Chapter Text
Anakin paced about Obi-Wan’s apartment like a caged animal. His worry over his former Master was palpable and he only hoped he could keep his emotions locked deep inside his shields so Obi-Wan wouldn’t feel them. He didn’t need that right now.
Of course, Anakin wasn’t really sure what Obi-Wan needed. Obi-Wan’s lack of outward emotional expression was difficult for Anakin to even process. Anakin knew he would tear apart the galaxy if something happened to Padme, but Obi-Wan clearly had a more subdued way of expressing his grief. Still, Anakin knew that compounding his restless musings with Obi-Wan’s grief would not be helpful, so he slammed his shields down as tight as they would go.
Anakin wasn’t stupid. He had known Obi-Wan had feelings for Satine that were not exactly inside the bounds of the Jedi code. Obi-Wan had always had a silver tongue. He could talk his way out of just about anything, but no matter how skillfully Obi-Wan evaded his questions about her or their shared past together, he knew Obi-Wan’s relationship with her was special. Anakin had never pressed the matter too hard because, well, he didn’t want Obi-Wan to turn around and do the same to him. But still, Anakin knew Obi-Wan’s anguish had to run deep – deeper than he was letting on.
As the thought crossed his mind, something else brushed up against him. The gentle brush then turned into an unyielding wave of fear and sorrow coursing through the bond he still held with Obi-Wan.
Anakin hurried to Obi-Wan’s room and didn’t bother knocking. In the pale moonlight streaming in through the window, Anakin could see a thin sheen of sweat on Obi-Wan’s skin. He tossed his head back fitfully and was muttering to himself.
“No… no… leave him alone.”
“Obi-Wan?” Anakin whispered, kneeling by his side.
“Let him go…”
“Obi-Wan,” Anakin said more firmly.
Obi-Wan let out a distressed murmur, but Anakin wasn’t sure what he was trying to say.
“Master, wake up, please,” Anakin said, shaking Obi-Wan’s shoulders this time.
Obi-Wan gasped and sat up quickly. His chest rose and fell sharply as he tried to regain control of his breathing. Anakin waved his hand and the lamp turned on, bathing the room in a warm glow. Obi-Wan squinted before letting his eyes adjust.
Anakin sat on the edge of Obi-Wan’s bed and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. “It’s alright, Master. It was just a dream.”
“Anakin.”
Obi-Wan’s voice broke. He suddenly let his body tilt sideways until he was fully leaning on Anakin. Anakin’s eyes widened in surprise as Obi-Wan rested his head on his shoulder and nestled into his collar.
“Master, please. Talk to me.”
A choked sob was all that escaped Obi-Wan’s lips.
“Shh it’s alright,” Anakin said gently, rubbing his former Master’s back. Obi-Wan leaned into the touch.
Anakin was concerned. Obi-Wan was never this open with his emotions and certainly was never this affectionate. He just wasn’t the type to seek comfort through physical touch. Or maybe he secretly was and he’d just been good at hiding it all this time. That concerned Anakin more.
“Obi-Wan, please. Tell me what happened.”
There was a long and silent pause.
“H-he killed her,” he sobbed.
“Who killed her?”
“Maul.”
Anakin’s eyes darkened. “Darth Maul did this?”
Obi-Wan nodded before burying his head farther into Anakin’s collar.
This was wrong. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Obi-Wan always comforted Anakin. Not the other way around. Obi-Wan had always been there for him. A father figure, an older brother, a teacher. Obi-Wan had always held these positions in Anakin’s life and had always been a source of authority. Obi-Wan was the mentor and Anakin was the mentee. As Anakin sat there, feeling utterly helpless in easing Obi-Wan’s pain, he couldn’t help but let his thoughts linger on how this situation was a role-reversal in the highest degree.
Anakin was happy that Obi-Wan was willing to let his guard down around him, but he was unpracticed in taking on the role of the caregiver. Sure, Anakin had been there for him in the past when he was sick or injured. He had even experienced the aftermath of some of Obi-Wan’s nightmares before, but this pain, this pain was born of grief Obi-Wan hadn’t experienced since Qui-Gon’s death. At that time, Anakin had been too young and too preoccupied to help Obi-Wan through that. Now was Anakin’s chance to do right by his Master – to just be there after years of Obi-Wan being there for him.
“Obi-Wan, what can I do?”
Anakin internally cringed. Even when he was trying to offer comfort to Obi-Wan, he still needed his advice.
“Nothing,” Obi-Wan said with a tired sigh. “There’s nothing anyone can do. It’s too late for that.”
“I’m sorry, Master. Truly.”
“I know, Anakin.”
Obi-Wan finally separated himself from Anakin. He leaned back against the headboard and put his face in his hands.
“What were you dreaming about?”
Obi-Wan closed his stormy blue eyes.
“Everyone.”
“Everyone?”
“In my dream… he got everyone. The same exact way every time. Over and over.”
“Maul?”
Obi-Wan nodded slowly and opened his eyes. “It started with the ones that actually happened. Qui-Gon… her…”
Anakin nodded, motioning for him to continue.
“But then… but then he killed Cody. Then it was Rex. Then Bant and Kit and several other agemates of mine,” Obi-Wan paused, his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil. “And then he got Ahsoka. He killed my Grandpadawan right in front of me and there was nothing I could do.”
Anakin’s stomach dropped at the thought of Maul even laying a finger on his Padawan. He clamped down on his emotions. He needed to keep it together. For Obi-Wan.
“It didn’t stop. No matter how much I begged him to take me instead. He killed everyone else. Then…”
Anakin had a feeling he knew what was coming next. “It’s alright Master,” he said in the calmest voice he could muster.
“Then it was you. He had you. He had you by the neck, just like he had her.”
“He doesn’t have me. He doesn’t have Ahsoka. He doesn’t have Cody or Rex or Bant or anyone.”
“He had her.”
Anakin didn’t know what to say. What could he say?
“What if…” Obi-Wan whispered. “What if it wasn’t a dream? Anakin, what if it was a vision? What if he doesn’t stop until he’s truly taken everything?”
“We won’t let him, Obi-Wan. You know that.”
“He’s gotten this far.”
“What do you always tell me, Master?”
“What?” he said in confusion.
“What do you always tell me to focus on? The here and now.”
“I must confess, I only tell you that because Qui-Gon always told me that.”
“Well, then. I’m sure I don’t have to reiterate the importance of listening to one’s Master to you, do I?”
Obi-Wan laughed. “No, no you don’t Anakin.”
Anakin smiled. “Thought so.”
Obi-Wan sighed. “You don’t have to be here, Ana…”
“Master, for the last time, I want to be here,” Anakin said, exasperated.
“I know. You didn’t let me finish.”
“Oh.”
“Anakin, you don’t have to be here, but I’m glad you are.”
Something warmed inside Anakin. The confirmation made him feel like he was doing something right for once.
“I’m glad to be here too, Master.”
This time Anakin leaned on Obi-Wan, resting his head on the older man’s shoulder.
“It will get better. I promise. It sucks right now, but you’ll be okay.”
“I know Anakin,” he murmured softly. “I know.”
At the moment, Obi-Wan was nowhere near being okay, but at least he wasn’t alone.