"Knight Skywalker, concerns you, this does." Anakin made no effort to hide the fact he was stalking outside and walked in after Yoda.
"Established a romantic relationship, you and Master Kenobi have."
"Master Yoda, I apologize. I took advantage of the trust Master Kenobi gave me. I am prepared to accept the consequences."
Obi-Wan very nicely kicked Anakin in the shin. It complimented the death glare Anakin was also receiving.
"Path to the Dark Side, this attachment is. Easier to corrupt, you will be. Inform him, we should, of what you were told, Master Kenobi."
Anakin looked questioningly at Obi-Wan, who took a step away from and broke eye contact.
"Plan to corrupt you, the Sith Lord does. Take advantage of your bond, they will."
Anakin turned to Obi-Wan. "Why didn't you tell me? Were you afraid I would be corrupted?"
Obi-Wan's expression didn't change and his guilt was unmistakable.
"Worried about you, Obi-Wan was. To the Dark Side, attachments lead. Know this, he does."
Years of training and living with Anakin taught Obi-Wan that, Force or not, Anakin was riled up. He stiffened, eyes flashing.
"I will not turn to the Dark Side."
"So sure, can you be?"
"Yes. I can."
"Deceptive, the Dark Side is. Seductive, the Dark Side is."
"I would not betray Obi-Wan like that. No matter what the Dark Side can offer me, they cannot offer me anything more important than him. Even – even if they were to offer a way to cure him, I wouldn't join them. Obi-Wan wouldn't want to be cured if it meant I turned. I will always be devoted to Obi-Wan, but what he believes in and stands for is more important to him and to me. I will not disappoint the man who trained me and loves me."
The Force was glowing the self-sacrifice. Here were two people completely dedicated to each other and ready to give up a life they had known for decades in order to save their partner. They knew how important being a Jedi was, but they also knew how important each other was. They had found the balance the Jedi Order did not think possible. They had created a balance the Sith Lord feared.
Obi-Wan was feeling immensely guilty. He couldn't feel this new balance in the Force. All he knew was that he had doubted Anakin. Obi-Wan had thought Anakin would turn to the Dark Side and then…this. And then Anakin had said – then, in front of Master Yoda, he had showed how much of the independent, strong man he was. Obi-Wan felt horrible that he ever doubted Anakin. It seemed so foolish now, knowing Anakin felt like this, and yet he still hesitated.
"Hmm. Honest, you are about this."
"Yes, Master Yoda. Please, do not remove Obi-Wan from the Order. I accept that I will have to leave the Order, just please allow me to stay and help him until an antidote is found."
"Mature, this decision is. Fitting of a Jedi, it is. Commended, you should be for balancing. Need to leave, you will not. Outdated, our attachment rule is. Perhaps update it, we shall. Removed from active duty, you will be. Watch over Master Kenobi, you will. Fear, I do, that more attacks we can expect. Warn you, your bond will, before the other Jedi."
Anakin hastily bowed, his knees trembling with relief. "Thank you, Master Yoda."
He and Obi-Wan left. Anakin rambled in relief the entire way there. It was only when they reached Anakin's quarters that Anakin changed to a topic with a purpose.
"You've been avoiding me. What's wrong?"
Obi-Wan tapped his forehead.
"I hate reading your mind like that. I don't want to keep invading your privacy. Besides," Anakin lazily reached out slightly with his mind, "the guilt is getting redundant. You doubted me. Doubt is normal, Obi-Wan, I understand. I never have been a traditional Jedi, I can only imagine why you thought I might turn."
Obi-Wan studied him for a little and then just threw himself unexpectedly at Anakin, kissing him frantically and wrapping his arms around him in a hug. Thankfully, the guilt had changed to gratitude and relief.
"And now I have official permission to bother you until Bant and Garren return. I'm going to take full advantage of that. How often to I get to nag you? Speaking of which, you haven't had anything to eat yet, have you?"
Obi-Wan gave him a 'no kidding' look.
"Oh, right, I've been with you all morning. I'll make us lunch."
Obi-Wan sat down on the couch and started flipping through holonews. The war was still raging, (he felt horrible he wasn't out fighting) but it was impossible to tell if the Republic was anywhere near wining, or even close to start signing peace treaties. He should talk to Yoda about still trying to help them plan out strategies and troop deployment. It would give him something to take his mind off things. His worry of he or Anakin being removed from the Jedi Order were removed. That left his mind free to wonder when his sight and hearing would leave him.
Anakin was worried about the same thing. He was going to do all he could for Obi-Wan, but he had to admit taking care of someone wasn't his strength. At present, there wasn't much he had to do. Anakin made sure Obi-Wan ate, and tried to cook things with a plain, simple texture as much as possible. Obi-Wan was having difficulty grasping silverware, he had to grip his fingers together very tightly to be able to feel things between his fingers. A few times, Anakin had to use the Force to keep the objects steady in Obi-Wan's grasp. Thankfully, Obi-Wan never seemed to notice or he would have protested the help. There was no other way to help him though, unless Anakin started to feed him, which would be awkward for Anakin and humiliating for Obi-Wan, then he would have to settle for that more impersonal method.
Anakin hated to think the worse, but he did have to start figuring out what they were going to do if Obi-Wan lost his sight…Anakin looked over at Obi-Wan sitting on the couch. Obi-Wan trusted Anakin and Anakin would find a way to keep that trust. No matter what happened, Obi-Wan will always be loved.
In his office, Darth Sidious silently cursed. The Force was pulsating with this pure…light. Anakin Skywalker's presence in the Force had, up until now, been clouded in grey. He was the boy caught in between his emotions and his teachings. That was no longer true. His teachers and emotions had come together. The Chosen One had picked his side. The bond between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker was not going to be broken.
Darth Sidious picked up his commlink. There would no be corrupting Anakin Skywalker. The only option left was to destroy the Jedi and the Republic, taking the Chosen One down with them.
"Commander Cody, execute Order 66."
A/N: I can't thank everyone enough for the reviews! I'm hoping there will be another chapter posted tonight!