Obi-Wan was very quiet on the drive away from the school. It wasn't his usual calm or contentment. Instead, he seemed to be thinking deeply, tangling with a topic he'd rather leave alone. It made Anakin nervous.
"Are you hungry?" Obi-Wan finally said. They'd driven into town and it was past lunch time, but earlier events had prevented Obi-Wan from fulfilling his promise.
"Yeah," Anakin lied. It was difficult to eat when he felt this uneasy, but Anakin didn't want to pass up the opportunity. He could always pretend he'd gotten full too quickly.
Obi-Wan was silent again as they pulled into the parking lot of a diner. It was decorated in red trim and had an unlit sign reading "Jazzy Maz". The waiter didn't question their stormy expressions. Anakin took a seat in the curved corner booth and Obi-Wan slid in next to him and began looking at the menu, brows still sternly pressed together. Afraid to cross him, Anakin thought that being honest might smooth over any of his transgressions. The waiter set down their drinks and scurried off to another table.
"I don't feel like myself," Anakin confessed.
Obi-Wan set the menu down and let his expression soften. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Anakin held himself and watched the bubbles rise in his soda. "It's like I'm always afraid. I never say what I want to anymore. I used to not care so much."
"Care about what?" he asked gently.
"What people think of me. Of you. I..." Anakin lost his train of thought. Obi-Wan wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
Obi-Wan said, "It will be alright, Anakin. I'm here for you. You need a good night's rest." He brushed the hollow of Anakin's cheek, which wasn't usually so visible. He continued, "And a good meal. Some time for your body and your mind to relax."
Anakin leaned into his embrace. "I sleep better when I'm with you," he said.
The waiter made his way over to their table as Obi-Wan detached himself from Anakin.
"I'll think about it," Obi-Wan replied.
Anakin frowned as the waiter took their orders. When he left, Anakin implored, "Have I done something wrong?"
Obi-Wan was filled with guilt. He shook his head. "No, no. It's my fault, for sheltering you too much. I don't want to frighten you."
"What is it?"
Obi-Wan's stern expression was back. He said, "Your teachers shouldn't touch you. Even if it seems like they're only being nice."
"Oh." So this was about Clovis.
"I know you wanted comfort, that's not your fault. But he should not be the one to give it. Sometimes," Obi-Wan said carefully, "it can be hard to tell what a person's true intentions are. Do you understand?"
The way Clovis looked at him suddenly came to mind. The glint in his eyes, the way he smiled. Anakin let his head fall in one hand. "Oh," he repeated.
Obi-Wan couldn't help mourning the loss of innocence. He seemed sad as he said, "I can't assume anyone who shows any interest in you is like that. But you have to be very careful with who you trust."
Anakin rubbed at his arm absentmindedly. "I understand."
Obi-Wan gestured to his arm. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," Anakin replied.
"Okay," Obi-Wan said quietly.
The waiter arrived with a hot plate of food in each hand. They thanked him but didn't move a muscle to eat. Neither of them had much of an appetite. Obi-Wan poked at his veggies with his fork.
"Thanks for looking after me," Anakin said seriously, causing Obi-Wan to laugh. Anakin laughed back sheepishly.
"Of course. Look at you, growing up so fast." Obi-Wan's smile made little crinkles by his eyes as he played with Anakin's lengthening hair. "Who knew it would curl?"
Anakin felt the blood return to his cheeks as he chased Obi-Wan's hand out of his hair. Obi-Wan simply repeated the action with his free hand, smile widening at Anakin's protests.
Obi-Wan spent the rest of the day with Anakin. They caught a holovid—the black and white kind like Anakin liked—in a tiny theater on the far side of town. It was dark on the car ride home and one second Obi-Wan was chattering away, the next, he looked over and Anakin was asleep. Sweet, like when he was little. His head was slumped over, mouth parted just slightly. Obi-Wan was sure to avoid all the bumps in the road.
When they got home, Obi-Wan parked the car and watched Anakin sleep for a few moments, listening to the sound of his breathing and the crickets chirping outside. Such a shame to wake him. Carefully, he placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder, calling quietly, "Anakin…"
Anakin blinked sleepily before groaning.
"I know, darling, I know," Obi-Wan soothed, "I would carry you up the stairs if I could. But you know, you're not as little as you used to be, and I'm not a Jedi like I used to be."
Anakin unbuckled his seatbelt begrudgingly, and then really hearing what Obi-Wan said, he turned and slowly reached out to stroke his father's cheek. "You are, though," he said, full of admiration. "You are stronger than you know."
Obi-Wan's first thought was to deny it, so he caught himself, and just let Anakin's words sink in. Anakin withdrew his hand to cover a yawn. Obi-Wan smiled and got out of the car, followed by Anakin. He trudged up the stairs to the porch, leaning against the house as Obi-Wan searched for the right key in the dark. He opened the door and light spilled forth, but Anakin's eyes were closed and he stayed put, too tired to move.
Obi-Wan put his hands on his hips. "What am I going to do with you?" he chided.
Anakin muttered something inarticulate.
Obi-Wan stepped closer and snuck an arm behind Anakin's back. "Put your arms around my neck," he said, half-amused and half in disbelief at himself. Anakin did as he was told. Obi-Wan stooped and curled an arm under Anakin's knees and swiftly lifted him off his feet. He carried Anakin into the house, kicked the door shut behind him, and then went up the stairs with Anakin nuzzling against him the entire time. Ah, which bedroom? Padmé's door was shut, so she was probably sound asleep. He looked down at Anakin's peaceful face. They both startled at the sound of the phone ringing downstairs.
Obi-Wan sighed and set Anakin down in his own bedroom, saying, "It might be awhile." Anakin nodded and rolled on his side. Obi-Wan ran down the stairs and snatched the phone off the hook on its last ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, you ignoring my calls?" A raspy laugh. Cody.
"Oh, hello Cody. I'm sorry, I was out all day with Anakin. We just got home."
"Shouldn't he be in school?"
Obi-Wan didn't like his tone, it didn't sound like him. "Yes, but things happen. That's what having kids is like."
A pause. Then sincerely, "You're right, I'm sorry. Could I see you tomorrow?"
Obi-Wan twirled the phone cord around and around his finger. "I don't know," he answered hesitantly. Then Obi-Wan lowered his voice and clutched the phone close. "Can I let you in on a little secret?"
Cody was intrigued. "Yes, please."
"The new motel sign is coming tomorrow. Bright blue, Anakin's favorite color."
"That's exciting," Cody said, "Maybe I could be there when it goes up?"
"Sure thing. I'll give you a call."
"Alright. Goodnight, Obi-Wan."
"Goodnight."
Click.
Obi-Wan hung up the phone and looked around the dim, empty kitchen. Then he walked through the family room, locked the front door, and went up the stairs again. Quietly, he peeked in Anakin's room, and seeing him in the same position he left him, started to pull the door shut. "Father," Anakin called.
Obi-Wan opened up the door, padded in, and knelt by the side of the bed Anakin was facing.
"I love you," Anakin said, blue eyes searching Obi-Wan's.
Obi-Wan tucked a stray curl behind Anakin's ear. "I love you, too. Get some rest now."
Anakin pulled a blanket around himself and smushed his face against the pillow. Obi-Wan retreated to his room, undressed, and crawled under the covers of his bed. He clicked off the lamp light without cracking open a book first to read. Obi-Wan was too happy to trouble himself with worrying as he tried to fall asleep.
The next day, Anakin came home from school to find Obi-Wan working in the motel office. He watched him through the door's window for a moment, first smiling at the sight of Obi-Wan wearing glasses that sat crookedly on his nose, then noticing his furrowed brows and tight lips. He was on the phone—clearly with someone frustrating.
Quietly, Anakin opened the door and reached up to silence the little bell that would soon signal a guest. Obi-Wan gave him a nod and Anakin snuck around the desk and into the parlor. There was a painting of a songbird, petite and blue, on the wall. Anakin stared into its black eyes before setting his backpack on the floor and taking a seat in a dusty, plush chair. He caught snippets of Obi-Wan talking while he thought of something to write for school.
"I'm trying to start a business. How am I supposed to…"
"What do you mean, Coruscant isn't on the map? It's right here…"
"Extra? No, I think you have the situation backwards…"
Eventually, Obi-Wan set the phone in its cradle, put his face in his hands, and let out a very long, warbled groan. Then he adjusted his glasses and picked up the phone again, graceful fingers dialing out the number digit by digit. If the charm of this place doesn't bring guests, Force help me. The dial tone stopped. "Hello, Cody. It's Obi-Wan," he said.
Suddenly, Anakin was eavesdropping.
"Yeah, unfortunately, it's not coming today. The manufacturers called with a long list of excuses."
A pause. Obi-Wan laughed awkwardly. "Me? Make excuses?"
Anakin stood from his seat and moved closer.
"Of course I want to see you. Why don't we do something else today?"
A long pause. Anakin braced himself on the doorframe.
"Well, I see the point. Can't I catch you during your break? Like before, remember?"
Anakin watched Obi-Wan's face grow stormier as he listened to Cody, then the familiar click.
In a flash of robes, Obi-Wan stood up and slammed the phone down. Anakin staggered backwards and bumped into a coffee table, causing the teacups on it to rattle loudly. Obi-Wan whirled around.
"Anakin! What are you up to?"
"Nothing," he was quick to say.
Obi-Wan strode into the parlor, holding out a finger at him. "Were you listening to my private conversation with Cody?"
"No," Anakin said, trying to find his way around the table and away from Obi-Wan's impending reprimand.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan warned, coming closer.
Anakin fell backwards onto an old sofa. Obi-Wan leaned over him, scrutinizing him through the glasses about to slide off his nose. "Yes," Anakin admitted quietly. "I'm sorry." Then with red cheeks, Anakin said, "Please don't be mad."
Obi-Wan was as still as the bird on the wall for two seconds more. Then he took a deep breath and sat beside Anakin, taking off his glasses and folding them—tink, tink—before setting them on the table with the teacups. He turned to Anakin, who'd only relaxed a little from his trapped position on the sofa, and said, "It's not really you who I'm mad at." Then he added firmly, "But you should know better."
Anakin sat up and looked at the floor. "I know," he said, "I just got curious."
"And are you satisfied?" Obi-Wan teased.
Anakin glared at him a little. "No. Apparently, Cody doesn't know what's good for him. Now you're angrier than you were with the other phone call. By the way, what was supposed to come tomorrow?"
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "You caught everything but that?"
"Fatherrr," Anakin groaned.
He laughed. "I might as well keep it a surprise then."
"A surprise for me?"
"Yes, young one. For both of us, really." Obi-Wan stood and was going to return to his desk when movement caught his eye. "Anakin," he called, peering through the window of the office door.
Anakin came over and was able to catch a glance over Obi-Wan's shoulder. There were three boys hanging around the porch of Motel Room 5, with one sitting in a foldout chair for guests, a cloud of thick purple enveloping them.
Obi-Wan asked, "Would you tell those boys they can't smoke here? I've had enough problems today." Then he sat behind the check-in desk and grumbled, "The motel's not even open yet."
Anakin looked nervously from the boys to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan's expression softened. "I'll be right here if there's trouble. It's likely they're already in a good mood, so be brave, okay?"
Brave. Right. He was a Jedi, Master or not. The Force was in his blood. He could do anything. Anakin pushed through the door and walked with a swagger so that his robes would billow behind him. The boys were barely distinguishable from the heavy, sweet smelling smoke. Anakin closed the distance between them with just a pulse of the Force, not enough to knock them over, but enough to blow the smoke backwards and ruffle their hair. Slowly they turned to look at him. Anakin looked back as he started to say, "There's no smoking allowed at the Kenobi..." He recognized the handsome face of the boy in the chair. Elan.
"Hey, Anakin," he greeted in his rough voice. "Come here often?"
Anakin crossed his arms. "You know I live here." One of Elan's friends, who looked like him with wavy antennapalps, took a long drag, the tip of his cigarette lighting up yellow and sea green. The other one, who appeared relatively human aside from the strange tattoos on his arms, did the same. More swirling lilac smoke.
Elan replied, "You're right, I know. Just teasing. What was it you wanted?"
"Would you smoke somewhere else?"
Elan looked Anakin up and down with sleepy doe eyes, as if he might object, but then he smiled widely at him. "Sure, sure," Elan said. His friends were not as quick to agree. The human one complained, "The General never cared where we smoked."
"Yeah, he did, dumbass," said the Balosar. "His lungs were bad, don't you remember?"
The two continued to bicker while an amused Elan watched Anakin not know what to do. Finally he stood and put a hand on each of his friends' shoulders. They shut up. Elan told them calmly, "Obviously this place is gonna be nicer now, with Anakin running it." Anakin was about to say how really it was his father in charge, but Elan just winked at him and continued, "It's not for us to ruin, 'kay? I'll catch you guys later," and he pushed at their shoulders so that they turned around and stumbled off the porch. The human glared back at him, but kept walking afterwards. The Balosar slung his arm around the other's shoulders and they laughed it off. Anakin looked back at Elan, confused.
Elan shrugged. "That's Derryck and John for you." He walked over to the next modest breakfast table and snatched up a foldout chair for Anakin, gesturing grandly for him to take a seat. Anakin smiled and did so. Elan returned to his seat and looked out at the view of the forest just beyond the road running parallel to the motel.
"Elan?" Anakin called.
"Huh?"
Anakin pointed to the cigarette still wedged between his fingers.
"Sorry," Elan said, looking embarrassed. He balanced his leg on his knee and twisted the end of the cigarette against the sole of his shiny black boot. "Stuff makes me stupid. But it's safer than death sticks."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." That twinkle in his eye was back. He leaned over the table. "Although, some might say selling death sticks is more dangerous that using 'em."
Anakin tried to repress a grin as he put his elbows on the table. "Are you trying to impress me?" he asked.
Elan leaned back, smirking as he crossed his legs. "Is it working?"
"No," Anakin said bluntly. Then he laughed at the face Elan made. But he was too curious not to ask, "Seriously, why sell drugs at all?"
Elan gestured to his clothes as he said, "How else am I supposed to look this good?"
He did look good. Tall boots, long coat, popped collar, that thick band around his neck. Anakin tried to keep his brain from shutting off. That couldn't be the only reason in a town like this. As he thought about it, Coruscant didn't even seem like a place where drugs would be in high demand. He settled on asking, "You don't have parents to take care of you?"
"Parents? Yes. Parents who give a shit? No. Besides, I like taking care of myself."
Anakin held his gaze for a few seconds. He looked a little angry, despite his casual tone. Elan turned to observe the forest again. Then he offered, "You wanna go to the lake with me, Anakin?"
Anakin felt his heart jump. "Now?"
"Yeah, now. Want to?"
"Yes." Then his smile fell and he ran a hand through his hair. "Let me just tell my dad where we're going." Anakin started for the office door and Elan jumped up behind him.
"Uh, did you want to meet him?"
Obi-Wan kept sneaking peeks out the door to see if Anakin had accomplished his task without incident. But Anakin had been talking to one of the boys, alone, for a while now. Flirting, it looked like. Obi-Wan didn't know what to think about that. He felt sort of funny in his chest. Dread, maybe. Something Padmé said once came to mind. He'd been staring at a blank holodocument when Anakin and the other boy walked in, bell above the door ringing cheerfully.
"Hi, Father," Anakin said shyly. Where was that Jedi confidence now? "This is my friend Elan."
Well, he hadn't said boyfriend. Obi-Wan moved around the desk and offered his hand to Elan. He could smell the sweet, candy-like smoke on him. "Do you have a last name, Elan?"
Elan shook his hand and smiled as he replied, "It can be hard for humans to pronounce."
"Try me."
"Sel'Sabagno," Elan answered. It sounded like another language, made more complicated by his split tongue.
"Sleazebaggano?" Obi-Wan repeated incredulously. Anakin felt like hiding.
Elan laughed. "Yeah, that's usually what people hear. Though most aren't as surprised as you."
Obi-Wan felt badly then. "I'm sorry," he said, and against his former judgment, "You look like a good kid. The name doesn't suit you."
Anakin's face relaxed from its scrunched-up grimace. Nice save. Elan's demeanor shifted minutely as he straightened his back and held his chin up. "Thank you." Obi-Wan and Anakin could feel the brightness radiating off of him. Maybe no one had ever told him that before. Obi-Wan reminded himself, Sometimes first impressions are wrong.
Elan looked to Anakin then and Anakin piped up, "I was wondering if he and I could go to the lake."
What? How long has Anakin known this kid? Twenty minutes? But Anakin's eyes and pouty lips read please in the way Obi-Wan could never refuse. "Which lake?" he questioned.
"Lake Bleary," Elan said.
It wasn't too far. "Is your homework done?"
Anakin regretted starting this conversation. "Nearly," he responded.
Obi-Wan was quiet a moment. Elan tried to hold in a laugh. This was too good, the two of them so clearly concerned with what the other wanted. Obi-Wan said, "Alright. But be home before dark."
"I will," Anakin said. He felt like a stick of dynamite had finally gone off inside him. Excited, too excited, verging on nervous. Oh, why didn't Father say no? How am I supposed to act now?
"And be careful," Obi-Wan advised. "Don't do anything foolish." He avoided sending an accusatory look Elan's way.
"Don't worry," Elan told him, "Anakin will be in good hands."
Force help me, Obi-Wan thought again, I hope he doesn't mean that literally.
Anakin sent a mental hug Obi-Wan's way and the boys left the office and headed for the forest. A short hike would get them to the lake. Obi-Wan had to sit down and calm every terrible, unrealistic vision of what could happen.
Anakin followed Elan through the forest, stepping over fallen branches, maneuvering around places where the foliage was too thick, and dodging tree limbs perfectly lined up with his face. Being shorter, Elan didn't have the same problem. They stopped for a moment to rest.
"Do you see that ledge over there?" Elan asked, pointing to where the trees spread out and made room for a meadow. The grass grew all the way to the cliff's edge. Anakin thought if someone wasn't careful enough they could find themselves falling without ever knowing why.
"That's Makeout Cliff. Don't get all bashful now, I'm not taking you there for that." He explained quickly, "Sometimes it's fun to see if anyone is there."
Amazed, Anakin asked, "You mean it's fun to spy?" The thought was even naughtier than the one of Elan's tongue in his mouth.
Elan had expected his reaction to be a little less wondrous. A punch to the face would have been more than normal. He replied teasingly, "That depends on who's there."
Anakin considered it. They started hiking again as he asked, "Who do you not care to see?"
Elan held a branch out of the way for Anakin. "People I know, usually. That can get gross."
They were almost close enough to see if anyone was hidden in the shade, opposite the cliff face. "And who do you stay for?"
Elan stopped and looked back at Anakin until he caught up with him. Quietly, he answered, "Couples that aren't public. Secret ones, you know?" Anakin felt his pulse in his ears. Elan whispered, "Word spreads fast in this town. It's almost... special, to be the first to know." Then, "Sorry, that sounds weird. I—" They heard a laugh. No, a giggle—feminine and muffled, perhaps by a dainty hand. It was quickly followed by another.
Elan crouched down and moved behind a bush for cover. Anakin followed and they both laid down flat on their stomachs, raising their heads just enough to try to spot the source of the noise.
"See anyone?" Elan asked.
Anakin felt very wrong, and sort of right because of that. He narrowed his eyes as he peered over the stalks of grass. Two silhouettes in the shade was all he could make out. "No," he began to say, then, "Wait a second." He cupped a hand around his ear and tried to listen to their voices. The Force could amplify sound sometimes—oh, if Obi-Wan knew he was eavesdropping again! It sounded like, As pretty as a flower, just like I said when we met. There was something familiar about that voice.
"Can you actually hear them? Sheesh, you're good at this for a human." Elan's antennapalps twisted towards the sound. He could hear the couple, too.
"Shhh," Anakin said gently. He wanted to hear the other's voice.
So love has blinded you?
Anakin nearly jumped straight up, but Elan pulled him back down against the twigs and tree needles. "Who is it?" he demanded.
Anakin knew that voice by heart, might have heard that very phrase before. He gulped. "My sister."
"Ohhh," Elan responded, grinning afterwards. He turned onto his back and gazed up at Anakin. "I won't look then."
Anakin smacked his arm. "They're only talking."
"Who's with her?"
Right, the other familiar voice. It was definitely a man, with a lot to say and not enough humility. A face suddenly came to mind. Anakin put his hands over his eyes as if that would help.
"Anakin!" Elan whisper-yelled.
"It's my teacher," Anakin groaned. "It's Mr. Clovis." Anakin had a lot of questions now. Or maybe, all the questions. When? How? Why?
Elan stifled a laugh. "C'mon, let's get to the lake. You've endured enough of my crazy hobbies."
Anakin's mind was busy reassessing every encounter he'd had with Clovis as they wove through the trees. Just the day before, he was sure that Clovis didn't treat him like his other students. Obi-Wan saw it. Not that Anakin wanted anything like that from his teacher. But if the man was dating Padmé, maybe Anakin had just misinterpreted.
"Are you okay?" Elan asked. They'd reached the lake. It stretched out wide and blue, sparkling in the warm sun.
Anakin nodded and watched as Elan took off his boots and socks and wiggled his toes in the white sand. "How can you stand that?" Anakin asked.
They started walking along the shore. "Stand what?"
"The sand."
A smile curled across Elan's face. "You don't like sand," he said.
Anakin felt the sun on his cheeks. "No."
Elan halted, and grabbed Anakin's hand when he kept walking. "But you came with me anyway," he said.
"I suppose so, yes," Anakin stammered. A cool breeze caressed his face, but nothing could save him from the way Elan was looking at him. He thought his heart was going to fly out of his chest.
Elan dropped his hand suddenly and regarded the lake. Anakin was too cute. When he felt he could keep a straight face, Elan said, "C'mon, I'll show you something else." He took a few steps forward and shouted.
"Elan!"
The Balosar threw his boots aside and held his bare foot, which was dripping dark red blood on the pale sand. Anakin strode to his side and helped him sit down, making sure there weren't any other sharp objects hidden there. Anakin observed the injury while Elan looked the other way, biting his lip hard. A piece of glass jutted out of his foot.
"I'm going to pull it out, okay?" Anakin said softly. Elan moaned. "It's alright, you're fine, you won't even feel it—" He pulled out the glass then and pressed a sleeve-covered hand against the wound.
Elan swore. "I definitely felt that." He still wouldn't look at Anakin.
Anakin ran a hand through Elan's gravity-defying hair. "Hey, if you need to cry, I'm not gonna judge."
Elan laughed weakly. "Good one, Anakin. It's not that. It's the blood."
"Oh," Anakin said, lifting his hand for a second and examining Elan's foot again. The sleeve of his robe was starting to get soaked, and Elan's foot didn't look any better. Anakin brushed at the sticky skin where sand wanted to cling. Elan tried not to jerk his foot away. Anakin had an idea. "Can I try something?"
Elan peeked at him. "What kind of something?"
"Healing. I don't know if it will work," Anakin replied uncertainly, "And you can't tell anyone."
"Mysterious," he remarked. "Go ahead."
Anakin placed both hands over Elan's foot and concentrated on repairing the damage. Elan whimpered as the wound closed. Anakin pictured muscle tissue weaving back together, blood vessels long and uncut, soft skin unharmed. He opened his eyes and looked at his handiwork. He frowned.
"Anakin?" Elan called, concerned for the anatomy of his foot.
There was a thin pink line where the glass used to be. Maybe he couldn't heal him all the way. Slowly, he brought a finger to the scar and asked, "Does this hurt?"
"No," Elan said.
Anakin put more pressure against it. "Now?"
"A little," he answered, "But it's much better than before." Elan relaxed and stretched out on his back.
Anakin settled beside him and stared at the tree leaves and sky from below. "Good," he said, "No more blood."
Elan propped himself up on his side and shoved Anakin defensively. "I can't help that it makes me queasy, okay? I'm sure you can't help disliking sand, for whatever reason." Anakin snickered. "Stop that," Elan said. Anakin laughed harder. Elan leaned down and kissed him. Anakin stopped laughing, felt Elan's lips on his. Elan pulled away, cheeks red and face still grumpy. Anakin might have been in shock.
"Where I'm from, that means thank you," Elan muttered, looking the other way.
Wide-eyed, Anakin finally cracked a smile. He whispered, "In Coruscant, it means you're actually a big softy." He touched Elan's cheek with his fingertips. Elan was about to thank him again when they heard a bloodcurdling scream.
The pair of them jumped to their feet. Anakin's first thought was Padmé, but the scream came from the opposite direction. There were two little figures on a boat on the lake, both scrambling away from something. "Elan, can you tell if they're saying anything?" Anakin urged.
Elan pulled on his boots and walked to the water's edge, listening intently. He mimicked the different pitches of their voices. "Call the police. Wait, are you sure it's not an old droid? Are you kidding? It's Grievous! Okay, I'm calling, calm down."
Anakin went very pale.
Elan turned to face him, saying, "Hey, hasn't Grievous been missing?" Then, "Anakin, can you hear me?" That was... this lake? It couldn't be.
Grievous' mechanical voice. It is. "Anakin?"
Anakin! Obi-Wan's voice bleeding through the Force. Anakin! Just the memory? Was it happening now?
Elan was shaking him. "Anakin!"
He blinked, met Elan's wild eyes and said, "I need to go home, now."
Elan wasn't any more relieved now that Anakin was responding to him. Shakily, he said, "Okay. Follow me. Stay close, don't be frightened." He kept talking so he knew Anakin was with him mentally. "I don't know what's happened, but you're alright, 'kay? We're going home. Don't look back, you won't see what they saw. It could be nothing. With me, still?"
"Yes."
They climbed back the way they came. "I had fun today, Anakin. You're amazing. I don't know how you healed me, but I don't care. I won't tell anyone. You hear that? Your secret is safe with me. You're safe. Anakin?"
"I'm here."
"Almost there..." They clambered over rocks and deadfall as if it were a race. Elan kept talking, trying to stay calm, and failing. Anakin's cheeks got cut up by tree branches. It was as if the forest wanted him to snap out of it, or claw at him until he faced his fears. All he saw was Obi-Wan, quivering with a knife in his hand, blood, blood, and more blood. Anakin looked down, saw the ground, his shoes, his hands. Blood on his hands. He should've never let Obi-Wan cover it up. He wasn't in his right mind, it was all wrong. It wasn't his fault. The news would've passed, the motel would run eventually, Obi-Wan could've gone to the hospital and got his head checked. Stupid! Why did Anakin do everything he was told? Why was everything covered in blood?
Elan pulled Anakin out of the forest and into the sunlight. They crossed the road just after two more cop cars pulled into the motel parking lot. Elan tried to dab at Anakin's cheeks before he started for the stairs.
"Anakin!" he yelled.
"Go home, Elan!" Anakin returned harshly. He didn't want to involve him.
Elan watched him take the stairs two at a time from the gravel parking lot. He reached for his lighter and a cigarette unhappily.
Anakin ran through the open door of the house. "Father!" There seemed to be policemen everywhere, searching. "Father!"
Obi-Wan came out of the dining room and Anakin ran to him. Obi-Wan was very serious as he held Anakin, not panicking, but not normal, either. "Be quiet now, Anakin," he said gravely, wiping his cheeks and then smoothing his hair over and over. Talk to me like this.
Do they know?
I'm only a suspect, since I was seen arguing with Grievous.
And they're searching for?
Evidence of a murder.
Anakin nearly fell to his knees. Obi-Wan gripped his arms and held him up. I need you to be strong. Don't act like you're guilty.
I am guilty! It's my fault!
Obi-Wan shook him. No. That couldn't be further from the truth. Anakin, you saved me then. Save me again. Act like this is completely unexpected, an outrage.
Obi-Wan let go of him then. Anakin channeled his anger. Deputy Rex moved to pass by them and Anakin cut him off.
"What's all this about, huh?"
"Hey, kid," he said, "Long time no see."
Anakin crossed his arms. "Answer me."
"Fine," Rex said, glancing at Obi-Wan, who pretended to be apologetic. "General Grievous was found. Or rather, his duranium skull was found. Your father is still my—our—only major suspect. This search should help clarify things."
"What do you expect to find?" questioned Anakin, as if the house contained no secrets.
"Sorry," he replied, "I can't tell you. Stay out of the way and I'll try to make this quick."
Anakin reluctantly stepped out of the way and Rex made his way up the stairs. Cody passed him by on the way down. Obi-Wan strode towards him. "Cody!"
Sheriff Cody glared at Obi-Wan sharply before turning down a hallway and speaking into his comlink.
"Cody?"
Suddenly, everyone was leaving—at Cody's order it seemed. The man didn't look in Obi-Wan's direction as he and all the others made their exit. Rex wished them a good evening despite his suspicions. Maybe they were changing. Well, at the very least, he didn't find anything out of the ordinary in the house. No drops of blood, no weapons, no physical record of Grievous' presence there. Rex would have to discuss it with Cody, who was already behind the wheel of their car.
Obi-Wan had a bad feeling all of a sudden. "Anakin, where is your lightsaber? Where do you keep it?"
"In my dresser," he answered nervously.
"Check if it's there." Obi-Wan followed Anakin up the stairs and searched for his own. Gone. A second later, Anakin swung open the door between their bedrooms, looking wild. His hands were empty. Obi-Wan sat on the edge of his bed, contemplating. Anakin didn't know what to do.
"Father," he called. I'm afraid. I don't want to lose you.
Obi-Wan opened his arms and Anakin ran into his embrace. "You won't lose me," he said aloud. "Cody will protect us." But he wasn't sure of that. Anakin held onto him tightly.
"Obi-Wan?" Padmé's voice rang from downstairs. They heard the front door shut behind her. "Could someone explain what's going on?" Anakin looked at Obi-Wan with wide eyes, unwilling to let go of him.
"Try to relax, now," Obi-Wan said, giving him one last squeeze. Anakin followed him downstairs and met Padmé in the family room. Obi-Wan took a seat on the couch and gestured for Padmé to sit in the chair beside him. Anakin sat next to Obi-Wan and balled his hands up in his robe tensely. Elan's blood was still on the sleeve. Padmé didn't enjoy the silence.
"Tell me," she said, leaning forward, "Do you have something to do with the body they found at the lake?"
Obi-Wan's brows furrowed. "How do you know about that?"
"I was… nearby when it happened. Answer the question, Obi-Wan."
"She was with Mr. Clovis," Anakin said to Obi-Wan, trying to distract the conversation. Padmé was confused at first, then irritated. Anakin explained shyly, "I wasn't following you, I just happened to be there, too."
"There?" Padmé questioned. Obi-Wan felt they knew something he didn't.
"In the forest, I mean. I was with a friend, hiking. Father knows." Anakin looked like he was dying. Sweat gathered on his forehead.
Padmé narrowed her eyes. "And does Father know that Makeout Cliff isn't a place where friends go?"
Anakin sputtered out an explanation, but none of it was helping.
"That's enough," Obi-Wan snapped. "Padmé, leave Anakin alone. He only wants to help. Right?" He waited for Anakin to meet his eyes and nod. Then Anakin buried his head in his hands. Obi-Wan continued, calmly, "Let me explain everything to you, Padmé."
He told Padmé a version of the truth. It took him some time to answer all her questions. Yes, the police were there because of the body. No, Obi-Wan didn't kill him. Truly, they had nothing to do with it. The police were simply mistaken.
Padmé still wasn't satisfied. It was hard for her to trust Obi-Wan since the incident with Ventress. She sat back and crossed her arms, then asked, "Anakin, is that the truth?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" he said angrily.
Obi-Wan gave him a look. Anakin pulled his knees up to his chest and looked the other way.
Obi-Wan turned to Padmé and said, "Now you know what we've been going through since the move. I hope you won't miss Naboo too much." Padmé observed the two of them a moment longer. She stood as she said, "Let's hope it all gets resolved soon. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," replied Obi-Wan.
"Night," Anakin muttered.
Padmé went upstairs, although the feeling that they were hiding something stuck with her.
Obi-Wan shifted his body towards Anakin. His elbow rested on the back of the couch and he supported his head on his hand. "Did you have fun with Elan?" he asked. It seemed like he genuinely wanted to know.
Anakin uncurled himself hesitantly. He answered, "I did. Maybe not the kind of fun you're thinking of." Outside the house, the wind started to kick up.
A small smile crossed Obi-Wan's face. The rest of him looked exhausted. "Maybe?" he repeated.
Anakin couldn't take this any longer. He blurted, "I'm allowed to date, aren't I?"
"Are you dating him?" Obi-Wan countered.
"No! Maybe. I don't know." Anakin regretted sending Elan away the way he did. What if he'd ruined it?
Obi-Wan took his hand gently. "It's okay, Anakin. I only ask because I want you to be safe."
It dawned on him that Obi-Wan didn't mean safe as in sound this time. Anakin made a funny noise and drew back his hand, saying, "Father, please—I don't want to talk about that!"
Obi-Wan objected, "Anakin—"
"Elan and I, we just hung out, okay? I met him at a party. He was nice enough to actually talk to me. I'm not, not easy, okay? I'm not—" Thunder boomed overhead and the two of them jumped. Anakin hid his face again.
Obi-Wan gave it up for now. They were too worn out for that conversation anyway. Quietly, he said, "I think we should go to bed."
Anakin looked up hopefully.
Obi-Wan smiled wearily. "Come on," he said, holding out his hand. "Just for tonight." Anakin took it and soon they were under the covers of Obi-Wan's bed. The lights were off and the darkness was all consuming except for the lightning flashing through the window. Obi-Wan curled an arm around Anakin's middle and pulled him flush against his body. Anakin hummed contently. Finally.
"Curious," Obi-Wan murmured.
Anakin opened his eyes but only saw flickers of shadow. "What?"
"That Padmé was with your teacher."
Anakin didn't reply.
"I don't know what to make of it." The wind whined as it encountered the house and Obi-Wan held Anakin a little tighter.
Anakin couldn't think of the right words to say, so he stayed quiet and stared into the dark, his eyes trying to make shapes out of nothing.
Obi-Wan didn't say anything else, just buried his nose in Anakin's hair and closed his eyes. Anakin felt his breathing slow eventually. He wondered how it was possible for Obi-Wan to fall asleep first, what with all the worrying and thinking and planning he did. Maybe Obi-Wan slept better with Anakin, too.