Chapter Text
ᴛʜᴡᴜᴍᴘ
A dark gloved hand rose up, fisting tightly into the dark robes that covered right above the two hearts that rested within. The mysterious figure had paused within the open door of the palace that led down into the aircraft hanger of Naboo's military force.
The hooded figure's gaze- usually so sharp and angry- was full of confusion and a bit of fear. His lightsaber was gripped in his left hand, while his right was curled up in the folds of his clothing. Usually he would have done the show off. His hood would have been pulled back to reveal the red and black face of a Dathomirian Nightbrother. His yellow eyes would have been piercing into the two Jedi below with anger and aggression.
But right now his gaze was directed towards only one of his two enemies. Every moment he felt his heart thumping against his chest quickly, the feeling was something he had never encountered before. He knew fear. He knew anger. He knew power. But this feeling?
ᴛʜᴡᴜᴍᴘ
It felt like there was a fire alit in his chest, warming the usually cold Sith with something he had no revelation of. It confused him. It scared him. He didn't know what to do-
Blue eyes met yellow Sith eyes, and the world seemed to disappear around them. Oh yes, he could still hear the shouts of panic and fear ringing through his ears, as well as the sounds of starship engines beginning to fire up. But he couldn't break eye contact with the young man standing at the start of the ascending staircase.
The world swirled around them, everything fading away and leaving the two standing alone. Their feet were planted on large cream-colored pebbles in a sort of beach. The ocean lapped a few yards away delicately at the pebble beach.
Behind the Sith, his skies were red and full of dark clouds. Thunder and lightning rolled through them and occasionally hit the ground. The sea remained untouched by the rage boiling within him. The wind caused by his inner storm tugged at his robes and whipped them every which way.
The Jedi's side? Stormless blue skies dotted with huge, fluffy white clouds. A gentle breeze was tugging at the robes of the young man, ruffling what short hair he had. A braid hanging from the left side of his head caught the Sith's attention, and he sucked in a breath.
𝘈 𝘑𝘦𝘥𝘪 𝘗𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘯.
ᴛʜᴡᴜᴍᴘ
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰… 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮?
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴?
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙢?
ᴛʜᴡᴜᴍᴘ
His mouth opened, closed, then opened again.
“What are you doing to me? What is this?” He questioned, yelling across the divide of weather between them. His hands balled into fists at his side, fingernails shoving into his skin to try to keep himself grounded. He knew pain could keep him from floating away. He needed answers.
“I think this is some kind of connection through the Force.”
His voice.
That accent.
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥?
“So it seems.” He crosses his arms, raising his chin and fixing the Jedi Padawan across from him with an even stare. He needed to calm down. Yes, he could use anger. But he knew he needed to have a level head. It didn't help when all these confusing feelings were suddenly swirling around him.
He could see the other was feeling it as well, the barely hidden confusion and confliction showing within the depths of those blue eyes. It matched the sky shining above the Padawan. He wanted to take his face in his hands and just stare into them and lose himself in them.
“I don't know what is happening. Jedi aren't supposed to feel like this.” The Padawan had started pacing, his shoes expertly passing over the cream pebbles without kicking any out of place. The Sith himself grunted when he noticed, narrowing his eyes slightly. So poised. So proper. So civilized.
Unlike himself.
“I am unsure as well. This is something entirely new. The Force must want us to connect. But why?” The Zabrak's face couldn't help but relax while he watched the young man pacing, a hand resting on his chin in thought. His eyes traced down his body, the Sith admiring the lithe body beneath before he tore his eyes away.
“The Force works in mysterious ways-”
The Padawan learner was mid-sentence before the Sith was thrust out of the beach conjured by the Force.
He was pushed by the Force, which sent his body flying back through the door he had first entered through. His mind was whirling, but he managed to stop himself from hitting the ground on his back. He twirled in the air, managing to situate his feet beneath him when landing.
He crouched there for a second, right hand resting on the ground before he stood. Anger pulsed through him, at an even higher point. How 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 the other Jedi interrupt! His lips threw back in a snarl, and he lifted himself up. He lifted his lightsaber right as the older Jedi ran up the stairs, his own green blade alit.
The Sith ignited one side of his saber, revealing a bright crimson red. The other side followed soon after, and he twirled the blade behind him. Maybe he was showing off a little to the Padawan who ran up behind with his own blue saber lit.
He was already having thoughts he shouldn't have. The Force was feeding him feelings and emotions towards the young man that threatened to spill over every moment he stared at him. He couldn't help but smirk towards the apprentice and spin his saber again before focusing his attention on the older Jedi.
He fell into Form VII easily, the two sides staring at each other and waiting to see which would move first.
It was the Sith, who had discarded his cloak and stood in all black robes. With a growl he launched forwards, straight towards the older male. Their sabers collided a mere moment later, sending sparks of color dancing through the air.
He withdrew, before pushing forwards again. Again and again their sabers clashed, the two caught in single combat. Their fight was pushing towards the reactors, the Sith manipulating the fight to somewhere his agility would be more useful.
He had to hand it to this older man, he was keeping up with the Zabrak's agile movements amazingly well. There were many times he had aimed to kill but was deflected last moment by a blue lightsaber. The Padawan only defended, he didn't attack. That was a win in the Sith's book.
Eventually red barriers blocked the three apart, the Zabrak twirling his lightsaber in anger and slight impatience as he waited. The Jedi was on the other side, seeming to sit and 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 while waiting for the barriers to fall. It had the other's nose wrinkling a bit. What a pompous thing to do while in the middle of a duel!
The Padawan was further back, his blue eyes wide and fixed on the Nightbrother. He seemed to be panicking about something, but he couldn't hear what he was yelling. The barriers blocked too much noise. He could feel the distress coming from the young man in waves, and could only assume that he knew what would happen.
His Master would be killed. He was trying to convince the Sith to spare him. But he wasn't going to be locked up in force-proof chains and dragged in front of the Jedi Council as a compromise. He had to complete this order from his Master, Darth Sideous. If he didn't, he could only just imagine the punishment. He did not fancy feeling the licks of blue-white Force lightning pouring and crackling into his skin. He had many scars from that marring his skin from that particular punishment already.
The barriers lowered one by one, and he took the opportunity to strike. He jumped forwards, but his strike was blocked by the Jedi's green saber. He snarled in annoyance, pushing away and guiding the Jedi deeper towards the reactors.
Soon they were dancing around the hole in the ground, which dropped down into a shute for disposal. His agility worked perfectly here, and he managed to dodge and avoid any disarming strike being aimed. He managed to slide around behind the Jedi and lift his hand. He grabbed the Jedi by the throat with the force, glad the man's focus had waned just enough to allow the Sith to bypass the Force shield around him.
He clenched his hand, starting to choke the Jedi in his grasp. His other hand lifted the lightsaber, ready to plunge it through the heart and end it. Something gave him pause though, and his yellow eyes flicked past the suffocating Jedi and towards the Padawan. He was blocked by another red barrier, and there were tears leaking from his eyes. He heard a single sentence come through his head, and his grip faltered slightly.
“𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵!”
Their eyes remained locked together, before he extinguished his blade and looked away. He tossed the Jedi aside, the older male hitting the wall and collapsing. He didn't kill the Jedi, and knew his Master wouldn't appreciate that. He couldn't go back now, having defied a direct order. He himself would be killed.
He would hide… for now. He would let Sideous presume he had died. It was the best course of action. Maul would eliminate him eventually. He just needed to bide time.
He watched the Padawan rush towards his Master, the Sith's chin raised and eyes staring down in thought. He removed something from his belt and tossed it to the young boy's feet. At the questioning glance, the Zabrak shrugged and turned to walk off.
“Just in case you want to contact me.” He mused, before vanishing behind a door and disappearing down a hallway. He could feel the conflicted feelings bursting from the Jedi apprentice, and let a smile form on his face.
𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘪.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
His Master was alive.
Obi-Wan couldn't take his eyes off the bruising that wrapped around his Master's neck like a horrible scarf. It encircled the entire thing, and the Padawan had never seen such a thing before. One hand rested on the side of the cot, while the other was stuck in the pocket of his robe. His thumb brushed over a small object curiously, noting it was round and smooth. There was a small circular divit that his thumb fit perfectly over. It felt like a button.
He felt conflicted, his thoughts swirling through his brain like the large fish in the seas of Naboo chasing smaller prey.
He was relieved his Master was okay.
He wanted to see the Sith again.
The name he had gathered from the Force as he departed swirled through his brain.
𝘔𝘢𝘶𝘭.
That was such an awful name. But unfortunately it suited the Zabrak. All Zabrak from Dathomir had names similar in origin, the practice bestowing strength or wisdom upon their members. He had done a little research during the middle of his apprenticeship. He definitely would be doing more now.
He couldn't get those eyes out of his mind, the stark yellow pupils staring into his eyes with something other than hatred. There was a softness he had held within those twin suns that confused both he and Obi-Wan. The Padawan himself had felt that way too. The Force was trying to bring them together, but neither knew why.
The ginger sighed, pushing himself out of the chair he was in and standing. It wouldn't do anything good to dwell on it right now. Kenobi would meditate on it later. Right now he needed to go check in on little Anakin and make sure the child was okay.
His footsteps were quiet as he passed through the door of the small medical chamber before entering the door to the cockpit. He waved his hand and the door opened by itself. He stepped inside after a moment, smiling softly to himself at the scene.
The pilot had Anakin in his lap, letting the child steer the ship. They were still on course, so Obi-Wan didn't have a problem with it. He approached the back of the seat and put his hand on it, staring down.
“Sir, we'll reach Coruscant soon. Little Anakin here is guiding us there.” The pilot sat a little straighter when he noticed Obi-Wan, looking back at him briefly before his gaze returning to the star chart brought up nearby. Anakin reached down, barely able to reach the autopilot button with his small arms.
Kenobi crouched down when he approached, his blue eyes softening to the boy. He reached out, placing a hand gently on the small shoulder and feeling a smile form on his lips. “You did wonderfully during all that trouble on Naboo. Padmè said you were very brave and protected them all.”
He watched Anakin's chest puff out in pride and held in a chuckle. This boy sure was something! He stood, a hand resting on his back as he guided the small boy out of the cockpit and towards the seating area. He sat down on the couch, pulling up a communicator and motioning for Anakin to stay quiet.
It buzzed to life a moment later, the blue digital forms of Master Windu and Master Yoda appearing on the table. Kenobi dipped his head down in greeting, hands resting inside each other's sleeves. Even though he had been through much, he had still tried his best to look presentable.
“Padawan Kenobi, glad I am to see you alive.” Yoda's voice hit his ears and the Padawan lifted his head.
“Master Yoda, Master Windu.” He greeted, nodding his head before eating his throat to speak. He delved into the report in as much detail as he could, only hiding one thing. The connection he and Maul had shared. They could not know about that. He a absolutely 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 lying to the council, but it was information that would complicate things. He needed to figure it out on his own.
He explained their revelation: that the Banking Clan was working against the Republic and had sided with the Separatists. He had also admitted that the Sith were back, and that he had defeated the Sith apprentice sent after them. They didn't need to know Maul had simply walked off.
“Master Qui-Gon is alive, but unconscious after the fight. He is being kept in the small medical bay on the ship but will need better treatment. His throat was almost crushed.” He shifted a little in his seat, before glancing over when Anakin popped into the couch next to him. He sighed, shaking his head a little before his eyes returned to the screen.
“Qui-Gon Jinn will be taken straight to the infirmity when your ship lands, Padawan.” Mace Windu confirmed, before leaning back slightly. His eyes had shifted to the child besides Anakin, observing the child in silence. It was drawn out for a while, Kenobi not moving or saying anything. He could feel Anakin start to get impatient, but before anything could happen, Master Yoda spoke up.
“Patience, young Skywalker has. Told us of your deeds, Kenobi did. Intrigued I am.”
“Master Yoda, he is too old to be trained. We discussed this before.” Master Windu reminded Yoda, but the green creature shook his head and tapped his cane on the ground twice. A small laugh escaped his throat and the old Master looked to the hologram of Windu.
“Senile, I am not. The Force has shifted, has it not? Felt it I have. A Master we will find Skywalker.”
That was final. Windu could argue all he wanted but when Yoda made up his mind, it could rarely be swayed. Kenobi felt a surge of happiness and looked over at Anakin, whose blue eyes were wide with surprise.
“T-Thank you!” the child exclaimed, bouncing slightly in his seat before catching himself. Kenobi watched him calm down sheepishly, nodding approvingly. Anakin could learn to calm down a little. Think before he acted.
“After you return and we get Qui-Gon and Anakin settled, we request you come before the council. We have things to discuss with you in private.” Master Windu announced, sitting a bit rigid in his council seat. Kenobi dipped his head in respect.
“Of course Masters. I must end transmission now so we may jump into hyperspace. May the Force be with you.”
“And with you, Padawan Kenobi.”
The call ended and the young man sagged back against the couch, shutting his eyes and resting his head against the back. He was exhausted, physically and emotionally. He had so many things to sort through in his mind when he got back. Maybe he should just rest here on the couch…
“You look exhausted. It's from fighting that large red and black guy, right? It's a wonder you didn't get hurt! He looked scary.”
“Anakin, dear boy. I am indeed exhausted and I would love to rest before we arrive. Why don't you go rejoin the pilot and ask him to let you help with the jump to Hyperspace?”
Obi-Wan held in a yawn, covering his mouth with a hand before settling more comfortably on the couch. He crossed his arms and let his eyes shut, hearing the excited footfalls of Anakin as he hurried off back toward the cockpit.
The Padawan passed out on the couch, letting sleep overtake him.