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Obi-Wan's eyes fluttered open to the rays of Coruscant sunlight filtering in from his bedroom window. He felt an extra weight beside him and an arm rested over his body. He looked over to see his young Padawan curled up next to him soundly asleep. He smiled softly at her. It had been a long time since he had woken to Grim having sneaked into his room only to fall back asleep. She hadn't done so since his deception nearly a year ago. As far as he could recall the last time she had done this was when they were captives on Kadavo and forced to be slaves among the togrutas they had gone to save.
His commlink beeped from his bedside table. He turned his attention to it and remembered that he had a Council meeting today. It would be hard to get there with his Padawan sleeping on him. "Little one, I have to get up," He told her, gently.
He didn't really want to wake her up. It had been so long since she'd last had a good night's sleep. It was obvious to him that she was having trouble lately, although he hadn't confronted her about it. There wasn't really a point to it. She was stubborn and had a habit of not telling him things. Much like his last Padawan.
She mumbled something incoherently and snuggled up closer to him. He couldn't help but be slightly amused by the gesture, it reminded him of earlier in the war before everything had changed between the two of them. Long before Grim's body had been covered in countless scars from all the battles they had fought — all that she had been too young to been a part of.
"I have a meeting with the Council," He tried.
"No," she mumbled. It was impossible to tell if she was replying to him or talking in her sleep.
"Grim," he chuckled.
"No. Stay," she told him, still mostly asleep.
"I have to get up."
"No you don't."
"I do. I can't be late."
She muttered something incoherently again. Then she wrapped him into a hug and snuggled her head into his shoulder. "Don't go."
"I'm not going anywhere. I just have a meeting."
"Don't leave, dad."
He smiled gently at that comment. It wasn't the first time she had called him her father. He was quite aware of how she saw him. "I'll be right back." He promised.
She didn't respond and refused to let him go. If he got up now he was sure to wake her up fully. She had managed to successfully trap him. Although he wouldn't complain, it wasn't as if he was uncomfortable. He looked out the window, the sun was still rising but the early morning air traffic had begun as people went to their work. The war had changed many things about the lives of the people in the galaxy, but it did not halt their jobs entirely. Especially those who lived on Coruscant.
Even the Jedi were not immune to this. In fact the war had increased their duties and spread them all throughout the galaxy. Most of the Council wasn't even onworld. It was rare that he was. The 212th had managed to get a temporary break from their battles. He even planned to focus on Grim's training today. There were some lessons that were better suited for the Temple. Especially when training a Padawan who was still behind on the calmer aspects of her training.
Although she excelled in her combat skills and her abilities in the Force matched many of those her age, there was far more to being a Jedi than what the war demanded of them. They were meant to be peacekeepers and diplomats, researchers and teachers. If she was knighted as she was now, she would make an excellent general (although perhaps a bit too impulsive and reckless — even more than Anakin at times), but she wouldn't truly be able to embody what is meant to be a Jedi Knight. She could be what the war and the senate demanded — but not what a Jedi was meant to be.
Grim mumbled incoherently again. This time it was clear she was talking in her sleep. He felt tears fall onto his skin. Her muttering became almost fearful. He immediately knew she was having a nightmare.
"It's okay," he told her. "It's okay, it's just a dream."
She began to whimper and curled more into herself. What ever it was she was dreaming about it was clear it was affecting her. "No. No. Please no." She cried, quietly.
"Grim, it's alright. I'm here. I'm right here."
She gripped him tighter. Her nails almost dug into his skin. She continued crying incoherently. She couldn't hear him in her sleep. Suddenly she let go of him and he could hear her breathing heavily next to him.
He sat up. "Padawan?" He asked.
She looked up at him, sitting up shakily. "Obi-Wan," she breathed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"I was already awake," he assured her. "You were having a nightmare."
"Y-yeah." She wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry. I was having one last night too."
"Is that why I woke up with you sleeping beside me?"
"Your presence is soothing," she muttered. He almost didn't hear her.
"Ah," he said. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No thank you," she replied. "I'm sorry about sneaking into your room."
"No need to apologize, little one."
"Right. I should go back to my room, then." She said awkwardly.
"Yes, perhaps you should. I have a meeting with the Council this morning."
"Oh. Sorry if I made you late."
"I'm sure they'll understand."
She got up off of the bed, and stretched letting out a tired yawn. Obi-Wan also stood up, and pulled the blanket back into place. "Grim," he said.
"Hm?"
"After my meeting with the Council, I have some training planned for you today."
"Oh come on, can't we relax? We don't get to be on Coruscant often."
"I know, but this is training that works better when we don't have a mission to also deal with. I promise, you'll enjoy it."
"Then is it lightsaber training?" She asked with a sparkle in her eyes.
He laughed. "Grim, we both know that you're always training with your lightsaber."
She laughed. "I was just joking. What do you have planned?"
"You'll just have to wait and see."
She grinned. "Fair enough, Master. I should go get ready then."
"Yes, and I need to get ready as well."
She nodded and left his room. He smiled a little bit. It had been a long time since he'd seen her like that. Not since the war had begun and she had first dropped into his life. Although it troubled him that she was having worsening nightmares. Before they had been about her universe and how she had lost it. And although she didn't seem willing to talk about the one she had last night or just now, he could tell it was something far more troubling.
It wasn't something he could dwell on anyways. If she didn't wish to talk to him about it, then he couldn't force her. In any case she seemed to be happier this morning far more so than she had been in the last several months. He hoped that her spirits would remain high throughout the day. Perhaps today could be like the past for just a little while. The war had changed them and would continue to do so, but in the end they were still the same people.
He turned around and went to get ready for the day.