Obi-Wan paced up and down the hangar. His Padawan was three months down on Selvaris and the last two months they hadn't even contact. Two months of not knowing what happened down there. Two months of not knowing if they were still alive.
Normally he would know it over the Master-Padawan bond, but theirs wasn't strong, and that for two reasons. First, Anakin was very loud in the force, a bond would make him even louder for Obi-Wan and secondly, Obi-Wan was afraid to become attached to Anakin. He was afraid to lose him, like his former master, so he kept his distance from Anakin. That didn't mean he wouldn't care or worry about him. Anakin was still a child and Obi-Wan still responsible for him, so he paced up and down the hangar, as he heard that his Padawan was on his way back.
Anakin and the clones stepped out of the gunship, after they landed at the star destroyer. They were exhausted and ready for a break and a shower.
In the hangar, Anakin saw his master waiting, standing and without any injuries. It seems bacta had healed him rather quickly. He was glad that he was back on his feet.
"Welcome back. You did a great job down there," Obi-Wan greeted formally. The clones saluted. "Thank you, sir," Cody answered.
Anakin bowed. He wanted to hug his Master, happy that he had recovered. He wanted to get his praise for the successful mission. Furthermore, he wanted him to be happy that Anakin wasn't seriously injured. He only had the cuts from the fight with the droids and the rash from the dirty water. But his Master's facial impression stayed neutral and formal, and Anakin couldn't help but feel crestfallen. Nevertheless, he also kept his face neutral.
"Thank you, Master," he said while bowing.
"Padawan, you should go to the medbay and let a medic look over your rash and cuts. If the medic says you can leave the medbay, come to the bridge for your report. If the medic says that he wants you to stay in the medbay, you do it and write your report when you feel well enough," Obi-Wan ordered. Anakin nodded and bowed before he left for the medbay.
Obi-Wan looked after him. He wanted to praise the boy and to fret over him, but he would only get attached.
Anakin did great out there in the war, and he knew he couldn't get him out of it. Obi-Wan was sure, Anakin would fight in this war and would do great things. He already did in the last missions. And on both, Anakin was on his own. Well, he was with the clones, but without Obi-Wan. The Jedi knight knew he could and had to teach Anakin more, but he knew that Anakin also had to be able to rely on himself, and that was another reason Obi-Wan kept his distance from his Padawan. He didn't realize that he hurt Anakin with it. He didn't realize what Anakin was going through and that he thought more and more about his past, falling in the old behavior he had as a slave.
Anakin bowed again and said, "Yes, master," Somehow it sounded wrong. Everyone heard it.
For the clones, it sounded like some of their "Sir, yes sir." When they answered to a superior who hadn't earned their trust and used them like things and not human beings.
For Anakin, it was the "Yes master" of a slave. On the one hand, he asked himself why he sounded like that. On the other hand he asked himself that if the Republic and the Jedi enslave hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people without realizing it, who said that he was really free. Technically he was won by a Jedi and even when they said he was free doesn't mean it would be true. Master often lied to their slaves.
Obi-Wan also thought that Anakin's answer sounded wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He didn't think about Anakin's past. For him, Anakin was a Jedi like everyone else in the order.
Before leaving, Anakin handed Obi-Wan his lightsaber, bowed again and then left the hangar, going to the medbay.
In the medbay a medic treated his wounds and put a salve on his rash. After that, he was allowed to leave and went straight to the bridge.
Cody was reporting the moment he entered, so he kept silent and only bowed to his Master and the Jedi council. They only nodded in acknowledgment and continued to listen to Cody.
After Cody finished his report and answered all questions the Jedi had, it was Anakin's turn to report.
He tried to report as neutral and professional as possible. But still, it was his first report. Everyone looked down at him with serious faces. He often had problems deciding what was important for the others, or stumbled over difficult words he tried to use, since he heard them sometimes from his Master. He wasn't sure if he used them always right, but nobody said anything.
Anakin didn't realize that some Jedi were irritated that there weren't exclamations like "wizard" and how formal he reported. Young Padawans typically exaggerate their first report or digress.
The Jedi nodded as he ended. "You can leave now, Padawan. Thank you for your report. Meditate over the mission and rest then," Obi-Wan said. Anakin bowed, "Yes, Master,". Then he bowed to the Jedi Council.
Cody saluted, and Anakin also gave him a sloppy salute and grinned. He was sure that Cody at least smiled, even if he couldn't see it under the helmet. After that, he left the bridge and went to his quarters.
It was empty. The clones were probably working or training.
First he entered the 'fresher and took a shower, then he sat at his bunk and crossed his legs.
Anakin sighed. He didn't know how to meditate over something. Obi-Wan hadn't taught him. But since he didn't want to give Obi-Wan a reason to scold him, he began to meditate normally. He didn't get into deep meditation. When he tried it, he felt his feelings boiling. The sadness and anger about how Obi-Wan treated him, as he didn't seem to care about him personally.
When he achieved to push the feelings in the sandstorm that is the force, It came back as if the force just blew it back to him.
It didn't take long for the past draining days to take their toll and the exhaustion to take over. He fell asleep while meditating.
Anakin didn't even wake up as Obi-Wan came looking for him. Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile as he saw his charge sleeping in the meditation position. He didn't have the heart to wake his Padawan, so he laid Anakin properly in the bunk and put a blanket over him.
The Jedi watched his Padawan sleep peacefully for a while, as some clones entered. Obi-Wan looked up and recognized Rex and Kix.
The clones saluted, but Obi-Wan waved it off. "Please stay quiet. He needs his sleep", the General asked for.
The clones nodded. "Don't worry, General, we will take care that he can sleep without disruption," Kix answered.
"Thank you. I will leave him to you then," Obi-Wan said and left.
Back on the bridge, Obi-Wan saw the hologram of Master Plo Koon and Master Windu. He bowed to them.
"We have a new mission for you, Kenobi," Windu greeted. "A new… But Master we are…," Obi-Wan began but was interrupted from Plo Koon. "You just have to pick my men and me up. We are stranded on a planet you are nearest."
Obi-Wan exhaled relieved. "We will come and get you, Master Koon," Obi-Wan said and bowed.