Trust me- Shmi's Legacy
Obi-wan is a worrier by nature, even before he had been apprenticed to his master Qui-Gon he had been noted by his peers as someone prone to stressing over things perhaps a touch too much.
He had always claimed it was him being responsible, his padawan Anakin called him full of poodoo.
Obi-wan would perhaps had found it mildly amusing if Anakin himself weren't the source of his worries.
A reckless rescue from a geonosian battle arena, a lightsaber-amputated hand, and over 184 slain Jedi later found Anakin Skywalker withdrawn and unusually distant from his master. Sure Obi-wan and Anakin don't always get along and very rarely agree on anything but it concerned Kenobi greatly to see the boisterous padawan he had raised over the past 10 years so quiet and… introspective.
Anakin had lost his lightsaber in the ill-fated battle with Count Dooku not two days ago, his weapon destroyed beyond repair or salvage, much like his severed hand. The entire time he had his prosthetic fitted Obi-Wan had sat right next to him, a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder. He could feel Anakin's every jerk and gasp of pain both through his hand and their shared force-bond as the medical droid pricked at the cauterized stump with its array of needles to align and attach his muscles and nerves to his new metal hand.
The agony that rippled and leaked through his mental defenses staggered the Jedi Master though. Obi-wan was shocked at the stoic and unflinching manner Anakin dealt with the pain. The Jedi master had no illusions about why Anakin could ignore the debilitating stabbing throbs that shot up his severed limb. He had been a slave for his entire childhood and from what tiny snippets Obi-Wan managed to drag out of his padawan Anakin's life had been anything but easy and pain free.
Still, the ghost pains Obi-Wan could feel leaking through Anakin's defenses was enough to make him double over and gasp. It was eye opening for Obi-Wan to know that he was only feeling a portion of the agony that was wreaking havoc on his young padawan.
Anakin's shields were never the most refined but they were generally solid and stalwart, they had to be, to other force-sensitives Anakin was a lot. Even when shielded his presence in the force could distract and even overwhelm the senses if those around him were untrained and unprepared. Anakin himself had plenty more to learn about his use of the force. He possessed immense power but he is still unrefined, his current mastery barely scratches the surface of his potential abilities.
When the medical droid was done with his work it wandered off without a sound, leaving Obi-Wan alone with his quiet and subdued Padawan running his flesh hand up and down his new metal forearm. As the lances of pain shooting through their force-bond faded Obi-Wan felt a surge of protectiveness kick him in the chest at the downcast young Jedi.
Perhaps losing his hand is hitting him harder than I expected?
It was worth asking at any rate. With the declaration of war with Count Dooku and the Separatists Obi-Wan needed Anakin to get over it and move on. It was for the best and his own good, right?
"Master," Anakin spoke for the first time since Geonosis. It actually took Obi-Wan a couple of seconds the realize that it hadn't been his imagination.
The Jedi Master rose his eyebrows gently, showing his padawan he was listening, curious as to what his mute apprentice had broken his silence to discuss. What the young man said next sent a wave of concern ripple through his chest.
"I would like an audience with the Jedi Council." Anakin said. It hadn't been a request, not really. The way he spoke carried a weight of finality Oni-Wan had heard from his own master, Qui-Gon Jinn so long ago.
Obi-Wan stayed quiet for a few moments deliberating with himself over Anakin's demand. Throwing a bit of caution to the wind he decided to bite slug-bolt and ask.
"What is this about Anakin?"
The young man turned his piercing blue gaze away and his face hardened into the same pensive mask he had been wearing since the battle.
"You will find out at the audience with the council." He replied shortly. Obi-Wan frowned.
"The Jedi Council isn't at your beck and call young padawan. They don't have time to entertain whatever trivial emotional toil you are wrestling with, especially with this blasted civil war."
Obi-Wan had prepared himself for his padawan's fiery and biting retort, but what he hadn't been prepared for the resigned and bemused smirk creep sadly across the young man's face.
"Okay."
Obi-Wan stayed silent for a stretch just staring at his padawan and blinking dumbly waiting for the other shoe to drop but Anakin stayed quiet. Evidently he had already said his piece leaving the famous 'Negotiator' Master Kenobi flailing out in the wind in an odd state of shock.
"That's it?" He asked before he could stop himself as his mouth opened and closed a couple of times, a bit stunned. Anakin looked over and took in his master's startled blank expression and actually broke out in a genuine smile and a quiet snigger.
"you are well Master?" Anakin chuckled. "Were you expecting I say something else?"
"Yes!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, waving one hand in the air in exasperation. "I was actually expecting you to blister and fight in the vain hopes I would give in."
"All I got from that is that you just like to argue." His padawan quipped instantly.
"Anakin…" Obi-Wan drew out his shit-eating grinning apprentice's name in a warning tone but by the end it just turned into a sigh in defeat.
"Fine, I will talk with the council about giving you a short audience with us in a few days."
Again Obi-Wan was shocked when instead of a surly quip or barbed comment Anakin's face brightened into an exhausted but honest smile instead.
"Thank you Master, that will give me enough time to get everything in order."
Obi-Wan didn't like how Anakin phrased that but decided to let it go. He had no idea what was going to happen in a few days but whatever it was he just hoped Anakin would leave the temple standing afterward.
Chosen one indeed… Ob-Wan snorted with a small fond shake of his head. Master Jinn, this boy you saved will the death of me.
Out in the aethereal depths of the force Obi-Wan sensed a familiar and thoroughly amused smile back at him in response.
Two days past and Anakin had become something of a phantom enigma that drifted in and out of the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan had tried to keep his strangely acting apprentice within his line of sight but the very second he would look away the boy would simply vanish! It was practically maddening! His apprentice would return to their shared quarters he would smell of the Coruscant lower levels at odd times in the day and night and he absolutely refused to explain where he had been.
"You'll understand when I explain at the audience with the council Master." Anakin had insisted the night before the audience. His expression grew a touch forlorn when he added almost sadly, "You just may not agree with it much…"
Obi-Wan had given up pressing for information and instead scrutinized his sneaky Padawan's slightly grimy garbs. The young man had traded his tan and brown Jedi robes for a more regal set of silver and black dress clothes reminiscent of a Naboo or Aldeeran noble or senator. Obi-Wan hadn't even known Anakin had clothes like this.
Obi-Wan certainly didn't have anything so extravagant in his wardrobe, he couldn't afford it and he knew for a fact Anakin couldn't, not on the shallow allowance the Jedi allocate for their Padawans. Besides, Anakin spent all of his credits on his motley collection of droids and speeders he thinks Obi-Wan doesn't know about. Anakin has quite the reputation as a street racer, even among Coruscant's lower crust of vagrants and adrenaline-junkies.
Not to mention the CorSec Police. Anakin is actually the official record holder for the longest rap-sheet for traffic violations of any Jedi ever. Even after 10 years of his shenanigans Obi-Wan wasn't sure whether to be mortified or impressed.
After bidding his apprentice goodnight Obi-Wan went to bed but sleep escaped him as easily as patience eludes his Padawan. His mind roiled with anxiety for the coming meeting in the morning. He just wanted to get it over with so he and Anakin can focus on the war with the Separatists!
It seems this time HE is the one short of patience tonight.
A soft clatter of glass being gently set on a kitchen countertop drifted through his sealed bedroom door. Obi-Wan glanced at the chrono on the wall.
02:14 in the morning. Obi-Wan huffed as more quiet little sounds of his Padawan's nighttime scavenging trickled from their shared kitchen. Anakin must be just as nervous as I am. A wane smile pulled at the edges of the Jedi Master's lips. Usually I'm the one good at masking my anxiety.
Anakin is growing up.
Obi-Wan blinked, surprised at the thought as if someone else had declared it instead of him, inside his own head no less. A well of nostalgia welled up in the tired Jedi so sudden and strong he barely managed to throw his mental shields up in their shared Force-bond.
After that embarrassing close call Obi-Wan delved back into his memories of his times with his Apprentice. They had accomplished much since Qui-Gon made him take in the distraught 9-year-old Skywalker. He became a master at age 24 with a Padawan half the age of any Master in recent memory with exactly none of the training of any other youngling his age. Those first years for the slave boy from Tatooine had been brutal and emotional for the both of them with short moments of triumph and growth intermittent between long strings of struggle, hardship and failure. Obi-Wan was again in wonder that they hadn't killed each other by now.
The clatter and shuffle outside in the kitchen fell silent drawing Obi-Wan from his reminiscing and piqued his interest. Coming to a decision he slid from his uncomfortable bed, threw on his under robes, and quietly eased open his chamber door into the kitchen.
The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the never sleeping city were drawn open throwing the sparse living room and kitchen in Coruscant's stifling red ambient glow. A tall and broad shouldered shadow leaned up against the wall brooding as he stared out over the trails of relentless traffic lanes crisscrossing the night sky, his mechanical hand reflected a pale red light as he absentmindedly fiddled with his padawan braid.
Anakin dropped his braid and ran his golden metal fingers through his short blonde-brown hair as if raking his troublesome thoughts off of his mind.
"Good evening Master." Anakin greeted; his deep blue eyes almost glowing as he looked at him from the reflection of the window.
"Good morning Anakin." He replied without skipping a beat.
"It's morning already?" Anakin said with a small amount of genuine surprise, their familiar exchange silently released the odd tension that had subtly stretched their bond tight as piano wire.
The Jedi Master quirked a tiny smile and glided over to his love seat beside the couch and settled in with a sigh, the thick brown leather that wrapped both pieces of furniture was worn and comfortably broken in, giving way beneath his weight without a sound. He glanced down at the table and noted the two steaming cups of tea sat on the low table in front of him, the nostalgic warmth that cradled in his chest spread.
He felt I couldn't sleep either.
Obi-Wan leaned forward and scooped up his waiting draft of tea and took a slow languished sip, savoring the earthy and slightly spicy concoction. He knew Anakin had a distinct dislike for the traditional brew, in fact he almost hated it as much as Obi-Wan liked it, often quoting his distaste with teasing him with his love for the "hot leaf juice". Despite that Anakin had taken the time to learn his favorite blend- Stewjon Flare-leaf from his home world- and just how he liked it brewed.
He suspected his clever padawan learned it mostly just to butter him up when he did something wrong or had a particularly difficult favor to ask. Suddenly Obi-Wan wondered would this time would be any different.
As he enjoyed his tea Anakin left the window and plopped down in the couch, his tan under robes bellowing out from his long limbs and bare feet. With a gentle flick of the force Anakin scooped his own waiting cup of tea into the air and into his hands. He had pulled a touch too hard and the ceramic cup clanked loudly against his new metal palm making him flinch back in surprise like a startled puppy.
Perhaps in a few months Obi-Wan would poke a little fun at his padawan's amusing expression but for right now all he felt was a hook of guilt yank hard on his heart. If only he had been a better Master or even just a better Jedi than Anakin wouldn't have lost his hand.
Why is it that his Padawan, even as foolish and reckless as he is, had to pay for his Master's mistakes?
Obi-Wan took a long slow breath, inhaling the tea his Apprentice made for him. It pulled him from his quickly spiraling thoughts, he is tired both physically and mentally. His exhaustion is affecting his emotions, he knew this, so he sank into the force in a shallow meditation, drawing out his guilt and sorrow and let it bleed out into nothingness, carried away by the force.
"Concerned about the audience with the Jedi Council Master?" Anakin asked, sipping his own tea with a small grimace. He still didn't like its taste but through prior experience he recognized its calming effects.
Obi-Wan eyed the young man for a moment and set his cup in his lap.
"I should be asking you the same thing." He replied. "Are you sure you won't speak to me first? If it's about your knighthood I believe Master Mundi is proposing to skip the trials altogether in light of this war with the Separatists."
Anakin swallowed his drink and rested back against the couch with a weary sigh, his pensive expression half shrouded in shadow and crimson city light.
"It's not about knighthood Master." He admitted, his prosthetic fingers trailing over his cup's surface making a tiny ringing sound. "It's about my future."
Obi-Wan blinked, confused. "Is not that the same thing?"
"…" Anakin remained silent and looked towards the window, his metal fingers still making that soft ringing sound against the teacup. Suddenly the soft ringing stopped and Anakin broke the silence, his deepening voice thick with a meaning Obi-Wan couldn't identify.
"Can you trust me Master? Support me during the audience tomorrow?" He said, still not meeting his Master's eye.
Obi-Wan went quiet himself for a moment, taking in his Apprentice's expression as he turned over Anakin's plea in his mind.
"I… I don't like not knowing what I'm supposed to be throwing my support behind Anakin." Obi-Wan said carefully. Anakin shook his head in frustration, his force aura flared for second in irritation reminding Obi-Wan that Anakin was just as tired as he was. Still Obi-Wan was once again thrown off-kilter from what his Apprentice said next.
"I'm not asking you to support some crazy idea or plan of mine Master." He bit out, turning his fiery blue gaze to Obi-Wan for the first time that night. He planted his metal hand over his heart.
"I'm asking you to trust me!"
Obi-Wan inhaled sharply, trying to decipher exactly what Anakin was asking of him. Any empty words of Jedi wisdom or common sense would simply make Anakin push him away, no matter how true they are. Anakin never led with his mind, but rather his heart, something the Jedi Order frowned upon.
It dawned on Obi-Wan that perhaps this wasn't a teaching moment, but rather a crossroads. Whatever he said next would determine their relationship for possibly the rest of their lives.
"Okay I trust you Anakin." Obi-Wan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You have my support." He hesitated for a moment and opened his force-bond with his Apprentice, urging the young man to feel his sincerity. "Both in the Audience and outside of it."
Obi-Wan felt Anakin's intense presence open up to their bond and weigh his honesty in those words, then he withdrew behind his defenses without a word, his eyes still on his Master's face, mulling over his thoughts. Then, he tentatively freed himself to their fore-bond and spoke, his voice melodic with memory.
"Remember that time we went to Felucia when I was fifteen for that meditation retreat?"
A smile stretched unbidden but appreciated across Obi-Wan's tired face as he opened his bond with his Apprentice and shared in the nostalgic memory. It felt like he had just passed a test of some kind, and seeing Anakin opening up further, trusting him made the older man's smile brighten.
"I distinctly remember you crashing our speeder into a rock." Obi-Wan deadpanned around his broad grin.
"-A stroke of bad luck." Anakin huffed.
"-And that bounty hunter's skiff in that coral tree."
"-Pure coincidence." Anakin refuted weakly, his eyes rolling. "The tree just was at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"-Oh, and our own ship when we tried to get off world." Obi-Wan grinned.
Anakin threw a hand up in the air helplessly. "How was I supposed to know they had an EMP bomb?" He pointed at his Master and declared, "That doesn't count!"
Obi-Wan broke into peals of laughter that Anakin soon joined, their force-bond flaring with familiar warmth and light.
Oni-Wan and Anakin stayed in the living room bantering between themselves for the rest of the early morning as they reminisced on their past adventures. Obi-Wan's worries were pushed back by the light of shared memories in years gone by.
Obi-Wan knew that no matter what happened during the Audience with the Jedi Council he would treasure these early morning hours spent just talking with his Padawan for the rest of his life.
A/N: Surprise! Shmi's Legacy no longer a one-shot!
I originally planned to write this little portion as a part of a separate AU but I felt it fit too perfectly with the events of Never Stop Loving and I couldn't help myself.
I loved writing from Obi-Wan's perspective, it is a vastly difference experience and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Obi-Wan is the model Jedi Master and even though he is as human as Anakin and holds a strong connection with his Padawan Obi-Wan is not as emotionally as the young Skywalker. He wants to do good in the galaxy and firmly believes in the Jedi way, though his faith in Anakin rivals even that devotion to the Jedi Order.
Obi-Wan is a very different person that Anakin, it shows in how he thinks and what he says and does. He doesn't think like a normal human, but a Jedi, something Anakin struggles or outright refuses to do. Food for thought before you condemn the poor guy.
I wonder what Anakin has planned for the Audience with the Jedi Council that he won't even share it with Obi-Wan?
Guess you'll have to wait and see! Mwahahaha!
-Untraveled