Chapter Text
“Again, Anakin.” Obi-Wan’s voice commanded from across the training room. Anakin huffed and got back into a defensive stance, for what seemed like the millionth time that day.
“Yes master.” He said through gritted teeth, trying to calm himself down.
“Let the force guide you, padawan.” Obi-Wan said as he stroked his beard.
“Yes master.” Anakin said again. The training droid approached him again, wielding two training sabers. Anakin stood as firm as he could, ready to defend himself. But his body felt weak and sore from all of the training he had done earlier in the day. He gritted his teeth, trying to get his wandering mind to focus on the incoming attack, but he found it harder than usual to concentrate on the enemy. Anakin blinked, and quickly dogged the first swing, bringing up his blade to block the second. They continued on like this for some time, with Anakin steadily losing ground to the droid as time progressed.
“Watch your footing!” Obi-Wan called out over the fight. Anakin grunted as another swing connected harshly with his own blade, and his arms shook with the strain of holding off the offense. He pressed back as hard as he could, but suddenly his feet were swept out from underneath him and he fell, smacking his head on the ground.
Obi-Wan rushed forward and ended the simulation when he heard his apprentice’s head hit the ground with a harsh thud.
“Anakin!” He called out as he ran over to check on him. Anakin groaned in response, and Obi-Wan watched as his apprentice pushed himself up on shaky arms, breathing heavily.
“Are you alright?” He asked, kneeling down and placing a hand on Anakin’s shoulder. Obi-Wan frowned when he noticed that Anakin felt warmer than usual but brushed it off to the past few hours that he had been training. Anakin wiped the sweat off of his brow, and took a few more deep breaths before speaking.
“I’m fine.” He said. “Just tired from all of the training.” Anakin slowly got up, and Obi-Wan watched as his body seemed to sway slightly once he was standing up straight.
“Anakin,” Obi-Wan said as he reached out. Anakin shrugged his touch away and began to walk towards the exit.
“It’s fine. I have class.” He said as he walked away. Obi-Wan huffed and watched him walk away, not wanting to press him any further.
Obi-Wan sat in the small common room of their apartment, reading over a report on his datapad when the front door suddenly opened. He looked up and saw a disgruntled Anakin walk into the room. Earlier that day, Master Mundi had sent him a message describing Anakin’s behavior in class as “unusual and concerning.” He continued to say that Anakin “showed less interest than usual and was more irritable than usual as well.” He had read over the message several times after receiving it, pondering how to confront his padawan about his recent behavior changes.
“How was class?” Obi-Wan said as he walked by.
“Fine.” Anakin muttered as he continued towards his room. Obi-Wan sighed. Anakin had his ups and downs, just like any other teenager, but he could not deny that his apprentice had been more irritable as of late.
“Anakin, come here.” Obi-Wan called. He heard his apprentice sigh and walk back out towards the common room. Anakin stood at the entrance of the common room, shifting his weight from one foot to another.
“Have you been sleeping well?” He asked, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. Anakin frowned and shrugged. Obi-Wan sighed and continued.
“I’m asking because I got a message from Master Mundi about you today.” He said. Anakin shifted his weight again and cleared his throat.
“Is there anything you want to say?” He asked his apprentice. Anakin shook his head. Obi-Wan could see that he was clenching his jaw, but he had no idea why Anakin would be so tense.
“Do you want to explain your behavior?” Obi-Wan asked in a sterner voice. Anakin narrowed his eyes.
“It was nothing serious.” Anakin stated, his voice rough.
“If it was ‘nothing serious’, the Master Mundi would not have contacted me.” Obi-Wan retorted. Anakin frowned.
“Nothing happened!” Anakin exclaimed, his voice cracking.
“Anakin, you have never been a good liar.” Obi-Wan muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’m not lying!” He restored, his voice cracking again. Anakin coughed a few times into his elbow.
“That… does not sound good, padawan.” Obi-Wan said in a softer tone. Anakin lowered his arm away from his face.
“It’s fine.” He muttered.
“No, it clearly is not.” Obi-Wan said, standing up from the sofa. “You have been standoffish all day, you have been performing worse than usual during your sparring sessions, and I was contacted by one of your teachers about your behavior earlier. So clearly, everything is not ‘fine’!” Obi-Wan snapped.
“Why do you even care?” Anakin retorted. “You’re always gone on some mission, and when you come back, all you do is reprimand me about the smallest things!”
“Anakin, that’s not true-“Obi-Wan said while holding up a hand.
“Yes. It. Is.” He said through gritted teeth. “You’re doing it right now.”
“No, Anakin, this is different. This isn’t about me; this is about you.” Obi-Wan replied, trying to keep his cool.
“No. That’s a lie.” Anakin hissed; his voice full of venom. “This has never been about me. No one has asked me how I feel about any of this!” He yelled, his voice cracking again. “Not about my classes, not about my training, not about how the other padawans treat me. All they do is whisper behind my back about how I’m supposed to fulfill some prophecy. They don’t actually care about me as a person!” Obi-Wan blinked, startled at the sudden outburst from his apprentice.
“Anakin, that’s not true.” Obi-Wan began softly. “The jedi-“
“Only accepted me because of the prophecy. Not even Master Yoda wanted me to join.” Anakin said, his voice shaking, his breathing heavy. There was a tense moment of silence before Anakin spoke again.
“Did you even want me to be your padawan?” he asked Obi-Wan, his voice shaking. Obi-Wan hesitated. How could he voice how much Anakin meant to him? How proud he was of how far he had come since he came to the temple? How he would leave the order for him and watch over him on his own if he had to? But in that moment, when he hesitated, it told Anakin all it needed to. He shoved past his master and ran out of the door of their apartment.
“Anakin!” Obi-Wan exclaimed, running out of the door after him. Anakin sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him towards the front of the temple, and out of the great hall into the cold and rainy night.
“Anakin!” Obi-Wan yelled again, after losing sight of his padawan after he entered the great hall. He looked around, searching for any sign of a 14-year-old boy running through the halls but there was none. Masters and knights moved through the hall; the hoods of their cloaks pulled up to ward off the chill from the night. He continued to circle around, searching for any sign of his padawan.
Anakin ran down the temple steps as fast as he could but slipped on the last few and fell down the last set of steps. His breath caught in his chest as he fell, and a harsh coughing fit overcame him once he hit the ground. Anakin stayed on his hands and knees for several moments, trying to catch his breath. The cold rain against his bare skin caused him to shiver, and he blinked the rain and tear drops out of his eyes. He looked up and saw people walking around him, paying no attention to him. He slowly got up, wincing as he stood. He could tell from the pain that he would have several fresh bruises tomorrow morning. He straightened up, and tried to take another deep breath, but it only led to another coughing fit that left him doubled over and panting for air. Once he caught his breath a second time, he looked up at the vast assortment of neon signs that covered the upper levels of Coruscant. Not really sure where he was heading to, Anakin began to walk.