Chapter Text
After landing and parking his shuttle safely in the temple's main docking bay, he exchanges a few friendly words with the hangar manager and some mechanics, who greet Master Skywalker with a twinkle in their eyes, as if he were their personal hero.
Well, maybe he is. He stops and smiles, although he actually wants to walk on. Nevertheless, he lingers to crack a few jokes and give a few well-intentioned and always sought-after technical tips before taking his leave and moving on.
He pats Artoo, who stays behind and sees him off with a prolonged chirp. His faithful astromech still has some repairs to complete.
His brown cloak billows behind him as he finally saunters along the imposing columns, whistling exuberantly.
He rarely whistles. Most of the time, he doesn't feel like expressing such obvious cheerfulness. Today, however, he is in a great mood.
Mission accomplished, most successfully completed, to say the least.
Home at last. He is genuinely happy to be back here. Yep, in the temple, right where he belongs.
He has finally arrived. He has made his peace with being a Jedi. After all, he is a venerable Master with a seat on the High Council.
But the main reason for his high spirits is his one true angel, whom he is most looking forward to after a painfully long separation.
He brushes a dark blond curl out of his face as an expectant smile spreads across his lips.
He can hardly wait to hold his beloved in his arms again. He has been off planet for a whole five months. It is still a mystery to him how he managed to survive such a long period of separation without going insane or turning to the dark side.
But he did it. And this despite the fact that he only had the opportunity to communicate with Coruscant every few weeks during his assignment on the remote outskirts of the galaxy. Indeed, he is almost a little proud of himself. He has definitely proven that he is able to control himself and is a reliable master of more than just his sometimes overflowing emotions.
His comlink chimes before he reaches the quarters he has been sharing with his old master again since he moved out of the ones he used to inhabit with his Padawan.
But Ahsoka has long been knighted and has since gone her own way as an accomplished Jedi knight. Needless to say, he is kriffing proud of her.
He ignores the ringing that won't stop. He knows who it is, at least he thinks he does. But he refuses to answer the call. He has almost reached his destination and intends to surprise him.
But when the doors open, he still can't sense the familiar Force signature nearby. Finding their quarters deserted, he frowns and finally drops his travel bag. Unpacking can wait. There are more important things.
His comlink rings again, persistent, downright intrusive. Picking it up, he speaks before the hologram has manifested in front of him.
"Honey, I'm home, but um ... where are you?"
A distinct throat-clearing sounds from the small communication device.
When the hologram finally appears in front of him, looking at him half-amused, half-annoyed, he screws up his face.
Kark, how embarrassing! It's not the person he expected, no, longed for. Rather the opposite.
Now it is his turn to awkwardly clear his throat.
"Um... My apologies, Master Windu. I mistook you for um... someone else."
A pair of blue shimmering eyebrows is raised, but otherwise the response is fairly mild.
"Obviously, Master Skywalker."
Well, they will never be best friends, but they have learned to get along. After all, they are adults, aren't they?
"How can I be of assistance?"
"I'm afraid your presence is required in the council chambers for an unscheduled meeting."
Anakin groans in frustration. Can't he even catch his breath after such a long journey?
'Duty comes first,' an all-too-familiar elegant voice murmurs unbidden in his head, like a friendly ghost who never leaves his side.
Well, better than the seductive but venomous whispers of the dark side. He has gotten over that. Still, he deserves a break and some downtime with a certain someone, doesn't he?
"With all due respect, but can't it wait? I just got back from a five-month mission. What could be such an urgent emergency that demands my presence immediately?"
After all, the cruel and useless war they fought is long over. The galaxy is mostly at peace.
"I am well aware of the circumstances, but I'm afraid there are a few things to discuss concerning Master Kenobi."
There is a serious concern in the deep voice of his interlocutor that immediately triggers a pang of panic in him. He can literally sense his pulse quickening. He really has become more balanced. He can even meditate successfully now. But all serenity is gone as soon as his master's safety and well-being are on the line.
"Obi-Wan?! Has something happened to him?"
The hologram of the Order's second in command shakes its head. Yet for some reason, Mace Windu looks like he doesn't feel comfortable in his own skin.
"No, calm down, nothing um... life-threatening has happened to him."
Anakin frowns. Why is he stammering? It's not like him. He is not telling him the truth. Something is clearly amiss here.
"What are you implying?"
"Easy, Skywalker, Obi-Wan is fine considering the um…circumstances."
No, these vague allusions do nothing to ease the Chosen One's worries. On the contrary.
"With all due respect, but what circumstances are you talking about?"
An exasperated sigh sounds through his comlink.
"Would you please just honor us with your presence, then I can spare myself any unnecessary explanation."
"I'm on my way," he mumbles and switches off his comlink.
He suddenly has a very bad feeling about this. His good mood is blown away. What has happened? Was Obi-Wan injured on some dangerous undercover mission he didn't know about?
If so, then why is he being summoned to the council chambers? Why was he not told that this man with absolutely no sense of self-preservation is once again lying in the Halls of Healing?
And why wasn't he informed immediately?
Kark!
Despite Master Windu's all-clear, he sprints off as if it were a matter of life and death, instantly disregarding any sense of dignity a Jedi Master is supposed to display. Ignoring the greetings of several masters, knights and padawans, he rushes past them as if something were hunting him.
He doesn't even notice that the one or other fellow brother or sister has to back off to prevent him from bumping right into them.
He is well trained and in top form. Nevertheless, he runs so fast that he is panting by the time he reaches the council chambers.
There is only one thing left in his mind, everything else seems to have lost all meaning. Obi-Wan. Where is Obi-Wan?
+++