Obi-Wan watched the security footage- feeling numb.
Minutes before the clones had betrayed him he'd felt his bond- the clan bond- with Anakin flare back into dominance.
He'd gasped- knowing what it meant. Padme was dead. Anakin's children were dead.
And then- and then his bond with Anakin was overshadowed by- something. Something dark.
And Obi-Wan knew that Anakin had found his father.
Or- more likely- Anakin's father had found him.
Obi-Wan knew he needed to get back- get back to Anakin- save him- and then the clones had attacked.
And now he was back at the temple, watching as Anakin slaughtered Jedi with a frighteningly blank look on his face.
He'd spared the children somehow.
Obi-Wan looked at Yoda. "Ready to face the Sith Lord you are not." Yoda said, and Obi-Wan snorted.
"I'm not leaving Anakin."
They left together.
…-…
Sidious waited patiently. The Empire was his. It was a glorious feeling, knowing that all of his plans had come together. Knowing that he had succeeded.
Vader knelt at his side, and Sidious absently carded a hand through the boy's hair.
Such a faithful boy.
…-…
Obi-Wan and Yoda entered the Senate chambers together. Palpatine- no- Sidious sat on a seat that had begun to look more and more like a throne as the years passed.
He looked none the worse for wear- excepting a long lightsaber burn that ran from his left cheek up between his eyes and across his forehead.
Probably self-inflicted- or perhaps he'd made Anakin do it? To support the story- that the Jedi had betrayed the government- sought to take power…
And Obi-Wan finally made himself look at Anakin.
The man kneeling beside Sidious looked nothing like the Anakin Obi-Wan knew. His face was a blank mask and he was sitting still, two things Anakin had never excelled at.
Sidious was petting his head like- like one would pet a dog. Obi-Wan felt bile rise in his throat at the sight.
Sidious saw them and smiled. He stood. Anakin stood with him, a silent presence at his side.
"Vader," Sidious said, "Kill Obi-Wan Kenobi."
…-…
Vader found a lightsaber in his hand- heard it hiss as the blue blade extended before him. He'd need to change that soon- his father had said so. His blade needed to be red.
Vader shook that thought away, and attacked, jumping forwards. Obi-Wan's blade snapped out, catching Vader's. Vader smiled, baring teeth. Opponents who were off balance were easier to defeat after all.
They fought. Yoda and Sidious clashed in the distance. Lightning split the air. Sidious cackled and Yoda somehow managed to catch lightning. Vader wasn't paying attention to that fight though.
He was to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Obi-Wan was shouting at him. "You don't have to do this Anakin! You can resist him!" But Vader wasn't listening.
It was good that Obi-Wan kept shouting though- it would be easier to kill him if he was out of breath.
The Senator's pods were ripped apart as they moved, swinging at one another, a deadly dance that would destroy whoever made the first mistake.
Vader knew though- deep inside- that Obi-Wan didn't want to kill him. That gave Vader an advantage.
Vader pushed, flinging Obi-Wan backwards into another pod before he jumped after the man. Obi-Wan wasn't quite able to make it to his feet before Vader's lightsaber was pressing down.
Obi-Wan was holding his blade above him, keeping Vader's blade from cutting him in two, but Vader had the better position. He shoved, leaning more weight against his blade.
"Fight him!" Obi-Wan screamed, "Fight him Anakin! Don't do this! You're stronger than this!"
Fight him! Waking up was a monumental effort as Anakin pushed against the dark sludge that seemed to fill his mind. Fight him! Obi-Wan had shouted, and Anakin obeyed.
…-…
Anakin was screaming. Obi-Wan and Anakin joined Yoda's fight against Sidious, and all the while Anakin's mouth was wide open, the agonized sound pouring out.
Screaming and fighting weren't good activities to put together, but Anakin managed.
Sidious was screaming at Anakin to- telling him to turn back- fall asleep- leave- attack Yoda- but Anakin wasn't listening to him anymore.
Obi-Wan separated Sidious's head from his shoulders.
And as Sidious's body collapsed, so did Anakin.
Obi-Wan was kneeling beside Anakin a moment later. Alive. He was alive. Obi-Wan held onto his best friend- his brother- his son- and he didn't let go.
…-…
There were so many dead. So many dead.
Obi-Wan stood by Anakin at the funerals.
Anakin's eyes were puffy and red, and Obi-Wan wasn't any better.
They stood together though.
They stood together as they helped rebuild the Jedi order.
They stood together as the Republic was reformed and reorganized.
They stood together as the chips were deactivated and the Clones gained citizenship into the New Republic.
They were mourning and bruised and broken- but they stood together.
And it was enough.