Sith!Obi-wan finding out that Qui-gon just got a new Padawan and thinking “huh, I could pull a Xanatos and kidnap the little one, in all honesty I’m making him a favor” just to then discover that this is not a little initiate, but an ex-slave how’s mother is still a slave and he is just done with his former master’s bullshit
friend!!!!!! bestie!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure how true to the prompt I ended up staying BUT I really hope you like reading this as much as I loved writing it, omg it was so fun!!!
pls enjoy this 2.1k canon-divergent, Sith!Obi-Wan, padawan!Anakin, Fallen!Anakin, obsessive Anakin, mentions of a murder and the uhhh aftermath <3
–
Sitting in his booth, Obi-Wan took the last sip of his drink, sighing at how the smooth whiskey went down his throat, immediately warming his veins. Maybe he was stupid for drinking whiskey on the hottest planet he’d ever been on, but he’d never been one to choose convenience or comfort over quality and taste. His many white layers proved that.
He really had no desire to be on this Force-forsaken planet at all, but when his master gives an order he is to obey, unless he wants to deal with Lord Sidious. That was how Dooku kept Obi-Wan in line, since he knew there was little else actually keeping Obi-Wan loyal to him as an apprentice. Obi-Wan had learned enough that Dooku was no longer relevant to him, but, apparently, Dooku was to play an important role in Sidious’ plans for the big war that was about to break out, so Obi-Wan and Dooku circled each other just enough to keep the other alive.
Because Obi-Wan had a role to play, too. Sidious knew how good he was at negotiations, and so while Obi-Wan wouldn’t necessarily be a general like his master, it would be his responsibility to ensure they had the weapons and resources they’d need to fight this war. Which was how he found himself here, decompressing after the first day of negotiations with the Hutts, some of the most unpleasant sentients Obi-Wan has never had the displeasure of speaking with.
The one drink definitely was not enough to compensate for what he’d been through that day, so he made his way to the bar for another. As he waitede for his second drink, a tall, gangly thing burst through the cantina doors, face contorted into a scowl and cheeks glistening with tears. Obi-Wan took in the sight before him, and immediately realized he knew this tall, gangly thing. This was Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn’s padawan.
Yes, Obi-Wan knew Anakin Skywalker – knew of him, at least. Obi-Wan had been in his early twenties when he learned of Anakin’s arrival to the Temple and the Jedi. When he found out that Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan’s former master, had taken Anakin on as his new padawan, Obi-Wan had considered taking the boy for himself. He’d be doing him a favor; Qui-Gon Jinn practically ensured that no one flourished under his guidance, what with his cold demeanor and palpable indifference towards his pupils.
That was Obi-Wan’s experience, anyway.
But Obi-Wan didn’t. Sidious forbade him, and it would’ve gotten messy with Dooku, considering the Rule of Two they abided by as Sith. Plus, as much as he was loathe to admit it, Obi-Wan did still hold respect for Dooku. The man took him in and taught him power Obi-Wan had never believed he could wield when he found Obi-Wan, freshly Fallen and awfully torn up about it. Under Dooku’s tutelage, Obi-Wan harnessed the Dark with finesse and confidence he never would have gained with Qui-Gon.
Now, looking at Anakin in this cantina, Obi-Wan can see that Qui-Gon had failed him, too. His tear-soaked face and still trembling lip were proof that Qui-Gon had neglected to acknowledge his padawan’s apparently very strong emotions, and therefore failed to teach him how to channel them to his benefit. Not to mention, the boy’s Force signature was emanating Darkness; it felt fresh, it felt suffocating, it felt never-ending.
When Anakin locked eyes with Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan gave him a once over before taking his drink back to his booth. Sitting down, he was unsurprised to find Anakin there, looming over him like a dark cloud. Taking a sip, Obi-Wan glanced up, waiting for Anakin to speak. When he didn’t, Obi-Wan said, “Hello. Can I help you?”
“Yes,” Anakin said, voice thick and hoarse, surely from the crying.
When Anakin didn’t explain further, Obi-Wan set his drink down with a roll of his eyes. “I can’t if you don’t tell me with what.”
“Teach me the ways of the Dark Side,” Anakin said, hands balled into fists by his sides. His shoulders were rising and falling with harsh breaths, and his red-rimmed eyes looked like they’d fall with fresh tears at any moment. He was the visage of a boy ready to Fall, surely much like how Obi-Wan must have looked when Dooku took him in.
Still, there were too many of Sidious’ plans in motion for this to be feasible. That, and the fact that Sidious had specifically forbidden Obi-Wan taking on Anakin specifically as his apprentice.
“No,” Obi-Wan answered, turning back to his drink. As expected, though, Anakin did not move. “Go back to the master you already have, little Jedi. I’d like to enjoy my drink in peace.”
Taking the seat across from Obi-Wan, Anakin splayed his hands out on the table with a hard smack, jostling Obi-Wan’s drink in his hand from how Obi-Wan rested his elbow on the table. Anakin was impossibly lucky none of the liquid spilt from the commotion.
Looking back at Anakin with an incredibly unimpressed and quite annoyed look, Obi-Wan set his drink down. “I won’t say it again.”
“So don’t,” Anakin bit back. It was now that Obi-Wan could see the gold starting to swirl in Anakin’s blue irises. Obi-Wan wondered what had happened – what had just happened, because this was all too fresh – to make Anakin Fall so hard and so quick.
“Then I have nothing to say to you,” Obi-Wan responded, though it wasn’t said with much finality. He was growing more and more curious about Anakin – a dangerous thing for both a Sith and the object of their curiosity.
“If you won’t say yes, then tell me how to get you to say yes,” Anakin pressed, his eye contact unwavering. It was intense, the kind of gaze one could drown in if not careful.
Obi-Wan Kenobi was nothing if not careful. “You know what I am.” It was not a question. Anakin nodded once. “Then you know of the Rule of Two.” Anakin nodded again, but with a bit of hesitation, now. “I’m afraid there’s already two.” Well, technically three, but it was accepted that Sidious was an exception.
For the first time, Anakin broke their eye contact, looking down at the table. But Obi-Wan could tell he did it not in disappointment or acceptance of defeat, but in thought. He was trying to think around the one rule the Sith abided by. It intrigued Obi-Wan, so he continued to drink as he watched Anakin think.
Eventually, by the time Obi-Wan’s drink only had one sip left, Anakin looked up, brow furrowed with new determination. “Who is your apprentice?”
Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow, the corner of his lip quirking up. “Why?”
“Because I’ll kill them,” Anakin answered immediately.
Barking out a laugh, Obi-Wan downed the rest of his drink before standing and straightening his clothes. If he had an apprentice, Obi-Wan considered, he just might tell Anakin who they were, just to see if he’d really do it. It sent a sick thrill of satisfaction through Obi-Wan’s being, but he kept that to himself.
“I’m sure you will, little Jedi,” Obi-Wan said. “Until then, my answer stands.” Then Obi-Wan made his way towards the bar, paid his credits (only because he needed to keep the Hutts somewhat appeased), and left, all while feeling Anakin’s eyes boring into his back and his Force signature doing its best to wrap around and keep Obi-Wan.
–
It is not until three years later, when Obi-Wan is staying at some terrible inn on some terrible planet to negotiate with some terrible people, that he sees Anakin again. It starts with a knock on his door, to which Obi-Wan calls out, “The sign says ‘Do Not Disturb.’”
The knocking continues, so Obi-Wan closes up his notes from today’s talks with an irritated sigh and walks over to the door, opening it with a scowl. “Can you not read-”
The jab dies on his lips when he sees Anakin Skywalker staring back at him with completely golden eyes.
He steps aside and lets the boy – no, the man – in, watching him stalk inside as he closes and locks the door. Anakin is taller than before, which is quite the feat, and his Jedi attire is filled out by bigger arms, broader shoulders, thicker thighs. His hair is no longer in that Force awful padawan cut, but now falls in long curls. When Anakin turns to face him, Obi-Wan notes the scar running through his brow and eye, his one gloved hand, and the bag in his other hand.
Obi-Wan has many questions, but what he says is: “Congratulations on your knighting.”
Anakin huffs, his face as severe as the day Obi-Wan met him on Tatooine. “Doesn’t matter now.”
“Why not?” Obi-Wan asks, stepping further into the room and towards Anakin. Anakin straightens up, but it doesn’t seem to be a defensive move. If Obi-Wan didn’t know any better, Anakin almost looked like he was displaying himself for appraisal.
Tilting his head, Anakin gave Obi-Wan a look that suggested he couldn’t tell if Obi-Wan was stupid or joking. “I think that’s obvious. It’s only gotten worse since we met.”
“You’re not blaming me now, are you?” Obi-Wan asked with a grin.
Narrowing his eyes, Anakin’s grip on the bad tightened. “Who should I blame? Your apprentice?”
Smile growing, Obi-Wan clasped his hands together in front of himself. “Did you kill them?”
“No,” Anakin answered, throwing the bag to the ground. It landed with an incredibly heavy thud. “I did kill your master, though.”
Being careful to hold his smile in place, Obi-Wan looked down at the bag, understanding. He was sure that if he opened it, he would see Dooku’s head. How dramatic of Anakin.
“Ah,” was all Obi-Wan had to say.
“It was easy, considering all the practice I’ve had,” Anakin went on. Obi-Wan did not look up from the bag. “When we met, I’d just killed a whole village of Tusken raiders. After, I killed the man who owned me and my mother as slaves. Then, after searching and searching for your unworthy apprentice, I finally put it together. You were the apprentice all along.”
“Brutal and clever,” Obi-Wan murmured. Dooku’s head was in that bag. Obi-Wan wasn’t sad, per say, but felt a pang of hurt that he hadn’t been the one to do the honors, as is customary. It would’ve been the respectful way for Dooku to die.
And what would this mean for the war? Was Obi-Wan to become a general now? What would Sidious say to this glaring wrench thrown carelessly into his plans? Would he kill Obi-Wan for this? Would he kill Anakin?
Obi-Wan had a feeling he would not do the latter. Anakin was important to him, in some way. There must be a reason Obi-Wan couldn’t have taken him for himself all those years ago. Sidious always had reasons that no one else was privy to.
“So I did what I had to do, to get you to say yes,” Anakin continued, dropping to his knee beside the bag containing Dooku’s head. “So say it.”
Shaking his head minutely, Obi-Wan looked to Anakin, his eyes wide and golden where they were not swallowed by pupil. Adrenaline? Or arousal? Probably both. Anakin was surely getting off on all this death; it was hard not to. And maybe he knew how good he looked kneeling at Obi-Wan’s feet.
“There is another, more powerful Sith lord,” Obi-Wan said. “He will not be pleased by this.”
“Then I’ll kill him, too,” Anakin growled, his resolve unwavering. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Master.”
A shiver ran through Obi-Wan at hearing Anakin Skywalker, kneeling before him, call him Master, a shiver Obi-Wan could not hide. Anakin noticed, and he pressed forward on both knees now, and suddenly it looked like he was down there for something other than pledging himself to Obi-Wan.
“He cannot be killed,” Obi-Wan dismissed. Sidious was far too powerful to be killed, no matter how enraged and determined Anakin was. “But, he is the exception to the rule.” It took him a moment, but Anakin understood what Obi-Wan was saying. The Rule of Two would still be honored if Obi-Wan took Anakin on as his apprentice. “Are you certain this is what you want?”
“Yes, Master,” Anakin answered immediately.
Baring his teeth, Obi-Wan asked, “And what of your other master? Do you still feel loyalty towards him?”
Another immediate answer. “No, Master.”
“And if I told you to kill him?” Obi-Wan probably wouldn’t, but Anakin didn’t need to know that. He just needed to answer the question.
“I would, Master,” Anakin vowed, his voice as firm as his gaze.
“Very good,” Obi-Wan purred, reaching out to finally sink his fingers into Anakin’s hair. It made the man below him shiver and flutter his eyes shut as he leaned into the touch. Obi-Wan smiled, incredibly pleased. “Yes, very good, my apprentice.
prompted fic collection on ao3
42 notes
·
View notes
Sunset casting shadows over pebbles — A Rain World Short Story
suns’ turnnnnn to pick up the mess /s
almost at the end now! thanks for reading yall, seriously. also definitely start from the beginning if you’re new to this series.
Contains lore spoilers for Rain World; read at your own discretion.
Hey, old friend. It’s been a while since we last talked, hasn’t it?
You’ve got your local group in quite the mess. Wind has been… inconsolable, if responsive at all. Worries so much, as always. I’m sure you can guess.
Moon’s… in a bad state. I’m sure you know that too. Sig says they’ve sent her something, but I’m not sure how exactly they’re doing it. They said their transmission arrays are broken, but they were quite blasé about it. They refused to explain their methods.
They seemed rather out of it. In a bad way. You know I talked to you most, and only occasionally with Moon and Wind, so I don’t know them or Innocence very well, but. I think… Everyone’s in a bad state. It’s a lot to lose a neighbor, especially someone like Moon.
… Innocence showed me the images. I know you didn’t intend for things to end up like this, but seeing the state of the Rot, I can’t help but wonder if you were prepared for this.
Well. No one would be. That’s a silly thought. But the possibility of failure… Did it ever cross your mind?
No one knows what exactly happened to Moon, but Innocence said that the two of you shared groundwater, so she ran out of water and collapsed due to slag build up. What you were doing consumes a lot of it. I’m certain you ran calculations on that prior to going through with the plan.
Did you willingly continue, knowing that?
I don’t think I’m angry. I think I’m just disappointed. You were always more frustrated about this than I was, but I never thought you would really go this far. Could go this far. I guess I underestimated you. I don’t know whether I should feel proud about that. I probably shouldn’t.
None of them want to talk about this. Innocence in particular was very irate about me reaching out to you. Said quite a few nasty things; I won’t relay what. Fundamentally, though? I don’t think you’re cruel. Or at least, you don’t set out to be cruel on purpose. You just get a bit too wrapped up in your own problems.
All of us do that, at one point or another. I’m sorry I didn’t reach out to you sooner.
When was the last time we talked, anyway? It’s been so long. You got so quiet, and I didn’t think to reach out. What was the last conversation we had? I suppose I could search through our chat logs for that, but still.
I hope you see this. I don’t know if this will reach you, but I hope it does. If this is the last thing I’ll ever say to you, I hope this suffices as a proper farewell.
I miss you, Five Pebbles.
22 notes
·
View notes