill for fun. I wish you had at least told me what happened. However, I am aware of why you didn't."

There's a quiet whisper of surprise and tentative hope from Anakin. Obi-Wan is unused to openly demonstrating his affection, unlike Anakin, who seems to crave it. He wishes that he knew how because he knows how much it would help. Words that are not coupled with visible action mean nothing to his Padawan. "You needed support, not condemnation." The words feel more real as he says them, and Obi-Wan recognizes the truth within them. He would not have responded in the way Anakin needed, and for that reason, he is almost grateful that he didn't know. It meant that there was one less reason for Anakin to mistrust him.

"Master," Anakin whispers, a hint of reverence in that one word. It's not uncommon, though Obi-Wan has also grown accustomed to the way Anakin says it with resentment. He understands both inflections now, and this one, in particular, is synonymous with "father" in Anakin's mind. "I..."

The air is nearly knocked from Obi-Wan when Anakin twists, wrapping him in a crushing embrace and burying his face against his shoulder. Obi-Wan gives in to the inevitable – hugs from Anakin are not common, especially once he grew older – slipping his arms around his Padawan's back and holding him close. "I love you, Master," Anakin breathes fiercely.

Obi-Wan tightens his hold on Anakin. "And I love you too, dear one." The endearment slips out before he can censor it, but he doesn't mind the blatant sign of attachment – as if holding his grown Padawan like he's still a child wasn't enough of an indication – when he feels the wave of adoration through his bond with Anakin. He doesn't want to censor himself anymore, not after seeing how well Anakin responds to and craves treatment like this.

"Congratulations on your marriage, by the way," Obi-Wan adds, lips quirking into a smile. He can't hide his amusement, because of course Anakin decided to marry Senator Amidala. He knew that the two entertained feelings for one another, but marriage? Well, this is Anakin he's talking about. He isn't as surprised as he probably should be. "I would have preferred if you had waited until your Knighting though." He keeps his voice gentle, teasing, letting Anakin feel his amusement so the Padawan understands that he's only joking.

Obi-Wan can feel Anakin's smile, even though he doesn't lift his head. "We didn't want to wait anymore after what happened on Geonosis," Anakin confesses. He shifts, burrowing even closer, and Obi-Wan rests his cheek on Anakin's head.

This is... nice, and he doesn't want this moment to end. This is the closest they've been in years, and their bond is singing with peace, happiness, and unfiltered affection. "That is a sentiment I can very much understand." Obi-Wan lets the contented silence drag on for a moment before he decides to broach the last subject they need to discuss.

"After seeing the nature of your relationship with the Chancellor, I am... uneasy," he admits. He hates the way Anakin stiffens in his arms, pulling back to look him in the eye. "I know he is your friend, and you care for him, but I still worry."

"What? Why?" Anakin inquires, a bit warily.

Obi-Wan keeps his shields lowered, allowing his Padawan to feel the depths of his concern. "While I do not disagree that you have the potential to become one of the greatest Jedi, it disturbs me that Palpatine, who is not a Jedi, would think to say such things to you. It is not his place, and he does not understand the Force. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that he likes to... encourage you to act on your emotions. That conflicts with Jedi teachings, aligning more with how the Sith behave."

Anakin's expression is apprehensive, and he shifts in a way that Obi-Wan knows is uncomfortable. "You... are not wrong, Master..." he confesses, "But he is my friend."

"At least he pretends to be," Obi-Wan points out quietly. "I have not said anything until now, but after seeing that..." He shakes his head, feeling the way the Force is coiling around them, as if it is somehow anxious. "I do not want anything to happen to you, and I am reluctant to allow you to continue meeting with the Chancellor. The choice is yours, of course," he hastens to add, before Anakin can become upset. Whether he likes it or not, he has to accept that Anakin is no longer a child. He needs to be able to make his own choices at times, without Obi-Wan dictating everything to him. "I hope that you will at least take my words into consideration."

"I will, Master. I promise."

Obi-Wan reaches out, squeezing Anakin's shoulder. "That is all I ask from you."

"What will we tell the Council?" Anakin queries after a moment.

That is the question which has been troubling Obi-Wan, one to which he has no answer. "I believe I will have to tell them the truth," he says at last. "Your secrets are your own, but I will have to tell them what happened on Tatooine. I'm sure some of them might have already sensed it, at least Yoda."

"What will they do?" Anakin sounds – and feels – genuinely worried, which Obi-Wan can understand. The Council will likely not react well to what happened. They probably won't realize the reason behind Anakin's choices, not the way Obi-Wan does, and they'll see it as proof that he's... well, dangerous and unstable.

"I really don't know, but I'll do my best to ensure that they don't take any extreme action," he replies. Even if it means taking some of the responsibility, he adds mentally. Anakin's breathing hitches, a wave of complex emotions crashing over Obi-Wan, and he belatedly realizes that his Padawan probably heard the thought. He only has a second to brace himself before he's again being crushed in a hug.

"You don't have to do that." Anakin's voice is muffled from where he's resting his face against Obi-Wan's robes.

"This was as much my fault as it was yours," Obi-Wan points out. "I'm responsible for you, not the other way around." Anakin makes a noncommittal noise, but doesn't otherwise move, so Obi-Wan wraps his arms around him, holding him securely. After a pause, Obi-Wan asks the question which has been bothering him for a time. "Do you want to leave the Order?"

Anakin stills, hardly even breathing, before stammering out a reply. "I don't – I don't know... Maybe. I – I don't want to leave you." His grip tightens, bordering just shy of painful as if he's afraid Obi-Wan will suddenly vanish. "I – maybe after the war. I – I told Padme that – that I would leave after the war, so... I want to – to be with her, Master."

"She makes you happy," Obi-Wan observes. It's difficult for him to not notice the underlying happiness in Anakin when he speaks about his wife. Force, his Padawan is married. It's hard for him to wrap his mind around it. He decides not to talk about the war, about how it could drag on for many years. It's not something they can fix. "What will you do when you leave?" he queries, because he knows that the Council will never accept Anakin's marriage, and his Padawan will inevitably leave. He knows how much Anakin wants to someday have a family of his own; he saw it, felt it. He wouldn't begrudge him that, not if it makes him happy.

Anakin shrugs, the motion slightly awkward because of the way he's clinging to Obi-Wan. "I'm not sure. I can... design things, fix them..." He hesitates for a moment, and Obi-Wan lets him take his time. There's no need to push him, not when he knows that Obi-Wan is actually listening to him. "Free slaves maybe." The words are quiet, barely above a whisper, and Obi-Wan isn't surprised by them. He has always known that his Padawan wants to help people, especially those who cannot help themselves, like slaves.

Obi-Wan lets himself think, for a moment, about what his life might be like if Anakin left the Order. He feels a faint sting of resentment at the knowledge that Anakin would want to leave the Order – and him – but squashes it. It wouldn't be fair to Anakin to entertain such feelings. Besides, there is another option. He could leave too. It wouldn't be the first time. "It sounds like you could use some help then," he says, almost without thinking about it. "Is there room for another in your plans?"

Anakin inhales sharply. "You would leave with me?" His words are semi-hysterical, and Obi-Wan can't help but laugh.

"Yes," he assures him, brushing a hand over his hair, impulsively pressing a kiss to his temple. "Yes, Padawan, I will. If you want me to."

"Please," Anakin breathes, like a prayer, a plea. And that settles it.

There will be time enough in the future for them to discuss details and alternatives. Obi-Wan won't regret it. He can't. This is... everything he has ever wanted, and it might be against the Jedi way – it is – but he's not sorry enough to want to change it. The shuttle's engines hum almost soothingly in the background as they sit entangled together, physically as much as they are mentally.

"Master," Anakin begins hesitantly. Obi-Wan can feel him fidgeting, feel his uncertainty and discomfort. "I have some questions about... what I saw. Can I – Do you mind if...?"

"Anything, dear one," Obi-Wan promises. "You can ask me anything."

Right here, right now, Obi-Wan can't think of any place he would rather be, and from the contentment and adoration which he can feel from Anakin, he knows his Padawan feels the same. It's the calm before the storm now, but they have each other. They always will. And it will be enough for both of them.

There is no Anakin without Obi-Wan, and no Obi-Wan without Anakin; they are two halves of a whole, lives irrevocably entwined together... Forever.

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