Candlelight

Chapter 6 - Hope

Author's Note: I just felt like I should warn everyone in advance that I know some people might not like some of what happens in this chapter. But it's important to remember that all relationships change with time *especially* when only one of the people remembers that change, and that's even more true for romantic relationships. It's been 20 years for Anakin since he last saw Padme, and especially given that he sees her as what led him to the Dark Side,  he's going to be initially cautious about being around her. Besides, after Mustafar, there's no way their relationship could ever be quite the same, even if only one of them remembered it. 

~ Tirana Sorki

He can feel the burning heat around him. Rivers of lava flow around him everywhere, and he knows where he is, because he can't move.

His limbs won't cooperate anymore, and he's stuck facedown on the scorching sand. But he needs to get out of here before – before things get worse –

Before –

The sound of Sidious' cackle rings out above him, but when he looks up, the hooded figure of his master fades into Obi-Wan instead. Panic claws at him, as he tries to pull himself up the slope, but the sand only seems to slip beneath his fingers, and he's sliding dangerously close to the edge, and everything is only feeling hotter with each passing moment, and –

Why is Obi-Wan just standing there? Why won't he help him? Why is he doing this?

It's instinctive, that he tries to call his master's name. But suddenly, Obi-Wan's presence feels a lot closer, even if all he's doing at the top of the embankment is turning to walk way again, right as everything is getting hotter, and it hurts. And that's all he can feel and no, not this, not again –

Something touches his arm, and he jolts awake with a gasp. The room is dark, and he's not surrounded by lava or fire, but Obi-Wan is still there standing right over him, and – And he doesn't know where he is, or why Obi-Wan is here, but his former master always brings pain, and he can't –

Blinding panic floods him, and he lashes out without thinking, shoving him away with the Force. He just needs space and to get out or –

"Anakin," Obi-Wan calls, sounding a mix of worried and annoyed. "It's me."

He knows that, thank you.

He has a hard enough time breathing already, and it's even harder to do it now. It feels like he's being strangled, with how hard his heart is hammering. He draws in a few deep breaths, trying to focus, to just –

He's in the past. This isn't the Obi-Wan who has reason to hurt him, even if that will likely mean nothing eventually.

"Anakin?" he asks again. "Are you... alright?"

He mutely shakes his head, struggling to gather his bearings. Shame filters in next – he didn't mean to. He just... panicked when he saw Obi-Wan so close to him. "Sorry, Master. I didn't – mean to."

Obi-Wan settles on the floor next to him – he doesn't even remember how he fell asleep here, in the room where he should be working on those... projects. His master still feels much too close, but the dark makes it... easier. Neither can see each other as clearly. "It's fine, Anakin," he says.

It certainly doesn't feel fine, but he doesn't object.

There's a moment of almost uncomfortable silence. "You were seeing... something from the future?" he asks.

Anakin nods, looking away, idly running his left hand over the rough fabric of his robes, just feeling the texture of it, even if it's for the thousandth time, "Why are you here?"