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“I’m sorry, Master Kenobi, but you’re going to need to get them taken out.”
This is what Obi-Wan was afraid of. Yes, it’s a very normal procedure for those in the human species — it’s just an awfully humiliating one.
“And there is no chance it could wait? At least until Anakin is a little older?”
“We already put it off for that reason. Your Padawan is fifteen now, he’s old enough to take care of you for a few days. I’m sorry, but your wisdom teeth need to be removed sooner rather than later.”
Obi-Wan sighs. “Fine. Put me down for next week.”
“Yes, Master Kenobi.”
Obi-Wan finds his Padawan right where he left him — hard at work destroying some hapless droid so he can put it back together in a way that will undoubtedly create an “upgrade,” as Anakin likes to call them.
“Hey, Master,” Anakin greets without looking up from his task. “What’d the healers say?”
“I have to get them removed.”
Anakin looks up at this — a mischievous smile crossing his face.
“Don’t you dare look at me like that,” Obi-Wan threatens.
“Like what? I am just concerned for the health of my Master. Can I not be glad that you are finally taking action to get the help you need?”
Obi-Wan rolls his eyes. “It’s just wisdom teeth Anakin. Besides, last time I checked, you’re also a human and you’ll probably have to do the same thing when you’re older too.”
Anakin frowns. “But that’ll be when I’m old.”
“Not necessarily. I’ve just been pushing mine off.” Obi-Wan crosses his arms. “And I’m going to politely ignore that comment about being old.”
“So when is it?”
“Next week. I’m going to need…” He struggles over the next words “... your help .”
Anakin’s grin returns. “Of course, Master.”
“I’m going to write you instructions on what will need to be done. I’m trusting you with this. Please , don’t make me regret it.”
“You can count on me, Master. I’ll take care of you.”
“Alright,” Obi-Wan says suspiciously.
He leaves Anakin to his droid and walks away with the feeling that he is very much going to regret this.
While he waits in an uncomfortable plastoid chair, Anakin skims through the list of things Obi-Wan left for him to do and be prepared for after the surgery.
- Absolutely no holo-recordings of me
- Make sure to pick up—
His eyes skim past all the boring parts and down to the bottom:
- ABSOLUTELY NO HOLO-RECORDINGS OF ME
Anakin scoffs. There’s no way he’s not going to record his Master like this. It’s simply too good of an opportunity to pass up.
He clicks the datapad off and shoves it into his robe. The healers told him this would be a short procedure, so Anakin chose to wait in the Halls of Healing. He’s regretting the decision slightly as time seems to roll over slower and slower with every passing second. He kicks his legs but finds his feet now skim the ground, making it harder for him to swing them back and forth.
With a frown, he rests his head back against the wall and stares are the ceiling.
And he waits.
And he waits some more.
“Padawan Skywalker,” a healer says, startling Anakin out of his waiting. “Master Kenobi is finished with his procedure and is waking up now. You can come with me.”
Anakin shoots to his feet and follows the healer down the hall.
“I will warn you, he’s going to be a little out of it.”
“Oh, I am counting on it,” Anakin replies.
To his credit, Anakin does try very hard to stifle his laughter when he sees Obi-Wan. But his cheeks are just so swollen and his eyes are dazed with the edge of anesthesia.
“Hello, Master,” Anakin greets quietly as he enters the room fully.
Obi-Wan seemingly makes an effort to find where the voice came from, his brows scrunching in confusion before his drunken gaze falls on Anakin.
“Anakin!” Obi-Wan exclaims though the name comes out broken and slurred around the gauze in his mouth.
“How are you feeling?” Anakin asks.
“So weird.”
“That’s normal,” Anakin chuckles.
“Why’re you laughin’?”
Anakin schools his face into a neutral expression. “I’m not. Just happy to see you.”
Obi-Wan’s eyes light up slightly before falling back into the dull, confused stare.
The healer walks into the room and Obi-Wan whines pathetically.
“She hurt my face,” he accuses.
“I’m very sorry, Master Kenobi,” the healer says with a jovial smile. “But it’s all over now. All you have to do is recover.”
He glares at her. “Don’t like you,” he slurs.
The healer pulls Anakin aside and runs through everything he needs to know about Obi-Wan’s care and the medicines he’ll need to take. Anakin nods along obediently, excited he’s being trusted with the responsibility. She helps him get Obi-Wan standing and guides them out of the Halls of Healing.
Obi-Wan’s arm drapes lazily over Anakin’s shoulder, and the majority of his body weight rests on him. Anakin readjusts Obi-Wan’s position and thanks the Force for the growth spurt he had the last month that brought him to be Obi-Wan’s near equal in height.
“Where we goin’?” Obi-Wan questions.
“Home,” Anakin answers. “And we’re almost there.”
The rest of their trek remains uneventful, though Obi-Wan’s head lolls onto Anakin’s shoulder a few times.
Obi-Wan’s body weight is starting to become a little too much to handle, so when they cross the threshold of their quarters, Anakin sighs in relief.
“Do you want to lie down on the bed or the couch?” Anakin asks as he drags Obi-Wan inside.
Obi-Wan gives a pathetic gesture to the couch and Anakin helps guide him to it. He collapses onto it a little harder than Anakin anticipated, but Obi-Wan wriggles out of his grasp and pulls away from him.
“Let me get some extra pillows and blankets. I’ll be right back.”
Obi-Wan only grunts in acknowledgment.
Anakin rushes to the linen closet by his room where all the extra blankets are kept. When Anakin first moved into the temple, there had only been one extra blanket. With Anakin’s overwhelming aversion to the cold, Obi-Wan purchased several large and very fluffy blankets for Anakin to have all his own. It was one of the first times someone purchased a gift for him , and he holds fond memories with each fleece-lined blanket.
He pulls a navy blue one off of the top shelf and grabs an extra pillow off of Obi-Wan’s bed. Armed with the blanket and pillow, Anakin heads back to his Master. When he returns, he almost recoils at the site.
Blood drips down Obi-Wan’s chin and into his beard.
Anakin grabs a cloth off the counter and rushes back to Obi-Wan. He wipes away the blood and grimaces. “Master, I need to change your gauze out.”
“Don’t wanna,” he whines.
“We have to or you’re going to get blood everywhere and then when you’re you again, you’re going to get mad at me for letting me get your blood everywhere.”
“Doesn’t sound like me.”
Anakin huffs. “I will help you do this, just do not bite me.”
“You’re not food,” Obi-Wan says in disgust.
“No. I am not. Remember that when my hand is in your mouth.”
“Gross.”
“You’re the one bleeding all over the place!” Anakin says, exasperated.
Obi-Wan’s eyes flood with tears
Shit.
“I’m sorry, Master, I didn’t mean to yell at you! It’s okay, really, just let me change the gauze.”
“No! You’re mad at me.” He tries to pull away, but there is not much of anywhere for him to go.
“I’m not mad,” Anakin insists.
“Liar.” Tears are actively flowing down his cheeks now.
“I’m not lying to you. I just want to help you feel better, alright? Now can I change your gauze?”
Obi-Wan nods tightly and Anakin steps away to wash his hands and grab the replacement gauze they bought before the surgery.
“Open your mouth,” Anakin says. Gently, he removes the blood-soaked gauze, and as deftly as possible, replaces it. He repeats the process on the other side, and all the while, Obi-Wan shoots daggers at him with his eyes.
“I’m almost done, stop looking at me like that.”
Obi-Wan tries to say something, but it comes out as a mangled warble with all the new gauze in his mouth.
Anakin finishes his work and takes a step back. “See!” Anakin says, raising his hands in surrender. “We’re all done.”
Obi-Wan lays back and lets his eyes drift to the ceiling. Anakin lifts him up slightly to put the pillow under his head. He drapes the blanket over him next, and he sighs in contentment.
Obi-Wan doesn’t say anything, and for a moment, Anakin thinks he’s falling asleep, until he says,“You’re a good Padawan. The best Padawan.”
“Wait, wait,” Anakin says, pulling out his holorecorder. “Can you say that again?”
“Sure,” Obi-Wan says. “You’re the best Padawan ever.”
“Anything else you want to add?”
“You’re very good Padawan.” Obi-Wan pauses and reaches up to rub his beard, but Anakin swats his hand away. “But sometimes very bad. Always trouble.”
“I’m not that bad,” Anakin says defensively.
Obi-Wan’s hands raise lazily and he giggles at something over Anakin’s shoulder. “What’s happening?” Obi-Wan drawls.
Anakin whirls around. A potted plant that normally sits on a small side table by the window is floating toward the ceiling. Hurriedly, Anakin extends his arm and gains control of the plant with the Force. “Don’t do that! You’re still high.”
Obi-Wan’s eyes widen. “It was Qui-Gon’s!” he shouts. “Not mine, I just found it. Not mine!”
“ What ?”
“It’s legal on some planets!”
The realization dawns on Anakin and he doubles over laughing.
“You’re making fun of me again!”
“I can’t believe I caught that on camera,” Anakin exclaims, wiping his eyes as tears involuntarily form.
“Don’t cry. You’re not a bad Padawan, you’re a good Padawan.”
Anakin laughs harder until his sides start to hurt.
“Thank you, Master. Means a lot.”
Obi-Wan’s expression remains confused until he seemingly forgets he’s even having a conversation. He relaxes back into the pillow and his eyes begin to droop.
Anakin closes the blinds and lowers the lights in the room. He lets Obi-Wan sleep.
Three weeks later.
“No wrestling in our living space,” Obi-Wan calls from the kitchen.
Anakin and Aayla pause their play fight and look up at their respective Masters sheepishly.
“You never had any sense of fun,” Quinlan tsks.
“And you never had a sense of civility,” Obi-Wan fires back.
“Oh and because you are always so wise , Master,” Anakin
Obi-Wan rolls his eyes. “That joke was old three weeks ago, Anakin.”
Anakin turns to Aayla and dons a conspiratorial grin. “You wanna know what hasn’t gotten old?”
Anakin pulls out his datapad and presses play on the video.
“Oh, I have to see this,” Quinlan says, leaping over the sofa to get to Anakin and Aayla.
Obi-Wan sighs and puts his head in his hands, knowing full well he will never live down that video.