#she's actually a very closed person and part of the reason she fell for anakin that hard was over mutual trauma bonding
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galactic-rhea · 21 hours ago
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Thoughts on Padmé x Anakin x Rex?
Padmé and Anakin are so mutually obssesed they would first have to check into that before trying to bring another person to their carefully-balanced-kind-of-damage or something it's going to explode.
Honestly it's a fun ship! But I don't have too many thoughts about them because when I consider them is usually in very low-stakes-fun-AU-scenarios.
And I'm actually a bit of a fan of Rexwalker myself! Athough I tend to like them more as very good buddies, the covering-for-you-dynamic it's so funny for them, lol It's also angsty and complicated because, y'know, the power-imbalance and unchecked trauma? Is funny that the clone that's actually a slave for the republic is the most normal if you bring him into the anidala romance circus.
Also shout out to @phoenixyfriend , she has a lot of rexanidala fics and recs for anyone interested reading this!
#I have rexwalker wips somewhere in my endless wips folder although im generally very lazy to draw or care about ships unless i REALLY dig it#which is why you see me mostly drawing anidala despite the fact I do actually have lots of ships i like/consider#anakin is such a strange character he's hard to ship around bc look at him his social circle consists of 4 ppl#and padme's impressive social circle are her coworkers and her decoys#which is impressive bc SW has SO MANY characters lol#also sorry i ramble a lot just to answer 'it's a fun one'#thanks for the ask!#rexanidala#anakin is also such an anxious and intense guy he would need a LOT of talking and reassurance and stuff#bc otherwise he would feel guilty as hell like the three of them could have agreed to it and he probably would feel like he's cheating LOL#the thing with rexanidala which is the most interesting to me to wonder about is how padmé got into rex#she's actually a very closed person and part of the reason she fell for anakin that hard was over mutual trauma bonding#so i wonder i wonderrrr#but also generally the thing with me is that i tend to lean more into non-romantic dynamics and platonic stuff believe it or not#so if you see me doing lots of art for a ship (like anidala) it must be bc i really love them both otherwise i'm more into family or#complicated relationships stuff probably because i'm aroace and a ship must have some incredible complex thing going on for me to care#with rexanidala the biggest brownie points it gets to me is all the AU possibilities the ANGSTY AU possibilities bc it would change A LOT
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froglover7789 · 3 months ago
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Why don't the prequels work as Vader's backstory? It's literally about how anyone no matter how good or well intentioned has the propensity for evil if they let themselves make bad decisions.
Narratively I think it's beautiful and tragic that way.
i think the prequels r actually about how corruption and manipulation and desperation and fear can ruin a person---not just bad decisions :3c and the prequels r consistent with some of the messaging of the originals in that way but that doesnt necessarily mean they serve as a good backstory
heres a handful of reasons why i dont think anakins back story really works with vader:
the originals imply that anakin and uncle owen are blood brothers or at least grew up together. owen sees anakin in luke and this is something that would only really be possible if owen knew anakin well as a teenager. this is also the reason why owen doesnt tell luke about the jedi; he thinks that luke will, like his father, run off to become some sort of war hero and die in the process bc thats what he thinks happened to anakin (some ppl think that owen suspects anakin became vader but i think this is a stretch). the prequels establish that they dont know eachother and didnt grow up together. owen doesnt know anakin outside of what he mightve seen in war/ republic propaganda and thats not very indicative of character. this also raises questions about why obiwan gave luke to owen/ why they took him in in the first place. it makes more sense for anakin and owen to have been very close bc then obiwan wouldve heard of owen and would genuinely trust him to raise his best friends son and owen wouldve cared enough about luke to raise him as his own
what we're led to believe in the originals is that anakin was a powerful jedi who lost sight of what he was fighting for. we're led to believe that he was torn, that the war corrupted him, that war isnt the answer. this works bc the originals r meant to be symbolic of the vietnam war (where the empire would be america) and so this idea of the consequences of war and the importance of peace is a huge part of the originals message. while this is somewhat supported by the prequels its undermined by the fact that anakins fall is mostly bc of YEARS of grooming starting from when he was a kid. this wasnt a normal, good man who lost sight of what was right and crumpled under the weight of a war. this was a man who was the most special of them all and fell bc he had space hitler literally whispering in his ear since before he knew he was a person. thats not the same thing at all! and that steals the implication that vader could have been any soldier, any general and makes his story all messy
side note- leia has vague memories of her mother which means padme shouldntve died in childbirth and should probably have died/ left the twins when they were at least a year or two old. this would also give more reason as to why the lars have luke call them aunt and uncle rather than mom or dad. i think what probably shouldve happened is that padme got pregnant right before anakin was shipped out at some point so he didnt know he had kids before "dying" and she ended up getting involvef in the rebellion/ fearing for her kids safety and had to get rid of em. literally anything else than what happened in canon lol like wtf is dying of heartbreak get OUT
my final thought i can think of rn is that having hitlers right hand man be a slave is just kinda a strange backstory? like i cant be the only one who doesnt like that. idk. doesnt feel right :/
obv most this stuff is just preference and obv you can argue against most of it. the prequels Do technically work but theyre not great backstory. im also not a fan of how the jedi order and all that mess was established. like you can only be one if youre raised one since diapers but luke literally didnt know what the force was until he was 19 but he ended up being one of the most powerful jedi ever??? yeah. makes perfect sense. :////
i do agree that the prequels r tragic and beautiful in their own right. i think the story they tell is good in some ways and bad in others ans one of the ways they r bad is how they tie in with the originals lol
hope this answers your question :3c or at least helps you see where im coming from :33
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luvingsolace · 2 years ago
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Will Solace hcs cause he SOLOS!!!! Stay mad haters
(Both in the demigods world and in a mortal!au)
Hes a bisexual icon
He was short as a child. And i mean. Shorter than the common child. I mean short SHORT. He wasnt known as Will Solace he was known as The Blond Smurf. Shortest in the class type of beat. Everyone thought that he was going to be like 5'7" MAX as an adult.
Got a massive grown spurt when he was like 14 and now hes like 6'1" (people didnt reconize him anymore. Someone started a rumor that some big ass giant took him and pulled him from his head and his feets and that was why he had become so tall. Everyone was terrified.)
He uses guns as his weapon of choice against monsters!! He sucks with close combat and finds the bow somehow boring. Plus! His granddad taught him how to shot when he was younger (Naomi wasnt that happy to see her 10yo with a gun) so he had a sort of emotial bond to that type of weapon.
He specifically asked the Hephaestus cabin to build him a pair of semi automatics and hes this 🤏🏻 close to give them a name and tug their bedsheets for nighttime
He has plague powers. STOP BEING COWARDS YOU ALL KNOW HE DOES!!
He never uses them tho because hes really ashamed of them
Hes a dog dad. By which i mean that he has not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4 but 5 dogs ☺️ One Golden Retriever (named Shiro) that was the Solaces family dog, one light weiner (Burrito) that was gifted to Will by a friend, two pitbulls (Mila and Bee) adopted from the dog shelter and lastly one mutt (sandy) personally saved by Will from an abusive home.
He loves dogs guys he truly does
Hes actually very good as sports! Hes especially great at Volleyball and Basketball, and in his High School hes part of the basketball team.
Hes very close with Leo & Clarisse they are literally bffs
Nico taught him italian swears and hes able to say "testa di cazzo" and "pezzo di merda" as fluently as a native speaker
When he was young he always dressed up as young Anakin
Once he got older he dressed up as Luke, Han and older Anakin
Hes like. VERY protective with people he loves. Not in an oppressive way tho
Hes one FINE mf and i mean it that man Is ANGELIC
He doesnt really see it tho
He decided he wanted to be a doctor when in 5th grade the school organized an obligatory first aid course for the kids. It was very basic but Will instantly fell in love.
He eats. A lot. Like he can eat 2 large pizzas alone and still ask for a dessert. His friends use him as a sort of trashcan because of this. "Oh you cant finish whats in your plate? Just give it to Will! He'll eat everything"
Han Solo was his bi awakening
He likes to bake! Not as much as he loves to eat tho
He surfs (ofc....) and try to make Nico learn it (spoiler: he sucks)
He has tattoos. People lets accept the truth. He does. Hes FULL of them. Big ones, little ones, dumb things, phrases, animals... Everything. He loves them.
He has a... Weird fashion sense. By this i mean its horrible. Yes i know. Its an ugly truth, but its the truth. He couldnt be that level of flawless...
Drew tries to help, she really does, but Will just cant seem to comprehend whats wrong with his fashion sense. Sandals with socks, different prints together, 9374928392 colors together seems all reasonable to him
His average body temperature Is around 37°/38° C. Didnt have much fun during covid times. (Gonna post about this specific hc in the future hehe)
He loves tangled. He LOVES tangled.
Nico forces him to dress up as Rapunzel while he dresses up as Flynn Rider.
Hes also a big fan of Shrek. Watched those movies a ton of times
OK IM DONE IM DONE
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jadoue1999 · 3 years ago
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Peter Maximoff’s complicated relationship with Star Wars
Summary: Peter didn't like Star Wars. But not because they were bad movies, no. It's because they somehow were very similar to his own life, and they also showed him what might have been, had his twin lived long enough. This is the story of Peter Maximoff, told through the many similarities between the original trilogy and his own life.
*All Star Wars quotes are in italics*
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Peter doesn’t like Star Wars
Don’t get him wrong, the movies are great. The first movie had come out when he was 22 years old, and he had found it amazing. He had never seen anything like it before and had sneaked into the movie theater to rewatch it with his twin several times.
‘I need your help, Luke.’
It was almost ironic how his life resembled some parts of the movie. Both he and Wendy had some characteristics of Luke and Leia. He was the goofball, the one who had been recruited to break someone out of an impenetrable prison. Hell, Charles could be Obi-Wan, the old wizard with strange mind control powers (though he didn’t have them at the time), Hank was Chewbacca, the fierce beast who was loyal to his family, and then the claw guy, Logan, was Han Solo. The dark-haired man with a don’t-mess-with-me attitude that would shoot you down without hesitation. That made him Luke, the farm boy that was raised isolated, unaware of the true danger. Only difference was that Erik wasn’t Leia, no he was Vader. Wendy was Leia, the fierce, loud mouthed, badass princess that didn’t let anyone boss her around.
They had loved the first movie, but then tragedy struck. His twin’s powers were always unpredictable, always on the verge of lashing out. He had tried to help as much as he could, but just a few months after their 23rd birthday, it was too much for Wendy to bear. She lost control and died, taking half a block with her. Peter did his best to carry on, but their lost connection was all he could feel. The aching emptiness that had always been occupied by his twin sister. It took awhile, but he did eventually go see the second Star Wars. It was... a bittersweet experience to say the least.
Seeing the big bad Vader being related to Luke really did a number on him. All he could think about was the fact that he too was related to a literal terrorist. Someone who had hurt hundred of people and would probably not hesitate to hurt him as well. And then it was revealed that Luke and Leia shared a connection, where they could hear each other and feel each other, and it just overwhelmed him. Minus the kissing (ew, that was gross, why did they even include that?!) Luke and Leia’s relationship reminded him of his and Wendy’s.
That’s why he wasn’t surprised when they were revealed to be twins in the next movie.
Actually, he had been surprised, but more about the fact that his grief took over for a moment. Seeing Leia try to reason with Luke, telling him that nothing good would come out of chasing Vader, their father... that was a conversation that had really happened after their mom told them who exactly was Magneto. Peter had decided to chase Erik down the moment he had resurfaced.
‘I won't fail - I'm not afraid.’
‘Oh, you will be. You will be.’
His mom had warned him about Magneto, how nothing good came out of chasing ghosts, but he had to try. A confrontation with the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Cloud city The mansion was full of people, and the place was exploding. He saved them all (minus one), of course, because that’s what he did. Why be a speedster if you can’t save people from catastrophe?
‘Luke, don't - it's a trap!’
Yeah, it had been a trap, alright. But unlike Luke, he hadn’t had Leia to warn him. So, the carbon freezing chamber knock out gun had worked. That’s how he ended up captured by the government and woke up in a weird green room. The others, he could understand why they were taken, they seemed to know the man holding them, but why him? Peter was of no interest to them. Unless they knew he was related to Magneto and planned to use him as a bargaining chip, but it seemed unlikely.
Then, they were freed and, on their way to confront En Sabah Nur, or as Hank had described him, the blue god. He had told Raven about his relationship with Erik, and she promised him that she would make sure she would tell him.
‘There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you.’
The cold, cold eyes of Magneto were staring at him with something that seemed almost like interest. “And you?”
‘I am your father.’
It was right there, a perfect opportunity served on a silver platter. An opportunity to make Erik realize he wasn’t alone, that he had more family. Perhaps he’d turn back to the light side if he knew. “I’m your-“
But it was Wendy who was the brave one, she was the chosen one. She never would have hesitated. And he wasn’t his sister. “I’m here for my family too.”
It was all sad and tragic because his life was just like that. He could feel Raven’s eyes on him, she couldn’t understand why he hadn’t told him, but she couldn’t know about Wendy. It was his own painful secret.
With how similar his life was to Luke’s he wasn’t sure why he was even surprised when he got his hand cut off leg broken. Then, there he was, trying to hold on to consciousness as shock settled into his body.
‘Hear me! Leia!’
Oh, how he wished Wendy were here. She would have destroyed them. Peter would have done anything for his twin to answer, like Leia did with Luke. But she was dead, there was no one to answer him. Just the cobwebs of their broken connection and the burning pain of his leg. He didn’t really care what happened next, he was all too focused on getting his message to his long-lost sister. He didn’t really believe in a higher power, of some all-powerful entity that somehow watched over everyone. He did, however, believe in Wendy, his strong, beautiful, powerful sister.
‘I would have preferred her too’
The blue God’s voice resonated in his head, catching him off guard. No one had ever reached in his mind like that, Wendy only could because of their connection.
‘If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will.’
Would his father have tried recruiting Wendy for his brotherhood? Yeah, definitely. She would have been the true last hope. A daughter to be proud about. One with abilities beyond anything anyone had ever seen. One that truly would have saved everyone, hell, she would have prevented the mansion from exploding and never would have been captured in the first place. The blue god looked at him with disdain in his eyes and Peter knew it didn’t mean anything good. He tried to crawl away, but in his current position, that did absolutely nothing.
‘It is pointless to resist, my son.’
En Sabah Nur grabbed him by the hair and tugged, holding him painfully upright and vulnerable. He’d always hated staying still, he was always too full of energy, always eager to chase after the next distraction.
Peter looked up at his father, trying to see if he would do anything, but he saw nothing but indifference. Magneto didn’t care about him. He was an insignificant mutant, a face amongst a thousand others. Soon to be counted amongst the hundred of corpses that Erik had seen in his life.
‘Now, young Skywalker...you will die.’
The god pulled his head back sharply, exposing his throat. “End him.”
One of his horsemen was approaching him with a sharp sword. Peter was slightly thankful that it wasn’t his dad that was chosen to be his executioner. His powers had kicked in, trying to give him an opportunity to escape. But it only made his imminent doom even worse.
Then, he didn’t die, and the hope of seeing his twin again was brushed aside for another near-death situation. As it turned out, Raven was a great person when the son of her friend was in danger.
En Sabah Nur let him go too quickly to focus on the blue mutant. He gasped and writhed as he fell to the ground as electricity pain coursed through his body. The blue god didn’t care about him, he continued calling for Charles, calling for his true target.
‘Father! Help me!’
He should cry out like Luke did, there was no way Magneto would act if he didn’t. Then again, he didn’t have a clue who he was. It was doubtful he remembered him from the Pentagon, it had been nearly 10 years and Erik had had a whole other family since. He was just the nameless idiot that got a big head and tried to take on a god and got defeated like a loser.
In the end, they were all fine, just a little shaken. Erik gave him a weird look, either he pitied him, or he was wondering what he had wanted to tell him. But Peter was on the verge of passing out, there was no way he could hold a conversation at the moment. They came back to the mansion and Peter decided to stay, maybe getting out of his isolation wouldn’t be so bad.
So, even if his life was similar to Star Wars, in its turns and tragedy, it wasn’t even close to how the trilogy ended. The scruffy Han never came back, Obi-wan wasn’t next to a redeemed Anakin (he just left all together) and Leia wasn’t at his side anymore. A happy ending wasn’t something that happened in real life. Everything he wanted resolved wasn’t wrapped neatly into a bow. He still had his loads of daddy issues caused by a father who didn’t know was a father and Wendy, his amazing long gone twin still wasn’t at his side. Peter figured that some good would eventually come to him, it couldn’t be all bad, right?
‘This is our most desperate hour.’
He had faith in that, so, when he was woken up by a burning sensation in his chest, he did his best to understand. The pain was so familiar, it was grief. But not his grief, no, this came from the connection he shared with his twin.
“Wanda?” he called out. Using her real name because she was calling to him. Because she needed him. Because she was somewhere all alone.
“I had a brother, his name was… Pietro.”
It was painful for her to talk about him, so he made sure to let her know through their bond that he was there for her, she just had to reach out. Wanda was confused to feel him, but her scarlet magic soon opened a portal. It might be a trap, there was no way to be certain, but Peter trusted his sister. He took and deep breath and ran into the portal without hesitation. She was alone and she was suffering, it was his job as her twin to help her.
‘Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.’
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nevertheless-moving · 4 years ago
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Suicidal Misunderstanding XXIII
Part I - - - - - - - - - Part XX - - - - Part XXI - - - - Part XXII
Star Wars Time Travel AU #27
The office was quiet but for the occasional shuffling of flimsi and tapping of datapads.
Bail Organa and Mon Mothma pointedly did not exchange a glance behind Padme’s back.
Senator Mothma set down her pad and broke the silence. “Padme...are you alright?” she asked softly.
“I’m fine Mon, let’s just go over the bill,” Padme responded stiffly.
Mothma hesitated. “That’s not the only reason I asked you here, Padme.”
Padme stood, chair scraping gratingly. “I see; I’ve already had the Chancellor pry me today in an attempt to exploit my ‘connections’ to the Jedi—as though they’re droids and not flesh-and-blood people who any average person could strike a friendship with—but I had thought better of you two; I suppose my faith was—”
“That’s not what I meant—” Mon pleaded.
“We’re concerned about you,” Bail insisted gently. “You don’t have to tell us anything about the Jedi that you don’t feel comfortable doing so.”
Padme paused, then reluctantly sat back down.
“My apologies,” she muttured. “It’s been...a long day. I’ve been asked by the Chancellor for help in breaking some news that...I’d rather not.”
The senators waited patiently for Padme to collect her thoughts. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “General Kenobi has suffered from...force...I really don’t think there’s a way of saying this that doesn’t sound bad.”
“I had heard rumors that he was missing at meetings the last few days...has something serious happened?” Bail asked, concerned.
Padme shuddered. “This office is...”
“It’s clean,” Mothma confirmed quietly. “I have it checked independently anytime I’m gone for more then 15 minutes, with random deep-scans.”
“Would you mind...”
Mon nodded and the three waited in silence until the Chandurllian senator’s pad trilled the all-clear.
“Master Kenobi tried to kill himself earlier this week,” Padme confessed lowly. Mon straightened up in a sudden locking of knees and elbows, face drawn into tight lines. Bail’s hands flew to his mouth, tears forming.
“Knight Skywalker got to him in time, and he was in a coma until this morning when he apparently ‘ranted about ending the one’s responsible for the war’ and then vanished, along with Anakin.”
Mon grew very pale and Bail moved both hands from his mouth to his eyes.
“Fuck,” he said softly. “Just...fuck.”
Padme nodded in agreement and Mon inhaled deeply.
Bail rubbed way tears and straightened up resolutely. “How can we help?” he asked Padme. “How does the Chancellor want to handle releasing the news?”
She smiled weakly. “He’s leaving the exact wording up to me, but wants to make the announcement during the next full Senate gathering.”
“What!” Mon half-shouted, shocked. “There’ll be a riot! Surely a bulletin—even a press conference would be better for encouraging a moderate reaction—people will be shouting before he’s through the first sentence!”
“I know,” Padme agreed with a grimace. “But he wants ‘transparency.’“
“He wants panic,” Bail fumed.
“I’m trying to decide if it would better or worse to include the part about suicide,” Padme said bitterly. “Mental health breakdown and disappearance of the Republic’s highest General doesn’t leave much room for confidence or privacy.”
Mon clutched Padme’s hand in support. “I’ll have a PR team on standby. We can prepare resources for anyone who has questions, avoid conspiracy theories from spinning out. I already had a project on the backburner to put together own set of holoclips of the Jedi working towards peace—a counter to the ‘warmongering’ narrative, so to speak. It should be easy enough to adapt.”
“The Chancellor’s going to turn this into another military spending bill,” Bail predicted grimly. “We’ll make sure there’s a proviso in there to provide actual support for the Jedi in the field; I’ll make sure to get a legal team on viper in the grass duty as soon as the responses start coming out.”
“Thank you,” Padme said, gripping Mon’s hand over-tightly in return. She turned to the Alderannian senator. “I’m sorry Bail, I know you two are close.”
Bail exhaled slowly. “This war...I’ve seen Obi-Wan survive so much, and everytime he pulls off the impossible...”
“He’s rewarded with another burden on his shoulders,” Padme finished sympathetically. “Yes, I’ve been watching the same thing happen to Anakin. It’s—if the separatist movement hadn’t resolved into such a democratic and humanitarian nightmare—”
“You should go home and get some rest, Padme,” Mon urged. “It’s late, and the we’re all going to need to be sharp tomorrow. Who knows, maybe some new information will materialize before the afternoon.”
“Why Mon, that’s almost optimistic of you,” Bail remarked dryly.
Mon flashed him a wry grin, looking at Padme out of the corner of her eye. “Well. She did say Anakin with AWOL—”
“Oh do be quiet,” Padme huffed.
Despite the ever growing desire for sleep, it was another long hour before the Senator from Naboo departed. The pair were just turning to their seats after escorting Padme out when Bail let out a startled yelp; Mon instinctively kicked at the sudden small green blur.
Fortunately, when you’re green and the height of most humanoid’s knees, you become quite experienced at avoiding such reflexive 
“Master Yoda! What are you doing here? How did you even get in?” Senator Mothma staggered backwards, reverting to defensiveness to cover up her embarrassment at attempting to punt the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order.
“Has his ways, a Jedi does,” Yoda replied mysteriously. Mon Mothma nodded seriously as Bail restrained himself from rolling his eyes. He had spent far too much time around Obi-Wan for deliberate Jedi vagueness to hold much weight. 
“Can I—May I offer you a seat?” Mon asked, quickly recovering her diplomatic grace. “I’m afraid that you’ve just missed Senator Amidala, but I’m sure she would be eager to return; I understand she’s...concerned for Master Kenobi.”
The wizened Master shook his head, ears flopping as he hopped onto Padme’s recently vacated chair, standing on the cusioned seat as the two senators’ settled down. The sight should, perhaps, have been comical. But the weight of his gaze...Bail held his breath. Perhaps Jedi mystique did still have some affect on him.
“Come to speak with the two of you, I did. Missed Mistress Amidala, I have, I know. Deliberate, this was.”
Mon and Bail frowned, exchanging a slow look of pointed disapproval. Bail spoke hesitantly but with touch of reproach. “I’m certain she would prefer to be here, regardless of the news—Padme has suffered for her public defense of the Jedi, I should hope that that friendship is returned, especially in hard times”
Yoda’s ears drooped. “A great Jedi, she would have made, in another life. Vibrant, she is in the Force. Loud to a Jedi, regardless of sensitivity. But needed now, quiet is.” 
Yoda’s gaze pierced Bail and he warmed inexplicably. “Quiet the two of you are. Brilliant, wide but in the Force...” Yoda broke the gaze, growing contemplative.
“Unique in the force, each soul is. That can be read, rare is the mind. More difficult to discern, currents, intentions, manner, it is with some, it is with you. And now, Quiet we need.”
The two settled back, uneasily flattered. “Master Yoda—it’s an honor of course, to be considered an individual worthy of confidence, but why exactly do you have need of quiet minds? Of us?” Senator Mothma asked finally.
The diminutive Master sagged. “By actions you would do, trust you have earned. But always in motion, the future is. A heavy burden, to carry, I must ask you. Without cause, I would not ask. But once tell you this I do—” 
To the politicians shock Master Yoda’s simmed to glisten with unshed tears. “—Guarantee your safety I cannot.”
The air hung warm and heavy for a timeless moment and a chill ran up both their spines. But neither were individuals particularly given to indesicion in the face of looming danger. 
“How can we help?” Mon asked, the words echoing over far more than an hour. 
“We know something is wrong with Obi-Wan,” Bail added softly. “Whatever we can do to right it—Obi-Wan is a friend, the Jedi are our allies, and the Republic is our duty.”
Mon nodded firmly.
Yoda stared at them each in turn, eyes searching and ancient.
“Working with the Separatists, the Chancellor is,” he said bluntly. “Evidence of this, we have, but not proof. Controlling, the Separatists, the Chancellor is. Evidence of this we have also, but not proof. The truth it is.”
“Evidence?” Bail parroted hoarsely, mentally assembling his own grim circumstantial coronation even as his understanding of the conversation’s direction fell apart.
The Jedi Master drew two small glittering objects from his pocket—a datachip and a microslide. 
“In the brain of a trooper, this we found.” he said gravely. “In the brain of all clones, this lies. Orders, it contains. Evil, is it. Free will, it can control. Decode it we have. To the Chancellor, tied these orders are.”
“Force,” Mon murmured in horror, responding automatically. “He already controls the public, and the courts—”
“And over half the senate,” Bail added bitterly.
“A Sith, he is,” Yoda continued with a sigh. “A Sith he has always been. A return to an Empire, he aims.”
There was a long heady pause as the two grappled with the return of the ancient boogeyman of the Republic and the repeated derailing of their night’s direction. 
“Fuck,” Senator Mothma said delicately, thinking wistfully of two hours ago when she had planned on confronting Padme yet again on her relationship with a young Jedi.
“Said the same, did we.”
The Alderannian Senator rubbed his temples, trying to come to terms with consecutive massive shocks from the already unexpected conversation. “Is Obi-Wan alright?” he asked eventually.
The small Elder hummed thoughtfully in reply. Bail tensed.
“No and yes. Suffer much, he has. Broken he is, but not shattered. A plan he has. His idea to include you, it is. The bravest man in the galaxy, he called you.” Yoda said, offering Senator Organa a sad smile.
Bail leaned back, stunned. “Me? But—why me?” he asked bewildered.
“Know not, I do,” the Jedi said with a shrug. “Seen the future, he has. A future where saved his life, you did. Saved my life. Saved something too precious to name, you did. Matters little, it does. A future that must not come to pass, it is, even as learn from it. we do.”
“...I think you’re going to have to explain that somewhat,” Mon replied sternly as Bail’s head spun.
Yoda nodded and the three settled in for a sleepless night of planning treason.
Part XXIV
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siennahrobek · 4 years ago
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I had so many ideas on what to write about today but I was scrolling through the Obi-Wan tag during my break and I came across a huge post that had been baffled and a bit crazed. It was labeled about forgiveness and mercy and such but it was like a huge insanely interpreted post about the Jedi Order and some of the characters. Of course I wasn't about to start any sort of argument (and wow was the post long) but I just had to write something, at least, in my own post, unconnected with theirs. I guess this is a reaction and buckle up cause it seems like this is going to be a long one. I have a lot to say and I'm not gonna stop being all anxious about it until I do but uh....
I'm sorry, did we watch the same movies?
They go through a lot of movies and completely do a opposite take on the Jedi; how they are "unattached" (I say this because there are so many misconceptions about the word) and celibate (which we know isn't actually true) and how Anakin becomes living proof why this attitude is wrong.
First of all, it's not an attitude; it is a way of life. One that has worked for thousands of people over millennia. Second; their point WAS proven. Anakin turned to the dark side and became a sith. He committed genocide after genocide (the Jedi, Mandalore, Alderaan, Lasan etc.) and in the end, he only turned back because of his son. Which, may seem good on the surface, but it only goes to show how no other children or people that he murdered actually mattered, it was only his blood child that did. But that's not where I'm going. You don't actually see him regret doing the countless things he has done (probably because he dies) and he only does this because of his blood son. It, for me, gives the impression that blood means everything.
Anyways, there is quite a bit of talk about Obi-Wan and honestly? It is all not good. I'm not blind to Obi-Wan's faults but in general? He is a really good person; he tries so hard and goes through so much and is ugh, always trying. Obi-Wan shows no understanding? What? What? Did we watch the same movie? I mean it has been a while since I have watched Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith (they hurt my heart because ugh) but that is NOT what I remember. I remember Obi-Wan teasing Anakin gently to get his mind off of his anxieties when they were going to see Padme again. I remember Obi-Wan saying "dude don't be a horny teenager" (not in those words obviously, but that was essentially the message). I remember him literally parenting and teaching him - like he's supposed to do. I remember him trusting Anakin to do the right thing and to protect the Senator alone, by himself. I remember Anakin saying he's been having dreams - not visions or anything and nothing specific, just about his mom - and Obi-Wan going "it's alright dude, those pass in time". I mean everyone has DREAMS, that's not beholden to force-sensitives. My dreams sure as heck don't mean anything. Just cause he is a Jedi and COULD have visions, does not mean they are. And he didn't tell Obi-Wan they were visions, he literally says dreams.
(this is about the time that I wish I could work with gifs and understand them)
Anakin is not stronger than Obi-Wan; I mean, really? Sure, more powerful? I guess? But let's go back. Who beats who on Mustafar? Obi-Wan. Who does NOT murder a bunch of children and turn to the dark side? Obi-Wan. Literally, sure, he's more "powerful" with the Force, because I guess that is the whole point but he's not stronger or wiser than Obi-Wan because as Captain Rex said "experience outranks everything" and man, does Obi-Wan have a lot of that.
Let's take a break and go to Shmi. They claim that her death is a dark page in the Jedi's book. I mean, w-what? How can you possibly blame the Jedi for Shmi's death? For not freeing her? Did Qui-Gon even tell the Council that Anakin was a slave? I don't remember, honestly. But still, she ended up freed and married to a man she fell in love with. And if I remember correctly, someone was sent (by Padme maybe? to free her but she was already gone to the Lars' by that point).
Okay, I know it sounds like I am reacting to a post and well I am I suppose. But like, this post is literally blaming the Jedi for Shmi's death and how they did not offer Anakin compassion. And then just to say that it is bothersome how Anakin was solely blamed. Uh, because he was a the perpetrator! How can you possibly justify the MURDER of children. Even though it not the Jedi way, I could understand, sort of, if he went after the people that hurt his mother specifically; probably some of the men/warriors/adults. But the babies? The children? You can literally not justify that. And to blame the Jedi Order and Obi-Wan for not "taking his nightmares seriously?" Are you serious? Anakin mentioned the dream (DREAM) once in passing, there is no indication that he said that she was in danger or that this was a vision. And visions are known to be notoriously unreliable! Not to mention, the Council is responsible for the Jedi as a whole - that is thousands of people.
Alright, now to the war.
There was a claim that throughout the war, the Jedi became more and more aloof, intolerant and unforgiving and determined to win despite the suffering of the people.
What. The. Krutack.
I will include the Clone Wars series, since it was directly referenced in response. Once again, did we watch the same show? Because I'm pretty sure that virtually the whole point of the show, aside from showing us horrible things the CIS did and the individuality of the clones, was the compassion and kindness of the Jedi. How they fought to protect as many people as they could. They were dying alongside the clones. Does anyone remember how kind and caring the Jedi were when they came across civilians. Do you remember how Obi-Wan literally carried and protected with his own body the little Twielek girl, Numa, on Ryloth? Does anyone remember how many NON-Republic planets they helped? I remember them helping even CIS senators and planets that had no ties to the Republic. They helped Mandalore even when they were not part of the Republic. The vast majority of Jedi are shown protecting not only citizens but the clones as well. They are on the front lines - not hidden behind a desk (although some are and that is necessary - tactics and strategy people) and trying to save as many lives as they can, even if it costs them. They inspire creativity and individuality in the clones - this is literally a thing. I could go on and on and on.
Okay, on to Revenge of the Sith - the sadness that will probably haunt my heart forever. We will start with Dooku; specifically when Palpatine tells Anakin to kill him and that he deserves it; it is revenge for cutting off his and whatever. And this, this, post asks if this is an act of mercy for the guy kneeling in front of him (and tells him Obi-Wan later denies him) and like, what? How in the world is that mercy? He murders a defenseless man. Sure, he is the enemy and he is a criminal but he is supposed to stand trial (not to mention all the intelligence Dooku could possible give to help win the war) which is incredibly ironic, considering later, Anakin screams at Mace Windu telling him Palpatine should stand trial (even though he is much more dangerous and more of a threat than Dooku). This is not mercy. This is a handless, defenseless (although evil) man who Anakin does actually kill. It is not mercy.
Anakin has dreams about Padme; similar to his mother. You would think he would have learned his lesson and confided in someone by telling them what was actually happening. Anakin once again, DOES NOT give Yoda any specifics, just that he fears someone he is close to will die. It is claimed that he is lacking empathy and compassion to Anakin's dilemma. WHAT DILEMMA? Anakin won't tell anyone anything that could actually help. What Yoda says is true; like "dude, people die and you have to move on from that. You cannot stop death and you cannot let this fear control you. You have to let go" which is a completely reasonable thing; I mean, hello - grief counseling anyone? Yoda probably thought he was talking about Obi-Wan - who was off on a very dangerous mission against a cyborg that had killed many Jedi and padawans; this seems like a very normal fear. Whether or not Yoda says this in the right way is not really relevant; Anakin knows that he has to let go of what he fears to lose because eventually, no matter what, he will lose it. NOTHING is permanent. Now if Anakin had specified he was having what he thought were visions and the actual person in them, I'm sure Yoda would have said things differently and probably helped him.
(Also, did Padme get any real health care or like??? Was it too much of a secret???)
(The genocide of the people in the Temple is conveniently glossed through with bare mention)
and then Mustafar. Contrary to Padme (apparently) Obi-Wan shows no clemency. ANAKIN MURDERED THE ELDERLY, THE SICK/INJURED AND BABIES in the temple. Not warriors, not even full grown men and women (some would be full grown but all the able bodied were probably out in the war trying to defend the universe). He should NOT be granted clemency. Anyone else would probably have been executed for this direct horrifying act. But they seem to gloss over how Obi-Wan is always on the defensive, not really because Anakin is more overpowering (And Obi-Wan does use a defensive style, Soresu) but because he is trying to give Anakin time to chill out and come to his senses. That is literally how the choreography was designed.
And Obi-Wan's last words were? Harsh? What? If I remember correctly, Obi-Wan says something like "You were supposed to destroy the Sith not join them" and when Anakin screams he hates Obi-Wan, the return is "you were my brother, Anakin, I loved you."
That is heart-breaking and sad, not harsh. How can you look at Obi-Wan's face in this scene and call that harsh? How can your heart not break for him?!
Say what you will about Obi-Wan leaving Anakin without "finishing him off". Whether or not this is a mercy, whatever. First, we needed a reason for Vader to be in the suit. Second, Anakin was unarmed; Obi-Wan doesn't go around killing unarmed enemies, much less loved ones. (Hello, the slaver from the series, anyone? He didn't kill him; it is against his beliefs. Rex killed him). Can you even imagine how Obi-Wan was feeling? How could he possibly kill his brother? Like, I have so many feelings and not enough words ahdkjgkjgjkf. Anakin does suffer and Obi-Wan has no reason to believe that Anakin would survive his injuries. Furthermore, if I remember correctly, Palpatine ship was coming? Also, Obi-Wan had to get to Padme - she was injured and more of a priority. Because she is someone he can try to save - Anakin is long gone - in more ways than one.
Although it claimed that they are not denying the terrible things Anakin has done; that is almost kind of what they are doing. They are literally putting Anakin's choices and agency to the fault of the Jedi - not just individuals but the culture and people. It is literally gone on to say that if he had left with his wife, the worst could have been avoided. What was the worst?
Oh, a mass murderer got his legs cut off and accidently burned alive. Uhm, okay, that sucks but you do realize he committed genocide of his entire family right? And he choked his wife into unconsciousness.
I can't even with humans.
There is not even a note to Palpatine and how he manipulated Anakin for years. No blame at all on the man we need to blame the most - they put all the blame on the Jedi which just. Blows my mind.
The Clone Wars proved there was no right choice for the Jedi - they were doomed to fall. Not because of anything they did - they did everything they could - but because of Palpatine's plans and schemes. I will never, ever agree that the Jedi failed because of themselves. I do not think that the "institution" was destined to fall ( that "institution" lasted for longer than the Republic). The Jedi were trying so hard - they were kind and good and compassionate and trying so hard for peace and saving as many lives as they could. The Sith were evil. The CIS was evil. The Senate was corrupt. And the Jedi were trying.
There is so much Jedi-blaming for Anakin's attitude, disposition and choices it is literally driving me insane. Why did I do this to myself?
Things delve into a New Hope and immediately there is bashing of the jedi; where Obi-Wan cuts some guy's arm off at a Cantina and Obi- Wan "lying" that Vader killed Anakin. Which, honestly, I could see that being true. Him being Anakin's murderer, at least. Vader may have Anakin's body but even he claims that he killed Anakin Skywalker. Anakin, at least, how he thought he was, was loyal and passionate and loving - or at least he tried to be. Vader is literally none of these things; there is very little of "Anakin" in Vader. And at first glance, it may seem that Obi-Wan and Yoda are setting Luke up to kill "his father" but honestly, I see it more as preparing him to fight Vader and kill him, if necessary. It's a horrible thing, but they do not outright say anything. And honestly, they were right. Vader is willing to kill Luke - he cuts off his hand and fights him. Okay, I have so much to say about this but that is for another time; i will digress about this particular point (of lying and such)
Luke, apparently, decides to forgive Vader and show him mercy (which is claimed the Jedi and Obi-Wan NEVER did for Anakin, no matter what he did for them which is such BS I'm virtually crying rn)
There is a lengthy talk about Luke trying to rebuild the Jedi culture and how it crushed him, his contrast with Obi-Wan's attitude and shame(?) and how trying to be a Jedi has caused him to fail. Because apparently Luke is the only one who apologized and that makes him different I guess? (How many times has Obi-Wan apologized and thought things were his fault even though they weren't?)
I won't get into the Sequel Trilogy because honestly, it does very little to interest me. I am mostly a Prequel- era person mostly because I love Obi-Wan and the strength and compassion of his character. Finn seemed really interesting to me and man I thought having a female Jedi character would be really great - we had some fantastic female Jedi such as Ahsoka, Shaak Tii, Depa Billaba and so many more - but they were rarely the focus and I thought it would be fun. But, I was a bit disappointed because killing off Han Solo the way they did? Eh. Didn't care for it. I was also in the era of Mara Jade, Jacen and Jaina Solo, Anakin Solo and Ben Skywalker (Luke's son) so perhaps I was a little bias. I didn't really understand why Leia and Han would name their child after someone that they didn't really know (although I do have a headcanon concerning Leia and Obi-Wan which I find hilarious that I love).
I didn't particularly care for the Sequel Trilogy. They made it a Skywalker show and they did an emphasis on romantic love and from what I recall from what I have watched, the majority of the characters weren't nearly as interesting or compelling to me. And then bringing Palpatine back, sighs. Why does it always come back to him? That is just exhausting.
I'm not hating on the Sequels; everyone is allowed to like things or whatever. I just didn't; they focused so much on Rey and Kylo Ren (who I actually have a bit of an opinion on but I won't right now) instead of the more intriguing characters. I would have been much more interested in Finn as a Jedi. To overcome what he has been through as a stormtrooper and becoming a Jedi would be a really interesting story. I didn't care for how they handled Luke. And I didn't like how Rey apparently became a master so fast without any real training? Even Anakin, the Chosen One, the most powerful force-wielder, had ten years of training under Obi-Wan and the Jedi. That stuff doesn't just...come; you learn it.
I wrote more about the Sequel Trilogy than I care too. I suppose this is a rather reaction post but wow; I felt like me and this person had watched two separate movie trilogy/shows. It boggles my mind on how people can get the opposite of something that was so clearly shown. I hope I didn't upset anyone too bad. I'm not hear to start a fight, just to get out some feelings.
I wrote this all instead of homework that I desperately need to do. Sighs.
I need to go through my likes and read some good Jedi content cause man, that, that was hard.
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cora-vizsla · 4 years ago
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Hypnotic (Taking Over Me)- Chapter 3
Pairing: Eventual Jedi!OC x Sith!Obi Wan
Word Count: 3.7 K
Story Rating: E (18+)
Chapter Rating: I’m just gonna move these up to E now because I’d rather be safe than sorry.
Warning: Swearing. Threats of violence. Cannon typical violence. Calm kidnapping. There was only one bed. Almost naked cuddling. Dare I say fluff??
A/N: Please let me know if I missed any tags!
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Zara was unable to fall back asleep. She could feel when Obi Wan finally succumbed to his own exhaustion and it set her on edge. She looked around quietly, keeping tabs on his signature across the building. There had been hope she could find her saber, but he must have stashed it away somewhere.
When she looked down to see her boots by the door, she decided she had no other choice. She couldn’t stay with her captor. There was a lack of clarity she wanted to rip out of her head even if it meant doing something risky. She told herself that Anakin wouldn’t sit around and wait at the mercy of anyone. It wasn’t her normal avenue of actions but hers obviously weren’t working. She shut her eyes and spoke like a mantra that Anakin would want her to fight. He would want her to escape.
Zara quickly pulled on her boots and grabbed a large jacket by the door. She could feel the chill coming through the door but knew that was the only time it was going to happen.
“I am a Jedi knight. I can do this. I can get back and warn the counsel. I can save Anakin.”
She winced when the cold hit her face and she realized then Obi Wan would feel the air change. She pulled the door shut and started running off in the direction she thought they had come from. There were still some footprints, but it was hard to follow. Snow had drifted over part of their journey, so she stopped to look around. Between the cold and running, her chest was heaving trying to pull in air.
“Zara! Zara you are going to die trying to run off like this!”
She whipped around to her captor having already caught up to her.
“I can’t stay here! I can’t let you manipulate me and hurt Anakin. I won’t!”
“You’re smarter than this!”
“Let me go! If you have one shred of decency in you, let me go!”
He stood up tall and shrugged his jacket off, letting it fall to the ground. He tossed something to Zara, and she caught it quickly, gasping when she realized it was her saber. She looked back up at him as he ignited his blood red blade.
“Fight me. If you can best me, I’ll deliver you back to the temple myself.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then you stay here and stop trying to get yourself killed.”
She looked down at her saber and considered what he was saying. She had yet to actually see him fight.
“Letting me go would be directly going against your Master.”
“It would.”
“Then why offer me this?”
“If I can’t best a new Jedi Knight then I don’t deserve to keep her captive.”
Resolution washed over her. She ignited her blade and a sick smile spread across the Siths face. She carefully pulled off her own jacket and set it down, not taking her eyes off her enemy. He spun his saber a few times easily and fluidly.
“Come on, darling, it’s cold out here. Time to get this over with so we can get back in the warmth of our home.”
Zara wanted to snarl but instead closed her eyes and took a deep steadying breath. She let herself feel everything within the force. She trusted herself and her abilities. When she opened her eyes, she had a new look of determination. She no longer looked at him as Obi Wan, lost Jedi. He was Lord Veth and he needed to be defeated.
Veth was the first to move forward, quicker than she expected, and their sabers clashed together. He gave her a dangerous smile and broke away, quickly striking again with a fury she was not prepared for. She was able to block every swing, but it frustrated her she couldn’t turn it, so she was on the offensive. She could tell he was holding back and only pushing forward to keep her unbalanced. He felt her frustration and laughed when they locked their sabers together again.
“Darling, have I told you how stunning you look in my clothes?”
In frustration, Zara shot her arm out, using the force to push him back. He was able to keep himself on his feet as he immediately moved forward again. With a grin, Zara raised her hand again and a bright light emanated around her. Veth shielded his eyes, temporarily caught off balance.
“Little knight you surprise me.”
“Stars, do you ever shut up?”
“How rude, we were having such a good conversation. How long are you going to keep this up? I’m stronger than you are, sweetheart. You aren’t going to best me in battle.”
She knew he was right. Between fighting off the cold and trying to use the force so much she was getting exhausted. She stepped forward a few steps, hoping the blinding light would protect her movements just a bit. When she dropped her arm and ceased the blinding light, she quickly brought her saber down. Veth seemed to be expecting it when his arm shot up, using the force to wrap tightly around her throat.
“Now, now. That wasn’t very admirable. You are so much better than cheap tricks.”
He kept the force on her long enough that she dropped her saber and clawed at herself. He watched her struggle until tears welled in her eyes.
“Do you yield, darling?”
She shook her head and he sighed in annoyance. He let go, letting her crash to the ground with a thud. When she tried to move further than up to her knees, she realized that he was still using the force to keep her in place.
“I’m not killing you. Nice try though.”
He held his saber up to her chest and watched as the red danced off her face.
“Yield.”
“Why? You said you won’t kill me.”
“I can maim you. Maybe cut one of your legs off so you can’t run anymore. You only really need one hand. Hope you get my point.”
She glared up at him in defiance. He sighed and moved the blade forward, pressing it against her shoulder. Zara cried out from the burn and he shifted his weight, clearly annoyed.
“I’m not really into torture, dear. Please just yield so we can go inside.”
“No.”
“Fine.”
He reached forward and touched her head, rendering her unconscious instantly. He caught her and pulled her limp body close to his. Once he made sure he had both sabers he started towards the cabin.
“You have so much to learn, little knight. Hopefully you can accomplish that without many more scars.”
---
Zaras eyes fluttered open to immediately seeing the fireplace. She took inventory of her body and other than the tingle of warming limbs, she seemed to be okay. There were blankets under her as padding on the hard floor and a pillow under her head. When she shifted, she realized that the blankets felt way too soft against her skin. She peeked under the blanket to see that she was wearing nothing but her breast band and underwear.
“Your clothes were wet. Not that you believe anything I say but nothing unfavorable happened to you. I may be a monster, but I am not that type.”
She turned her head to look at him. He was sitting leaning against the wall wearing fresh clothes and his hair was wet where it fell in front of his eyes. She sat up slowly making sure one of the blankets was wrapped around her still.
“I placed a bacta patch on your shoulder. It shouldn’t scar too badly.”
She nodded and continued to look at him.
“Surprised you didn’t put force binders on me.”
“Why? The force is the only reason why you didn’t die out there. I don’t think you understand how inhabitable this planet is.”
“You’re mad at me.”
He sighed and brushed his hair back, finally making eye contact with her.
“I’m disappointed that you would be that reckless. You easily could have died.”
“What does it even matter? You accomplished your goal either way. Anakin is at the mercy of your Master and I am out of the picture.”
“You.. Zara I have met many beings in my travels in my life. I have traveled to many planets and seen wars rage around me. Up until I saw you on the battlefield, I had only ever known of one person that cared so deeply for life. It.. got her killed and the galaxy is darker for it.”
“The one you were in love with?”
He nodded and pulled one knee up so he could rest his arm on it. Zara caught herself wanting to console him but kept still. Master Windu had told her multiple times that her compassion could be dangerous. She didn’t want him to be right, but she was trying to figure out how to console her Sith captor.
“S-Satine. Her name was Satine. I was a padawan still when I went to Mandalore to protect her.”
“She was a Mandalorian?”
“Yes, the leader actually. She needed help because she saw a brighter future for her people. A future free of war and loss. She saw peace when no one else could, myself included.”
“Is that why you fell?”
He scoffed and shook his head.
“No. I told you, the Jedi did that to me. Though finding out she was gone did contribute to my anger.”
“I still don’t see how this connects to me.”
“The first thing I noticed about Satine was the fact that she cared so deeply. When faced with opposition she didn’t want to raise a weapon, she wanted to figure out how to stop everyone else from doing so. I followed you and Anakin on one of your first missions. It was the first opportunity that I could get to you without a Jedi Master sensing me the moment I landed.”
“That was nearly two cycles ago.”
“I know. I stood where I could keep the high ground in case you two noticed me. I expected you two to run in with absolutely no plan.”
“That’s what Anakin wanted to do.”
He nodded and she smiled softly at the memory.
“You though, darling, you had a plan. You had a plan to keep every one of your clone troopers safe. Clones. Quite literally made to be dispensable and replaceable. Yet you talked to them and listened to them. Your plan was good. Not strategic or quick, but it was the path of least resistance.”
Zara’s face fell and she sighed.
“I lost three troopers that day. The counsel let me know it was a success but all I felt was heartache. Life had been lost.”
“I saw that too. You don’t look like her nor do you act like her. Not really. You have the same heart though. I thought it was one of a kind but here you are, shining so brightly it’s sickening.”
Zara laughed and wrapped her covered arms around her legs, resting her head on her knees.
“Wont your Master find you weak for not killing me?”
“No. I told him I could turn you to the dark side.”
“I won’t.”
“I know that, sweetheart. I knew that from the beginning. I also knew that his greed and lust for power would see two incredibly young and strong force users under his control. He only needs Skywalker. He won’t pay as much attention to you. You’re just a bonus.”
“That’s.. devious.”
He chuckled and finally smiled fully.
“What else do you expect? I thought that’s all you saw in Sith.”
“You’re openly deceiving your Master.”
“The end goal of a Sith is to overpower their Master. We don’t work with them. We don’t trust them.”
“That sounds like a very lonely life, Obi Wan.”
He gave her a genuine smile. It was free of malice and ulterior motives. Zara couldn’t help but smile back at him, feeling a strange sense of peace flowing between the two.
“So is a life devoid of love and connections. We have two different types of master’s that lead us to the same cruel fate.”
Zara wanted to argue with him. She wanted to tell him that she was happy being a Jedi and didn’t mind the compromises she had to endure because of it. There was a line she had recited a thousand times when faced with questions about her chosen life. At that moment she couldn’t seem to form it into words.
“Your silences speak volumes, Jedi.”
“So do your actions, Sith. Where does that leave us?”
“I suppose we can figure it out tomorrow.”
“Why rush it? Doesn’t seem like either of us are going anywhere anytime soon.”
“How right you are, little knight. A Jedi and a Sith climb into a ship.”
Zara laughed and grinned at her own joke.
“And somehow find a way to understand each other.”
“For now.”
“Right. For now.”
---
Zara wished she wasn’t comfortable. As she laid next to the fire wrapped in comfortable blankets, she felt warm which was something she had been missing for days. The two had fallen into a comfortable silence. When she heard Obi Wan sigh, she turned to look at him. He looked much less comfortable than when she had woken up.
“Are you okay?”
He startled and looked at her, nodding.
“I’m fine, darling. Don’t fret about me. It’s unbecoming of a Jedi Knight.”
She huffed out a sigh and looked at him closer. She noticed the small tremors in his hands.
“You’re cold.”
“You are so rather perceptive.”
“Is your room warm?”
“Not particularly.”
She looked at all the blankets she was wrapped up in and felt guilty.
“Why don’t.. why don’t you come over here?”
His head snapped up at her question and it made her stifle a laugh.
“I can see that you’re cold. Instead of being warm in your own home you’re making sure that I am.”
“What kind of host would I be if I let you freeze to death.”
“Veth.”
“Again, not that kind of monster. Can’t imagine freezing to death would be very comfortable.”
“Can’t imagine? Looks like you are right now.”
He chuckled and went to retort but Zara wasn’t having it.
“Obi Wan.”
He fell silent and looked at her.
“If you can’t look at it as an act of kindness, look at it as an act of self-preservation. You want me to make smart choices, right?”
“Self-preservation.”
“If you die, I’m stuck on the planet with no idea where your ship is. Sitting in the house with a frozen Sith doesn’t sound fun.”
He chuckled and got up, walking over to where she was curled up by the fire. He slipped his outer shirt off and hesitated. Zara held open the blankets, so he climbed in, making sure he wasn’t touching her. When he let out a sigh at the heat she smiled.
“Between the fire and how warm it is in here you should be comfortable soon.”
“It’s already leagues better.”
“Good.”
He looked at her steadily enough that she could see all the shades in his eyes. When he wasn’t threatening or yelling at her she thought that they were almost beautiful. He reached up and gently pushed her hair back, his fingers grazing her skin.
“Stars, Obi Wan, you’re freezing.”
“I’ll survive.”
“You’ve really got to stop running out into the cold chasing stupid Jedi.”
He smirked and nodded, looking down as Zara took his hands in hers.
“Not to be crass, but you would get warmer if you weren’t wearing your clothes.”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“You’re taking all my lines, sweetheart.”
“Just self-preservation, remember?”
“Right. Not an ounce of kindness.”
“For you? Absolutely not. Never.”
He hummed and slipped his shirt off before doing the same with his pants. He was left wearing only his own underwear making it easier for Zara to see just how discolored his skin was.
“Veth, now who is being foolish.”
“I like it better when you call me Obi Wan.”
“Well, Obi Wan doesn’t sound like a fool. So, when you’re acting foolish then I’ll call you by a foolish name.”
He chuckled and shifted closer. They both told themselves it was to get more heat. Both were convinced that the only reason the other was close was to ensure they survived. Survival was smart. Sharing a bed with a sworn enemy was not. So, the easiest way to deal with their situation was to convince themselves that everything was simple.
“Then what do I call you when you’re being foolish?”
“Hmm. You usually call me Jedi.”
“It is one of the worst insults I know.”
“Watch it.”
They both laughed and Zara yawned.
“Get some sleep. Please don’t bolt out the door again.”
“I couldn’t escape without waking you regardless. You’re on the outside of this blanket cocoon. I’d have to uncover you.”
“Very true.”
“Turn around. Face the fire so you can get some heat from it.”
“You could just tell me I’m ugly.”
“Shut up, Veth.”
Obi Wan chuckled and rolled to his right, reveling at the heat of the fire on his face. He didn’t want to admit it, but he had been rather cold. When he felt a small arm wrap around him and Zara’s body press against his back, he had to stop himself from flinching. He felt her rest her forehead against his upper back and nestle in. He could have groaned at how warm she was but absolutely didn’t want to scare her off.
“Maker you’re cold. Next time you kidnap someone bring them to a more temperate planet.”
He chuckled and gently moved his arm, so he could place his hand over hers.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
He felt her nestle in deeper, getting comfortable up against him. He smiled to himself when her sigh danced across his skin right before she fell asleep. He knew that he should be trying to turn her to the dark. His Master would be furious at his weakness. The idea of trying to corrupt someone so light and kind was repulsive to him.
He could feel her breath steadily fan across his back as she slept peacefully. He hated the Jedi, that much was true. He would never be able to go back nor would he be able to escape the darkness that held him so tightly. Zara didn’t make him forgive the Jedi, but he found himself forgiving her for being one.
It had been a very long time since Obi Wan felt anything but contempt for another living being. He could hardly remember what it felt like to have someone’s arm wrapped around him, no matter the circumstance. He tried to tell himself that he shouldn’t feel anything but the physical sensation of warmth.
The truth though? That warmth meant everything to him.
---
When Zara woke, she didn’t want to open her eyes. She felt warm and comfortable regardless of how sore her body was. She nestled her face into the warmth in front of her and let out a sleepy sigh. When she felt something shift, she froze.
“Did you forget you fell asleep next to me?”
She opened her eyes and found herself looking directly at Obi Wan’s bare chest. He had his arms wrapped around her, holding her close to him.
“I guess I did. Uhm. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. We are both warm. Survival, right?”
She nodded against him, tentatively letting herself nestle back into the heat surrounding them.
“I didn’t.. I didn’t wake you at all I hope?”
“If you had any nightmares they didn’t show. Do you have them most nights?”
“Sleep isn’t something that is usually peaceful for me.”
“Perhaps there was enough darkness around you that your mind didn’t need to manifest any of it.”
Zara looked back up as he looked down, locking eyes with her.
“Your darkness is.. different.”
“Oh?”
He had an amused look on his face but the hesitance in his eyes told Zara that he was uncomfortable. She shook her head and looked back down. They had come to a tentative peace, but he was still dangerous. A different type of darkness didn’t mean it wasn’t dangerous. Obi Wan gently hook his finger under her chin, tilting her head back up.
“You have nothing to fear, darling.”
“We both know that isn’t true.”
He hummed as he ran his thumb across her bottom lip.
“I suppose you are correct. I don’t want you to fear me though. I will not harm you outside of necessity. Now tell me, what did you mean?”
Zara took a steady breath, willing down the nervousness and trepidation. She wasn’t used to being close to people, let alone someone who was an enemy of everything she stood for. She was vulnerable which was something she just was not comfortable with.
“That first day that I saw you, when you confronted Anakin and me. I felt your darkness. I felt it long before I saw you. I’m no stranger to the dark side but I also have never felt it the way that you carry it. You’re dark but.. you’re not chaotic. I see you calculating everything. As much as you say that I am different for my reverence for life, you are different too.”
“You picked all that up when we met?”
“I picked up on it but the longer I’ve been around you the more I see it. I’ve run into other Sith. I’ve fought them. Their energy was hard to be around because it was so unstable.”
“Are you saying I am less of a Sith?”
“No. Your eyes let me know that truth. It’s not that you’re light.”
He chuckled and moved his hand, so he was cupping her face.
“Your darkness is strong. It’s powerful but it isn’t all consuming like the others I’ve come across. You have a control over yourself that rivals even some of the strongest Jedi I have known.”
“Hmm, that almost sounds like a compliment.”
“I guess it is. At the very least it’s an admittance of me being taken by surprise. You are.. not what I expected.”
“Neither are you, darling. Neither are you.”
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anakinisvaderisanakin · 3 years ago
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My entry for Rebels-week: Discourse, Ahsoka vs Vader.
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I’ve seen quite a few posts online questioning why could seemingly Ahsoka (almost) go toe to toe with Vader in Twilight of the Apprentice; and I figured I’d break down why I believe she succeeded as far as she did. I have three main arguments, although they interlock and are valid contributors to one final conclusion.
One - Ahsoka was trained by Anakin. Vader is Anakin.
Despite the fact that as Vader, he has adapted new saber techniques, new practices, and relies much less on just raw Force power and more on physical brute prowess; he is still the man that trained Ahsoka as a padawan. She has learnt everything from him, and the signature moves Vader has maintained from his days as her master she inevitably would be familiar with.
Ahsoka would know how to counteract these moves; and how to sneak past Vader’s aggressive offenses. While he is a tad more restrained as Vader; Anakin still does fight with an overtly aggressive lenience. If we as an audience can still recognize certain moves of Vader's from his Jedi days, it goes without saying that Ahsoka would have no problem picking up on the same thing and deducing beforehand what move to make next as a counter attack. Add to that the fact that Dave Filoni himself did point out that Anakin trained Ahsoka specifically to be able to take on enemies much stronger and larger than her - a description Vader fits perfectly.
Pretty ironic.
Two - Ahsoka is powerful.
We may have not been tuned in to see Ahsoka hone her skills with the Force between her appearance in Rebels and her self titled book; but it is clear she has definitely grown. The Siege of Mandalore arc already gives us clues to her skill as a duelist when she actually beats Maul. Filoni pointed out that Ahsoka is an OP of the SWR universe; and that using her in the show too much would have lowered the stakes all around. He mentioned that only Vader (or the Emperor) would pose a threat to her - something I can definitely buy into - and thus, not only because of their history, but because of their powers with the Force; the two had to fight each other if we were to receive any duel worth writing home about.
Ahsoka’s appearances in Rebels are kept to a bare minimum, as are Vader’s. When Ahsoka leaves the show, so does Vader. Because neither Kanan nor Ezra stand a chance against Vader; we have seen him very nearly kill them both in Siege of Lothal; we know he could easily pick them off, especially in one-on-one combat. Vader is too powerful for our remaining heroes where the Force is concerned; and using him as a villain is pointless when we know he would win - or have to be severely downgraded in a manner that might break, or at the very least bend pre-established canon.
Hence; we know Ahsoka is the only Force wielder within the show’s direct vicinity who can take Vader on in a battle with any hopes of lasting a good amount of time, and even she would not have survived had Ezra not found a way to save her.
Three - the final argument, and my favourite.
Vader struggles briefly against Ahsoka because he still cares for her, deep down. This is the same reason he didn’t obliterate Luke in Empire; although of course Luke means much more to him in the end. Vader even asks Ahsoka, just as he later does Luke, to join him. He professes himself that they “need not be adversaries,” suggesting he would rather see her turn to the Dark Side as his apprentice, in favour of downright executing her. He will kill her if need be, as we see, but he doesn’t miss the opportunity to attempt to sway her beforehand.
Ahsoka was Anakin’s padawan, as close to his heart as any blood related little sister would be. I would argue she is the closest thing to Luke, and Padmé, in terms of Anakin's attachment. Indeed, there is the attachment to Obi-Wan; but him and Anakin clearly harboured a sort of brotherly rivalry - which in Anakin, as he fell to the Dark Side, would develop into full on resentment.
This did not happen where Ahsoka is concerned; Anakin is indeed still bitter towards her, but instead of obsessively hunting her to kill her as he does Obi-Wan; he offers her to join him, and does promise her mercy if she helps him in his quest. This speaks of how important Ahsoka is to Vader, even now.
Neither can we forget the evidence supporting this final point; that Vader actually hesitates when Ahsoka professes she “won't leave you this time”. You see it in his eyes; you can tell he's taken aback and rattled. You can tell it raises painful memories; and that Vader for a moment allows himself to open up to his past, and the pain he struggled with when Ahsoka first left the Jedi Order, as well as her almost callously brushing him off when they finally did have a chance to catch up in favour of rushing off to Mandalore.
Meanwhile Ahsoka blames herself, and believes she should have stayed for Anakin’s sake; she too doubts and second guesses her own decision as we see in Shroud of Darkness. We, the audience, know that the vision she is shown is likely very close to - if not spot on - how Vader is feeling towards what he views as her betrayal.
Final thoughts.
In conclusion; while I don't believe Vader was truly struggling against Ahsoka in terms of sheer skill and power, it is evident that he underestimates her. He knows only the saber duelist he trained during The Clone Wars, and has as little of an idea regarding how much she has grown as we do. He knows she's skilled, more so than his Inquisitors, which I would presume to be another reason why he requests of her to join him.
But he doesn't know how skilled she is now. On top of that, Ahsoka is clearly more defensive than anything throughout their duel; her only real attempt at a strike is when she splits open Vader's mask. She knows she's outmatched, and she's trying to stall Vader in order for Ezra and the crew to escape. She is only keeping Vader busy; because she's the only one who stands a fighting chance. And Vader is surprised she can stay on her feet as long as she does.
When she finally does land a blow; he's visibly shocked. And when she addresses that she won’t abandon him, and clearly shows that she is not afraid of him or of dying by his hand - Vader is overcome by a sliver of his old love for her, which is what reinvigorates his urge to kill her and sees him victorious in the end. If he was merely testing her limits before, he's not taking any risks now and he bests her.
Ahsoka is Anakin's apprentice, who has become an extremely talented duelist in her own right. But she is also one of the people Anakin loved the most. 
These things combined make her a fierce adversary for Vader; and it is all of that old attachment that links her to Vader's past which has him somewhat faltering during their final battle. This is why he goes from willing to spare her if she complies; to vowing to kill her when she refuses. If he cannot convince her to side with him and justify the lingering remnants of their old bond by making her useful; it has to die with her - as does every other remainder of who Vader really is.
To add the one thing I forgot - the way in which Vader does not brush Ahsoka off when she calls him Anakin. He startles, and instead of her receiving his usual “that name no longer holds any meaning for me,” tangent; he allows it. In that brief moment, he cannot deny that he is Anakin, and that Ahsoka and him have this deep connection. When he later states that she must die; he doesn’t say it as a threat or as a promise. It’s warning to her, that if she doesn’t leave now - he will not be held responsible for her fate. She can still flee and leave one last time, if she wishes to.
It is clear that Vader deep down doesn’t want to kill Ahsoka. Add to that, the fact that while she does engage in some defensive tactics; Ahsoka is actually the offensive combatant when they intially engage in battle. She attacks Vader first; which is another uncharacteristic mark of any duel Vader has taken part in. Usually, it’s Vader who’s on the offensive.
Thus, when Ahsoka calls Vader Anakin; it has meaning. She finally admits to herself what she has suspected and denied, but deep down knows, is true. Meanwhile, Vader for a fleeting moment acknowledges the same thing. He is Anakin; and besides Luke, Ahsoka is the only person who has ever managed to get such a reaction out of Vader. She came the closest, and that’s worthy of admiration.
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chokemeanakin · 4 years ago
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First Kiss - Anakin Skywalker x gn Reader
Summary: Anakin treats you to your first kiss ;)
masterlist
Read it on ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22469749
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It happened on Tatooine. Anakin didn’t want to come back, but you had begged him to show you where he grew up.
“I grew up with Obi-Wan, travelling the galaxy,” Anakin corrected, a scowl clouding his face. “Not on Tatooine. I was just a slave there.”
“But it’s got your history,” you argued. “It’s where Qui-Gon found you. It’s where you build C-3PO. It’s where your--”
“It’s where my mother died,” he bit, jaw tense and eyes shadowed. “I know.”
“Maybe we could visit her.”
Anakin closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He did that a lot, ever since he came back from the dark side, to calm the anger inside of him. His hands clenched over the controls of the pod, then suddenly relaxed. When he opened his eyes, he was considerably less tense.
“Okay,” he agreed. “I think she’d like that.”
*********************
“I hate sand,” Anakin muttered as he hopped down from the ship. His boots landed on the ground, sending dust to cloud up around him. He swatted it away from his face.
“Oh, quit pouting,” you take his flesh hand, then raise it over your head with both of yours. “You’re home!”
“This is not my home,” he tried to sound angry, but his face softened when he looked at the smile on your face. He could see you were excited-- for what, he still didn’t understand. You would have to stay in the remote parts of the planet because Anakin would never be welcomed back after what he did to the sand people. You wouldn’t even be able to see the market or Jabba the Hut’s pub, or the place he used to live. Not that Anakin ever wanted to go back to any of those places, anyways. They came for one reason-- to see his mother.
Anakin led the way to the grave. It was just a plank of wood sticking up from the sand, so you weren’t sure how he even knew this was hers. But it was the only thing out here for hundreds of miles, and the somber look on his face was proof enough. This was his mother.
You sat on the sand in front of the wooden plank, drawing shapes in the course minerals. You didn’t say anything, and neither did Anakin as he sat down beside you. The silence was comforting, and just being there was enough. Anakin closed his eyes and his face was peaceful.
You watched him, his face unmoving, as you thought about Anakin and his past. This was where his life began, as a slave, working in a junk shop while his mother struggled to get by. He built his own pod and would race because he was good at it. He built his mother a robot so she wouldn’t have to work so hard. He could still speak the language, as sometimes he would mutter what you were pretty sure were swears under his breath in the foreign tongue.
This was where the sweet, unsuspecting, hopeful little kid who loved flying and wanted to be a Jedi grew up with his mother. He had left her to do just that, and that was the beginning of the end. He never got to see his mother again before she died in his arms. The Jedi Council consistently underestimated his power and belittled him. They alienated him from the one thing he was destined to be. No wonder he turned to Darth Sidious, who was the only person who seemed to trust him in those harrowing times. He had fallen, like Icarus from the sun, like an angel from heaven, and fell and crashed and burned.
But now he was back. He was here again, that same sweet, hopeful boy who just wanted to be a Jedi. And he was sitting before you, with his mother-- a family again.
You were there for hours, until the suns began to lower in the sky. A gust of wind blew sand in your direction, and Anakin cracked an eye open.
“We should get to higher ground,” he said, standing and holding his mechanical arm out for you to take. He helped lift you up, and then brought you in close so he could share his cloak with you, shielding you from the sand. “The wind should let up as the suns go down. For now, we can watch them set from the pod.”
The two of you climbed on top of the ship and sat with your legs dangling off the edge, watching the double-suns inch toward the horizon. The sky seemed to bleed when the lower sun crashed into the sandy mountains, but then melted into a melon-orange glow as the higher sun followed in its wake. Soon, the whipping sand clouds calmed and the sky turned to a deep purple, then black, dotted with thousands of stars. You wondered how many times Anakin had watched this sunset as a kid, and if it’s changed at all since then.
“You’ve come a long way,” you told him, breaking the silence. He lowered his head and looked at his hands.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes.”
“But you always come back,” you said. He lifted his head and his eyes connected with yours, but they were far away. He was deep in thought, and there was something warring behind them. Guilt.
“I left you,” he said, and it’s barely above a whisper. “We were friends, but as soon as Padme came along, I left you. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You were happy with her.”
“I was happy with you, too.”
The confession caused an eruption of warmth to blossom in your chest. You smiled at him, a genuine, delighted smile, and knocked his shoulder playfully with yours.
“You have me now.”
At this, Anakin lifted his arm and wrapped it around your shoulder. He pulled you close for a moment, then relaxed with his arm still around you. For once in your life, you didn’t move away.
Anakin was warm. You basked in the weight of his arm around your shoulders, the feeling of his torso pressed against your side. Your thighs were touching and you realized that this is what you needed, this is what was missing all along, this warmth. Suddenly, you felt complete.
“Why haven’t you ever been with anyone?” Anakin asked suddenly. You tried to fight back the blush from your face at both the question and the fact that his fingers seemed to be absentmindedly tracing patterns on your arm. Suddenly he paused. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”
“No,” you told him, and he resumed the patterns. “I just… have a hard time connecting with people.”
“Because of your mother?”
“Because of my mother,” you confirmed, and he coaxed every bit of information out of you on how your mother was strict and mean and cold and judgmental, and your father watched as she stripped your humanity away. He listened attentively as you told him of the suitors you’ve failed with in the past, and his arm tightened around you.
“I just get nervous,” you frowned, twisting your fingers in your lap. “Like the closer someone gets to me, the more they’re going to realize I actually suck.”
“I don’t think you suck,” Anakin said, his voice that sweet, comforting timbre with a gentle rasp that you loved so much. He always sounded like that when he’s spitting off orders to R2 when piloting, or late at night when he’s half asleep and doesn’t know what he’s saying. He also had that stupidly soft look in his eyes, and that half smile you’ve only ever seen directed at Padme.
God, he’s so pretty, you groaned inwardly, unintentionally tensing up when you realized just how close you were sitting. And he was looking at you so deeply, and man, his eyes can be so intense sometimes-- your face burned and you ducked your head so he couldn’t see.
He caught your chin with his gloved mechanical hand, cradling your chin between his index finger and thumb. He turned your face to look at him straight on, right in the eyes, and all you could see was Anakin. He was so close, and he was getting closer. Your eyes shifted to his lips, the same ones you had fantasized about for years, and hoped he couldn’t notice what you were thinking.
“Have you ever been kissed?” you could feel his breath on your lips, your heart pounding against your ribcage. You blinked madly, breathing erratic, palms sweating. Every single atom in your body was buzzing with energy-- excitement, nervousness, fear. You wanted to pull him in and kiss the living daylights out of him. You wanted to push him away and run as fast as you could until you got to a cliff high enough you could jump off and never wake up. You wanted to explode.
“You’re trembling,” Anakin’s eyes shifted across your figure for a split second. “Do you want me to let go?”
“No,” you begged him, your hands shooting out to hold onto him without your permission. They landed on his thighs, and your face burned harder.
“Do you want this?” his thumb stroke your chin. There was nothing you wanted more.
“Yes.”
You weren’t sure how he even heard you, as you barely uttered the word. But before you could do or say or think anything else, Anakin was leaning in. Your eyes closed on instinct and you felt, very softly, the brush of his lips against yours. The volcano was back in your chest, spurting lava all over your insides as you realized, holy shit Anakin Skywalker’s lips are on mine. Holy shit, Anakin Skywalker is kissing me!
The feather light touch tickled more than anything, and you could feel his mouth twitch into a slight smile as your hands’ grip tightened on his legs.
“This okay?” he pulled back a centimeter to ask. “You want more?”
“Yes,” you said again. It was the only thing you could manage to say, the one syllable word, and you began to wonder just how much of a lost cause you were if a simple brush of his lips against yours could render you brain dead.
He muttered an ‘Okay’ and then brought his flesh hand up to cup your face, fingers sliding along your neck and locking into your hair as his thumb stroked your cheek. You shivered, goosebumps staining every inch of your body with the touch. His gloved hand stayed on your chin, tilting it up toward him for easier access.
You closed your eyes again, and he leaned in, and this time he really, actually kissed you. He applied the slightest bit of pressure, then he did it again, shifting his head and capturing your lips in his, pulling back slowly only to do it again.
You were in heaven.
You forgot to respond at first. All you could think of in your short-circuited brain was how Anakin smelled so good and his lips were so warm and he tasted like the stars. Oh, he definitely knew what he was doing, with the way he was moving his lips and the confidence he did it with. You had no idea what you were doing, so you let instinct take control.
You unclenched one of your fists from his leg and raised it to place on his shoulder, pushing just a bit to get a bit of leverage, get a little bit closer so you could respond in earnest. You opened your mouth and closed it over his lips, your stomach cartwheeling as you hoped you were doing this right. It felt right. It felt good. So you kept doing it, and Anakin’s metal arm dropped from your chin and fell to your waist as you rose onto your knees, hands finally tangling into the soft curls of his hair, kissing him like you’ve wanted to kiss him for years.
When Anakin pulled back for air, you realized just how starved you were for oxygen as well. You didn't even notice. You panted, fingers loosening in his hair, lips tingling and burning. Anakin was looking at you like you were everything he wanted, and his eyes caught the twinkle of the stars. This is right where you belong, you realized, right here in Anakin Skywalker’s giving arms. Your breathing evened out, and you seemed to be thinking the same thing.
You leaned back in.
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giggles-and-freckles · 4 years ago
Text
define ‘attachment’
read on ao3
while the dads esteemed Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker--wait for Ahsoka to wake up, they talk about attachment, worry, and that time Ani caused an accidental security breech at the Temple.
“Pacing circles is not going to wake her any sooner,” mused Obi-Wan, quietly closing the door behind him.
He continued walking up and down the length of the bed, as if he did not hear Obi-Wan at all.
“Anakin.”
His head snapped up. “What?”
Obi-Wan offered a small, knowing smile. “You’re worrying too much. As usual.”
“I’m not worrying.” he said quickly, defensively, his shoulders wrought with tension.
“Sit,” instructed Obi-Wan, motioning to the small chairs in the corner.
Anakin sighed in frustration, but obeyed none-the-less.
“You should get some sleep,” suggested Obi-Wan, studying his former Padawan as he dropped into the seat across from him. “She’ll still be here when you wake up.”
Anakin snorted derisively. “I know that you of all people didn’t just try and tell me to get some sleep.” He shook his head incredulously. “Do you even do that anymore, old man?”
Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. “I sleep.”
“Going to your room and working on mission reports all night long doesn’t count.”
Obi-Wan waved him off, ignoring the dangling bait for yet another argument about how, truly, neither of them got the rest they needed anymore.
“She looks dead,” Anakin said simply. It had never stopped being jarring to Obi-Wan how straightforward Anakin could be without noticing his own lack of social prowess. Ever since he was a boy, Anakin had a particular way of saying the blunt things with no regard for the intake from others.
“Well, thanks to you, she isn’t,” Obi-Wan pointed out evenly.
Anakin frowned. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You told her how to beat them. She only knew about rupturing the coolant system because of you.”
Talking with Anakin was so often like this, these days. Obi-Wan would speak, but it was more like coaxing Anakin to say the things that Obi-Wan had already said.
If he were being honest with himself, he should have been asking Anakin exactly how he had managed to get the information about the coolant system from Poggle the Lesser. He and Luminara had spent hours with the Geonosian, but he’d never uttered a helpful word. Then, Anakin walked in and came out of the room ten minutes later with valuable intel.
But if he were being even more honest with himself, there was a reason Obi-Wan avoided this question.
“I should have been there,” said Anakin through gritted teeth.
“You had no way of foreseeing the situation. It should have been a run-of-the-mill supply run. Your Padawan is more than capable of handling that.” Obi-Wan glanced over at the small bed holding Ahsoka’s unconscious body in it, his lips twitching to a small smile.
He hadn’t had a chance to spend any significant time with the girl, but he had already made up his mind to change that as soon as they all got back to the Temple. She had something burning and illuminating about her.
Obi-Wan had plenty of experience handling volatile objects, but if Anakin was fire itself, Ahsoka was a sun. She had that same intensity and kinetic danger as her Master, but Obi-Wan saw a deep desire in her to use it for the good of the galaxy around her, to help grow and guide it.
“I couldn’t do anything,” Anakin said, helplessly, watching his clasped hands in his lap.
“I know it’s not what you want to hear,” began Obi-Wan gently, “but as your Padawan grows, you’re going to be able to do less and less.” He withheld the sad smile that played at his mouth, unwilling to make this moment about him. “You must teach her as much as you can while you can. Ahsoka was prepared for this trial because of the lessons you have already instilled in her.”
Anakin pulled the glove off his artificial arm and began fiddling with the metal at his thumb, as he so often did. Obi-Wan looked away, pushing away the forced reminder of the time he had learned how powerless he truly was to protect his own Padawan.
“I want her to be safe,” said Anakin quietly.
“I know.”
Anakin looked at Obi-Wan. “How did you deal with me for ten years? ”
Obi-Wan chuckled. “It’s amusing that you think it ends when the Padawan gets Knighted.”
Anakin offered an appreciative smile and returned to fiddling with his hand. “I’m not like you, Master. You know me...I’m not good at the...attachment thing.”
Obi-Wan bit his tongue from snarking back about the real issue concerning Anakin being too good at the ‘attachment thing.’
How many times had the Council requested Obi-Wan specifically talk to Anakin about his disregard for the Code when it came to attachment? And how many times had Obi-Wan balked, wondering if it was actually Anakin’s greatest weakness or greatest strength?
Of course Mace Windu and Yoda could ask Obi-Wan to have those conversations with his Padawan; they’d never experienced the euphoria of Anakin Skywalker choosing them over a tight principle or expectation.
Raising Anakin had made Obi-Wan doubt his own competency with the Code’s edict on attachment.
“You’re not expected to abandon your Padawan or cease caring,” Obi-Wan fell back on the words he had told Anakin so many times already in the few months since Ahsoka had joined their lineage. “You have to find the balance in between it all.”
“You make it sound easy.”
Obi-Wan heard the tinge of resentment in his former Padawan’s tone and tried to ignore the way it made his stomach twist. He wasn’t exactly sure when his existence had started to irritate Anakin, but he’d sensed the tension growing in small doses between them since the beginning of the Clone Wars.
“Then you misunderstand me, my friend,” Obi-Wan shook his head in an attempt to make Anakin see that he struggled, too. “It is incredibly difficult. But the freedom of your emotions being disconnected from your personal relationships is a rewarding one.”
Or so Obi-Wan had been told.
“But how can you have personal relationships without emotions?” Anakin was growing frustrated, rounding back on this same argument they had had so many times before. Obi-Wan became more tired every time.
“Not without emotions,” Obi-Wan corrected for the hundredth time. “You are simply responsible for being mindful of them.”
“Well, that’s stupid,” Anakin snapped, slumping in his seat.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath, resisting the urge to chastise Anakin’s blatant disrespect for the Jedi Code. He had to choose his battles these days and this wasn’t one he wanted to engage in. Not when there were two unconscious Padawans in the same room.
“Our next orders came in,” said Obi-Wan, trying out a new thread of discussion.
“Oh. Is that what you came in here to tell me?” asked Anakin, looking apologetic. “Sorry I burdened you w--”
“Never a burden, Anakin,” Obi-Wan held up a hand to stop his former Padawan’s ramble, offering an earnest smile. “I came in here to check on you.”
“If you have things to do, you should go do them. I’m fine.”
“Someone can be fine and still enjoy company, yes?”
“Yes,” Anakin nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”
“You know,” Obi-Wan began, settling deeper into his chair, “your first solo mission wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, either.”
“Nope, no way,” Anakin shook his head fervently, smiling none-the-less, “this is not an invitation for storytime.”
Obi-Wan grinned, unclipping his lightsaber from where it was poking him in the side and laying it on his lap. He was just getting started ; may as well be comfortable. “Ah, my former Padawan, how much you still have to learn. I don’t need an invitation to humiliate you.”
“Don’t I know it,” grumbled Anakin, rolling his eyes.
“Let’s see,” the older Jedi sighed wistfully. “It was slightly cloudy, no... very cloudy--”
“ Obi-Wan .”
“--and this young sprite of a Jedi came bustling into my room telling me he had received his first solo mission.” Obi-Wan sighed dramatically. “Now, imagine my surprise at this news considering I was the boy’s Master, yet had received absolutely zero communication about this.”
“It was a misunderstanding,” groaned Anakin.
“Hmm, so was the misunderstanding with the forged paper signed by Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Yoda ...or the Padawan delivering it to me?”
“I wish I was the one unconscious right now instead of Snips.”
“Because you wish Ahsoka to hear this story? Oh, no worries, Anakin. I have every intention of telling her this later.”
Anakin shot his former Master a rude hand gesture.
“The paper said that Anakin Skywalker was to report to hangar seven at ten hundred, misspelled by the way...that was my favourite part,” Obi-Wan smirked.
“ I had just started learning how to read Basic! ”
“Anakin Skywalker was to report to hangar seven at ten hundred to embark on an off-world mission with no company other than the astromech known as R2-D2,” quoted Obi-Wan. “So, of course, I rolled out of bed and packed your bag for you because who was I to disobey such legitimate orders from the Council?”
“You were cruel.”
Obi-Wan shrugged. “I was bored.” he corrected. “Now this part of the story always trips me up. Was it you or your droid that set off the hangar alarms?”
“Neither. It was you when--”
“No,” Obi-Wan shook his head. “I only checked the flight reports and saw that there were no departures scheduled for hangar seven. Since you had orders directly from Master Yoda, I knew that it must be the flight reports that were wrong, so I simply did a manual override--”
“Yeah, setting off the alarms.”
“Oops,” Obi-Wan smiled, closing his eyes as he put his arms behind his head and reclined back.
“I don’t know how you have everyone except for me convinced that you’re some sort of Jedi golden boy. You’re a menace.”
“Master Kenobi?” a new voice interrupted the two men’s vocal spar.
Anakin and Obi-Wan stood up, quickly, bowing their heads toward Luminara.
“Obi-Wan,” Luminara nodded respectfully, “I was wondering if I might speak with you for a moment?”
“Of course,” Obi-Wan re-clipped his saber, following her out the door. He sent a last glance over his shoulder toward Anakin.
“I’m fine,” chuckled Anakin, motioning for his former Master to continue to the hall. “Kix said she should wake up in a few hours. I’ll be here.”
Obi-Wan quirked an eyebrow.
“Sitting down. Not worrying,” he continued.
Obi-Wan smiled, closing the door behind him.
After Luminara had gone over the plans from the bridge to jettison and caught him up on Master Fisto’s inventory, he made his way back to the medical room holding Ahsoka and Barris. He gently pushed open the door, hoping to catch Anakin pacing again and preparing to poke fun at him for his worried antics over the Padawan he didn’t even want a couple of months ago.
Instead, Obi-Wan paused in the doorway, finding that, for once in his kriffing life, Anakin had followed not one, but two of Obi-Wan’s orders. He was seated in the chair as promised and asleep.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Anakin Skywalker without a liberal interpretation of orders and Obi-Wan couldn’t do anything but smile at the fact that Anakin had physically dragged his chair across the room to set it directly next to Ahsoka’s bed.
He appeared to have made an effort at maintaining sentry duty, but had ultimately been defeated, his body slumped forward onto the bed in front of him. One of his arms lay across Ahsoka’s waist and his head was completely buried into the bedding. Whether or not she had been conscious of it, one of Ahsoka’s hands rested on Anakin’s head, her tiny fingers woven into his curls.
Obi-Wan stood in the doorway for another moment, trying his best to commit the details of this picture to his memory, before he slipped back into the hall, a content smile on his face.
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ayo-cowbelly · 4 years ago
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The Things We Do For Love ~ Part Five / Finale
previous part ~ masterlist
So. This is the finale! I hope you enjoyed reading this, it was fun to write! As always, comments make my day, and they are a HUGE motivator when writing, so I’d love to know what you thought! 
I’m sorry this took a while. Life got busy for a hot minute, but I wanted to actually buckle down and do this- hence why I’m posting this at like 2 a.m. (for some reason I am more productive in the dead hours of the night). 
Also, listen, I know Kix is in carbonite… but Kix isn’t in carbonite. So that’s that.
Taglist:
@likeshootingstarsinthenightsky @cacodaemonia @halfblood-demigods @ct7567329
@youngcreativenerdgoddess (to you: you are the best. I adore you. also one time on discord you said you wanted to be tagged so guess what. you’re included in this mess)
***
“Ani?” Padmé asked tentatively, knowing she wouldn’t get the answer she wanted. 
“Padmé. You’re alive,” Vader said, stepping closer. She didn’t reach out for him, just placed her hands over her stomach protectively. He seemed to notice her reluctance. Vader’s eyes flashed with something Padmé couldn’t quite name. 
“Yes, I’m alive. But you… what have you done?” 
Vader’s eyes narrowed. “What did Obi-Wan tell you?” 
“Nothing that I didn’t already know. Those things they’re saying… how could you, Anakin? Why?” 
“Because you were going to die!” Vader shouted. His voice was broken, a mix of rage and pain, and it reminded her too much of that horrible day on Tatooine all those years ago. “I did what I had to do.” 
“But I’m fine! The babies are perfectly healthy-”
“Babies?” He asked, sounding more familiar, softer. “As in plural?” 
“Yes,” Padmé whispered. “Twins. I’ve met with the medics, and they all say I’m perfectly fine.” 
“The medics. So you’re staying on board the ships. With Obi-Wan.” It wasn’t a question. 
“I am. Because we’re friends.” 
“He’s turning you against me,” Vader muttered, more to himself than her. “Filling your head with lies. The Jedi, they’re traitors, Padmé, you have to believe me,” He practically begged, stepping closer to her again. This time, Padmé flinched away. Flinched away from the bloodshot golden eyes that bore into her.  
“I don’t know who you are anymore. Listen to yourself, Anakin; this isn’t you.”
“You don’t believe me! You’d believe those- those traitors over me?” 
“Anakin, they’re not traitors. Palpatine is the-” “Palpatine can help you, Padmé. Help us. And when it’s all over, I’m strong enough to overthrow him, and you and I will rule.” Padmé shook her head at his words. This person, this stranger in front of her- he was nothing like the person she’d married years ago on Naboo. This man was a twisted, broken, shell of who Anakin once was. 
Padmé raised her chin defiantly, looking him dead in the eyes. “No. I will not be a part of some warped fantasy, Lord Vader. You are a Sith, a traitor, and a murderer. I won’t stand by and let you and your Emperor destroy this galaxy.”
Vader snarled. “Then you-” Before he could fire back, his attention got caught on something behind her. She turned, and saw Obi-Wan exiting the ship. 
All part of the plan. 
Padmé schooled her face into one of shock. The more theatrical she got, the more Vader would be distracted. “NO! You said you wouldn’t interfere!” 
Vader rounded on her, looking away from his old Master. “You brought him here on purpose! You LIAR!” 
From where she stood, Obi-Wan’s face remained passive. But she was close enough to see the flicker of hurt in his eyes as they fell on Vader. 
“Padmé didn’t lie, Vader. She just… hindered some of the truth.” It’s working, Padmé thought, as she slowly stepped away from the Sith in front of her. He looked more and more enraged every second. 
“You will die, Kenobi, I promise you that. I will kill you where you stand,” Vader bit out, the yellow in his eyes flaring. 
“You will try,” Obi-Wan replied, stepping in front of Padmé. 
Vader took out his lightsaber, but before he could ignite it, a blue stun blast knocked him down. He crumpled onto the desert terrain, unmoving. 
Padmé looked up to Ahsoka crouched on top of the shuttle, blaster in hand. 
“Good thing we have those extra escape hatches in the shuttle, right?” Ahsoka called, sounding lighter than she looked. Her shoulders drooped, and no matter how much she feigned composure, Padmé was a politician.
Ahsoka was breaking, she could see it. Just like Obi-Wan. 
Just like her. 
***
Obi-Wan stood on the other side of a one-way mirror, studying Anakin’s cell. His old apprentice had been placed in force-binding handcuffs while still unconscious, and put in the most secure cell they had on board. A steady guard rotation made sure he was watched at all times. 
For now, he was not a threat. Obi-Wan just hoped that it would stay that way. 
He didn’t notice Ahsoka enter the room. She placed a hand on his arm, guiding him towards the door. “Master, you’ve been watching him for an hour. You should rest,” She said gently. 
“I need to make sure he doesn’t do anything-”
“It’ll be fine. He’s out cold, for now. And there’s guards watching him at all times. Rest.” She managed to pull him out of the room and down the hall. 
“Ahsoka- I wanted to tell you,” He paused their walk, turning to face her. His old Grandpadawan looked up at him, questioning. “I wanted to apologize for everything that happened. With the bombing. I’m sorry I didn’t fight harder for you, I should have-”
Ahsoka gave him a small, sad smile. “Master, it’s okay. We’re okay.” Obi-Wan knew she wasn’t excusing it, she was not fully forgiving the Council -their last few interactions had proved that- but right now, he was her Grandmaster, and she was his Grandpadawan. They needed each other, especially now. 
So Obi-Wan relented, and let her drag him to his quarters.
*** 
Padmé, Obi-Wan, Senator Chuchi, and Cody stood in the briefing room. The others had already left, leaving the four of them alone to review the plan one last time. 
Obi-Wan looked to the young Pantoran senator. “Senator Chuchi, you are aware of the risks involved in this plan?”
“Yes, I am, Master Kenobi. I am well aware of the potential danger. But if we are to succeed, we must all be put in a little danger. It’s part of every fight, and this is one we must win.” 
“Very well. We will depart tomorrow at 0600 hours, and no later,” Obi-Wan said to the group. 
“I suggest we all get some rest, then.” Senator Chuchi exited, though Padmé stayed behind to wait for Obi-Wan.
“If you don’t need anything else, Sir, I’ll be going over drills with the men,” Cody said, turning around. 
As the Commander walked away, Obi-Wan spoke. “Cody, I don’t suppose you’d like to spar later?” He watched as Cody stopped and turned around, and Obi-Wan kept his face as neutral as possible. 
He refused to think about that night, shoving down the memory and all the feelings that came with it.
“I’ll meet you in the training room later, Sir.” Cody gave him a half-smile and put on his helmet, walking out. 
Obi-Wan turned to face Padmé, who was grinning mischievously. “So, how long has that been going on?” 
He ignored the faint heat on his cheeks. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. And if I did, I’d tell you that nothing at all is going on. There is nothing between me and Cody.” 
Padmé laughed, the first true laugh he’d heard from her recently. “Keep telling yourself that.” She made for the door, still grinning, much to his chagrin. “Come on, let’s go.” 
*** 
After about two hours of sparring, Obi-Wan sat on the bench. “I think I’ve had enough for today. You?” 
Cody laughed tiredly as he sat beside his General. “Same here, Sir.” 
“Cody, you can call me Obi-Wan, you know,” his jetii said kindly.
“General-” 
“Cody, I insist.” Cody rolled his eyes at Obi-Wan’s words, but said nothing. The two of them sat in companionable, if slightly awkward, silence. 
For about two seconds. 
“Cody, we-”
“Obi-Wan, I-” 
They both stopped, and Obi-Wan gestured for Cody to continue. 
“Obi-Wan, I wanted to apologize for what happened that night. I was completely inappropriate, and it won’t happen again.”
He watched as Obi-Wan’s expression changed to one of surprise. “Cody, you don’t have to apologize. We were both tired that night, and stressed. I understand if any emotions were a bit haywire. And I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, with me being your CO and all. So, shall we agree to… put it behind us?” 
Cody hoped the jetii couldn’t sense his emotions at that moment. “Yes, Sir, I can agree to that.” 
Obi-Wan nodded, and faced forward again. The silence returned, this time thicker than before. They didn’t move much, except to glance at the other every once and awhile. 
Eventually, Cody thought he would burst, so he gathered all the courage he had, and faced Obi-Wan again.
His General turned to him as well. For a second, everything stopped, and neither moved, neither breathed- until the world crashed back to reality, and Cody was- 
Cody was kissing Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan was kissing him back. 
*** 
Senator Riyo Chuchi was not a coward. Not even close. But nothing could stop her hands from shaking slightly, or anxiety swirling in her chest, as the turbolift sped upwards. She swallowed, which turned into a small cough. Riyo faced forwards still, ignoring the side-eye she got from the Emperor’s aide next to her. 
The lift dinged. As the doors opened, Riyo’s eyes fell on the figures in the hallway. Their armor was familiar- but also not. The helmets were different, and no color was painted on, but Riyo assumed there must still be clones under there. And their chips likely deactivated as well, just like the men at the rendezvous. 
She walked slowly down the long corridor, and the Emperor’s aide sped up towards the office.
“Wait here, please,” The Aide said, and didn’t stay to hear Riyo’s reply. 
Riyo looked to who she assumed was the Commander- they had a shoulder pauldron, and stood closest to the office doors. 
The Emperor’s aide walked in, and as the doors slid shut, Riyo put the plan into action. 
Signing quickly to the Commander, she said, we need you. 
Riyo slowed her gait, careful to keep her hand as concealed as possible. The Commander signed back, almost imperceptibly. 
Pardon? 
You are you? Not your number? She messaged back. When met with a yes, her lips turned upwards slightly. 
Help us. Be prepared for the jetii and the vode. 
The Emperor’s aide opened the door again, gesturing Riyo inside the office. 
Her heart pounded, and she didn’t look at the Commander, but she was certain the message had been received. 
***
“Senator Chuchi, I assure you, the Jedi are not a threat,” The Emperor said to her. Riyo took a deep breath, one she hoped was interpreted as one of fear (which it was, but not of the Jedi). 
“And the Delegation of 2000? They will not try to… derail the Senate anymore?” 
The Emperor nodded. Riyo felt disgusted by all of this, but she kept it tied down. The galaxy needed her to play her part, just for a little while longer. 
“There is no need to worry, Senator. Everything has been taken care of.” Riyo nodded at Palpatine’s words. 
A new voice cut in, the door opening. “So sure of that, are you, hmm?” 
Riyo whipped her head around. Generals Yoda and Kenobi stood there, along with three of the four Commanders, and Ahsoka. 
Palpatine stood. “Guards!” 
There was no reply, though the guards stormed the room. But instead of pointing their blasters at the intruders, they trained them on the Emperor himself. 
Riyo adjusted the tiny holorecorder fit onto her tunic, and crouched behind a chair against the wall. 
The livestream began just as the battle did. 
*** 
A part of Bly wanted to run. Another part wanted to scream. But the bigger part of him kept him where he was. 
Which was the balcony of a skyscraper, with a clear vantage point into the Emperor’s office. Bly watched as the battle grew, sniper at the ready. 
The Emperor -oh, how Bly hated the Emperor- had his lightsaber ignited, cutting down members of the Coruscant Guard, blocking any attacks from the jetii, but the fight continued on. Each side would progress slightly before being pushed back. 
Palpatine deflected any shots directed his way, with his lightsaber and the Force, parrying the Jedi’s attacks all the while. Bly watched as Tano was kicked sharply in the stomach, and was practically slammed against the wall before collapsing on the floor. Rex kneeled over his vod’ika, keeping his pistols firing at the Emperor. Wolffe did the same for Senator Chuchi on the other side of the office, who was currently live streaming the fight for the entire galaxy to see the true nature of their ruler.
Said ruler was now shooting lightning sparks from his fingers, directing it at the two Jedi Masters, who managed to block it- but only just. Bly could tell they were tired. 
This fight needed to end. Fast. 
He trained his sniper on Palpatine’s moving figure. Rage, so much rage, filled him at the sight. Pain, anger, heartbreak consumed him- he thought of Aayla, of how much he loved her, and Felucia- 
His hands shook. The sniper was almost dropped, and Bly’s vision blurred. He gripped his weapon tighter, growling, his jaw clenched. 
“I’m sorry, cyare, I’m sorry- I didn’t- I didn’t mean to-” Tears glided down his face. 
A warm, almost comforting feeling wrapped around him. It held him in its grasp, protecting him, and it reminded him of Aayla. 
Bly remembered her words on Ilum, before everything. 
“That was the first time I realized that sometimes you have to give up control to think clearly. Stressing will not achieve anything. Trusting in others, in the Force, having faith that they will guide you; that is how we can move forward.”
Bly took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Did he trust in the Force? Well, he didn’t know how to, really- but he trusted Aayla. He trusted his riduur.
And that was good enough for him. 
The sniper focused on the Emperor. He let that feeling of warmth wrap around him, and he pulled the trigger. 
The livestream ended, along with Palpatine’s life. 
~11 months later~
Padmé stood on the estate’s balcony, watching the Naboo sunset. It casted a glow on her sleeping daughter’s infant face, and she felt at peace. 
Padmé had never known what it was like to love someone so much- not in this way. The moment her children were born, she knew she’d do anything for them. Anything. Whether it be protect them, help them, guide them, or simply love them.
She studied Leia’s face. It looked so much like Padmé’s own, though Luke looked like his father. But from what she’d gathered these last few months, their personalities were the opposite. 
Luke was serene, and never made too much of a fuss, unless truly upset. But his sister was a different story. She was Anakin’s child, Padmé knew; there was a fire in her that was pure Skywalker. 
Padmé’s heart fell slightly at the thought of Anakin. He was currently in a comfortable (comfortable being a relative term) holding facility on Coruscant, visited by a mind healer in the mornings and a therapist in the evenings. Padmé had only seen him once, when the kids were born, but neither Obi-Wan or Ahsoka had been at all. 
Both the mind healer and therapist were adamant that Obi-Wan and Ahsoka might trigger things in Anakin, who was only recently taking a turn for the better- and they couldn’t risk his progress. 
Padmé felt lonely, sometimes, raising her children alone. She wished Ani was there with her; but she believed that one day, he would be. 
She reminded herself she still had Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan, and Cody, and Rex; along with everyone else who she considered to be family now. Obi-Wan and Cody were coming to visit soon, having promised they’d watch the twins while Padmé returned to Coruscant for (hopefully) the passing of the Clone Rights Act. 
She was wary of leaving Luke and Leia, but she looked forward to seeing her good friend again, Chancellor Mon Mothma. She’d also meet with Commander Bly, the now representative of the vode in the Galactic Senate.
Padmé couldn’t wait to see her friends again, especially Obi-Wan and Cody; it had been too long since their last visit. She was also aware of how romantic the lake country could be- the perfect place for a proposal. Perhaps there was a wedding in the future? 
She knew it was hypocritical, but Padmé had better be invited to Obi-Wan’s wedding. If she wasn’t, there’d be hell to pay. 
But that was a discussion for another time. For now, Padmé held her daughter in her arms and walked the house at the sound of Luke’s cries. 
She gathered him in her arms, and looked at each of her kids’ faces in turn. Yes, she’d always be there for them, no matter what. She was a fighter, and her children were very much worth fighting for. 
It was one of the many things she’d do for love. 
*** 
And that’s a wrap, folks! 
Again, comments are a HUGE motivator to write…. Soo… if it’s okay…. PLEASE COMMENT! okay sorry i’ll stop now. 
Hope you enjoyed this series! To anyone who reads this: I am very, very thankful for you. 
57 notes · View notes
darling-i-read-it · 5 years ago
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Greatest Jedi
The Council (Part 1)
Obi-Wan Kenobi x reader
Word Count: 1.2k
Warnings: labour, pregnancy
Author’s Note: This was by far, one of my best sequels to a fic. I don’t really like to do seconds parts but I really liked this one. It can be read as a lone fic if anyone so pleases but there is one before it if you aren’t busy linked above
Requested: by anon, Hi again, you could do a "continuation" where she gets pregnant, because I really loved what Yoda said about her baby and obi wan. Only if you want to and of course, continue like this you write very well
Summary: the request
Genre: fluff
(not my gif)
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The hushed relationship didn’t last long. Most people already figured there was something going on between you and Obi-Wan but couldn’t quite put their finger on it. When word got around that the council had allowed two Jedis to continue a relationship they were having, it wasn’t hard to connect the dots. Plus the fact that the two of you were practically joined at the hip for any missions along with often training together. There was still much left to the imagination and no one actually asked you if it was the two of you who were allowed together but most people figured.
There was never much physical content in public despite the okay, the natural need to hide between walls hard to shake. Anakin once told you though that if anyone wanted to see what Y/N and Obi-Wan were like in bed they only had to stick around for one sparring session. The way your lightsabers moved with the knowledge of what the other was going to do next was simply mesmerizing. Sometimes clusters of children and adults alike would wander into the training rooms to watch.
Neither of you seemed to mind though. There was only one other person in the world when you were in the zone. In the bedroom or on the sparring mat, it never mattered.
And so it was no surprise to anyone but you and Obi-Wan when you found out you were pregnant. Sitting in the doctor's office, head in your hands nervously, you looked at the blank blue wall. You barely registered what the doctor was telling you except that she promised the knowledge here would stay in confidence unless you decided to keep the baby.
Suddenly your memory flashed back to that fateful council meeting, when Yoda had said something about the amount of force yours and Obi-Wan's children would hold. You had never planned on having any kids, the conversation out of the question due to the nature of your forbidden relationship. You wondered, briefly, if Obi-Wan would want you to get rid of it.
Your mind raced as you walked to your shared quarters, hands clasped in front of you. He was right where you thought he would be, standing at the balcony and overlooking the city below. You walked to him, boots hitting the floor hard and making your presence known. He turned, a smile on his features. He embraced you easily and noticed you're hesitant to touch him instantly.
“What's wrong?” he asked, voice laced with concern. You looked at the city, at the place you love was born and the place it would end, one way or another. Through death or heartbreak.
“I’m pregnant,” you whispered. His breath hitched and he watched your movements. It sunk in after a moment and then he look a long deep breath.
“You’re sure?” he asked. You nodded, turning to look at him. You couldn’t tell what he was thinking which was new for you. You always knew what he was thinking. But his face was hard and pursed as he thought.
“I want to keep it.” He nodded, processing that information as well.
“It isn’t ideal but it isn’t exactly unwelcomed.” You watched his emotions slip a little and fell into his arms.
“You’ll stay?” you whispered, worried. His chest moved against your face as he laughed lowly.
“Of course. I’m not leaving you or our little one.” There was a moment's pause. “Our child.” His voice sounded pleased and a little excited. Now that you knew he was okay with it, you were finally able to enjoy the moment as well. He kissed your forehead as you nodded against his chest.
“Our child.”
You walked close together to the council room. There was to be a meeting soon that Obi-Wan needed to be at and you had to break the news before you started showing. You walked in close behind him. Most of them were already there.
Yoda gave you a look.
“With child you are,” he said. You gave him an odd look, wondering how he could have known but you didn’t second guess Yoda. The council watched you and you nodded, approving the speculation. Obi-Wan took his seat and you stood before them.
“In documented history, two such strong force bearers have never had a child. It's the reason for the rule not to marry, as well as you keep ties away from emotions,” Windu told you. You nodded, a new sense of confidence falling over you now that you were speaking for you, Obi-Wan and your new child.
“And we are willing to be test subjects to the consequences that would uphold,” you voiced. There was a moment of silence that made you worry but Obi-Wan gave you a comforting look which you took to heart. They couldn’t stop you at this point but the need for them to know was obvious. You couldn’t go on missions if you were pregnant.
“Obi-Wan will need to go with Anakin I suppose then. We have matters to discuss, but we appreciate knowing. Best of luck to you both.” There was a moment of quiet making fun of Obi-Wan that you quite enjoyed before leaving.
When the child came most of the Jedi community was waiting. They weren’t sure if the child would outright murder someone with the amount of uncontained force but you were pretty sure most people would be out of harms way. It was an easy labour and you and Obi-Wan had a baby girl within about four hours.
Exhausted you allowed people to come into the room. Yoda and Windu, on behalf of the council, came in to congratulate and see how the girl was doing. Padme and Anakin walked in as well, happy to see the healthy child.
But the thing you remember the most was Obi-Wan, holding the child in his arms. She was still bloody and crying but through your strained eyes you could see his pure happiness as he handed her to you.
You think you cried.
Obi-Wan held your shoulder, making as much contact with you as you would allow, his fingers around your hand. You looked up at him, sweating but smiling.
“We made this,” you whispered. Again you heard Yoda in your head, speaking of the amount of force the child would hold.
You smiled.
“We made the best Jedi of anyone's time,” he mumbled and you rolled your eyes but knew he was probably more right than anyone else could have been.
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star-whores-a-new-hoe · 4 years ago
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Younglings//Obi Wan X Reader
Forever series: Part three
summary: in the wake of another attack, Obi Wan introduces you to some of the Jedi trainees
word count: 1554
Warnings: A few cuss words, me not understanding iPhones, Tik Tok, kids, (Yes children are a warning) angst, fluff, typos.
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You sat curled up in a fetal position under the bed. The sound of Blaster bullets deflecting off of lightsabers as the Jedi knights fought off the bounty hunter that had broken into the apartment. You tried to calm your fear and focus on your breathing as the fight went on. All of the sudden, the noise of fighting came to a halt. Silence rang throughout the room as you held your breath, waiting to see what the outcome of the fight was. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears, your hands were shaking. In a timid whisper you called out. “Obi Wan?” There was a short silence before you heard the sound of heavy footsteps approach your hiding spot. Your felt like your heart completely stopped. Had you just alerted the bounty hunter to your hiding spot? What was he gonna do to you? Was Obi Wan ok?
The footsteps stoped right in front of the bed, you heard whoever was in front of you bend down and lift up the covers hanging over the end of the bed. Your eyes met Obi Wan’s and You let out a sigh of relief. “Hello there.” He offered you a hand which you gladly took. “Are you alright?” You asked as you slid out from under the bed and stood up. You blushed slightly as he held your hand in his, enjoying the feeling of his warm calloused hand against yours. He let go of your hand.“Of course I’m alright,” he said putting his lightsaber back on his belt “I wouldn’t be a very good Jedi if I wasn’t.” Your sight fell upon the body of the bounty hunter that lay in the center of the apartment, another Jedi who had accompanied Obi Wan was propping the limp body up. “I-is he...” “Oh he’s quite alright, just having a nap until we can interrogate him.” You walked over to the broken window that the bounty hunter had smashed through. You stepped over the shards of broken glass and leaned against the window, taking a deep breath of fresh air. “I think the better question is are you alright?” “No I’m perfectly fine, not like I was attacked for the second time in a week or anything.” You said sarcastically.You turned around and your gaze meet Obi Wan’s, his beautiful blue eyes filled with concern. “I’m sorry, I’m just a little on edge.” You walked over to the bed and sat down, running a shaky hand through your hair. “ didn’t help that I didn’t get much sleep last night either, I had a stupid nightmare about some island and it was raining-“ “I had the same dream!” Obi Wan exclaimed. You whipped your head around and look at him in complete shock “Really?” “Of course not, that would be ridiculous.” He said as he sat down next to you. “Haha very funny.” You looked out the window again. You heard the other Jedi call Obi Wan over, he left your side to go talk to him. You two waited as the two Jedi conversed, Watching Obi wan and the He would cross his arms or stroke his beard while he was thinking. ‘Why does he have to be so damn hot?’ You though to yourself. After a few minutes, the other Jedi left to take away the bounty hunter and some droids to showed up to repair the broken window. Once everything was settled, Obi Wan came back over to you, his cloak laying over his arm, indicating that he was about to leave. “I’m afraid I must be going.” You nodded. You didn’t want to say anything for fear of sounding like a scared child, but you really didn’t want to be left alone the apartment. “Would you like to accompany me?” Obi Wan asked. You looked up at him with a weak smile and agreed. *** You stayed close to Obi Wan’s side as you made your way through the ornate halls of the Jedi temple. “Where are we going?” You whispered as you agusted your back pack. “I told you young one, it’s a surprise.” You couldn’t control the fluttering of your heart when he called you young one. “The bounty hunter attack was a surprise too ya know.” “Well this is one I think you’ll enjoy.” He said as you two turned the corner into a large doorway. You stopped in your tracks at the sight before you and squealed with delight. “Y/n, these are our Jedi trainees.” He said jestering to the room of five or six younglings. “Oh my god! Baby space wizards!” You shouted.
Obi Wan sighed. “I suppose that’s one way to put it. You really need to stop using the word ‘space’ to describe everything.”
“Not a chance.” You said marching into the room.
“Hello Master Kenobi!” Al the kids said in unison.
“Greetings young ones.” He motioned to you. “This is y/n, Master Yoda has asked us to watch over you all while he attends to business.”
You smiled at the nearest youngling, a young twi’lek girl grinned back to you.
“So what do you do around here for fun?” you asked the girl as several other children gathered around you.
“We train.” She said flatly.
“Yeah but like, do you play games or anything?” 
She shrugged. “Sometimes, do you know any games?”
You thought for a moment. “Actually...” You shrugged your backpack off your shoulders and dug through i. You finally pulled out your phone. “I have a few games on my phone!”
Obi Wan sat back and smiled as he watched you show the younglings how your phone worked. He couldn't get the thought out of his mind that in another time and place, you could have once been one of these young ones, training in the jedi temple.
He had been completely shocked by your midichlorian count yesterday. You had told him that there were no jedi on Earth, if that were so then why were you force sensitive? Could it be part of the reason you got transported here?
He shook those thoughts from his mind. ‘We have the book that got her here, we just need to translate it.’ He thought to himself. ‘We’ll have answers soon enough.’
“Hey Obi!” You called out, pulling out a pack of cards from your bag and dealing them out to the kids. “Wanna play?” He moved to where you sat on the floor and seated himself next to you.
“What’s the game?” He asked.
“Uno, it’s pretty easy you’ll pic it up in no time.”
“Well, I am told that I’m rather good at Sabak.”
“Then you’ll get this in no time!”
                                                         ***
When Master Yoda finally returned, he found Obi Wan sitting in one of the chairs, Amused as he watched you teach the kids a dance.
“What doing is she?” Yoda asked as he made his way towards where Obi Wan was seated.
“I believe she is teaching them something called a Tik Tok.” They watched you and the young ones dance to savage.
“I believe she referred to it as ‘the song of her people.’
Yoda nodded. “Take her words with a grain of salt I would.”
Obi Wan stroked his beard before asking his question. “Master, how are the translations of the book preceding?”
Yoda’s expresión looked grim. “Slowly they are.”
“Do you believe that y/n’s force sensitivity and the book are connected?” He said quietly, so that you wouldn’t hear.
Yoda hummed to himself. “Possible it is.”
“And I can’t tell her?” Obi Wan asked, looking at you longingly.
He shook his head. “Tell the wrong person she dose, would be very dangerous.”
Obi Wan stood up. “Well, I believe it is probably time for the youngling to return to their training then.”
You and Obi Wan bid farewell to the kids and made your way to the speeder outside the temple.
“I don’t think I’m ever gonna get used to speeders.” You said as you buckled yourself in.
“I’m not very fond of them myself.”
There was a pleasant silence as you two rode back to the apartment. You had really enjoyed hanging out with the younglings. It let you forget about your predicament for a bit and laugh again. 
Obi Wan found himself admiring you. The way the Coruscant sun shone in your hair, the gentle smile that graced your face, and how you closed your eyes enjoying the breeze. As much as he didn’t want to admit it to himself, he was in total awe of you.
“I have an idea.” You said, snapping him from his thoughts.
He turned his head back to the air way quickly, so that you wouldn't catch him staring at you. “Alright.”
“Well, if I hadn't contacted you in time this morning, I would have been toast.” He nodded waiting for you to continue. “So I was thinking, what if you taught me to use one of those space guns? Or some of that space karate stuff? That way I’m not completely defenseless.” 
‘Hmm, well I don’t know what karate is, but I do agree that teaching you some self defense could be very valuable to your safety. I’ll talk to Anakin and see if he can help me teach you some basics.”
You clapped your hands together. “Yay! I’m exited!” He smiled at your eagerness. “I can’t wait to learn space karate!”
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padawanlost · 4 years ago
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Anakin being jealous of Obi-Wan/Padme’s practically nonexistent relationship is fanom right? I thought it was clear he was enraged that they went behind his back and plotted to “kill him” (I know they didn’t but he doesn’t). Not jealous rage but a rage fueling from betrayal (another example of him being the textbook case of hufflepuffs gone bad)
Let’s thank Stover for that one lol There’s a moment in the book where Palpatine hints that Obi-wan is visiting Padmé behind his back. But it wasn’t an affair, he was hitting Padmé was plotting a coup with the Jedi. 
He said slowly, eyes still closed, “You still haven’t told me what this has to do with Obi-Wan.” “Ah, that—well, that is the difficult part. The disturbing part. It seems that Master Kenobi has been in contact with a certain Senator who is known to be among the leaders of this cabal. Apparently, very close contact. The rumor is that he was seen leaving this Senator’s residence this very morning, at an … unseemly hour.” “Who?” Anakin opened his eyes and sat forward. “Who is this Senator? Let’s go question him.” “I’m sorry, Anakin. But the Senator in question is, in fact, a her. A woman you know quite well, in fact.” “You—” He wasn’t hearing this. He couldn’t be. “You mean—” Anakin choked on her name. Palpatine gave him a look of melancholy sympathy. “I’m afraid so.” Anakin coughed his voice back to life. “That’s impossible! I would know—she doesn’t … she couldn’t—” “Sometimes the closest,” Palpatine said sadly, “are those who cannot see.” [Matthew Stover. Revenge of the Sith]
Anakin goes home after this and feels Obi-wan’s presence but he also notices more people, senators, have been visiting Padmé. His main concern after this is Padmé’s political actions against Palpatine (and, in his mind, the Republic).
He moved through Padmé’s apartment like a shadow, like a ghost at a banquet. He touched nothing. He looked at everything. He felt as if he’d never seen it before. How could she do this to him? Sometimes the closest are those who cannot see. How could she? How could he? In the Force, the whole apartment stank of Obi-Wan. His finger traced the curving back of her couch. Here. Obi-Wan had sat here. Anakin rounded the couch and settled into that same spot. His hand fell naturally to the seat beside him … and there he felt an echo of Padmé. The dragon whispered, That’s a little close for casual conversation. This was a different kind of fear. Even colder. Even uglier. Fear that Palpatine might be right … [...] So Padmé had been entertaining other visitors, too. From a pocket on his equipment belt he pulled a flimsi of Palpatine’s list of suspect Senators. He scanned down the list, looking for names of Senators he knew well enough that he might recognize the Force-echoes of their presence here. [Matthew Stover. Revenge of the Sith]
“Anakin, what is it?” She came toward him, one hand reaching for him. “What’s wrong?” He lurched to his feet. “Obi-Wan’s been here, hasn’t he?” “He came by this morning.” She stopped. Her hand slowly lowered back to her side. “Why?” “What did you talk about?” “Anakin, why are you acting like this?” One long stride brought him to her. He towered over her. For one stretching second she looked very small, very insignificant, very much like some kind of bug that he could crush beneath his heel and just keep on walking. “What did you talk about?” She gazed steadily up at him, and on her face was only concern, shaded with growing hurt. “We talked about you.” “What about me?” “He’s worried about you, Anakin. He says you’re under a lot of stress.” “The way you’ve been acting, since you got back—” “I’m not the one doing the acting. I’m not the one doing the pretending! I’m not the one sneaking in here in the morning!” “No,” she said with a smile. She reached up to lay the palm of her hand along the line of his jaw. “That’s usually when you’re sneaking out.” Her touch unclenched his heart. [Matthew Stover. Revenge of the Sith]
He had only one thought. Padmé …? How much trouble was she in? “Didn’t I warn you, Anakin? Didn’t I tell you what Obi-Wan was up to? Why do you think he was meeting with the leaders of this … delegation … behind your back?” “But—but, sir, please, surely, all they asked for is an end to the war. It’s what the Jedi want, too. I mean, it’s what we all want, isn’t it? Isn’t it?” “Perhaps. Though how that end comes about may be the single most important thing about the war. More important, even, than who wins.” Oh, Padmé, Anakin moaned inside his head. Padmé, what have you gotten yourself into? [Matthew Stover. Revenge of the Sith]
“But Senator Amidala is hiding something. Surely you sensed it.” “If she is—” Anakin swayed; the floor seemed to be tilting under his feet like the deck of Invisible Hand. “Even if she is,” he said, his voice flat, overcontrolled, “it doesn’t mean that what she is hiding is treason.” Palpatine’s brows drew together. “I’m surprised your Jedi insights are not more sensitive to such things.” “I simply don’t sense betrayal in Senator Amidala,” Anakin insisted. Palpatine leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers, studying Anakin skeptically. “Yes, you do,” he said after a moment. “Though you don’t want to admit it. Perhaps it is because neither you nor she yet understands that by betraying me, she is also betraying you.” “She couldn’t—” Anakin pressed a hand to his forehead; his dizziness was getting worse. When had he last eaten? He couldn’t remember. It might have been before the last time he’d slept. “She could never …” “Of course she could,” Palpatine said. “That is the nature of politics, my boy. Don’t take it too personally. It doesn’t mean the two of you can’t be happy together.”  [Matthew Stover. Revenge of the Sith]
Palpatine clearly planted the seed of mistrust and Anakin did become suspicious of Padmé’s actions but Anakin never openly talks (or even thinks) about the possibility of an affair. It was something that was hinted at (if I’m not mistaken it used to be part of the original script) but it’s never made as explicit as some fans believe it was. 
Anakin does believe Padmé betrayed her it but by plotting against Palpatine and taking Obi-wan to Mustafar, not because she was having an affair with him. Later, as Vader, he was totally paranoid about it, believing everyone was betraying. However, before that, when he was more stable and reasonable he never once thought Padmé was actually having an affair with Obi-wan., he only *feared* it might be a possibility.
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tatooines-ghosts · 4 years ago
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HAPPY 2020s ENDING Y’ALL!!!
Enjoy a little blog-exclusive Shades AU that I affectionately refer to as the No Jedi Allowed AU, feat. everybody’s favorite prequel-era Mandalorian bounty hunter.
Sometime this last summer, while trying to work past writer’s block, I toyed with a little AU idea for funsies, I made a post about it, said I wasn’t going to do anything else with it, and left it at that. Until a month or two ago when, still in the throes of writer’s block, I took that little AU idea and figured “fuck it, I’m not working on the next chapter, but at least it’s writing SOMETHING Shades related” and made a real thing out of it.
This is Part 1. Future parts will come out at some point in the future, I’m thinking about making these a holiday special or something haven’t decided yet. (And really it’s only blog-exclusive because I cannot make a series on AO3 and remain anonymous so...)
Enough rambling. Please read, I hope you all enjoy this look at how things might have gone a little differently if a couple Jedi didn’t end up going all the way out to Tatooine to stick their noses into Hutt business.
Please assume content warnings given on AO3 may apply to this story as well. Also, beware spoilers if you are not fully caught up on the main story.
No Jedi Allowed AU - Part 1
Jango Fett heaved a long sigh as the door closed behind him. He had just finished up a long job for Jabba, one that should have been quick but ended up requiring well over a week of stake outs and reconnaissance, but in the end he got his man, as he always did. Jabba had at least expressed his gratitude suitably, in money and amenities. He had given Jango one of the better guest suites and was probably going to send up one of his better girls for a night of entertainment.
Jango began shedding his armor, considering what he would do with the slave girl. He really didn't have the energy to draw anything out. He hoped it wasn't going to be a new girl, explaining how things work was more effort than he cared to expend. Really he just wanted a shower and to sleep, but he wasn't about to leave his stuff unattended with a stranger on the way.
There was a light rap on the door.
"Enter."
The slave entered pushing a dinner cart. Jango breathed a sigh of relief. "Skywalker, nice to see you again."
She flashed him a small smile. "Been a while, hasn't it, Jango?" She paused just over the threshold and let the door lock behind her. "The usual tonight?"
"Sure." He finished removing his armor and set it aside carefully aside. "Get yourself ready, I'm hitting the shower first."
He stepped into the 'fresher, leaving Skywalker alone. Ten minutes later, he was stepping back out, with the provided robe draped around him. His clothes were a little rank, and the quick rinse he gave them in the shower wasn't enough to really clean them. They'd get a proper wash when he got home.
Skywalker had set up dinner, laying out the food and drink from the cart on the little dining table for him. She was perched at the holotable, flipping through the selection of games. There weren’t many games, as most visitors to a Hutt pleasure den were usually otherwise occupied in their rooms, or wanted to watch porn.
"How's dejarik sound? I'm not feeling anything particularly strenuous tonight."
"Fine." Jango sat down in the free seat. He grabbed the complimentary bottle of liquor and poured himself a healthy glass. He offered Skywalker a drink, but she declined. She did pick at the fruit he offered to share. There was always more food than he could eat, and he knew the slaves didn’t get fed nearly as well as guests.
She made the first move on the dejarik board. "How's Boba?"
They fell into comfortable conversation about Boba, about Skywalker's sister, about the recently finished racing season – Jango congratulated Skywalker on another victorious season. They played a few lackluster games of dejarik. That was a bit unusual, Skywalker was a worthy opponent, and she didn’t usually lose more than once or twice.
He beat her soundly for the fourth time in a row, the board resent, his turn to make the first move, but instead he checked the time. "I think I'm going to turn in. It's late enough."
"Yeah," she agreed distractedly. She fiddled with the edge of the gauzy white shawl wrapped around her. She looked pale, uneasy.
Jango gave her another critical, searching look. Her behavior was odd enough, was she supposed to be spying on him? Bribe him, coerce him, assassinate him? He knew Jabba wasn’t opposed to taking out a troublesome being with some poison served by a pretty face, but Jango hadn’t done anything to offend his second-best employer recently. The Hutt had no reason to want him dead, or otherwise intimidated.
Maybe Skywalker was just having an off day, or dealing with some other problem. He wasn’t going to ask. Wasn’t his business.
Her outfit tonight was white and copper, paper-thin linen wrapped in layers to be made suitably opaque, with copper metal accents to draw the eye and match the heavy collar around her neck. It was one of her softer, looser costumes. Aside from looking pale and anxious, Skywalker looked pretty good, a little softer, better fed. Jabba kept his slaves starved and stick thin, save for a few exceptions for the fetishists. This was a change, but not a poor one. Maybe Skywalker was being treated better after another successful racing season.
He turned off the holotable and stood up to stretch. The bed was looking very comfortable, and he wanted to get out of here early tomorrow morning.
Skywalker didn't move. "Jango, I need your help."
He fell still. This was a first, she had never asked for his help before. He'd taught her a few tricks to defend herself against handsy patrons who hadn't paid for the privilege to touch her. Maybe someone was a little more aggressive than she could handle. But Jabba had enforcers on staff whose job it was to take care of people like that. There wasn't anything else he could do for her. She had nothing to ask him to smuggle of planet, and there probably wasn't anything she knew of that he could bring to her. Which meant she was about to ask him to do something very stupid and probably impossible.
"What is it?"
She turned her wide blue eyes to him, her lower lip was caught between her teeth, and she worried it as she considered her next words. He could read her indecision clear in her face. His heart sank. If she was so afraid to even say the words, it couldn't be anything good.
"I need you to free me and my sister."
Jango actually laughed, a single, dry bark. "You're joking." She wasn't. "You want me to steal you from the Hutts? Never gonna happen. Jabba would kill us both for just considering it."
She didn't seem particularly disappointed with his rejection. She implored, "Please, Jango, you're our only hope for freedom."
"No. No way." Even if he wanted to, Jango wouldn't risk earning Jabba's ire, no matter how much he liked Skywalker.
Yes, he felt sorry for Skywalker and her little sister. Being born slaves was unfortunate, but it was their rotten luck that they ended up being owned by Jabba the Hutt. If anyone touched Jabba's property, or thought they could steal from him, they were dead already. Jango had been hired several times to bring in a bounty on someone who had done exactly that. He was not going to put himself on Jabba's shit list.
"I'm pregnant!" she blurted out. "Please, Jango, I can't let my baby be born a slave too." She shifted her arms, removing the shawl from around her waist, and there was the unmistakable roundness to her belly. "I don't even know if Jabba will let me keep my baby."
Jango sighed heavily. "He let you keep your sister."
"Because I didn't give birth to her, because he needed leverage over me after my mom died." She drew a shaking breath; he could see tears gathering in her frightened eyes. "He hasn't even made up his mind on whether he'll let me have the baby. Any day now he could take them from me if it stops me from being able to serve. He'll cut the baby out of me, he'll kill them. And if I do get to have them, then what? He'll steal them from my arms, or just use them like he uses Shila. Please, Jango, I can't go on like this. I want my baby to live. I want to raise them. I want Shila to grow up and know what freedom is."
Jango didn't move, didn't speak, his eyes stayed on Skywalker. His brain was already picking at the idea; it wouldn't be too difficult to – no! He was not about to ruin his career and risk his life for a pregnant slave girl, it's not like the baby was his. What stake did he have at all in Skywalker's future? None! If he tried helping her and they got caught, Boba would be left fatherless. The boy might never know what became of his father. But Anakin... she was the victim of her circumstances. Her little sister and her unborn baby were innocent of the whole matter. They were just slaves.
It wasn't like Jango was opposed to slavery, it was a lucrative evil for the dark corners of the galaxy, and it kept him paid, fed, and employed. He was a mercenary; he wasn't a saint, or even really a good person. Killing was never personal, it was for the job, but he still had a code of honor. And abandoning Skywalker after she asked for his help, after she had exposed herself to be in such a vulnerable position… that was breaking his code.
Would he be able to live with himself if he left her here to her fate? If Jabba stole her child, would he ever be able to look her in the eye again? And Boba... was this the kind of example he wanted to set for his son? Disregarding the lives of children and babies because he didn’t want to risk his own neck. Shameful. Dishonorable. No true Mandalorian would sacrifice a child’s life for their own comfort.
"Ossik," Jango hissed under his breath, dropping back into his seat. "Okay. Fine. I'll get you out of here."
X
Freeing Skywalker and her little sister was easier than Jango suspected it would have been. Granted it was easy for him to go where he needed in the palace, and nobody looked at him twice. He met Shila Skywalker, the little ad'ika he had heard so much about from her older sister. It was clear they were family, they shared the same face, but where Anakin was fair haired and blue-eyed, Shila was dark haired and brown-eyed. Reportedly she looked like their mother, Shmi, but Jango had never met the woman. Shila was young, only three years old, and she was quiet and shy, and frightened of Jango; a fact that was not helped at all when Jango had to cut the slave chip out of the child's stomach. It was just beneath the skin, and he didn't have to cut deep, so he was able to be very quick about it, but it still had to be done without pain killers.
It hadn’t been pleasant or fun for any involved. Skywalker had to hold the child down, keeping her hand pressed over Shila’s mouth to muffle the screams. But Jango had been the one with the knife. It would probably be some time before the child trusted him.
She flinched away from him with a whimper, hiding her face in her sister’s shoulder when he offered his hand after it and apologized. “Sorry, ad’ika, but you were very brave.”
The elder Skywalker, on the other hand, hardly made a sound when Jango carved out her chip from her shoulder.
With the girls freshly unchipped, Jango smuggled them unseen into his ship and stowed them in a hidden compartment in his cargo hold. It was specially lined to block life signs from most scanners, and certainly anything Jabba had his hands on out here. He left at dawn, nobody looked twice as he had made several comments before about leaving early, and he had never made a habit of staying very long in Jabba's palace in the first place.
Only when he was safely in hyperspace and clear from any Hutt influence did he release his cargo from the hold. Shila had been soothed to sleep by her sister, but Anakin was fully alert and terrified.
"Thank you for doing this," she said gratefully. "Jango, I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you. You saved our lives."
"Don't thank me yet. Just because I got you out of there doesn't mean you're safe. Jabba's not going to like losing you."
"I know." Her hand moved behind Shila, rested against her belly. "But you've given us a chance."
A few hours later there was a small explosion at Jabba's palace. Nobody was injured, and the damage was minimal, but it threw everyone and everything into hysterics. In the chaos, it took time for someone to take count of the slaves, and then they noticed two very valuable slaves were missing. Search parties uncovered the hastily buried tracker chips, coated in dried blood and sand. Jabba's wrath was terrible and he turned the planet of Tatooine upside down looking for Anakin Skywalker.
X
Jango landed Slave I on the storm tossed landing pad, rain drummed against the hull. It was midday, though the rainclouds were so thick it might as well have been midnight. He dropped from the cockpit down to the passenger hold, where Skywalker sat with her sister.
Anakin, he supposed he should get used to calling her by her first name. They were aliit now. Whether she knew it or not, when Anakin had thrown her lot in with him to gain her freedom, Jango had brought her into his tiny clan. There really was no way to get around it. Releasing the Skywalkers into the galaxy to fend for themselves was as good as putting a blaster bolt in the back of their skulls. Jabba would have them back and dead, or worse, by week’s end. There was safety, at least, in a clan, security under the Fett name; even if the clan had doubled it in size overnight.
Shila was sleeping soundly, curled in her sister's arms and lap, but Anakin was alert and worried.
"What's that noise? An attack?"
The rain was so familiar to Jango, he tuned it out automatically. "What? No, that's the rain. Water falling from the sky," he had to clarify. He realized rain probably wasn't a word that ever got thrown around on Tatooine.
Anakin glowered at him. "I know what rain is. My mother told me." Her cheeks went pink. "I just didn't realize it made much noise."
Jango gave her some credit. "It is coming down rather hard out there. Come on. We'll get you inside and into more suitable clothes."
Kamino was cold, and the cloner's kept their facility chilly. Anakin's service costume was not going to cut it. He opened the cargo ramp, a blast of cold, wet air swept in.
He heard a gasp and a yelp behind him, Shila had woken up. Anakin tried to comfort the child in Huttese, but Jango could see her own eyes were wide with fear. This much rain and water had to be a shock. But Jango was hungry, tired, and ready to change into something more comfortable. He didn't want to stand here until the desert natives got used to rain.
"Come on," he said again, taking Anakin by the arm and pulling her forward. They walked quickly from ship to facility door, Jango keeping his grip firm so Anakin didn't slip and fall on the wet walkway, her shoes were less suitable for the slick metal than her clothes were for the climate. By the time they stepped inside, Anakin was shivering. Whether from the cold and wet, or everything else, he wasn't sure but thirty seconds in the downpour had turned her costume downright indecent. The flowy white linen had turned translucent and plastered against her body. It made the curve of her belly even more obvious.
It was a good thing Skywalker was so distracted looking around at everything else to not notice him staring and frowning at her. Well, more accurately, staring at her abdomen. A seed of doubt quickly settled and bloomed in his mind – not the first to grow since he agreed to free the Skywalkers, and he squashed it like the others. Having a baby around soon was going to make things interesting.
He sighed softly and shook his head. That little bastard was going to cause him a lot of trouble, he knew it already. After all, it had been the baby that tipped him over to helping the Skywalkers in the first place and inevitably put him on Jabba’s shit list.
How long would it be until Jabba put a bounty on his head? He couldn't possibly be so lucky as to escape without suspicion.
Jango stepped off down the hall, wondering whether the Skywalkers should be seen by a doctor first or if he should just take them home. When the ad'ika began to complain of the cold and the wet, he bypassed the corridor turn that would lead to the medical wing.
Their apartment had that mild, unlived in scent when he stepped in. Boba would have been left with his Kaminoan caretakers while Jango had been gone for a few weeks.
"Come on. We'll get you dried and change clothes before getting you to a doctor."
"Doctor?"
Jango stepped into the 'fresher and dug out some clean towels. He buried his derisive snort in the linen closet. "I doubt Jabba wasted any expenses on having you checked out, didn't he?"
"No, he didn't." Anakin folded her hands over her belly. "I thought for the longest time it might be dead inside me, but I've started to feel them move."
Jango handed her two towels. "How far along are you?"
"Almost six months."
Anakin bent to wrap Shila in the fluffy towel so she didn't see Jango frown at her. He was no expert, but he was almost certain most women were bigger by the time they were five or six months pregnant. Sure, she looked pregnant, but only barely.
"You sure about that?"
Anakin stilled, but nodded, her voice was low and confident. "Yes. I know exactly when it happened."
Jango wasn't going to press the issue. The Kaminoans could figure out the nitty gritty biological details. He moved to the bedrooms, "I'll find you some dry clothes. Won't fit all that well, but they'll be warmer and more suitable than that costume." He pulled a shirt and a pair of pants with a soft, drawstring waistband from his closet. The Kaminoans would have no trouble fabricating something more suitable for Anakin and Shila to wear, but this would do short-term. The little girl's clothes were the basic pants and tunic of Tatooine, but Anakin's costume would be entirely unsuitable for Kamino's climate, not to mention just daily life.
Jango grabbed a shirt from Boba’s room for Shila. It was big enough to be a dress on the child, and the sleeves fell past her hands, but it was workable with a few adjustments. Anakin's clothes were just as ill-fitting, but she didn't complain. She just had to pull the drawstring tight to keep her pants secure around her waist.
"It's only temporary," Jango assured her as she tugged at the oversized shirt. "We'll get you some better fitting clothes ‘fabbed once the Kaminoans get their measurements."
"It's fine," Anakin said quietly, fingering the shirt fabric, it was probably sturdier than anything she'd worn in a long time. Jango's clothes were made for warmth and wear. "This will do."
Jango took them back from the apartment and into the cloning complex, through the cold white hallways to the medical facility. It wasn't empty, it never was. With how many clones the Kaminoans spat out, the medical facilities were always busy; someone was always hurt or sick or injured, or having their genetic aberrations evaluated for viability. But the entrance from Jango's side of the facility kept him separated from the main body. He had mentioned the cloners to Anakin before, but he wasn't sure how much she had picked up on though. It had been a passing conversation as he taught her how to play sabbac. He felt like explaining it in whole might be a bit much for the newly-freed slave.
His side of the medical facility was a little clinic set aside from the main body of the medical wing. It was just one room; the medical bed dominated one side, while cabinets of medication and supplies lined the other walls. There were two doors, one they came through and another that went into the larger facility.
Jango flipped a switch on the panel by the facility door, it would summon a doctor. It must have been a slow day because a Kaminoan stepped into the room a few moments later, one of the doctors. Her big eyes scanned over Anakin and Shila before turning to Jango.
"What can I do for you today, Jango?"
"Doctor Wey Luma, this is Anakin and Shila Skywalker, new additions to my aliit. They both had subdermal chips removed that need patching up, and health checks, and Anakin's pregnant."
Kaminoans weren't nearly as expressive as humans, but Jango could see the excitement in Wey Luma's face. The doctors working with the clones were human specialists, but it wasn't like they came across any pregnant ones in this facility. She would probably become a scientific celebrity just on the fact that she got knocked up. He hoped Anakin wouldn't mind the scientists pawing at her. Probably not, she had enough practice with drunk Hutt patrons, and the Kaminoans wouldn't want to fuck her.
He turned to the Skywalkers, "Wey Luma will take care of you. I need to make some arrangements for your stay here."
"Okay." Anakin nodded and set her sister on the bed at the doctor's encouragement. Jango left the room and pulled up his comm.
He made a call to Taun We to arrange for a bigger apartment, they would need more space with Anakin, Shila, and a baby on the way. Plus supplies and clothing for the new additions.
And it was time to get Boba back from his caretakers and introduce his son to his new aliit. By the time he stepped back into the exam room, Anakin was perched on the medical bed, and Wey Luma was practically buzzing with excitement.
"Such hybridizations are almost unheard of," the doctor trilled. "You could provide us with priceless data."
Anakin looked nervous. She chewed on her lower lip while her hands rested over her little belly. "Would that mean you'll make sure the baby is healthy?"
The Kaminoan paused, confused. Jango stepped in quickly. "They'll take care of you and the baby regardless of whether you agree to let them study you."
"Oh, yes, of course," Wey Luma insisted quickly. "We would not withhold medical treatment. But… you would just do us an enormous favor if we were able to study you and your child."
"What's so special about it anyway?" Jango asked before Anakin had to agree to anything.
"He's half-pantoran. Humans and pantorans typically do not mix genetically."
Jango grunted in understanding. He understood only the most basics of genetics, and he imagined Anakin understood even less. "She'll think about it."
There was nothing else they needed from the doctor, so Jango took them back home.
Taun We was waiting with Boba and a small crate of supplies, the new clothes. Kaminoans were nothing if not efficient; the clothing fabricators must have gotten Anakin's measurements from the medical scans.
There wasn’t time for more than the quickest introductions, as their apartment had to be packed up and everything moved into bigger quarters. A squad of droids expedited the process, and after only a couple hours, they were fully moved into a new apartment.
Taun We and the droids left the newly expanded Fett clan alone to get properly acquainted.
“Boba,” Jango put a hand on his son’s shoulder, pushing him forward ever so slightly. “This is Anakin and her sister Shila Skywalker.”
Boba’s dark eyes traced over the Skywalkers. Confusion curled in his head, father had never brought home anyone before, much less a woman and child. He’d met a few of his father’s more trustworthy associates before, but Anakin didn’t look like a bounty hunter or well… much of anything. What was it about them that had prompted such a sudden uprooting? Why were they now living together?
He’d heard Jango and Anakin muttering about a baby earlier during the move. Was that why? Was she his father’s… girlfriend? Was Shila his half-sister? A natural born Fett heir?
Jango’s grip tightened on Boba’s shoulder and he quickly remembered his manners. “Hello.” He nodded quickly to Anakin and Shila, and then turned to his father for further explanation.
“Anakin and Shila are alit now. I expect you to treat them as such.”
Aliit? Them? That word meant something in Mando’a, Jango wouldn’t throw it around casually. But he knew his father’s adopted clan lines, he knew the branches and offshoots, and distant relations belonging to the family that had taken his father in as a boy. Skywalker was not one of those family names.
“Where did they come from?”
“Tatooine.”
That illuminated very little for Boba, but he could hear the mildly dismissive tone in his father’s words. Now was not the time for more questions.
Jango pushed Boba forward a little more. “Anakin and I need to talk. Can you keep Shila entertained?”
“Oh, okay.” Boba craned his neck a little to peek behind Anakin’s legs, where Shila was hiding. “Shila?” The child buried her face in the back of Anakin’s thighs.
Anakin smiled slightly and scooped her hand behind the child’s head and pushed her forward towards Boba. She said in gentle Huttese, “Go on, Shila, go with Boba.”
Shila stumbled forward, gripping tightly to Anakin’s sleeve. Her eyes were wide and frightened, and Boba didn’t miss the way she flinched away from Jango.
“Introduce yourself.” Anakin prompted.
Shila stuttered out in Huttese a quiet little, “H-hello.”
Boba looked back to his father once again, asking silently if Shila only spoke Huttese. His father nodded curtly, yes.
No worry there, Boba was near fluent in Huttese, so he smiled at the little girl and said back to her, “Hello Shila, I’m Boba.”
Her eyes lit up when she finally understood his words. Boba offered his hand and the child took it. He led her off down the hallway to her new bedroom, right across the hall from Boba’s.
“Let’s see what kind of toys we can find.”
Boba thought he was getting a little too old for toys, but the move had unearthed a lot of old stuff he had nearly forgotten about. He pulled the box down and set it on the floor for Shila to explore while he moved to the open door and tried to listen to whatever his father and Anakin were discussing, but they were speaking too quietly for him to overhear. Jango was clattering around the kitchen, preparing their evening meal, but also making enough noise to purposefully discourage eavesdropping.
Annoyed and disappointed, Boba turned back to Shila. She had tipped most of the boxes contents out onto the floor and had promptly ignored all of them for the plush Aiwha that was almost as big as she was. It must have been a gift or something, though Boba had never particularly cared for the stuffed animal; or many plus toys in general. Shila seemed to like it, though, so he held no qualms bestowing it upon her. Shila was so delighted and excited over the gift, she even dragged it out to the kitchen when they were called for dinner to show Anakin what Boba had given her.
Shila was all set to sit the Aiwha at the table with them for dinner, but Anakin had her put it back in her room. Jango wouldn’t have cared either way – it wouldn’t have been the first time a toddler would have insisted that a favorite toy had to be a dinner guest – but Anakin was still trying to figure out her place in this whole affair, so he wasn’t about to step in a parent her baby sister. Not yet at least.
Shila was still very much frightened of him, even without his armor and the knife, it would be some times before she warmed up to him. Probably when the pain and scar from her tracker faded. Having everyone around her able to speak the same language helped, but Jango knew the child couldn’t only know Huttese for forever. Galactic Basic was a must, as was Mando’a, and Kaminoan would be useful too. He had no doubt Shila would pick up new languages quickly, children that young learned fast. Anakin on the other hand needed to start Mando’a lessons as quickly as possible, picking up the language would be harder for her, but it was something she had to know.
Nobody in his aliit would not be fluent in Mando'a.
"You keep using that word," Anakin observed over dinner. "'A-leet' what does it mean?"
"Aliit means family, of the same clan."
She frowned at him, her brow furrowing in suspicion. "But we're not-"
"You are newly freed slaves. You have no clan or family. You're foundlings and I have taken you in, so now you are part of my aliit. The galaxy is safer for you this way, you have protection."
Anakin stared at him, caught between gratitude and suspicion. “Does this mean we will have to change our names?”
For practical reasons, it would be safer for Anakin and Shila to adopt new surnames; it reduced the chance people would recognize her by name. But he understood the importance and attachment beings could have to family names. If he told her she had to change, she would probably do so without complaint, but that might make her resent the name, resent him and this gift of freedom he was giving her. Then again, this wasn’t something he felt was within his power to decide for her. “Not if you don’t want to.”
Anakin nodded slowly, considering something else. “Does that mean we’re trapped here?”
Trapped wasn’t the word that Jango would have chosen, but he knew where she was coming from. What was the point of being free if you had nowhere to go except back to slavery? With no home, no family, no resources, or friends to turn to Kamino could feel like a trap.
“For now,” he said reassuringly, “You are safe here, and hidden. Kamino is not widely known to the galaxy, nor will the Hutts think to search for you here. And there’s no chance of anyone seeing you and turning you back over to him. If you find staying here to be truly interminable, I can make other arrangements for you, but it will take time.”
Most of the suspicion left Anakin, though Jango could still read a little unease in her. Freedom would take time to adjust to, and it had been less than a day. Her eyes skimmed over him and to the dark, rain-lashed windows that made up a wall of their living area. She managed an uneasy smile and said lightly, “Well, it is very different from Tatooine.”
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catharticdaydream · 4 years ago
Text
just stop your crying (it’ll be alright) PART TWO
read on ao3! :https://archiveofourown.org/works/29679684/chapters/72978960#workskin
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when obi wan woke up, it was because the ship was telling him he was arriving at his destination. he blinked a few times, getting his bearings before remembering he was on a ship heading to jedha, and not on the sandy planet of tatooine. he sat up, rubbing his eyes and taking the ship off of autopilot, landing it on a crowded landing bay in what looked like the heart of the planet. 
stepping off the ship, obi wan felt uneasy almost immediately. he had no reason to believe that ahsoka wanted anything to do with him, let alone see him. what if she knew he was alive, and simply didn’t care? 
‘that’s silly,’ obi wan thought. ‘there was no way she could have known you were alive. you haven’t had any contact with any other jedi since-’ obi wan shook his head. of course ahsoka would be happy to see him. or at least that’s what he had to tell himself in order to keep going. 
he realized fairly quickly that he had arrived on jedha with nothing to go on. he didn’t even know if ahsoka was still here, and if she would, where she would be. bo katan said she was undercover, so what if he wasn’t able to recognize her? he had gone undercover plenty of times, and one time it involved him physically changing into another person. the only hope that he had of finding ahsoka was…
was opening himself up to the force again. 
obi wan didn’t like the force. not anymore. his bond with anakin didn’t break when he fell, instead, it rotted, turning into a phantom of it former self. back during the clone wars, his bond with anakin was a constant comfort, a reassurance that they were both still okay, that they were alive and together- no matter how dire the situation was. they spent rough nights sleeping on cold floors or jail cells, or in the back of a ship, sending each other comforting waves through their bond. quite honestly, it was the reason both of them had been able to remain as sane as they did. most padawans broke their bonds with their masters in a ritual during the knighting ceremony, but anakin and obi wan had decided, perhaps selfishly, that it would be more useful for them to keep the bond open until at least the war was over. that was the story they told the council, who reluctantly agreed. secretly, they both knew it was because neither of them was ready to let the other go. qui gon had told obi wan once that he couldn’t picture him as a jedi knight. it wasn’t said out of malice, in fact it was quite the opposite. qui gon simply wasn’t ready to see the boy grow up. obi wan found himself in a similar situation with anakin- he had his childhood stolen from him because of slavery, and then his training was cut short as the war began. obi wan wasn’t ready to stop caring for the boy, wasn’t ready to stop being responsible for his needs. it was attachment, and they both knew it. they never addressed it. 
when anakin fell, it wasn’t an immediate feeling. their bond changed, of course, it felt more rigid and angry, but it still wasn’t bad. in fact, obi wan spent the first few weeks in exile taking comfort in the fact that it hadn’t broken, taking it as a sign of hope, that perhaps anakin could still be saved. but over the course of the next few weeks, he could feel anakin- no, vader- vader’s hatred and loathing start to harden. their bond became hot, sharp, painful, and noisy. obi wan tried to be as strong as possible, but eventually, the pain became too much to bear. rather than break it, though, obi wan shut himself off to the force completely. he figured he could come back to it later. breaking their bond would mean giving up on anakin altogether. 
here he was, though, four years later, forced to open himself up to the force once again. he wasn’t sure the force would be very happy with him, and braced himself for the onslaught of anger that he would face once it happened. he found a relatively quiet space to meditate, and focused on his abilities to tap into the force. he thought of the happy memories he had raising anakin, like the first time anakin had felt comfortable talking to obi wan about his mother. he thought about satine, about how happy she made him. he thought about padme, and how much he loved how happy she made anakin, despite the repercussions. finally, he focused his energy on ahsoka, on the young togrutan girl who had stolen both anakin and obi wan’s hearts. 
the force was angry, all right. he could hear it yelling at him, why did you do this? why did you leave me? obi wan felt shameful, and then was faced with the painful bond with anakin screaming in his head. 
vader was much, much stronger than he was four years ago. it made obi wan sick to his stomach. he could tell vader had sensed it too. 
what are you doing here? leave me ALONE! it seemed to scream. obi wan tried to ignore it, tried to focus his energy on locating ahsoka’s force signature. if she was here, he would be able to feel it. of that much he was certain. 
ahsoka’s force signature was much different than anakin’s. anakin’s, in his prime, felt like spending all day in the sun with your loved ones, and coming home, exhausted, sunburnt, and heart full of love. ahsoka’s was different. ahsoka’s signature felt like a warm drink on a cold winter day. it felt like a protective hug from someone you love. 
he focused in on it, faint at first, but suddenly, as she realized what was happening, she felt it grow stronger. it grew around his and curiously tried to tap into his, as if asking if he was real. 
it’s me, padawan. i’m here. obi wan said through the force. he felt a lump grow in his throat but he swallowed it down. he sent more waves of reassurance through their bond, trying to let her know it was okay. ever since order 66, jedi had to be much more on edge. there were constantly bounty hunters on their trail, trying to lure them into a trap, and turn them into the empire for a quick buck. i promise you, i’m here. i’m trying to find you.
as if she had given him her exact location, obi wan suddenly shot his head up, looking around for ahsoka. she was here, he was sure of it. he could find her. obi wan’s heart raced as he broke into a sprint, looking for the young girl who he never dreamed he’d see again. 
“obi wan?” came a small voice from behind him. obi wan stopped in his tracks, freezing for a moment, before turning to find the source of the voice. there she was, ahsoka tano, alive, in front of him. obi wan’s feet starting moving before his mind had time to catch up, racing towards her and tackling her in a hug. 
“ahsoka, ahsoka,” obi wan sobbed. he was shaking, that much he was sure of, but he didn’t care. ahsoka was crying now, too, burying her head in his neck and sobbing. “ahsoka i’m so sorry, i’m sorry, i-” 
“obi wan,” ahsoka sobbed, pulling back for a moment to look at him. obi wan’s lip wobbled as he looked at her. she was so grown up, her montrals went well below her waist now. her face was older, too, worn down from worry and the horrible events that no one her age should have lived though. 
“oh, look at you,” obi wan breathed. “you look so grown up.” ahsoka let out a wet laugh, reaching her hand up to wipe away some of his tears. 
“i could say the same about you, old man,” ahsoka teased, and obi wan pulled her into another hug. 
“i thought you were dead, ahsoka, i thought-” obi wan shook his head. “i thought i’d lost all of you. i’m so sorry. i’m sorry i wasn’t strong enough.”
“obi wan, stop. you aren’t responsible for any of this. it was palpatine. no one could have known,” ahsoka reassured. she led them over to a bench, not letting go of his robe. she found it comforting that after all these years, he still looked relatively the same. ahsoka couldn’t say the same about herself, she looked nothing like the jedi she had been raised as. she now wore plain clothes that allowed her to blend into any crowd. best for doing undercover work for the rebellion. 
“how did- how did you survive?” obi wan asked. ahsoka looked down. 
“i almost didn’t. rex left for a mission report, and when he came back, the entire 501st had their guns pointed at me,” she said sadly. 
“oh god, rex. is he-” 
“he’s alive!” ahsoka exclaimed. obi wan picked his head up. 
“he’s alive? how?” obi wan asked in disbelief. 
“i managed to get to safety, and isolate him. i knocked him out, and with the help of a few droids, i got the chip out of his head. he was the only reason i survived. the rest of them...jesse...they all went down in the ship. rex and i were the only two survivors. we buried them all.” obi wan’s eyes widened. he thought about how old she was at the time- only seventeen years old. he felt the tears well up in his eyes again. 
“oh, dear one, i’m so sorry. i’m so sorry you had to go through that,” obi wan said, unable to meet her eyes. 
“i can’t believe you’re alive,” ahsoka said suddenly. “i thought i was the only one left.” obi wan shook his head. 
“master yoda survived, too. as far as i know, us three are the only one’s left,” obi wan looked down. ahsoka looked at him, meeting his eyes with teary eyes of her own. 
“i’m so glad you’re okay. i spent so many years thinking...i thought-”
“i know, ahsoka. i thought the same thing.” both of them sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, simply basking in the revelation that the other was actually alive, and in front of them. 
ahsoka broke the silence. “anakin...is he…”
“he’s dead,” obi wan said quickly. if ahsoka wasn’t sure what had happened to her former master, obi wan figured learning he was dead would be an easier pill to swallow than finding out he had turned. still, ahsoka had never been easy to fool. she shook her head sadly. 
“i heard him. when i was on the ship with rex, just before…” ahsoka trailed off. “i felt him fall.” she closed her eyes tightly, before turning to look up at obi wan, who let out a sad sigh. 
“yes. anakin fell. but you must understand, it wasn’t- he didn’t...it wasn’t his fault.” 
“wasn’t his fault?” ahsoka said defensively. “he abandoned the order! abandoned everyone he loved!”
“he was under sidious’s manipulation. if we had just known who the sith was...if i had just paid more attention, then maybe he wouldn’t have...i could have saved him,” obi wan said, letting out the years of guilt he had been carrying around. 
“no!” ahsoka yelled suddenly, her eyes stormy. “anakin made his choice. he chose to turn his back on us, on everyone!” obi wan shook his head. 
“ahsoka you don’t understand-” 
“why are you still trying to protect him?” 
“he’s my padawan!” obi wan said defensively. 
“and i was his!” ahsoka countered. 
“you left! you left the order!” obi wan retaliated. 
“because no one was on my side! everyone, including you, abandoned me!” 
“no one made you do that, ahsoka! we all wanted you back! you made the choice to leave! maybe if you had stayed, anakin wouldn’t have fallen!” the moment that the words came out of his life, obi wan regretted them. ahsoka stood up sharply, turning to face away from obi wan. 
“ahsoka-”
“you never should have come. it was better when i thought you were dead,” ahsoka said harshly. the words cut through obi wan like a knife, stabbing him right in his heart. he couldn’t lose her again, not when he had just gotten her back. 
“ahsoka, i’m sorry. i didn’t mean it. you’re right anakin made his choice, but i still can’t help but blame myself. i shouldn’t have taken my guilt out on you. i’m so sorry, dear one,” obi wan said softly. ahsoka let out a long sigh, turning back to face obi wan. to obi wan’s horror, she had tears in her eyes. 
“you don’t think i don’t blame myself?” ahsoka whispered. “i live with that same guilt, every single day. i wake up, and i think to myself, ‘what if i hadn’t left? could things have been different? could i have saved him?’ you think i don’t regret going to mandalore instead of staying with him? i hate myself for what happened to anakin,” ahsoka wept. obi wan opened his arms for her, and she found herself burying her face in his chest, letting out all of the pent up emotions she had been burying for the last four years.
“shhh, ahsoka, it’s okay,” obi wan soothed. “it’s not your fault, it’s okay.” ahsoka looked up at her grandmaster, and for a moment, obi wan saw the image of the young girl he had known when she first arrived at the temple. her face was soft, and scared, and desperately looking for comfort. 
“i’m sorry i yelled at you,” ahsoka mumbled. “i shouldn’t have done that. i spent so long mourning you, thinking about the last things that i said to you and i-”
“don’t fret, little one. you remember, i trained anakin. he had the worst temper i had ever seen in a child. but i knew, even when we were arguing, that we still cared for one another, very much,” obi wan said. ahsoka nodded. 
“i’ve missed you,” ahsoka said finally. 
“i’ve missed you too, so much,” obi wan said with a smile. he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, before looking back at her. “i do believe we have a lot of catching up to do.” 
and for the first time in a long time, obi wan felt at peace.
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