Chapter 6 – Mos Eisley

Author's Note: Warnings are at the end. :)

Please take note of them.

Also, I do not apologize for the cliffhanger. :D

~ Amina Gila

It's been well over a week since they came here now. Padme hasn't called again – there is a risk of transmissions being monitored – and Anakin hasn't exactly found himself brave enough to ask Obi-Wan if he can call her. (He doesn't want to face a refusal, either. It's simpler not to risk it.)

They're finally leaving the cave, though. Anakin's wound is far from completely healed, but it's enough that he can walk, and he's tired of sitting around. He hasn't done that in – Never, actually. He doesn't know how Obi-Wan seems so unaffected by the jarring change, of now having nothing of great importance to do, other than hide. How does he stand it?

"You want us to ride eopies," Anakin repeats flatly.

"What?" Obi-Wan demands, sounding vaguely offended.

"A speeder is a much more efficient method of transport," Anakin points out.

"We don't have a speeder," he retorts.

"Then we can get one."

"We don't have the money for one either."

"I can fix one from a junkyard," he offers. Not as if he hasn't done that a million times over in the past.

"The Jawas will take it apart and sell it back to us, piece by piece," Obi-Wan scowls.

It's true to a point, but it suddenly makes Anakin even more suspicious. "How do you know so much about Jawas?"

Obi-Wan's expression closes off completely – if that weren't already true. "I've seen more than enough of them. I know what they're like."

Or maybe Anakin is just overthinking it because he really doesn't know how long exactly Obi-Wan was on Tatooine, back when Qui-Gon found him. He could have had many encounters with frustrating Jawas, then. Maybe. "We'll have a speeder with us wherever we go. That will make it harder for the Jawas to take it apart," Anakin points out, "And I can make special modifications for anyone unwanted trying to take it apart."

He doesn't know how, yet, but it won't be hard. Besides, he knows well what it's like to steal. He had to do it frequently on Tatooine, in the past and being here again is making him... remember things. They have to make the effort put into making it not worth what the Jawas will get in return.

"How would you do that?" Obi-Wan grumbles.

Anakin doesn't get out more a couple sentences before Obi-Wan cuts him off. "Alright. I'll let you deal with those... details. But it had better work."

"It will." He hopes. He'll need more time to think it over.

"You'll need a name," Obi-Wan says, as if it's an afterthought, "For no one to recognize you."

Right. He'd thought of it briefly, but... "We both do," Anakin agrees.

"I'm going by Ben."

"The same disguise name you used during the war?" Anakin asks, dubiously. It's jarring to think that the war is over now. It certainly doesn't feel like it. He doesn't know what it feels like now. So many of the Jedi are gone, and... No, he doesn't want to start thinking about it again.

"No one will know it out here," Obi-Wan huffs.

"It is still a risk if you're going to still go by 'Kenobi'."

"Our names are hardly known out here. I see no reason for concern." He sounds irritated again, but that's normal. This is Obi-Wan. It's especially true now. "You need a name for yourself. I don't recommend choosing Vader."

Why does he have to keep doing this? Constantly rubbing it in his face, reminding of what he... is now. What he did. He loathes himself for it, and he always will, though he doesn't know right from wrong anymore. He can't say the Jedi were in the right, but he... he doesn't know who was lying. He never will. "How did you know?" Anakin asks, stiffly, "I thought you were unconscious." The moment it happened replays through his mind again, every bit of the horror of it. He feels used. He feels – He didn't know what else to do in the enormity of that moment. To save Padme and his child, and even Obi-Wan's life, at the time.

"Your master was not particularly trying to hide it," Obi-Wan replies, after a strangely long pause.

What? What does he mean? It reminds Anakin again that he really has no idea how Obi-Wan was able to escape and get back to the Temple even before he did.

"And I believe we have more important things to be discussing," Obi-Wan continues sharply, before he can try asking anything else.

**w**

Actually being in a town on Tatooine is much worse than staying in the cave. Memories burn through his mind – of when he and his mother were together.

Of the feel of the suns beating down relentlessly on him, when he was so exhausted all he wanted to do was sleep but he couldn't. (Unless he wanted a beating.)

Of being totally worn from hunger and knowing if he doesn't work fast enough, he and his mother won't eat tonight. Or they'll have so little food that his mother will skip eating and give it to him. He knew she did it, even if she tried to hide it from him. But looking back, he can see it all more clearly now. It was something he often did with Ahsoka during the war, when they were running low on rations. So much of Ahsoka made him reflect back to his mother.

Of how he left her here. (Did she fail the way he did, after Ahsoka walked away? He tried to let her go if that's what was best for her, the same way his mother did him, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt.)

It reminds him of far too many other things too, and he tries to force them from mind, focusing on what he needs to be doing. That is something he's always been good at. He had to be, after all. (Unless he wanted to be hit with an electric prod for getting distracted.)

Something is definitely off about Obi-Wan, though, because he seems to know the area a little too well for only having been to Tatooine once. And Anakin doesn't remember him picking up that much Huttese from him in the past. There's no use asking about it, though. The more he thinks about it, the more he knows something major happened that he doesn't know about – though he doesn't know when, how, or what – and it's obviously something Obi-Wan has no intention of talking to him about.

Finding a job in the town is simple enough, though he'd prefer it a little more if it didn't remind him so much of... the past. (And if he didn't keep feeling Obi-Wan's gaze on him, as though just making sure he isn't planning to run off or something. As if he has a reason to. As if he has somewhere to go. As if he trusts himself not to break the next thing he tries touching.)

"Hey," a voice suddenly says behind him – speaking in Huttese – and Anakin looks up sharply to see a man around his age standing behind him. He has black hair and dark eyes and skin, and – He looks familiar. He feels familiar.

For a moment, all he can do is stare. He could be wrong, but – "Kitster?" Anakin breathes finally.

Kitster's eyes widen the slightest bit. "Anakin?" he says, slowly, "I – It is you."

All he can do again is stare because – That moment he left Tatooine he knew, or thought he knew, that he would never see Kitster again. He didn't even know if he would see his mother again, but he'd dreamed foolishly that one day he would come back to save her.

But Kitster and Wald and the few others he may have defined as 'friends' on Tatooine, he doubted he would see again. He wanted to free them too, but most likely, they would be sold before he ever returned. Or starved or beaten too badly to recover and fed to the dogs. Or die in a sandstorm like he and his mother nearly did, like... like one of his best friends did.

Or occasionally, their master may be furious enough to detonate their chip, but that was rare: a waste of property. It was simply a fact of his life, a fact of existence, and he can still remember the names and faces of so many who he'd seen die in one of those ways.

"Yes," he says. There are so many things he could say, he doesn't even know where to begin. He didn't even know Kitster was alive.

"I thought you left Tatooine," Kitster breaks the silence first.

"I did," Anakin throws a quick glance around, to make sure no one can overhear them. Him even knowing that Anakin and Obi-Wan are here is dangerous. "The Jedi have been accused of treason. We must conceal our identities."

Kitster nods, expression turning grim. "I heard."

"I did not know you would still be here," Anakin admits. Not that it would matter if he had known – he failed his mother, and all his friends on Tatooine, really. He left, promising to return to free them, and he never did.

"I didn't expect to see you here again, with being a Jedi and all," Kitster comments, giving him a half-smile. He seems upset about something, though. "I had the opportunity to leave, but I chose to stay."

"You're free?" Anakin asks, almost disbelievingly. He thought... but he is grateful, that somehow, his once best friend found his freedom.

"I am," he replies, "So much has changed since you... left. So much and so little."

So he can imagine. It's been thirteen years. But at the end of the day, Tatooine never truly changes. "What about Wald?" Anakin asks.

"He's free, too. We're both around here, doing... you know."

Oh. Oh. Yes, he can only guess. Anakin only nods. It's not something they can speak of here.

He's doing what Anakin still wants to do, but never could. And now, he realizes suddenly, maybe that goal isn't so out of reach. Maybe. He'd have to talk to Obi-Wan about it, though. He can't imagine his former master would be opposed to it, but there's many complications in it, especially when they're already hiding from the Empire. Anakin wants to, though, especially being back here and feeling the constant misery that permeates the air, ceaselessly. It's layer after layer, generations of pain in the Force, smothering what was once a peaceful planet.

When the plants died, their ability to shift the darkness back to light faded. When the oceans dried, the planet became a desert – and life has been forced to evolve to hostility.

"There's so much I'd like to catch up on, if we can," Kitster continues.

"I would like to," Anakin agrees, "But I don't have much to share."

"You were a Jedi. How could you not have a lot to share? ... but I probably shouldn't distract you right now. I don't want to... upset your master."

What?

Anakin blinks, gaze darting over to where Obi-Wan is a distance away, for a moment. There's no way Kitster would know who Obi-Wan is, which means – "He's not my... master," Anakin corrects, hastily. Not like that, but he probably better not explain who he really is. It's safer for everyone if they don't know Obi-Wan is here.

Kitster frowns. "He isn't?"

What – why, why would he think that?! (Anakin ignore the tiny voice in his mind, whispering of how he still doesn't know what freedom even means.) "No."

"Who is he then, if I may ask?" Kitster wonders.

"He's my... friend." The words taste like ash in his mouth. It feels like a lie. It is a lie. Obi-Wan isn't his 'friend' – not anymore. If he ever was. Obi-Wan has done so much to him. There's no question of who is in full control of anything when it comes to them, and Anakin loathes it, because it always feels like what Kit thinks it is, but it's not, because Obi-Wan's a Jedi, and he's good.

Kitster nods slightly, though for some reason he doesn't seem very convinced. "Is there anywhere else we can talk?" He can't well go making random meetings without Obi-Wan's permission, which leaves him uncertain what to say.

"I do not... I must speak with him about it." He gestures towards Obi-Wan.

The other's frown is back. "You live with him?"

"Yes. I –" Anakin cuts himself off at the flare of horror in the Force, as it finally clicks what Kitster is really thinking here, "No! This is not what you are thinking. The Jedi... freed me." But he still doesn't know what that means, he thinks bitterly – past the serious short-circuit in his brain. "Why would you even think that? He would never hurt me. Not – not like that."

"It's just... I saw you two interacting."

Anakin swallows. "It's not that, Kit. It is – I cannot explain it." He can't, and he doesn't know how, anyway.

"Alright." His dark eyes search Anakin's face, as though looking for... something. He doesn't know what. "But I'd like to talk again somewhere if we can."

"I would as well. Will you be in the area?"

Kitster nods. "Whatever it is, if you... want to leave, we'll be happy to help you." He still doesn't really believe Anakin, does he? In truth, there's a part of him that almost wouldn't mind leaving with Kit, but – He has no desire to make his former master angry with them. And for as much as he wants to go, he can't imagine walking out like that. (There's a part of him that's worried for Obi-Wan too, because he seems so... Usually he's just irritable, angry, or downright cold, but Anakin can't forget that occasional pained look in his eyes that he sometimes sees. Although he doubts staying with him is helping.)

"I – will be fine. Do not concern yourself with me."

"When didn't we do that for each other, Ani?"

This – this is weird. Taking to someone else like an equal, so freely. When was the last time he did that? "I am fine," he repeats, "But we should... speak more of this later." He doesn't want Kitster to leave yet, but he doesn't really want to draw attention to them either, for as much as he wants to ask so many questions.

Kitster nods. "Yeah. I'll see you around then. Soon, I hope."

"Yes, soon," Anakin agrees, before he slips away. Turning back to keep working on the mechanical job he just was before is making him feel even more like he's in the past than it did earlier. Kitster is so close, and he can't help thinking of those days when they spent time together, when he helped him with his podracer and assembling Threepio. He was the only close friend Anakin's ever had, really. His mother and Kitster had been the main ones to help him survive then, and he'd tried to do the same for them.

**w**

"Who was that?" Obi-Wan asks, as he and Vader settle right outside the cave entrance to eat. It's late in the afternoon now, and it's just... so much like another typical day on Tatooine, like he's spent the last decade. Only it's different now when he's not alone.

He and Vader don't really talk much, but... There are moments Obi-Wan almost thinks is a dream again, and when he turns around, he will be all alone in the cave again. Vader is hardly the kind of company he wants, but he can't deny there's a part of him that's... Maybe just getting a little too used to having him here. To being around another person constantly again.

Any doubts he might have about if this is real are gone, though, every time Vader starts spewing out mechanical nonsense. Obi-Wan may have heard Anakin ramble about it ceaselessly, but he doesn't think he'd be capable of imagining it all on his own.

He also needs to keep reminding himself that no, he doesn't need to go watch over Luke, because Luke is just a baby now. So is Leia. It's hard to believe he was just watching over both of them days ago, and now they're... gone. Well, they aren't gone, but close enough.

Vader glances sideways at him. "I once knew him."

He doesn't know why he finds it so jarring – the thought of meeting someone from Anakin's past. He often wondered before, if he'd ever run into anyone Anakin used to know, but he didn't actually think he had or would. "A friend?" he asks. The boy looked about Vader's age.

He nods. "Kitster Banai. He – he is involved in the... he's helping slaves."

Obi-Wan makes a noise of acknowledgement. "I... am aware there is such a movement here," he comments.

Those blue eyes settle questioningly on him again, and – He needs to watch what he says, because he's come a little too close to admitting something he doesn't mean to, so far. He'd much prefer as few people as possible know about the time-travel – least of all Vader when he doesn't trust him. "I know he could use assistance."

There's no reason he'd be commenting on this unless... "And you're considering offering?" It catches him slightly off-guard, though, because it's so much something Anakin would want to do. This Vader is still very much like him, but Obi-Wan can't let himself trust it. He needs to remember that.

"We are doing nothing of importance here."

"Perhaps not," Obi-Wan agrees, "I would not be opposed to assisting, but right now it might only put them in further danger." There are more reasons than just that – like how he can't trust Vader won't use it as a good excuse to run. He doesn't need to bother commenting on that part.

"Few people know each other's identities," Vader argues, "That is always too risky."

It reminds him of the Empire again. "We must remain in hiding. Drawing attention to ourselves will only bring them and us more danger."

Vader doesn't look very happy, but he drops it at that.

Although Obi-Wan really wishes that Vader would stop licking his fingers while they're eating. Seriously.

He remembers Anakin doing that all the time after he first came to the Temple – he hadn't had many manners whatsoever at that point, and now, after living on Tatooine for so many years, Obi-Wan can especially see why. Any last bit of food here is extremely valuable.

Something clenches tightly, painfully in him as he thinks of – so many moments that make him think of Anakin.

Like earlier when he'd insisted that, at least for now, they get an eopie.

For some reason, the eopie had decided it was a good idea to start chewing on his clothes.

And then, Vader started laughing at him, before going over to talk to it, far too quickly for Obi-Wan to hear. Although whatever he was saying, Obi-Wan really doesn't want to know, from how smug he looked about it. He would have secretly found it funnier, if not for... everything.

**w**

"It's not the Jedi way!" he protests, and all he can feel is fear, fear of everything. Windu is standing over Sidious again. "He must stand trial!"

"He is too dangerous to be kept alive!"

"You will die!" He jerks back at the blinding sight of the lightning Sidious is shooting at the Jedi Master – defending himself – and then he feels himself drawing his lightsaber. The image around him shifts when he turns, and suddenly he's facing Obi-Wan again.

And he feels the plasma blade pressed against his skin, searing through him, layer after layer.

"Obi-Wan," he rasps desperately, trying to pull back, except he can't move, and he doesn't know why. Nor does he know why or how this is happening, only that it is, and he doesn't understand because Obi-Wan was never supposed to hurt him. Never. He wouldn't.

"You deserve this," he snaps, lowly. Angrily. Anakin has so often seen him like this, and it never stops frightening him. "You betrayed all of us. You betrayed me."

"No," Anakin protests. Something shifts, and he doesn't know what, but something is wrong. He senses a strange darkness that doesn't belong, and the room around him starts fading to black. The lightsaber vanishes, and something about Obi-Wan looks... wrong. Anakin's fear for him momentarily overpowers his fear of him – which, quite frankly, is astounding – and he reaches forwards, calling his master's name, only for his hand to pass through him like mist.

Obi-Wan's image vanishes, and beyond it he can see where the darkness is originating from. Sidious stands in the center, a hood covering much of his face but still so very unmistakable. "Ah, Lord Vader," he says, and Anakin is present enough to notice the sinisterness in his tone. "At last, I have found you. Are you unaware of the consequences of betrayal?"

"Padme didn't need you. She never did," he argues, and suddenly, he feels more in control of himself than he was earlier. It's not watching things play out, it's as though he's living this. It's a dream, and he doesn't hesitate before trying to force through the haze covering his mind, except the darkness is wrapped around him, holding him here.

"Come back, my boy," he says, coaxingly. "I will give you what you desire."

"All I want is my family." Call it selfish. He's helped people for so long, or rather he's tried to, but it never works, and he's tired of trying. Tired of trying repeatedly to prove himself to his masters, only for them to turn him down.

"The Jedi will never accept you. They never have." Sidious is approaching him now, and he can't move away. Instinctively, he knows it would be very, very bad if the Sith manages to reach him, and Anakin throws up a Force-shield around himself. It works even in a dream.

"I will take you for what you are," the Sith continues. "Come home, my friend. My apprentice. Or I will have no choice but to come to you."

Anakin jolts awake with one last shove of the presence in his mind and pushes himself upright, heart pounding. That was real. It started as a nightmare, then Sidious came in, and Sidious is searching for him. He's taking it to a whole new level of reaching through the Force now, and they might need to go on the run, and he should tell Obi-Wan, and –

No. He can't tell Obi-Wan.

Merely looking at him, even through the darkness, reminds him jarringly of the rest of his dream and Anakin can't talk to him right now. He doesn't want – the room is too dark, and Sidious is still there, pressing against his shields, and it feels like he might appear here, even if Anakin knows that's a ludicrous thought.

He just has to go somewhere. And he can still feel the lightsaber burning against him, and he just... needs out.

He can't stay here right next to Obi-Wan. It feels like he can't breathe.

He shoves himself to his feet, swaying unsteadily, but quietly moves towards the entrance. The moons are out so it's lighter out here, but it's not enough. It's still too dark, and Obi-Wan is too close, and...

He moves towards the doorway, hesitating only a moment before stepping outside. The moons are out and shining, lighting the area, reminding him sharply of when he and Ahsoka came here a few years ago. So much has changed, and Force, he misses her.

Is she alright out there? He knows she alive, because he would have felt it if she wasn't, but he doesn't know if she's okay. She would have been on Mandalore or about to leave when everything happened and the clones shouldn't have turned on her since she's not a Jedi, but... He doesn't know, and he wishes there was a way he could be looking for her, instead of hiding out here.

He takes a few steps away from the cave, passing the sensor they have right near the entrance. He didn't think anything of it, because nothing happened before, but an alarm suddenly turns on, ringing out loudly in the stillness of the night.

What?

He thought it only picked up if someone went into the cave when they weren't supposed to, not –

Oh. Of course. He should have known Obi-Wan would have a failsafe after the last time, to make sure he didn't try leaving in the middle of the night again. He should have expected it, because now he can feel Obi-Wan very much awake in the cave behind him.

And he's angry. Of course, he's angry, and that's exactly why he was planning to come out here, so he could escape that, even for a few minutes.

Why does it feel like every time he tries to make things better, he only worsens it?

WARNING: Emotionally abusive relationships; implied mentions of rape, non-canon in a it-didn't-happen-but-someone-thinks-it-did sort of way

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