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"The Chancellor has requested that I lead the campaign," Anakin said.
The other Council members looked at Anakin with less than enthused expressions on their faces.
A muscle jumped in Windu's cheek. "The Council will make up its own mind who is to go to Utapau, not the Chancellor."
"Yes, this decision is ours to make,” Master Mundi said.
More than a little humiliated, Anakin clenched his jaw and looked around the Council chamber for support. But even Obi-Wan didn't look supportive in the slightest. He was silent, his face inscrutable.
"A Master is needed, with more experience," Yoda said.
Anakin glared at his hands, a fresh wave of humiliation and anger making his throat close up. He looked back at Obi-Wan, hoping that he'd finally speak up in support of him, but his Master remained silent--just as he'd remained silent when Anakin's padawan needed his support. Just as he'd remained silent when the Council had told him to lie to Anakin, to let him believe that he was dead for a kriffing mission. Just as he had remained silent when Windu had humiliated Anakin in front of the entire Council by giving him a seat but refusing to grant him the rank of Master--something completely unheard of. Obi-Wan was good at remaining silent when Anakin needed him.
Hurt, anger, and betrayal twisted Anakin's stomach into a tight knot. Why didn't Obi-Wan ever speak up for him? Why was he fine with allowing his precious Council to humiliate Anakin again and again? What kind of Master was he? What kind of friend was he? These days, it felt like the only true friend Anakin had, the only friend who believed in him, was the Chancellor. Obi-Wan clearly didn't give a kark about him.
For a moment, Anakin closed his eyes and allowed himself to imagine an Obi-Wan who always had his back, an Obi-Wan who valued Anakin more than his precious Council. His insides ached physically with the strength of his longing, and Anakin tried to push it into the Force--
But the Force didn't accept it. The Force trembled, tightened, and then rippled around him. It became a tidal wave, roaring and swirling around the room until it formed... a man?
Yes, there was a man lying on the floor. He groaned weakly and pushed himself into a seated position. And then he froze, staring at Master Windu.
Anakin frowned, unsure what was going on. From his seat, he couldn't see the man's face, but Windu looked taken aback. And he wasn't reaching for his lightsaber, despite the sudden appearance of a stranger in the Council chambers.
"Master Windu?" the man said, sounding choked.
His voice was familiar. Very familiar.
Before Anakin could fully formulate the thought, the stranger sprang to his feet and looked around the Council chamber frantically.
His gaze fell on Anakin and stopped. "Anakin," he croaked out, staring at him like he was seeing a ghost.
Anakin blinked. "Master?" It was Obi-Wan, albeit one who was much older--maybe ten years older or more. He was very tan, he was dressed poorly, his hair was longer and streaked with gray, and his beard was unkempt, but Anakin would recognize his Master anywhere.
Utterly confused, Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan's seat, but Obi-Wan--his Obi-Wan--was still there, looking very young and as bewildered as Anakin felt.
"Anakin," the older Obi-Wan said again, drawing Anakin's gaze back to him.
"How..." Windu said. "Obi-Wan, is that really you?"
But the older Obi-Wan ignored him (This was a first! Since when Obi-Wan ignored Council members?), his eyes only on Anakin as he moved toward him.
"Anakin," the older Obi-Wan repeated again as he reached him.
Anakin sat still as the older version of his Master laid warm, calloused hands on his face. Obi-Wan's fingers were trembling. There were tears in his light-blue eyes.
Horrified and stunned, Anakin remained still, staring at him. He hadn't seen Obi-Wan cry since Master Qui-Gon's death.
"Anakin," the older Obi-Wan said before suddenly pulling Anakin close and hugging his face to his chest.
Anakin froze. This could not be happening. It had been years since Obi-Wan--his Obi-Wan--had hugged him, and he'd certainly never done it in public, in front of his precious Council.
But it was happening. This Obi-Wan smelled just like his Master. The arms around him felt the same. He felt the same in the Force, albeit curiously weaker.
"Anakin," the older man whispered hoarsely again, as if Anakin's name was the only thing he was capable of saying. He sounded... broken. Heartbroken.
After a moment, Anakin brought his arms up and hugged him back. He didn't understand what was going on, but this was an Obi-Wan and he was hurting, and the urge to protect his Master was so deeply ingrained in him he couldn't possibly do nothing.
Windu cleared his throat. "Obi-Wan? Will you finally tell us what's going? Cease clutching Skywalker and tell us!"
The older Obi-Wan ignored him again. Ignored Mace kriffing Windu.
Feeling glee, Anakin hugged the older man tighter, but truth be told, he was as curious as Windu was.
He pulled back a little and got to his feet. "Master?" Anakin said, looking into those tearful eyes. "What's going on? How are you here? You are from the future, are you not? How old are you?"
"I am forty-eight," Obi-Wan said. He just looked at him for a moment, his eyes roaming over Anakin's features in a way Anakin would call hungry if it were anyone else. "My memories were faulty," he said hoarsely. "I have forgotten how handsome you were." His thumb brushed Anakin's cheekbone. "My beautiful boy."
Anakin blinked at him, stunned. He couldn't even grasp the implications of Obi-Wan's words, his mind stuck on Obi-Wan calling him his beautiful boy. His. Beautiful. Boy. It... it simply did not compute.
"What?" Obi-Wan--the young Obi-Wan--said sharply, and Anakin looked at him over his older counterpart's shoulder.
His Master had a very strange expression on his face. Anakin could feel something odd through their bond too, something disturbed. Almost frightened.
For the first time, the older Obi-Wan--Anakin decided to call him Kenobi to avoid confusion--looked away from Anakin. He turned his head and looked at his younger self with... a mix of envy and pity?
"Yes," Kenobi said, his voice toneless. "Anakin has been dead for years."
Obi-Wan flinched as if struck, fear-desperation-denial filling their normally dormant bond, his shields all but gone.
Wide-eyed, Anakin pushed reassurance into the bond, and Obi-Wan latched onto his mental touch, pulling him tighter, deeper into Obi-Wan's mind, in a way his Master had never done.
Bemused but elated, Anakin indulged him, brushing his Force signature against Obi-Wan's (I'm here, Master) until he felt his Master's fear subside. Subside, not disappear.
"When will it happen?" Obi-Wan said hoarsely.
"Master Kenobi," Windu said, his voice full of reproach. "The matter of Skywalker's death is not the priority. There are more important matters your older self could tell us about. About the war, the identity of the Sith Lord." He looked at Kenobi. "Do you know it?"
There was an odd, distant expression on Kenobi's face as he gazed at Windu, as if he could see something they couldn't. "I sometimes wondered if everything would have turned out differently if you trusted Anakin more, if you made him feel welcomed and loved by the other Jedi."
Anakin's stomach clenched. Was he implying that...
Windu's eyes narrowed. "Obi-Wan, are you saying what I think you're saying? Skywalker Falls?"
Kenobi wrapped an arm around Anakin again, stroking his bicep in a comforting manner. "Anakin was the best of us all," he said tonelessly, looking at Windu. "He did not--does not deserve to be alienated and distrusted."
Warmth filled Anakin's chest. Having his Master protect him in front of the Council was everything he'd wished for. It felt so good. He leaned gratefully into Kenobi's touch and wrapped his own arm around his waist. "Thank you, Master," he said.
Something flared in the bond at the back of his mind. Bemused, Anakin glanced at the younger Obi-Wan. There was a strange look on Obi-Wan's face as he stared at Anakin and Kenobi. There was tension around his mouth, in the slope of his shoulders.
"Perhaps we should confirm first that this individual is indeed a version of me and not an impostor," Obi-Wan said, his voice rather stiff.
"Of course he is, Master," Anakin said. "He feels just like you in the Force."
Obi-Wan's lips thinned. "I disagree," he said, getting to his feet and walking forward until he reached Anakin. He laid a hand on Anakin's shoulder, the touch gentle but firm. "His Force signature is different. Weaker."
Anakin's brows furrowed. "Well, yes, but he feels the same. I know he's you, Master."
"He is not," Obi-Wan said, his grip on Anakin's shoulder becoming stronger. "Just as his Anakin was not you. The future is always in motion. You are not his Anakin."
"Correct, Young Obi-Wan is," Master Yoda's holo spoke. "Investigate the matter, we should." He looked at Kenobi. "Speak with the older Obi-Wan alone, I will."
Kenobi shook his head. "There's no time for private conversations, Master Yoda. If Anakin is already on the Council, then time is of the essence. Everyone in this meeting bar you and me will be dead in a few days if you do not act now."
Anakin blinked. What? He would die in a few days? Every Council member would die bar Obi-Wan and Yoda? How?
He could sense the other Council members' shock and horror, but theirs was nothing compared to Obi-Wan's. He practically yanked Anakin away from his other self, shoving him behind his back, as if Anakin were his young padawan who needed to be protected from what Kenobi was saying. Anakin could only blink and stare at him, more stunned by his Master's odd behavior than by the news of his impending death.
"How?" Obi-Wan demanded, staring at Kenobi down. "How will An--everyone die?"
Kenobi sighed and looked around the Council chamber before his gaze fell on Anakin. There was infinite sadness in his eyes as he said without much emotion in his voice, "Palpatine is the Sith Master we were looking for. He orchestrated the entire war and manipulated Anakin for years, driving a wedge between him and the other Jedi."
Anakin felt like the ground was moving under his feet. Part of him wanted to laugh and say that it was ridiculous. Impossible. But. Looking into Kenobi's sorrowful eyes, Anakin knew he wasn't lying. This had to be the truth, no matter how absurd it seemed.
Distantly, he was aware of the other Jedi's horror in the Force, but he barely registered it. All he could see was Obi-Wan--his Obi-Wan--and his own feelings mirrored in his eyes: shock, horror, guilt, shame, fury.
Anakin didn't know which of them moved closer, but they were suddenly leaning against each other, shoulder to shoulder, their sleeves brushing. Anakin breathed a little easier now that he could feel his Master close. Obi-Wan always grounded him.
"Are you saying Palpatine is the one who will kill all of us in a few days?" Windu said, his hand twitching toward his lightsaber.
Kenobi nodded. "Some of you he killed personally, but most of the Jedi were killed on his orders by the clones."
Another shocked murmur rolled through the chamber. Clones? Anakin couldn't imagine them turning on their generals.
"What about Anakin?" Obi-Wan said, his voice tense as he grabbed Anakin's wrist. Anakin wasn't sure if he was trying to comfort him or seeking comfort from him.
Anguish filled Kenobi's Force signature. "Anakin was manipulated by the Sith into Falling," he said. "He had to be stopped. I did my duty."
"What?" Anakin whispered.
Obi-Wan's hand tightened on Anakin's wrist. "That is impossible," he said breathlessly. "I would never--"
"You would. I did." Kenobi's eyes were full of pain as he looked at Anakin over Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Master Yoda said you were gone and ordered me to destroy the Sith. I did not have a choice. I had to do it, Anakin, no matter how much I loved you."
Anakin's breath caught in his throat. He didn't even care anymore that his Master was confessing to having killed him. No matter how much I loved you.
That meant Obi-Wan--his Obi-Wan--loved him. Obi-Wan. Loved. Him.
"It's all right, Master," Anakin said softly. "I forgive you."
A strangled noise left Kenobi's throat. He moved forward, around Obi-Wan's still form, and touched Anakin's face with his rough, calloused hand. "I do not deserve your forgiveness, dear one," he whispered, his voice cracking. "You deserved a better Master than me."
"Do not say that," Anakin said, laying his hand over the older man's. "I never wanted any other Master." Truth be told, it wasn't true. There had been times that he had resented Obi-Wan and his perfect Jedi act, when he hated him for being so good and saintly while Anakin was... not. But the truth was, despite his resentment, his Master's love was all he'd ever craved. All he'd ever wanted was for his Master to love him and choose him over everything else. But it was a fool's hope. Obi-Wan was never going to choose Anakin over everything else. Even Kenobi's words proved it. Despite admitting that he loved him, Kenobi had chosen duty over him.
Just like Obi-Wan would.
Swallowing the painful lump in his throat, Anakin forced himself to focus on the important thing--which was supposed to be Padmé. The person who loved him unconditionally, despite the darkness inside him. Obi-Wan didn't love him like that. "Do you know if--if Senator Amidala lived?" He couldn't exactly ask whether or not Padmé died in childbirth, though he'd always suspected that Obi-Wan knew about them.
Slowly, Kenobi shook his head. "I am sorry," he said, very quietly. "Your Fall killed her."
Anakin closed his eyes for a moment and breathed in deeply, trying to keep his composure. It hadn't happened yet. If he didn't Fall, Padmé would live.
When he opened his eyes again, he found Kenobi staring at his face greedily, as if trying to imprint his face into his memory. It broke Anakin's heart all over again.
"I am sorry, Master," he said tightly. "I'm sorry I was not strong enough."
Tears filled Kenobi's eyes. His body started blurring around the edges. Whatever had brought him here was taking him away, likely back to the world he had come from.
Anakin's heart hurt as he imagined this older version of his Master returning to the world where everything he cared for was long gone. Was that why this Obi-Wan felt so small in the Force compared to his Master? Did he have anything to live for?
Kenobi grabbed his hand, desperation and longing written all over his face. "Darling," he whispered, even his voice sounding far away. "It was not your fault. It was mine. I have failed you. You died hating me."
"I'm not your failure, Master," Anakin said, shaking his head. "Do not blame yourself. No matter what he told you before his death, I know he still loved you. Always have, always will. Nothing would change that, even the dark side." He'd know. He'd touched the dark side after his mother's death. It'd done nothing to erase his love for his Master. In fact, the first thing he felt as he stared at the countless bodies at his feet wasn't guilt. It wasn't regret. It was fear. He'd thought, I can't lose Obi-Wan over this. Obi-Wan can never find out. Anakin had trouble imagining any version of him who didn't love Obi-Wan Kenobi, no matter how much that love hurt. He squeezed Kenobi's hand. "I love you, Master. Please remember that."
Kenobi's tear-streaked face was the last thing he saw before there was a ripple in the Force and he disappeared completely.
Anakin was left staring at the empty space in front of him, feeling... he wasn't sure what. It was a mix of grief and loss and relief. Although he didn't like seeing such a broken, small version of his strong, untouchable Master--it felt so wrong--that Obi-Wan loved him and wasn't ashamed of showing it.
"It is regrettable that the other Obi-Wan wasn't able to tell us more, but he told us enough, and we must decide what to do," Windu said, snapping Anakin out of his thoughts. "If Palpatine is the Sith Lord who orchestrated the entire war, it changes everything."
"The clones' loyalty is another matter that should be looked into," Mundi said.
Yoda inclined his head, his expression grave.
"Perhaps we should remove Skywalker from the Council before we discuss our plans," Windu said.
Mundi was nodding. "In fact, putting him in a holding cell might be prudent, to make sure he doesn't tell the Chancellor that we know the truth."
Anakin would like to say that he was surprised by the Council's lack of trust in him, but he wasn't. And he couldn't even blame them, could he? Kenobi had only confirmed their fears, had only proven them right: Anakin wasn't one of them. He wasn't the Jedi he should have been.
"You cannot do it."
Anakin froze. Slowly, he turned his head to Obi-Wan.
His Master was glaring at the other Council members, his eyes cold as ice. "Anakin has done nothing to deserve to be locked up and treated as an enemy."
"Yet," Yoda said, looking sad. "Fall, the boy will. Confirmed it, your older self, Obi-Wan."
"Future has not been decided yet, Master," Obi-Wan said, his shoulders squared. "If we simply accept what happened in the other timeline, shall we do nothing about Palpatine too? Shall we do nothing about the deaths of so many Jedi? If it is something that will happen. We should simply accept it, then. It was confirmed by my older self, after all."
Anakin couldn't believe his ears. His Master was taking his side over the Council's! He was being all passive-aggressive and snide in order to protect him. Anakin could have kissed him. Well. He could have kissed him had he not been a married man. Not that he thought a lot about kissing Obi-Wan. Of course he didn't. He hadn't thought about kissing his Master in a long time--not since he'd gotten married. Well, mostly. It wasn't his fault when Obi-Wan looked the way he looked, and was practically begging to be shut up when he lectured and chided him as though Anakin were still his padawan and not a grown Jedi Knight.
Anyway. His Master was defending him. He was on his side for once.
Anakin knew he wasn't being entirely fair. Obi-Wan had defended him quite a few times when Anakin had been his padawan. But ever since joining the Council, Obi-Wan had become more distant, probably trying to seem unbiased. Anakin understood, but it still hurt immensely. The Chancellor always said--
The Chancellor was a Sith Lord. He probably should discard anything the Chancellor had said about the Jedi Council in general and Obi-Wan in particular.
Frowning, Anakin willed himself to pay attention to the conversation.
"...need I remind you that you're not exactly unbiased on the issue, Obi-Wan?" Windu said.
Anakin scowled, stepping closer to Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan is not more biased than all of you," he said. "The difference is, you all are biased against me."
"Skywalker," Windu ground out.
"No, I'm done being silent," Anakin said, meeting his gaze firmly. "I'm good enough to win countless battles for you, but not good enough to trust me, no matter what I do. I'm sick and tired of it, of being used and distrusted. No wonder the other Anakin ended up falling to the dark side. With friends like this, who needs enemies?" He bowed to the Council mockingly. "Thank you, Masters, for your endless wisdom. I can find my way to the holding cells."
Obi-Wan grabbed his sleeve as he turned to leave. "Anakin, you do not need to do that."
Anakin gave him a crooked, humorless smile and shook his head. "I'm tired of trying to prove them wrong, Obi-Wan. At least this way they will not be able to blame me when everything goes to shit."
Obi-Wan just looked at him for a moment before saying, "Then I'm coming with you."
Anakin blinked.
"Pardon?" Windu said.
"If you think Anakin should be put in a holding cell, I will join him there," Obi-Wan said, without looking away from Anakin.
"Need you, we do, Obi-Wan," Yoda said, his disapproval clear.
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan said, slipping his hand into Anakin's. "But there are many capable Jedi. My padawan has only one Master."
"A Master's duty to his padawan ends with his knighting, Obi-Wan," Mundi said.
Meeting Anakin's eyes, Obi-Wan said, "It is not duty."
Anakin's heart lodged into his throat. He squeezed Obi-Wan's hand and thought, Force, I love you so much.
Obi-Wan's eyes widened slightly. Then, his Force signature reached toward him, brushing against his and pressing into Anakin's mind gently. I love you, too, Anakin.
Anakin's breath caught in his throat. Although Kenobi had said that too, this was his Obi-Wan.
Yes, Obi-Wan said through the bond. You are not his Anakin. I will not do what he did. We will handle Palpatine together. Sith Lords are our speciality, after all.
Anakin stared at him in wonder--he could sense Obi-Wan's possessiveness--before the words registered fully. He chuckled.
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "Did I say something amusing?"
"I just remembered you telling a Sith Lord not to worry and that Sith Lords were our speciality. He must have been cackling on the inside."
Obi-Wan gave him an unimpressed look, but there was amusement in his eyes and his lips twitched.
Force, Anakin wanted to kiss them. Surely Padmé would understand if he kissed his Master once or twice? Surely it wouldn't count as cheating? It was Obi-Wan.
"On second thought, there's no need to put Skywalker into a holding cell," Windu said, making Anakin flinch and remember that they weren't actually alone and there were people watching them.
Obi-Wan bowed his head, looking perfectly respectful, but Anakin could feel his grim satisfaction. He nearly laughed. "Negotiations were short," Anakin muttered under his breath.
Hush, dearest, Obi-Wan said through the bond, but his amusement was obvious.
Dearest.
Anakin knew his grin was entirely inappropriate for the situation, but he didn't give a kark. Dearest. He was his Master's dearest.
"You are, Anakin," Obi-Wan said quietly, squeezing his hand. "Now let's save the world, shall we?"
And they did, together.
(When Palpatine was defeated and everything was over, Anakin did steal a kiss, unable to contain his relief and joy. Obi-Wan was shockingly receptive--and he kissed like a kriffing schutta. Anakin quickly became hopelessly addicted to it.
And then, because he was a greedy man who always wanted more, Anakin didn't stop at kisses.)
(Padmé wasn't exactly impressed. She didn't seem to understand that Anakin had loved Obi-Wan first. The end of their marriage was rather ugly, but time and co-parenting their children helped. Eventually, they became friends again, and she lived to an old age, so Anakin counted that as a win. She'd survived. He'd kept her safe. He wasn't even jealous of her new husband. How could he, when he had two beautiful children--and the man he worshipped in his arms? He had everything he wanted. Maybe he wasn't the Jedi he should have been--or the husband he should have been--but Anakin couldn't bring himself to care. He'd always been selfish.
The important thing was, his Obi-Wan had never become that small, broken version of him.
His Obi-Wan was still whole, his eyes bright, and Anakin would do anything to keep him this way.)
***
In another life, a less fortunate one, Obi-Wan Kenobi hadn't saved the world. He hadn't managed to keep his padawan from Falling. He had lost everything: his family, his friends, his faith. He had killed the boy he had raised--and loved more than anything--with his own hands.
Except apparently he hadn't. Anakin--Darth Vader--was still alive. He'd survived. This monster in black armor was his former padawan. Still alive, somehow.
"Anakin?" Obi-Wan whispered, staring at the painfully familiar blue eye that became visible after Darth Vader's helmet broke. Until now, part of him hadn't believed that Vader really was Anakin.
"Anakin is gone," Vader said, glaring at him balefully as he struggled to breathe. "I am what remains."
Obi-Wan's vision blurred. So Anakin was truly dead, after all.
"I am sorry, Anakin," he croaked out. "For all of it."
"I am not your failure, Obi-Wan," Vader ground out. "You did not kill Anakin Skywalker. I did. The same way I will destroy you!"
Obi-Wan went still, suddenly remembering what Anakin had told him months ago when Obi-Wan had ended up in the past for a short while.
I'm not your failure, Master. Do not blame yourself.
Was Vader... was he trying to ease Obi-Wan's pain? Give him the closure he needed? Could Anakin be still in there? Drowning in darkness but still trying to help?
No matter what he told you before his death, I know he still loved you. Always have, always will. Nothing would change that, even the dark side. I love you, remember that.
Obi-Wan swallowed. Hope was a terrible thing. Hope could destroy what was left of his soul. But he had nothing to lose--and half of his soul to gain.
Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan switched his lightsaber off.
Vader stared at him, his bewilderment obvious. "What are you doing?" he demanded, but he sounded off. Young. Almost scared. He sounded the way his padawan used to when he wanted Obi-Wan's help but didn't want to admit it.
Taking a leap of faith, Obi-Wan dropped his lightsaber to the ground and took a step forward.
The End