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“Sir, General Kenobi has just landed on the planet. He’s asking for you.”
Anakin did not wince in front of the young trooper that reported this to him. He maintained a professional composure and nodded gratefully to the trooper, following the trooper to where Obi-Wan was speaking to Senator Organa. He waited until Obi-Wan turned from his conversation, hands clasped behind his back.
“You asked to see me, Master Kenobi?” He almost bit his tongue after he spoke. The formality was laying it on a little thick. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at him, no doubt seeing through his attempt at humility.
“Yes, Knight Skywalker,” Obi-Wan said pointedly. He turned towards Bail Organa. “Excuse us, Senator.”
“Of course, General Kenobi.” Bail shot Anakin a smile over Obi-Wan’s shoulder. Obi-Wan turned back to his former apprentice and made a gesture for him to follow. Anakin fell into step to his left and two steps behind, the habitual stride of a Jedi Padawan following their master. He might be on equal footing with Obi-Wan, but old habits died hard, particularly when he knew he was in for a dressing-down. Obi-Wan led them to the first floor of one of the abandoned buildings nearby into a blessedly empty lobby. He turned and crossed his arms, glaring at Anakin.
“What’s with the look?” Anakin managed a cocky half-smile, leaning against an armchair.
“Don’t pretend with me, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said sternly. “You deliberately disobeyed my orders and endangered lives with your arrogance.”
“Hey, I destroyed Trench and got the mercy mission done with zero casualties!” Anakin’s smile dropped, his own glare coming up to match his former master’s as his anger rose.
“That is not the issue here. The issue is you disobeyed a direct order. We have a chain of command for a reason. If Trench had destroyed your ship…”
“But he didn’t! And if you had engaged Trench on your own, you would have gotten yourself and your entire fleet killed!”
“You don’t know that,” Obi-Wan snapped. “And you didn’t know that Trench would fall for your maneuver. A highly risky maneuver with a low chance of success. And had you failed…”
“But I didn’t!”
“That is not the issue, Anakin!” Obi-Wan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just because it worked out this time, doesn’t mean that the precedent you’re setting of not following orders and just assuming you know best is dangerous. You set a bad example for the men you command and you risk your own life flippantly by not respecting the chain of command.”
“You mean by not respecting you,” Anakin shot back.
“Whether you like it or not, I am High General of the third systems army and I am over you in the chain of command. If not even you will follow my orders, how can I expect anyone else to? You were insubordinate in front of Admiral Yularen and your troopers and ignored direct orders. If that weren’t enough, you risked the lives of everyone counting on those supplies and your men and yourself!”
Anakin sneered at him. “So what are you going to do, drag me over your knee like I’m a Padawan again?”
Obi-Wan barked a bitter laugh. “Don’t tempt me.”
Anakin flinched, a look of indignant horror crossing his face as his throat bobbed in a nervous swallow. Obi-Wan couldn’t help but hide a smile at Anakin’s reaction, even in the heat of his frustration with his former Padawan. Oh, Anakin. Obi-Wan sighed.
“Anakin, I know you are a strong and capable Jedi Knight. I trust your judgement in battle and in leading your troops. But I need you to trust my judgement as much as I trust yours. And that means following orders. You don’t always have the full picture. I need you to respect the chain of command. The troops look up to you. They will follow your example. And one day…one day you’ll have a Padawan to follow your example, too. Yes, you were right this time, and you did well. I’m not arguing with what you did, I’m upset with how you went about it. Can you understand that?”
Anakin looked away, biting back his flaring temper. “Yes, master.”
Obi-Wan sighed again. He stepped closer to Anakin and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You…worried me, you know,” Obi-Wan admitted. Anakin glanced up at the uncharacteristic statement, eyebrows raising. Obi-Wan gave him a rueful smile. “I know, I’m an old worrywart, you don’t have to say it. But I was concerned for you. Do try to be more…circumspect, when it comes to your life. For your old master’s sake?”
Anakin gave him a small smile. He knew the expression of concern was an olive branch as much as it was truth. “I’ll try, old man.”
Obi-Wan squeezed his shoulder. “That’s all I ask.” He ducked his head a bit to look Anakin in the eye. “You know I care greatly for you, right?”
Anakin’s smile widened. “I know, Master,” he said softly. “And I you. I…I do respect you, Master, I just…”
“Ah, let’s stop while you’re ahead,” Obi-Wan chided. Anakin rolled his eyes, but his smile didn’t falter.
“Let’s make a deal, shall we?” Obi-Wan offered. “I’ll try to be more inclined to hear your opinions and ideas when it comes to battle strategy, you try to be more inclined to follow direct orders.”
Anakin smirked. “Deal.”
“And now, we have a planet to win.”