SW Fic "Nova" (1/?)
Saturday, 9 September 2006 01:51![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
curtkenobiAuthor: Curt Kenobi
Summary: Anakin has always admired Obi-Wan. And as the years progress, he'll come to find that out, and that he has always loved him, as well. Despite the secrets Obi-Wan hides. (yeah, bad summary but the plot's still in-progress...)
Pairing: A/O and O/X
Rating: M/R to be safe overall. PG (I hate G ratings) for this chap.
Genre: Angst, Romance, Action/Adventure
Disclaimer: Yeah, if Star Wars was mine, I could rule the world like GL. But, alas, I don't own it, so don't sue. Just call me Christian from Moulin Rouge. I'm naught but a penniless writer.
A/N: This is AU...'cos I have a soft spot for a certain Dark Jedi who didn't die. And I think he has a soft spot for everyone's Jedi-in-Shining-Armour, aka Obi, even if the main focus is O/A. Oh yeah, it's slash, if you didn't catch that... I'm still not sure about the title... And yeah, I thought I'd bring my lyric-breaks to my SW fandom, too.
Thanks to Davis for reading over this for me and giving me the extra green light.
Part One: Complicated Relations
Anakin Skywalker knew Obi-Wan Kenobi better than anyone, inside and out. And though the older man often frustrated him, he loved him. He always had.
Chapter One: Up From the Shattered...
12 Years Ago
He was just a little boy, lost and out of place, stuck in a strange new world (been to a couple, actually) far different from his own. He had been placed with a responsibility that he did not quite grasp, but understood the gravity of. He was -- supposedly -- the "Chosen One". Chosen to bring balance to the Force. And while he was supposed to be something of a saviour to the Jedi, no one trusted him. The mighty Jedi Council made it clear that they did not -- but that was mutual; he neither liked nor trusted them, either. The only one who had believed in him here had been Master Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon Jinn had been the man who had found him, taken him away from the slave's life he had led -- taken him away from his mother, whom he'd dearly loved...the man who had been like an anchor for him in this new arena.
He was now dead.
The only person Anakin Skywalker could look to was Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Anakin was in awe of Obi-Wan. But he also felt bad for him. Like Anakin himself, a good deal of things were quickly being thrown upon Obi-Wan. There he was: the Sith Killer, suddenly a new Knight. His master who had been like a father to him for the past twelve years was dead -- had died in his arms. And then there was Anakin to consider into it all: the little boy who had seemingly usurped his place in Qui-Gon Jinn's heart. The boy whom Qui-Gon's dying wish had been for his apprentice to train. A small child, a former slave. Mopheaded and forlorn with nowhere to go. Obi-Wan, despite his own reservations, would abide by his loyal, honourable nature: He would train the boy, as his Master had wished, and he would debate with Yoda until the venerable master conceded the Council would allow it.
It had taken Anakin by surprise when he had heard those words: "The Council has granted me permission to train you." They had been standing, watching Qui-Gon's body burn upon his funeral pyre. Anakin had been wrapped up in his own sorrow and insecurities. His mind was reeling, the two loudest questions it asked being: Why Qui-Gon? and What will happen to me now? The latter continued, repeating in a monotonous chant. Finally he had posed it to Obi-Wan. His voice sounded pathetic to his own ears as the question passed his lips. He couldn't imagine what the Knight -- what Obi-Wan thought of him.
But Obi-Wan had replied in a soft, surprisingly smooth, compassionate voice. The rich accent he had that kind of reminded Anakin of his mother's voice. Anakin felt his heart lift despite his sorrow. There was hope for him after all.
And now before the banquet Her Highness was having before the Grand Celebration, Anakin was being turned into a Jedi apprentice.
"Master Obi-Wan?" Anakin called hesitantly as he emerged from the 'fresher, his new robes donned. They felt good, not as rough-hewn as the ones he had worn before, the ones his mother had made for him. He held his necklace with its many strands of beads in a tight fist. His mother had also crafted that for him. He'd worn it for as long as he could remember and was not keen on the idea of parting with it. He stuffed it into a utility pouch on his belt before Obi-Wan turned round.
Anakin noticed that Obi-Wan jumped a little at his speaking. He also noted that Obi-Wan had been worrying with his padawan braid -- evidently he thought he had dropped his hand away quick enough and before he turned so that it would not be noticed. Anakin gave no indication of knowing though, far more interested in a sign of approval. Obi-Wan flashed him a brief, wan smile that did not reach his bruised eyes. Fair enough, Anakin supposed.
"Do I have to have my hair cut like yours?" Anakin asked. "Do I get a braid, too?"
The boy's enthusiasm was endearing...but slightly annoying as well. Obi-Wan wanted nothing more than to escape to the Gardens, or to curl up in his bed here and just...sleep. But he knew he must function, must humour everyone -- especially his new Padawan. Gods! -- how that still unnerved him. His loss of Qui-Gon was a raw wound, and every time he realised that he himself was now a Master...somehow it felt like salt ground into that wound.
"Yes, Anakin. You will," he replied, trying to not sound as weary as he felt.
Anakin's eyes lit up. "Wizard!" His face was aglow with dreamlike amazement. He met Obi-Wan's eyes. "I'm a Jedi. I'm actually going to be a Jedi."
Obi-Wan was almost -- almost -- shocked by how he seethed internally at the boy's words. Oh, yes, Boy. My Master died so you could be a Jedi. And I got stuck with you. It's all bloody about you. And I hate you for it.
He quickly shut the thought away. He dreaded when he and the boy would form a Master/Padawan bond, a mental link between them. It would happen quite soon, though.
"Come on," Obi-Wan instucted. "Let's give you that haircut and your braid." Anakin ran over to a footstool and sat down while Obi-Wan got together the needed implements.
After being told, "Stop fidgetting," several times, Anakin finally stilled and almost fell asleep as Obi-Wan cut his hair. He jerked to attention when Obi-Wan tightened up his ponytail at the crown of his head.
"Ouch!" he yelped.
"Sorry."
Anakin made a face, still a bit put-out, though Obi-Wan did not see it as he was still behind the boy. Obi-Wan fingered the length of hair left for Anakin's braid. It was short. Quite short. But even if it had been a more preferrable length, it would not have prevented the inevitable. Obi-Wan placed the cutting shears off to the side and picked up the small vibroblade he had also gathered. He pressed it into Anakin's hand as he came round before the boy and knelt.
Anakin stared at the blade in disbelief and confusion. "Master Obi-Wan?" Again, that almost imperceptible flinch, but the dark grey-glazed blue eyes met his.
"It's your first important duty as my Padawan. Usually the Master has the honour of severing his or her apprentice's braid in a ceremony...but as I no longer have a Master, but do have a Padawan, I am allowing you the honour," Obi-Wan said. His tone was almost off-hand, non-chalant, but nevertheless, Anakin's big, bright blue eyes widened impossibly in awe.
"Really?"
Obi-Wan closed his eyes against the tears that stung them, threatening to well. He drew in a breath. "Yes, Anakin. Really. Now."
Anakin gently lifted the thin copper plait, letting it dangle over his palm. This was going to be hard -- he would have to cut left-handed. But he would not botch it. He swore that to himself. He would not botch it, for this was far too important.
As he grabbed the plait closer to the base, it struck Anakin to be amazed by Obi-Wan's hair. It was really rather soft, silky. And the colour was like suns' set on Tatooine. Anakin had had a redheaded "friend" of sorts back home (he was more of an antagonist than friend) but Obi-Wan's hair was not really red. It was red and blond and brown, a unique shade unto itself. All those colours and yet its own.
Anakin slipped the blade beneath the braid and cut up, pulling to the side. A small strand held steadfastly and Anakin severed it, nicking Obi-Wan's ear, though he didn't know he had. All Obi-Wan did was since slightly, accepting the pain, rather finding it inconvienant, but comforting. Deserved.
Anakin looked at the braid in awe for a moment before he started to give it back to Obi-Wan.
"No."
The sharpness of the one word cut through Anakin as surely as a lightsabre would have. "I --" he began to stammer. Obi-Wan shook his head.
"I've no need for it. Do what you will with it."
"Y--Yes, sir."
Obi-Wan took the vibroblade back and cut down his ponytail so it was in length with the rest of his hair. He looked at the length he'd severed, frowning a bit. And then he set to fashioning Anakin a padawan braid, weaving his own hair in so that Anakin's braid, instead of stopping just past his jawline, actually brushed his shoulder.
When it was finished, Anakin ran his fingers along the plait, his eyes huge. He started to give Obi-Wan a hug, but the Knight pulled away. Anakin didn't mind. He was ecstatic that he was actually going to be a Jedi. "Thank you, Master Obi-Wan!"
Obi-Wan only nodded curtly, getting to his feet. "Wash up before the banquet, Anakin. Before we go, there will be one more thing. Then you'll have become a proper apprentice."
"Yes, Master!" The boy scurried off, and Obi-Wan headed for the balcony. He pressed against the railing hard, the stone unyielding. And he couldn't help the tears that began to fall from the corners of his eyes. He could only close his eyes against them and hope the wind carried them away.
(The lyric in the page break is from "Who I Am" by Smile Empty Soul.)
--> To Chapter Two: Forbidden
