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It was traditional in the Jedi to keep acknowledgement of soulmarks to a minimum. Not to ignore them outright, for they were always there for a reason, but to make sure that both parties understood that while they existed they would not mean everything like some across the galaxy did. It was important that they did not become too strongly attached to perform their duties.
This was made easier by the fact most Jedi had more than one soulmate. It was easier to remember that you couldn't devote yourself to one person when you had two or even more soulmarks.
Obi-Wan was no different than the rest when it came to that aspect. He had even more than most of his fellows. Qui-Gon, Satine, Quinlan, and more that he had still yet to identify or were possibly still yet to be born.
Yet of all of them none worried him as much as his mark for Anakin. Not that he didn't care a cherish the mark and relationship as much as he did for others. But for what it did to Anakin. It made the boy so much more attached than he should have been.
It wasn't uncommon for master and padawan pairs to have soulmarks for each other. In fact it was often a factor in deciding if a pair was properly suited to be partners. It strengthened the bond between them and almost always led to a better trained Jedi. It was the first time a young Jedi learned how to appropriately handle a soulmate. Overall it was a wonderful thing for them to have.
But it was different for Anakin. He had been raised as a slave on Tatooine. A place and circumstance that had led him to be raised to believe that soulmates and soulmarks were some of the most important things a being could have. He couldn't blame him or the people that taught him that. A slave had nothing that was theirs to keep other than their soulmarks. The more the better.
Anakin was so proud of his marks. His one for his mother, and the one he had for Obi-Wan, the ones he was too young to have discovered. In all he had almost as many as Obi-Wan himself did. And the boy was so excited to meet them all. But his attachment to them was too strong for a Jedi to have. Though nothing Obi-Wan could do would dissuade the boy. Which would one day come back to haunt them both he was sure. If Obi-Wan couldn't find a way to help Anakin create the distance that was necessary.
But as he looked down at the boy who had fallen asleep on his lap after a long day of lessons, he couldn't help but help but think the bond and importance was helping Anakin at least a little. Even if just with the fact that he had to leave his mother behind. Maybe having Obi-Wan as a replacement for that connection would give him the stability that he so desperately needed in his life with all the changes that were happening.
Anakin snuggled in closer and Obi-Wan decided that for at least the moment he wasn't going to take it away. They would work together as he got older.
