"You seem a little on edge," Obi-Wan muttered to his Padawan. The Force around Anakin vibrated with tremendous pressure whenever the young man was nervous. It was hard to ignore within the small confines of the elevator they took to Senator Amidala's apartments in Coruscant.
Obi-Wan found it fascinating how the energy of the universe seemed to shadow Anakin. But the younger man was the chosen one because of his tremendous power, it should not have surprised the older Jedi to see it. Yet it still did.
"Not at all," muttered Anakin, adjusting his robes.
Obi-Wan smiled at the lie. "I haven't seen you this tense since we fell into that nest of gun darks."
"You fell into that nightmare, Master, and I rescued you, remember?"
The older Jedi chuckled. "Oh…yes." Then Anakin returned the gesture with a smile.
"You're sweating," continued Obi-Wan. "Relax. Take a breath."
"I haven't seen her in ten years, Master."
Neither of us have, Obi-Wan wanted to say. If he wasn't a Jedi, Obi-Wan would have tried to stay in touch with the young Queen and her entourage. They had all survived a harrowing ordeal saving the Naboo from the Trade Federation. It helped bond Obi-Wan to his young Padawan and, frankly, with the others as well. But Jedi weren't allowed attachments, so the older Jedi made sure to cut ties with anyone from that time when they left the planet after Qui-Gon's funeral. Although if Obi-Wan was honest with himself, he also didn't want many reminders of what befell his master.
He was glad to be reunited with an old friend and that the Jedi Council saw fit for their paths to cross again. But seeing Anakin's obsessiveness did worry him. He would have to make sure to remind the young man about the dangers of such attachments.
The elevator arrived with a ping, and when the doors opened, it wasn't the Senator who awaited them, but the insufferable Jar Jar.
"Obi? Obi! Mesa so smile to seein yousa!" The Gungan shook the Jedi's hand with too much vigor, causing Obi-Wan to stumble where he stood.
Obi-Wan also hated to be called Obi. "Good to see you again, Jar Jar." He gave the Gungan a smile that did not reach his eyes.
The Jedi followed the Gungan further into the Senator's apartments. Obi-Wan noted the scarcity of personal items. The senator was only here for the votes and discussions in the Senate and likely didn't need to make this place her home. No attachments. He respected someone who put duty above personal wishes.
She stood on the balcony overlooking the bustling city, her back to the Jedi. The setting sun lit her silhouette, and he couldn't help but note the way her gown hugged her curves. She was taller than he remembered, but she was also ten years older than he had seen her last. A reminder that he was also ten years older.
"Senator Padmé," said Jar Jar, causing her to turn to face them.
Part of him had expected to see the child queen again, but her face no longer had the roundness of a girl of fourteen. She was clearly an adult, both the same and different. Her cheekbones were more prominent, and her dark eyes no longer appeared bright with innocence. Now they were hard, as though she had witnessed much in the last decade. He didn't doubt that. It made him realize this moment was like meeting again for the first time. They had changed so much since they had seen each other last.
But the smile she gave them as she approached was genuine, and he couldn't help but smile back. So much had changed, and yet the friendship was still there. He barely noticed Typho next to her, like her own personal shadow.
"Mesa palos here!" continued Jar Jar as the senator approached. "Lookie, lookie, Senator. Desa Jedi arriven."
Obi-Wan bowed deeply. "It's a great pleasure to see you again, milady."
She reached out to him, and he took her hand. They were so soft and small compared to his rough warrior hands. Her perfume of Doreenian ambergris wafted in his direction. She gave him another smile that tugged at some unknown corner of his chest.
"It's been far too long, Master Kenobi." Her eyes wandered to his side, finally recognizing that tall youth. "Ani? My goodness, you've grown."
Anakin smirked. "So have you. Grown more beautiful, I mean."
Obi-Wan fought to keep from laughing. This kid tried too hard.
"Well, for a senator, I mean," his Padawan stumbled out.
She gave Anakin a toothy grin. "Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine."
Obi-Wan lifted a hand to his lips to cover his snicker. Clearly, he wasn't the only other adult in the room. Anakin was still an immature Padawan, thinking he could woo an experienced senator so easily.
Earlier that day, Anakin had spoken of the senator as though she were his destiny, but the Jedi Order was his destiny. Bringing balance back to the Force was Anakin's destiny. Not this woman, no matter how lovely she looked. No matter how much her smiles seem to make the colors around him appear a shade brighter.
"Our presence here will be invisible, milady. I can assure you," Obi-Wan said in an attempt to bring everyone back to the subject at hand.
"I'm Captain Typho of Her Majesty's security service," the senator's shadow finally spoke as the rest took their seats on the sofas. "Queen Jamilla has been informed of your assignment. I'm grateful you are here, Master Kenobi. The situation is more dangerous than the senator will admit."
"I don't need more security. I need answers," Senator Amidala's voice portrayed the resilience in her posture. "I want to know who's trying to kill me."
"We are here to protect, Senator, not to start an investigation." Obi-Wan admitted he was curious. Who was so desperate to kill the senator? War was the goal, but what else? It didn't matter. These were his orders, and he intended to follow them to the letter.
"We will find out who's trying to kill you, Padmé," said Anakin. "I promise you."
"We will not exceed our mandate, my young Padawan learner." Obi-Wan tried to hide the annoyance blooming in his chest.
"I meant that in the interest of protecting her, Master, of course."
"We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin, and you will pay attention to my lead." Obi-Wan regretted being lenient with Anakin. He always allowed open discussion between his Padawan and himself, but Anakin normally knew to voice his opinions behind closed doors. This was not the time to try to impress a woman who clearly was not interested.
"Why?" Anakin asked with raised eyebrows.
Is this little shit serious?
"What?" Obi-Wan's voice was dangerously low, hoping to remind his Padawan that they could discuss this later in private.
"Why else do you think we were assigned to her if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security, not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."
Obi-Wan's eyes remained on Anakin's face, but he felt the energy shift in the room. This was not the place to give Anakin a tongue-lashing, and the soft shuffle of everyone shifting in their seats indicated to the Jedi Master that everyone was clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "We will do exactly as the council has instructed. And you will learn your place, young one."
By the Force, he wanted this meeting to end.
"Perhaps with merely your presence," said the senator. "The mystery surrounding this threat will be revealed."
Obi-Wan locked eyes with her, and understanding hovered between the two. The senator understood what was happening, and he was grateful that her diplomacy kept the situation from potentially escalating any further. She gave him a small smile that he fought hard not to return. She did have a lovely smile.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I will retire," she said, standing. Jar Jar and her handmaiden joined her.
"I know I'll feel better having you here," said Typho as the senator left the room. "I'll have an officer stationed on every floor, and I'll be in the control centre downstairs." The security officer left, and Obi-Wan wandered the room to begin looking for weak spots in the security of the apartments. The fact that almost all the walls were glass did not help matters. The whole place felt like a glass cage, allowing any danger to watch and wait.
"Mesa busten with happiness sein yousa again, Ani," said Jar Jar.
"She hardly even recognized me, Jar Jar," his Padawan said.
Obi-Wan glanced at the door the senator had just disappeared behind. He didn't know what Anakin had expected in their reunion, real life wasn't the stuff of love stories. Jedi couldn't afford love stories.
"I've thought about her every day since we parted, and she's forgotten me completely," his Padawan pouted.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. If only there were some way to cleave this attachment. He had never understood such things.
"Shesa happy. Happier den mesa seein her in a longo time," said the Gungan.
"You're facing on the negative, Anakin. Be mindful of your thoughts." He gave his Padawan a smile. "She was pleased to see us." He gestured for both men to follow. "Now, let's go check the security."