A/N: This one starts right where Chapter 14 left off. Just a little warning, if you're at all sensitive to suicidal thoughts, this chapter has a few mentions of them.
"One more thing, Anakin."
Anakin looked up at Obi-Wan from the comfort of his lap.
"Don't be afraid to tell someone to stop or slow down. Okay?"
Anakin wished he could tell a certain person to start and speed up. He didn't enjoy feeling stuck like this, even if Obi-Wan still said he loved him, even if he was honest and kind, it was an honest and kind rejection. And Anakin was helpless to do anything about it.
"Okay," said Anakin, "Can I lay down for a bit?"
"Yes, you certainly could benefit from a little sleep. Want me to call you when the cake is done?"
Anakin bit his lip. "No, that's alright."
"Oh," Obi-Wan said, his eyes downcast. He patted Anakin's arm. "Alright, go rest. I'll just be... in the kitchen, I guess." He looked unhappy.
Anakin went upstairs and tried to shake off the funny feeling he had. If Obi-Wan found out, he'd probably be mad. And sad that Anakin chose to be deceitful. But he really wasn't in the mood to stay in the house with the heavy air that had been hanging around since Obi-Wan rebuffed him, more than once. Anakin picked up his phone and texted Elan. Can you meet me at my house in 20 minutes?
Two minutes passed and Elan replied, Yeah. You got something in mind?
Whatever you want. But don't park in front of the motel.
Kay.
Anakin put his phone in one of the attachments on his belt and went over to his bedroom window. He looked over his shoulder and, sensing nothing out of the ordinary with Obi-Wan, turned his attention to the window and snapped open the locks. He slid the window open as quietly as he could, the squeaking it made revealing the age of the house. He stuck one leg out the window, ducked his head underneath it, then shifted carefully out to the ledge of the roof. Anakin stood, almost lost his balance, then recovered it before jumping, a little assistance from the Force making it a soft landing. He smiled.
He waited in the tall grass by the side of the house for Elan. It was sort of ugly, more weed than grass, and Anakin wondered why Obi-Wan chose this house at all. They were always moving when things got bad. Anakin figured Obi-Wan was considering doing the same thing right now. And that would take him away from Elan. He picked up a rock and threw it into the bushes angrily.
Elan walked up to him a few minutes later. He opened his mouth to say something and Anakin held a finger to his lips as he stood. He took Elan's arm and led him away from the house.
"Are you sneaking out?" Elan asked.
Anakin looked at him and nodded.
"You look like you've been crying," he said, concerned.
"I had a fight with my dad," Anakin replied, before turning to look back at the house. He kept walking towards the tree line and let go of Elan.
Elan studied him as he walked by his side and reached for his hand, still wrapped in bandages. "Not this kind of fight, right?"
Anakin smiled a little. "No, that's from something else." His smile faded. "Do you know Maul Opress?"
They crossed the empty road. "The guy with the horns?" Elan asked.
"Yeah. He knows you apparently. If you see him, stay away from him."
"Why, what happened?"
"He was insulting you so I beat him up. He doesn't like people like us."
"Oh," Elan said. "No one's ever beat somebody up for me before," he added, smile on his face revealing he was trying to make light of the situation. Elan tugged Anakin in the right direction for where they were going.
"You're welcome," Anakin joked back. They stepped over deadfall and under the low branches.
"Maul didn't hurt you, though, right? Besides your hands." Elan tried to look Anakin over. He didn't see any bruises on his face. There was something else there, though.
"No, I'm fine. He didn't get a hit in," Anakin said.
"You got something on your face."
Anakin touched his face and realized there was still chocolate taking residence on his cheeks and lips. He licked his fingers and scrubbed it off hastily. "Thanks."
"Sure." Elan watched his feet crunch over tree leaves for a while before asking, "So this fight with your dad... What was it about?"
Anakin pressed his lips together. "He... He doesn't want us to kiss anymore." It was close to the truth, Anakin thought.
"Because you're too old?" Elan offered.
"No," Anakin said tersely.
Elan cleared his throat. "I don't mean that I think you're too old. But maybe he thinks you are."
"But why now? It's not my birthday or anything. There's nothing special about today." Anakin had to remind himself Obi-Wan hadn't actually banned kissing. Things were probably going to be touch-and-go between them, though.
"Well..." Elan and Anakin entered upon the clearing that was locally deemed Makeout Cliff. They settled in the green grass before Elan continued, "Maybe it's not about today."
"What then?"
"Maybe it's about how others perceive you."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want you to take this the wrong way, Anakin. I know you and your dad are close and I know why you're close. But other people don't. If they see you kiss, they're going to think something is off about you two."
Anakin's brows furrowed and he asked, "How?"
Elan ran his hand through the grass and plucked a dandelion from the ground. He tucked Anakin's hair behind his ear before placing the flower there. He said, "Try thinking about it from a different perspective. You see a forty-something man with his teenage daughter at the supermarket. He leans down to kiss her. She kisses him back. Now you're wondering if she's his daughter or his girlfriend. And if she's his daughter, you're wondering why her father is still kissing her like that, and if he's doing more than kissing her, or if he wants to do more than kiss her... You see what I mean?"
"Yeah," Anakin said. He didn't like thinking about Obi-Wan as some predator. That wasn't the way things were.
"Your dad is probably just trying to protect you. My dad never gives me kisses, so at least you've had all these years—"
Anakin leaned over and stole a kiss from Elan as he spoke. Elan smiled and closed his eyes as he sought a few more connections between them. Then he finished saying, "And I'm happy to give you the kisses you'll be missing."
Anakin laughed.
"You taste sweet," Elan said, and Anakin blushed.
"It's chocolate," he explained. He avoided Elan's gaze and looked at the grass in front of him, expression forlorn.
"Hey." Elan scooted closer to him and tucked a finger under his chin. "What's wrong?"
"I'm worried about him," Anakin confessed. "I know he's lonely. He's lost so many people, and now he's pushing me away... I don't want him to lose me too."
Elan held Anakin's gaze for a moment as he tried to decipher exactly what he meant by lose. Quietly, he asked, "You aren't thinking about hurting yourself, are you?" He couldn't bring himself to say what he really meant.
Anakin was quiet as he pondered an answer. "Not right this moment," he said.
Elan held Anakin's hand, previously wadded up in dirt and grass.
Anakin continued, "If I had to live without the love of him, I guess I wouldn't want to. And if we moved away and I couldn't see you anymore, I don't know what I would do."
Elan's eyes glistened and he blinked harshly. He hugged Anakin and Anakin leaned back into the grass, arms wrapping around Elan. Elan propped himself up and looked into Anakin's eyes, his own still teary. He said, "You're loved, Anakin. You've got me and your father and your sister and some friends at school, probably. We all love you and want you. Nobody wants you to go anywhere."
Elan smoothed Anakin's hair out of his face as he talked, in a way that reminded him of Obi-Wan.
"I love you," Elan said, sadness clear even in his ragged voice, "Please don't go anywhere."
Anakin mustered a smile for him. "I won't. I love you too," he replied, then hooked his arm behind Elan's neck and brought him down to his mouth. They kissed until their lips were sore. Elan pulled away from Anakin and asked, somewhat out of breath, "How's your head doing?"
Anakin thought Elan looked pretty with flushed cheeks and those almond eyes of his looking just relaxed enough to hide the way they sparkled when he was happy or up to something. Anakin said, "It's getting better. Not one hundred percent yet. Sorry."
"S'okay." He leaned down and kissed Anakin's round nose. Then he smirked and said, "We're gonna have a lotta fun when you're better."
Anakin laughed a little. "How'd you get to be such a good person?"
"You heard of Cinderella?"
"Uh huh."
"I'm Cinder-Elan."
Anakin burst into laughter. "You are such a dork!"
Elan was grinning from ear to ear. "But I'm your dork, right?"
"You're my dork," Anakin assured him, before rolling the two of them over in the grass.
"Hey!" Elan rolled them over again.
Anakin let his arms go limp in mock surrender. "You win," he said.
Elan hugged Anakin again as best he could from their position on the ground. They stayed like that for just a few minutes more. "Should we get you back to the house?" Elan asked.
Anakin sighed. "Yeah. Come by after school tomorrow, okay? I'll send you a text."
"Sure thing." Elan shifted and then helped Anakin to his feet. They hiked through the forest back to the road and up to the house. Elan watched half in amusement and half in awe as Anakin jumped to the second story of his house. He turned and waved to Elan before climbing through the bedroom window. Slowly he slid the window shut and checked the time. As soon as the clock blinked 3:43 Obi-Wan rushed up the stairs into Anakin's room and scooped him up in a tight hug. Anakin racked his brain for a good excuse to tell him.
Obi-Wan released Anakin and held his shoulders as he searched his eyes for signs of upset. "I was so worried!" Obi-Wan said, both relieved and nervous.
"Father," was all Anakin could manage. The look of anguish on Obi-Wan's face was the same as after their kiss.
"I thought you ran away. I know all your clothes and things are still here but that only worried me more..." Obi-Wan let go of Anakin completely and asked, "You're not afraid of me, are you?"
Anakin felt insurmountably guilty for causing Obi-Wan to question their relationship. "I could never be afraid of you!" he exclaimed. Obi-Wan relaxed slightly. Anakin explained, "I just needed some air."
Obi-Wan nodded as if to convince himself. He moved to take a seat on the edge of Anakin's bed, shoulders heavy. He was still as he held his head in his hands.
"Daddy," Anakin called.
Obi-Wan didn't respond at first, the name not registering fully. He lifted his head just as Anakin knelt before him.
"I'm sorry for sneaking out. I had hoped you wouldn't find out," Anakin said, tilting his head to meet Obi-Wan's gaze through his golden bangs. When Obi-Wan was quiet, Anakin turned his head and kissed the man's knee. Then he kissed his leg an inch inward, and Obi-Wan foresaw the kisses continuing until Anakin had thighs on either side of his ears. He ran his fingers through Anakin's hair, noticing a few stray leaves and flower dust before he had Anakin face him. "Stand up," he said.
Anakin did, and then Obi-Wan did too.
"Follow me," Obi-Wan said.
They went downstairs. Obi-Wan pulled a bowl of ice cream and a piece of chocolate frosted chocolate cake out of the freezer and handed it to Anakin with a fork. "I served this before I found you not in your room," he said.
Anakin took it from him and then held the bowl in one hand as he hugged Obi-Wan. "I'm sorry," he said again.
Obi-Wan held him gently, glad to have him back safely. He replied, "It's okay, Anakin. Will you promise not to sneak out again?"
"I promise," Anakin said, the words spoken fiercely by Obi-Wan's ear. It was still a surprise, sometimes, when Obi-Wan noticed they were the same height. Anakin had a habit of making himself fit into whatever position he wanted. "Will you promise…" Anakin started.
"Promise what?" Obi-Wan prompted. The vanilla ice cream was starting to melt.
"Promise to still give me kisses sometimes?" His voice was small.
Obi-Wan responded by turning his head and kissing Anakin's ear. "I promise," he said, "You're my dearest one. How could I resist?"
Anakin smiled and pecked Obi-Wan's neck before letting go of him and taking a big scoop of ice cream and cake into his mouth. "This is delicious," he garbled, his mouth full.
Obi-Wan laughed.
Padmé was about to clock out when Rex saw her pass by the open door of his office. He stood swiftly and leaned out the door, calling, "Padmé!"
She turned and answered, "Sheriff?"
He smiled and said, "If you aren't busy, would you help me with something?"
"Sure." Padmé walked back to him and Rex beckoned her into his office. He pulled a chair next to his plush one and sat in front of his computer. Padmé joined him and looked at the screen. There was a handsome picture of Rex and the word VOTE at the bottom of the page. Padmé couldn't help the smile pulling at her lips.
Rex looked at her sheepishly and said, "As you know, I'm really just Acting Sheriff until Coruscant elects someone. I'd like to keep the job, so..."
"How can I help?"
"I saw the brochure for your father's motel. I don't know if you helped him with it, but it looked really nice. Can you make this look a little better? Is the picture okay? I don't want to print fifty of these and get made fun of all over town."
Padmé replied, "You're not going to get made fun of." She turned to the screen again and asked, "Do have any other pictures of yourself? This one is nice, but you might want one where you aren't directly facing the audience."
"Really?" Rex said.
"Depending on how you look at this one, it's either intimidating or..." Padmé searched for the right word. "You've got a bit of a smolder."
Rex snorted. Padmé smiled. Rex tapped out of the holopage and brought up some other pictures he had. "Do any of these fit the bill?"
Padmé observed each of them. "This one," she said, and pointed to a picture where Rex's attention was off in the distance, mountains behind him with the sun shining down on him.
"Cody took that one," he remarked, smiling at the memory. "But how do I get it so it's just a headshot?"
"What a minute, how old are you?" Padmé asked.
Rex furrowed his brows. "Thirty-two," he said.
"And you don't know how to crop a picture?"
Rex raised his eyebrows and said, "Well, how old are you?"
Padmé leaned back in her chair and said, "Twenty-two."
"Hmm." Rex looked her up and down briefly and then turned to his computer, tapping and double-tapping over the image fruitlessly.
"Now, now," Padmé said, "Just because you're old doesn't mean I'm not going to help you."
"I'm not old," he replied.
Padmé tilted the screen towards herself and swiftly cropped the image and transferred it to Rex's would-be political poster. She added a simple border and typed "Rex" after "VOTE." Then she turned the screen back to Rex and asked, "Should we make it rhyme?"
"Make what rhyme?"
"You know, like a motto. Vote Bail, He'll Never Fail. Something like that."
Rex liked that idea. "What rhymes with Rex?"
Padmé thought through some one syllable words off the top of her head. "Decks, hex, necks, pecks, sex—"
Rex laughed as Padmé tried to casually cover her reddening cheeks. Eventually, he managed, "Good one, Padmé. I'll offer myself out for votes."
"Sheriff, please, don't joke like that."
"My apologies," he said, still smiling. "You can call me Rex if you want."
"I'll keep it in mind," she said, still mortified.
"Thanks for your help. If you need something, don't hesitate to ask," Rex said seriously.
Padmé nodded and stood before heading for the door.
"Have a nice evening," Rex called to her, "Tell everyone I said hi."
"I will," she said, "And you too." She left the room.
Rex relaxed in his swivel chair and thought through some other words that rhymed with his name.
Padmé went home and ate dinner with Anakin and Obi-Wan. It was unexpectedly awkward. Anakin and Obi-Wan weren't talking. Padmé decided to start a conversation.
"Rex says hi," she said.
Obi-Wan looked up from his food and smiled. Anakin watched him carefully. Obi-Wan said, "That's nice of him. Are you enjoying your new job?"
"Yes," Padmé answered, "Though it's been mostly training so far."
"So you're looking forward to the action?" Obi-Wan asked.
Padmé met his eyes briefly. "If I can be a part of protecting people, it'll be worth it. I don't want to shoot anyone, if that's what you're asking."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I think you have the perfect temperament for the job. I just want you to be safe."
Anakin said, "Me too."
Padmé nodded in understanding. "I'll do my best."
The rest of their dinner passed in silence. Padmé reviewed her schedule for the next day, did her laundry, and retired to her room. Obi-Wan sat in a chair beside the couch Anakin was lounging on as he reviewed the motel's expenses and whether a fresh coat of paint would be worth it. He closed his laptop and hoped that they'd have guests soon after opening.
"Should I sleep in my room tonight?" Anakin asked quietly.
Obi-Wan was almost surprised to hear him talk. He said, "If you want, sweetheart. I'll miss you though."
"Then I'll sleep with you," Anakin decided. Obi-Wan smiled and went to brush his teeth with Anakin trailing behind him. When Obi-Wan was done with the bathroom, Anakin went through his nightly routine, pulling the bandages off his hands and dropping them into the trash as well. Obi-Wan went to his room and dressed for bed. Anakin followed a few minutes later. But he didn't stop in his room to change. Instead, he stepped into Obi-Wan's room from the hallway and shut the door behind him.
Obi-Wan glanced at him from the bed, a book in his hands and glasses precariously balanced on his straight nose. He was smiling slightly, as if his neutral expression was always pleasant.
Anakin mumbled, "Forgot to change," and took off his belt. And then he took off his synthleather tabards and overtunic, and Obi-Wan's expression changed. Anakin just turned around nonchalantly, like he hadn't noticed Obi-Wan's mouth open to say something. He slipped the inner tunic off his shoulders, then peeled his undershirt away from his tan skin and over his head. Obi-Wan was silent. Very carefully, Anakin grasped the waistband of his pants, not wanting to take off his underwear. Yet. He pulled off his black pants and then bent his leg so he could take off his knee high sock, then did the same with his other leg. Slowly he straightened out and let his hands drift to the edges of his boxer briefs.
"Anakin!" came Obi-Wan's panicked voice.
Anakin turned around hesitantly, adjusting where the waistband clung to him instead of removing the underwear. "Yes, Father?"
Obi-Wan had taken off his glasses. Anakin figured the view was clearer without them. Obi-Wan took several stabilizing breaths and asked, "Do you need something to sleep in? Some pajamas?"
Anakin was perfectly comfortable sleeping in his underwear. He was curious what Obi-Wan would offer him, however. Sleeping in something that smelled like Obi-Wan, with Obi-Wan, was guaranteed to be downright heavenly. "Yes, please," he said.
Obi-Wan got out of bed and walked to his wardrobe, thankful he was wearing pants and a sleep tunic. Any less and he wouldn't have left the cover of the bed sheets. He opened the wardrobe and beckoned Anakin over.
"Would you like something similar to what I'm wearing?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin took the opportunity to look Obi-Wan over, but if his little show had any effect on him, he couldn't tell. "What else do you have?" he replied.
Obi-Wan fingered through his clothes, but there wasn't much variety for sleeping in. He didn't have old t-shirts like Anakin did.
"What's that?" Anakin asked, tipping his chin to the edge of what the wardrobe held.
Obi-Wan pointed to the hanger Anakin was looking at. "This?"
"Yeah."
Obi-Wan stepped back and pulled it out of the wardrobe. Anakin's eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful peach-colored women's night robe. "It was your mother's," Obi-Wan said, smiling at the way Anakin's manner had changed.
Anakin stepped forward, arms outstretched, then stopped. "Can I...?"
"Of course. It's not going to rip if you touch it," Obi-Wan replied. Anakin smiled and let his fingers run over the sleeves as Obi-Wan held the hanger up. It was made of something like thin mesh on the sleeves, but changed into fluttery lace where the wrists would go. The front of it was done up with matching peach buttons, from the waist to the sternum, but following the buttons was a deep V all the way to the collar. The fabric was tapered at the waist, then flowed outward and down as chiffon, ending in a frill that wasn't frumpy but added to the delicacy of the piece. It was entirely translucent. Anakin stared at it, transfixed.
"Did you," Obi-Wan started, "did you want to try it on?"
Anakin immediately let go of the night robe and shook his head. "I couldn't," he said.
"If you want to, I will let you," Obi-Wan said gently, trying to be encouraging and not pushy.
"It's Mother's," Anakin said cautiously.
Obi-Wan wasn't sure if he was objecting because it was hers or because it was a garment for women. But he knew he hadn't imagined the fascination in Anakin's eyes a moment earlier. He offered, "Why don't you try it on, for me?"
Anakin relaxed a bit. "If you want me to..."
Obi-Wan placed the hanger on the door of his wardrobe and made smooth work of undoing the buttons. He slipped the robe off its hanger and handed it to Anakin.
Anakin was hesitant to move. "Close your eyes," he said.
Obi-Wan covered his eyes with his hands playfully. "I'd recommend stepping into it, instead of pulling it over your head."
Anakin was glad he said so. His shoulders hadn't broadened to the point of not fitting in the sleeves, but the waistline wouldn't have cooperated without pulling a seam. He stepped into the robe, the silky feeling tickling his legs. Then he put his arms in the sleeves one at a time, and carefully buttoned the front of the robe together. He twisted slowly from side to side, watching the hem twirl. Looking down at himself, he could see the appeal of the near transparent fabric, the color slightly lighter than his skin tone. The only catch to its strikingness was his pair of black boxer briefs under the drapes of chiffon. It ruined the softness of it all.
"What did Mother wear under this?" Anakin asked. When Obi-Wan started to uncover his eyes, Anakin said, "No peeking!"
Obi-Wan grinned and firmly covered his eyes again. "Let me think..." Obi-Wan pictured Shmi in the same night robe, her wavy hair flowing over her shoulder, demure smile on her lips. "She would wear a slip or her underwear most times... Lingerie other times... And sometimes nothing at all."
Anakin's lips parted, but it didn't bother him hearing about his parents' intimacy. It was the answer Obi-Wan had allowed him. Obi-Wan couldn't scold him if he was emulating his mother, someone they both loved... Anakin pulled off the boxer briefs as quietly as he could, folded them awkwardly, then tossed them on the pile of his other clothes. He wasn't entirely exposed with the robe on, but Obi-Wan would definitely be able to see... Anakin wasn't so confident suddenly, but Obi-Wan asked, "Can I peek now?" and Anakin blurted, "Yes."
Obi-Wan uncovered his eyes and blinked a few times as they adjusted. And he looked at Anakin, starting with his face, how cute he was when he was shy, then the curve of his neck, and the handsome shape of his shoulders, the deep dip that the collar took to display the subtly defined muscles of his chest, a waist that was thinner than all his layers of day clothes would ever reveal, bellybutton, hardly a hair to be seen, and then—
Obi-Wan's eyes widened and Anakin's face felt like he was an inch away from the sun. He wanted to cover up but he was frozen in place. Obi-Wan hadn't said anything yet—but then he seemed to relax and looked at the rest of Anakin, thighs to calves to ankles, feet, and toes. His gaze ran up his body to meet his eyes, and he whispered, "Turn around?"
Anakin did, very slowly, trying to relax so he wouldn't tense up involuntarily. That Obi-Wan wanted to see more of him was a great compliment, and Anakin felt his blush spread to his ears. Obi-Wan regarded Anakin, starting with his shoulders again, down his back, his little butt not entirely flat or shapeless. Obi-Wan smiled, fondness emanating from his eyes. He gripped Anakin's shoulders lightly and had him turn around again, cupping his hands to his cheeks as he said, "My son is so beautiful."
Anakin breathed in for what felt like the first time in a century. Thank you.
"Stay right here," Obi-Wan said. He went to his nightstand, opened a drawer, and pulled out a hairbrush before returning to Anakin. He sat in a wooden chair by his standing mirror and patted his lap.
Anakin thought he might pass out. Obi-Wan wanted him to sit on his lap? While he was practically naked? Still, it was nice that Obi-Wan was comfortable around him—maybe he wanted the same for Anakin. Anakin went to him and carefully sat in his lap, making sure the chiffon drapes stayed put around him before he folded his hands in his lap for a little more coverage. Obi-Wan gathered Anakin's hair to the back of his neck and brushed it slowly, sending tingles down Anakin's spine. "Your mother used to let me do this for her," Obi-Wan told him, "She'd let her hair down and I'd brush it over her shoulder and kiss her neck..." Obi-Wan snuck an arm around Anakin's middle. "And she was so soft and huggable," he said, giving Anakin a squeeze.
"You miss her," Anakin said.
"Yes." Obi-Wan tucked his head into the junction of Anakin's shoulder and neck, breathing in deeply.
Anakin almost giggled. "Do I smell good?" he asked.
There was a knock on Obi-Wan's bedroom door. Their eyes went wide.
"Just a minute," Obi-Wan called to Padmé, standing up and shooing Anakin into his own room. Anakin's throat closed up at the thought of Padmé seeing him like he was. He scooped his pile of clothes into his arms and skirted into his room. Obi-Wan closed the door behind him, made sure he looked decent himself, then opened the door for Padmé.
"Sorry, I was getting dressed," he said.
"That's why I knocked," she replied, and walked into the room. "I wanted to talk to you about something."
"What is it?" asked Obi-Wan.
Padmé looked at his open wardrobe briefly before turning around and facing him. "Now that I have a job, I'm going to move out as soon as I find an available apartment."
Obi-Wan's face fell. "You don't like living with Anakin and me?"
"Actually, I've asked Anakin to live with me," Padmé said.
"What?" Obi-Wan blurted.
"It will be better for him."
Obi-Wan's expression turned dark. "And why do you think that?"
Padmé did her best to hold her ground. "Too much has happened here. Murder, corpses, a sadistic boyfriend— Anakin needs stability, and safety—"
"Anakin needs his father to protect him," Obi-Wan countered, "and I'd advise you to be careful how you refer to Cody when I'm around."
"That's another thing," Padmé began, attempting to end the discussion early with a better dig, "You are still making the same mistakes. You're drawn to abusive lovers like a moth to a flame, and you don't even know it. Anakin can't rely on you. He needs to learn independence."
Obi-Wan's heart felt as if it was turning black and disintegrating into ash. The words spilled from him mouth as he tried to explain himself. "I didn't go into that relationship thinking this man's going to hurt me. I didn't know he'd coerce me into doing things I didn't want to, and I didn't know he'd do it more than once! I didn't know! And you— You are not Anakin's mother! You never will be! He needs me, not you!"
Padmé stood speechless, fighting tears. Obi-Wan looked the same, only angrier. Then Obi-Wan realized he'd been yelling, and hurtful things at that. "Padmé," he started.
Padmé rushed out of the room, fingers wiping at her eyes.
He started after her, but she locked herself in her room. Defeated, Obi-Wan sighed heavily and went back to his room, now empty.
Anakin heard everything through the walls as he changed out of his mother's night robe. One of the buttons came loose and made Anakin worry that, on top of everything, Obi-Wan would criticize him for being careless with something so precious. But as he listened to Obi-Wan and Padmé's conversation, he wasn't sure who he wanted to comfort first, just that they both needed someone. Anakin put on fresh underwear and sleep pants and a t-shirt as compensation for his prior nudity, and he dumped his pile of Jedi robes in a hamper, deliberating who to speak to. He laid the night robe out on his bed, smoothing out any wrinkles, and made sure the loose button was not going to become a lost button by setting it in the center of his nightstand. Then he left his room and knocked on Padmé's door.
"It's Anakin," he called.
Padmé got up from her bed and unlocked the door for him. Anakin came in and sat on the bed beside her. She held a pillow to her chest tightly, tears still coming down her face. "Did you hear?" she asked.
"Yeah," Anakin said.
"I'm sorry, Ani." She dried her eyes on her sleeve, feeling like a little girl.
Anakin reached for her hand, and Padmé held his warmly.
"I should've been more," she sniffled, "more reasonable."
"Father has feelings, too," Anakin said softly.
Padmé nodded, shaking a few teardrops onto her blue satin slip. "I guess I forgot."
"You don't know what Cody's done," Anakin stated, though not accusingly.
That brought on another wave of tears from Padmé. She let go of Anakin's hand to hide her face. Shakily, she said, "I think I know now."
Anakin put his arm around her.
"I said something awful. I was awful. I didn't know," she cried. "How will he ever forgive me?"
"Padmé," Anakin said, moving to brush the wet strands of hair out of her face, "He will forgive you, if he hasn't already. He loves you. And he didn't mean what he said."
Padmé's tears started to subside. "How could you know that?"
"Because," Anakin said gently, "Father knows how you took care of me when Mother was sick. And he told me you remind him of Satine. He said how talented you were with words and that you're a strong young woman."
Padmé smiled. "What a lot of good my talent did today."
"Hey, it's not like I've never regretted something I've said. Just apologize to him."
She was thoughtful for a moment. "I still think you should live with me, though."
Anakin frowned. "Padmé, I do need you. I love you. But I need Father too, and I don't want to live somewhere else. Are you sure you want to move out?"
"It feels like I don't belong here," she said. "You two are so close."
Anakin replied, "You do belong here. You're family, the only other family we've got. You're a Kenobi, whether you like it or not."
Padmé laughed a little.
"And someday, if it's what you want, you're going to be an amazing mother. There's no doubt, from either of us."
"Thank you, Ani." She pulled her legs up onto the bed and hug-tackled Anakin. Anakin hugged her back, delighting in the smooth feel of her dress, her soft curly hair, even the smell of her. They really didn't spend enough time together. They traded cheek kisses and then Padmé sent him off to get some rest.
Anakin stopped in his room to retrieve the night robe and button before padding into Obi-Wan's room. He was saddened to see Obi-Wan in bed already, on his side facing away from him. Anakin hung up the robe and placed the hanger back in Obi-Wan's wardrobe. He put the button in the top drawer of the nightstand on his side of the bed, then pulled back the covers and curled up next to Obi-Wan. He touched his shoulder gently. "Father?"
Obi-Wan turned back around and faced Anakin.
"Padmé's sorry," Anakin whispered.
"You talked to her?"
"Yeah. She wants to be a good daughter, even if she doesn't say so."
Obi-Wan adjusted the pillow underneath his head slightly. "Sometimes I don't feel like a good father," he said.
Anakin drew him near and kept an arm curled around his side. "You are a good father."
Obi-Wan hooked one arm under Anakin's neck and around his shoulder, the other around his side the same way Anakin held him. "I'm sorry for yelling. And for kicking you out earlier."
"It's okay. We're okay. Padmé and I. But I can't imagine what she would think if she saw me in that."
"I don't know," Obi-Wan said, smiling slightly, "but you were well-suited to it. It would have made a stunning photo."
Anakin smiled and blushed.
Obi-Wan liked making Anakin happy. "You're just like a model," he added.
"Like a... Like an ancient statue model, or like an underwear model?"
Obi-Wan tried not to laugh. "Seeing as you weren't wearing any underwear..."
Anakin made a face. "You know what I mean."
Obi-Wan thought on it and said, "Your face ought to be carved in stone. But a fig leaf isn't going to do you justice."
Anakin bit his lip to keep from smiling too much.
"You can sleep in Shmi's robe if you want," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin avoided his gaze. "One of the buttons came off," he whispered. "I was being careful, but it came off anyway."
Obi-Wan rubbed what he could of Anakin's back as he replied, "It was bound to happen. It probably just needs a little thread."
"So you'll let me wear it still?"
Obi-Wan nodded, his hair ruffled between his head and the pillow. "You can have it."
"It's Mother's," Anakin said again.
"Now it's yours. And she would be happy to share any of her things with you. She was always happy, making you happy, as am I..."
"You sound sleepy," Anakin replied sleepily.
"I am," Obi-Wan said, and gave him a squeeze before getting into a more comfortable position. Gently, he pushed Anakin onto his back and pulled the corner of his pillow onto Anakin's shoulder. He rested his head there, one arm brought back to himself and the other placed on Anakin's chest. Anakin smiled and closed his eyes, content with Obi-Wan's warmth pressed against him. He put one hand in Obi-Wan's hair, curling and uncurling his fingers slowly, the other hand centered in the slight curve of Obi-Wan's side, underneath his ribs. Obi-Wan made a small sound in his throat, like a moan. Anakin tried to look at him, but it was dark in the room and he wasn't in a position to see Obi-Wan's face anyway, so he kissed the top of his head and said, "Just relax, Father. I've got you."
Obi-Wan smiled into Anakin's cotton shirt. "I know."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They slept through the night without stirring.
Obi-Wan jolted awake. The phone was ringing loudly throughout the otherwise quiet house. He eyed Anakin, who hadn't stirred, and slipped out of bed to go answer it. He pulled the phone off the hook in the kitchen and said, "Hello?"
"Mister Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan thought he recognized that voice. "Yes?" he answered warily.
"It's Principal Palpatine. My apologies that this call is so overdue, but yesterday was rather eventful. It's most imperative that you come to the school with Anakin so that we may discuss his violent and disorderly behavior. Can you be here by seven a.m.?"
Obi-Wan looked at the time on the microwave groggily. 6:42 a.m. "I might need a little more time," he said.
"Oh, did I wake you? So sorry. What time is convenient for you?"
He sounded scripted. Obi-Wan withheld a groan. "We'll be there as soon as possible." He hung up and went back upstairs to wake Anakin.
He looked so peaceful. Anakin's hair was tousled around his face, his eyes closed with lashes pointing downwards, his pretty pink lips slightly open. Obi-Wan had the distinct feeling that Anakin had kept an arm around him all night. He sat on the side of the bed and brushed Anakin's hair out of his face, humming softly.
After a few seconds, Anakin scrunched up his nose and blinked a few times. "Father," he groaned, determined to keep sleeping.
Obi-Wan kept humming, although he couldn't help his smile.
Anakin sighed. "What song is that?" he asked, his eyes closed again.
"A lullaby for cranky younglings."
Anakin considered it, concentrating on Obi-Wan's fingers moving across his face. "Jedi Masters sang?"
"Mhm," Obi-Wan said, "They're not entirely devoid of emotion like they claim to be. Attachment happens to everyone."
Anakin looked up at Obi-Wan questioningly.
"We have to go to the school, unfortunately."
"Of course," Anakin said dryly. "Do we have a plan of attack?"
"A plan of defense, I'd say. You said Maul provoked you?"
"Yes," Anakin replied as he sat up, "but let's not mention Elan."
"Why not?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Maul already knows about him, and I don't trust Mister Clovis or Principal Palpatine."
"You want to keep him safe?"
"Yeah."
"Alright. What do we say, then?"
"Maul was taunting my girlfriend and me."
"Girlfriend?" Obi-Wan repeated.
"Ahsoka," Anakin clarified, "It's just so I'm not alone between classes."
Obi-Wan pressed his lips together and stroked Anakin's hair again. "I'm sorry you've had to protect yourself like that."
Anakin grimaced suddenly. "Maybe if Ahsoka had stuck around, you wouldn't have had to come rescue me."
"Regardless, we have to be honest about Clovis' actions. I'm not risking anything anymore," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin didn't like that. "I don't want to tell the principal what he did."
"Then I will. I'll be with you, sweetheart. It should be over before you know it."
Anakin nodded, his gaze slipping to the sheets around him.
"Trust me, it will be alright. Let's get dressed now, okay?" Obi-Wan stood and went to his wardrobe. Anakin got out of bed and watched quietly as Obi-Wan picked out his robes for the day and took off his sleep tunic. After a second he looked back and saw Anakin still in the room.
"Anakin, please, I'm your father," he said.
Anakin grumbled something about hypocrisy and left. Obi-Wan shook his head and continued undressing.
Obi-Wan and Anakin walked into the school side by side. Principal Palpatine welcomed them into his office and had them both take a seat on the opposite side of his desk. He said, "I heard Maul's side of the story yesterday, following the attack. The nurses had to put his nose in a splint. Now Anakin, is it true that you threw the first punch?"
Anakin said, "Yes, but—"
"And when you had knocked Maul to the ground," Principal Palpatine interrupted, "you continued punching him?"
"Yes—"
"Mister Kenobi, you can see how this behavior cannot be condoned."
"I agree," Obi-Wan said tentatively as Anakin shot him a look, "but you have not heard Anakin's side of the story. I let the school know a week ago that Anakin is recovering from a concussion. This sort of injury makes cognitive functioning and decision making quite difficult."
Palpatine considered Obi-Wan's words. "If I indeed need to hear Anakin's side of the story, shouldn't he be the one to tell it?"
Obi-Wan gave Anakin a sympathetic look. Anakin took a breath and piped up, "What my father said is true. Once I started hitting Maul I found it difficult to stop, even though I wanted to." That was a half-truth, and Palpatine narrowed his eyes knowingly. "What matters, I think, is why I threw the first punch," Anakin said, "This wasn't the first time Maul provoked me. He's torn out my hair and choked me and called me names."
"Maul stated that you called him a..." Palpatine shuffled through some papers, "A 'ladybug', is that true?"
Obi-Wan's attention snapped to Anakin and he said, "Really, Anakin?"
Anakin was confused. "I said that once. Maul's called me pretty boy, and other things I'd rather not say."
"We don't tolerate specist remarks at this school," Palpatine said.
Anakin looked to Obi-Wan for explanation, his brows bent in a v.
"His skin color, Anakin," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin's eyes lit up. "Well, he's called me a slut! And a cocksucker! Am I supposed to just let him?"
Palpatine looked thoughtful. "No, I suppose not. I've given Maul detention for a week, however, I promised you a severe punishment for a second offense. This is your second offense, so what am I to do? Ignore all your trespasses?"
Anakin didn't know how to answer that. Obi-Wan stepped up. "Principal Palpatine, might I suggest that Anakin has already been punished?"
The old man tipped his head to one side. "How so?"
"His teacher, Rush Clovis, has intimidated, threatened, and mistreated Anakin since his return to Coruscant High."
Palpatine wore a grave expression. "Is that true, Anakin?"
Anakin nodded meekly.
"Please enlighten me as to what occurred."
Obi-Wan said, "After breaking up Anakin and Maul's fight, Mister Clovis separated the two and didn't let Anakin go to the nurse. Instead, he wrapped Anakin's hands himself."
"Sounds like Rush was being considerate despite Anakin's actions."
"But that's not all he did," Obi-Wan insisted, "Mister Clovis bandaged Anakin's hands while they were alone in his classroom, at the same time accusing Anakin of being attracted to him."
Palpatine turned to Anakin. "Are you?" he asked.
"No!" Anakin practically shouted.
"Please, Mister Palpatine, even if Anakin did have a crush on a teacher, it wouldn't excuse any of this behavior. I stepped into the classroom and found Clovis pushing my son against a wall."
Palpatine's eyes widened before transforming into sternness. He picked up the telephone on his desk and started dialing a number. "I think we should get to the bottom of this, don't you?" he said. A second later he had Clovis on the phone. "Hi, Rush, it's Sheev. Can you come down to my office?"
Anakin felt a sick feeling start in his stomach. Obi-Wan held his hand and thought to him, It's going to be alright.
Clovis was in the office with them soon enough. He stood near Palpatine, his back to the wall and arms crossed over his chest. "Hi, Mister Kenobi, Anakin." He turned to Palpatine. "What seems to be the problem?"
"I'm being told that you think Anakin has a crush on you," he replied.
Clovis laughed slightly. "Well, these things happen from time to time. But Anakin hasn't shown any decrease in focus that I'm aware of."
Obi-Wan glared at him.
"Did you have Anakin pressed against a wall at any point in time?"
Clovis exclaimed, "What?"
Palpatine repeated the question.
"Never," Clovis said. "There's no good reason for that to happen. I always respect my students' personal space."
Obi-Wan stood and walked up to him, saying, "And you never had a hand on his thigh?" He didn't let Clovis reply as he grabbed his arm and held out his hand. "And Anakin didn't stab you with a fork to stop you?"
Palpatine observed the four red scars on Clovis' hand. "Alright, Mister Kenobi, that's quite enough."
Obi-Wan let him go and stood by Anakin, rubbing the boy's shoulder lightly.
"Rush, you and I are going to talk later. Go back to your classroom."
Clovis nodded grimly. He turned and walked out the door. Palpatine turned to Obi-Wan and said, "You've made a fair point. I am not going to give Anakin detention, and we'll find another English class for him. However..."
Anakin looked up from his lap.
"I want Anakin to talk to a therapist. It's wise to tackle anger issues before they become a bigger problem." Palpatine reached over to a stack of business cards on his desk and held one out to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan took it and looked at the card. Kannon Dooku. Palpatine said, "This man has top ratings from around the Republic. We're in the process of hiring him for the school, so don't worry about expenses."
Obi-Wan hadn't expected such a pleasant outcome, although he was sure there were less offensive ways to say anger issues. "Thank you. We'll be sure to see Mister Dooku," he said.
"Doctor Dooku," Palpatine corrected.
Obi-Wan held back a scowl and took Anakin's hand so he would stand up.
Palpatine called Anakin's name as they were about to walk out the door. Anakin turned around.
"Please remember to think before you act," he said.
Obi-Wan put his arm around Anakin's waist and pulled him alongside him, sensing Anakin's anger about to brim over again. The door closed behind them and Anakin wiggled free of Obi-Wan's grip. He said, "You should have let me at him!"
"What were you going to do, punch him? You can't try to out-snark your principal, Anakin. He can only make things worse for you."
"Everything is so unfair!"
Obi-Wan could tell that Anakin's therapy verdict wasn't really what was bothering him. Calmly, he said, "Don't give them the satisfaction of getting under your skin, darling. Try to let it go. You've got to go to class and catch up on all the days you've missed."
Anakin's eyes widened. "I thought you were gonna take me home."
"I'm sorry you got that impression. Don't you think you should try to get through the school day?"
"No," Anakin said, "No, I'm tired of being here. I want to go home."
Obi-Wan didn't know what to say. Anakin's grades had, predictably, slipped since his head injury, but if he didn't make an effort then they were going to stay that way. Someone in the oncoming crowd of students caught Anakin's attention and he barked, "Ahsoka!"
Ahsoka stopped dead in her tracks as Anakin marched up to her. "Where were you?" he demanded.
"I can explain—"
"You abandoned me!"
Ahsoka's eyes were full of fear. "Did something happen?"
"Nearly," Anakin said, quieter now.
"I wanted to stay!" she said, "I went to get Mister Ackbar but he was talking to Mister Clovis—and as soon as he heard your name—"
"I don't want to hear it," Anakin snapped.
"I tried to stay but he wouldn't let me—"
"Enough."
"Skyguy—"
"Don't call me that," Anakin said. Obi-Wan weaved through the flow of students to the other side of the hallway and placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "I think you should calm down, Anakin."
Ahsoka looked to Obi-Wan hopefully.
Anakin returned a glare to him and shrugged off his touch. "I think you should leave, if I'm going to class today."
Ahsoka almost gasped. Obi-Wan felt the same way. He said, "I will take you home, and not because you want me to."
"Why, then?" Anakin challenged.
"Because, clearly, you've forgotten how to act your age, and you're making a scene."
"'Act my age,' I hate that saying. This is me acting my age. Are you happy now, Father? I'm just some stupid teenager with anger issues."
Where is all this coming from? Obi-Wan wondered. "You know I don't see you that way," he said.
"Are you sure?" Anakin countered.
Obi-Wan paused, nodded goodbye to Ahsoka, grabbed Anakin's arm, and led him out of the school like that, with Anakin struggling for an eighth of the way before he became too embarrassed to do anything other than let Obi-Wan assert himself. They drove home in heated silence while Obi-Wan attempted to compose a lecture that would get through to Anakin. After a few run-throughs of their would-be conversation, Obi-Wan let it drop. He'd wait for Anakin to say something.
"I told Elan he could come by after school."
Not what Obi-Wan expected, but it was something. Obi-Wan replied, "I guess you'll have several hours to think about your behavior before he arrives."
Anakin was quiet as he glared out the car window. He already regretted acting the way he did. But he was tired of pretending that everything would be okay if he was good—if he catered to Obi-Wan's expectations and needs all the time—if he continually sought compliments and praise. It was exhausting. And it didn't change the fact that Obi-Wan had drawn the line between them and said Do not cross. He closed his eyes and wondered how he was going to be with Elan.
A few hours passed and the doorbell rang. Anakin got up to check it and said, "It's Elan."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I'm going to make some tea." He turned and went to the kitchen.
Anakin opened the door and smiled at Elan. "Hi, Elan."
"Hey, tiger," Elan said, stepping into the house.
Anakin shut the door and pulled Elan close to him, his hands at the small of his back, mouth eager against Elan's.
"Mmm," Elan hummed, bringing his hands up to hold Anakin's face. He pulled back and said, "You keep teasing me."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Makes me want you to kiss me like that everywhere."
Anakin smirked. "Someday, sweetheart. Let me get you something to drink. Are you hungry?"
"I could eat a little something," Elan said as he followed Anakin to the dining room.
Anakin pulled a chair out for him, saying, "Let me see what I've got. Be right back."
Elan sat down and admired the dining room's features. It was connected to the kitchen, and he could see both Anakin and his father there. "Hi, Mister Kenobi," he called.
Obi-Wan looked up from his tea-making and smiled. "Hello, Elan. How are you?"
"I'm good, how are you?"
"Good, as well," he answered, though he was still baffled by Anakin's behavior.
"We've got fruit and chips and bread for sandwiches, if you want," Anakin called to Elan.
"Sounds perfect," he said, watching Obi-Wan wait for the water to heat.
Anakin made turkey and cheese sandwiches with a side of peach slices for them. He carried the two plates into the dining room and set one before Elan.
"Thanks," he said, and took a bite of the sandwich.
Anakin ruffled his hair and went back to the kitchen to grab their glasses of water. When he'd returned, Elan was nibbling on a peach slice.
"This is delicious," Elan said as Anakin sat down. Anakin smiled and bit into his sandwich. After a moment of chewing, he asked, "So what's new?"
Elan avoided his gaze for a second, focusing instead on washing down his food. After he'd stalled for a few seconds, Elan said, "I've got an idea, but you have to promise not to laugh."
Anakin reached over and squeezed Elan's knee. "I promise I won't laugh."
Elan glanced at Obi-Wan briefly as the man moved a teapot off the stove, about to pour the water into a cup. He looked at Anakin again and bit his lip before saying, "Remember when I said I wished I could be your doctor?"
Anakin stopped himself from grinning. "Yeah?"
Elan fiddled with a loose thread on his coat. "Well, it sounds stupid, but that got me thinking..."
Anakin waited patiently, trying to memorize the tinge of color in Elan's cheeks.
"I've always admired your healing powers. I don't have them, but I could learn, couldn't I?"
Anakin beamed. "Are you saying you want to be a doctor?"
Elan looked the other way. "It's silly, isn't it."
"No! You could definitely be a doctor! Elan, you're so kind, and smarter than you think—" Anakin gasped and said, "You could go back to school with me!"
Elan smiled, a wide grin he couldn't help. "I guess I have to finish high school," he admitted. "You'll probably graduate before me."
Anakin thought on it and offered, "What about holonet classes? You could catch up when Coruscant High's on break."
Obi-Wan was smiling where he stood at the counter in the kitchen, steeping his tea as he watched the color darken.
Elan agreed with Anakin, his eyes lighting up with the possibility that this could really happen. His whole life he'd never dreamed he'd be able to dream. "Thank you, Anakin."
Anakin set down his drink and regarded Elan, his eyes intense over every detail. He stood and sat in Elan's lap, the chair still pulled out from the table slightly. "You're welcome," he said lowly, hands teasing in Elan's hair.
"Anakin, your father—"
"He doesn't mind."
Elan closed his eyes as Anakin kissed him. Obi-Wan had been drinking his tea, not paying attention to them. Anakin's tongue worked its way into his mouth, and Elan let his jaw relax and held Anakin's waist, secured by a belt with funny little pockets and clips here and there. He let his hands drift up to Anakin's shoulders, and Anakin pulled back just enough to tilt his head and kiss Elan's neck, sucking hard enough at first to make Elan jolt. Anakin quickly adjusted and made leisurely kisses against his skin, one arm draped around Elan's shoulders and the other holding the side of Elan's neck, like Anakin would devour him whole if he tried to move.
"Anakin..." Elan moaned, almost out of protest, but not very convincingly. Suddenly Elan jumped back, as much as he could with Anakin on his lap, eyes wide and staring towards the kitchen.
"S'wrong, Elan?" Anakin asked.
Elan tried to make himself small. "Your dad is not in a good mood."
Anakin furrowed his brows and glanced back over his shoulder. "He's just drinking his tea, he's not even looking at us. How would you be able to tell, anyway?"
Elan touched one of his antennapalps, whispering, "I sensed it."
Anakin shook his head. "Nonsense," he said, and moved to kiss Elan again.
Elan tried to dodge him. "I'm serious, Anakin—"
"Stop worrying," Anakin replied, leaning in for another kiss.
Elan pulled away, noticing Obi-Wan send a glare in their direction. Anakin turned his head and kissed Elan's cheek, then his neck. Elan shook Anakin's shoulders, but still he was insistent.
"Stop it, Anakin," Elan said, voice hushed, on edge. Obi-Wan set down his tea and was coming closer.
Anakin returned to Elan's mouth, and Elan squeaked, "Stop!" as Obi-Wan walked straight up to them. Obi-Wan grabbed Anakin by the collar of his tunic, put a hand on his chest, and pushed him back into his own chair, the chair tipping backwards precariously before Obi-Wan caught it. Anakin was flabbergasted.
"Stop when Elan asks you to, Anakin," he said—no—commanded, in a tone of voice he rarely used. He was definitely angry. Anakin bowed his head.
"Yes, Father," he replied quietly.
"Go to your room," Obi-Wan ordered, hands on his hips, his fingers curled into fists.
"But—"
"Now," Obi-Wan said, and Anakin had no choice but to leave Elan and go upstairs. The door might have slammed behind him.
Obi-Wan turned to Elan, a calmer expression on his face. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Elan blinked a few times to pull himself out of his shock. "I'm alright," he said.
Obi-Wan observed him as Elan kept himself very still, his fingers rigidly curled in on themselves. Obi-Wan said, "Come on, I'll get you some tea." He stood slowly and went to the kitchen.
Elan followed nervously. It seemed all of Obi-Wan's anger was directed at Anakin, not him. "Anakin wasn't going to hurt me," Elan said.
Obi-Wan placed a teabag in another porcelain cup and poured hot water over it. "He wasn't listening to you," he replied, "He knows better than that." Obi-Wan glanced at Elan as he pulled on the teabag string. "You can sit down, Elan. It's alright."
Elan took a seat at the kitchen table and looked at the drying flower petals that had fallen from the glass vase in the center of the table. Obi-Wan finished fixing the tea and placed it before Elan carefully.
Elan looked up at Obi-Wan hesitantly before taking a sip of his tea. It felt good going down his throat. Obi-Wan took a seat beside him and sipped from his own tea. Elan couldn't sense the negative flood of emotions from him anymore.
"Anakin has been acting differently, lately," Elan said quietly.
"He's had a concussion," Obi-Wan said.
"No, besides that," Elan said.
Obi-Wan halted, his teacup halfway between the table and his lips. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well..." Elan adjusted how he was holding his teacup, "He mentioned being afraid you'd decide to move away from here."
Obi-Wan put down his teacup. "I hadn't considered that. Although it might not be a bad idea."
Elan frowned.
Obi-Wan thought through it some more. "This house and the motel, even on a foreclosure, were quite expensive. We'd have to be able to sell. I don't know how long that would take. But Elan, I haven't mentioned moving to Anakin."
Elan nodded. "He also said... He was worried you were pushing him away, and—and he's not sure what he'd do if we weren't around."
Obi-Wan's lips parted, and then he looked at the table, reviewing all the changes in Anakin's behavior. He had asked him if he was having bad thoughts, but Anakin denied any. He'd snuck out, and he'd beat up another student, and he'd been through more than anyone his age should...
"And sometimes, it's like he tunes out. He goes into his head," Elan said, worry making his voice shake. Obi-Wan met his eyes and saw tears gathering.
"How long?" Obi-Wan asked.
"What?"
"How long does he go into his head?"
Elan thought back. "A few minutes, at most. Usually just a few seconds."
Obi-Wan put his hand over his mouth, fingers rubbing his beard slightly. He sent his mind to Anakin, sensing he was still in his room, awake, and not entirely happy. Obi-Wan said, "Thank you for telling me this, Elan. I'm going to make sure Anakin knows we're here for him. Try not to worry too much. Anakin has been through a lot and is still recovering."
Elan took that to mean more than the concussion. He clutched his tea, taking a shaky sip before saying, "Can I ask you a question, Mister Kenobi? It might be too personal."
Obi-Wan considered Elan's mental state of mind too. He was nervous again. "You may," he said.
"Anakin told me you used to be in a situation similar to mine. I—I live in an apartment now, but things at home—they were never good. Sometimes they still aren't. Anakin met my dad not that long ago and things went south."
"How so?" Obi-Wan asked gently.
Elan looked at the flower petals again. "He hit me. My dad. Anakin stepped in and made him leave."
"How did Anakin manage that?"
"He used his lightsaber. But he didn't use it use it, he just made a show of it."
Obi-Wan sighed.
"So I guess my question is, what was it like for you? How did you deal with it?"
Obi-Wan massaged his forehead before he clasped his hands in front of him. "It was... It was a nightmare, truly. I could've defended myself, but I didn't. I didn't kick Ventress out, either. I was afraid of doing anything, I think." Obi-Wan watched Elan processing his words. "I wanted a perfect family too much. She had potential, she was strong, she had dealt with hardships like I had—but the sort of dealing that only projects pain onto others. I took it, and I took it, and I feared a moment when Anakin or Padmé would get caught in the crossfire."
"Did they?" Elan whispered.
"They did just by being there. But Ventress didn't touch them. Looking back I can see all the times I should've done something, but at the same time..."
"Did you feel like you deserved it?"
Obi-Wan met his eyes abruptly, words failing him. He nodded slowly.
"Sometimes I feel like I deserve it," Elan confessed.
Obi-Wan leaned forward and took Elan's hand in his. "But you don't deserve it, Elan. Any of it. That's the lie, the trickery of the thing."
Elan's grip on Obi-Wan's hand tightened when Obi-Wan started to pull away. Obi-Wan offered him a smile and continued holding his hand, rubbing his thumb in circles.
"I have a favor to ask of you," Obi-Wan said.
"Sure," Elan replied, though the response was a thousand times more casual than he felt about it.
"If your father hits you again, take a picture and call me. I'll call Sheriff Rex and heal whatever he's done."
Elan was worried about the consequences of going to the police.
Obi-Wan saw his hesitation and said, "Rex is a friend of mine and he'll do whatever it takes to protect you. You can stay with Anakin and me if it makes you feel safer. But Elan, this is only an 'if' situation. Don't provoke him."
"I understand," Elan said, hope swelling in his heart. "About me staying here... Is that an 'if' situation too?"
Obi-Wan wanted to hug him. He would find a way to put his jealousy aside to help him. He had to. Obi-Wan said, "You can stay here now if it's what you want."
Elan considered it all. Living with his boyfriend. And Obi-Wan would be like a second father—a better one. He'd owe them a lot. He wouldn't be eating alone, or sleeping alone—at least not in an apartment alone.
"You'd really do that for me?" he asked.
"Of course. We love you."
Elan jumped up from his chair and hugged Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan smiled and held him lightly, patting his back a few times, and when Elan didn't let go he held him tighter, closing his eyes.
Elan pulled out of the embrace and asked excitedly, "Can we tell Anakin now?"
"Yes," Obi-Wan said, expression growing more serious, "Just let me talk to him for a minute first."
"'kay," Elan said, overjoyed.
Obi-Wan went upstairs with Elan close behind him. He asked Elan to wait outside Anakin's bedroom while they talked. Obi-Wan went in Anakin's room, closed the door behind him and found Anakin gazing out the window.
"Anakin," he called softly.
"How could you do that to me?" Anakin said, refusing to turn around.
Obi-Wan chose his words carefully. Elan would be able to hear, he was sure. "You have to stop when Elan asks you to, even if you don't think there's harm in continuing. You know—you know that he's been abused. It's that much more important that you listen to him."
Anakin didn't respond.
"Elan and I talked for a while and it's clear he's earned your trust. You told him about Ventress."
Anakin turned around suddenly. "Was I not supposed to?" he asked, panic in his voice.
Obi-Wan stepped closer. "It's okay, Anakin. That story is as much yours as it is mine. But I bring it up because you have to earn Elan's trust the same way he's earned yours. And that means listening."
Tears gathered in the corners of Anakin's eyes as he realized what he'd done. "Is he here still? I have to apologize—"
"In a second, Anakin. Elan's just outside the door—" Obi-Wan side-stepped to keep Anakin from rushing out of the room. Anakin looked at him as Obi-Wan held his shoulders, expression unreadable. "He also told me some things about how you've been thinking," Obi-Wan said, hands slowing moving to stroke his hair, "I'm not trying to push you away."
Anakin's lip trembled.
"Why haven't you told me when you're feeling low?" he asked.
Anakin turned away, brows pushing together as a tear slid down his cheek.
"Please," Obi-Wan said, "If something is wrong, tell me."
Anakin wiped at his face angrily. "I can't tell you. You won't understand."
Obi-Wan's jaw dropped.
Anakin met his eyes, a determinably cold expression on his face. "Can I talk to Elan now?"
Obi-Wan almost granted his request out of sheer shock. He said, "Actually, I have one last thing to tell you."
"Yeah?"
"I invited Elan to stay with us."
"Oh." Anakin was surprised to say the least. "Really?"
"I remember we talked about it once, and Elan will be safer with us than on his own…"
Anakin mustered a smile. "Yeah, I think so too."
Obi-Wan tried to smile back, muscles failing to hold any gladness in them.
"Where will he sleep?" Anakin asked.
"Well, Padmé wants to move out—"
"I don't want Padmé to move out."
"I could buy him an air mattress."
"Or he could sleep in my room."
Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. "Where would you sleep?"
Anakin flip-flopped rapidly between his two answers. "With him."
"Absolutely not."
"I don't see you offering him your bed!"
"For obvious reasons!" Obi-Wan replied.
"I can't sleep in your bed if he's here!"
"I don't see why not."
"Because!"
"Because why?"
Anakin balled his fists in his hair and sobbed, the frustration too much for him.
Obi-Wan reached for Anakin's wrists, holding them steady as he thought, Don't hurt yourself. I'm sorry.
Anakin released the locks of hair slowly, letting Obi-Wan hug him afterwards.
"Don't cry," Obi-Wan said softly, "Shhh…"
Anakin couldn't understand why he was always falling apart.
"I thought you'd be excited," Obi-Wan whispered, rubbing Anakin's back in circles. "Let me handle the details, okay? Don't stress, baby. We can… We can put the air mattress in your room and I won't know whether you share the bed or not."
Anakin just closed his eyes and tried to catch his breath.
"Shh, shh, shh…"
Anakin didn't want Elan to see him like this.
Obi-Wan was processing and reprocessing all that they'd said, trying to get to the bottom of it. Quietly, he asked, "When you wanted to know if Elan was here, you didn't sense him?"
"No," Anakin said miserably.
"And when he said I was in a bad mood, what about then?"
"I didn't notice anything," Anakin sniffled.
Obi-Wan hummed thoughtfully. "I think your senses are out of balance. You've got to rest, my dear."
"What about Elan?"
"I'll keep him company, tell him you're not feeling well. I'm sure he already knows."
"Okay-y."
Obi-Wan released Anakin and moved to pull the covers back on his bed. Anakin slipped off his belt and dove into bed, his face sinking deep into the pillow. Obi-Wan pulled the covers up to Anakin's neck and ran his hand through his hair one last time. He was wary of leaving him alone. But Elan had been waiting this whole time.
Obi-Wan stepped out of Anakin's room and saw Elan sitting with his back to the wall, his legs propped up. Obi-Wan said, "Anakin's—"
"Not feeling well, I know," Elan said.
"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan replied, noting Elan's downcast eyes.
"He doesn't want me here, does he?"
Obi-Wan sat beside Elan, saying, "That's not true. He wants you here. He's actually the one who asked if you could stay with us, I just didn't know if that was something you'd want."
Elan faced Obi-Wan and asked, "Then why is he so upset?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "It's me he's mad at. He needs a break from everything, I think. You can stay or go home, it's up to you."
Elan thought on it. "Do you need any chores done around here?"
"Chores?" Obi-Wan couldn't believe his ears.
"I don't wanna mooch off you guys."
"Sure, of course. Let's see... The dishes need to be done. And I was going to paint the motel with Anakin," Obi-Wan said.
"I'll do the dishes. I can help you paint, too," he offered.
Obi-Wan smiled. "Thanks, Elan."
Elan smiled back, got up and went to start on the dishes.