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Soulmates can generally draw or write and have it appear on their soulmate starting at the age of five.
The time that they realized they were soulmates, Obi-Wan and Quinlan had both been bored during classes and drawing on themselves. They added to each other's drawings, not knowing just who their soulmate was.
Later, they showed each other their drawings and shared a big happy grin once it sunk in that they could always communicate. No one could take that away from them. Ever.
Over the years, they used this to their advantage, especially when Obi-Wan was struggling in the face of Qui-Gon's high expectations. He could meet them, but sometimes, sometimes he just needed an outside perspective to help him figure something out.
.
Quinlan was just finishing a mission to Tatooine when he spotted Obi-Wan's latest message. He finalized his things and sat down in private to read what his soulmate had written him.
He winced at some of the complaints. They were both good at mission security, but sometimes, sometimes things slipped through because they trusted each other. They were better at keeping things to themselves until after the mission now than they use to at least.
Still, the Queen posing as one of her handmaidens wasn't much of a surprise. Naboo had a history of such things, though people who did not live on Naboo weren't as familiar with it as people who did. And even many of those who did live on Naboo were unaware of the practices that went into protecting their monarch. It wasn't like Obi-Wan said which planet they'd ended up crashing on.
Quinlan responded and updated Obi-Wan that he was done with his mission, unless something came up.
Then he went and got a drink and almost immediately discovered Qui-Gon. He sighed and watched Qui-Gon deal with the Gungan and the disguised Queen. The youngling slave was interesting. Helpful, more so than most his age would ever dare to be in his situation. He must have a better life than most slaves. It was still slavery, though some would argue it wasn't if they saw it.
Quinlan updated Obi-Wan and got a grumbly response in return. He laughed.
They stayed in contact the whole time after that, Quinlan spying and giving updates, and Obi-Wan constantly wondering why Qui-Gon couldn't just communicate with him.
Quinlan ended up leaving Tatooine after them, when he had confirmation that he was no longer needed.
He was still in space when he got Obi-Wan's devastated message scrawled shakily and smeared in some places on his arm.
Qui-Gon wants to train Anakin. He had to be reminded he couldn't take on Anakin while he has me. Then he declared that I'm ready to take the Trials.
...didn't you tell me at the start of your mission that he said that you still have much to learn before you're ready?
Yes, he did say that. Which means that he met Anakin and decided he'd rather have Anakin than me. There is no way I proved to him I was ready with what little I've had to do that I don't already do.
I'm sorry. I'll be on Coruscant in two days.
We'll be heading back to Naboo by then. The Queen actually likes us for some reason.
Oh no... well. I'll be here whenever you need me.
I know. I appreciate it. Love you.
Love you too.
Quinlan waited when he knew they were arriving on the planet. He waited and then he got the message, shaky with tears.
There was a Sith. He killed Qui-Gon. I cut him in half at the waist. He fell into a reactor so I think he's dead. Qui-Gon made me promise to train Anakin before he died.
Oh no. Obes, I'm so sorry. I'll be willing to support you in anyway you need, you know that right? I was planning on taking Aayla on soon anyways since she's eleven now.
Thanks, Quin. I know. I just... it's hard. I didn't expect this to happen right now. The Council is coming to see to Qui-Gon's funeral. I think they're going to make me a Knight.
Good. You deserve it. You've been better than me for at least two years. Should've been a Knight long ago.
I know. But I am now, so I'm going to do the best of it and train Anakin. Even if I don't know how to connect with him, not yet.
You'll figure it out. I know you will.
Thanks.
Quinlan supported his soulmate through all his hard times with the grief, and beyond. They navigated the joys of raising padawans together. They always did their best to do what they could to keep their Padawans safe.
Then Geonosis happened. Then the war started.
They were always in contact with what they could, when they could. They had little codes for when they could and couldn't communicate. A few times, Quinlan used Obi-Wan to further sell a cover, after discussing what he needed with Obi-Wan.
But the war kept getting worse and worse and just when they thought they were at the end... it all fell apart.
Then... Obi-Wan brought a baby to Tatooine and found a cave to make his home while he watched over baby Luke.
Quinlan lost himself in grief when he felt the deaths, though he tried to function. Tried became doing when he showed up at the Temple and checked thoroughly, finding some padawans and younglings hiding, terrified. He got them out, and used that to figure out the Path, a way to ensure other younglings made it out.
They were alone. They didn't even think the other had survived. They didn't write on their arms because they knew they wouldn't get a response.
But then came Quinlan's birthday. His first one alone, without anyone.
He was alone on a ship, and having not so great thoughts with his depression. He just wished he hadn't survived at this point. What was the point in continuing? But the younglings needed him so he always got back up on his feet. He would this time too, he just was struggling more than usual. His birthday, and Obi-Wan wasn't around to tease him about getting older. No one was. Not his Padawan, not his friends. Not his master.
And so, desperate for something, he took his pen and started writing, initially in small words on his wrist, down his arm, getting bigger and sloppier as his emotions got the better of him.
Obes I miss you. I'm sorry I'm sorry I couldn't figure out that the Sith was the Chancellor the whole time and now he's the Emperor and you're gone. Everyone who could help me is gone and I'm all alone trying to save younglings and I just I miss you so much, Obes. I love you. It's my birthday, can you believe it?
There, Quinlan started sobbing, until a bright red caught his eye.
Obi-Wan was grieving his soulmate hard. It was Quinlan's birthday, and he was alone, and Quinlan was gone. Obi-Wan had lost a lot but none hurt so much as losing his soulmate.
Eventually he decided he would write a letter to his soulmate and then he paused when he saw the almost paragraph on his arm, and more words appearing at the bottom.
His eyes blurred with tears. Quinlan was alive. He switched to colored markers and started drawing and coloring a heart over the paragraph.
Then, in gold, he added Happy birthday, Quin. Obi-Wan dried his eyes and waited.
Quinlan stared at the red heart that was covering up his words, then started smiling when he saw the gold words wishing him happy birthday.
Obi-Wan was alive, this whole time, Obi-Wan was alive.
Quinlan laughed, and erased his words, then he started asking Obi-Wan all the questions he could think of.
Obi-Wan patiently answered them all before asking his own questions.
Quinlan jumped up and changed course to Tatooine. He didn't have anyone to pick up right now. He was just going where the Force told him, and it hadn't really given him anything but a general direction... which meant he was closer to Tatooine than he'd realized.
Before he knew it he was hugging his soulmate again and they both tried not to break down as they clung to each other.
"You're here, you're alive." Obi-Wan whispered finally. "Oh, Quin.. I missed you."
"I missed you too, Obes."
"Come on, let's... let's go talk?"
"And cuddle. I am not going to miss out on that opportunity."
"Of course not. I can't believe you're finally here... there's so much to say."
"There is... You came here of all places... what happened to Anakin?" Quinlan knew he hit a nerve by how Obi-Wan looked away.
"That's... that's the worst part of everything," Obi-Wan whispered. "Can we... can we just get to where I've been staying first?"
"Of course." Quinlan hugged him and squeezed him briefly. "Take what time you need, Obes."
Quinlan found other topics to talk about as they traveled, anything to cheer Obi-Wan up. He told Obi-Wan about the network he'd been building up for refugees, especially Force sensitive younglings, and how sometimes he got overwhelmed by all he had to do.
When he saw the cave, he frowned. It wasn't like Obi-Wan to choose something so dreary. Maybe Obi-Wan was dealing with more than he thought.
But he didn't press it, just sat down with Obi-Wan to talk and learn what had happened.
Obi-Wan sighed. "You know I went to fight General Grievous."
"You said you won... that was the last message we exchanged."
"Yes... and we were wrapping up the battle when I felt something off in the Force. I wasn't able to figure anything out before Boga was hit and we were falling. I managed to get to my ship and get off Utapau. Bail picked me up. He'd already gotten Yoda. We went back to the Temple, saw the massacre... and turned off the beacon to make sure all Jedi stayed away. I left a message. I take it you didn't see it?"
"I didn't think to look for one. I went back to the Temple out of desperation, using the secret ways we both know and found some padawans and initiates hiding in one of the secret rooms. Got them out and been doing that since."
"Oh. That makes sense." Obi-Wan nodded. Then he sighed. "I had to know who was killing everyone with a lightsaber. I had... I had a horrible feeling but I knew I had to find out."
Quinlan felt a sense of dread. "Who was it?"
"It was Anakin."
"No!" Quinlan knew though, from how Obi-Wan was curled in on himself, grief heavy around him, that it was true. He hugged his soulmate.
"It was. Yoda went to fight the Ch-Emperor to distract him while I figured out where Anakin was and confronted him. I started with Padme. She was in denial. I stowed away on her ship... and then when I revealed myself while she was desperately trying to talk him down, he choked her. We fought. I chopped off his legs and one of his arms and there were so many reasons to kill him or leave him, and Padme was dying, so I left him there for Mustafar to burn, as he'd landed right next to the lava."
Quinlan hugged Obi-Wan tightly. "Padme did die, and she was pregnant."
"The babies lived," Obi-Wan whispered. "Leia was adopted by Bail and Breha Organa. Luke Skywalker lives here with Owen and Beru Lars, Owen was Anakin's stepbrother."
"Oh... that's why you chose to stay here on Tatooine. You're keeping an eye on Luke. Leia is safer as princess of Alderaan than Luke is out here."
Obi-Wan nodded. "And their Force presences... I think, maybe they could have stayed together. Luke's presence overshadows Leia's, who has a very quiet presence in the Force. She will be strong, but in a different way. But she will be safe and mostly unnoticed as a Force sensitive, Luke on the other hand... reach out, you'll feel him."
Quinlan closed his eyes and reached. "Oh... almost as bright as Anakin was."
"He is. That's what worries me."
"And he's not even a year old..."
"Getting close." Obi-Wan let out a sudden laugh.
"What?"
"It's been close to a year, and we hadn't written a thing that the other noticed. Not even on my birthday the month before yours."
Quinlan paused, then snorted. "Wow. We're idiots, aren't we?"
"Well, we did have good reason to believe each other dead... and we just happened to hit a breaking point at the same time. I'm glad we did."
"Me too. Now we can live together... I'll have a home to come back to, and you'll have some backup for watching Luke."
"That's true." Obi-Wan smiled. "And maybe we can set up something here for a safe house... it's Tatooine, no one would expect it especially if we're sneaky."
"That is actually a fantastic idea."