Chapter Text
THE CHANCELLOR ASSASINATED
CHANCELLOR PALPATINE FOUND DEAD
Early this morning, Jedi Master Mace Windu reportedly "sensed great danger" coming to the Chancellor. Upon arrival at the Chancellor's apartment, he and his padawan, Anakin Skywalker, found the Chancellor's guards unconscious and the security footage erased. Chancellor Palpatine was found in his bedroom, killed by a strong electrostatic discharge caused by an unknown weapon. The weapon left very little of the Chancellor's body. It appears that the Chancellor tried to run away from the assassin, as there is some evidence of struggle, but in the end, the assassin killed him.
The Jedi Council is conducting an investigation in conjunction with the Coruscant Police.
***
Anakin paced outside the Council Chamber, worrying his bottom lip anxiously. The Council had been in session for hours, and Anakin's nerves were absolutely frayed. What if the Council decided to give Obi-Wan to the authorities, after all? Or expel him?
Although his Master had said he would help Obi-Wan, the Council would have to be told something. Anakin had considered asking his Master what he was planning to tell them, but Master Mace had seemed in a particularly foul mood since they left Palpatine's apartment, and to be entirely honest, Anakin wasn't looking forward to their conversation in private, all things considered.
Kriff, the wait was killing him.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the door opened, and Obi-Wan walked out. Anakin looked at him searchingly.
Obi-Wan seemed tired and emotionally drained, but there was a new peace about him, as if the weight he'd been carrying for a long time--ever since Anakin had known him, really--was finally gone.
"Master?" Anakin said uncertainly, unsure what to make of it.
Obi-Wan gave him a small smile. "No, Padawan. It will be Knight Kenobi from now on."
Anakin frowned. "What did they demote you for?" He still didn't think Obi-Wan deserved being demoted.
"They did not demote me, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, stepping closer. He laid his hand on Anakin's shoulder and steered him away from the Council Chamber.
Anakin tried not to lean into the touch too obviously, but judging by the softening of Obi-Wan's gaze, he didn't succeed.
Obi-Wan clarified, "I asked to be demoted myself. I do not think I can call myself a Jedi Master when I have trouble being a Jedi. I need to learn again."
Chewing on his lip, Anakin nodded. He didn't really agree, but he could see that Obi-Wan was at peace with that decision--he truly did not see it as punishment.
Glancing around, Anakin lowered his voice. "But what does the Council know?"
Stroking his beard, Obi-Wan sighed. "Although Master Windu was willing not to tell them about my transgressions, I knew I would never be able to turn over a new leaf if I continued lying. I told them everything, Anakin."
Anakin stared at him. "Everything? Even about your slip to the Dark Side? How did they take it?"
Obi-Wan grimaced. "It was...rather unpleasant, I admit. But it could have been worse. They now know that Palpatine was a Sith, so they don't blame me for killing him, but they are concerned about my... mental state and judgement. My seat in the Council has been revoked, though I would have given it up in any case along with my rank of Master."
"What happens now?" Anakin said, curling his fingers into a fist to prevent himself from reaching out and grabbing Obi-Wan's hand. They stopped in front of the tall window that overlooked the Temple gardens.
"I'm not sure, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, looking out the window. "The Council will not reveal that I was the one who killed Sidious--it will only make everything complicated--but other than that... " He winced a little. "I am to have appointments with a mind healer every other day until they confirm that I'm no longer tainted by the Dark Side." His expression turned sour. "I also have to talk to them about my past experiences."
Anakin nodded, secretly feeling glad. He had always thought Obi-Wan would benefit from some professional help to deal with the traumatic experiences of his other life. There were so many things that triggered Obi-Wan for seemingly no reason, and Anakin had always felt painfully inadequate every time it happened.
"In any case, my slip to the Dark Side was not the main issue for the Council. My relationship with you was."
Anakin's jaw fell open. "You told them about us, too? Why? I can only imagine how badly they took it!"
"They were... less than impressed," Obi-Wan said, his gaze dropping. "But it was not as bad as it could have been. Ironically, the fact that you are not my padawan in this life makes our relationship far less reprehensible in the Council's opinion than it otherwise would have been. While I was technically in a position of power over you as a Council member, I have never actually overseen any of your missions. So it makes things easier."
Anakin blinked a few times. "You mean they are fine with us?" he said incredulously.
Obi-Wan gave him a crooked smile. "Fine would be an exaggeration, but... Strictly speaking, we are hardly the first Jedi to be in a relationship, Anakin; it is simply not advertised. The Council was definitely not happy, but I told them that we would not stay in the Order if they tried to separate us." Obi-Wan lips twitched. "You can probably imagine how well that was received."
Anakin laughed. "I'm surprised they didn't just kick us out for your nerve."
"They probably would have, but Mace has an immense influence over the other Council members. It probably also helped that he told them that he could sense that you would do great--truly great--things in the future as a Jedi."
Anakin blinked, stunned. "Master has never told me anything."
Something like amusement flickered across Obi-Wan's face. "He was wise not to. Your ego does not need stroking, Anakin."
"Hey!" Anakin said, playfully swatting him on the chest. "I am a model Jedi."
"Compared to me, probably," Obi-Wan said with a laugh.
The rays of dying sunlight caught in his auburn hair, and Anakin found himself staring, painfully self-conscious of how besotted he was, of how much he loved this man.
Anakin let his fingers brush against Obi-Wan's, uncaring that they were in a public place. He couldn't help himself. Kriff it. If the Council knew, it wouldn't be long before everyone else did. "I love you," he said, his voice wavering. "No matter what happens, I'll always stand by you."
Obi-Wan's expression became serious, the look in his eyes oddly naked. "I know," he said, curling his fingers around Anakin's. "You are the other half of my soul, dear one." His eye were suspiciously shiny. "I am not... I am not certain that all my decisions in this life concerning you were correct, but I always tried to do my best. To make you happy and keep you whole."
Anakin smiled at him helplessly. He entwined their fingers, squeezing them. "You did," he said, his throat uncomfortably tight. "You did, Master."
And uncaring of anyone who might be watching, he stepped closer and kissed Obi-Wan tenderly, pouring all his love into that kiss. He loved this man, this strong, incredible man who, despite the terrible things he had witnessed and lived through, still hadn't lost his capacity to love and care.
Anakin didn't know what the future had in store for them--he had no doubts that the Council would make their life very difficult regardless of Master Mace's support--but he was certain of one thing: this was right. Love healed. Love made the world better. This couldn't be wrong, no matter what the Jedi Council thought.
Perhaps, in time the Jedi would see the errors of their ways--and change.
If they don't, well... Maybe Anakin would make them change, one day.
Epilogue
Six months later
Obi-Wan dreamed.
At first, he thought it was just a dream, but there was a certain depth to it, the Force whispering to him that this was important, that this would happen.
*
An older Anakin, standing tall and proud at his Knighting ceremony. A circle of Jedi Masters around him, Obi-Wan one of them.
Anakin speaks, touching his padawan braid.
"Masters, I have a request," he says, his voice firm. "I hope my Master will not take offense at this request, but I would like for my braid to be cut by the Jedi who gave me my first lightsaber and taught me how to hold it. By the Jedi who patiently taught an uneducated slave how to touch the Force and respect it. I took my first steps as a Jedi under the guidance of Obi-Wan, and I will be forever grateful for that." He turns to Obi-Wan and bows. "Master, will you do me the honor?"
"Only if Master Windu has no objections," Obi-Wan says hoarsely.
Obi-Wan can feel that the Korun has mixed feelings about it, but in the end Mace shakes his head, and Obi-Wan takes Anakin's braid and cuts it off with his lightsaber.
He gives the braid to Anakin. "Knight Skywalker," he says, his voice catching. "Congratulations." I'm so proud of you.
Anakin smiles at him, his eyes shining. Then he walks to Master Windu and bows to him. "Obi-Wan is the one who taught me how to make my first steps in the Force," he says, looking Mace in the eye. "But you have taught me how to be the Jedi I am. Thank you, Master. For believing in me--for everything. This belongs to you." He places his braid into Mace's hand and squeezes their hands together.
Master Windu's expression becomes very pinched, his jaw tight, before he jerks Anakin close and gives him a one-armed hug. "Of course it does, brat," he says gruffly. "After all the gray hair you have given me."
Anakin laughs and hugs him back. "You don't have hair, Master."
The vision fades.
*
This vision is different.
At first Obi-Wan is unsure why the Jedi he sees at the Temple are so unfamiliar. But then he sees the Hall of History, and realizes that it must be hundreds of years in the future, if not thousands.
Because there is an ancient statue in the center of the Hall and it's... Anakin. An older Anakin with a firm, wise gaze. Even as a statue, he exudes immense power and balance. It is difficult to look away.
There is a beautiful engraving under the statue that says something, but Obi-Wan does not read it.
He does not need to.
*
Obi-Wan woke up, gasping. The Force was still vibrating in his body, and it took him a while to find his serenity again.
When he did, he turned his head and looked at the young man sleeping by his side, with his arm thrown around Obi-Wan's stomach.
Obi-Wan stared at Anakin's smooth face, at his long, golden eyelashes almost touching his cheeks, his soft mouth pressed against Obi-Wan's ribs, and felt his chest tighten with emotion.
Thank you, he sent into the Force, feeling deeply humbled and grateful for the precious gift the Force had just given him.
The future was always in motion, but the Force had just shown him that this was the right path, or at least a right path. Perhaps Anakin would not have walked this path without the Force's intervention and Obi-Wan's time-travel, but this path would still lead Anakin to the great destiny that had been stolen from him in Obi-Wan's original life.
The thought made his eyes sting, but the crushing grief and guilt he had half-expected were not there anymore. Although it had been just six months, Obi-Wan had to admit that the therapy the Council had forced on him seemed to be helping him.
That said, Obi-Wan suspected that the young man sleeping in his arms was the biggest reason for his emotional wounds finally healing, little by little.
The good thing about Anakin being Mace Windu's padawan was that he was rarely sent on missions off-world, since his Master was at the Temple most of the time. It ensured that Anakin almost always was at the Temple, which allowed him and Obi-Wan to spend more time together than they ever had. Mace clearly didn't entirely approve, but Obi-Wan had come to a rather disconcerting--and amusing--conclusion that Anakin had his Master wrapped around his little finger.
Having Anakin to come home to after his missions was... incredible. Although the Council pretended that their relationship didn't exist, they were aware of it, so Obi-Wan and Anakin didn't have to worry about hiding their relationship, which made an enormous difference.
It undoubtedly also helped that Obi-Wan no longer had to lead a double life now that the Separatists and the Republic reached a peaceful agreement thanks to Chancellor Amidala and "Ben Kenobi's" efforts.
In any case, Obi-Wan felt more at peace than he had in decades. At peace and... happy.
Happiness. Obi-Wan had never thought he would ever feel it again, not after Mustafar, but as he gazed at Anakin's sleeping form in his arms, a quiet joy filled his heart.
He hadn't failed Anakin, not this time. One day, Anakin would be a great Jedi Master--and if his vision came true, more than that.
Obi-Wan smiled wistfully and brushed his lips against Anakin's forehead. He had always known Anakin had the potential to be a better Jedi than Obi-Wan could ever hope to be, and knowing that he would have the privilege of witnessing that... it filled his chest with pride and happiness.
He suddenly thought of Luke and Leia, Anakin's incredible children that would not be born in this life. The thought was a little saddening, but it didn't feel wrong.
It made him wonder.
In the other life, Obi-Wan had assumed that the prophecy had been misinterpreted and Luke was the real Chosen One rather than his father--the boy was so much like Anakin, so very bright in the Force.
But for the first time, Obi-Wan wondered if the twins' strength in the Force had been just the Force's response to Anakin's Fall. If Anakin hadn't Fallen, the twins might not have been so strong in the Force. After all, the Force always tried to balance itself and Anakin's Fall had skewed the balance to the Dark Side immensely. But without Anakin's Fall, the twins' birth would not be necessary anymore as far as the Force was concerned.
It didn't stop Obi-Wan from wondering what had happened to Luke and Leia--and Darth Vader--in the other life.
Obi-Wan was still thinking about it as he fell asleep again.
He dreamed.
But this dream--this vision--is different from the others. The Force whispers that this is something that would have happened, or would happen in another world. In another life.
He sees Darth Vader. He sees Luke and Palpatine. He sees Palpatine striking Luke with Force-lightning, with Vader watching passively.
His heart in his throat, Obi-Wan can only watch it happen, helpless. This is all his fault.
But then...
He watches in disbelief as Vader kills Palpatine and saves his son, sacrificing himself in the process.
It isn't Darth Vader who speaks to his son before dying in his arms. It's Anakin, broken and scarred physically, but his soul is bright and shining with Light once again.
He watches his own Force ghost take Anakin's spirit by his hand and guide him toward the bright, pulsing light that is the Force.
They join it, together.
Obi-Wan woke up, his eyes wet, and the hollow, charred feeling inside him that he had been carrying since Mustafar finally gone.
He gathered Anakin into his arms, smiling wetly, his heart so very full.
Anakin made a sleepy noise before opening his eyes. "Obi-Wan?" he mumbled, burying his fingers in Obi-Wan's hair. "Why aren't you asleep?"
Obi-Wan looked at him greedily. Force, he would never get enough of him. "I had a dream."
Anakin's brows furrowed. After his false vision about his mother, he seemed a little wary of dreams these days. "A bad one?" he said.
Obi-Wan smiled and shook his head. Pressing their foreheads together, he breathed in Anakin's scent--the scent that meant home, right, beloved, and said softly, "A very good one."
The End