Chapter Text
“I lied to your father,” Obi-Wan admitted quietly.
Luke was crawling away on the floor, babbling and pointing at objects that flew to him easily. Obi-Wan never spent much time in the crèche, he didn’t know if he should discourage this behavior, already begin to teach Luke to reign in his ability.
Then again, Obi-Wan had never been good at denying Skywalkers anything.
“I said I loved him and I was lying.”
As if sensing the darkness closing in on Obi-Wan, Luke made his way to him. He patted Obi-Wan’s leg with his chubby little hands, a gesture meaning “pick me up!”
Luke settled comfortably on Obi-Wan’s lap, his head leaning against his chest. He was still babbling, he was bound to say his first word any day now. It would be a nice change of pace. Obi-Wan hadn’t had an actual conversation with someone for weeks.
“I still love him, I never stopped. Your father was so bright, just like you, and I can’t forget, can’t forgive, but-“
Obi-Wan couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud, much like he couldn’t bring himself to leave Luke with his family. It had been selfish, but he just hadn’t been able to let go of the only tie to his past that he had left. He wasn’t sure where he’d be without Luke to look after, if he’d still be here at all.
I love him, he thought. I love him and it wasn’t enough.
Luke’s hands traced over Obi-Wan’s cheeks, smearing away the tears.
“I know, I know,” Obi-Wan says, recalling Anakin’s words, spoken so many years ago, a lifetime it felt like. “Crying is a waste of water.”
The tears fell anyway.