The Guardian's Path

Chapter 11 - To Reach an Understanding

Ani had woken up not long after Anakin left for the Temple, the turbulent emotions of the elder rousing him. It didn't take him more than a few seconds to remember what had happened, and despite his best efforts, he'd broken down, desperate to feel his father's Force signature there, to feel their bond humming with the promise of safety and comfort. The longer he's apart from his father, the scarier and more uncertain everything feels.

Ahsoka had awoken not long later, and she comforted him as best she could before Padme came. After a time, he'd managed to calm down, and Padme had given Ahsoka a few instructions before leaving them there. Ani had eaten breakfast with the Togruta, even though he wasn't hungry, before she took him to watch an entertaining holofilm. He might have been able to concentrate on it better – and maybe even let himself be distracted from the gaping void in his chest – if not for the fact that his right thigh is aching fiercely.

It happens occasionally after the... experiments which Plagueis ran on him, and usually, his father uses the Force to ease the pain. They don't know if it will ever heal right. He doesn't want to tell Ahsoka about it; he doesn't want to try to explain to her what happened to him. He only wants this all to stop. He wants his father back.

He's curled in Ahsoka's lap on the couch, watching the holofilm when he senses a familiar Force signature approaching the apartment. He stiffens involuntarily because he doesn't want to see Obi-Wan right now. He doesn't think he can handle it. Ahsoka senses him too, of course, because she sighs and pauses the holofilm, twisting to the door as it opens and Obi-Wan enters; someone – probably Threepio, actually – must have let him in.

The Jedi Master stands there for a moment, looking at the two of them before he walks closer. "I came here to speak with Ani," he declares at last.

He already spoke to Anakin, Ani thinks, because he can feel the elder's chaotic emotions, even from here. "He doesn't really talk to anyone," Ahsoka informs him as Ani shakes his head, burying his face into her shoulder, "But you can try."

"I would rather do so in private," Obi-Wan replies.

"No!" Ani blurts out, suddenly frantic. He doesn't want to be by himself, especially not with someone who is a Jedi, and therefore, untrustworthy. Besides, he took away Ani's father. He's not safe. He winds his arms around Ahsoka's waist, clinging to her desperately.

"It's okay," she soothes, rubbing his back and hugging him against her. "I'll stay with you. You won't be alone." It's only her reassurance that allows him to begin to relax, the spike of terror abating enough for him to focus on how Obi-Wan moves closer, sitting on the other end of the couch, keeping far enough away from him so that he doesn't need to panic.

"I wanted to talk to you about Custos," Obi-Wan says, and Ani finally lifts his head, shifting so that he can see him.

"Is he coming back?" he asks, a tentative hope springing to life.

"I'm afraid not," Obi-Wan answers apologetically, and that hope instantly dies a withering death. "The Council asked me to look into the situation with him. They want to know more about him."

Ani glares. "I'm telling you nothing," he states adamantly, pointedly dropping his head back on Ahsoka's shoulder. "Go away." He only says it because Ahsoka is here, because he knows that she'll protect him if Obi-Wan tries to hurt him. He – he doesn't think the older man will, but... after having been with the Sith for so long, he doesn't trust anyone, and after what the Jedi did to his father, he trusts them even less.

Obi-Wan sighs audibly, and Ahsoka strokes his hair, pushing comforting pulses to him through the Force. She's nice, Ani thinks, much like what one of his old friends on Tatooine was like before she died trying to help some slaves escape. He knows why Anakin likes her so much.