Chapter Text
Obi-wan watches his last hope of being a padawan leave Bandomeer behind. Pain and defeat consumed his heart. Why must the force give him false hopes and Dreams. Was this just a cruel joke from the force? Well here he is, a pathetic life form doom with this cruel joke.
Noticing none of the adults were paying any attention. Obi-wan walks far away from the spot. His vision became blurry as tears formed. Colors merged with one another. The only thing he could make out was a tree. The perfect place to be alone.
Sitting down next to the tree, Obi-wan pulled his legs to his chest. Tears over flood, pour down his cheeks. Obi-wan cries his heart out. Crying for the loss of his only hope. Crying for the many friends he lost. Crying knowing he'll just be forgotten.
As he cries, his sobs muffle his surroundings. Not hearing footsteps stalking towards the youngling.
" Well, well, well, aren't you something." Obi-wan looked up in surprise. The man with long black hair stares down the sobbing child. On instinct, Obi-wan pushed himself closer to the tree. The energy radiating off of him tells that he is dark.
" Aw, why are you scared? Could be, that you know who I am?" The man grinned at Obi-wan, making Obi-wan's body shake. His breathing quivers from the fear of what is happening.
" Well, answer me." He growled, causing Obi-wan to curl into himself. Trying to be smaller in a hope to hide himself.
" Yo-your x-xan-xanatos, Q-qui-gon pa-pad-padawan." Obi-wan cures himself of stuttering in front of Xanatos. What didn't know, because of his stutter, Xanatos couldn't help but think.
(Crap, that was far too cute. Force looks how tiny he is and those eyes!)
Xanatos turns his head away from Obi-wan. Not wanting the child to see him blush from the accidental cuteness that is Obi-wan. After he calms himself Xanatos turns back to Obi-wan, who was trying to stop another sob coming.
" Why are you here?" Making his voice a more neutral tone. But he couldn't stop his voice from cracking a bit. Luckily Obi-wan was too afraid to notice.
" I-i-i di-didn't wa-want to be he-here." Obi-wan looks ashamed, adding another layer of cuteness. Xanitos felt like he could pick the child up like a cat and yell at the top of his lungs.
(This Child is the most precious being in the world.)
" You haven't been picked, I'm guessing."
" I'm not even 13." That throws Xanatos off. Why the force did the Jedi think it okay to just toss a child before turning 13! Welp their loss.
" You're telling me that the order made you go on a ship. Send you off to a place you didn't want to go. And the kicker you're not even aged out." Obi-wan slowly nodded as he looked down to the ground. The feeling of defeat flows into the force.
" Welp, it's their loss." Obi-wan looks back at him with a worried expression. His face went pale as Xanatos smiled down at him.
" Wh-what do you mean!"
" It'll be a waste of potential, throwing away a force-sensitive child like you on this planet." Xanatos said as he came closer to the frightened child. Knowing there is no escaping him.
" Now don't be difficult." Reaching for Obi-wan, but Obi-wan kicks his hand. Make Xanatos hiss in pain, great it's going to be like that huh.
***
Qui-gon ran through the building where his fallen padawan was staying. Xanatos happily stood there, facing away from the Jedi master.
" Hello master, what brings you here?" Facing his old master. Old memories threatened to flow in Qui-gon's mind. Wanting to blind him of what love used to be there.
" Don't play any games. You are under arrest for kidnapping Obi-wan Kenobi." Xanatos gave him a wide smile. Stalking closer to the Jedi master. Keeping a safe distance from him but close enough to mock him.
" How could I kidnap a child if they were already abandoned."
" The Jedi order did not abandon him. He aged out."
" That's where you're wrong, master. He didn't age out. On the contrary he is not even close to being aged out. And you want to know how long." Letting a long pause create more tension. Then pulling out a device to press a lone button.
A T.V slowly came out of the ground. Revealing the portfolio of Obi-wan Kenobi. The number of his age was the first thing Qui-gon eyes land on
12 standard old
Age out in 5 months
" You tell me if this is aging out, Master. When did the Jedi order become so cruel?" Turning it to live footage of Obi-wan curl on top of his bed. Hugging one of the many stuffed animals in his room.
" He'll never feel abandoned anymore. Obi-wan would have someone who knows that pain. That pain of being left behind, forgotten."
" I never aban-."
" Shut it old man, you don't get to say anything. You don't know how it feels. All you do is hide from your problem." His anger grew in his eyes. The thought of his old pain began to bring back the memories. Before Xanatos moves, the live feed catches Obi-wan's little sneeze. This somehow stops the anger in his eye.
His eyes started to fill with fondness of Obi-wan. Helping to make him forget the pain. Qui-gon quickly noticed his fondness. Guilt buildup in his heart, has he caused all this pain to his padawan? What had Obi-wan done to help calm that burning anger.
" So now Obi-wan is your what, Pet?" Xananos quickly glared at the Jedi master. Pulling out his saber as he pointed it at the man.
" Obi-wan is far from that. This child had given me something I lost long ago." The once padawan started to stalk the Jedi. Allowing Qui-gon to pull out his.
" And what would that be?" Blocking a powerful strike. Xananos' anger courses through the force. Giving him more power.
" LOVE!" They both began fighting one another. Not paying attention to Obi-wan's live feed. The child somehow figured out how to pick the door lock.
" I LOVED YOU!" Blocking another powerful strike. Angry tears seeped down Xananos' face. Showing how much pain his old padawan is in.
" If you truly loved me, you would have been there! You could have saved me." Punching Qui-gon square in the jaw. Qui-gon stumbles back from that hit and the statement.
" You, master, are truly blind from all the pain you created." Ready to strike down his master when the door handles jiggle before opening to reveal Obi-wan pecking in.
Revealing Obi-wan slowly walking in. The two adults stop their fighting. Both adults' eyes locked onto the child as Obi-wan's eyes locked onto Qui-gon.
Something in Qui-gon made him think. Looking at Obi-wan and how the force started to calm. Causing him to rethink his choice of words. Then Obi-wan's eyes move to Xanatos. Eyes widen in horror as Xanatos saber glows red. Xananos notices the fear and turns it off.
" hey hey, it's alright. I didn't mean to scare you." Trying to walk closer to Obi-wan. But this made the child flinch back. Making Xanatos step back as well. Pain replaced his anger as the thought of freighting Obi-wan hurt his soul. Qui-gon couldn't help but watch this. This Child somehow changed something in Xanatos.
Time froze around them, no one dared move until a guard came rushing in. Frantically pointing and spitting out words.
" The slaves are free."
" What!" Qui-gon took this opportunity and ran to Obi-wan. In one scoop, he plucks Obi-wan into his arms. The sudden action had caused Obi-wan to let out an eep sound.
" Give him back." Xanatos is hot on his trail, fear and anger come back. But the fear wasn't coming from Obi-wan. It was coming from Xanatos. The thought of losing Obi-wan floods the once padawan mind.
Qui-gon used the force to move quicker and jumped right into his speeder with Obi-wan still in his arms. Driving away as Xanatos skidded to a stop. Vowing to steal his child back from the Jedi. The once padawan sighs, he'll have to work on some stuff before that.
***
Qui-gon looked back to find no one was following the speeder. Releasing a sigh of relief, what a day. A sound made Qui-gon glance down.
" I'm sorry little one if that was too hectic." Obi-wan looked up to Qui-gon. Still gripping onto the Jedi master robes. Frightened but safe in his arms.
" Am alright master." Obi-wan leans onto Qui-gon's chest. Letting go of all his fear in the force.
" That's good, but I can't wrap my head around this."
" Hm."
" How did you escape and how did you free all the slaves?"
" I unlocked the door with a needle I found and found the panel with all the control chains. I couldn't leave them like this, I had to help."
" You did a selfless thing, young one." Qui-gon subconsciously ruffles Obi-wan's hair. Obi-wan leans into his hand. Oh how foolish Qui-gon is to ever think Obi-wan could ever turn to the dark side.
Not only had he figured out how to escape. But went back just to save others he didn't know. And who somehow changed his old padawan heart. And now sitting there with Obi-wan close to him. Gave Qui-gon a feeling righteous with the child. Sees the next best thing from this whole situation.
" You know, I think there are more opportunities to save more people." Obi-wan tilted head.
" And I think this is just the beginning of this adventure." The child's eyes widened, stars seemed to dance in his eyes. Charging Qui-gon to make the decision.
" You mean."
" Yes, I'm sorry for everything I had said to you without giving you a real chance. Would you give me the honor of being my padawan." His response was Obi-wan hugging him and trying to hold in tears of relief.
" Is that a yes?"
" Yes, it is! Thankyouthankyouthankyou." For a long time, Qui-gon let a smile form on his face. Cradling his now tiny padawan.
" Then let's go back home and make it official." Then suddenly the force grew bright. Qui-gon knew that had made the right decision.