1. If I Stay
Obi-Wan stood in the dressing chambers attached to the battle arena, heart feeling as though it would burst with anticipation. He had beaten Bruck; he had won. And Master Jinn…he'd looked impressed.
It was difficult to keep the rising exhilaration in check as he stared at his packed bag, sitting on the bench. He was meant to take it to Bandomeer, on the transport ship that was to depart in a few hours. But perhaps now, he could take it to a new room instead―a room meant for a master and a padawan.
Before Obi-Wan could spend too long caught up in a fantasy, Master Qui-Gon Jinn entered the room.
Trailing behind him was Grand Master Yoda and the mysterious knight the Order had been whispering about. The man was nearly as tall and broad as Master Jinn, but significantly younger. He wore dark clothes atypical of a Jedi, a black cloak layered over black tabards and dark brown robes, the right sleeve of his tunic sealed shut beneath a thick leather glove; coupled with the intensity of his Force presence, a blazing supernova that spilled across the furthest reaches of the temple, he cut an imposing figure.
According to rumors, he had once been Master Yoda's padawan, though no one in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant could claim to have seen him prior to now.
Obi-Wan dragged his curious gaze away from the unusual knight and turned to Master Jinn, straightening his shoulders and smoothing down the fresh tunic he'd changed into.
"Who taught you to fight like that?" Master Jinn's expression was thoughtful.
Obi-Wan tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"Students in the temple rarely attack so viciously," he explained, "they learn to defend, to wear one another down. They conserve their strength. Yet you fought…like a very dangerous man. You left yourself open to attack time and again, and relied upon another boy to take the defensive stance."
Before Obi-Wan could even open his mouth, the Jedi Knight cut in.
"That's a hell of an overstatement," he snorted, lazily crossing his arms and giving Obi-Wan a critical once-over. His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Obi-Wan fought like his life depended on it, as he very well should."
Obi-Wan couldn't fully stifle the flush of pride swelling in his chest.
Unfortunately, it appeared that Master Jinn was not in agreement. "His fighting style is dangerous. If not for the use of training sabers, the other boy would be dead."
"Yeah," the knight huffed, looking unimpressed. "That's why it's called training."
"You could teach me to fight better, Master Jinn," Obi-Wan offered in an effort to appease the man. While he appreciated the knight coming to his defense, offending Master Jinn could only serve to diminish his chances of an apprenticeship.
"Perhaps I could," Master Jinn slowly conceded with a thoughtful nod. The gentle hope blooming in Obi-Wan's heart was brutally crushed at his following words, "Or perhaps, no one could."
"What?!" The word nearly exploded out of the knight's mouth. "That's ridiculous!"
Irritation began to creep across Master Jinn's impassive expression. "I can assure you it is not," he said stiffly, turning to face the knight. "Initiate Kenobi's anger was palpable in the Force."
"He's a kid," the knight said flatly, eyes narrowing dangerously. "You expect a twelve-year-old to exhibit the perfect serenity of a Jedi Master? That's a load of banthashit."
Obi-Wan gaped. He'd never seen a Jedi Knight lose their temper, let alone curse. Especially towards a master.
"If he cannot control his temper now, then knighthood is not the path for him," Master Jinn bit out.
Obi-Wan visibly wilted, a jittering ache lancing through his chest like the hot jab of a saber.
Inexplicably, the knight stared at Master Jinn with a look of aggrieved disappointment, as though it were him who was being rejected for the apprenticeship.
"You really believe that?" the knight asked.
"Yes. I have seen the kind of darkness anger can lead to."
"I don't know what you've seen," the knight snapped, voice more frigid than the Crystal Caves of Ilum, "but you're wrong about Obi-Wan."
Master Jinn now appeared incredulous. "And what makes you so certain?"
"Because it's the will of the Force. Obi-Wan will become a great Jedi Master one day," was the knight's bold reply.
Master Jinn hummed in thought, but only offered a skeptical, "Maybe."
This didn't fill Obi-Wan with great confidence.
"So…you won't take me on as your padawan?" Despite the hurt and grief tangled inside him, Obi-Wan had to be sure.
Master Jinn's passionless eyes flickered back in his direction. "No."
The rejection rang hollow in Obi-Wan's ears and whatever pitiful words he had left, caught painfully in his throat. The familiar heartache rose again and crushed the air out of him, defeat settling heavy on his shoulders.
The knight was strangely furious. "You're making a mistake."
"If you're so certain it's the will of the Force, then why don't you take him on as your padawan?" Master Jinn bit out, expression now vexed.
To Obi-Wan's shock, there was no hesitation in the knight's voice when he retorted, "I would gladly take Obi-Wan."
The sharp claws of rejection suddenly eased their grip around his heart, leaving it sore and tender with hope.
"Sure of this, are you, hmm?" Master Yoda's craggily voice cut in.
Obi-Wan nearly jumped, having almost forgotten the Grand Master was in the room.
"I am," the knight said firmly, still glaring at Master Jinn.
"Return home, will you not?"
The knight abruptly scoffed and turned to the Grand Master. "It's been weeks and Master Nu has still made no progress."
"Find the answers, she will," Master Yoda assured him.
For a terrifying moment, the knight appeared conflicted. But then, he locked eyes with Obi-Wan. "I will stay. For Obi-Wan."
Master Yoda harrumphed, "Hm! Then something to ask, you have."
"Oh, right," the knight chuckled, looking abashed. And then, he stepped forward and kneeled before Obi-Wan.
This close, Obi-Wan was startled to see how intensely blue his eyes were. They reminded him of the temple lakes glimmering below the warm glow of light-banks; clear and luminous.
"Hello, Obi-Wan. My name is Anakin Skywalker," the knight introduced himself, reaching forward and pressing a comforting hand against his shoulder. "Would you do me the greatest honor of becoming my padawan?"
And suddenly, Obi-Wan felt so blindingly happy, he wondered if this moment was even real.
But Knight Skywalker's hand was steady on his shoulder, a repulsor anchor that kept Obi-Wan from stumbling in shock. And his blue eyes remained fixed on him, kind and patient.
Obi-Wan was careful not to fling himself into the man's arms; not with Master Jinn and Grand Master Yoda observing him so closely. But the utter elation could not be hidden when a wide smile broke out across Obi-Wan's face as he said, "I'd be honored to become your padawan, Master Skywalker."
A/N: I wrote this over a year ago, but my bestie finally convinced me to publish it :)
