Chapter 8 - Home
Author's Note: This is the end of the story! I hope y'all enjoyed this fic, and thank you all who joined us on this journey! :D
Yes, it will end up with an eventual redemption of all the Siths around. :)
~ Amina Gila
Obi-Wan isn't overly fond of medbays. Well, no one is, but he especially doesn't like seeing Anakin here. He'll be fine, but he still knocked himself out when they fought Abeloth, and Obi-Wan is worried about him. To tell the truth, he's more afraid of what'll happen after than he is as of right now.
He's definitely more worried about what'll happen to Anakin after everything is over and they go back to Naboo. He'll be with the Sith again, and... the chances of them losing him are way too high.
And no, Obi-Wan shouldn't be so attached to him, but he is, and there's no changing it.
Anakin blinks himself to consciousness slowly, and Obi-Wan just... hovers, not saying anything – not that he has much to say. "Did we win?" Anakin asks finally once his gaze grows a little more focused.
"We did," Obi-Wan confirms, arms crossed, "She's gone."
Anakin makes a noise of acknowledgment, closing his eyes again. "The Force feels settled," he supplies.
Obi-Wan can't help thinking it's fitting – that if the imbalance of Anakin being trained by a Sith was what lead to Abeloth escaping – her presence is what brought Anakin back to the Jedi, to where he belongs, to Obi-Wan, and this feels like it's what was meant to happen.
"What happens now?" Anakin asks, opening his eyes again to look up at him. He looks... wary, not quite scared, but it's close enough. It's too close.
"We had to make an... agreement with Sidious," Obi-Wan admits grudgingly, "The courts will try him for his crimes, but until the trial comes, you'll be returned to Naboo. With Jedi supervision, of course."
"And... Maul?"
Obi-Wan wished they'd just execute him, if he's being honest, but that's not the Jedi way, and there are laws involved. He still wishes there weren't, at least for him – Maul killed Qui-Gon, and Jedi way or no, that's not something Obi-Wan can forgive.
"The same holds true for him," Obi-Wan replies, "We suspect the Trade Federation, or the Sith's allies will interfere and prevent a fair trial, but as of now, there is nothing else the Jedi can do."
Obi-Wan is angry about that. Anakin looks more relieved than anything else. "They're sending us back to Naboo?" he asks again, for clarification. "Back home?"
He wishes Anakin wouldn't call it that. "Yes."
There are a few heartbeats of silence, during what Obi-Wan suspects will probably be some of their last moments together. He's not ready for this time to be over.
"You said the Jedi will... supervise us?" Anakin asks slowly, "You'll... accompany us there?"
"I volunteered," Obi-Wan admits, "I know you, and I would like to keep an eye on Maul myself."
"Master Plo?" Anakin queries, a little weakly. He looks tired, more wary than anything else. He's one of the only people Anakin actually knows here.
"He's alive," Obi-Wan assures, "Injured, but alive. If you're up to moving, you can go see him."
"I would like to," Anakin confesses, "If we're gonna be leaving, I don't know if I'll see him again."
Obi-Wan has no issue with change. He's always known that's a natural part of life – it's what it means to be a Jedi, but that doesn't mean he's exactly... ready for the chances of losing Anakin, and he doesn't think only one Jedi there is the best idea, either. He's taking a risky gamble, and Obi-Wan knows it, but someone has to do it.
There's something special about him and Anakin that he doesn't understand. Obi-Wan has no idea what it is, exactly, but it's important.
It's an attachment, but it's also a fact.
Master Plo is injured, or Obi-Wan would request him to accompany them, too. If the Sith try to kill him, Obi-Wan trusts Anakin to protect him. Not a pleasant situation, to be sure, but if he has to take that risk, he will.
"I can't imagine Sidious will be appreciative of my presence," Obi-Wan says dryly, mostly testing Anakin's reaction. He thinks it'll be fine, but he wants to make sure.
"No, he won't," Anakin agrees, with a slight head shake. "Neither of them will."
"And you?" he queries.
Anakin blinks a few times, shifting a little. "I don't know," he admits, "I want you there, but it's... It'll be different."
"It will be," Obi-Wan agrees, "Do you believe it will be dangerous?"
"I don't know," Anakin confesses, "I... probably. I don't think Maul will be happy to have you around."
"And your master?"
Anakin looks... Obi-Wan doesn't really know what to label his expression as. "I don't know," he answers, "But... nothing will happen, right? As long as the Jedi don't come after him?"
He's naïve if he believes that, but Obi-Wan doesn't call him out on it. Anakin grew up with Sidious, and he can grudgingly admit he understands why the boy doesn't want to accept he might not be quite the person he appears to be.
"Well," he replies, "I trust we can be careful."
"Yeah," Anakin agrees quietly, reaching for his hand.
He doesn't really know how to do this – doesn't really know what they're doing – but Obi-Wan lets him take it. If nothing else, he trusts the Force that they'll be fine.
Maybe.
**w**
Master Plo is awake – surprisingly – when Anakin gets there. Maybe he's been out far longer than he realized. Either way, it doesn't change his relief at seeing him.
He was so worried. He already lost his mother, and no one can compare with her (he's ignoring the small part of his mind that thinks Obi-Wan does), but he can't have that again. Master Plo is one of the only Jedi who's been nice to him.
"Master?" Anakin asks hesitantly, entering the room.
"Anakin," the Jedi Master nods to him, and Anakin approaches him.
"I wanted to see you," Anakin blurts out, and he's somewhat self-conscious about the whole thing, but it's not like his master is here to be upset at him right now. Anakin cares about Obi-Wan and Plo and – and Ahsoka, whether he likes it or not. Whether Sidious likes it or not.
Those aren't bonds that could ever break.
"We'll be leaving the Temple soon," he continues, "And I..."
He's abruptly reminded of when he left Tatooine, saying goodbye to Kitster and Wald and his other friends. He hates goodbyes.
"We will assure you are taken care of," Master Plo reassures. Not much, but Anakin trusts that he'll try. The Jedi didn't try for years, until he became special to them, and he'll probably never stop being bitter about it, but there are still some of them who he knows will try better.
"Thank you," Anakin replies, looking away. There are times he struggles with holding people's eyes, and now is one of them. It's just... awkward. "I wanted to see if you were alright," he adds hesitantly.
"I will be fine," the Jedi Master reassures, "As will many lives now, thanks to you."
"Well," Anakin supplies, because he is not a Jedi and has no reason to act like one, "There wouldn't be a Sith Empire to rule if she killed everybody, would there?"
"There would still be ghosts," Plo says seriously, "Or skeletons."
Anakin snorts. Maybe some Jedi are capable of humor after all. "That sounds lonely. And depressing."
"Regardless, you have done a great service to the galaxy," he continues, "Even if you do not see it that way."
"I know," Anakin answers, a bit more seriously. "That's the first mission I've ever been on, and I couldn't have done it without you." Maybe the balance-thing was actually about ending the eternal war between the Jedi and Sith. He could never see himself as a Jedi, never wants to be one of them, but he doesn't want to fight them, either.
Power doesn't have to corrupt, even if it normally does.
"Or we, without you," Plo responds.
He nods mutely, uncertain what else to say.
What matters is that Plo survived, though seeing as he's on the Council, Anakin's probably going to run into him again eventually.
**w**
He snuck off to find Ahsoka. Is that stupid? Yes, but he wanted to see her again. He'll be leaving, and she'll want to know. He's good at staying hidden. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have survived for as long as he did on Tatooine.
"The fight's done," Anakin tells her – yes, he climbed down from the ceiling, but Ahsoka doesn't even look alarmed by it. "They're sending us back home for now."
"You'll be leaving the Temple?" Ahsoka asks, and he nods. "Do you want to leave?"
Anakin stills. She's the first person to ask him that, and he doesn't even know the answer. He genuinely has no idea. It's nice here. He feels... watched, but it's somehow not nearly as much as on Naboo. Here, he can just be sometimes without having to worry about his master getting angry. Obi-Wan might get annoyed, but he never gets angry, and Anakin isn't worried about pushing limits with him. It doesn't really feel like he has them. "Well, I don't know," he admits, "It doesn't really matter, I guess. We're going back, whether I want it or not."
"Sith are evil," Ahsoka says sullenly, "I don't want you to be evil."
What in the galaxy is he supposed to say to that? She's ten. "I'm not evil, Snips. I just have a different way."
Her jaw drops in horrified incredulity. "You're just very annoying," she grumbles, "Skyguy."
He should not get so much fun out of annoying a youngling, but she's so tiny and her grumpy glare downright adorable. She looks like a tooka, just a little bigger, and he should probably be careful, because she has fangs and could bite as hard as one. But still.
Anakin leans forwards to hug her, and Ahsoka leans right into it like it's natural, even if she had to be a little freaked out by it – they're still technically on opposite sides of the galaxy's conflicts and they don't really know each other, not to mention how Jedi never really touch each other. It's impulsive on Anakin's part, but hey, everyone always tells him he's impulsive. Might as well do it for something nice, right?
"Don't worry," Anakin tells her, "I'm not going on a murder spree any time soon."
"Good," Ahsoka says, squeezing him, "You're too nice for that."
Yeah. For Sidious, that may not be a bad thing, and Anakin needs to talk to his master again. That's not a conversation he's looking forward to.
**w**
"So, basically, my life was boring and normal until the day I was hugged by a Sith apprentice..."
**w**
Anakin isn't ready to see his master again. He doesn't know what to say to him, even. Anakin did what he thought he had to do, but he still feels like he's a disappointment to him. Sidious didn't want to help, even if the last time Anakin saw him, he was.
Sidious was in a tight spot where he didn't have a choice but to fight back to protect himself. Anakin still doesn't know if he was let out of prison, or if he escaped amidst the chaos. It could be anything.
He's still afraid of – of what his master will say. Sidious told him not to help, or at least had refused to himself, and Anakin doesn't know if he'll... be angry. Or disappointed. Or – anything.
Sidious did so much for him, and Anakin owes him everything. Anakin should be more grateful for it. Force, he's so – ungrateful. He's so useless. He's supposed to be Sidious's apprentice, to serve him and be a Sith, not – Anakin has no idea what he's doing. He's a failure and disappointment whenever it comes to Sidious, and maybe that's half of why he wants to hide out in the Temple.
Like that'd change something? It's just making it worse.
The moment he sees Sidious again, he's overwhelmed by the totally separate urges of blurting out a long string of what would be entirely unintelligible apologies, and pure relief that he's alright. Anakin had been so afraid he'd never see him again.
"Master?" he asks hesitantly, lingering back a moment. He's never been away from Sidious for more than a couple days since they moved to Naboo, and after what happened, he suddenly doesn't even know how to react to seeing him again. All he does know is that he misses him. It seems a little ridiculous – or maybe it's absolutely, completely ridiculous – but it's the truth.
"It's time to leave," Sidious says, approaching him. He doesn't sound angry like he did in the cell when Anakin snuck down to talk to him, though that doesn't mean it's not something they'll be discussing... later.
He's definitely not looking forward to that, but right now, he's just glad that he's here. (Even if a tiny part of him still wishes he could stay at the Temple.) He was afraid the Jedi were going to kill him, and –
Anakin momentarily stops thinking entirely, because he's never really done this before, but he steps closer when Sidious stops in front of him, wrapping his arms around him.
Sidious just freezes momentarily before awkwardly shoving him off. Behind him, Anakin can see Maul staring at him, like he thinks Anakin's the one with horns.
"You defeated Abeloth," Sidious says, voice neutral, studying him.
"Yeah," Anakin nods, "With Obi-Wan's help. I couldn't have done it without him."
Maul's expression darkens, and he tries not to be bothered by it. He definitely doesn't know how to handle the hostility between Maul and Obi-Wan.
"You count your success on a Jedi?"
"It's true," Anakin replies, dejectedly, and he suddenly feels uncomfortable explaining this. Idly, he thinks he should be careful what all he says, how far he pushes, because to Sidious, the Jedi are still the enemy. He isn't... changing. Anakin is, and he doesn't know how long he'll be able to be what his master wants. "There's something different about my bond with him. I don't know what it means." It's stronger than any he's ever had, and it formed much faster, like they somehow just clicked right in with each other.
Sidious is eyeing him, assessingly. Anakin wishes he'd just say something. "Your bond with the Jedi is... unusual. I have never seen one like it before, but I have heard of them."
"What does it mean?" he asks, uncertainly.
"A Force dyad," he replies, tone still mostly unreadable, "Legends claim that two beings sharing this connection gain access to a great number of abilities, skills beyond the grasp of even the most powerful Force wielder."
That's... Anakin didn't even know there were special types of Force bonds. He doesn't know what to think of how he has one with Obi-Wan, but it probably explains why they both got attached to each other so fast.
He can't tell what his master thinks of the connection, though.
"That's of little use if it's with a Jedi," Maul interjects, sourly.
"Perhaps," Sidious muses, "And it may also be a way of blinding the Jedi to our intentions, in the future." Something twists uneasily inside of him, at the words. He doesn't know what that means, but Sidious and Maul would have no qualms about hurting Obi-Wan, and Anakin can't... let them do that. And if that eventually becomes an actual problem, he doesn't know what he'll do. "Your power still far surpasses what abilities any connection with the Jedi could give you, and it is time you learn to embrace it."
"Yes, Master," he mumbles, not really sure what else to say. He can't really argue it. If Sidious wants him to become like Maul, that – he can't do that. He doesn't want to be like that.
And he needs answers about what's going on with Naboo, but he doesn't even know how to approach the topic. (This is why he preferred it at the Temple. He didn't have to constantly be afraid of doing something slightly out of line that they might hurt him for. Not in the same way, at least.) Maybe, he ought to start with apologizing? "Master," he begins, hesitantly, forcing himself to go on when Sidious turns back to him. "I'm sorry about... what I did." His gaze traces the patterns on the floor, mostly as a momentary distraction.
"It was a foolish risk, but it showed you your power."
Anakin can't quite decipher if that means he's not angry about it still or not. Maybe, he's just hesitant to start believing it means he might not be, in case he's wrong. "I... have a question," he begins, because he needs to ask this, even if he'd rather return to being invisible.
"What?"
"About Naboo. They told me you had a deal with the Trade Federation, and that Maul was fighting for them?"
"We did have a deal," Sidious replies, seemingly unperturbed, "But the Federation has been spreading their control long before I made a connection with them. They would have come to Naboo regardless. By making a deal with them, I merely had more control over the actions they took. They are ideal... allies for a time. Working with one's enemies for future gain is a skill you must learn, Anakin. You already did this yourself with the Jedi."
Anakin doesn't even know how to feel about that. It's true. All that time, he didn't want to believe it, but – but it's true. Sidious is responsible for everything that happened on Naboo, and he has no idea how to deal with that. "Working with the Jedi was a temporary alliance I thought would help us," he argues, "But – the Federation has done so much damage to Naboo." And all this time, it was something they could've stopped.
"As they have everywhere," he replies, smoothly, "They are also one of the wealthiest corporations in the galaxy, and are ideal as allies, until we no longer have need for them. They will be destroyed once we are finally in a place to bring the order you desire, Anakin."
But that doesn't even... "How does hurting people so we can look like saviors to them help anything?" He shouldn't talk to Sidious like this, but he doesn't understand.
"You are not thinking long-term," his master replies, "Had I not made a deal with them, they would have continued spreading their control regardless, and their resources would not be available for our use and their ultimate destruction."
It does make sense, maybe, but that doesn't make it right. His mother would be horrified if she knew – any of that. How does this make them any better than what they claim they're freeing the galaxy from? Maybe Sidious is right that he's not thinking long-term, but he can't believe this is the only way. It can't be. It's wrong, and he has no idea what to do.
"Some will always be hurt, no matter what course of action we take," Sidious reminds him, "You cannot let this stand in your way. If you desire to bring order to the galaxy, then you must embrace your power and do what you must to keep it."
He knows all of that, but that doesn't make it any better. He can't stop remembering the Amidalans, who've been hiding on their own planet for years while the Federation destroys the people. And he does want to bring order to the galaxy, but he just doesn't know if he can agree with the way Sidious is planning to do it.
He can't go along with the Jedi's not-even-attempts at helping, either. And he doesn't know what to do.
**w**
Returning to Sidious' mansion on Naboo is jarring. Everything is so different from when he left, even if it still feels a lot like coming home.
Being back on Naboo is... it is. It's a little less empty and lonely, which is really the best Anakin has to say about it. He's glad to see Threepio again, though. This place is familiar, even if he doesn't really want to go back. After being at the Temple, it's too small and depressing here. Too lonely.
Anakin doesn't want to stay in one place. He never has – he's used to moving all over.
"You've never been here before?" Anakin asks, glancing at Maul. From the way he's looking around, he clearly hasn't been.
First thing, Sidious already directed Obi-Wan to a room in a wing off to the side, with orders to not wander around. He already misses being around him, but maybe he can... go see him later. Threepio is supposed to be keeping an eye on Obi-Wan now, and well... Anakin's just glad it was a good excuse to turn the droid back on.
"I always remained in the Works," Maul replies, not quite shortly. He seems upset about something, and it could be anything, but that doesn't stop how Anakin instinctively wants to help, the way he always does.
"Are you alright?" he asks, almost awkwardly.
His eyes flicker angrily, though Anakin doesn't think it's directed at him, exactly. "Sidious did not even search for me."
Oh. Of course that would upset him, especially since – Even if he doesn't want to think about it, Anakin doesn't think Maul mattered to Sidious for anything more than his abilities. And there can only be two Sith. "We thought you were dead," Anakin tells him quietly, "Both of us."
"I was once destined for something far more," he replies, "And I was robbed of that by the Jedi."
More like because Anakin replaced him. He'd feel beyond useless too, if his master just replaced him, and he doesn't know what to say to Maul about that. How to tell him that he still matters. "You're here now. You can still help us. You've been a Sith far longer than I have."
Maul studies him, something almost calculating in his gaze now. "Perhaps. But more than two Sith will not last for long."
Is that a threat? Anakin half thinks it is, but he doesn't think it's directed at him. Is he seriously saying – threatening to do something to Sidious? Anakin already knows the apprentice is supposed to destroy the master if they're weak, or at least they have the right to, but he doesn't even understand that mentality. "Why do we always have to fight each other, instead of using our power for something useful?" he asks. It's a reference to both what Maul just said, and their fight with the Jedi.
He doesn't really know how to address that Maul might be planning to turn on Sidious at all, actually. It probably wouldn't work anyway, but the last thing he wants to think about is having to pick sides with them when it's already hard enough with them and Obi-Wan here. Maybe he's just... in a mood that will fade?
"You have much to learn about being a Sith," Maul responds, flatly, as though that answers anything, "I will teach you."
Hopefully that means helping Sidious, not trying to become his master instead? (What if he doesn't want to be a Sith anymore?)
Anakin only nods to that, because really, what more can he say?
Half the reason he wanted to come back to Naboo was so things would start making sense again, but now, he's even more confused than ever before. He has no idea where things are going to go from here, but he doesn't think anything is about to get easier yet.
**w**
It's not until long after dark, when Anakin's certain everyone else is sleeping, that he slips out of his bedroom and heads for the area of the mansion where Obi-Wan is staying. It's probably intentionally placed a distance away from where they are, and he's afraid Sidious will probably find out and have words with him about it in the morning, but he can't not go see him, either.
Anakin knocks lightly on the door, and Obi-Wan answers, almost immediately.
"Anakin?" he asks, and he actually looks about as happy as Obi-Wan ever does, seeing him there.
"I wanted to come see you," he says, and he can't help feeling a whole lot more comfortable here than he does anywhere else, now.
Obi-Wan steps back to let him into the room. "Are things alright with Sidious?" he queries, a distinct hint of concern in his eyes.
"Yeah," he replies, looking away for a moment. The darkness of the room makes it somehow easier to talk. "About the same as they were before." Except now, Anakin doesn't know that he wants to be here anymore. "I – I'm glad you're here."
His expression softens a little, and he reaches out, touching Anakin's shoulder. "I am... glad I was able to come, as well. I didn't want you to come back alone. I haven't been overly impressed with how your master acts towards you."
It makes something warm swell inside of him, even if he has no idea what to say to that. Obi-Wan cares about him, and even if he doesn't why, he could never be more grateful for it. "We have a dyad," Anakin blurts, "Sidious told me."
"A... what?" Obi-Wan asks, clearly confused.
He doesn't know about that, either? "Our bond is... different. He told me it's called a Force dyad. I don't know why we would have one, but that's what let me... do what I did against Abeloth."
Obi-Wan seems mind blown and thoughtful at once. "That would explain the... connection I always felt," he muses.
Anakin really wonders why they have that kind of connection, but it doesn't really matter, does it? So long as he has Obi-Wan with him. (The more he thinks about it, the more he thinks he's the most afraid of losing him, but he... doesn't want to think about having to lose any of them. He can't, not after his mother.)
Obi-Wan moves to sit on the edge of his bed, motioning for Anakin to join him, which he does, settling next to him.
From here, outside Obi-Wan's window, Anakin can actually see the stars, and he never realized how much he missed watching them on Coruscant.
"You really want to stay here?" Obi-Wan asks finally, side-eyeing him.
That's the question he really doesn't want to think about it. Probably, he just needs time to get readjusted. "I don't know," he says, voice barely above a whisper, "But this is... my home."
"Is it?" Obi-Wan questions.
He looks away. "Yes. I don't – I don't want to talk about this." Not right now. Everything is too confusing.
"Alright," Obi-Wan concedes, though he seems a little reluctant, "But if you ever want to leave, it might be something we can arrange." That thought scares him even more. He's not going to just leave Sidious and Maul. Not when he just got them back. Just no. He just... needs to stop being selfish. (But they're still hurting people, aren't they?)
Anakin scoots slightly closer, leaning against Obi-Wan's shoulder. The Jedi doesn't seem uncomfortable with it, so he opts for just... staying there,
With the one person that does make him feel truly at home.
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